Abstract: A subscriber device (10) includes one or more sensors (102) for measuring a object electromagnetic characteristic, such as conductivity, permittivity or permeability. A controller (104) stores the object electromagnetic parameter in memory (106) and, operating in accordance with a performance enhancement routine stored in the memory (106), enhances operation of the subscriber device (10) in accordance with the electromagnetic parameter. The controller (104) may do this by adjusting the power of an amplifier (112), the frequency of a synthesizer (114) or the impedance of an antenna (110). A software program controlling the subscriber device and a corresponding method are described.

Abstract: A WLAN communication system (10) and method employs mobile WLAN base stations (16) that include WLAN transceivers (26) and memory (30) for storing received messages from one or more mobile WLAN devices (12a-12n). The mobile WLAN base stations (16) serve as moving message carriers or message repeaters of messages for the mobile WLAN devices. In one embodiment, a mobile WLAN base station (16) receives messages transmitted by several mobile WLAN devices (12a-12n), temporarily stores the received messages, and delivers the stored messages to a fixed WLAN base station or another mobile WLAN base station when the mobile WLAN base station (16) moves to within communication range of the applicable fixed or other mobile WLAN base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (100) having portable communication devices (102, 104, and 106) capable of establishing direct terminal (102)-to-terminal (104) communication (108 and 110) and indirect terminal (102)-to-terminal (104) communication (112, 118 and 114, 116) through another terminal (106) without having a fixed base station. A portable communication device (106) used as a terminal is capable functioning as a router for communication (112, 118 and 114, 116) between other portable devices (102 and 104) in the system. While functioning as a router, the portable device (106) is capable establishing and maintaining a separate direct communication (302 and 304) with another portable communication device (306). A wireless communication system(600) utilizing predetermined cell- and location-specific communication parameters (808) and non-repeating propagation patterns (1200) for portables communication devices in the system for establishing communications.

Abstract: A method carried out at a transmitter (800), of limiting visual information that can be stored or transmitted captures a visual image (608). Whenever a control signal is detected (612) at the transmitter (800), at least a portion of the visual image is obscured (616) to produce an obscured visual image. This obscured image is then stored and/or transmitted (620). The image can be obscured by any number of techniques including replacement of the image with a substitute (718), blurring, distorting or reducing the resolution of the background (738), substitution of backgrounds (762) or removal of the background (778).

Abstract: A method for sending messages from a particular device to one or more other devices communicants (300) uses the relative geographic location of the targeted devices as addressing criteria. The particular device forms or joins a network of potential communicants, and exchanges information to determine their relative geographic location with respect to that of the particular device (310, 320). The relative geographic location is preferably defined by a directional component and a range component. The communication device then selects for communication those devices that meet specific criteria, such as a specific direction and range, and transmits a message to the selected devices (330, 332, 334, 336).

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexer (OFDM) transmitter and receiver apparatus consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention receives data to be transmitted and maps (204) a first portion of the data to a first polarization state and a second portion of the data to a second polarization state. A first transmitter (216) transmits the first portion of the data as a set of first OFDM subcarriers using an antenna (230) exhibiting a first polarization. A second transmitter (234) transmits the second portion of the data as a set of second OFDM subcarriers using an antenna (240) exhibiting a second polarization, wherein the first polarization is orthogonal to the second polarization. A receiver apparatus uses a first antenna (302) exhibiting the first polarization and a second antenna (306) exhibiting the second polarization.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmitter method, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention arranges OFDM data symbols representing data bits for transmission in a packet. A prescribed pattern of OFDM data symbols are removed (212) and replaced (216) with pilot symbols. The packet is then transmitted (220) to an OFDM receiver that receives the packet (224) and determines a channel correction factor from the pilot pattern. The receiver then estimates a plurality of channel correction factors, one for each of the plurality of OFDM symbols representing data (228) and uses these correction factors to correct the OFDM symbols representing data (232). Arbitrary data are then inserted in place of the pilot symbols (236). The OFDM symbols representing data along with the arbitrary data are then decoded using an error correction decoder that corrects the errors induced by substitution of the pilot symbols for data symbols (240).

