Abstract: A method and/or system allows a user of a social networking service to publish a content item tagged with location information for sharing with other users of the social networking service. The user publishing the content item performs operations on the originating device to generate the content item. The originating communication device attaches the location information to the content item, and transmits the content item to a social networking system. The social networking system may provide various location-based services based on the content item tagged with the location information.

Abstract: A proximity fence can be a location-agnostic fence defined by signal sources having no geographic location information. The proximity fence can correspond to a group of signal sources instead of a point location fixed to latitude and longitude coordinates. A signal source can be a radio frequency (RF) transmitter broadcasting a beacon signal. The beacon signal can include a payload that includes an identifier indicating a category to which the signal source belongs, and one or more labels indicating one or more subcategories to which the signal source belongs. The proximity fence defined by the group of signal sources can trigger different functions of application programs associated with the proximity fence on a mobile device, when the mobile device moves within the proximity fence and enters and exits different parts of the proximity fence corresponding to the different subcategories.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile device, a control method thereof, a message sending apparatus and a message sending method. The mobile device includes a wireless communication unit which performs wireless communication via a wireless network; a signal processing unit which processes a signal transmitted/received by the wireless communication unit; a display unit which displays an image based on the signal processed by the signal processing unit; and a control unit which receives a message from a counterpart device, displays the received message on the display unit, remotely accesses a remote device, and controls the remote device to allow the mobile device to access information stored in the remote device.

Abstract: A network element of a communication provider arranged to receive a call invite from an originating end-user terminal inviting a destination end-user terminal to a proposed session for conducting a voice or video call over a packet-based network, in response to generate a push notification, and to send the push notification to the destination end-user terminal. The processing apparatus is configured to generate the push notification with a payload comprising call signalling information enabling a response regarding the proposed session to be formulated by the destination end-user terminal and returned to the originating end-user terminal, the call signalling information comprising at least (i) an indication that a session between end-user terminals is sought, and (ii) an identifier for responding to the originating end-user terminal.

Abstract: Method and device of providing multi-modal instant messaging communication are disclosed. The method includes: while displaying a conversation interface of a current dialogue session between a user of the mobile device and the user's conversation partner: detecting a change in a manner by which the mobile device is carried by the user; in response to detecting the change: obtaining a current conversation status of the current dialogue session; and in accordance with predetermined rules based on the current conversation status and the detected change, selectively activating a respective conversation mode of a plurality of conversation modes available to the current dialogue session; processing a message under the activated respective conversation mode; and updating the current conversation status of the current dialogue session.

Abstract: A method is presented that enables an electronic device, having embedded wireless data communication capabilities, to be controlled from a remote terminal via a wireless network. The method includes recognizing the device, associating the device with a user, and accessing an application. The application relates to monitoring or control of the device. The application is processed through an application program interface to configure the application for a user terminal. The configured application is then accessible through a network communication for execution by the user terminal. The server or system offering the configured application may also act as a proxy between the user terminal and the electronic device, for wireless monitoring or control of the electronic device while the user terminal executes the application.

Abstract: A method of selecting a distribution list for a voice mail message. The steps include identifying a group of recipients with whom to share the voice mail message, creating a user profile which includes voice mail preferences of a subscriber and the group of recipients, the preferences including an indication as whether to share the voice mail message with the group of recipients and distributing the voice mail message based on the preferences.

Abstract: A secondary wireless communication device may send and receive instant messages by causing a primary wireless communication device to send and receive the messages on behalf of the secondary wireless mobile communication device through a cellular communication system. To accomplish this, the primary and secondary devices may wirelessly communicate with one another through a connection other than the cellular communication system. Synchronization of instant messages between the primary and secondary devices may be maintained whenever the devices are in communication.

Abstract: A communication expands a text message into a web page and provides a link to the web page to a recipient device. The web page includes image content representing a subject or verb of the text message.

