Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for selecting an image of a caller associated with an incoming call. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a caller associated with an incoming call from an originating telecommunications device. The method also includes locating plurality images of the identified caller, and randomly displaying on the mobile telecommunications device's display screen one or more images from among the located plurality images of the identified caller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system, method, and computer program product for providing a notification of an incoming call on a communication device. For example, in one embodiment, a communication device is disclosed comprising one or more displays covering two or more surfaces of the communication device. In certain embodiments, a first image is displayed on two or more displays in response to receiving an incoming call for providing a visible indicator for alerting a user of an incoming call. Still, in some embodiments, the first image is a current profile image of a caller retrieved from a network device associated with a social networking website.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for presenting conference call information using a mobile conferencing system. The mobile conferencing system classifies a call type parameter as a conference call based on conference details. The mobile conferencing system joins a mobile device to a teleconference using the conference details and the call type parameter. The mobile conferencing system then displays an active call graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface displays at least part of the conference details.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device comprising a core phone with a detachable primary device. The core phone transfers an incoming call alert to the detached primary device by synchronizing the display frame buffer of the core phone with the display frame buffer associated with the detached primary device. A plurality of remote secondary devices can be paired with the core phone on request by said secondary devices to transfer an incoming call alert to said plurality of secondary devices and establish a connection after authorization with said detached primary device. The detachable primary device is usable by pairing with the core phone when the core phone is not used directly but remains in the vicinity. Important data in the primary device is synchronized with the core phone to avoid data loss when the primary device is accidentally dropped or lost or damaged.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for centrally optimizing femtocells are presented herein. A scanning component can receive information from femtocells indicating respective operating conditions of the femtocells. Further, an optimization component can categorize the femtocells into groups based on the information, and direct a change of a parameter set of a group of the groups to a femtocell of the group. A method can include receiving, from femtocells, information associated with respective operating conditions of the femtocells; sorting the femtocells into groups based on the information; and directing a change of a parameter set that is associated with a group of the groups to a femtocell of the group. In an example, the method can further include directing a change of a parameter of a macrocell communicatively coupled to a femtocell of the femtocells.

Abstract: Methods for steering the access technology selection by a mobile device in an overlay Small-Cell and Macro Network, such as UMTS, LTE, CDMA, or WIFI are disclosed. This selection determination is based on the observed, real-time correlated and estimated network congestion, content-awareness, application/service expectations, and other criteria. Methods and procedures to influence network selection or control currently selected networks by propagating real-time correlated and consolidated information on a plurality of Radio Access Technologies to Access Points, or modifying the list of alternative Radio Access Technologies available at a location using standards defined mechanisms and parameters are identified.

Abstract: A device and a method for automatically switching profiles in mobile phones based on the environment of a user are disclosed. The device and the method take into consideration various parameters for changing the profile. The parameters include acoustic parameters, accelerometer parameters, network strength and clock time. Based on all these measured parameters the method builds a graphical model. The graphical model is trained for different profiles. Further, as and when the environment of the user changes, the parameters change. Based on these parameters the graphical model is employed to analyze the probability of different states or profiles. Accordingly, the mobile phone is switched from one profile to another automatically.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus includes a computer configured to receive an incoming call request from a caller device; identify a communication service requested by the caller device, based on the received incoming call request; retrieve from among a plurality of OSs running on the communication terminal apparatus and based on communication services processable by each OS included among the OSs, an OS capable of processing the identified communication service; and allocate the incoming call request to the retrieved OS.

