Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and auxiliary battery attachment system. The invention provides a battery housing having a common positive terminal and a common negative terminal coupled to an electrical system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an auxiliary battery having an auxiliary positive output and an auxiliary negative output. A switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively engage the main battery and the auxiliary battery. In the first operating position of the at least two operating positions the common positive terminal is coupled to the main positive output and the auxiliary positive output, a one-way charging circuit preceding the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (100) employs a method and apparatus for automatically initiating a communication with a target device. The communication device includes, inter alia, a user interface (115), an acoustic transducer (113), and an acoustic receptor (109). The user interface receives an identification of the target device (e.g., a telephone number) from a user while the communication device is configured in a first physical or mechanical configuration of at least two user-selectable configurations. Responsive to detecting a reconfiguration of the communication device from the first configuration (e.g., closed) into a second configuration (e.g., open), the communication device automatically initiates the communication with the target device, thereby eliminating the need for manual call initiation after the communication device is properly positioned for in-call use.

Abstract: A loss prevention system (e.g., 200) employs a method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device (100, 201) that has been inadvertently removed from its retaining device (e.g., 203, 300, 400). The loss prevention system includes the electronic device and its retaining device. The electronic device includes a proximity detector (103) that operates to detect the absence or removal of the device from the retaining device. The electronic device further includes a lost device detection circuit (102) that determines whether the removal was intentional and, if unintentional, alerts the user of the removal. By so alerting the user, the loss prevention system provides rapid feedback to the user after the user's electronic device has inadvertently fallen out of its retaining device, thereby enabling the user to quickly retrieve the device before it gets damaged or taken by someone else.

Abstract: A system controller (106) is for transferring a low bit rate digital voice message. The system controller generates from an analog voice signal representing the voice message a set of speech model parameters, and generates a first derived set of speech model parameters from a first subset of the set of speech model parameters, the first derived set encoding the voice signal at a second voice quality and second vocoder rate that are less, respectively, than a first voice quality and vocoder rate. The system controller transmits (3610) the low bit rate-digital voice message comprising the first derived set of speech model parameters to a communication receiver (114). The communication receiver requests (3640) an incremental message when the quality of the voice message is unsatisfactory. The system controller generates and transmits (3555, 3650) an incremental message-and the communication receiver uses (3660) the incremental message to generate a higher quality voice message.

Abstract: An electronic device (103, 200) employs a method and apparatus for selectively audibly alerting a user as to the status of the device's DC power source (119). The device receives input from the user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the device. After receiving such input, the device determines whether a low power condition exists during the time period and deactivates the audible low power alert if such a condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, after receiving the time period input from the user, the device may determine the likelihood of a low power condition occurring during the time period and activate the audible alert prior to commencement of the time period if such a condition is likely to occur, thereby providing the user advance notice of the potential for such a condition.

Abstract: A communication system (10) provides content to communication devices (12) over one or more wireless channels that support packet data communication under a specified radio packet data transmission protocol, such as GPRS. The communication system (10) receives proximity and functionality information from the communication devices (12). Based on the proximity and functionality level information, the communication system (10) determines an optimum data rate and optimum content format for communicating the content with the communication devices (12). Using the optimum data rate and content format, the content is transmitted to the communication devices (12) over a wireless channel, thereby optimizing the air time and providing the best user experience regardless of communication device capability or position.

Abstract: A method for making calls from communication devices that operate within a plurality of wireless communication networks. A call number associated with a call from a communication device is received which communicates with an active network. Based on the received call number, a calling code requirement is selected for dialing the call from the communication device. The calling code requirement is then transmitted to the communication device. The call number or the call number in combination with at least one selected calling code is dialed at the communication device based on the transmitted calling code requirement.

Abstract: A digital signal processor for processing data including voice messaging data that may have both voiced and unvoiced speech components utilizes computer routines stored in a memory used by the digital signal processor. The computer routines programmed provide for control of at least a portion of a selective call receiver; receiving and decoding data received at the selective call receiver; comparing the addresses received at the selective call receiver with addresses stored in a memory location coupled to the digital signal processor; controlling voicing including both voiced and unvoiced speech components; and generating a pitch wave using an inverse discrete Fourier Transform and resample the pitch wave to provide a time domain voiced speech component.

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 method for re-establishing communication between a base station (102) that transmits on a forward channel, and a subscriber unit (108) that has temporarily lost the forward channel, uses the concept of a re-registration interval. The base station (102) transmits, to subscriber units (106, 108) in its area, a signal indicating the duration of a re-registration interval. A subscriber unit that has temporarily lost the forward channel determines whether the duration of such loss exceeds the re-registration interval. If the interval is exceeded, the subscriber unit sends a re-registration signal to the base station on a reverse channel. A selective call transceiver (400) is programmed to operate as a subscriber unit that uses the re-registration interval.

