Abstract: A device and method of creating and displaying a short message service (SMS) message capable of attaching and displaying animated characteristics is disclosed. To create an animated SMS message the user responds to input prompts asking for: a mobile identification number that identifies the receiving party, an animation flag that determines whether the SMS message will have animation characteristics, a content pointer location that specifies the location of a content file resident on the receiving device, and the actual text of the SMS message. To display an animated SMS message the receiving device parses the SMS message to determine how to apply the desired animation characteristics. An animation flag is checked and the location of a content file on the receiving device is determined. The content file is retrieved and combined with the text of the SMS message and the combination is then animated according to the animation type specified.

Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, a transceiver, and a controller. The NFC interface receives data related to multimedia content from an external NFC tag responsive to establishing an NFC link with the NFC tag. Based on the received data, the controller establishes a communication link with a multimedia server via a wireless communication network, and controls the multimedia server to download information associated with the multimedia content to a user-specified destination device.

Abstract: Two or more video streams including a high quality video stream and a low quality video stream are simultaneously transmitted to the mobile communication device over the wireless network. All of the video streams carry the same video content but with different video quality. The high quality video stream is transmitted with a relatively low margin and the low quality video stream is transmitted with a relatively high margin. The mobile communication device can select the high quality video stream when channel conditions are favorable, and may select the low quality video stream when the channel conditions are not good enough to support the high quality video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a cellular telephone, for example, includes a receiver that receives broadcast radio signals transmitted by a commercial broadcast radio station. The broadcast radio signals include information that identifies a location of the radio station, an antenna associated with the radio station, or the radio station. The device also includes positioning circuitry to allow the device to determine its current location. A controller in the device extracts the information identifying the radio station from the received broadcast signal, and acquires one or more satellites of a navigational system based on the information.

Abstract: Two or more video streams including a high quality video stream and a low quality video stream are simultaneously transmitted to the video receiving device over the wireless network. All of the video streams carry the same video content but with different video quality. The high quality video stream is encoded using an unequal error protection code so that first components (e.g., high frequency components) receive a higher level of error protection than second components (e.g., low frequency components). The video receiving device can select the high quality video stream when channel conditions are favorable. When channel conditions are not good enough to support the high quality video stream, the video receiving device determines whether the first components of the high quality video stream with the greater error protection are usable. If so, the video receiving device combines the first components of the high quality video stream with the low quality video stream.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are described, in which mobile stations in gaps between conventional cells obtain access to high speed data services by initiating an ad hoc, peer-to-peer connection with an intermediary mobile station and transmitting an access request message to the intermediary mobile station for relaying to a nearby base station. Upon receiving such an access request, a base station determines the approximate location of the mobile station, estimates an angular direction from the base station to the mobile station, and forms a directed antenna beam aimed towards the mobile station for transmission of high speed data to the mobile station. Corresponding techniques in which a base station initiates the establishment of a high speed data link are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transceiver circuit and a method in a wireless communication network are provided, where a signal power level for a signal received at the transceiver circuit is measured and compared to a predefined threshold power level. At least two groups of power amplifiers may be used, where one group is optimized for high efficiency above the predefined threshold power level, and one group is optimized for high efficiency below the predefined threshold power level. The amplifiers may be used to amplify the received signal depending on the signal power level in relation to the predefined power threshold level. The signal may then be filtered by duplex filters and forwarded to a diversity antenna or a main antenna where it is transmitted over an air interface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital rights management (DRM) system and method based on device proximity for controlling what devices can utilize DRM protected content. DRM data and DRM protected content are copied from a first device to a second device such that the DRM protected content on the first device becomes locked out and the copied DRM protected content is not locked out on the second device. The first device periodically performs a proximity check between the first and second devices such that if the first and second devices are determined to be within a short range of one another the DRM lockout of the first device is disabled.

Abstract: A mobile terminal reduces power consumption when operating at a high transmit power by altering a modulation scheme used for transmitting signals over an uplink to a base station. The mobile terminal receives uplink load indications from the base station and determines it current transmit power level. Based on this information, the mobile terminal selects an appropriate modulation scheme.

Abstract: A radio terminal switches between a compressed transmission mode and a normal transmission mode based on the current transmit power level of the radio terminal. The radio terminal periodically compares its current transmit power level to a power threshold. The radio terminal transmits in the compressed transmission mode when the current transmit power level is below the threshold, and transmits in the normal transmission mode when the current transmission power level is greater than the threshold. The radio terminal may also operate in a compressed receiving mode.

