Abstract: A behind the ear communication device (200) has a housing (205) with a form factor to provide a comfortable fit across a wide variety of users. Particularly, the housing (205) is a hook shaped member having an inner curved surface (261) defined by first and second arcs (272, 271) that merge, in tangential fashion, to form a contiguous surface for interfacing with the ear. The first arc (272) has a radius of between 0.826 and 0.876 centimeters, and the second arc has a radius of between 3.24 and 3.75 centimeters.

Abstract: A computing device (100) has memory (180) subdivided into a first configuration of pools of fixed size memory buffers (188). In response to requests for memory specifying a particular memory size, a fixed size memory of at least the particular size is allocated from the memory area (510, 520). Metrics are collected for each memory request, the metrics including distinct memory sizes based on the particular size requested, and the peak number of concurrent requests for each distinct memory size (530). The memory area is reconfigured as needed into a second configuration of pools of fixed size memory buffers using the metrics collected (540, 550).

Abstract: An integrable circuit inductor (220) is formed from a patterned conductive material (110) that has a major portion completely encapsulated by a material (221, 223) that is substantially electrically non-conductive, and that has a magnetic response at the operating frequency of the inductor (220). Preferably, an amorphous ferrite material is used for encapsulation, which provides a closed magnetic flux path for the inductor (220) when processing a signal at its operating frequency.

Abstract: A multicarrier transmission system (100) routes data symbols from a data source (142) to a multicarrier modulator (145). Each modulator (201, 202, 203) within the multicarrier modulator (145) is coupled to a corresponding gain adjuster (211, 212, 213) that distributes the available transmit power across various subcarriers. Power distribution, is determined in part, upon the noise sensitivity of the transmitted information. In accordance, data stream symbols of like sensitivity are grouped (520) and transmitted during defined time intervals. Each such group is assigned a unique transmission power level (530). At any given moment in time, all subcarrier transmission power levels will have an identical amplitude, thereby mitigating the impact of subchannel-to-subchannel interference.

Abstract: A radio receiver operates primarily in a first operating mode to process received signals (410). When a carrier signal detect is triggered while in the first operating mode (415, 420), the receiver temporarily operates in a second operating mode which has receiver parameters selected to reduce carrier detect falsing when compared to the first operating mode (430). Preferably, in the second operating mode, the receiver's frequency and time response characteristics are modified to facilitate carrier squelch detection. Carrier squelch is performed if a carrier signal detect is triggered while the receiver operates in the second operating mode (440, 450, 460, 470).

Abstract: A communication system (101) provides a subscriber unit (105) with access to an information network (130) through gateway equipment (110) that is coupled to a network server (120). The subscriber unit (105) transmits to the gateway equipment (110) a request for data from the information network (130). The gateway equipment (110) communicates the request in a message to the network server (120), the message including an identifier for the originating subscriber unit. The network server (120) retrieves data corresponding to the request from the information network (130), and conveys this data to the subscriber unit (105) using the identifier. Preferably, the network server (120) communicates with the subscriber unit (105) via a message service (140) that provides external access to the communication system (101).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method is provided for placing a call from a two-way radio subscriber unit operating within a two-way radio communication system (100). A user operates the subscriber unit in a call address search mode (310), and provides search criteria data that references a communication target (320). The search criteria data is transmitted in a query to system equipment which provides, in response, a list of matching identifiers and corresponding call addresses (330, 340). This list is presented to the user and a selection obtained (350, 360). A call address corresponding to the user selection is used to initiate the call to the communication target (370).

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) includes equipment (112) that manages communication initiated at a subscriber unit (122) and targeted at another subscriber unit (124). At the initiating subscriber unit, a communication mode is selected (410) from among multiple communication modes supported by the target subscriber unit. A mode independent identifier is obtained (420) for the target subscriber unit, and transmitted (430) to the system equipment along with the selected communication mode. The system equipment uses information based on the mode independent identifier to access (510, 520) the target subscriber unit. The system equipment then operates to enable (530, 540) the communication mode at the target subscriber unit, and to establish (550) communication between the initiating and target subscriber units.

