Abstract: Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period.

Abstract: A DDNS server maintains a dynamic database of host names and IP addresses of remote devices connected to a telecommunications network. Devices on the telecommunications network query the DDNS server for the IP addresses of the remote devices. As the IP addresses change, a DDNS client captures the new IP address and transmits the changes to the DDNS server where the IP address of the remote device is updated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for displaying text on a communications device. One method controls a display using a Subscriber Identity Module application. The Subscriber Identity Module application specifies a duration for which text is displayed on the communications device. The duration specifies a time for which the text is displayed before clearing the text or until a user clears the text. The duration is defined by any attribute in the Subscriber Identity Module application. The attribute may comprise any command or data object, however, the attribute preferably comprises a “duration” data object for a DISPLAY TEXT command in the Subscriber Identity Module application.

Abstract: A package and two part blank for forming a package for carrying one or more articles comprising a carton having a plurality of wall panels for forming a tubular structure wherein each end of the carton is closed by a first panel hingedly connected to one of the wall panels, an intermediate panel hingedly connected to another wall panel of the carton and adapted to be placed in face contacting relationship within the inner face of the first panel. There further comprises within the carton an insert structure for supporting the one or more articles including a second panel. An aperture or recess is provided in the intermediate panel such that glue applied to an outer face of the second panel and the intermediate panel secures together said first, second and intermediate panels when placed together in face contacting relationship to close the end of the carton.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein an incoming plain old telephone systems (PSTN) signal is input into a home network conversion interface. The home network conversion interface first determines the data type of the incoming signal. Next, the home network conversion interface creates a routing sequence of the incoming signal based on the determined data type. Finally, the home network conversion interface converts the incoming signal into an 802.X format and sends the signal to an appropriate IP device based on the determined signal type. Should the home network conversion interface loose electrical power, a drop contactor routes the incoming signal directly to an analog device without creating a routing sequence or performing an 802.X conversion.

Abstract: A plunger assembly (30) is disposed on the access side of a conveyor (20). The conveyor (20) has a conveying surface upon which it transports articles by moving the conveying surface in a direction of flow (F). The plunger assembly (30) is mounted overhead vertically with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor (20) such that sufficient clearance below the plunger assembly (30) is maintained to provide an access space through which the conveyor (20) and mechanisms and elements thereof can be accessed. Further, the plunger assembly (30) may be mounted both above and at least partially offset horizontally from the conveyor surface of the conveyor (20), such that no operative portion of the plunger assembly (30) breaks the plane (C) of the conveyor surface.

Abstract: A stabilized and guided conveyor belt (202) includes multiple transport chains (108) and interchangeable conveyor plates (100) that form the surface of the conveyor belt (202). The conveyor plates (100) can be easily attached independently of one another in a side by side fashion onto the transport chains (108) and are readily detachable from the transport chains (108) to facilitate replacement or rearrangement. Certain of the plates (100) function selectively as a platform on which to mount accessories such as lug members (136) and include means for receiving (134) accessories and for locking (138) accessories into place. The conveyor belt (202) is guided and supported by a smooth rail (420). Both the plate (100) and the rail (420) include interacting stabilizing features (130, 132, 424a, 424b) that cooperate to prevent buckling and rippling of the transport chain (108).

Abstract: A system for routing calls between a switching unit and a mobile unit. The system comprises a wireless adjunct and a radio transmit point. The wireless adjunct, in communication with the switching unit and a packet based network, is operable to receive data from the switching unit and place the data, in packetized form, on the packet based network. The radio transmit point, in communication with the packet based network and the mobile unit, is operable to receive the data, in packetized form, from the packet based network and provide the data to the mobile unit.

Abstract: A carrier chain includes an attachment link with a wing to limit the tilt of a support member. The wing extends from a base portion of a plate of the attachment link toward a plate of a pin link. When the attachment link begins to rotate in reaction to a force that is applied to the support member, the lower edge of the wing contacts upper edge of the plate of the pin link such that the adjacent roller link is constrained to be generally in line and to rotate with the attachment link. By extending the pitch between reaction rollers that contact upper and lower surfaces of a guide track, the attachment link restricts the rotational displacement of the support member.

Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser facilitates access to articles enclosed within by providing expansive side recesses that expose at least one article on the lowermost row and the two end most articles in the uppermost row. The dispenser opening is defined by one or more severance lines extending at least partially across the top, end, and side walls, with a portion of the end wall remaining as an article stopper after the at least partially detachable portion of the dispenser is removed.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for registering a subscriber to a communications network. One method receives a registration request to access a first communications network. The registration request is routed to a second communications network based upon an international mobile subscriber identity number associated with the subscriber. The international mobile subscriber identity number allows the subscriber to register with the second communications network.

Abstract: Systems and method for a communications broker include a memory with a look-up table, one or more connections to associated communications networks and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a phone number and a request for information related to the phone number and utilizes the look-up table to determine a communications network associated with the phone number. The processor is further configured to transmit the request to the communications network for the information related to the phone number, receive a first response to the request and transmit a second response. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Several testing methods and apparatus for wireless communications, such as a cellular telephone communications, are described. One method for use in troubleshooting a problematic call in a wireless communication system by a computer test station includes the steps of receiving a telephone call from a wireless telephone unit while the wireless telephone unit is simultaneously connected in a call; receiving, during the telephone call, first information which identifies the wireless telephone unit and second information which identifies a wireless switch utilized in the call; sending, during the telephone call, a trace command having the caller ID information to an address associated with the wireless switch; and receiving, in response to sending the trace command, call trace information including information that identifies a plurality of devices of the wireless switch utilized in the call.

Abstract: A new method makes the most efficient use of the scarce spectral bandwidth in a wireless discrete multitone spread spectrum communications system by updating the spectral and/or spatial spreading weights at a rate that is determined by the measured quality of the link. Low quality links require more frequent updates of the spreading weights than do higher quality links. Spreading weights and despreading weights for a station are adaptively updated, depending on the error in received signals. If the error value is less than a threshold error value, then the method maintains the existing spreading weights as the current spreading weights to apply to an outgoing data signal. Alternately, if the error value is greater than the threshold error value, then the method adaptively calculates updated despreading weights at the base station from the first spread signal and calculates updated spreading weights as the current spreading weights from the updated despreading weights to apply to the outgoing data signal.

Abstract: Two or more antenna elements are arranged in the vertical direction to give vertical spatial adaptivity to a wireless discrete multitone spread spectrum communications system. The system is based on a combination of Discrete Multitone Spread Spectrum (DMT-SS) and multi-element adaptive antenna array technologies. This enables the automatic positioning of a beam in the vertical direction to position nulls where interferers are to located on the same azimuth but are separated in elevation.

Abstract: Several testing methods and apparatus for wireless communications, such as a cellular telephone communications, are described. One method for use in troubleshooting a problematic call in a wireless communication system by a computer test station includes the steps of receiving a telephone call from a wireless telephone unit while the wireless telephone unit is simultaneously connected in a call; receiving, during the telephone call, first information which identifies the wireless telephone unit and second information which identifies a wireless switch utilized in the call; sending, during the telephone call, a trace command having the caller ID information to an address associated with the wireless switch; and receiving, in response to sending the trace command, call trace information including information that identifies a plurality of devices of the wireless switch utilized in the call.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided wherein call-blocking probability of a telecommunications system is calculated based on consideration of over flow paths and alternate routes. Once the routes and overflow pathways are identified, the total number of call attempts and calls failed, due to congestion, is determined from statistical route data. Dividing the number of failed calls due to congestion by the number of attempted calls results in the blocking proportion for each route that is used by the methods disclosed herein to calculate the probability of blocking for that route.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for communicating with wireless peripheral devices. One method receives a communication for the wireless peripheral device. Wireless signals, such as activation, initialization, or registration signals/messages, are communicated to the wireless peripheral device utilizing more than one wireless technology standard. When the wireless peripheral device responds, the communication is forwarded to the wireless peripheral device using a single wireless technology standard.