Abstract: A base station apparatus, when performing the transmission controls of pico base stations, can perform an appropriate transmission control for each pico base station, while suppressing the increase of the amount of feedback information from a macro terminal to a macro base station and also suppressing the increase of the amount of transmission control information from the macro base station to the pico base station. In this apparatus, a transmission control unit (102) updates, on the basis of the control information, the priority level of each of a plurality of different correspondences in which the respective ones of transmission control guidelines are associated with the respective ones of a plurality of control information history patterns, and controls the transmissions on the basis of the control guidelines determined from the control information histories and the correspondences each having a respective higher priority level.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to generate a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system can determine which devices are within the vehicle. From this determination, the vehicle communication system may create a universal bus and hotspot where applications, data, multimedia information, and resources can be shared both with the vehicle and with the other devices in the vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile communication device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided for handling random access failures in a multi-carrier system. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a cellular station. The controller module performs operations of a Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The operations includes: retrying a random access procedure on a carrier frequency with the cellular station via the wireless module, and stopping the retry of the random access procedure in response to the retry of the random access procedure being failed or receiving a message from the cellular station via the wireless module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a user equipment is described, the method comprising, at the user equipment: receiving data from a cell in a wireless network; if reading of the data is unsuccessful, determining a signal quality metric for a signal received from the cell; and when reading of the data is unsuccessful and when the signal quality metric meets a criterion, initiating a procedure associated with cells for which reading of the data is unsuccessful.

Abstract: A communications base station is installed at a selected new location and the base station, prior to going “online” monitors the wireless traffic from other base stations within interference range of the new base station's coverage area. The new base station also monitors the wireless traffic between mobile devices within its coverage area and these other base stations. Based upon these monitored conditions, as well as other known conditions, the new base station then determines the transmitting parameter configuration it should imply in order to achieve a desired optimization between capacity and coverage area. After the new base station is online, a central control can monitor the entire network to determine if any additional changes are necessary and if so the new transceiver, or any other transceiver, can be instructed to monitor itself with respect to interference and to take corrective action to improve overall network coverage and capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a first radio base station for determining a performance state of a first cell served by the first radio base station, which first radio base station is comprised in a radio communications network. The method comprises determining traffic statistics of the first cell, comparing the traffic statistics with a threshold value, when the determined traffic statistics goes beyond the threshold value, transmitting a data request to a second radio base station requesting data retrieved in or associated with a second cell to be used to determine performance state of the first cell, receiving a data response indicating the requested data from the second radio base station, and determining the performance state of the first cell based on the data response.

Abstract: A technique for communication with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-sped wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path.

Abstract: A satellite-based communication system (1) comprises a router system (6) which receives from a switching unit (3) via a satellite system (4) network addressing information associated with communication terminals (2) connected to the switching unit (3). The network addressing information of the communication terminals (2) are stored in the router system (6) assigned to telephone numbers associated with the communication terminals (2). For enabling an exchange unit (7) to route via the satellite link (40) received data to the communication terminal (2), the router system (6) transmits to the exchange unit (7) the network addressing information associated with the communication terminals (2) connected to the switching unit (3). Hence, data can be routed flexibly in the satellite-based communication system (1) between communication terminals (2, 2?) which are not configured for satellite communication and which are used by mobile users who may move in areas covered by different satellites (43).

Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize femtocell access points (FAP) to perform radio frequency (RF) network sweeps are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: predicting an availability of an access point (AP) to perform an RF network sweep; and determining that the access point is available to perform the RF network sweep based, at least, on a prediction that a mobile device on a white list for the access point is not likely to access the access point during a time interval associated with performing the RF network sweep. In another embodiment, a method includes: comparing a network quality characteristic for a wireless channel associated with a FAP with a network quality characteristic for a wired network communicatively coupled to the FAP. The network quality characteristics can be the same. The method can then include employing the comparison to determine to which network an impairment is attributable.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments involving a two-step searcher for cell discovery. Multiple scrambling codes associated with multiple neighboring cells are obtained. Slot timing is obtained for a received signal based at least in part on a detection of primary synchronization peak energy in the received signal. One of the scrambling codes for decoding the received signal is identified based at least in part on testing multiple scrambling code hypotheses in parallel during an accumulation time period of the received signal in response to obtaining the slot timing.