Abstract: A tracking device (100) issues an alert when an item (405) is separated from the device (100) according to programmable characteristics. The tracking device stores information pertaining to the item in a database upon receipt of a command identifying the item as eligible for tracking (510, 520). Separation characteristics between the item and the tracking device are tracked using, at least in part, information stored in the database. Preferably, the tracking device automatically registers the item in the database as a coupled item in response to the item being within a programmable range of the tracking device for at least a programmable period of time (530). The tracking device automatically issues an alert identifying the item when the separation characteristics indicates a separation that exceeds a particular threshold (540).

Abstract: An antenna (100) has a multi-mode resonating structure (110) that includes three electromagnetically coupled resonators (112, 114, 116) carried by a dielectric substrate (120). A feed system (130, 135), electromagnetically coupled to the multi-mode resonating structure (110), excites three resonating modes that operate together to produce a pass-band. Preferably, the multi-mode resonating structure (110) is formed from a wide patch radiator (112) planarly disposed between two narrow patch radiators (114, 116). The patch radiators (112, 114, 116) are simultaneously fed.

Abstract: In a radio communication system (100), enhanced communication capability is provided while maintaining standard channel modulation compatibility. At a transmitter (110, 200, 600), a first information signal is generated from data according to a predefined standard modulation scheme (212, 613). A second information signal is generated from data that provides supplemental information to the standard modulated data (213, 616). For transmission, the first and second information signals are combined into a composite signal (214, 619) that represents the first information signal when interpreted according to the predefined standard modulation scheme.

Abstract: A subscriber (510) to a radio communication system acquires new neighbor cell information after switching to a new server site (530) during lulls in an ongoing communication session. In one embodiment, the new server site (530) broadcasts neighbor cell list information during lulls in the communication activity on the communication channel in an unsolicited manner (710, 720). In an alternative embodiment, the subscriber (510) first transmits a request to the server site for neighbor cell list information during a lull in communication activity (810, 820). The server site (530) responds by transmitting neighbor cell list information during one or more lulls in communication activity on the communication channel (830, 840).

Abstract: An antenna (100) has a low reluctance material (140) positioned to influence radiation pattern. The antenna (100) includes a radiator (110), and the low magnetic reluctance material (140) is positioned in close proximity to a particular side of the radiator (110). The low reluctance material (140) has a primary function of providing a preferred path for the magnetic field generated by the radiator (110), thus confining the magnetic energy and reducing radiation along at least one side of the antenna (100).

Abstract: A radio system has a number of fixed transceivers (12-18) serving a number of radio coverage sites (28-34). A multisite controller (10) has a memory (42) including mobile radio station identifications and site associations, associating mobile radio station identifications with sites. A processor (40) computes a site loading parameter for each site, dependent on the resources at the site and the number of mobile radio stations associated with the site. A request is received from a mobile radio station to form a new association between the given site and the identification of the mobile radio station sending the request and a response to the request is selected dependent on the site loading parameters in the different sites.

Abstract: A frequency multiplier (120) having a tunable resonant circuit (122), is anticipated for use with a frequency synthesizer (100) having a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (110). The VCO control line (116) voltage establishes the VCO (110) fundamental frequency (.function.o) as well as the resonant circuit (122) center frequency, such that the resonant circuit (122) frequency response will track a desired harmonic component within the multiplier output (130) even as the VCO control line (116) voltage and the fundamental frequency (.function.o) change in response to control line variation.

Abstract: A single-chip transceiver integrated circuit (100) has multiple on-chip circuits that implement receiver functions, transmitter functions, and audio processing functions. The IC (100) has interfaces (220, 240, 252, 270, 260, 245, 288, 290) which are situated among the on-chip circuits, and which couple one on-chip circuit to another. At least some of these on-chip interfaces (220, 240, 245, 252, 270) are configurable to couple an off-chip processing circuit to substitute for a corresponding on-chip circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the single-chip transceiver IC (100) supports radio configurations having off-chip versions of corresponding on-chip circuits for performing receiver front-end functions, synthesizer functions, reference oscillator functions, and audio processing functions.