Abstract: A technique for connecting a dialed B-party number to a data object is described. The connecting of a B-party number to a specific data object, hereafter referred to as phonepage, will allow an A-party direct access to information that a B-party wishes to display to a calling party. The phonepage resides in a memory in a telecommunications network, or in a memory in a data-communications network connected thereto. The phonepage may have a similar appearance to an Internet web page, but may also take other appearances. The displaying of the phonepage may be made dependent upon the capabilities of the A-party user equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital current sharing structure and method in which a plurality of regulators are configured to share the load current. Current share circuits in each of the regulators are configured to measure and compare the average current provided by that particular regulator with the overall average current provided by all the regulators. Each of the current share circuits then provides an output so that the output of each regulator is adjusted to provide the same amount of current to the load. Digital processing with both analog and digital averaging are disclosed. Also disclosed is a programmable hysteresis technique to eliminate relatively trivial adjustments.

Abstract: A furniture piece that may include a support member with opposing first and second surfaces. A recess may extend into the first surface. The support member may also include a first aperture within the recess that extends through to the second surface. A brace may be positioned to support the support member. The brace may include a second aperture that aligns with the first aperture. A fastener that includes a head and an outwardly-extending neck may attach the support member and brace together. The head may seat within the recess and the neck may extend through the first and second apertures. One or more spacers may be positioned along the neck to position the head relative to the support member. A thickness of the head may be less than a depth of the recess such that a surface of the head is flush with the first surface of the support member or positioned within the recess below the first surface of the support member.

Abstract: In a parametric G-Rake receiver, a method an apparatus computes initial estimates of one or more scaling parameters and initial combining weights for the parametric G-Rake receiver; estimates the SINR of a received signal based on a mean pilot symbol estimate and the initial combining weights; computes revised estimates for one or more scaling parameters based on the estimated SINR and the initial combining weights; and computes revised combining weights based on one or more revised scaling parameter estimates.

Abstract: A host connects to a peripheral device having upgraded firmware. The host also includes a device driver to communicate with the peripheral device. If the device drivers currently installed on the host are not compatible with the upgraded firmware, upgraded device drivers are automatically downloaded to the host from the peripheral device. Once installed on the host, the peripheral device is reset and the upgraded device drivers are used to communicate with the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus described herein uses a mobility server to supplement the mobility management operations of a conventional mobile switching circuit (MSC). The mobility server receives mobility messages from a wireless terminal, and updates a location register associated with the MSC responsive to the received mobility messages. According to one exemplary embodiment, the mobility server has a pre-determined network address, such as a phone number, IP address, etc. The wireless terminal sends the mobility messages as user-plane messages to the pre-determined network address over a traffic data channel. In one exemplary embodiment, the mobility messages indicate the imminent loss of usable base station signals at an identified wireless terminal. For this embodiment, the mobility server may identify a satellite beam associated with the wireless terminal's location based on the received mobility messages, and update the location register accordingly.

Abstract: A fishing bait pen includes an upper floating member and a lower member having a specific gravity that enables the lower member to sink in water. A sidewall extends generally between the upper floating member and the lower member. A bottom is provided adjacent the lower member. The wall and bottom include a series of openings for permitting water to flow into and out of a fishing bait pen. Both the upper floating member and the lower member are sufficiently flexible such that each can be bent at multiple points and folder over to form a collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A robotic tool changer having a master unit and a tool unit adapted to be coupled together. Movably mounted in the master unit of the robotic tool changer is a piston that is movable between locked and unlocked positions. The piston includes a contact area having an unlocking surface, a failsafe surface and a locking surface. Also provided is a series of rolling members contained within a retention area that are actuated by the piston to lock the master unit to the tool unit. For example, the piston engages the rolling members and urges them into a locked relationship with a bearing race that forms a part of the tool unit. To prevent the inadvertent or accidental movement of the piston from the locked position to the unlocked position, the piston is provided with a retarding surface generally disposed between the locking surface and the unlocking surface on the piston for retarding the movement of the piston as the piston moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A base station includes transmitter and associated processing circuits. The transmitter circuits are configured to transmit control information and data traffic to mobile terminals in repeating transmission intervals, each interval having defined control and data portions. The processing circuits are configured to dynamically determine that the control portion has insufficient resources for transmitting control information to one or more of the mobile terminals, and, in response, at least temporarily transmit control information in the data portion, rather than in the control portion, for a selected one or more of the mobile terminals. Correspondingly, a mobile terminal is configured to selectively search for and decode control information in the data portion of one or more transmission intervals, rather than in the control portion.

Abstract: In wireless communication networks, potentially significant interference arises at a given targeted receiver because of unrelated transmissions from a neighboring, interfering transmitter. According to apparatuses and methods described and claimed herein, a first transmitter provides for cancellation of partially known interference at a targeted receiver by employing a transmit diversity based interference cancellation method, wherein it transmits diversity combinations of desired and interfering symbols. Correspondingly, the targeted receiver employs diversity combining of the received signals to cancel interference attributable to the interfering symbols.

