Abstract: Geographic relationship between communication units (102, 103) within a communication system (100) can be achieved when a first communication unit transmits its location information. Upon receiving this location information, a second communication unit determines its location information. Having this information, the second communication unit then determines a geographic relationship between the two units and subsequently displays this information both visually and audibly.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (100) that adaptively couples a radio frequency signal between two ports includes two electrically conductive elements (102, 104), a compliant member (106), and a matable housing (116). A first electrically conductive element (102) is disposed substantially within the matable housing (116) to provide connectivity to a first port. A circularly formed metal element (104) provides connectivity to a second port. The circularly (e.g.. cylindrically) formed metal element may be mounted to a printed circuit board by soldering a solderable surface (114) on an underside of the circularly formed metal element to a trace on the printed circuit board. The compliant member (106) is connected to both electrically conductive elements (102, 104) to provide mechanical stress relief therebetween during operation of the electrical connector assembly (100).

Abstract: In a communication system that employs DMT technology to couple a primary site (102) to a plurality of secondary sites (104-108), call support infrastructure is obtained as follows. Having received a call request, the primary site (102) identifies targeted subscribers and target secondary sites, i.e., the secondary sites having a targeted subscriber affiliated therewith. Next, the primary site determines a call bit loading table from the site bit loading tables of the target secondary sites. Having done this, the primary site selects, based on bandwidth requirements of the call, at least one carrier channel to provide the infrastructure support for the call.

Abstract: Geographic information may be automatically transmitted to communication units (102, 103) by a communication resource controller (101). The communication resource controller (101) upon receiving location coordinates, accesses a data base (124) to determine localized geographic dependent information. Having retrieved this information, the communication resource controller (101) transmits this information to the communication units (102, 103). Upon receipt of this information, the communication units (102, 103) determine whether it is pertinent to them. If the information is pertinent, the communication units (102, 103) display the information.

Abstract: An audio automatic gain control (AGC) circuit (301) employs a method (400, 500) and apparatus (300) for mitigating noise in an output signal (307) of the audio AGC circuit (301). The audio AGC circuit (301) or a circuit coupled to the audio AGC circuit, such as a speech encoder (302), determines (405) whether audio information is present in an input signal (137) to the audio AGC circuit (301). When audio information is not present, the audio AGC circuit (301) applies (411) a gain to the input signal (137) that is less than a current gain being applied, thereby mitigating noise in the audio AGC circuits output signal (220) when audio is not present.

Abstract: A squelch circuit (111) that is contained in an communications receiver (100) estimates (403, 405) the energy of an input signal in an audio band and in a first portion of the audio band. The squelch circuit (111) then determines (407) whether the energy in the first portion of the audio band is at least a predetermined proportion of the total energy in the audio band. When the energy in the first portion of the audio band is at least a predetermined proportion of the total energy in the audio band, the squelch circuit increases (409) the audio band energy estimate to produce an updated audio energy estimate. The squelch circuit (111) can then use the updated audio energy estimate to adjust (413) a so-called squelch threshold that is subsequently used to determine (419) the presence of the radio frequency signal at an input (101) to the communications receiver (100).

Abstract: A method as shown in FIG. 2 for allocating resources in a radio communications system having a plurality of communications resources for at least one receiver and transmitter to communicate over where the communications resources have signal levels which vary due to a multipath environment resulting in periods of poor communication quality over at least one particular communications resource including measuring at a first receiver a parameter indicative of a quality of communications between the first receiver and a first transmitter over a currently assigned communications resource and determining whether to allocate a different communications resource based on the measured parameter in order to effectively reduce periods of poor communications quality between the first receiver and the first transmitter.

Abstract: A communication system (100) includes a primary site (102) coupled to a plurality of secondary sites (104-108) using DMT technology. The primary site (102) includes a controller, a data multiplexing switch, a Discrete Multi-Tone transmitter, and a Discrete Multi-Tone receiver. Each of the secondary sites (104-108) includes a site controller, a subscriber interface, and a secondary Discrete Multi-Tone receiver.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method (600) and apparatus (101) for conveying a communication signal between a communication unit (105) and a base site (101) that services a sectorized coverage area (103). The communication unit (105) transmits an uplink communication signal (113) to the base site (101). The base site (101) receives (603) the uplink communication signal (113) and determines (605) an approximate location of the communication unit (101) within a first portion (111) of a sector (108) of the sectorized coverage area (103). A downlink communication signal is then transmitted (609, 613) to the communication unit (105) based on the approximate location of the communication unit (105) using an antenna structure that produces a beamwidth (117) narrower than an angular width of the sector (108).

