Abstract: Novel methodologies are provided for managing neighbor channel interference in a cellular wireless communications system as a function of a service-quality factor for a communications channel within such a system. Those methodologies, and their essential function are characterized as:Even/Odd Cell Designation--for eliminating adjacent-channel conflicts within a cell;Vertical Channel-Set Construction--for eliminating adjacent-channel conflicts between abutting sectors in sectorized cells; andMinimum Adjacency Circuit Method--for reducing the number of adjacent edges between abutting cells or sectors in a regular channel assignment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a caller to leave a message for an unreachable called party. The method and apparatus provides the caller with an option for a pre-paid return call that is billed to the caller. When the intended recipient of the call is unreachable, the call is transferred to a message server that gives the caller the option for a pre-paid return call for the recipient. The recipient is then notified of the available pre-paid return call through periodic callbacks to the intended recipient or by alerting the recipient the next time the recipient makes a call. The receiver of the message has the option of returning the call immediately or at a later time within a time duration set by the caller.

Abstract: A circuit suitable for use in a regulated bi-directional output power supply requiring controlled transitions between states, such as in a Battery Polarity Switch is provided to utilize many of the same circuit components in regulating both opposing polarities of the output signal. An exemplary circuit achieves use of a single error amplifier and pulse width modulator circuit to obtain both positive and negative regulation of the battery polarity switch output, along with controlled transition between the two states. In a specific embodiment a logic inverter allows the single pulse width modulator to control in both directions. A ramped reference fed to the error amplifier allows the same amplifier to control the transitions.

Abstract: In order to gain access to a secured system, a user must be able to enter valid user identification information and must also have a remote wireless communication device such as a pager or cellular telephone having a number that is substantially unique to that user. When the user requests access to the secured system, the system places a call to the user's remote wireless communication device and sends that device revalidation information such as a random number generated by the secured system. The user must return the revalidation information to the secured system to gain access. In an alternative embodiment, another person (a user-approver) has the remote wireless communication device and must return the revalidation information to the secured system if the user-approver approves the user's request for access.

Abstract: An intelligent wireless communication base station provides communication between individual base stations over an RF radio channel. A control unit in each base station utilizes this communication to facilitate each base station to gather system data regarding the system arrangement of nearby base stations and to facilitate handovers of mobile wireless personal communicators from one base station to a another base station. This control unit is under stored program control and gathers information concerning set up channels of nearby radio ports, a developed list or table of neighbor base stations and signal strength values of nearby channels. Voice channels may be bridged allowing two personal communicators to communicate with each other through a single base station.

Abstract: A highly reliable early warning system that can provide efficient detection of railway activity and early warning of dangerous railway conditions to train operators and to central dispatch control offices. The warning system has an acoustic sensor circuit coupled to the railway for detecting sound waves resulting from physical vibrations thereon, an acoustic analyzer unit for analyzing the sound waves detected on the railway to identify any suspect conditions thereon and to generate an alarm if such a suspect condition is identified, and an acoustic signal processing unit for storing detected sound waves in a sound file for quick retrieval and analysis. The alarm signal may be transmitted over any communications system to the central control office and to trains traveling on the dangerous track.

Abstract: A constraining sleeve device is applied to a plastic battery casing to prevent distortion of the casing contour. A metal constraining sleeve slides onto and over a broad face or side of the plastic battery casing and provides constraining forces to maintain its contour. This sleeve is retained in place by end members at each end of the constraining sleeve device that engages structural features existing and located at opposing ends of the casing. In another embodiment a pair of constraining sleeve devices are applied to opposing broad sides of the battery casing.

Abstract: A switching circuit is provided to process a DC voltage and apply a low frequency AC voltage, having a trapezoidal waveform, to a co-axial cable transmitting the low frequency AC voltage to a load which may be powered by the low frequency AC voltage as well as a DC voltage. In one specific embodiment two of the switches are connected as part of buck regulation circuits to serve a dual purpose of polarity switching and regulation.

Abstract: A wireless terminal utilizing digital radio processing utilizes stored program control to allow the wireless terminal to operate in a plurality of disposed wireless communication systems. In particular, the digital radio processing with appropriate stored program control operates in a plurality of wireless communication system by selectively and controllably enabling selection of frequency, channel bandwidth, modulation type, channel coding and source coding operational components appropriate to the communication system that the wireless unit is to operate in. A function control enables the wireless terminal to actively seek out and search for availability of wireless communications system in which it may operate.

Abstract: A DC voltage polarity switching circuit includes four switches connected in a bridge configuration. Switches in opposing legs are paired with each other and turned on and off in alternate phases to deliver a low frequency alternating signal having a trapezoidal waveform to a co-axial cable load. Circuitry is included to control the slew rate when the output signal transitions from one polarity to the other. Also, turn on of a switch in one phase is delayed during turn off of a switch in the end of the interval of presently conducting switches in one phase.

