Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) of providing information about a communications device. The method includes the steps of establishing (312) a communications connection between a first mobile communications unit (128) and at least a second mobile communications unit (130), transmitting (314) from the first mobile communications unit to the second mobile communications unit a condition of at least one operational parameter of the first mobile communications unit and informing (316) a user of the second mobile communications unit of the conditions of the operational parameters of the first mobile communications unit. The operational parameters of the first mobile communications unit can include a signal strength, a battery level, a location, an audio configuration, an alert configuration, a conference indicator and a phone type indicator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a light detection power system (105). The system can include a solar cell charging circuit (120) having at least one solar cell (116) in which the solar cell charging circuit can provide power to a power source (114), a lighting circuit (122) that receives power from the power source and a controller (118) coupled to the solar cell charging circuit and the lighting circuit. The controller can enable the lighting circuit when a power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit fails to reach a first predetermined threshold. The solar cell charging circuit can include a switch (130) that is controlled by the controller. The controller can further enable the switch when the power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit reaches a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for consolidating PSCs. In particular, in a mixed media environment having a plurality of application connections associated with different PSCs, the method can include the steps of identifying (210) a primary application connection, defining (210) a consolidated PSC based on a demand property of the primary application connection and consolidating (212) at least some of the remaining application connections with the consolidated PSC. As such, the consolidated PSC may be associated with multiple application connections. The method can also include the steps of deactivating (218) the consolidated PSC when a deactivation indicator is received and reactivating (224) the consolidated PSC when a reactivation indicator is received.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) and system (100) for interrupting a dispatch call. The method can be practiced in a dispatch communications system (100) having at least a first communications channel (162) for carrying voice traffic and a second communications channel (164) for carrying communications-enabling information. The method includes the steps of assigning (312) the first communications channel to at least a first caller (133) and a second caller (135) to permit the first and second callers to engage in a dispatch call and as the first caller has control over the first communications channel, transmitting (314) an interrupt message (505) over the second communications channel to inform the first caller of an interrupt status of the second caller. The transmitting step is performed without terminating the dispatch call.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (500) for tracking sequence numbers. The method includes the steps of detecting (512) an error in a first set of data (120), determining (514) a range (144) of possible sequence numbers (122) for a second set of data (120) and using the range of possible sequence numbers, producing (516) a block code (126) for the second set of data in which the block code is used to verify that one of the range of possible sequence numbers is a correct sequence number for the second set of data.

Abstract: The invention concerns a latching mechanism (105) for assembly of a housing (110) of an electronic device (100). The latching mechanism includes a latch element (120) and a receiving element (131) contained within the housing. The receiving element includes a recess (140) for engaging the latch element and at least one audio port (122) for providing an audio channel (190) for the electronic device. The invention also concerns a method (500) of operating a latching mechanism. The method includes the steps of mechanically coupling (512) a latch element to a housing, creating (514) an audio channel by engaging the latch element within the housing and porting (516) audio through the audio channel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300, 400) and system (100) for tracking content rental. The method includes the steps of—from a portable electronic device (112)—requesting (312, 416) multimedia content for a rental session, determining (314, 418) whether the request for the rental session is authorized, receiving (320, 422) at the portable electronic device the multimedia content for the rental session if the request is authorized and terminating (324, 426) the rental session based on a predetermined power condition of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and a system (100) for charging a battery (112). The method includes the steps of determining (214) a charge termination point for the battery, in which the charge termination point produces a charge on the battery that is less than an initial maximum charging capacity of the battery, and charging (224) the battery using the charge termination point for at least a portion of the charge cycles of the battery. The method reduces at least in part the variation of battery capacity over the cycle life of the battery.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) of generating an array (100, 300, 400) having a reduced number of input/outputs (114, 314, 414). The method includes the steps of, for each array row input/output, grouping (212) at least one set of rows (124, 324, 424) in which the set of rows is coupled to the array row input/output and, for each combination of the array row input/outputs, selectively coupling (216) non-set rows (326, 426) to the array row input/outputs that comprise the combination. At least a portion of a number of rows (110, 310, 410) for the array is equal to the number of rows in each set of rows multiplied by the number of array row input/outputs plus the number of non-set rows coupled to the array row input/output combinations.