Abstract: Uplink time slots (108) may be allocated within a communication system (100) when a communication unit (102) transmits a first packet (501) to a time slot allocator (101). Upon receiving the first packet (501), the time slot allocator (101) determines whether the first packet (501) contains a request for allocation of N uplink time slots. When the first packet (501) contains the request for allocation of N uplink time slots, the time slot allocator (101) allocates the N uplink time slots to the communication unit (102) when the N uplink time slots are available, wherein the N uplink time slots are allocated contiguous in time. The time slot allocator (101) then transmits an allocation indication to the communication unit in each of N downlink time slots (110) corresponding to the N allocated uplink time slots (108) to inform the communication unit (102) of the allocation.

Abstract: Alternate communication services may be provided in a communication system 100 based on the geographic location of a target communication unit. When a service request, which identifies the target communication unit and a particular service, is received by a communication resource controller (101), the communication resource controller (101) ascertains the location of a target communication unit and determines whether the target unit is located within a predefined area. If the target unit (102, 103) is located within the predefined area, the communication resource controller (101) determines whether the particular service requested is prohibited in the predefined area. If the service is prohibited, an alternate service is made available to the initiating communication unit.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method (400) and apparatus (101, 113) for mitigating interference (119) produced by a communication unit (113) communicating with a serving base site (101) in the communication system (100). While the communication unit (113) is communicating with the serving base site (101), the communication unit (113) monitors (405) a downlink communication signal (118) transmitted by an alternate base site (105). The communication unit (113) then determines (407) an indicia of signal usability for the monitored downlink signal (118) and adjusts (421) a transmit power of the communication unit (113) based on the indicia of signal usability.

Abstract: An apparatus and method as shown in for processing digital signals in a communications system including a non-equaliser detector and a equaliser each for receiving an input signal and outputting a quality estimate and bit decision, respectively, so that the quality estimates are compared and a bit decision is made based on the comparison. The apparatus and method further include retraining the equaliser based on the comparison of the quality estimates of the detector and equaliser.

Abstract: A linear transmitter (100), which utilizes closed loop feedback to maintain its linearity, employs a method for reducing off-channel interference produced by the linear transmitter (100). A dynamically alterable parameter source (DAPS, 126) is provided to the linear transmitter (100). The DAPS (126) is then used to adjust at least one loop parameter of the closed loop feedback such that off-channel interference is reduced.

Abstract: A relay device (103) having a coil (144) and a set of contacts (146, 147) employs an apparatus (100) and method (200) for drawing current through the coil (144) to close, and maintain closure of, the set of contacts (146, 147). A first terminal of the coil (144) is coupled to a power supply (101) and a second terminal of the coil is coupled to a holding circuit (108, 115, 126) that establishes a first current through the coil (144). The second terminal of the coil (144) is also coupled to a closing circuit (112) that establishes a second current through the coil (144), wherein the first current and the second current together are at least sufficient to close the set of contacts (146, 147) and the first current is sufficient to maintain closure of the closed set of contacts (146, 147). A control circuit (118, 128) is coupled to the closing circuit (112) and the holding circuit (108, 115, 126) to remove the second current after the set contacts (146, 147) are closed.

Abstract: A radio communication system (200) employs a method (400) and system (200) for establishing a communication between communication units (212-217) using geographically distributed packet duplicators (203-205). The communication system (200) includes a system controller (201), a plurality of packet duplicators (203-205), a plurality of base sites (207-210), and a plurality of communication units (212-217). The packet duplicators (203-205), which provide interconnectivity between the base sites (207-210), are distributed throughout geographic regions (233-234) of the system (200). When the system controller (201) receives a request to communicate from one communication unit (e.g., 212) in a group of communication units (e.g., 212-215), the system controller (201) selects a packet duplicator (e.g., 203) serving a geographic region (e.g., 233) containing at least one communication unit in the group and uses the selected packet duplicator (203) to establish the group communication.

Abstract: In a radio transmitter (100) that includes a power amplifier (104) and an antenna (106), a method for enhancing an operating characteristic of the radio transmitter (100) can be accomplished in the following manner. The power amplifier (104) provides a signal (113) to a variable matching network (111), wherein the signal (113) comprises energy to be radiated by the antenna (106). The variable matching network (111) couples the signal (113) to a sampler (112) that is operably coupled to an output of the variable matching network (111 ) and the antenna (106). The sampler (112) samples a forward component (114) and a reflected component (115) of the signal (113). The radio transmitter (100) processes the sampled forward and reflected components (116, 118) to produce a feedback control signal (120). The feedback control signal (120) is used to adjust the variable matching network (111 ), such that an operating characteristic of the radio transmitter (100) is enhanced.

Abstract: Functions, represented by icons, likely to be used by a user may be depicted on a display (102) such that the user may invoke functions in a user friendly manner. Target function icons to be depicted on the display are determined from a pool of available functions based on an operating environment locale of a device (100) comprising the display (102). The target function icons are then presented on the display (102) such that the user can select or invoke a function represented by the function icon. In this manner, the user may invoke frequently used functions with less user input.