Abstract: In example embodiments, a system and method for ensuring that a communication is made from within a communication application is provided. A communication initiated from a device of a user is received. A determination is made as to whether a notification is received from the communication application on the device of the user. Based on the notification being received from the device of the user, a determination is made as to whether the notification provides an indication that the communication was made from within a communication application. A notice may be provided to the user based on the communication being made from outside the communication application or the user may be charged a different rate.

Abstract: A method for applying personalized rules to an incoming e-mail message includes receiving an e-mail message addressed to a user and forwarding a copy of the e-mail message to a mobile communication device associated with the user. One or more pre-defined rules associated with the user are applied to the e-mail message. At least one of the pre-defined rules is identified that the e-mail message satisfies. The identified rule specifies that a text message such as an SMS message be sent to the mobile communication device indicating that an e-mail message satisfying the pre-defined rule has been received. The text message includes a link that allows the user to directly access the e-mail with the mobile communication device's user interface.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Abstract: A provisioning system configured to retrieve a voicemail password and/or a pilot number for a voicemail account, create a first service request directed to an over-the-air system, and send the first service request to the over-the-air system, if the provisioning system determines that the voicemail account has been initialized. The first service request instructs the over-the-air system to format a first message including the voicemail password and/or the pilot number for delivery to a mobile device. The provisioning system is further configured to create a second service request directed to the over-the-air system and send the second service request to the over-the-air system, if the provisioning system determines that the voicemail account has not been initialized. The second service request instructs the over-the-air system to format a second message including a default voicemail password and/or a default pilot number for delivery to the mobile device.

Abstract: A telephone station apparatus that is arranged to operate on two, or more, communication lines, receives an instruction to access a voicemail server. The telephone station apparatus switches from a first communication line to a second communication line and initiates a call to the voicemail server. At the voicemail server, calling line identification allows the voicemail server to present an interface to the voicemail box associated with the second communication line.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a method that includes a mobile device receiving via a wireless communication channel a request for an identifier corresponding to a network device. The mobile device transmits the identifier. The mobile device receives a network identifier corresponding to the network device. The mobile device utilizes the network identifier to establish communication with the network device via the wireless communication channel.

Abstract: A method of managing visual voice mail in a multi-screen environment. The method includes receiving voice mail messages in a server, creating a state machine for each message, pushing a visual voice mail notification to at least three devices, receiving an action command from one of the three devices and updating the state machine responsive to the receiving step.

Abstract: A voicemail receptionist system includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail receptionist system and provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, for example. The data stored by the voicemail receptionist system can be updated at any time, or automatically updated upon updating of the data, or upon occurrence of a trigger event. Voicemail receptionist functionality can include standard voicemail system functionality as well as functionality relating to email, text messaging, MMS messaging, calendar features, schedule announcements, location data, as well as other features.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing history data of messages received from and transmitted to other users by a user of a mobile communication device is provided. Message history data is extracted from received and transmitted messages and stored such that a user of the mobile communication device may easily input a conditional request to the device and view message history data associated with a specific other user or message history data identified by conditional data input to the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, the method having the steps of: analyzing a message received from the mobile device to determine a message type; and allocating a state for the mobile device depending on the message type found in the analyzing step. The apparatus is a presence node for deriving and maintaining presence information of a mobile device in a wireless system, the mobile device communicating with a network node, the presence node having: a communication system for communicating with the network node; a processor; and an application running on the processor, the application having means for analyzing a message received from the mobile device at the network node to determine a message type; and allocating a state for the mobile device depending on the message type found in the analyzing step.

Abstract: Method of routing a call to one of a plurality of user equipment of a UMA/GAN-subscriber in a telecommunications network. The telecommunications network comprises a service control entity. Said service control entity determines whether said UMA/GAN-subscriber is within or outside a home area. The service control entity comprises a first indicator indicating at least one network address of a user equipment comprised by the plurality of user equipment to which the call is to be routed in case the UMA/GAN-subscriber is within the home area, and a second indicator indicating at least one network address of a user equipment comprised by the plurality of user equipment to which the call is to be routed in case the UMA/GAN-subscriber is outside the home area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communication of notifications are disclosed. A disclosed method for communicating notifications from a server to a device includes sending a primary message including data indicating notification status information; and sending notification messages apart from the primary message addressed to specific groups of devices. Similarly, another disclosed method for obtaining notifications in a device from a server includes monitoring the primary message including current notification status information, comparing the current notification information status information with a previous notification status information to determine if a change in notification status information has occurred, and obtaining addressed notification information when a change in the notification status information has been determined.