Abstract: Confusion associated with a physical layer identifier is detected and action taken to address this confusion. In some aspects, confusion detection involves determining whether signals such as beacons or pilots that are associated with the same physical layer identifier are also associated with different timing (e.g., different observed time difference (OTD) values). In some aspects, confusion detection involves determining whether an inordinate number of handover failures is associated with a particular physical layer identifier. In some aspects, the action taken upon detecting physical layer identifier confusion involves ensuring that an access terminal is not handed over to an access point that uses that physical layer identifier. In some aspects, the action taken upon detecting physical layer identifier confusion involves resolving the confusion.

Abstract: A technique for cell signature determination in a cellular communication network is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing a set of hypothesis signals, each hypothesis signal including a signature hypothesis, receiving a composite signal including a first signal portion carrying a first signature from a first cell and a second signal portion carrying a second signature from a second cell, wherein the first signal portion and the second signal portion overlap at least partially in time, and obtaining a correlation result by correlating the composite signal with each hypothesis signal. After the first signature has been determined, a set of phantom signatures associated with the first signature is provided. The phantom signatures represent artifacts from the first signal portion in the correlation result. Finally, the second signature is determined based on the correlation result taking into account the set of phantom signatures associated with the first signature.

Abstract: A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: the steps of: acquiring, at a mobile station UE connected in a cell #1 controlled by an E-UTRAN-system radio base station eNB, information on a cell #2 controlled by a UTRAN, radio base station NodeB in response to an instruction from the radio base station eNB; reporting, from the mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB, the acquired information on the cell #2; and notifying, from the radio base station eNB to a UTRAN-system radio network controller RNC which provides service to the cell #2, information on the cell #1.

Abstract: A method for managing adjacent relation among cells is disclosed in the disclosure. The method includes: obtaining adjacent cell configuration information of a current cell in real time; a Network Management System (NMS), an Element Management System (EMS) and a Network Element (NE), in turn, analyzing and processing the adjacent cell configuration information and adjusting an adjacent relation list of the cell, according to a hierarchical control strategy table preconfigured or in default configuration, wherein the hierarchical control strategy table is used to specify adjacent relation list configuration ability of the NMS, the EMS and the NE.

Abstract: A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step A in which an SGSN/MME determines whether to allow a UE to turn into an always-on state in which a bearer for a UE is always established in a core network when “Attach Request” or “RA Update Request/TA Update Request” is received from the UE, and a step B in which the SGSN/MME transmits always-on information indicating the determination result to the UE by using “Attach Accept” or “RA Update Accept/TA Update Accept”.

Abstract: A method for providing public land mobile network access to a User Equipment. A first identity or communication context information relates to the use of the User Equipment according to a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation being defined at least partly by a first configuration information stored in the User Equipment and being associated to a first network access priority. A second identity or communication context information relates to the use of the User Equipment according to a second mode of operation, the second mode of operation being defined at least partly by a second configuration information stored in the User Equipment and being associated to a second network access priority. At least partly during the operation of the User Equipment, the network access of the User Equipment occurs simultaneously using the first mode of operation and using the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A computing platform is provided which is adapted to enable optimizing operation of a cellular network, wherein the computing platform is operative to: (a) probe for information exchanged between a mobile access network and a core network; (b) retrieve statistical KPIs generated from a plurality of network elements belonging to the cellular network; (c) generate a predictive Key Performance Indicator (pKPI) by correlating the probed information with the retrieved statistical KPIs, thereby enabling to predict a trend characterizing future performance of network elements such as cells; and (d) trigger changes in the operation of the cellular network based on the predicted trend, and wherein the probing for information exchanged between a mobile access network and a core network is carried out at a rate which is substantially higher than a rate of retrieving statistical KPIs generated from the plurality of network elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents methods and apparatuses for improved paging area identifier selection in femto nodes and other low power base stations. In some examples described in the present disclosure, a method is provided for selecting a paging area identifier at a low power base station, which includes determining whether a neighboring high power base station is detectable. Additionally, the method can include observing, where the neighboring high power base station is detectable, a broadcasted paging area identifier of the neighboring high power base station. Furthermore, example methods may include selecting a paging area identifier of the low power base station to be the broadcasted paging area identifier and transmitting the paging area identifier.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents methods and apparatuses for improved paging area identifier selection in low power base stations. In some examples described in the present disclosure, a method is provided for updating a paging area identifier, which may include observing one or more parameters of signals received in a wireless network, updating a previously selected paging area identifier to a new paging area identifier based at least in part on the one or more parameters, and transmitting the new paging area identifier. In addition, example methods are provided for paging devices in a wireless network, which may include determining a paging area identifier related to a last known low power base station for a device, determining a plurality of low power base stations using the paging area identifier, and causing the plurality of low power base stations to transmit a paging signal for the device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for performing a voice communication in a mobile terminal that is in range of more than one base station. The mobile terminal determines whether a request signal for a voice communication is transmitted or received. A first signal strength, or a first electric field intensity of a first base station connected to the mobile terminal and a second signal strength, or a second electric field intensity of a second base station positioned within transmission/reception range the mobile terminal are measured when transmission or reception of a requested signal is performed. There is a comparison of electric field intensities or signal strength. Voice communication is performed through the second base station when the second electric field intensity is larger than the first electric field intensity. The first and second base stations may be one generation apart in terms of support.

