Motorola Corporation

Google Inc.

Blackberry Corporation

Research in Motion Corporation

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Charles P Schultz

Ellis Arthur Pinder

Von Alan Mock

Jenco Danger

Kannan Narayanan Iyer

Juan C Fernandez

Audrey Longhurst

Francis P Malaspina

Jose C Lacal

Mitchell E Renko

Arnold W Pittler

Larry G Brown

Adrian J Biddles

A method () and a system () of conducting transactions for acquisition of virtual items. The method can include receiving from a user () a request to acquire the virtual item. Responsive to an identity indicator () that is exclusively unique to an identity confirmation device () being communicated from the identity confirmation device, a determination can be made whether the identity indicator corresponds to the user. Responsive to determining that the identity indicator corresponds to the user, the virtual item can be provided to the user. The method also can include receiving from a user a request to acquire the virtual item, receiving from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device, and communicating the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server ().

Secure payment of virtual items

Presenting content within an application on a device is disclosed. Receiving notification of new content within an application at a device is disclosed. Presenting the received notification at the device is disclosed. Receiving a selection of the notification, and displaying the new content in the screen directly following receiving the selection of the notification are disclosed. Notification can be received outside the application, e.g., by posting notification on a social network, posting notification to a web site, and posting a message to a user's avatar in a virtual world. A selection can be received while the device is offline, in which case the new content displayed is that content stored on the device.

Pushed content notification and display

A method and apparatus for managing a communication link in a communication network are provided. A continuous actuation button is configured to initiate a communication link between communication devices. The communication link is initiated when a force applied on the continuous actuation button exceeds a first force threshold. The force applied on the continuous actuation button is sampled at periodic time intervals. A release event of the continuous actuation button is detected when the force applied on the continuous actuation button reaches a second force threshold. The communication link is maintained for a predefined period of time after detecting the release event based on whether the sampled force indicates that the release event was unintentional. The predefined period of time is sufficient to allow a user to take action to avoid disconnection if undesired.

Method and system for managing a communication link in a communication network

A method () of creating pairwise combinatorial test cases from system configuration data can include reading a graphic representation of the system configuration data (). Within the graphic representation, parameters can be represented by nodes and parameter can be represented by flows linking the nodes. The method further can include identifying paths of flows through the graphic representation until each parameter value of the graphic representation has been paired with all values of each other parameter of the graphic representation (). Each path can specify a pairwise combinatorial test case.

Method and apparatus for generating pairwise combinatorial tests from a graphic representation

A method () of payment of communication services includes determining () if a request () for services is an essential service or non-essential service, determining () if a device and/or user is authorized for non-essential service, and determining () if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service. The method can further include rejecting () the request for non-essential service if the device and/or user is unauthorized or if insufficient pre-pay funds exist. The method grants () 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 () to a recurring bill. If the device and/or user is authorized and sufficient prepay funds exist, then the method grants () the request for the non-essential service. In response or in conjunction with granting, the method can deduct () funds from prepay funds upon granting the request.

Communication services payment method and system

A mobile device () and method () for generating wind instrument sounds is provided. The mobile device can include a microphone () for capturing an air turbulence in response to a blowing action, a keypad () for selecting a virtual valve to associate with the air turbulence, a synthesis engine () for synthesizing a musical note in response to the blowing and the virtual valve, and an audio speaker () for playing the musical note. One or more keys of the keypad can be depressed during the blowing action on the microphone for synthesizing a musical note of a wind instrument. A display () can present a musical notation () and a fingering chart () for musical notes.

Wind instrument phone

A system, method and computer readable medium are provided for facilitating a multiplayer game over a wireless network. According to the method, a request to transfer information between two of the wireless devices is received during the multiplayer game (e.g.,), with the information being at least one of text, audio, and image information. It is determined whether the requested transfer is permitted according to a set of predefined rules for the multiplayer game (), and the information is transferred between the two wireless devices only if it is determined that the predefined rules permit the requested transfer (). Also provided are a wireless device (e.g.,) for use with a multiplayer game and a server (e.g.,) for facilitating a multiplayer game over a wireless network.