Abstract: In an instant messaging system, message latency is reduced by initiating traffic channel set-up at a receiving device concurrently while a sending device is generating the instant message. When a user begins generating an instant message, the sending device transmits a service request to a payload and connection server to indicate that an instant message is pending. Upon receipt of the service request, the payload and connection server notifies the receiving device so that the receiving device can initiate traffic channel set-up concurrently while the instant message is being recorded. When the traffic channel is established, the receiving device polls the server. If the instant message is not yet received by the payload and connection server when the polling request is received, the payload and connection server waits a predetermined period of time to receive the pending instant message and forwards the instant message when it is received.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a mobile terminal for displaying an event notification. While running an application on a display of the mobile terminal, the terminal receives an event notification. If the event notification is compatible with the application, the terminal generates a user-interactive icon for the event notification on the display. In response to a user selection of the user-interactive icon, the terminal determines whether the event notification corresponds to a public or private event. If the event notification corresponds to a public event, the terminal replaces the application with a display of a list of public events including the public event. If the event notification corresponds to a private event, the terminal prompts a user to enter identity information for accessing private events and replaces the application with a display of a list of private events including the private event after verifying the user-entered identity information.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method. In one example, the method includes, but is not limited to, determining a location of a mobile device; and transmitting a signal to the mobile device, wherein the signal includes information related to a product sold at a store. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to provide network aware applications on a mobile device that can communicate using existing SMS communication channels without resorting to other IP based communication channels that are costlier and are not available on many of the networks.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for enforcing device settings for mobile devices. Generally, a computer system enforces appropriate mobile device settings (e.g., policy and/or configuration settings) prior to permitting a mobile device to access maintained data. The computer system receives a request from a mobile device. The computer system determines that current mobile device settings are not appropriate for accessing the maintained data. The computer system sends device settings, representing a new mobile device configuration that is appropriate accessing the maintained data, to the mobile device. The computer system receives an indication that the mobile device is configured in accordance with the device settings. The computer system permits the mobile device to access the maintained data in response to receiving the indication that the mobile device is configured in accordance with the device settings.

Abstract: A client device is operated to obtain a navigation track between a first location and a second location by establishing a communication connection with a server device and receiving a message that contains information associated with the first location and/or the second location from the server device. The information is associated with a navigation module on the client device. The information associated with the first location and/or the second location is processed using the navigation module to obtain the navigation track between the first location and the second location.

Abstract: In a communication system, an SMS message can be transmitted from a sending entity to a receiving entity. The sending entity is configured to encode the SMS message by inserting both the sender number and the sender text description of the sending entity in the TP-OA field of the SMS message. After transmission, the receiving entity is configured decode the TP-OA field of the encoded SMS message and simultaneously display the sender number and the sender description as the title of the SMS message on a screen.

Abstract: An interactive voice access and notification method includes monitoring one or more notification events associated with one or more recipients identified by a user to detect a trigger of the notification event(s). The method also includes initiating a call to the recipient(s) in response to detecting the trigger of the notification event(s). The method also includes playing back an interactive audible notification message received from the user in response to confirming the recipient(s) are on the call. The method further includes sending a confirmation response to the user when a response from the recipient(s) to the interactive audible notification message triggers a confirmation response.

Abstract: A system is provided for allowing mobile stations to exchange identification information using a predetermined communication path for the purpose of obtaining identification information to use in establishing a different communication path for communicating.