Abstract: A method of handover of a User Equipment (UE) from first to second Radio Access Network (RANs), the second RAN coupled to a Mobility Controller (MC) and having an association with the first RAN, the UE capable of communication with a Session Transfer Controller (STC) via the first and second RANs, includes receiving a first message at the MC from the first RAN requesting handover of the UE to the second RAN, sending a second message from the MC to the STC subscribing the MC to status updates from the STC, said status updates relating to status of a call, receiving one of said status updates at the MC originated by the STC, dependent on a communication via the first RAN from the UE to the STC of a change in the status, and in response to receipt of said status update, updating a call status indicator of the MC.

Abstract: In order to reduce the occurrence of call loss in mobile stations while suppressing degradation of communication quality in a handover destination cell, a communication unit (11) forming an eNB (10) receives, from another eNB located adjacent to an own eNB, a first reception quality in a cell formed by the own eNB and a second reception quality in a cell formed by the another eNB. The first reception quality and the second reception quality are measured by one or more UE that are in radio communication with the another eNB. A control unit (12) accepts a call associated with UE which satisfies a first condition that the first reception quality is higher than the second reception quality in preference to a call associated with UE which does not satisfy the first condition.

Abstract: A radio controller 100 includes a transmission power acquisition unit 111 configured to acquire a neighboring cell transmission power value that is a transmission power value of a radio signal transmitted from a base station forming the neighboring cell, an offset determination unit 115 configured to determine a power offset of the neighboring cell to be added to the predetermined transmission power value, based on a difference between the predetermined transmission power value and the neighboring cell transmission power value acquired by the transmission power acquisition unit, and an offset notification unit 117 configured to notify the power offset determined by the offset determination unit to the mobile station.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods in which an apparatus for wireless communication is configured to transfer data for a user equipment via a first user plane connection in a first radio access network. If the data transferred via the first user plane connection satisfies a trigger condition, the apparatus is configured to initiate a handover procedure of transferring the user equipment to a second user plane connection in a second radio access network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods. A network controller for wireless communication is configured to transfer data via a first user plane connection in a first radio access network and initiate a handover procedure of transferring the user equipment to a second user plane connection in a second radio access network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods. A network controller for wireless communication is configured to transfer data via a first user plane connection in a first radio access network and initiate a handover procedure of transferring the user equipment to a second user plane connection in a second radio access network.

