Abstract: A communications terminal (200) including a user interface communicably coupled to a controller is configured to form a group of contacts. In one embodiment, the terminal displays only contacts having at least two attributes in common. In another embodiment, the terminal displays a group of contacts having a social relationship with at least two degrees of social separation relative to a user associated with the group. In another embodiment, a group of contacts is formed upon initiation of an application at the terminal, wherein all contacts in the group are associated with terminals running the same application and are also engaged in a common activity.

Abstract: A communication system (100) dynamically manages a plurality of objects (105). Each object (120) has a communication device (145) placed within or in close proximity to the object (120) for communicating a plurality of object information (245). A group controller (220) communicates with the communication device (145) and takes over responsibility for communication within the communication system (100) for the communication device (145) when the object location (130) comes within a communication range of the group controller (220).

Abstract: A portable, personal apparatus (200) having native wireless two-way communications capability (202) along with a primary-purpose native capability and at least one auxiliary-purpose native capability detects (101) an inputting of data as corresponds to that auxiliary-purpose native capability.

Abstract: A communications terminal (200) including a user interface communicably coupled to a controller is configured to form a group of contacts. In one embodiment, the terminal displays only contacts having at least two attributes in common. In another embodiment, the terminal displays a group of contacts having a social relationship with at least two degrees of social separation relative to a user associated with the group. In another embodiment, a group of contacts is formed upon initiation of an application at the terminal, wherein all contacts in the group are associated with terminals running the same application and are also engaged in a common activity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for managing meetings using group calling. The method can include the steps of detecting (212) one or more meeting participants for a meeting, comparing (214) the detected meeting participants with a listing of scheduled meeting participants and generating (216) a dynamic group calling list that at least includes those scheduled meeting participants who have not been detected. As an example, the dynamic group calling list can be generated on a mobile communications device (122) of one of the detected meeting participants. The method can also include the step of simultaneously contacting (218) from the mobile communications device the scheduled meeting participants on the dynamic group calling list who have not been detected.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (600) is provided for auctioning an item using a mobile device (102). A mobile device can include a camera (202) for capturing an image of an item of interest, a processor (204) for entering the image into a database (140), an image recognition unit (206) for comparing the image to other images within the database, and a display (208) for presenting a list of comparable items available for auctioning. The mobile device can include a positioning system (210) for determining a location of the mobile device and identifying an entity having an item available for purchase or sale within a predetermined distance of the mobile device.

Abstract: A wireless personal communications device (106) that has a wireless communications circuit (704) that communicates over a cellular communications system and a user input sensor (306, 404, 410, 412, 502) that detects an input from a user (104, 108). An included audio-visual effect generator (210) generates an audio-visual effect based upon input detected by the user input sensor (306, 404, 410, 412, 502). A collaborative audio-visual effect creation system (110) accepts audio visual effects from multiple sources (106), uses a multiple user wireless data communications system to wirelessly communicate data among multiple wireless personal communications devices (106), accepts rating information from the wireless personal communications devices (106) and produces an audio-visual output that is derived received audio-visual effects based upon the rating information.

Abstract: A system (300) and mobile wireless radio security method (500) can include a transceiver (320) and a processor (302) coupled to the transceiver. The processor can be programmed to monitor (502) for abnormalities or rare activities from a mobile wireless device when attempting a transmission and to suppress (516) the transmission when an abnormality or rare activity is detected at the mobile wireless device (12). The processor can further be programmed to monitor (504) a rate of speed of the mobile wireless device and suppress transmissions when the speed of the mobile wireless device exceeds a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A method, server, and wireless communication system for providing user status information representing status of use of a first wireless device to at least a second wireless device, the first device and second device being members of a group, is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, at a server (108) for a wireless communication system (102), user status information from a first wireless device (104). The user status information represents a status of use of the first wireless device (104) associated with a user thereof. A current user status database (126) at the server (108) is updated according to the received status information. The server (108) transmits updated current user status information that is destined for reception by the second wireless device (106), which is further destined for presentation to a user of the second wireless device (106).

Abstract: A method, server, and wireless communication system for directly providing user status information representing status of use of a wireless device to a user of another wireless device, each wireless device being members of a group, is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, at a first wireless device (104), user status information directly transmitted from a second wireless device (106). The user status information representing a status of use of the second wireless device (106) associated with a user thereof. The method also includes updating a current user status database (252) at the first wireless device (104) according to the received status information from the second wireless device (106). The first wireless device (104) and the second wireless device (106) being members of a device use status monitoring group in the wireless communication system (102). A user of the first wireless device (104) is provided the updated current user status information through a user interface (502).

Abstract: A system (10) and a method (40) of initiating security measures based on mobile traffic patterns can include monitoring (42) identification information (such as Medium Access Control (MAC) Identification information) for a given network access point (11-18) for mobile wireless devices (23), determining (44) if a pattern of identification information registrations warrants initiation of security measures, and initiating (48) security measures if the pattern of identification information registrations justifies a heightened security level. The method can further determine if a fluctuation in the number of MAC Identifications corresponding to mobile devices within a given area during a predetermined time period matches a profile or pattern indicative of the heightened security level. The method can further maintain a historical database (24) of MAC Identification registrations for a given area during a predetermined time period corresponding to one or more network access points.