Abstract: A power plant system architecture includes a plurality of battery polarity switching circuits for providing uninterruptible power/voltage to a plurality of loads, each of which is powered by low frequency AC, and which is also powered by a DC voltage. DC voltage is substituted for the AC voltage applied to the load should the voltage polarity processing circuitry in the power plant fail.

Abstract: A plurality of battery/voltage polarity switching circuits are constrained to operate in switching synchronism by a timing circuit associated with each polarity switching circuit that are interrelated to one another such that only the fastest response timing circuit is operative to supply a common synchronizing signal to all the polarity switching circuits.

Abstract: Icon indicia are provided on input, output and plug-in power processing units to permit proper matching of plug-in units with each other and with the input and output power processing units in a power distribution system. The indicia are in a co-ordinated matrix format with input icons on a designated chroma background to identify input voltages and output icons on a second designated chroma background to identify output voltages. Icons and background chroma on the plug-in power processing units are coordinated with related icons and background chroma at the same matrix position on other plug-in units and/or the input and output units to assure the compatibility of all the units. A craftsman inserting a plug-in unit onto a shelf of the power chassis need merely compare the unit's icon and chroma background indicia with the input, output, or other unit's icons and associated chroma background indicia to be assured of inserting the correct plug-in unit into the particular shelf.

Abstract: An access director provides a gateway for customer premise based equipment (both wired and wireless) and a wireless port facility to a narrowband/broadband information distribution network. It provides a portable narrowband duplex synchronous and isochronous telephony service and concurrent broad fixed location dodwn link from network to customer isochronous service. The down link broadband service may be combined with narrowband up link service to provide non-symmetric duplex operation or services such as interactive video.

Abstract: An integral transformer/rectifier component includes a lead frame having terminals for connecting to conductors of a circuit substrate. A transformer primary and secondary winding is mounted on the lead frame and a rectifying diode is mounted on the same frame and is directly connected to a winding terminal end of the secondary winding, The transformer windings and diode are encapsulated in a thermoset plastic. A terminal end of the diode is extended beyond the encapsulation and used as an output terminal of the integral transformer/rectifier component.

Abstract: A highly accurate apparatus and method of predicting remaining capacity Q and reserve time t of a discharging battery to a selected end voltage is determined by an arrangement considering the open circuit voltage, battery voltage, battery temperature and its internal resistance. The remaining battery capacity Q is determined from the difference between the battery full charge open circuit voltage Eoc and the voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery IRint and the battery voltage on discharge divided by the battery temperature T, which is the temperature-corrected battery overvoltage.

Abstract: A battery charging system controls and modifies the output voltage of the charging rectifier in response to differing temperature ranges of the battery. At a low range of temperatures starting at a low temperature (e.g. within a range of 0 to 25.degree. C. to about 53.degree. C.) the rectifier voltage decreases as the temperature increases to prevent charging current from rising as the battery temperature increases. This change is performed in accord with a linear graphical slope relating the change of charging voltage to temperature. A suitable charging voltage decrease rate may be 3 mV/.degree. C./cell with a range of 1.5 mV/.degree. C./cell to 5 mV/.degree. C./cell being acceptable. Reduction of the charging voltage within this range reduces the aging effect of high temperature operation of the battery. The charging voltage applied to the battery is held at a constant value over a subsequent range of temperatures (e.g. 53.degree. C. to 75.degree. C.

Abstract: A bipolar switching circuit converts an applied DC voltage to a low frequency AC voltage by periodically transmitting and inverting the applied DC voltage. The bipolar circuitry in one embodiment includes four switches which are switched in pairs to alternately provide a direct transmission of the input DC voltage and an inverted version of the DC input voltage.

Abstract: A data transmission system includes a low bandwidth two way transmission network which is employed to arrange access to and use of a wide bandwidth bearer channel to facilitate the transmission of data at a wide bandwidth enhancing the efficiency of data transmission. In one embodiment, a low bandwidth telecommunication service is used to set up a wide band channel connection on a wide band telecommunication service to allow the user to communicate high speed data without the necessity of overhead addressing and accessing communications on that channel.

Abstract: A wireless broadband communication system architecture is structured to provide an array of narrowband and broadband services to an end user on demand. The bandwidth of delivery is dynamically adjusted to deliver and satisfy service requirements by utilizing the appropriate bandwidth on demand. Bandwidth-on-demand is provided in accord with the invention by rearranging spectrum allocations so that a particular band spectrum is convertibly used to accomplish different purposes depending on present allocations and active applications of the system. The communications system is designed to utilize wireless communication for end point delivery to both fixed and potable terminals. The system supplies basic telephone service, wireless ISDN service, wireless data service, wireless multimedia service and various other wireless broadband service including types of interactive and broadcast video.