Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscribers with an integrated message processing system. The message processing system allows for the receipt, transmission and management of messages. Allowable message types include voice messages, pages, facsimile messages and electronic mail messages. The message processing system displays the information to the subscriber using a web browser. The majority of the graphical user interface resides locally in order to minimize the amount of data downloaded at run-time. The message processing system may be used locally in a closed environment or over the Internet.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a two-way pager of a paging system to transmit voice messages. The circuit includes: a microphone to receive an analog audio signal provided by a user; an analog-to-digital (A-D) converter coupled to the microphone; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and to the A-D converter; and a transmitter coupled to the processor. The analog audio signals are typically voice messages spoken by the user, which the A-D converter samples and digitizes. The processor stores the digitized voice message in the memory. The user can then transmit the stored digitized voice message through the transmitter, which is processed through the paging system and provided to the intended recipient. In a further refinement, the circuit includes a playback circuit that allows the user to listen to the stored digitized voice message before transmitting the voice message to the rest of the paging system.

Abstract: An integrated message processing system is provided. The message processing system allows for the management of a plurality of messages all within an integrated graphical environment. Allowable messages types include voice messages, pages, facsimile messages and electronic mail messages. The message processing system stores these messages irrespective of the message format. Upon request from a subscriber, the message processing system converts a message stored in a first format to a second format, if necessary, and transmits the requested message to the subscriber. The message processing system displays information to a subscriber using a self-hosting program such as a JAVA™ application, which is downloaded to the remote client if the remote client does not have such a self-hosting program executing thereon or the remote client has an older version of the program.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a two-way pager of a paging system to transmit voice messages. The circuit includes: a microphone to receive an analog audio signal provided by a user; an analog-to-digital (A-D) converter coupled to the microphone; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and to the A-D converter; and a transmitter coupled to the processor. The analog audio signals are typically voice messages spoken by the user, which the A-D converter samples and digitizes. The processor stores the digitized voice message in the memory. The user can then transmit the stored digitized voice message through the transmitter, which is processed through the paging system and provided to the intended recipient. In a further refinement, the circuit includes a playback circuit that allows the user to listen to the stored digitized voice message before transmitting the voice message to the rest of the paging system.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering transparently from a network interface failure. The method is to be run in a computing device on a network with multiple peer computing devices, having redundant network interfaces connected with redundant cables. The method transparently recovers from network failures by first establishing an address list of the peer computing devices on the subnet. The computing device then periodically tests the communication link with one or more of the peer computing devices until at least one peer device responds thereby sending its network address. The computing device then uses the peer network address to retest the communication link with the peer device until the peer device does not respond. If there is no response, the computing device reassigns the network address of the computing device from the primary network interface to the redundant network interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscribers with an integrated message processing system. The message processing system allows for the receipt, transmission and management of messages. Allowable message types include voice messages, pages, facsimile messages and electronic mail messages. The message processing system displays the information to the subscriber using a web browser. The majority of the graphical user interface resides locally in order to minimize the amount of data downloaded at run-time. The message processing system may be used locally in a closed environment or over the Internet.

Abstract: A method of encoding signal segments which represent unvoiced plosives. The signal segments to be encoded are contained within a speech signal divided into m=1, . . . , N frames. Each frame is subdivided into l=1, . . . , L subframes. The speech signal has a gain gm(l) within each subframe. An energy measure em(l) representative of the signal segments' energy content is defined. An energy threshold eth(l) representative of a sudden energy change characteristic of an unvoiced plosive is also defined. For each frame, the energy measure em(l) and the energy threshold eth(l) are derived for each subframe within that frame. If em(l)≦eth(l) for each subframe within a particular frame, then a plosive locator lpl=0 and a plosive index ipl=0 are assigned to that frame to indicate absence of a plosive within that frame.

Abstract: In a two-way paging system including a paging terminal, a plurality of paging transmitters, a plurality of paging receivers, and a plurality of two-way paging units, the plurality of two-way paging units transmitting reverse channel messages to the paging receivers in a time division multiplexed protocol, the protocol including a frame with a plurality of reverse channel time slots, a method of assigning reverse channel time slots to the paging units is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) determining a set of transmitting paging units from the plurality of two-way paging units, the set of transmitting paging units being those of the plurality of two-way paging units that are to transmit a reverse channel message; and (b) randomly assigning each of the transmitting paging units in the set of transmitting paging units one of the reverse channel time slots in the frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for congestion control at multiple levels in a wireless messaging system. Unlike previous systems that only responded to congestion in one way, the present invention responds to each incoming message packet to a receiving component with a reply that indicates: (1) whether or not the message packet has been accepted; (2) the level or function at which the congestion is occurring for rejected message packets; and (3) a specific delay time that the sender should wait before sending the next message packet. The delay time may be varied in order to control the rate of information flow. In this way, if an area becomes congested and then clears, a “slow start” technique may be used; that is, the rate can be turned back up slowly rather than just “opening the floodgates.” Temporary congestion queues in the sender are used to hold message packets addressed to congested areas.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for multicast file distribution and synchronization in data networks. Specifically, the present invention includes a mechanism for efficient and reliable distribution of a data file from a single source to a large number of receivers using multicast distribution in wide area networks. The multicast file distribution is done by designating a receiver as an active receiver. The active receiver is selected using a novel token granting procedure. Once selected, the active receiver is responsible for generating retransmission requests as well as providing flow control feedback to the server during data transfer. All receivers on the network are offered a chance to become an active receiver in a controlled manner, and only one receiver can be an active receiver at any given time. This process continues until there are no receivers in the group with missing data segments.

