Abstract: A method of encouraging a user of a SCR (Selective Call receiver) (10) to read advertisements stored in the SCR (10). The user is provided with an initial level of access to a feature of the SCR that enhances the SCR's usefulness. When the user reads an advertisement, additional access to that feature is provided for a predetermined time period. Preferably, the feature is memory space, and each time the user reads an advertisement, the memory space available for storing messages is temporarily increased.

Abstract: An electrical connection is formed between conductors (46, 48) on a substrate (36), and pads (42, 44) that are coupled to an electrical component. The conductive pads (42, 44) are arranged in two rows of oversize pads. Two corresponding rows of undersize conductors (46, 48) are electrically connected to the pads by a conductive elastomer (40). A display assembly (26) advantageously employs the electrical connection.

Abstract: Subscriber units (14) can roam from zone (A) to zone (B) and accurately compile fragments of a message that includes fragments transmitted from both zones. Preferably, a subscriber unit (14) assigns different markers to fragments received from different zones. When the subscriber unit senses that a received message includes fragments from different zones, it correlates a number of characters of a fragment received from one zone (A) to a similar number of characters in a fragment received from a different zone (B). If a complete match is not found, the fragments are combined as part of a message. If a match is found, a further comparison looks for additional matches between fragments and, finding such additional matches, erases one copy of duplicate characters.

Abstract: A reaction propulsion motor (200) utilizes a taut armature reciprocating impulse transducer (100) having a motional mass (18) to generate an excitation force in response to an excitation signal. A conveyor element (204) translates the excitation force into locomotion. A transmission medium (202) is coupled between the taut armature reciprocating impulse transducer (100) and the conveyor element (204) to couple the excitation force generated to the conveyor element (204).

Abstract: A message transmission system (100) and method for providing flexible roaming to a receiving device (126) which includes a code memory (422) which stores addresses of a first type (1202) to enable reception of messages within a local geographic area, and an address of a second type (1214) to enable reception of the messages within a different geographic area. The message transmission system (100) includes a transmitter (SSID1) which transmits the addresses of the first type with the messages associated therewith within the local geographic area, and a controller (204) which controls conversion of the addresses of the first type to the address of the second type, and transfer of the address of the second type with the messages associated with the addresses of the first type to a transmitter (SSID2-SSID5) which transmits the address of the second type with the messages associated therewith to the receiving device when operating within the different geographic area.

Abstract: A damped resonant piezoelectric alerting device (600) includes a motional mass (130), a damping element (136, 156) magnetically coupled to the motional mass (130) and a piezoelectric actuator (100) which is constrained to an actuator mount (132) at a first end and coupled to the motional mass (130) at a second end. The piezoelectric actuator (100) responds to a control signal (108, 110) to generate an alternating out-of-plane movement (812, 814) of the motional mass (130) at an amplitude (412, 414). The alternating out-of-plane movement (812, 814) of the motional mass (130) is transformed into tactile energy to provide a tactile alert about a resonant frequency (608). The amplitude (412, 414) of the out-of-plane movement (812, 814) of the motional mass (130) is controlled by the damping element (136, 156). The alternating out-of-plane movement (812, 814) of the motional mass (130) is also transformed into acoustic energy to provide an audible alert above the resonant frequency (608).

Abstract: A communication device (50) includes a display (68) for presenting information to the user. When selecting between different options/features (402-416) the currently displayed options/features are displayed in user selectable fields (422-426) which are located along an arc. When a device user picks an option/feature which is currently not being displayed (408-416), the graphical user interface commences an animation process (620) which makes the user selectable fields (422-426) seem to be part of a wheel (420) which is spinning. Once the main process has loaded up the required off-screen options/features the animation process stops.

