Abstract: A method and apparatus perform remote memory management in an acknowledge-back selective call communication system (100) comprising an infrastructure (102) and a selective call receiver (120). The infrastructure (102) transmits (904) a notification (406) of a pending message for the receiver (120). The receiver (120) reports (906) in response a memory value (414) specifying space available in a memory (322) for storing the pending message. The infrastructure (102) compares (908) the memory value (414) with the length of the pending message to see if sufficient memory space is available to store the pending message in the receiver (120). The infrastructure (102) controls further processing of the pending message based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A wire bond pad arrangement (104) has an improved pad density for providing a plurality of wire bond terminations for interconnection with corresponding terminations (604) of an IC chip (302. The wire bond pad arrangement (104) includes a substrate (102) and a plurality of pads (912) disposed on the substrate (102) adjacent to one another to form a row of pads (912). Each of the pads (912) is formed in a trapezoidal shape having short and long sides parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a line from a central point of the pad (912) to a central point of the corresponding termination (604) of the IC chip (302). The long sides of adjacent pads (912) are positioned alternately towards and away from the corresponding terminations (604) of the IC chip 302).

Abstract: A method and apparatus equalizes battery life among a plurality of battery-powered selective call receivers (110) in a communication system (100). The communication system (100) utilizes periodic transmissions of queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) of selective call addresses queued into the queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) for battery saving, and further queued into transmission positions (230) having a predetermined queuing order within the queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) for additional battery saving. The predetermined queuing order is periodically rotated (504, 512) such that each of the selective call addresses experiences a queuing delay between an initiation of a transmission of a queuing group and a transmission of the selective call address queued in the queuing group, whereby the queuing delay averaged over a plurality of queuing group transmissions approaches a single, constant value substantially applicable to each of the selective call addresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus update page transmission verification statistics maintained by a network management center (140) in a radio paging system (100) in which encoding of a page is performed by a paging base station lo (132) remote from a central paging controller (101). Verification information is selectively stored (510, 514) in the paging base station (132) when a page is transmitted (512) in response to paging data sent from the central paging controller (101). The verification information includes an identifier (408) associated with the page and a time report (409) for reporting time of transmission of the page. The stored verification information is transmitted (608) periodically from the paging base station (132) to the network management center (140), and then combined (818) in the network management center (140) with current page transmission verification statistics (212) maintained by the network management center (140), thereby updating the page transmission verification statistics (212).

Abstract: A satellite receiver system provides acquisition and frequency tracking of a Doppler-shifted radio signal received from an orbiting satellite. The satellite receiver system includes a Costas phase-lock loop that receives the radio signal and provides an error signal at an error signal output for controlling a conversion frequency generated by a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator is coupled to the Costas phase-lock loop and generates the conversion frequency for down-converting the radio signal in the Costas phase-lock loop. The satellite receiver system further includes a Doppler frequency acquisition and tracking element coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator. The Doppler frequency acquisition and tracking element adjusts the conversion frequency to compensate for a Doppler frequency shift occurring in the radio signal due to orbital motion of the orbiting satellite.

Abstract: A pivotable display arrangement for an electronic device (600) powered by a battery (116) includes an enclosure (102, 104) having sides formed to provide an arcuate rectangular aperture (602) spanning across a portion of the top and front of file enclosure (102, 104). A pivotable display positioned within the aperture 602 includes a display element (112) attached to a display housing (110) formed in a cylindrical shape such that an interior portion provides a battery compartment (109). First and second bearings (1102) are formed in the enclosure (102, 104) at opposing sides of the aperture 602 for capturing first and second ends (1104) of the display housing (110), thereby allowing rotation of the display housing (110) about a central axis (111) through the first and second bearings (1102).

Abstract: A method and apparatus identifies (810) communication cells (500) in a simulcast radio communication system (100) comprising the cells (500) and a portable communication unit (PCU) (108). Identification bit .patterns (602, 604, 606) are assigned (802) to the cells (500) in a manner such that when transmissions of the identification bit patterns are received simultaneously from cells (500) adjacent to one another, thereby producing a received interference bit pattern (708), identities of the cells (500) received can be resolved to a subset of the cells (500) by analysis of the received interference bit pattern (708), wherein the subset is inclusive of the cells (500) received.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows sharing first and second signaling formats (400, 708) in a communication system. The first signaling format (400) is synchronous and includes frames (401) transmitted in predetermined frame positions (402). Receivers (110) utilizing the first signaling format (400) are preprogrammed with a base frame position (324) corresponding to one of the predetermined frame positions (402). A system value (326) is transmitted (508) and stored (612) in the receivers (110) for enabling the receivers (110) to monitor(620) at least one frame position (402). The at least one monitored frame position (402)is determined from the preprogrammed base frame position (324) and the system value (326). Frames (401) of the first signaling format (400) are transmitted (508) periodically, and the second signaling format (708) is sent between the periodic transmissions of the first signaling format (400).

Abstract: A method and apparatus user-tailor a response characteristic of a selective call receiver (108) having a memory (221) and a user control interface (216). The memory (221) is pre-programmed (402) through a programming port (218) to store a plurality of user identifiers (324) and associated response profiles (328, 330), and thereafter a request element (304) requests (406) that a user identifier be designated. In response, a user designates the user identifier through the user control interface (216), and a response control element (308) controls (414) the selective call receiver (108) to respond in accordance with the pre-programmed response profile (328, 330) associated with the designated user identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus process (300) a message received by a communication receiver (100) having a memory (110) for storing (324) a periodically received mail-drop message including an address and information having an effective length. When a new mail-drop message is received (302), a processor (108) determines (400) whether to replace (408) an old mail-drop message received (302) and stored (324) earlier in the memory (110), in response to the information of the new mail-drop message.