Abstract: A system (30) or method (100) of updating a calling party's phonebook (32) can include tracking (102) location information of at least a party that is an entry in the calling party's phonebook, storing (104) the location information at a server (15), and checking (106) the server for an updated contact number for a called party before completing a call setup to a the called party. The method can further include completing (108) the call to the updated contact number. The method can further include updating (110) the calling party's phonebook at a mobile device (13) or at fixed network equipment (15 or 16) by using the information from the server. The method can further include detecting (112) a context of a called party and routing calls to the called party based on a called party preference.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) of conveying context information in a personal and family security environment monitor (201) a sender's environment, encode (202) a context signal that is used to activate a sound, a haptic, or a light representative of the sender's environment, and transmit (206) the context signal. In another aspect, the method can alternatively encode (204) an icon representative of a location or an implied location or an implied heading as the context signal. The method can further include the step of initiating (208) an I'm OK sequence. In one aspect, the method can receive the context signal and generate (210) the sound, haptic, or light representative of the sender's environment at the receiving party.

Abstract: A personal safety monitoring system (100) can include a safety monitoring device or vehicle monitoring device (120) operatively coupled to a first short range transceiver (122) for monitoring operational safety parameters of a vehicle (118). The system can further include a wireless communication device (101) such as a cellular phone that includes a wide area network wireless transceiver (102) for communication over a wide area network (114), a second short range transceiver (105) operatively coupled to the wide area network wireless transceiver, and a processor (114) coupled to the wide area network wireless transceiver and the second short range transceiver. The processor can be programmed to establish a communication link with the safety monitoring device using the second short range transceiver and communicate a signal using the wide area network wireless transceiver to a predetermined address if at least one predetermined threshold is exceeded by the safety monitoring device.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (200) capable of gauging message freshness from the context of a receiver of a message response can include a transceiver (202) and a processor (206) coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver can be programmed to determine (312) if a message response is stale from the context of a receiver of the message response and send (318) a request for a second message response if the message response is determined as being stale. The communication device can be further programmed to determine if the message response is stale by determining if the message response is sent after a predetermined time after receipt of the message response or by determining if the message response is sent after an estimated time after a request for the message response.

Abstract: A method and a system for enabling an enhanced operating mode of a mobile communication device (102) are disclosed. The method includes receiving (502) an authorization message from an authority (104) that is capable of communicating wirelessly with the mobile communication device. The authorization message is then checked (504) for authenticity of the authority. On authentication of the authorization message, the enhanced operating mode of the mobile communication device is enabled (506), allowing communication between the authority and the mobile communication device, even in emergencies.

Abstract: A method and system (100) for capturing event information relating to an event (114) perceivable by a remote input device (102, 104, 106, and 108) capturing event information, including audio and video information, by the remote input device (102, 104, 106, and 108); synchronizes the captured information to a time source; encodes the synchronized information to a format suitable for transmission; and transmits the encoded information from the remote input device (102, 104, 106, and 108) for reception by a central processing system (130). The captured event information is encoded with event-specific information, geographic location information, or ancillary information. The event (114) perceivable by a remote input device (102, 104, 106, and 108) occurs externally to that input device and may occur over a substantial geographic area. The remote input device includes a wireless device. The synchronized information is encoded to a format suitable for wireless transmission.

Abstract: A method and system for playing back event information relating to an event (114) perceivable by a remote input device (102, 104, 106, and 108), including requesting event information, including audio and video information, preparing a request for receiving event information stored on a central processing system (130) from a user interface on a remote requesting device (102, 104, 106, and 108), encoding the request to a format suitable for transmission, transmitting the encoded request from the remote requesting device (102, 104, 106, and 108) for reception by a central processing system (130), receiving the requested event information from the central processing system (130) and presenting the requested event information to the user interface of the remote requesting device (102, 104, 106, and 108). The request is created by receiving selection parameters from the user interface from selection criteria supplied by the central processing system (130).

Abstract: A method (100) of providing limited access to a computing device (26) can include limiting (102) access to the computing device by requiring a predetermined user input (e.g., password) during active operation of a screen saver application, presenting (104) a first screen layout having at least one web site link (14) during operation of the screen saver application, granting (106) access to the web site link without requiring the predetermined user input during operation of the screen saver application, and presenting (108) a predetermined website upon activation of the web site link. Access is otherwise denied (110) to the computing device until the predetermined user input is provided. Note, the method can enable (112) a transaction with the predetermined website. The method can further present (114) a targeted screen layout or advertisement in response to receiving information from a user using a short range communication interface.

Abstract: A method (10) of payment of communication services includes determining (14) if a request (12) for services is an essential service or non-essential service, determining (19) if a device and/or user is authorized for non-essential service, and determining (20) if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service. The method can further include rejecting (26) the request for non-essential service if the device and/or user is unauthorized or if insufficient pre-pay funds exist. The method grants (16) the request if the request is for essential service (such as voice services). The essential service or subscription or post-pay service can be added (18) to a recurring bill. If the device and/or user is authorized and sufficient prepay funds exist, then the method grants (22) the request for the non-essential service. In response or in conjunction with granting, the method can deduct (24) funds from prepay funds upon granting the request.