Abstract: An internal antenna (302) for a wearable electronic device (1000) includes first and second elongated conductor segments (416, 418) which are fabricated in a form of an arc to conform substantially to a portion of a substantially circular housing cavity, and first and second shortened conductor segments (420, 422). The first and second elongated conductor segments (416, 418) and the first and second shortened conductor segments (420, 422) are formed into a single turn loop having a rectangular antenna aperture (436). Connection tabs (424) are formed contiguous with, and located symmetrically about, a midpoint of one of the first and second elongated conductor segments (416, 418) and couple the antenna (302) to a receiver (1104) which is located on a circuit substrate (406) which is positioned between the first and second elongated conductor segments (416, 418).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time-scale modification of speech using a modified version of the Waveform Similarity based Overlap-Add technique (WSOLA) comprises the steps of storing a portion of an input speech signal in a memory, analyzing the portion of the input speech signal to determined at least one filtered pitch value, calculating an estimated pitch value (12) from the at least one filtered pitch value, determining a segment size (14) in response to the estimated pitch value (12), the segment size (14) having a value greater than the estimated pitch value (12), and time-scale compressing (18) the input speech signal in response to the segment size determined.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 30) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A selective call receiver device (10) having a processor readable medium of instructions (100) for setting markers (32) in a text message for automatically tabbing to the markers (32) and including a processor (50), message marking and incrementing system (36) and a plurality of tactile keys (30, 22, 24) for manipulating the code (100), and a method for operating the device (10) and for setting markers (32) at selected locations within text messages to facilitate direct access to the portions of the text message marked.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (100) comprises a receiver (104) for receiving a message and a controller (112) having the capability of determining the length of a received message. At least one of at least two displays (110, 120) is selected to display the received message according the received message length.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or subchannel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 10) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A battery door latch (106) for use on an electronic device (100) provides convenient access to batteries (406) located within the electronic device (100) by the device user, visually alerts the device user when the battery door latch (106) is in the unlatched position, and is concealed by the ornamental design of the electronic device (100) when the battery door latch (106) is in the latched position.

Abstract: A process (100) for transporting goods between a component manufacturer (102), a product manufacturer (104), and a purchaser (106) includes the steps of:(a) providing a tray (200, 300) having a plurality of compartments (208) which retain securely components (402, 404) manufactured by the component manufacturer (102), and further which retain securely product (502) manufactured by a product manufacturer (104);(b) shipping the tray (200, 300) with components (402, 404) securely retained to the product manufacturer (104);(c) utilizing the components (402, 404) in the manufacture of the product (502);(e) shipping the tray (200, 300) with the product (502) securely retained to the purchaser (106);(f) returning the tray (200, 300) to the component manufacturer (102) after the product (502) has been removed from the tray (200, 300). The process (100) can be managed by a resource manger (108) who tracks the inventory and distribution of trays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intelligible fast forward and reverse playback of messages which include time-scale compressed speech using a time scale modification technique. A receiver (2604) receives (2902) a message including speech compressed at a predetermined compression rate and a message rate identifier which identifies the predetermined compression rate which are then stored in a memory by a processor (2610). The processor (2610) processes (2912) the stored message to time-scale expand the compressed speech at an expansion rate that is equal to the predetermined compression defined by the message rate identifier so as to produce a normal speech playback speed. The processor (2610) also processes (3000, 3100) the stored message to time-scale expand the compressed speech at an expansion rate that is lower than the predetermined compression rate defined by the message rate identifier, so as to produce a perceptibly increased speech playback speed.

Abstract: A mode tracking transducer driver (100) for a non-linear electromagnetic transducer (102) includes a voltage controlled oscillator (104) coupled within a phase lock loop to a transducer driver (106) and a mode detector (112, 108). The voltage controlled oscillator (104) generates a variable frequency output signal, and is responsive to a frequency control signal for controlling the frequency of the output signal. The transducer driver (106) generates a transducer drive signal (502) which is coupled to the non-linear electromagnetic transducer (102) to generate a tactile alert. The mode detector (112, 108) detects a mode change between at least the first operating mode and the second operating mode of the non-linear electromagnetic transducer (102), and in response thereto generates the frequency control signal (118) which establishes a quasi-resonant frequency (204) at which the tactile energy delivered by the non-linear electromagnetic transducer (102) is maximized.

Abstract: A taut armature reciprocating impulse transducer (100) includes an electromagnetic driver (24, 26) which effects an alternating electromagnetic field in response to an input signal. An armature (12) includes an upper planar suspension member (14) formed by a first pair of non-linear spring members arranged along a first radial axis (50), and a lower planar suspension member (16) formed by a second pair of non-linear spring members arranged along a second radial axis (52) which is substantially perpendicular to the first radial axis (50). The upper and lower planar suspensions members are coupled to the electromagnetic driver (24, 26) and suspend a magnetic motional mass (18) therebetween. The alternating electromagnetic field alternately moves the magnetic motional mass (18), the movement being transformed through the upper and lower planar suspension members (14, 16) and the electromagnetic driver (24, 26) into motional energy.