Abstract: A method and system for automatically configuring the frequency allocation within a cellular system or network. The method requires the collection of measurements from different parts of a cellular network, generating statistics from these measurements, and combining these statistics with inventory, propagation and geographic data. The combined data is used as input to a frequency allocation algorithm. As a result, the allocation algorithm produces a frequency configuration set, a quality measure of the configuration proposed and/or a set of recommendations that is fed back to the cellular base stations to re-allocate the frequency usage in a plurality of cells.

Abstract: An efficient redundant light distribution system includes redundant light generation enclosures providing light to a collector array 10, coupled to an ultraviolet to red converter 20, a combination array 30, a distribution array 40 and multiple projection lenses 4.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing nodes in a network is described that utilizes an interactive convergence technique. The technique utilizes communications protocol IEEE 1394 to broadcast each node's clock value to the other nodes in the network. Each node applies a voting algorithm to the set of broadcasted clock values to determine a voted clock value and each node's clock is set to that voted clock value. When a node's clock value is close in value to another node, those nodes are considered to be synchronized. The set of clock values to be used to determine the voted clock value consists of those nodes that are synchronized. The technique is implemented on hardware separate from the node's hardware and can be implemented on a field programmable gate array.

Abstract: The Dynamic Registration and Configuration Protocol (DRCP) provides a framework for registering and passing configuration information to roaming mobile hosts. DRCP is compatible with DHCP can switch to using DHCP protocol if only DHCP servers are present in the network. Most importantly, DRCP allows rapid configuration by moving address consistency checking from the critical path. Other novel features of DRCP allow: a) clients to know when to get a new address independent of the layer-2 access technology, b) efficient use of scarce wireless bandwidth, c) clients to be routers, d) dynamic addition or deletion of address pools to any DRCP node, and e) message exchange without broadcast.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating IP addresses in a wireless IP network. IP address servers determine the requisite IP address pools and guard bands for individual network cells to guarantee fair access to the network and facilitate handoff host handoff from a prior cell to a new cell. IP address servers also prioritize handoff and resident hosts that request an IP address from the IP address server. In particular, IP address servers assign a higher priority to handoff hosts over resident hosts that request an IP address from an IP address server in order to maintain a preestablished handoff host network connection instead of dropping a handoff host connection in favor of a new resident host network connection. Finally, each cell is allocated a minimum number of IP addresses to ensure a certain level of fair access to the network regardless of the cell wherein a handoff or resident host resides.

Abstract: Active packets are utilized by a mobile terminal in a wireless network to set-up a wireless call via a signaling process, and for mobility management via a mobility process as the mobile terminal moves from one cell to another in a subnet. Active packets instantiate an agent in the fixed network to handle signaling between the mobile terminal and the fixed network, and then instruct the agent to negotiate setup of an open channel between the mobile terminal and the destination device. Moreover, active packets foster the handoff of the mobile terminal as the terminal moves from one cell to another in a subnet. Finally, the signaling process and mobility process are coordinated so that lost active packets are mitigated during roaming by the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Ultraviolet radiation is used to disinfect water (5) in a flow tube, where the flow tube (10) acts a fluid filled light guide for the ultraviolet radiation and the ultraviolet radiation propagates through the flow tube via total internal reflection.

Abstract: Computer-assisted methods for determining the state of charge of a specific lithium ion battery, without the need for charging and discharging the battery, by utilizing look-up tables or algorithms which store the relationships of state of charge to open-circuit voltage or to ramp-peak current, or to both for that type of specific lithium-ion battery to determine the state of charge for that specific lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: Collimated light distribution elements and systems that are especially suited to backlighting liquid crystal displays comprise a waveguide with clocked microstructured features for directing the exiting beam off-normal, a high efficiency mirror coating comprising both TIR and specularly reflective mirror elements, and a polarization recycling system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing interference across coverage cells using base stations interconnected by a packet network. A wireless device monitors the channel signal strength of its serving cell and its neighboring cell. The serving cell collects measurements from the wireless devices within its cell and informs its neighboring cell when one of the wireless device may be causing significant interference to the neighboring cell. The neighboring cell collects this information and executes a multi-user detection and cancellation algorithm on a subset of these interfering wireless devices.

Abstract: The pilot or crew of an aircraft is alerted to the danger presented by wires in the vicinity of the aircraft by a flight instrument which includes a plurality of wire detected display elements, advantageously arranged as bars on the face of the flight instrument, and which display elements are color coded according to the level of danger presented to the aircraft by the detected wires.

Abstract: In a geo-location system, the location of an object in space is determined by transmitting polarized signals towards the object. To prevent erroneous determinations due to signals which reach the object after reflection the transmitted signals are polarized. The receiver at the object includes a cross-polarization discriminator and accepts only directly transmitted signals and not reflected signals which have been cross-polarized by the reflection. The transmitted signals may be ultra-wide band signals which can penetrate into buildings. An object whose location can thus be determined can also transmit polarized signals to another object which can not be reached by signals from the original transmitter. Further the ultra-wide band signals may utilize transmission in discontinuous frequency bands to avoid interference with existing systems.