Abstract: In a two-way radio frequency (RF) communications system having a plurality of subscriber units (SUs) and a supporting infrastructure including a wireless core network, a service request is received indicating one of a device, application, and transport link that will be removed from service. One or more SUs out of the plurality of SUs are identified that will be impacted by the removal from service. A determination is then made of whether any one of the SUs is currently involved in an incident response. For each SU determined to be currently involved in an incident response, it is determined whether the respective incident response is of a non-interruptible incident response type. Responsive to determining that a SU is currently involved in a non-interruptible incident response, a notification is caused to appear at a network management console or a dispatch console, and the service request is at least temporarily suspended.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments employed to generate device notifications based upon ambient conditions associated with a mobile device. To this end, a request to generate a device notification is obtained from a user application. Notification content is extracted from the request and an escalated or de-escalated notification level is applied that is based at least in part upon the ambient conditions of the mobile device and properties about the ambient conditions that can be identified.

Abstract: Information that is no longer valid due to the passage of time is not provided to a user. When a stock price information server acquires updated stock price information from a securities market network, a message that instructs that a predetermined application be started up and to which a term of validity has been attached is sent to a user terminal over a paging channel via an SMS server. When the user terminal receives the message, it determines whether or not the message is within the term of validity, and if it determines that the message is within the term of validity, starts up the instructed application from among a plurality of applications that are stored. The stock price information server then sends to the user terminal the stock price information that is requested by the started up application.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided of showing an onscreen message comprising including receiving a message from a sender at a service provider, determining that the sender is associated with a subscriber account wherein one or more networked subscriber devices are associated with the subscriber account, and routing the message to the one or more networked subscriber devices, the message identifying at least one designated action to be performed by the one or more networked subscriber devices.

Abstract: A terminal device includes a message generation unit configured to generate an instant message according to a user command and a communication unit configured to transmit the instant message to another terminal device. A header of the instant message includes a field in which is inserted display identification information indicating whether or not to display the instant message on a display screen.

Abstract: A method is provided which comprises, upon detecting a particular event, determining that a notification is to be provided for the particular event; and activating a light source acting as a camera flash to provide the notification. The method may further comprise determining if an image capture application is currently active and only having the light source emit the camera flash as the notification if the image capture application is not currently active. The method may also comprise determining an orientation of the mobile device, determining if the image capture application is active, and only having the light source emit the camera flash as the notification if the orientation is indicative of visibility of the light source and if the image capture application is not currently active. The method may also comprise determining that the camera flash is to be modulated; and having the light source modulated.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting in-person meetings between users of mobile devices. During operation, the system collects information regarding characteristics of features of the users' surrounding environment as detected by the mobile devices. The characteristics of the detected features are compared with each other to produce observations and the observations are applied to a hidden Markov model to detect meetings between the users. Features detected from the surroundings may include Wi-Fi signals, discoverable Bluetooth signals, and ambient sounds.

Abstract: An exemplary mobile phone is for determining a using state of each of other mobile phones communicatively connected with the mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a first communicating unit, a power switch, a using state determining unit, a second communicating unit, and a control unit. The using state determining unit determines the using state of the mobile phone by monitoring the first communicating unit and the power switch. The control unit controls the second communicating unit to transmit a contact ID and the using state of the mobile phone to a mobile switching center (MSC) via a base station (BS). Each one of the other mobile phones obtains the using state of the mobile phone from the MSC by transmitting the contact ID of the mobile phone via the BS, and updates the using state of the contact ID in the address list with the obtained using state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are broadcast receivers and methods for sharing event information. At a sender end, event information for a broadcast is collected after receiving a command from the sender and a message is created that includes the event information. The sender may then select one or more contacts with whom to share the event information. Thereafter, the message and information on the contact is transmitted to a mobile device of the sender over a short range communication link. The message may then be automatically forwarded from the mobile device to the selected recipients. At the recipient end, the message is received from the mobile device of the recipient over a short range communication link and processed to determine if the message is a recommendation message. If so, the contents of the message are extracted and displayed on a television display of the recipient.

Abstract: In one example a controller comprises logic, at least partially including hardware logic, configured to receive a notification of an incoming event and terminate the notification in response to at least one of a predetermined motion applied to the controller or a predetermined touch applied to a touch surface. Other examples may be described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing interruptions in a multiple communication mode environment are provided herein. For example, a method may include receiving at least first instance of communication data associated with a first communication mode; obtaining first attribute data related to the first instance of communication data; classifying the first instance of communication data into first category based on the first attribute data using the interruption management device; and determining whether to interrupt a user by delivering the first instance of communication data based on the first category. The first category may be selected from a plurality of predetermined categories using a classification algorithm.

