Research in Motion Corporation

Blackberry Corporation

David Mak-fan

Tom Nagy

Russell N. Owen

Leonardo Salomone

Arjuna Sivasithambaresa

Matt Milardovic

Ian M Robertson

David James Mak-Fan

James Wang

Matthew Richard Lee

David Noel Vanden Heuvel

Russell Raymond Andrade

Russell Norman Owen

Leonardo Jose Silva Salomone

Arjuna Sivasithambaresan

James Jiunn Yeong Wang

Russell N Owen

Mihal Lazaridis

Sye Van Der Veen

Ingo W Weigele

Matthew Lee

A wireless client device is associated with an access point in an association having a value for a listen interval parameter. The wireless client device determines, according to predefined considerations, a different value for the listen interval parameter, and declares the different value for the listen interval parameter in a wireless transmission to the access point. The listen interval parameter specifies a number of beacon intervals that can pass from a time the wireless client device listens for a beacon frame from the access point before the wireless client device listens for a next beacon frame from the access point.

Power saving via variable listen intervals in a WLAN

The disclosure relates to a system and method for adjusting a characteristic of a data transmission in order to maintain a rate of transmission. For the method, it comprises: monitoring for initiation of the data transmission to the device; identifying characteristics of the device relating to the data transmission; automatically adjusting the transmission rate according to a preset transmission rate progression established for the communication network; and adjusting characteristics of the data transmission to allow the characteristics of data transmission to conform to the characteristics of the device while maintaining the transmission rate for the device.

System and method for adjusting transmission data rates to a device in a communication network

A system and method of locating a lost wireless communication device is provided. A remote server is contacted to indicate that the wireless communication device is lost. A lost device policy setting is then activated in a database coupled to the remote server, the lost device policy setting indicating that the wireless communication device is lost. In response to activation of the lost device policy setting, a remote location command is then transmitted from the remote server to the wireless communication device via a wireless network. The remote location command is subsequently received at the lost wireless communication device, which processes the remote location command such that a user of the wireless communication device can locate the device.

System and method of remotely locating a lost mobile communication device

Techniques for use in communicating messages to a mobile device operative in a wireless network are described. A communication network receives a broadcast message which includes a protocol type identifier in a protocol type identifier field. The communication network identifies whether the protocol type of the broadcast message matches one of a plurality of protocol types stored in association with an identification of the mobile device. If the protocol type of the broadcast message matches one of the stored protocol types, then the communication network produces, from the broadcast message, a unicast message which includes information from the broadcast message, and causes the unicast message to be sent to the mobile device in the wireless network.

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption for mobile devices using broadcast-to-unicast message conversion

A novel method and apparatus for controlling operation of a photosensor array in a portable electronic device to reduce flicker resulting from fluorescent light having a periodic intensity. The method comprises selecting a time zone in which the device is to be operated, correlating the time zone with a corresponding frequency of the fluorescent light, and signaling the photosensor array to operate in accordance with a mode optimized to reduce flicker based on the selected time zone.

Camera with automatic fluorescent lighting mode

A probabilistic prediction is made of the location of a wireless-enabled mobile station in a wireless local area network. The prediction includes calculating a vector representing movement of the mobile station through a space in which two or more access points of the network are located, and determining a region surrounding the vector in which the mobile station has at least a given probability to be located within a certain period of time.

Probabilistic location prediction for a mobile station

The invention relates to a system and method for adjusting a characteristic of a data transmission in order to maintain a rate of transmission. For the method, it comprises: monitoring for initiation of the data transmission to the device; identifying characteristics of the device relating to the data transmission that affect the ability of the device to process the transmission; automatically adjusting the transmission rate according to a preset transmission rate progression established for the communication network; and adjusting characteristics of the data transmission to allow the characteristics of data transmission to conform to the characteristics of the device while maintaining the transmission rate for the device.

An access point is to transmit delivery traffic indication messages at different periods of beacon frames for different wireless client devices associated with the access point. A client device may store an indication of a preferred period of beacon frames at which to listen to delivery traffic indication messages when in power save mode. The client device may adjust its preferred period according to predefined considerations, for example a charge level of a battery to power the client device and/or an expected usage model for the client device. A client device may negotiate its preferred period with the access point.

Maintaining delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) periods on a per-wireless client device basis

Methods and apparatus for use in reducing power consumption in battery-powered mobile communication devices in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are described. In one illustrative example, a mobile device in a WLAN is configured to normally refrain from receiving broadcast messages so that it may remain in a low power mode of operation. A network server is configured to convert broadcast messages into unicast messages for receipt by the mobile device only if the message or protocol type of the broadcast message is one in which the mobile device needs to process. As the mobile device is still configured to receive unicast messages, it will receive and decode such a unicast message and process the broadcast information within it accordingly. Advantageously, battery power is conserved at the mobile device.

Method an arrangement for facilitating the use of a trackball on a wireless handheld communication device as a navigation tool and a selection tool of designated information presented on a display screen of the device. A wireless handheld communication device is provided that has at a front face thereof a display screen located above a keyboard suitable for accommodating textual input. A depressible trackball functions as a navigation tool for moving a cursor about on the display screen when rolled and as a selection tool when sufficiently depressed. Cursor movement is affected by digitally engaging the trackball and maintaining the trackball in a navigation zone depth within the device. Selection of designated information is affected by depressing the trackball a predefined amount. The wireless handheld communication device is configured so that no cursor movement is affected by rolling movement of the trackball when in the selection zone.

Method for facilitating navigation and selection functionalities of a trackball incorporated upon a wireless handheld communication device

An access point is to handle received broadcast or multicast traffic as multiple instances of unicast traffic, where each instance is destined for a corresponding wireless client device associated with the access point. A client device may adjust its listen interval parameter according to predefined considerations, for example a charge level of a battery to power the client device and an expected usage model for the device. A client device may initiate a reassociation request to inform the access point of its adjusted listen interval parameter.

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Waterloo, Canada

Tom Nagy