Abstract: A method and apparatus that uses the location of a mobile terminal to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in a handoff of the mobile terminal. The location of the mobile terminal in communication with a first receiver is determined. It is also determined whether the mobile terminal should participate in a handoff. The later can be determined based on the location of the mobile terminal, or it can be determined in any other way. If mobile terminal should participate in the handoff, the location of the mobile terminal is used to direct the mobile terminal to a candidate receiver for participation in the handoff. The characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or transmitter can be obtained from a database that correlates the location of the mobile terminal and the characteristics of the candidate receiver and/or candidate transmitter. The mobile terminal can then be handed off to the candidate receiver.

Abstract: A method and system for processing telephone calls within a digital wireless telephone system is described. During the initiation of a telephone call from a wireless subscriber unit, it is determined whether the receiving subscriber unit is also part of a digital wireless telephone system that has compatible vocoding capability. If so, vocoded data from the digital wireless telephone system is converted into tones that are introduced into a wire based telephone system for routing to the appropriate receiving digital wireless telephone system. When these tones are received by the receiving digital wireless telephone system, the vocoded data is regenerated based on the tones and then transmitted to the receiving subscriber unit.

Abstract: A printer system has a computer, a printer disposed separately of the computer for forming an image on a recording paper in compliance with image data received from the computer, and recognizing apparatus for recognizing a start of operation of the computer, the printer incorporating a setting apparatus for setting the printer in a state capable of producing a printing operation when the start of operation of the computer is recognized by the recognizing apparatus, thus permitting a printing operation with only a small operational rise time.

Abstract: A method (1300) and apparatus (300) combines a terminal blockage profile for a ground-to-satellite terminal with satellite location and motion data for one or more satellites (12) in a satellite communication system (10) to predict an impending service outage or impairment on a real-time or near real-time basis and reports such impending outages or impairments, and the expected duration thereof, to the terminal operator. The prediction of an impending outage or impairment also can include analysis of information concerning atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of the terminal location as well as other potential sources of a service outage or impairment.

Abstract: An antenna coil (21) for generating a magnetic field (25) to supply power to a transponder (26) is energized through switching devices (23 and 24) connected between Vcc and GND of a D.C. power supply (20) and having contacts S1 and S2 that are actuated in opposite phases in accordance with a carrier signal. Both of the switching devices (23 and 24) are turned OFF while the carrier signal is absent. Accordingly, the oscillating current flowing through a series resonance circuit of the antenna coil (21) and a capacitor (22) quickly attenuates, thereby dropping the intensity of the magnetic field (25).

Abstract: A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets (32) which automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation (1901) and an enhanced cordless mode (1420) when the handsets (32) are within range of pico cells (26) that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network (20). Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells (10b) that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Each pico cell consists of a spectrally dynamic, non-capturing, frequency agile, multi-purpose base station (26) provided at customer-selected locations to cooperate with the overlay cell framework. Each pico cell is capable of supporting multiple handsets (32) and uses low power operation that achieves limited coverage.

Abstract: A method for secure registration of a access device (400) having a receiver (418) and a transmitter (420) transmitting at an operational RF power level with a base station (200) having a receiver (218) and a transmitter (216) in which the base station reduces its operational RF power level to a registration RF power level and transmits a registration invitation message (610) to an access device (400), wherein the base station (200) after receiving a registration response message (614) from the access device (400) restores its power level to the operational RF power level.

Abstract: A method for locating a mobile communication device includes the steps of sensing geocoordinates that represent the telephone's approximate location, comparing the sensed geocoordinates to predefined geocoordinates that represent a home location municipal address, selecting geocoordinates responsive to the comparison, and locating the portable telephone according to the selected geocoordinates. In another embodiment, a cellular telephone includes a positioning receiver for sensing approximate geocoordinates of the cellular telephone, memory for storing home-location geocoordinates, logic for comparing the approximate geocoordinates with the home-location geocoordinates and for selecting a preferred position responsive to the outcome of the comparison; and a radio transmitter for transmitting the preferred position to a public safety answering point.

Abstract: A system and a method respectively for customizing wireless communication units for use in wireless communication systems. The wireless communication units are generic and include a device for enabling establishment of contact with a switching arrangement and a handling device including a program executor. Software relating to the wireless communication units is provided in a number of storing devices accessible over a global data communications network. Location information is provided, and, with use of the location information, software relating to a particular generic communication unit is downloaded via the switching arrangement using the global data communications network to the communication unit.

Abstract: A cellular communication system in which dedicated repeater controller transceivers are included in base stations and wireless base stations. The repeater controller transceivers are configured to operate on a different channel as compared to communications received by or transmitted directly from mobile terminals. By utilizing a dedicated channel for communications between the base stations and wireless base stations, the contention areas formed by overlapping cell areas is effectively eliminated. The different channels may be based on differences in parameters such as frequency and/or data encoding techniques.

