Abstract: An in-car video system and method is provided where a wireless microphone is configured with bi-directional communications capability. In response to a received RF activation signal, the wireless microphone is automatically switched on to capture (and transmit back to the in-car video system) an audio soundtrack that accompanies the images captured by the car-mounted video camera. A wireless microphone controller mounted in the car transmits the RF activation signal to the wireless microphone. The wireless microphone controller is arranged to transmit the RF activation signal when the video recording device starts recording. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the wireless microphone receives information, including a confirmation that the video recording device is recording, from an RF information signal received from the wireless microphone controller mounted in the car. The wireless microphone displays the information to the officer on a display screen.

Abstract: The abstract is amended to read, “An inventive method and apparatus is provided by a bidirectional optical 1×2 device formed by a cascade of three optical 2×2 devices. Each 2×2 device is bidirectional where optical signals propagate through the 2×2 device in the forward and backward directions simultaneously. The demultiplexing and multiplexing occur simultaneously to thereby perform bidirectional 1×2 optical demultiplexing and 2×1 optical multiplexing in the 1×2 device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to configure, provision and control a set-top terminal using a wireless web appliance is provided where a wireless communications path is established between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal. The set-top terminal is arranged to communicate with a headend controller over a bi-directional communication link having both upstream and downstream communication paths. A configuration change is implemented in response to an unsolicited message that is generated by the set-top terminal and received by the headend controller over the upstream communications path. The configuration change is implemented at the headend, or at the set-top terminal by downloading configuration data from the headend controller over the downstream communication path. The set-top terminal transmits the unsolicited message in response to a control signal generated by the wireless web appliance that is received over the wireless communications path.