Abstract: Charge for communication of a message in a wireless communications system is assigned commensurate with the spectral and non-spectral resource demand associated with the service used to communicate the message. A service may be identified from a plurality of services in response to a user request to communicate a message, for example, and charge for the communication of the message assigned to the user based on the service identified. According to another aspect, the system may first determine whether sufficient system resources are available to communicate the message using the selected service. According to another aspect, the system may first determine whether the user is authorized to communicate the message using the selected service.

Abstract: Charge for communication of a message in a wireless communications system is assigned commensurate with the spectral and non-spectral resource demand associated with the service used to communicate the message. A service may be identified from a plurality of services in response to a user request to communicate a message, for example, and charge for the communication of the message assigned to the user based on the service identified. According to another aspect, the system may first determine whether sufficient system resources are available to communicate the message using the selected service. According to another aspect, the system may first determine whether the user is authorized to communicate the message using the selected service.

Abstract: A locating unit includes a wireless communications interface for transmitting signals to one or more locating tags. A user physically associates each tag with an item of interest, such as a briefcase or key ring. When a tagged item is misplaced, the user uses the locating unit to find it. Using the user interface included in the locating unit, the user selects the desired item from a listing of tagged items. Based on the user selection, the locating unit polls the associated tag. The polled tag responds by emitting an audible signal, thereby aiding the user in determining its location. Preferably, the locating unit is a mobile terminal and communications between the mobile terminal and individual tags is two-way. Thus, a polled tag returns a found signal to the mobile terminal in response to being polled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically tailoring a communication device to suit the user's preferences based on the user's identity includes storing a plurality reference signatures and associated operational profiles. When a user supplies a proffered signature to the communication device, the proffered signature is compared to the stored reference signatures. If a match is found, the communication device is configured according to the operational profile associated with the matched reference signature. If no match is found, normal operation of the communication device is preferably inhibited. The proffered and reference signatures may be conventional manually entered passwords, spoken voice patterns, writing samples, fingerprints, and the like. The present invention allows a single apparatus to be used by a plurality of users under one service subscription and telephone number as well as under a plurality of subscriptions and telephone numbers.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provide which reduce overhead in the communication of messages having a message header over a communication link. An alias address is selected from a predefined set of alias addresses and associated with a portion of the header of the message. If no unused alias addresses are available the least recently used alias address is associated with the portion of the message header. The portion of the message header is removed from the message and the alias address substituted. This reduced data message is then transmitted. The number of alias addresses may be increased to avoid churning of alias addresses. The message is reconstructed based on the alias address and the associated portion of the original message.

Abstract: A cellular telephone is provided with two dialing modes: the normal dialing mode, and a new dialing mode for impaired users called touch-any-key dialing. To prepare the phone for use in the touch-any-key dialing mode, a caretaker powers-on the phone, enters the phone's password, loads one, two, or three telephone numbers into the phone's speed-dial memory, and then selects the touch-any-key dialing mode. To dial a phone so prepared, a user enters keystrokes anywhere on the phone's keypad, the first of which keystrokes starts a timer. If one, two, or three keystrokes are detected within a predetermined interval of time, the phone dials the first, second, or third speed-dial numbers, respectively. If four or more keystrokes are detected in the interval, the keystrokes are compared with a pre-programmed password.

Abstract: A communication system provides efficient satellite communication in rural, remote, or sparsely populated areas, or in areas lacking a conventional telephone infrastructure, or in special purpose uses such as airport coverage. Subscribers in such areas communicate with the satellite via a simple, highly modular entry node located in a local area to be served. Subscriber units provide subscribers with access to the system. The subscriber units are connected to the entry node via local access loops provided by point-to-point wireless links between the subscriber units and the entry node. The entry node internally switches local traffic among subscribers and connects traffic to outside circuits, via wireless links with the satellite, as appropriate. The outside circuits are provided by the cooperative working of the satellite, an entry-node controller, and an earth station. The wireless links between the satellite and the entry node and the local access loops may operate at the same or different frequencies.

Abstract: A power control circuit for a mobile radio communication device controls the transmit power level of the radio communication device based on the position of the antenna. The radio communication device comprises a transmitter and a retractable antenna coupled to the transmitter for transmitting radio signals. A sensor detects the position of the antenna. A power control circuit is responsive to a signal from the sensor to control the power level of the transmitter based on the position of the antenna.