Abstract: A radio communication device (600) comprises a microstrip antenna (300) having a planar antenna element (302) and a ground plane (314) coupled to the planar antenna element (302). The microstrip antenna further comprises a dielectric material (304) positioned between the planar antenna element (302) and the ground plane (314), and a primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) mechanically coupled to the ground plane (314). The microstrip antenna (300) further comprises a feeder (308, 310) electrically coupled between the planar antenna element (302) and the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) for feeding an intercepted radio signal therebetween for down conversion by the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328). The radio communication device (600) also comprises a secondary receiver element (828) coupled to the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) for demodulating the intercepted radio signal after down conversion by the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328).

Abstract: A satellite based paging communication system includes at least one satellite that communicates paging information to at least one terrestrial receiver some of which transmit an acknowledge signal so that message reception may be verified and satellite traffic controlled.

Abstract: A phase lock loop (700) maintains a freewheeling capability while making phase corrections to a sample clock signal based on a precision timing signal. The phase corrections are dispersed over time such that data reception in uninterrupted so that data integrity is maintained during the phase corrections. The phase lock loop (700) includes a first divider circuit (721) having a divisor n, coupled for dividing the incoming clock signal by n to produce a bit clock signal. A second divider circuit (725) is coupled to the bit clock signal for dividing the bit clock signal to produce the sample clock signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communication receiver (110) for controlling an alert in response to a received call-back number (233) include receiving (402) the call-back number (233). A processor (208) in the communication receiver (110) compares (406) the received call-back number (233) with a list of pre-programmed call-back numbers (226, 228, 230) stored in a memory (210). If the received call-back number (233) matches (408) one of the pre-programmed call-back numbers (226, 228, 230), the processor (208) selects (410) a pre-programmed alert (236, 238, 240) corresponding to the matched pre-programmed call-back number (233), and instructs (414) an alert generator (212) to generate the selected pre-programmed alert (236, 238, 240).

Abstract: A satellite based paging communication system comprises at least one satellite capable of communicating the paging information to at least one terrestrial receiver some of which are capable of transmitting an acknowledge signal so that message reception may be verified and satellite traffic controlled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a digital wireless communication system (100) controls an inter-cell hand-off. First and second fixed units (102) receive a common synchronization signal from a controller (104), and a first wireless link is established between the first fixed unit and a portable unit (120) on a first frequency. The first wireless link is synchronized to the common synchronization signal, and frame synchronization is obtained between the fixed unit (102) and the portable unit (120) during establishment of the first wireless link. Frame synchronization is maintained only by maintaining bit synchronization while transmitting user data on the first frequency. A second wireless link is established between the second fixed unit (102) and the portable unit (120) on the first frequency if the first frequency is usable therebetween. The second wireless link is synchronized to the common synchronization signal.

Abstract: A method (200) and apparatus (100, 402) are shown for determining whether first and second data messages in a communication system are duplicates. The method comprises forming (304) from the first and second data messages a corresponding pair of first and second message identifiers (120, 126). The identifiers (120, 126) comprise bits generated from first and second message characteristic values calculated (206) from portions (118, 124) of the first and second data messages. The method further comprises comparing 316 the first and second message identifiers (120, 126) to determine whether the first and second message identifiers (120, 126) are substantially equivalent to each other, substantially equivalent identifiers (120, 126) being indicative that the first and second data messages are duplicates.

Abstract: A mounting pad arrangement (FIG. 5) improves reliability of placement of a surface mount component. A first pad array is disposed throughout an area on the surface (308) of a substrate (202), the area having four outside corners. The first pad array includes contact pads (502) arranged in a first linear grid pattern, and eight aligning pads (504,506,510,514,518), larger than the contact pads (502). Two aligning pads (504,506,510,514,518) are near each of the four outside corners. Each aligning pad (504,506,510,514,518) is positioned off center with respect to the first linear grid pattern such that a tangential line (608,610,612,614) can be drawn between an innermost point of the aligning pad (504,506,510,514,518) and corresponding innermost points of the contact pads (502) that are collinear on the first linear grid pattern. A second pad array (406) is disposed on the surface mount component and arranged in a second linear grid pattern that aligns with the first linear grid pattern.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) comprises a housing (222), a circuit supporting substrate (454, 456) within the housing and mechanically coupled thereto, and electronic circuitry (744, 746, 748, 750, 752) mechanically coupled to the circuit supporting substrate (454, 456). The electronic device (100) further comprises a mechanical shock isolation member (760, 762, 1312) within the housing (222) and mechanically coupled to the circuit supporting substrate (454, 456) for substantially increasing the natural mechanical frequency of vibration of the circuit supporting substrate (454, 456). The mechanical shock isolation member (760, 762, 1312) comprises an element (1313) having a planar surface (1315). The mechanical shock isolation member (760, 762, 1312) further comprises protuberances (1314) mechanically coupled to and extending perpendicularly from the planar surface (1315) for absorbing a tolerance build-up.