Abstract: An architecture is presented that enables a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) to create a branded wireless offering. An MVNO-enabler (MVNE) system acts as an intermediary between a brand system and a wireless network. The MVNE system controls customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In one embodiment, the MVNE system comprises modules for customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In another embodiment, the MVNE system comprises interfaces to third party systems that provide these services. In yet another embodiment, the MVNE system can comprise interfaces to a plurality of brand systems, a plurality of wireless networks, and a plurality of third party systems. By using various interfaces, a customized wireless offering can be created.

Abstract: An architecture is presented that enables a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) to create a branded wireless offering. An MVNO-enabler (MVNE) system acts as an intermediary between a brand system and a wireless network. The MVNE system controls customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In one embodiment, the MVNE system comprises modules for customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In another embodiment, the MVNE system comprises interfaces to third party systems that provide these services. In yet another embodiment, the MVNE system can comprise interfaces to a plurality of brand systems, a plurality of wireless networks, and a plurality of third party systems. By using various interfaces, a customized wireless offering can be created.

Abstract: A high power bipolar battery, such as a high power lithium polymer battery is provided. The bipolar battery includes a plurality of multiple cell assemblies. The plurality of multiple cell assemblies is connected in series to form the high power bipolar battery. Each of the plurality of multiple cell assemblies includes a rigid core with a bipolar cell stack of multiple cells wound together around the rigid core to produce a large active cell area. The wound bipolar cell stack includes a positive battery connection and a negative battery connection. A container surrounds the bipolar cell stack. A positive terminal carried by the container is connected to the positive battery connection. A negative terminal carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive terminal and connected to the negative battery connection. A state-of-charge connector carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive and negative terminals.

Abstract: A high chair features various modes of adjustability and enhanced utility. The height of the chair can be adjusted using a single hand that engages a rear handle. The height of a seat platform of the chair can be adjusted separately relative to the tray. The tray itself is ergonomically designed for the benefit of the caregiver. A removable tray liner facilitates after-meal clean-up. Wheels on the underside of the tray ease fore/aft adjustment. A pivoting back rest of the chair minimizes rearward shift of the center of gravity of the occupied chair, thus requiring a smaller chair footprint. Further, an accessory bar pivoted to a seat back portion of the chair provides readily accessible entertainment.

Abstract: A heel for a shoe includes a first relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is walking while wearing a shoe having the heel and a second relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is dancing and wearing a shoe having the heel. A pair of shoes can have one or two such heels. Preferably, there is a lower-friction portion on the second relatively flat surface. The second relatively flat surface allows one to relatively easily spin while dancing, as compared to dancing with shoes having normal heels.

Abstract: This invention provides a spring loaded mounting mechanism for easily mounting and removing a loudspeaker housing within an opening in a surface. The mounting mechanism includes a shaft connected to the loudspeaker housing. Attached to the shaft is a spring actuated arm. The actuated arm is compressed inward toward the housing by the side walls of the surface surrounding the opening when the housing is being positioned within the opening. At a certain point when the housing is inserted far enough into the opening, the actuated arm will lose contact with the side walls of the surface surrounding the opening and will expand to its open position. In its open position, the arm is positioned just behind or against the back face of the surface surrounding the opening, locking the housing into the opening in the surface. The invention further allows for the spring actuated arm to be tightened against or moved away from the back face of the surface by adjusting the positioning of the shaft.

Abstract: A heel for a shoe includes a first relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is walking while wearing a shoe having the heel and a second relatively flat surface for contacting the ground when one is dancing and wearing a shoe having the heel. A pair of shoes can have one or two such heels. Preferably, there is a lower-friction portion on the second relatively flat surface. The second relatively flat surface allows one to relatively easily spin while dancing, as compared to dancing with shoes having normal heels.

Abstract: This invention provides a baffle isolation system for isolating a baffle from a housing in a loudspeaker mounting system. The isolation system may include an isolation mechanism that insulates the baffle from the speaker housing. The isolation mechanism may include a bumper member coupled to a hollow shaft. In another embodiment, the bumper member may also include at least two resistant members located on either side of the bumper and coupled to the hollow shaft. These resistant members act to acoustically reduce sound penetration through the isolation system. Radial isolation may be achieved by the bumper acting to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the baffle to the housing, while longitudinal isolation may be achieved by the resistant members. Ideally, the bumper and the resistant members may be manufactured out of an elastomeric material and may be designed as separate members or as one unitary member.

Abstract: A high power bipolar battery, such as a high power lithium polymer battery is provided. The bipolar battery includes a plurality of multiple cell assemblies. The plurality of multiple cell assemblies is connected in series to form the high power bipolar battery. Each of the plurality of multiple cell assemblies includes a rigid core with a bipolar cell stack of multiple cells wound together around the rigid core to produce a large active cell area. The wound bipolar cell stack includes a positive battery connection and a negative battery connection. A container surrounds the bipolar cell stack. A positive terminal carried by the container is connected to the positive battery connection. A negative terminal carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive terminal and connected to the negative battery connection. A state-of-charge connector carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive and negative terminals.

Abstract: A disk drive receives a removable storage disk thereinto and has a frame and a disk motor helically mounted thereto for engaging the disk and applying a rotating force thereto. The motor has first threads integral therewith and the frame has second, mating threads integral therewith. The first and second threads interact to achieve helical movement.