Abstract: To enhance in-building location determination of an electronic device, described is a system and a method that uses a blip access point to transfer location assistance information to the electronic device. The location assistance information may contain a map of dummy beacons that serve as reference points (e.g., landmarks) from which the electronic device may determine its location relative to the map information.

Abstract: A method of operating electronic equipment, wherein said electronic equipment utilizes a wireless signal to communicate, includes determining if the electronic equipment is operated within a moving vehicle based on a characteristic of the wireless signal and inhibiting operation of the electronic equipment if the electronic equipment is in a moving vehicle.

Abstract: The dual-mode processor and corresponding method described herein selectively switches between a single-frequency mode, such as appropriate for an EDGE network, and a multiple-frequency mode, such as appropriate for a multi-carrier EDGE network. The pulse-shaping filters used during the multiple-frequency mode have a different filter response than the single-channel filter used during the single-frequency mode. The filter response of the pulse-shaping filters used during the multiple-frequency mode reduces cross-channel interference caused by the data symbols of two or more adjacent frequency channels that have the same or similar modulation and power level.

Abstract: The wireless communication device and corresponding method described herein selectively switches between a single-frequency mode, such as appropriate for an EDGE network, and a multiple-frequency mode, such as appropriate for a multi-carrier EDGE network. Accordingly, a transmitting wireless communication device selectively switches between a single-channel mapping unit, used during the single-frequency mode, and a multi-channel mapping unit, used during the multiple-frequency mode. The multi-channel mapping unit modulates input data to output a modulated data stream for each of multiple adjacent frequency channels that, when combined, produce a multiple-frequency signal with reduced peak-to-average ratio. A receiving wireless communication device selectively switches between a single-channel demodulator, used during the single-frequency mode, and a multi-channel demodulator, used during the multiple-frequency mode.

Abstract: The wireless receiver of the present invention accommodates dual-carrier Evolved EDGE without significantly impacting existing receiver architectures. The inventive receiver comprises a shared local oscillator and two image-rejecting downconverters. The local oscillator generates a local oscillator frequency between two carrier frequencies of adjacent radio channels. The receiver receives a signal in each of the adjacent radio channels. In a dual-carrier mode, a first image-rejecting downconverter uses the local oscillator frequency to downconvert a first signal received in the first radio channel while rejecting a second signal received in the second radio channel. A second image-rejecting downconverter uses the local oscillator frequency to downconvert the second signal while rejecting the first signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing received signals in a multi-carrier system are disclosed. An exemplary method includes estimating one or more first propagation channel coefficients based on a training sequence in each of one or more first slots received over a first radio channel, equalizing signal samples from one or more second slots received over a second radio channel immediately frequency-adjacent to the first radio channel, using the first propagation channel coefficients, and demodulating user data bits from the equalized signal samples. In some embodiments, the training sequence is located at a fixed position in each of the one or more first slots and user data bits are demodulated from a directly corresponding position in each of the second slots. Improved data rates are thus achieved by constraining radio carriers in a multi-carrier system to frequency-adjacent channels and eliminating training symbols from one of the signals.

Abstract: An application program in a host server is operative to detect a change in the host server IP address and, in response thereto, send a message containing the changed address to a remote client, such as a mobile communication device. The message may be transmitted as an email message to a Short Message Server of a cellular provider for the mobile communication device. The message preferably contains at least the changed IP address of the server. The SMS server can identify the phone number of the mobile communication device from the received message and thereby transmit the changed IP address portion of the message to the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A wireless terminal includes a Bluetooth module that communicates first information with a remote Bluetooth device, and a processor that selectively encodes the first information based on whether the remote Bluetooth device supports the enhanced communication mode. The wireless terminal can include a cellular transceiver that communicates second information with a cellular network according to a cellular communication protocol. In the enhanced communication mode, the processor may use one or more signal processing operations to encode the first information for transmission to the remote Bluetooth device that are also used to encode the second information for transmission to the cellular network.

Abstract: An audio playback device and method searches initiates a web search for images related to music or other audio files being played, downloads images from selected web pages returned by the search engine, and outputs one or more images from the selected web pages on a display to enhance the user's listening experience.

Abstract: A plurality of light sources is mounted on a housing of an interactive user device. The sources are spaced from each other in a defined spatial relationship, for example in a linear configuration. At least one light sensor is also positioned at the surface of the housing. The light sensor senses light that is reflected from an object placed by the user, such as the user's finger, within an area of the light generated by the light sources. A processor in the user device can recognize the sensed reflected light as a user input command correlated with a predefined operation and respond accordingly to implement the operation.