Abstract: A technique is used in a data terminal (110, 160) that encodes and decodes a data packet that is transmitted in a link of a frequency hopping system. During encoding, an information portion of the data packet is determined for transmission, a transmit redundancy check code is generated over the information portion and an identifier using a predetermined redundancy check code generator, and the data packet is generated to include the transmit redundancy check code and the information portion, but exclude the identifier. During decoding, the information portion and a received redundancy check code of the received data packet are determined, a calculated redundancy check code is generated over the information portion and the identifier, using the predetermined redundancy check code generator, and the information portion is rejected when the received redundancy check code does not match the calculated redundancy check code.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a metal shield on a printed circuit board (10) include a layer of dielectric material (23) one or more printed circuits (21) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a layer of metal (27) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a metal-clad trench or opening surrounding the printed circuit (44) and electrically connected to the layer of metal(27), a solder pad (24) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a microvia (25) through the solder pad (24) and the layer of dielectric material (23), and electrical components (11) soldered to the solder pads (24) and to the printed circuit (21).

Abstract: A method is provided for background scanning in a selective call communication system (102) having a plurality of channels (110, 112, 114), wherein a selective call device (104) has designated thereto one of an odd and even frame compulsory decoding schedule. The selective call device (104) decodes system configuration information (SCI) on odd SCI frames during the odd compulsory decoding schedule, scans for even SCI frames of target channels while maintaining the odd compulsory decoding schedule, and releases or maintains the odd compulsory decoding schedule based on the system configuration information found on the target channels.

Abstract: A multichannel selective call receiver (10) includes-a receiver (11), a controller (16), a baud detector (17) and a memory (18). The controller is adapted to control the receiver in receiving information on a channel (14). The information on the channel includes mandatory frames having information fields. If the information fields in a mandatory frame on the channel do not indicate more information for the multichannel selective call receiver in the rest of the mandatory frame, the controller controls the receiver to receive information on other channels (15) during the rest of the mandatory frame. The information on the channel and the other channels is processed in accordance with channel priority as indicated in a channel list stored in the memory.

Abstract: A quiz game in which a player must attempt to answer one or more questions in a selected category employs a method for selecting the category to enhance the fairness of the game over a wide range of players' ages. At least one attribute of the category is selected by chance and at least one other attribute of the category is selected based on an individual preference of the player, wherein the selected category is defined by all of the selected attributes. Basing the category selection at least in part on the individual preference of the player increases the player's chances of correctly answering the question(s). Such a category selection method may be beneficially employed in an audio quiz game (e.g., a music trivia game) that includes a source of categorized questions and answers, an audio playing device that can selectively access and play pre-stored audio clips, and one or more selectors for selecting the by-chance attribute(s) of the category.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device for a high-density printed circuit board consists of a layered structure starting at the bottom layer with a ground conductor. A dielectric layer covers the ground conductor to electrically isolate it from a circuit trace that is on top of the dielectric layer. A via is formed in the dielectric layer such that a portion of the ground conductor is exposed, and the via is strategically located such that the edge of the via is tangent to an edge portion of the circuit trace. The via forms a spark gap between the edge portion of the circuit trace and the underlying ground conductor, using air as the dielectric medium.

Abstract: A communication device (1) comprising a receiver (2) for receiving coded messages transmitted on one or more channels. There is a micro-processor (13), in communication with the receiver (2) and a frequency synthesizer (4) coupled to both the micro-processor (13) and the receiver (2) to thereby control reception of the channels. The communication device (1) also has a memory (14) storing a group of-channel frequencies, wherein the micro-processor (13) is adapted, in combination with the frequency synthesizer (4), to control the receiver (2) to scan at least some of the channels during baud detect periods of a protocol cycle associated with at least one of the channels. Further, the micro-processor (13) cyclically offsets a start of the baud detect periods after completion of a protocol cycle.

Abstract: A communication device (12) transmits a communication signal during repetitive time slots. The communication device (12) includes a duty-cycle adjustment signal generator (82) that generates an adjustment signal based on a proximity signal. A controller (54) in response to the proximity signal, adjusts a transmission duty cycle relating to the repetitive time slots for transmitting a communication signal during a time slot. The communication signal is then radiated via an antenna (70).

Abstract: A pager (20) for operating within the communication environment of a cyclical frame based synchronous selective call system. The pager (20) has a receiver (22) for receiving selective call signals, a controller (25), a memory (26) to store signal parameters, a demodulator (27) and a decoder (28). In operation, receiver (22) processes selected frames within a selective call signal transmitted on a channel. During such operation, controller (25) determines whether to control receiver (22) to continue monitoring the channel or to scan for or select another channel to monitor for other selective call signals. A count of missed selected frames of a selective call signal is compared with a threshold count. This threshold count is based upon one of the signal parameters indicative of the selected frames. Controller (25) also schedules non-selected frames for processing when this signal parameter is greater than a predetermined number.