Abstract: An RF loopback test circuit is adapted to be coupled to an antenna port of a digital radio, to determine whether the radio is functioning properly. A frequency generator outputs an auxiliary frequency corresponding to the sum or difference between the radio's transmit and receive frequencies. The auxiliary frequency is coupled to a Schottky diode mixer, which is also coupled to the input/output port. If the radio's transceiver section is operating properly, the sum or difference frequency output of the Schottky diode mixer will be passed by only the diplexer's narrowband receive path filter to the radio's receiver section. The mixer's sum frequency is blocked by the diplexer's narrowband filters. Therefore, if the receiver section provides an indication that it is receiving a sufficient signal level from the RF loopback test circuit, it can also be inferred that each of the transmitter and receiver sections is operating properly.

Abstract: A redundant communication system contains a principal transceiver and a back-up transceiver to be controllably substituted for the principal transceiver. A monitor protection switch, which controls swapping the two transceivers, has an RF loopback test circuit that is switchably coupled to whichever transceiver is the backup. The RF loopback test circuit monitors the operational capability of the back-up transceiver, and provides an indication of its functionality. If the back-up transceiver is defective, corrective action can be taken in advance of a potential operational failure of the principal transceiver. As long as the RF loopback test circuit indicates proper operational capability of the back-up transceiver, the redundant transceiver can be immediately switched in place of the principal transceiver.

Abstract: A spread spectrum communication system for wirelessly transporting autonomously time-referenced telecommunication data couples the data streams to mutually synchronized multiplexers, outputs of which are encoded and applied to associated I and Q channel spreaders, which spread the respective multiplexed data streams using mutually orthogonal spreading code sequences. The resulting spread I-channel data streams are coupled to I and Q channel summing units outputs of which are applied to respective channels of a QPSK modulator and transmitted to a receiver site. At the receiver the QPSK signals are correlated in despreading correlators and then decoded and demultiplexed to produce data streams, corresponding to those applied to the transmitter.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for synchronizing a base station within a distributed radio system. A communication network is provided utilizing gigabit ethernet protocols and media. A global positioning system (GPS) is installed onboard one of a plurality of base stations. The single GPS, without the necessity for a holdover oscillator, is used to synchronize a plurality of the base stations within the network by transmitting a clock signal via the gigabit ethernet media to each base station. The gigabit Ethernet signal is tapped by a clock recovery circuit, present on each base station and the recovered signal serves as a master clock signal for the base station as well as a reference clock for the transmit and receive section.

Abstract: A storage drive has a cartridge retention and ejection assembly for receiving and retaining a storage cartridge therein and for ejecting the retained cartridge. In the assembly, a rotatable member rotates on an axis between a first position and a second position, and is biased to the first position. The member includes a base with the axis and a cartridge-contacting arm extending from the base. The member is arranged in the drive such that a cartridge received within the drive contacts the cartridge-contacting arm and thereby rotates the member from the first position to the second position. Releasing the rotatable member from the second position to the first position causes the cartridge-contacting arm of the member to forcibly push against the cartridge and eject same from the drive.

Abstract: A drive receives a removable storage cartridge thereinto and retains the received cartridge. The cartridge includes a shell and a storage media disposed within the shell. The drive has a motor for engaging the media within the retained cartridge and applying a motive force to the engaged media, and an ejection mechanism for ejecting the retained cartridge upon actuation. The drive also has a stopper for contacting the cartridge at least during ejection thereof and for co-acting with the ejecting cartridge to stop the ejecting cartridge at a predetermined ejection travel distance. The cartridge has a stop feature that co-acts with the stopper.

Abstract: A disk drive receives a removable storage disk thereinto and has a frame and a disk motor helically mounted thereto for engaging the disk and applying a rotating force thereto. The motor has first threads integral therewith and the frame has second, mating threads integral therewith. The first and second threads interact to achieve helical movement.

Abstract: A storage disk cartridge comprises a storage disk, a shell, a linear shutter, and a compression spring. The shell has first and second main walls generally parallel to the storage disk and encasing the storage disk there between. The storage disk is rotatable within the shell. The shell also has a side wall extending between the first and second main walls. A head access aperture is formed in the side wall. The aperture enables a head to be inserted into the shell to be positioned in operative relationship with respect to the storage disk. The linear shutter is mounted to the shell, and is generally linearly movable between a closed position where the shutter covers the aperture and an open position where the shutter exposes the aperture. A compression spring is coupled to the shell and to the linear shutter and biases the shutter to the closed position.

Abstract: A subsea hydraulic control module that is totally enclosed such that the hydraulic fluid does not contact the seawater. The majority of the power for the module comes from the hydrostatic pressure of the sea itself. Two oil-over-seawater actuators each have an internal piston that separates the oil from the seawater. Each actuator is provided with two solenoid valves that control the flow of seawater. A fluid line and one solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator is in fluid communication with a seawater recovery reservoir. These two valves are also in fluid communication with each other through a common fluid line to the seawater reservoir. The remaining solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator may be selectively opened or closed to the ambient seawater. A hydraulic line on the oil side of each actuator is in fluid communication with the equipment to be controlled.

Abstract: Frequency synthesizers of a radio transceiver are automatically tuned so that its transmit and receive frequencies correspond to whichever upper band and lower band filters the radio transceiver has been connected by the user. A capacitive electrical impedance interface is coupled to filter circuitry of an upper band filter section, while an inductive electrical impedance interface is coupled to filter circuitry of the lower based filter section. A voltage reference circuit is coupled to one of the transmit port and the receive port of the transceiver. A controller is operative to automatically tune the transceiver to transmit in one of the upper and lower frequency bands, and to receive on the other frequency band, in accordance with the voltage level generated by the voltage reference circuit.