Abstract: A method carried out at a transmitter (800), of limiting visual information that can be stored or transmitted captures a visual image (608). Whenever a control signal is detected (612) at the transmitter (800), at least a portion of the visual image is obscured (616) to produce an obscured visual image. This obscured image is then stored and/or transmitted (620). The image can be obscured by any number of techniques including replacement of the image with a substitute (718), blurring, distorting or reducing the resolution of the background (738), substitution of backgrounds (762) or removal of the background (778).

Abstract: The wireless communication system (100) uses a method of improving diversity gain by utilizing a first network (10) operating with a first protocol and at least a second network (20) formed from a plurality of cooperative wireless devices (22, 24, 26, 28, and 29) operating with a second protocol and at least the,first protocol. The method includes the step (302) of receiving a signal using the first protocol at one or more of the plurality of cooperative wireless devices intended for a targeted member of the plurality of cooperative wireless devices and the step (308) of processing the signal cooperatively among the plurality of cooperative wireless devices in order to increase diversity gain of the signal to the targeted member.

Abstract: A technique is used in a selective call communication system (100) and in a broadcast communication system (106) to provide additional information about a broadcast to a selective call device (111). A broadcast receiver (109) receives a broadcast that includes a prompt (220), such as a FLEX™ logo, and an information address signal (305), such as an inaudible portion of the sound portion of the broadcast. The prompt indicates that additional information is available in a message to be transmitted by the selective call communication system. The selective call device receives the information address signal when activated to do so in response to the prompt. The selective call device receives and decodes an information address from the information address signal and uses it to recover the message at a protocol position indicated by the information address. The additional information is then recovered from the message.

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: A system (10) for dynamic process assignment among a plurality of devices (40) includes an initial coordinator (38), a requesting device (60), and a resource device (62). The initial coordinator (38) includes a list of available resources (56) for each device of the plurality of devices (40). The requesting device (60) requests the use of a desired resource. In response to the request from the requesting device (60), the initial coordinator (38) identifies an available resource associated with one of the plurality of devices (40) for use by the requesting device (60) as the desired resource.

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: A vehicle locating system (200) includes a beacon (108) carried by a vehicle, a tracking control station (106) for generating a beacon activation signal (110) which enables the beacon (108) to broadcast a vehicle identification signal (112), and one or more mobile communication devices (116, 118) which include a first receiver (516) utilized to receive a location signal (122) identifying a geographic location of a mobile communication device, and a transceiver (406) utilized to provide communication between said mobile communication device and a communication system controller. The one or more mobile communication devices (116, 118) further include a second receiver (502) utilized to receive the vehicle identification signal (112) broadcast by the beacon (108), and a vehicle tracking controller (520), responsive to the vehicle identification signal (112) which is received, for controlling a transmission of the vehicle identification signal (112) and the location signal (122).

Abstract: A technique is used in a selective call communication system (100) and in a broadcast communication system (106) to provide additional information about a broadcast to a selective call device (111). A broadcast receiver (109) receives a broadcast that includes a prompt (220), such as a FLEX.TM. logo, and an information address signal (305), such as an inaudible portion of the sound portion of the broadcast. The prompt indicates that additional information is available in a message to be transmitted by the selective call communication system. The selective call device receives the information address signal when activated to do so in response to the prompt. The selective call device receives and decodes an information address from the information address signal and uses it to recover the message at a protocol position indicated by the information address. The additional information is then recovered from the message.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a paging message on the cellular communication system (126) includes the steps of: acquiring a paging signal as a control channel for a selective call device (120), the paging signal indicating a geographic location, receiving a control flag indicating a cellular channel to the selective call device (120), registering with the cellular communication system (126) on the cellular channel indicated by the control flag of the paging signal, sending status information from the cellular communication system (126) to the paging communication system for authenticating the selective call device (120), receiving the paging message on the control channel of the paging communication system (350), transmitting an address and a vector on the control channel to the selective call device (120) directing the selective call device to the cellular channel of the cellular communication system (126) for receiving the paging message, reading a flag in the paging signal to determine if the paging communica

Abstract: A communication system using voice compression includes a transmitter base station (113) and a selective call receiver (112). The transmitter base station (113) includes an input device (204) to receive an audio voice message which is stored in a memory (209). A processing device (208) digitizes the audio voice message to provide an input signal which is divided into a sequence of equivalent time frames, and differences in a short-term frequency spectrum between adjacent time frames is determined to derive distance measurements. A speed factor is computed as an average of the distance measurements, and the input signal is time-scales in accordance with the speed factor and then transmitted by a transmitter (102).