Abstract: In an ad hoc wireless network having a plurality of members (100) a master, while communicating on a first communication channel, recognizes (202) a need for assistance in managing the network. In response to the need, the master negotiates (204) with a member of the ad hoc wireless network for the member to become a sub-master. The sub-master then assumes (206) management of a portion of the plurality of members. The sub-master and the portion then communicate (208) on a second communication channel negotiated with the master.

Abstract: A first portable messaging unit (PMU) (122) sends (502) address information to a second PMU through a wireless messaging system, and the second PMU receives (504) the address information. In response, the second PMU makes a check (506) of whether information identical to the address information is stored in its address book (230) and then processes (508-516) the address information in a predetermined manner dependent upon the result of the check.

Abstract: In a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) receiver (300) a desired signal is detected (902) and downmixed (924) to baseband, off-centered by an amount determined by at least one of (a) whether (906) pilot symbols are present in the desired signal, and (b) signal levels (908) of the desired signal and adjacent channel signals.

Abstract: A processor (206) and a receiver (202) monitor (301) a channel. The processor determines (304, 306) an average received signal quality on the channel and a first derivative of the average received signal quality. The processor then adjusts (308-336) the rate of background scanning to a value determined from an absolute value of the first derivative when the first derivative is positive and the average received signal quality is less than an acquisition threshold, and when the first derivative is negative and the average received signal quality is greater than the acquisition threshold.

Abstract: A group selected from a plurality of portable subscriber units (122) is defined (402), and a plurality of locations corresponding to members of the group are identified (404) by a controller (112) in cooperation with a base station and the group members. The controller determines (406) from the plurality of locations at least one distance between selected ones of the members, and sends (408) a notification when the at least one distance satisfies a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: A processing system (216) selects (1004) a portion (702-706) of a received signal including an evaluation symbol (702), along with a preceding symbol (704) received immediately before the evaluation symbol, and a following symbol (706) received immediately after the evaluation symbol; and prefixes (1006) to the portion of the received signal a previously estimated symbol (708) received immediately before the portion, thereby producing an evaluation portion (712, 904). The processing system then compares (1008) the evaluation portion with templates equal in length to the evaluation portion and including different combinations of trial symbols and the at least one previously estimated symbol, prefixed to the trial symbols; and estimates (1010) the evaluation symbol to be equal to a trial symbol in one of the templates having a highest correlation with the evaluation portion, the trial symbol having a position matching that of the evaluation symbol in the evaluation portion.

Abstract: A signal converter circuit (10) includes an analog to digital converter (14) for converting an input analog signal into a digital signal. The circuit (10) also includes a DAC 16 with segment shuffler for shuffling the digital signal segments output by the analog to digital converter (14) to improve linearity of the converted digital signal. In addition, a shuffle controller (24) connected to the DAC (16) is for adaptively turning the shuffler of DAC (16) on and off based on a parameter, such as amplitude, of the input analog signal. The adaptive segment shuffling enables a lower performance data converter to be used in devices requiring a high dynamic range for converting signals over a wide range of signal amplitudes.

Abstract: At least two non-collocated transmitters (116) transmit (1604) a synchronization signal such that it includes at least three predetermined tone frequencies. A receiver (122) receives (1606) the synchronization signal, and separates (1608) the synchronization signal into a plurality of segments (404). The receiver then calculates (1610) segment Fourier transform values corresponding to the at least three predetermined tone frequencies, for ones of the plurality of segments, thereby creating a set of segment Fourier transform values. The receiver also computes a set of segment time-of-arrival (TOA) values corresponding to the set of segment Fourier transform values. In addition, the receiver determines (1612) a set of segment weights from the set of segment Fourier transform values, and estimates (1616) the TOA of the synchronization signal from the set of segment TOA values and the set of segment weights.

Abstract: A simulator/controller (113) performs real-time simulation for system control in a code-division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communication system (100). The simulator/controller (113) simulates the effects of interfering AMPS wireless communication systems which coexist with CDMA wireless communication systems and also aids in the placement of new CDMA base-stations in the presence of existing AMPS base-stations. When system parameters are input to the simulator/controller (113), real-time simulation of the CDMA wireless communication system (100) predicts potential problem areas of the CDMA wireless communication system (100) and controls the CDMA wireless communication system (100) to avoid the problems before they occur.

Abstract: A wireless messaging unit (122) determines (704) that a first channel (402), which utilizes a first plurality of time slots for transmission, does not have a signal suitable for acquiring synchronization; and, in response, attempts (706) to acquire an initial synchronization with a second channel (404) which periodically transmits a synchronization signal (406) in a second plurality of time slots having a predetermined timing relationship with the first plurality of time slots. After acquiring the initial synchronization, the wireless messaging unit applies (708) the predetermined timing relationship to the initial synchronization to establish a secondary synchronization with the first channel.

Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (122) provides (402) communications for a user, and monitors (404) a parameter indicative of communication quality during the communications. The portable subscriber unit compares (406) the parameter with a predetermined threshold; and when the communication quality deteriorates (408) such that the parameter reaches the predetermined threshold, the portable subscriber unit determines (412) geographic coordinates corresponding to the location at which the communication difficulty occurred, and adds (414) a communication difficulty report identifying the parameter and the geographic coordinates to a record of communication difficulty reports stored in the portable subscriber unit. When the portable subscriber unit receives (502) a request for the record of communication difficulty reports from a fixed portion (102) of a two-way wireless communication system, the portable subscriber unit communicates (504) the record of communication difficulty reports to the fixed portion.

Abstract: A processor (120) receives an input signal including symbols for transmission, and determines an output signal for a symbol period from a predetermined range of symbols of the input signal in combination with a modulating phasor vector and a matrix of filter coefficients. The processor compares samples of the output signal with a predetermined amplitude limit; and, in response to a sample of the output signal exceeding the predetermined amplitude limit, adjusts the symbols of the predetermined range of symbols that are not pilot symbols by an adjustment factor, thereby creating a new input signal. If a sample of the output signal exceeds the predetermined amplitude limit, the processor computes a new output signal from the new input signal in combination with the modulating phasor vector and the matrix of filter coefficients; and generates a power-controlled modulated radio signal from the new output signal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting an electronic message with a musical attachment including encoding music into characters having a length equal to seven bits. Each character represents one of a note, a note extension or a command. Further, pitch changes and duration changes are made in a single character. The encoded music can be attached to an alphanumeric electronic message and transmitted with the attached encoded music.

Abstract: A receiver front end (604) receives sequence of symbols. A processor (606) coupled to the receiver front end computes a metric corresponding to the sequence of symbols. The metric is selected from one of: (a) a recursive metric having a structure m({overscore (a)}k)=m({overscore (a)}k−1)+{circumflex over (m)}(ak−N, . . . , ak−1, ak), wherein m({overscore (a)}k−1) and m({overscore (a)}k) are the cumulative metrics for symbols up to ak−1 and ak, respectively, and {circumflex over (m)}(ak−N, . . . , ak−1, ak) is the incremental metric, a function of (N+1) symbols {ak−N, . . . , ak−1, ak}, and (b) a non-recursive metric m({overscore (a)}k) that is an arbitrary function of a set of L submetrics {z1({overscore (a)}k), z2({overscore (a)}k), . . . , zL({overscore (a)}k)} m({overscore (a)}k)=m[z1({overscore (a)}k), z2({overscore (a)}k), . . .

Abstract: A wireless tag (102) is mechanically attached to a product. The wireless tag includes a product freshness detector (204) and a communicator (208) coupled to the product freshness detector for communicating the freshness to a user. The wireless tag also includes a wireless power supply (202) coupled to the product freshness detector and coupled to the communicator for powering the wireless tag from a wireless energy source. A reader (104) powers the wireless tag and includes a transmitter (702) for generating wireless energy for powering the wireless tag. The reader also includes a user interface (708) for providing control of the reader by the user.

Abstract: A first master transceiver (102) of a first wireless network monitors (602) neighboring wireless networks to discover a strongest interfering master transceiver in one of the neighboring wireless networks. The first master transceiver then time-aligns (604) hop intervals of the first master transceiver with the hop intervals of the strongest interfering master transceiver to ensure that a transmission of the strongest interfering master transceiver during each hop interval used by the strongest interfering master transceiver cannot interfere with the transmission of the first master transceiver during more than one hop interval of the first master transceiver, thereby minimizing the probability of self-interference between the first wireless network and the one of the neighboring wireless networks.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (122) maintains an application registry (226) for registering (404) applications accessible to the subscriber unit. A fixed portion (102) of a wireless communication system keeps (514) a current copy (324) of the application registry of the subscriber unit, and checks (520) the current copy of the application registry in response to having data to send to the subscriber unit. The fixed portion sends (526) the data only when the fixed portion determines (522) that an application compatible with the data is accessible to the subscriber unit.

Abstract: Methods of and corresponding apparatus for missing message reconciliation of messages initially sent over a wireless operating channel (123) in a selective messaging system (100) for a messaging unit (135) include receiving messages (305), and processing the message to provide an identifier corresponding to the message (307), prior to, transmitting, using local resources (145) and an internet based pathway (110), a reconciliation message back to the message source (105) within the selective messaging system. Analogously at the selective messaging system a method includes the steps of; scheduling a message including a message sequence number (MSN) (405), receiving a reconciliation message from the local resource (407) originating at the selective messaging unit (MSN), and re-transmitting the portion of the message with MSN using local resources (413) or wireless operating channel (417).

Abstract: A messaging unit (122) receives (702)a message (404) having a header string, and compresses (820) a display of the header string when the messaging unit is operating (802) in a message preview mode.

Abstract: A first service provider having a highest security of access, initially programs (604) tables in a subscriber unit (122), including an address table (224) having entries including addresses to which the subscriber unit is responsive, a sub-address table (226) including a sub-address identifier and a corresponding first pointer to a first decryption key for an algorithm required to decrypt a sub-message associated with the sub-address identifier, and a key table (228) including the first decryption key. A second service provider having a security of access less than that of the first service provider reprograms (606) an attribute of at least one of the sub-address table and the key table. The second service provider obtains reprogramming access by encrypting a first reprogramming message such that it can be properly decrypted using the first decryption key.