Abstract: A hardware and/or software facility measures end user activity associated with a software application or service on a mobile phone or other mobile device. The facility tracks and stores usage data associated with a mobile user's use of the application or service. When the mobile user initiates transmission of the usage data, the facility retrieves from the mobile phone or other mobile device a usage code representing the usage data. The facility relies on user transcription, text input-buffer insertion, or other indirect means of data transport to deliver the usage code from the mobile phone or other mobile device to an application developer, service provider, or another entity. The recipient extracts the usage data contained in the usage code, and may perform various data mining and analysis techniques on the usage data in order to evaluate how the application or service is used.

Abstract: Selecting at least one recipient to receive a communication, identifying and presenting a list of additional recipients to the user, the additional recipient list including contacts who have received messages in combination with the at least one selected recipient in the past, and allowing the user to select one or more of the additional recipients to receive the communication.

Abstract: An Internet protocol (IP) telephony system provides telephony services to a mobile telephony device via data packet communications that traverse a data network. If the IP telephony system has received calls that were missed by the user of the mobile telephony device, or if the IP telephony system has received communications that have not yet been reviewed by the user of the mobile telephony device, information about those missed calls and unreviewed messages is delivered to the mobile telephony device so that the user can be alerted to their existence. The information may be delivered to the mobile telephony device in a push notification.

Abstract: An information notification method is disclosed in this application. The method includes: receiving notification information sent by a sending end that indicates that unprocessed information exists, and the notification information is information carrying a vibration instruction (S101); obtaining a sending identifier in the notification information and searching for unprocessed information that has the sending identifier (S102); and When the unprocessed information is found, triggering a vibration motor according to the vibration instruction (S103). In the information notification method provided by the present invention, in a manner of sending an information vibration instruction to generate vibration at a receiving party, the receiving party is rapidly and effectively notificationed to view the unprocessed information, so that the information receiving party can process some significant information sent by a sending party in time.

Abstract: This invention concerns a messaging service in a wireless communications network. In a first aspect, the invention is a method for providing a messaging service on a wireless device in a wireless communications network; the method comprising the steps of: Retrieving the destination address of an outgoing message on the device. Verifying whether the destination address is capable of receiving the message via a packet-switched bearer. If verification is affirmative, then automatically sending the message to the destination address via a packet-switched bearer, but otherwise, automatically sending the message to the destination address via an SMS bearer. In another aspect, the invention is a mobile device programmed to perform the method. In a further aspect, the invention is a software program to implement the method.

Abstract: A computing system includes at least one processor and at least one module, operable by the at least one processor to receive, from a computing device associated with a user, an indication of an incoming communication, the incoming communication including information and determine, based at least in part on the information included in the incoming communication, one or more candidate responses to the incoming communication, wherein each candidate response includes information to be sent by the computing device to at least one other computing device, and wherein at least one candidate response was previously selected at least at a threshold frequency by at least one of the user and one or more other users. The at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to send, to the computing device, a set of candidate responses from the one or more candidate responses.

Abstract: A device that enable users to send and receive a message in different formats may include a text message gateway, an audio message gateway, and a processor. The text message gateway may include a Short Message Service (SMS) gateway. The audio message gateway may include an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) unit and/or a client application interface that receives audio from a client application of a mobile communications device. The processor may be configured to convert text messages received at the text-message gateway into audio messages and then to send the audio messages via the audio message gateway. The processor may also be configured to convert audio messages received at the audio message gateway into text messages and then to send the text messages via the text message gateway.

Abstract: An apparatus, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: when the determined relative position of a first portable electronic device with respect to at least a second electronic apparatus is within a predetermined proximity, automatically provide for an availability status update, associated with a user of the first portable electronic device, for use by a third party electronic device.

Abstract: Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc.