Abstract: A radio (1) for radio communication supportable with repeaters. The radio (1) has a transceiver (2) for receiving information on either a repeater channel or a talkaround channel. A monitor (3) is coupled to the transceiver (2) to provide output signals indicative of channel strengths of the two channels. The output signals are compared by a controller (4) to provide a selected channel from the two channels. Information is then received by radio (1) on the selected channel. When receiving the information, the controller (4) periodically controls the transceiver (2) to receive on an unselected channel of the two channels. The monitor (3) then provides a new output signal corresponding to the unselected channel for the controller (4) to re-compare and re-select the selected channel.

Abstract: An audio interface (110) provides access to a hypertext document and enables link navigation (310). The hypertext document has textual information, including one or more text-based link identifiers that represent links to information sources. The audio interface outputs the textual information of the document as speech, while distinguishing the text-based link identifiers using distinct sound characteristics (320, 330, 340, 350). Preferably, the audio interface operates to receive voice commands that specify one or more of the test-based link identifies (410). Upon receipt of such a voice command, the audio interface performs a particular action using the associated link address (420, 430).

Abstract: A communication apparatus (100) includes an automatically configured multimode talk switch (154). The communication apparatus (100) can be operated in a simplex communication mode, for receive or transmit operations, and a duplex communication mode, for simultaneous receive and transmit operations. The switch (154) is automatically configured as a push-to-talk momentary switch when the communication apparatus operates in the simplex communication mode (232, 235), and automatically configured as an on-hook/off-hook switch, when the communication apparatus operates in the duplex communication mode (242,245).

Abstract: An electronic device (110) provides equalization and/or compensation for a coupled audio accessory device (120). The audio accessory device (120) has a memory (220) that contains equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314) which helps in characterizing its audio response or impact on audio signals within the electronic device (110). When the audio accessory device (120) is coupled to the electronic device (110), the electronic device (110) reads the equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314) from the audio accessory's memory (220) and processes audio signals with equalization and/or compensation based at least in part on the equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314).

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) includes a repeater (111) that operates with a transceiver (132) on a channel hopping sequence. The repeater receives a request for repeater service transmitted by the transceiver (410), and responds by obtaining a communication slot on the channel hopping sequence (420). The repeater then executes a call setup procedure with the transceiver and with other participants of a communicating group (430). Preferably, the call setup procedure provides the repeater with information on the suitability of the communication slot (440). The repeater then retransmits information received on an inbound channel on a corresponding outbound channel using the communication slot, as the slot transitions across the channel hopping sequence (460, 470).

Abstract: A fractional frequency synthesizer (100) includes a symmetrical divider (165) having an output frequency signal (135) fractionalized based on half cycles of its input frequency signal (130). The divider (165) is provided with a divisor (145) that varies based on half cycles of the output signal. Preferably, the divider (165) operates to selectively add or subtract an increment, corresponding to one half cycle of the input frequency signal (130), to a half cycle of the output frequency signal (135).

Abstract: A multicarrier transmission system (100) supports different desired error rates within a data symbol stream by manipulating subcarrier transmission characteristics for multiple subcarriers. A data symbol stream obtained for transmission is segmented into multiple substreams, and assigned to subcarriers based on error protection requirements (310, 320, 330). The transmission characteristics of the subcarriers are manipulated, according to a selected transmission configuration, to effect the combined error protection requirements (350, 360). Preferably, the subcarriers are modulated by allocating available power based on the relative error protection required for the substreams (360).

Abstract: A digitally modulated signal is conditioned, such as to facilitate amplification. The digitally modulated signal is derived from an information stream which is mapped onto a symbol constellation to generate a sequence of channel symbols. The sequence of channel symbols is processed to provide a conditioned signal having a signal envelope that avoids signal envelope magnitudes below a threshold value (500). From a signal envelope representing the sequence of channel symbols, symbol interval minimum values are determined as the signal envelope transitions through successive channel symbols of the sequence (510). The conditioned signal is generated by localized adjustment of the signal envelope, such as by insertion of an adjustment pulse, to increase a particular symbol interval minimum value, when that value is below the threshold value (520, 530, 540, 545, 555).