Abstract: The invention concerns an ejection mechanism (110). The ejection mechanism can include a movable ejection button (118) having at least one wing (124) and a cover (112) having at least one first projection (130) and at least one second projection (138). When the ejection button is in a first position, the first projection of the cover can engage the wing of the ejection button, and the second projection can engage a slot (140) of a housing (114). The second projection engaging the slot of the housing can cause a force (F) to be generated at an opposing end (131) of the cover. Also, when the ejection button is moved to a second position, the first projection of the cover can disengage the wing of the ejection button, and the generated force can cause the cover to move away from the housing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) for charging a set of batteries. The method includes the steps of charging (314) a first battery (116) with a charging current from a power supply (138), monitoring (316) a parameter of the first battery during the charging step and selectively diverting (318) at least a portion of the charging current used to charge the first battery to charge a second battery (118). The first and second batteries are charged simultaneously after the parameter of the first battery reaches a predetermined threshold. As an example, the parameter can be a battery voltage or a battery temperature rate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for selective control of charging a power source (122). The method can include the steps of charging (212) the power source of an electronic device (136) in which the electronic device also includes a global positioning system unit (118) and conducting (216) a session for the global positioning system unit. The method can also include the step of—in response to the session—selectively throttling (218) the flow of current to the power source of the electronic device to reduce the effect of thermal variation on the operation of the global positioning system unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) and system (100) for improving voice quality of a vocoder (138, 158). The method includes the steps of monitoring (312) a pitch of a voice signal (400) at a transmitting unit (110); when the pitch of the voice signal reaches a predetermined threshold (840), shifting (326) the pitch of the voice signal to at least a portion of a predetermined range (810); transmitting (338) the pitch-shifted voice signal to a receiving unit (112); and at the receiving unit, reshifting (342) the pitch-shifted voice signal to a level that compensates the step of shifting the pitch of the voice signal at the transmitting unit.

Abstract: An acoustic seal system (100). The system (100) includes a flexible sealing element (110) having a ridge (134) for engaging a cover (118) with a sealing interference fit, a plate (112) in which the flexible sealing element (110) is secured to the plate (112) and a mesh (114) for controlling particle contamination. The mesh (114) is secured to the plate (112), and the plate (112) and at least a portion of the flexible sealing element (110) are secured to a portion of an inner housing (116). The portion of the flexible sealing element (110) engages the portion of the inner housing (116) with a sealing interference fit. When the cover (118) engages the inner housing (116), the flexible sealing element (110) provides an acoustic seal between the cover (118) and the inner housing (116).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) and system (100) for controlling audio output. The method includes the steps of inputting (312) an audio signal and a voltage level signal, measuring (314) the audio signal and the voltage level signal, mapping (316) the audio signal against at least one table (134) of predetermined corresponding gain targets (138) and selecting (318) at least one gain target for the audio signal. The mapping step and the selecting step are based at least in part on the measurement of the voltage level signal and the measurement of the audio signal. The method also includes the step of applying (320) the gain target to the audio signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for selectively coupling a communication unit (110) to a hearing enhancement device (112). The method includes the steps of—in the communication unit—selecting (212) between an acoustic coupling setting and an inductive coupling setting, in response to the selecting step, switching (214) an audio output of the communication unit to an acoustic coupling path (136) or an inductive coupling path (138), and outputting (226) through either the acoustic coupling path or the inductive coupling path an audio signal to the hearing enhancement device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and a system (100) for ensuring audio safety in an audio device (110). The system includes a processor (112), a sensor (116), an analog safety circuit (114) and a first feedback loop (117). The processor is programmed to output an acoustic output signal (310, 410), the sensor monitors the acoustic output signal and the analog safety circuit is coupled to an output of the processor. The first feedback loop feeds the monitored acoustic signal from the sensor to the analog safety circuit. The analog safety circuit adjusts from a first level (312, 412) to a second level (316, 414) the acoustic output signal when the acoustic output signal exceeds a predetermined safety threshold (314, 420) such that the audio device has an output capacity that is capable of driving a sound pressure level of the acoustic output signal above the predetermined safety threshold.