Abstract: A battery pack for an electronic device includes a housing separate from the electronic device wherein the housing can be mechanically connected to the electronic device. Electrical contacts on the housing provide electrical contact with the electronic device when connected thereto. A first battery interface in the housing receives a first battery, and a second battery interface in the housing receives a second battery. A switch in the housing connects either the first battery interface or the second battery interface to the electrical contacts in response to a selection by a user of the electronic device. Related systems and methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A power supply device and system for providing power to a portable electronic device. A detachable device includes a rechargeable DC power source, a DC-to-AC inverter, and a primary transformer winding around a first core element. The portable electronic device includes multiple secondary transformer windings around a second core element. The detachable device cooperates with the portable electronic device so as to form a complete power supply circuit for providing AC and/or DC operating voltages to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A wireless telephone communication device is operated in a hands-free mode with detected received audio being relayed for output on the speakers of a radio. A single two-frequency FM transmitter or a multi-frequency transmitter that transmits simultaneously on a plurality of channels relays the audio to the FM radio.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for combining information from two sources and for separating the combined information after transmission over one physical channel. A mask which represents a specified piece of information such as a control command or logic state of an input is exclusively ORed with an encoded input signal, thereby inducing a violation of an error control code. At the receiving end of the system, each of a set of masks is exclusively ORed with the received data stream. One of the masks is the same as the mask initially combined with the encoded input signal. Accordingly, once that mask is combined with the received data stream and so indicated by the favorable outcome of an error control code check, the original encoded input as well as the specified piece of information are recreated and produced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an untethered microphone associated with a radio telephone base and adapted to provide wireless communication therebetween. The remote microphone may include a rechargeable battery and a solar power supply and associated panel configured to recharge the battery. The remote microphone and base unit are adapted to each transmit and receive data and control signals therebetween. The remote microphone is further adapted to transmit voice signals from the microphone to the base unit during operation. Typically, a first transceiver is located with the remote unit, and a second transceiver is located with the hands-free base unit. Working together, the transceivers carry the microphone's signals to the radio telephone's transmitter. Additionally, the transceivers carry call-in-progress information back and forth between the microphone and the hands-free base unit.

Abstract: A method of error correction for an ARQ system allows decoding when an even number of flawed packets are received. Multiple flawed replications of a transmitted bit sequence are compared bit-by-bit. A set of composite packets is formed containing all possible combinations of values at the disputed bit positions. A validity check is performed on each of the composite packets. If only a single composite packet passes the validity check, an acknowledgment signal is sent.

Abstract: In complex networks, data frames may be routed through different systems having different frame or addressing requirements. When the frames are transferred or bridged between such systems, known changes may have to be made in the frame contents to accommodate these requirements. To maintain the integrity of error checking provided by Cyclical Redundancy Checking (CRC) techniques, a system receiving a frame uses an improved Frame Check Sequence value modification technique which modifies a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field value only as a function of the known or planned changes to be made in the frame. If unplanned changes (that is, errors) are introduced at the receiving system, application of standard CRC error checking techniques at the next system to receive the frame will indicate those errors.

Abstract: Alert records flowing in a communication and data processing network to host operator console stations consist of long, variable length information records. Method and apparatus are disclosed which reduce the variable length body of information to a standard 32-bit number which indexes the lengthy, variable length information. To the 32-bit number there is concatenated a product identification code which reduces the likelihood of inadvertent duplication of the 32-bit number by two different alert sending entities to an acceptable level. The IEEE standard 802 cyclic redundancy check algorithm, ordinarily employed for checking the integrity of data transmission in a communications system, is employed in a new way to reduce a long, variable length body of alert data information to the 32-bit number.

Abstract: A dynamic trunk compression system for processing digitized speech signals. The system includes a monitoring apparatus which measure current traffic intensity at the trunk. The current traffic intensity drives an algorithm that periodically estimates blocking probabilities. When the blocking probabilities fall outside of a predetermined range, the trunk is repartitioned to provide more speech channels.

Abstract: The subject suppressor is an improved form of echo suppressor used in conjunction with adaptive sub-band speech coders. The suppressor analyzes and uses N contiguous sub-bands of a sub-band speech coder. The intermediate results calculated during the normal operation of such speech coders may be analyzed in the suppressor to determine predictions for the echo levels of each sub-band and to set break in and break out thresholds. A substantial performance improvement with little increase in complexity over current echo suppressors is achieved. The subject suppressor may also be used with adaptive transform speech coders in which the corner frequency points define the edges of "sub-bands" for purposes of this invention. Sub-bands are defined here as contiguous segments of the frequency-energy spectrum.

Abstract: In a private line multiplexing device a multi-priority buffering system is used to control the transmission of supervisory signaling information and normal messages onto an available communication channel. The system includes a multi-priority message buffer, a queue map for logging entries in the buffer, an output time map and a controller. The controller tags incoming data (be it a normal message and/or signaling information) and stores the data into the priority buffer. The tag may include a priority classification, identification, entry-time, etc. Signaling information is assigned a priority I designation while newly generated voice packets are assigned priority IV. As communication channels become available data is shifted, in accordance with a priority algorithm, from the buffer to the channel. Furthermore, the algorithm ensures that stacked messages from a common source are transmitted on a delayed basis.

Abstract: An improved echo suppressor is described in which a more sophisticated echo canceller can be employed to derive optimum training coefficients for application to the echo suppressor. The canceller can be used on a shared basis among a large group of echo suppressors to provide periodic updating and adaptive training coefficients to each suppressor individually. The echo canceller operates in a supervisory role and is shared over a group of adaptive echo suppressors. The canceller trains each adaptive echo suppressor during a set up period for newly initiated voice traffic. The canceller is also responsible for initializing the parameters of a multi-parameter echo suppressor where the parameters are generated as a result of the coding technique employed. Upon completion of the initial parameter determination, the canceller is released and the echo control responsibility is transferred to the suppressor. The canceller is then free to initialize another suppressor when new traffic enters the system.