Abstract: In a mobile station (MS) of a cellular radiotelephone system, a method of searching for the MS's home public land mobile network (HPLMN) when the MS is camped on a non-HPLMN. The method is performed in thirty second intervals while the MS is already in its receive ready (higher current-drawing) state. The method performs strategic measurements of the receive signal level in order to determine if it is likely that the HPLMN has become available again. If the probability is high that the HPLMN has become available, further data is gathered on the likely available channel. Once the channel is identified, the MS begins the camping procedure to register on the HPLMN.

Abstract: A recommendation system is disclosed that generates recommendations for one or more items based on user preferences and one or more environmental factors. The user's preferences are learned under various environmental conditions using an environmental data collection system. The observed environmental conditions may include, for example, location, characteristics of the location, weather or characteristics of the user's motion, such as a rate of movement. For each positive and negative behavioral example, a number of attributes of the selected item are classified in the user profile together with the prevailing environmental conditions. When recommending an item, the disclosed recommender retrieves the user preferences and evaluates the current environmental conditions. A recommendation score can be generated for each available item based on the user's demonstrated preferences under similar environmental conditions, such as in the same or a similar geographic area or under similar weather conditions.

Abstract: The invention which is the subject of the application relates to a television system apparatus and method wherein the broadcast data receiver includes at least two tuners. Each tuner is controllable to tune to a frequency of a known RF carrier for data relating to one or a plurality of selectable television channels. In order to avoid or reduce the delay which can appear on screen when the user selects to change channels a method and apparatus is provided whereby, based upon previous user channel selection patterns, the apparatus predicts the channel which is next to be selected and if one of the tuners is free, that tuner is controlled to tune to the RF carrier frequency for the predicted channel such that the data for that channel is available, should the channel subsequently be selected by the user.

Abstract: A microcellular communication system which broadcasts its local channel block, including the control channels allotted from a total channel block to the microcellular system, on all control channels being used by the system. A mobile unit seeking access to the microcellular system initially searches the total channel block in an effort to receive the local channel block information broadcast by the microcellular system. The mobile unit compares received local channel block information with stored total channel block information and replaces its memory content with the newly received information. Periodic searching of stored channel block information is conducted to verify that the mobile unit has the relevant channel block information for the local microcellular system.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver that responds to broadcast stations having a listener-preferred program style. The receiver has a processor and a database memory arranged to be coupled with the processor. The memory is configured to store information concerning a number of broadcast stations that serve at least a portion of a user-designated geographic area, and which stations have a designated program style. The information corresponds to an operating frequency for each broadcast station and an associated service coverage. A geographic position determining unit (e.g., a GPS receiver) is coupled to the processor and produces information corresponding to a current position of the receiver within the designated area. The processor is configured to produce a tuning signal operative to set a tuner unit to respond to a broadcast station that can be received at the receiver's position with the designated program style.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed having a base station and a plurality of handsets connected to this base station by various radio channels. For saving on accumulators which supply power to these handsets, these handsets are put in a standby mode for as long periods as possible: notably the periods of scanning for idle channels become very much interspaced with time.