TeleCommunication Systems Receives Eight U.S. Patents Advancing Public Safety, Mobile Location, Messaging and Secure Communications Technologies

ANNAPOLIS, Md., July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued TCS eight patents since their last patent press release issued May 2012. These patents describe innovations in public safety, mobile location, messaging and secure communications and further strengthen these areas of TCS' intellectual property.

TCS pioneered the methods currently in use today to deliver wireless and Voice over IP (VoIP) E9-1-1 calls to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and is currently pioneering the way in which a native SMS message, with location, would be delivered to the local PSAP. The following three new U.S public safety patents build upon TCS's expertise in E9-1-1solutions:

• "Extended Efficient Usage of Emergency Service Keys" (U.S. Patent 8,208,605)
• "Emergency 9-1-1 Data Messaging" (U.S. Patent 8,185,087)
• "SS7 MAP/Lg+ to SIP Based Call Signaling Conversion Gateway for a Wireless VoIP E911" (U.S. Patent 8,208,461)

The Emergency Service Key patent describes methods to efficiently re-use wireless and VoIP emergency service keys – a limited resource which becomes strained as the volume of wireless/VoIP E9-1-1 calls increases.

The 9-1-1 Data Messaging patent describes methods for delivering non-persistent data, such as SMS or MMS messages, to a PSAP with geo-location automatically included for routing and delivery. This method of sending a data message to a PSAP has been widely demonstrated as an effective solution for delivering emergency data messages.

The Signaling Conversion Gateway patent describes methods to interconnect wireless E9-1-1 routing procedures with VoIP E9-1-1 routing procedures. This technique allows wireless operators to deliver 9-1-1 calls via VoIP interfaces, which could be important for treating microcell-based wireless networks as IP-based communication systems.

Subscriber location information in a wireless network is becoming increasingly available and a critical component for the efficient use of directional and social networking services that are being deployed worldwide. According to Frost & Sullivan and ABI Research, TCS is a global leader in coarse and precise location technology. These two new U.S. location/public safety patents build upon TCS' expertise in location technology:

• "Location Aware Content Using Presence Information Data Formation with Location Object (PIDF-LO)" (U.S. Patent No. 8,185,567)
• "Roaming Gateway Enabling Location Based Services (LBS) Roaming for User Plane in CDMA Networks without Requiring Use of a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC)" (U.S. Patent No. 8,190,151)

The PIDF-LO patent describes methods by which content is delivered that is associated with the location of the device, rather than with the device itself, and is useful for search, navigation and other LBS services that wish to rapidly convey information about the environment to the user. 

The Roaming Gateway patent describes a solution for a problem that arises when a device roams between wireless networks. Using the techniques described, the location of the device can be transferred properly between networks using the described gateway without using a Mobile Positioning Center (which is an optional network element) and solves problems with network-initiated location services, such as family and buddy location services, workforce location services and certain emergency services.

TCS is the U.S. leader in short messaging services and provides software platforms that have delivered almost one trillion messages over the last twelve months. These messaging patents build upon TCS' messaging expertise:

• "Gateway Application to Support Use of a Single Internet Address Domain for Routing Messages to Multiple Multimedia Message Service Centers" (U.S. Patent No.  8,195,205)
• "System and Method for Re-Directing Requests from Browsers for Communications Over Non-IP Based Networks" (U.S. Patent No. 8,200,829)

The Single Internet Address Domain patent describes methods by which a single Internet domain can be defined for many or all multimedia messages associated with a wireless network, greatly simplifying the way individuals can send multimedia messages to wireless subscribers within a large wireless network.

The Re-Directing patent describes a more efficient communication mechanism than that normally provided by networks using high-overhead IP-based systems and is used to deliver information from non-IP data networks to wireless devices using the standard browser.

The security of our nation's data when our troops are deployed in theatre is critical. It is vitally important that encryption units and communication terminals be as secure and as small as possible. For almost two decades, TCS has been delivering highly secure, deployable satellite-based communication systems to meet these mission-critical communication needs. The following new Secure Communication System patent embodies techniques that allow independent data streams to be combined and encrypted for delivery over non-secure communications methods, allowing for discreet and highly secure communications:

• "Encryption of Voice and Data in a Single Data Stream in a Deployable, Secure Communication System" (U.S. Patent 8,209,750)

"TCS has an established reputation as a leader and pioneer in public safety, mobile location, messaging and secure communications technology," said Maurice B. Tose, TCS chairman, CEO and president. "These eight new patents are proof that TCS continues to create unique and innovative engineering solutions that will improve mobile device communications."

"Opportunities to leverage our company's 200+ patents and other intellectual property around the world, through both licensing and partnership arrangements in core and non-core business areas, continue to exist at TCS," said Bob Held, TCS senior director of intellectual asset management.

With clear strengths in public safety, mobile location, messaging, and the wireless communication fields, TCS has created an impressive intellectual property portfolio. Meaningful partnerships with other industry-leading companies can be developed through direct licensing, cross licensing and joint venture agreements. In 2012, TCS was issued 37 U.S. patents; for the year to date TCS filed 33 U.S. patents, bringing the total number of patents issued worldwide to TCS to date to 234, with 328 patent applications pending worldwide.

About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) is a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology. TCS infrastructure forms the foundation for market leading solutions in E9-1-1, text messaging, commercial location and deployable wireless communications. TCS is at the forefront of new mobile cloud computing services providing wireless applications for navigation, hyper-local search, asset tracking, social applications and telematics. Millions of consumers around the world use TCS wireless apps as a fundamental part of their daily lives. Government agencies utilize TCS' cyber security expertise, professional services, and highly secure deployable satellite solutions for mission-critical communications. Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, TCS maintains technical, service and sales offices around the world. To learn more about emerging and innovative wireless technologies, visit www.telecomsys.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based upon TCS' current expectations and assumptions that if incorrect would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Specifically, the statement that there are "opportunities to leverage our company's 200+ patents and other intellectual property around the world, through both licensing and partnership arrangements in core and non-core business areas" is a forward-looking statement. Risks include without limitation the possibility that no licensing revenues will result from these efforts, and those detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120503/PH99996LOGO)

SOURCE TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.