Method and system for reality gaming on wireless devices

The invention concerns a method () and system () for tracking content rental. The method includes the steps of&#x2014;from a portable electronic device ()&#x2014;requesting () multimedia content for a rental session, determining () whether the request for the rental session is authorized, receiving () at the portable electronic device the multimedia content for the rental session if the request is authorized and terminating () the rental session based on a predetermined power condition of the portable electronic device.

Method and system for tracking content rental

Within a mobile communication device (), a method () of specifying two or more musical notes for substantially concurrent playback can include receiving () an input specifying a root note (FIG.) indicating a position on a neck of a stringed instrument and associating () at least one column of input keys such as numeric keys () of the mobile communication device with a string of the stringed instrument (). Numeric keys next to one another and within a same column can specify notes which vary by approximately a half-step (). The method also can include detecting () at least one activation of the numeric keys specifying at least one additional note to be played substantially concurrently or in a defined sequence with the root note (FIG.), thereby specifying a musical chord.

Entry of musical data in a mobile communication device

A communication device (122) supports secure communications using automated encryption key scheduling. The communication device (122) is provided with access to one or more schedules having entries of specific time periods, such as date and time of day information, that govern selection of encryption keys. A schedule is selected and accessed using current time information to obtain an encryption key (310, 320, 330). Subsequent communications are conducted using the obtained encryption key (340).

Method and apparatus for secure communications with encryption key

A communication system (101) interfaces to an information network (140) through provider equipment (110, 130) to provide data to subscriber units (120, 125). A request is received (410) at the provider equipment (110, 130) from a subscriber unit (120) for streamed data sourced on the information network. The provider equipment determines (420) whether this data corresponds to a request that is currently being serviced on a particular communication channel accessible to the subscriber unit. When such is the case, the request is satisfied by communicating (425) a designator for this channel to the subscriber unit. Otherwise, the provider equipment accesses (430) the information network to obtain (440) the data, and communicates (450, 460) a designated channel to the subscriber unit for receipt of this data. The provider equipment then couples the data from the information source and transmits (470) this data on the designated channel.

Method for providing data from an information network to subscribers of

A radio communication system (100) has a subscriber unit (150) that operates to reduce registration requirements, particularly for power up operations. The subscriber unit (150) saves communication environment information before powering down, and restores the stored communication environment upon a subsequent power up, if the stored environment is deemed current (200, 300). Preferably, the subscriber unit (150) provides notification to the system of its powered up / down status (230, 335). The subscriber unit may complete a full power up registration process if the stored communication environment is determined to be outdated (360).

Method for subscriber registration in a radio communication system

An orientation controlled method of switching the operational mode of an electronic device adds additional functionality to existing buttons or switches. The electronic device (10) typically contains an orientation detector (30) which is sensitive to its position in space. One or more of these orientation detectors is linked to appropriate sections of the electronic device and act to switch between the various operational modes of the device. When the user orients the device to a predetermined position in space, the orientation detectors are activated or engaged, thus sending a signal to the device to change the operational mode. The user then has the option of pushing a button (22, 24) to select that particular operational mode or to toggle between various submodes of that operational mode. When the user input is complete and the device is returned to the original orientation, the orientation detectors are deactivated or disengaged and the device is then used in a normal operating fashion.

Method and apparatus for orientation controlled parameter selection

A subscriber unit (127), operating within a first communication system (120) receives emergency alarm support from a second, operationally independent, communication system (140), that provides support through a guest access mode. The subscriber unit (127) transmits a message to the second system (570), the message including the emergency alarm call and supplementary information that identifies the source of the emergency alarm call. The second system (140) receives the message (610), determines source identification information for the emergency alarm call (620), and communicates the emergency alarm call to the first system based on the source identification information (630). Preferably, the subscriber unit (127) maintains an emergency resource list (322) for selecting recipients for handling emergency alarm calls.

Growing community of inventors

Hialeah, FL, United States of America

Charles P Schultz