Abstract: A physical channel estimator for a communication system using pilot symbols and an equalizer uses a model of the system in which the impulse response of the physical channel is considered separately from the impulse responses of the pulse shaping filters in the transmitter and receiver of the communication system. The system is modeled as if the signals were propagated first through both pulse shaping filters and then through the physical channel. To estimate the physical channel impulse response, known pilot symbols are transmitted and then sampled. The pilot symbol samples and the known impulse responses of the pulse shaping filters are then used to estimate the physical channel impulse response. In one embodiment, the physical channel impulse response is considered time-invariant over the estimation period and a sufficient number of pilot symbol samples are taken so that the system is overdetermined.

Abstract: A method and system for performing optional or selective forward error correction (FEC) on data within the data link layer before the data is transmitted. First, a determination is made as to what data in the data link layer requires to be FEC encoded. Next, the data link layer data determined to require FEC encoding is protected by FEC and the remaining data link layer data is not FEC protected. A data application or any network protocol layer above the data link layer determines the portions required to be FEC encoded.

Abstract: A system for distributing voice information service messages (VISMs) to subscribers through their voice pagers is provided with a voice information service workstation where VISMs are recorded, and a voice information service terminal which converts the VISMs into voice pages and transfers them into a voice paging network for distribution to subscribers' voice pagers. The system may be accessed by subscribers via telephone, computer, or voice pager for changing personal settings.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for sequential transmission of at least two sub-packages of the data package from an electronic communication transmitter to an electronic communication receiver. A first sub-package of the data package in a form comprehensible to the user of the electronic communication receiver is transmitted from the electronic communication transmitter to the electronic communication receiver. The first sub-package of the data package includes identifying information pertaining to a second sub-package of the data package, with the first sub-package of the data package having less data content than that of the second sub-package of the data package. The electronic communication receiver provides the user thereof with the choice of whether to have the second sub-package of the data package transmitted by the electronic communication transmitter.

Abstract: A device for composing or editing a string of characters representing information, such as a text message, comprises a character string display for displaying a character string being composed or edited and a character selection display for displaying a set of characters for use in composing or editing the character string. The character selection display can be activated to display the character set in a display area in which at least some of the individual characters of the set are arranged relative to a designated location in the display area, such as the center of the display area, at distances according to decreasing frequency of use, e.g. a number of characters that are most likely to be frequently used are arranged in close proximity to the designated location. A cursor is displayed in the character selection display area and keys are provided for moving the cursor from one character to another in the character selection display for indicating a desired character to be selected.

Abstract: A method for storing transaction data for an application in a wireless messaging system is disclosed. Applications can be used to allow paging messages to be entered into a wireless messaging system from external systems such as E-mail or the World Wide Web. Such applications may be implemented on an external application platform that includes the hardware system and system software required by the application. Applications often require the use of certain type of transaction data that has traditionally been stored in an application database designed specifically for this purpose by an application developer. The present invention provides a method for storing such transaction data without requiring the application developer to create a separate database. In the past, the development of such databases has been a significant burden on application developers.

Abstract: An interpolator having a linear phase response has a first stage implemented with an IIR filter to achieve the narrow transition bandwidth with relatively few filter coefficients. Zero-stuffing and filtering are used to achieve the interpolation. A forward-backward filtering methodology is then used to achieve a linear phase response for the IIR filter. The input sequence to be interpolated is zero stuffed and passed through the IIR filter a first time. Then the time order of the resulting sequence is reversed and then passed through the IIR filter a second time. After that, the resulting output sequence is reversed again. Guard blocks are added to both ends of the input sequence, and then a block of zeros is appended to the zero-stuffed guarded input sequence. The appended zero block causes the startup and ending transient effect of the IIR filter's step response to be equal at both ends, which tends to improve the accuracy of the interpolation.

Abstract: A method for registering and controlling registration data for new and roaming pagers in a paging system. Messages for the pagers pass through an input messaging switch to the pager's home messaging switch, from which the messages are sent to an output messaging switch to be transmitted to the pagers. When a pager roams into and area, it sends out a registration message that is received by an output messaging switch. The output messaging switch then contacts the home messaging switch for the pager. The pagers are programmed with a home identifier, which they transmit as part of their registration message. The home identifier can be converted to the address of the pager's home node in home messaging switch. In this way, an output messaging switch knows which home messaging switch to contact when it receives a registration message from the pager. The home identifier in a pager can be reprogrammed through an over-the-air procedure.

Abstract: A method of suppressing noise in an input signal having voice components and noise components is provided. The method is an automatic gain control (20) implemented preferably in software. The noise components and the voice components are identified by a noise detection routine (300). The input signal, having an energy level, is provided for amplifying the input signal when the voice components are detected. The input signal is amplified by a gain value proportional to the energy level of the input signal. A bias signal, having an energy level, is provided for amplifying the input signal when the noise components are detected. The input signal is amplified by a gain value proportional to the energy level of the bias signal.

Abstract: A system for linearly transmitting an amplified output signal using predistortion is disclosed. The system uses a straight inverse modeling scheme with orthogonal predictor variables to more easily and accurately determine the inverse of the distortion caused by a power amplifier of a RF transmitter. The direct inverse modeling scheme of the present invention indexes the LUT using the modulated input signals instead of the potentially noisier output signals, which helps to increase the accuracy of the predistortion. The predistorter system stores complex coefficients in the LUT, which are then used as the tap weights of a non-linear digital filter implementing the predistorter. Finally, the trainer uses a modified version of the power amplifier output signal which results in better predistortion performance. The modified power amplifier output signal has the in-band distortion removed from the power amplifier output signal.