Abstract: A disclosed base station apparatus to be used in a mobile communication system includes a report signal receiving unit, receiving a report signal from one or more user equipment terminals, a radio parameter adjustment unit adjusting radio parameters based on an analysis result of each report signal, a designation unit designating a report condition to be used for each user equipment terminal to determine whether to transmit the report signal and content to be reported in the report signal, and a report unit reporting the report condition and the content to be reported to the one or more user equipment terminals. Further, in the base station apparatus, the report condition is satisfied when a transmission source of a downlink reference signal is a specific cell, and the content to be reported includes a received quality value of the downlink reference signal.

Abstract: In a radio communication system of hierarchical cell structure in which macrocells provided by a macro base station and femto cells provided by a femto base station are overlapped on each other, a method and a system for handing over a terminal are provided. To be specific, if load of a serving base station increase or decreases more than a predetermined extent, a method and a system adaptively adjust the handover between macro base stations, between femto base station, or between femto base station and macro base station.

Abstract: A method and system of communicating measurement information associated with user equipment in a wireless communication network environment is provided. The method and system include a connection re-establishment request message is transmitted to a target base station associated with a target cell when a handover failure is detected. Then, a connection re-establishment response message is received from the target base station. Furthermore, a connection re-establishment complete message is transmitted to the target base station upon successful re-establishment of the wireless connection between the user equipment and the target base station, where the connection re-establishment complete message includes an indication of availability of measurement information associated with the handover failure with the user equipment. Additionally, a request to transmit the measurement information is received from the target base station. Moreover, the measurement information (e.g., radio conditions, RAT type, etc.

Abstract: There are provided measures for enhanced admission control in relay-enhanced access networks, said measures exemplarily including receipt of a bearer admission request of at least one bearer in a relay-enhanced access network, said at least one bearer consisting of a bearer on an access link between a user equipment and a relay node and a bearer on a backhaul link between said relay node and a base station, and execution of a combined bearer admission control of said at least one bearer at one of said relay node and said base station, including a bearer admission control on the access link and a bearer admission control on the backhaul link. Said measures may exemplarily be applied for enhancing admission control in relay-enhanced LTE and LTE-Advanced access networks.

Abstract: A method performed by a EUTRAN base station. The method includes generating a request for resource status information, sending the generated request to a neighboring EUTRAN base station, receiving one or more resource status update messages from the neighboring EUTRAN base station in response to the requested resource status information, performing load balancing operations in dependence upon the received one or more resource status update messages, and controlling handover of one or more associated mobile communication devices to another cell or base station in dependence upon the one or more received resource status update messages.

Abstract: A method for locating mobile devices in a mobile radio network having first, second, and third mobile devices in first, second, and third locations, includes: transmitting a pilot signal to the second mobile device; measuring a signal strength of the pilot signal; transmitting information related to the signal strength of the pilot signal to the first mobile device; determining the second location relative to the first location based on the information related to the signal strength; transmitting a further pilot signal to the third mobile device; measuring a further signal strength of the further pilot signal; transmitting further information related to the further signal strength to the second mobile device; determining the third location relative to the second location based on the further information related to the further signal strength; and transmitting information related to the third location to the first mobile device.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for frequency offset correction. In one example, among others, a method includes determining a phase estimation of a RF signal, rotating a sample of the RF signal based at least in part upon the phase estimation, and determining a channel estimation based upon the rotated sample. The channel estimation may be derotated based at least in part upon the phase estimation. In another example, a communication device includes a phase rotator configured to rotate RF signal samples based upon a rotation offset, a channel estimation filter configured to determine channel estimates, and a phase derotator configured to rotate the channel estimates based upon another rotation offset. Another example of a communication device includes a differential detector configured to determine conjugate multiply results, an averaging filter configured to sum the results, and a phase estimator configured to determine a phase estimation based upon the sum.

Abstract: Aspects relate to modifications to one or more handover parameters such that spectrum efficiency and user performance can be increased by retaining a mobile device in a source cell, having a more desirable multiple-input multiple-output capability, longer before handover to a cell having a less desirable (or non-) multiple-input multiple-output capability (e.g., slower handover). Another aspect relates to modifying one or more handover parameters such that the mobile device is handed over from a source cell to a target cell quicker if the target cell has better multiple-input multiple-output performance than the source cell. The source cell and/or target cell can be macro cells and/or small cells. For example, the mobile device can hand over from a macro cell to a small cell and/or from a small cell to a macro cell. Further, the disclosed aspects can be implemented on the network and/or the mobile device.