Abstract: Signal quality estimation and demodulation are tailored to the received signal quality. According to one embodiment, a received signal is processed by determining a first set of combining weights based on a first impairment covariance estimate derived assuming a low signal quality environment. A second set of combining weights is determined based on a second impairment covariance estimate derived assuming a high signal quality environment. A metric is determined corresponding to the difference between symbol estimates derived from the second set of combining weights and hard symbol decisions. The received signal is demodulated based on the second set of combining weights if the metric satisfies a threshold indicating high signal quality and otherwise based on the first set of combining weights.

Abstract: A wireless communication terminal includes a broadcast signal frequency converter that is communicatively coupled to the terminal's communication signal receiver and is configured to use its communication receiver to process received broadcast signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the converter includes a frequency shifting circuit, e.g., a block frequency converter, that shifts broadcast signal bands into communication signal bands, such that received broadcast signals are shifted into a frequency range compatible with the communication receiver's signal path. Moreover, the significant digital domain signal processing capability of the communication receiver can be used to receive broadcast television and/or radio signals, provide signal enhancements, and extract other types of information such as RDBS, IBOC, etc.

Abstract: A speaker module for a consumer electronics device encloses a speaker. The speaker module is sized to fit within a housing of the consumer electronics device and below an input control of the consumer electronics device. The speaker module is oriented so that the speaker projects audible sound through one or more interstitial gaps between the input control and the housing, or one or more through-holes formed in the input control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus taught herein reduce the peak-to-average ratio (PAR) of a complex-valued signal based on detecting peaks in the signal that are above a peak threshold, characterizing the detected peaks in Cartesian coordinates, generating cancellation pulses in Cartesian coordinates based on the detected peak characterizations. PAR reduction processing continues with canceling the detected peaks by combining the cancellation pulses with a correspondingly delayed version of the signal. Advantageously, peak detection may be performed in polar form using a computationally efficient peak detection algorithm that avoids calculation of the I and Q peak waveforms unless a signal peak beyond a defined threshold is present. In one or more embodiments, the generation and use of asymmetric and/or shaped cancellation pulses offers further performance advantages.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power transistor package includes an electrically conductive flange configured to be connected to a source of a power transistor device. The package further includes a first terminal mechanically fastened to the flange and configured to be electrically connected to a gate of the power transistor device and a second terminal mechanically fastened to the flange and configured to be electrically connected to a drain of the power transistor device. The package also includes a bus bar mechanically fastened to the flange which extends between and connects at least two different DC bias terminals mechanically fastened to the flange. The bus bar is configured to be electrically connected to the drain via one or more RF grounded connections.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes video communication capability. When the video call is place on hold by the mobile communication device, a pre-recorded video is transmitted to the holding party. The pre-recorded video may be stored in the memory of the mobile communication device or may be stored in a video server in the network. In the latter case, the mobile communication device signals the video server to transmit a selected video to the holding party when the video call is placed on hold.

Abstract: A prescription pharmaceutical promotional carrier is provided that is effective to promote a series of prescription drugs. The carrier includes first and second portions with the second portion being referred to as a payment vehicle and the first portion being utilized to identify the series of prescription drugs being promoted. In use, a preferred embodiment provides a series of stickers secured to the first portion of the carrier. Each sticker identifies or represents a prescription pharmaceutical product. A doctor may possess one or more of the carriers and may prescribe a prescription drug being promoted by the carrier. If so, the doctor can transfer a sticker identifying the prescription drug to the payment vehicle and separate the payment vehicle from the carrier.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are disclosed for reducing interference from transmitter leakage in a radio transceiver. An exemplary method for reducing interference from transmitter leakage in a radio transceiver comprises downconverting, filtering, and sampling a radio frequency signal comprising a desired signal and a transmitter leakage signal to obtain a sampled signal of interest. The method further comprises generating a sampled distortion signal estimate that estimates one or more distortion products of the transmitter leakage signal, such as a squared amplitude obtained from a square-law device or corresponding digital function. Further, the method comprises dividing the sampled distortion signal estimate and the sampled signal of interest into a plurality of frequency channels.

Abstract: A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, includes first and second bodies having respective perimeters. A display is associated with one of the bodies and user input is associated with the other. A hinge mechanism moveably couples the bodies together so that the second body may pivot between a closed state and an open state. The second body, while in the open state, is slidable from a first open position to a second open position along the perimeter of the first body. The first and second bodies may have respective major axes, and the major axes may be substantially parallel when the second body is in the first open position. The major axes may advantageously also be substantially parallel when the second body is in the second open position. The bodies may include respective peripheral slots along which the hinge mechanism moves.

Abstract: An improved uniform for military, police, and security personnel that when worn with ballistic vests, offer the wearer increased protection, performance and survivability from low and high velocity projectiles in a combat or tactical environment.