Abstract: High luminance display devices, typically utilized in applications requiring sunlight readability, require unique design methodologies as the thickness approaches a maximum of one-inch. The present invention relates to a high-intensity light generation engine and associated light transmission apparatus for transmitting the light generated by the engine to a remote location. The invention is especially applicable for use in constructing a back lighted display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), of minimal thickness, i.e., one-inch or less. A display of minimal thickness is achieved by separating a light source and other peripherals from the display device, using a remote enclosure. Such a display is most suited for use in high ambient lighting conditions where space is at a premium, such as in the cockpit of an aircraft.

Abstract: In order to produce precision optic elements using injection molded plastic, a metal mold is fabricated from two positive masters comprising exact metallic reproductions of the desired plastic part and on which a metal shell has been electroformed or otherwise plated. Two positive masters are required for each mold, one being formed to define the upper part of the mold and the other the lower part of the mold. Each positive master is scribed with an axial line and with a cutting line slightly offset from the axial line, the cutting line for the upper part of the mold being below the axial line and the cutting line for the lower part of the mold being above the axial cutting line. The positive masters are then cut along their cutting lines, the metal shells removed, and the portion of the remaining metal shells between their axial lines and their cutting lines is then trimmed. The upper and lower parts of the mold are then combined to define the complete injection mold.

Abstract: A multi-axis laser scanner and receiver capable of providing laser scanning in multiple fields of view using a microscanner and a fold mirror with a patterned aperture. The fold mirror has a transmissive central region and a periphery that is reflective. Such scanners can be employed in a helicopter to scan in the forward field of view for obstacle detection, and in an upward field of view for air data measurements. Additional fields of view can be added, for example, to provide downward scans to detect height above terrain and ground speed.

Abstract: A partially collimated light beam (2) is sent through a substrate matrix of a plurality of nested individual joined geometrically shaped cells (301) wherein each of the cells is further comprised of subcells (502) contains containing a patterned volume holographic diffuser (302) which produces a transmitted diffused light beam (305) from each of the cells and then superimposes each transmitted diffused light beam from each of the cells to produce a combined resultant diffused light beam. The combined resultant diffused light beam has an angular luminance distribution profile curve (83) with sharply vertical profile slopes (81) at halfpeak points (20) and a substantially flat and wide peak (84), this resultant diffused light beam advantageously produces a uniform resultant luminance over a wide range of view angles with a predetermined beam spread and beam deflection angle at said predetermined viewer head box location (100).

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting sectors across coverage cells using base stations interconnected by a packet network. A plurality of wireless devices monitor the pilot channel signal strength of their respective serving cell. The serving cells then collect measurements from the wireless devices and calculate the boundaries of their respective coverage areas. The serving cells then transmit their calculations to their neighboringing cells. Upon receipt, the neighboring cells use the calculations to adjust the coverage of their sectors.

Abstract: Reliably detecting voiceband signaling tones at a subscriber or network device in the presence of near-end and far-end speech occurs by eliminating, rather than balancing, near-end talk-off and by separately handling far-end talkoff and near-end talkdown. A tone detector is placed on the receive path of the device. One or more frequencies that comprise the tone to be detected by the tone detector are attenuated/removed from the near-end speech present on the send path of the device thereby preventing the near-end speech from talking-off the tone detector. Near-end talkdown and far-end talkoff are eliminated by utilizing two separate signal-to-guard ratios within the tone detector: a large signal-to-guard ratio to combat the effects of the far-end talkoff and a small signal-to-guard ratio to combat the effects of the near-end talkdown. The tone detector is switched between the two signal-to-guard ratios by predicting whether the near-end is speaking.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying congestion and anomalies at individual nodes, links, and segments in a network. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a monitoring station determines for each link in the network a statistical model based on a harmonic analysis. The monitoring station collects from each link metric data. The monitoring station then selects for each link a model that includes one or more harmonic components. By estimating parameters of the harmonic components, the monitoring station then captures the periodicity of the collected metric data in the harmonic components of the model. The monitoring station uses the model to estimate the state of the network from which estimated values of the metric data are determined. The monitoring station then determines whether congestion or anomalies exist in the links based on the estimated metrics.

Abstract: A highly modular PACS-based system that combines the advantages of Optical Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Personal Access Communication System (PACS) with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology. The system is arranged to support high-speed (higher than the 32 kbps of PACS) wireless access services to fixed and mobile users. For example, nominal user data rates of 32-to-356 kbps are attainable, and ever the higher speed of 768 kbps is possible for short ranges.