Abstract: A communications apparatus is described which is capable of auto-tuning a cell admission threshold value used to control admission into a communications network. The apparatus obtains an outage rate for one or more current calls at a node in the network, and also a blocking rate of the rate at which admission requests at the node are blocked and uses these rates to adjust a load threshold to be used in admission control decisions. The apparatus then controls admission of calls at the node in dependence on an estimated current load and the load threshold.

Abstract: A method provides radio access within a specific area of a telecommunication network. The specific area is served by first base station(s) assigned to a first RAT and by second base station(s) assigned to a second RAT. Compared to the second RAT the first RAT is a legacy RAT. The method includes (a) determining the amount of radio data traffic within the specific area, (b) comparing the determined amount with a first radio data traffic capacity, and (c) if the first radio data traffic capacity is larger than the determined amount, transferring the second base station(s) into a predefined operational state, in which the second base station(s) has a reduced electric power consumption, and serving the specific area exclusively by the first base station(s). A first base station and a second base station are adapted to carry out the method.

Abstract: A subscriber platform for broadband communication, according to various aspects of the present invention, includes an antenna, a plurality of transceivers, and a processor. The antenna supports communication via a plurality of directional beams. The plurality of frequency agile transceivers operate simultaneously, each transceiver being coupled to the antenna for communication via a respective directional beam. The processor is coupled to the plurality of transceivers. And, the transceivers are coupled to the antenna to communicate data among the directional beams as directed by the processor, communication including directional diversity and frequency diversity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting radio configuration parameters from a base station (102) to a relay node (100) in a wireless telecommunication system, the method comprising the step of transmitting a signal (106) from the base station to the relay node over an air interface via a protocol, the protocol being adapted to communication between two network nodes, wherein the signal is indicative of the radio configuration parameters and/or at least one unique cell global identity.

Abstract: A base station, a wireless terminal and a communication method of a wireless communication system are provided. The base station includes a receiver for receiving a signal from a wireless terminal or another base station, a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the wireless terminal or the another base station, and a controller for generating resource scheduling or control information for communication of the wireless terminal in a cell including at least two base stations included in a moving path of the wireless terminal and for transmitting the generated resource scheduling or control information to the wireless terminal and at least one of the base stations included in the cell.

Abstract: A user can specify rules governing access to location information for a portable device. The rules can impose time, date and location restrictions as well as impose restrictions regarding the type of location information that can be disclosed. The rules for the portable device are stored in association with a unique portable device identifier. Multiple devices owned by the same user can have separate sets of rules or identical rules. A uniform application program interface is provided to permit a third party to request location information. When a request is received, the rules database is accessed to determine whether the request can proceed and what limitations are imposed on the location information. The allowed location information is returned to the third party requester. The system allows the user to allow all or block all location information and provides an override mechanism to allow location information in the event of an emergency call.

Abstract: A method for geolocating a wireless communication unit. The method comprises receiving identifiers for at least two wireless coverage areas visible to the wireless communication unit, obtaining crowd-sourced geographical data for the at least two identified wireless coverage areas, and calculating a geolocation estimate for the wireless communication unit based at least partly on the obtained crowd-sourced geographical data for the at least two identified wireless coverage areas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing alerts to users of mobile communications networks based, at least in part, on users' real-time geospatial location at a point in time. Users and third parties set up alerts for themselves or other users that comprise alert details and trigger criteria. Alert details comprise, inter alia, text or other data defining a message to the user to whom the alert is directed. Trigger criteria comprise a geo-fenced area and dates times the alert is active. When the a user enters a geo-fenced area associated with an alert at such date and time the alert is active, the alert is transmitted to the user.