Abstract: The present invention is a base station that may be adjusted to varying altitudes along a vertical support but will not temporarily suspend wireless communications services to all mobile telephones within its associated cell when being serviced. In one embodiment, the base station of the present invention comprises a plurality of micro-cells and a plurality of independently moveable carriages. Each of the plurality of micro-cells being associated with a sector of a cell, and comprising a radio unit and a directional antenna for providing wireless communications services to mobile telephones within the associated sector. Each of the micro-cells are mounted to one of the plurality of carriages, which are independently and moveably mounted to a vertical support.

Abstract: With a conventional portable information terminal, to obtain specific information, a user must select a table which stores desired specific information from a plurality of tables each storing specific information. A portable information terminal comprises a plurality of tables A1, A2, . . . An, B1, B2, . . . Bn which store various types of specific information which is independent upon regions, communication service companies and the like, and the portable information terminal is characterized by comprising means 21, C1 and C2 for inputting, from an external mobile communication terminal 10 which communicates with base stations of a communication system, access information such as identification numbers of the base stations, the communication service companies and the like, which is held by the external mobile communication terminal 10, to select a table which corresponds to the access information from among the plurality of tables A1, A2, . . . An, B1, B2, . . . Bn.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a call interception capability includes a master call intercept database storing records of subscribers of a global mobile satellite communications system targeted for call interception by law enforcement agencies. The apparatus also has a visitor location register storing records of subscribers currently registered within a serviceable vicinity of a gateway earth station associated with said visitor location register. The apparatus further includes a target database storing records of registered subscribers targeted for call interception, and an intercept coordinator communicating with the master call intercept database and the visitor location register. The intercept coordinator stores in the target database a record of a targeted subscriber, when the visitor location register includes a corresponding record of the targeted subscriber.

Abstract: In a base station apparatus in a mobile communication comprising a transmitting/receiving section for each sector, a baseband processing section for each sector and a sector switch to select a connection with the transmitting/receiving section and the baseband processing section, when a handover is made, a soft handover is executed by selecting a plurality of sectors on the basis of information concerning peripheral sectors obtained from a mobile station and connecting the transmitting/receiving sections of the selected sectors and the baseband processing section with the sector switch.

Abstract: Method and a system for establishing a communication channel between a first communication device, or alternatively, a communication network operator, and one or more second communication devices. The identity of the one or more second communication devices is not pre-determined by the first communication device (or the communication network operator). Instead, the identity of which one or more of the second communication devices connects to the first communication device (or the network operator) is determined by the operation of one or more filters transmitted by the first communication device (or the network operator) on certain data that are both transmitted by the first communication device (or the network operator) as well as measured locally at each of the second communication devices.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a quadrature-free RF receiver for directly receiving RF signals such as angle modulated signals. Various embodiments of the receiver use a digital phase detector together with well-known RF components: a limiter, an envelope detector, a slow Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuit, a fast AGC circuit, etc. Demodulation may be non-coherent or coherent. The approach followed is to handle the underlying non-linearities of the demodulation process within the circuitry itself, rather than relegating the non-linearities to a separate signal processing step as in the prior art. No I and Q signals are obtained, and no coordinate conversions are performed, offering the potential for space savings, increased accuracy, and especially power savings. Depending on the nature of the modulation employed, either circuitry relating to amplitude recovery or circuitry relating to phase recovery may be dispensed with.

Abstract: A multi-function RDS button and a menu driven interface for accessing RDS features facilitates easy access to RDS functions with minimal demands upon the attention of the user. Large numbers of push buttons with cryptic labels and unintuitive push-button sequences of prior RDS radio receivers are avoided. Due to a long time-out period provided before automatically exiting the menu, the user can alternate attention between the radio and the road without losing their place in the menu or initiating an unwanted action.

Abstract: Known is a radio communication device such as a GSM handset with receive-transmit antenna switching means such as a duplexer or a transmit receive switch. In GSM handsets it is highly desirable to save battery power as much as possible. To this end in the receive and transmit paths, the power supplied to components is switched off when functioning of such components is presently not needed. Proposed is a radio communication device in which the receive-transmit switch is a couple of electromechanical switches, preferably ultra-miniature Reed relays, of which the actuating coils are connected in series with at least one DC-supplied circuit of the receive path or transmit path.

Abstract: A geographical database connected to a mobile radio network contains information about consumer services within the network and about a plurality of geographic areas into which the service area of the network is divided. When a mobile station seeks to obtain information from the database by entering one or more search key words, the network determines the current geographic location of the mobile station within the network. Both the search keys and the mobile station's current location are used to search the database and return to the mobile station information about available consumer services in different zones made up of geographic areas near its current location. The input and output from the database may be voice or text.

Abstract: A printer accepting print requests from a plurality of users comprising bins storing printout and locks each locking a corresponding one of the bins, wherein the printer locks one of the bins and delivers the printouts to that one of the bins.