Abstract: A computer system (110) has a multi-processing software application operating (200) thereon. There are multiple client processes (221-228) concurrently operating as components of the multi-processing software application (200). Termination of the multi-processing software application (200) results from individual decisions made at each client process (221-228). If a particular client process determines that another client process is inoperable (530), the particular client process continues operation when the inoperable process is designated non-mandatory (550, 510), and terminates operation when the inoperable process is designated mandatory (550, 580, 598). Furthermore, when the inoperable process is designated single-instance mandatory and belongs to a particular process class, the particular client process continues operation unless it is the only member of the process class operating (580, 590, 595, 598).

Abstract: A portable radio (100) has a control assembly (110) with controls to operate the radio. The portable radio (100) includes a radio housing (101) with a control interface (103) oriented along a particular plane. Two rotary control knobs (122, 124) are attached at the control interface (103), and have respective base portions (123, 125) separated by a first spacing, and respective top portions (132, 134) separated by a second spacing. The second rotary control knob (122) is angled to cause the second spacing to be substantially more than first spacing.

Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus (200), includes a temperature sensor (220), a current source (203), and a temperature independent voltage source (240, 250). The current source (203) provides a biasing current to the temperature sensor (220), and the voltage source (240, 250) is programmable to adjust the output of the temperature sensor (220). Preferably, the voltage source (240, 250) includes a variable current source (240) and a resistive element (250) with counterbalanced temperature coefficients, and the bias current source (203) is selected to have a counterbalancing temperature coefficient to that of the resistive element (250).

Abstract: A device assembly (100) has a switch actuator assembly (150) with a sealed interface. The device assembly (100) includes a housing (120) having an opening (126) that provides access to an internal switch (135). A switch actuator (160) selectively actuates the switch (135) through the opening (126). The switch actuator (160) includes a seal (164) that is disposed around the opening (126). An external actuator cover (180) includes a seal support member (185) that positions the seal (164) against a seal mount (128) about the opening (126), when the actuator cover (180) is depressed.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device (300) is formed from a leaky wave mode piezoelectric substrate (310) to have substantially reduced surface wave attenuation when operating at a particular frequency. The SAW device (300) includes a SAW pattern (322, 324), disposed on a surface (321) of the piezoelectric substrate, having a free surface portion (324) and a shorted surface portion (322). The SAW pattern (322, 324) is overlaid with a material (330), preferably glass, which has a thickness selected to reduce surface wave attenuation.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes an internally mounted circuit substrate (110) having a surface (111) with mounted electrical components (130), including a flat switch (132) having a direction of actuation (201) substantially perpendicular to the surface. The electronic device (100) includes an actuator button (150) with an externally accessible user interface portion (151) and an internally positioned actuator member (155). The actuator member (155) is pivotable from a first position adjacent to the switch (132), to a second position engaging and actuating the switch (132) when the user interface portion (151) is depressed. Preferably, the actuator button (150) is attached to a device housing member (121, 122) using an integrally formed shaft (180) that provides a spring bias return force for the button (150) when depressed.

Abstract: An apparatus (310) for characterizing a multiport circuit (390) includes a signal generator (320) and a circuit interface apparatus (330, 340, 350). The signal generator (320) has an output (329) selectable from among a set of composite signals that are linearly independent. The circuit interface apparatus (330, 340, 350) is coupled to the signal generator (320) and has an output (319) of a set of circuit stimulus signals derived from the set of composite signals, which set of circuit stimulus signals are linearly independent, and which together form a complete basis for describing any response for the multiport circuit (390). The circuit interface apparatus (330, 340, 350) has measurement circuitry for measuring circuit response of the multiport circuit (390). Preferably, the circuit interface apparatus (330, 340, 350) is formed from multiple two-port test sets.