Abstract: A method for communication within a vehicle dispatch system (10) wherein a wireless communication device (36) co-located with a vehicle (14) receives a location parameter (50) in an assignment message (32), compares the location parameter (50) to the current location (56) of the vehicle (14) and processes the assignment message (32) when the location parameter (50) corresponds to the current location (56). The wireless communication device (36) includes a receiver (46), a memory (54), an assignment manager (58), and a processor (60).

Abstract: A system (10) for dynamic process assignment among a plurality of devices (40) includes an initial coordinator (38), a requesting device (60), and a resource device (62). The initial coordinator (38) includes a list of available resources (56) for each device of the plurality of devices (40). The requesting device (60) requests the use of a desired resource. In response to the request from the requesting device (60), the initial coordinator (38) identifies an available resource associated with one of the plurality of devices (40) for use by the requesting device (60) as the desired resource.

Abstract: A symbol independent automatic frequency controller (100) includes a symbol correlator (110) for receiving a complex digital signal generated within a selective call receiver wherein the symbol correlator provides a real signal (114), an imaginary signal (116), and a magnitude signal (112), a discriminator (140) coupled to the symbol correlator for receiving and processing the real signal and the imaginary signal to provide a frequency error signal, a low pass filter (120) and comparison element (130) for filtering the magnitude signal and comparing the magnitude signal to a predetermined lock threshold signal that controls the bandwidth of the symbol correlator in the event the magnitude signal exceeds the lock threshold signal, and a feedback loop providing the imaginary signal (116) to an accumulator (170) and back to the symbol correlator wherein the accumulator provides the symbol correlator with an apriori-symbol phase feedback (172).

Abstract: A method carried out at a transmitter (800), of limiting visual information that can be stored or transmitted captures a visual image (608). Whenever a control signal is detected (612) at the transmitter (800), at least a portion of the visual image is obscured (616) to produce an obscured visual image. This obscured image is then stored and/or transmitted (620). The image can be obscured by any number of techniques including replacement of the image with a substitute (718), blurring, distorting or reducing the resolution of the background (738), substitution of backgrounds (762) or removal of the background (778).

Abstract: A master authenticator (10) is worn by a user and wirelessly transmits information associated with the user to a remotely located electronic device. The master authenticator contains a sensor (12) to determine or sense whether or not the user is wearing the authenticator, along with a means to allow the user to log (22) in to the master authenticator by performing predefined physical action on the master authenticator. Once the sensor senses that the user is physically coupled to or wearing the device, the user logs in so as to uniquely associate the master authenticator with the user. Once the user is logged in, a transmitter is enabled so that the information can be transmitted to an electronic device in the proximity of the user. When the user ceases to wear the master authenticator by removing it, the log in means de-authorizes further transmissions by the master authenticator due to action of the sensor sensing that the authenticator is no longer on the user.

Abstract: A technique is used for providing additional information about a broadcast presentation that allows a user interested in the additional information to acquire it easily, using a selective call device or a television remote control device to easily acquire an information address during the broadcast when a prompt is presented during the broadcast. An advertiser can send the additional information over a wide area radio selective call communication system or can post it at a universal resource locator of a computer network. The information address is used to acquire the additional information. The information address can be stored, selected and deleted in the selective call device or remote control device. The prompt can be disabled or enabled manually or based on location.

Abstract: The invention provides antenna systems (102, 900, 2300, 2800) for wireless communication devices that make efficient use of space while supporting multi-band operation. The antenna systems comprise elongated flat conductors (206,406,902,1206,1508,1304,1902,2000,2100,2302,2500,2600,2702,2802,2902), supported spaced from finite ground planes (202, 914, 1910). The antenna systems are capable of operating in a symmetric common mode, an anti-symmetric differential mode, and a slot mode.

Abstract: A fuel cell (200) includes a membrane electrode assembly (210) located together with a layer of porous, z-axis electrically conductive, non-linear positive temperature coefficient (NPTC) material (250). The NPTC material (250) operates to selectively limit the amount of electrons collected from localized areas of the membrane electrode assembly (210) in order to reduce hot spots.

Abstract: An electronic device (1100) includes squaring circuit (1500) that includes a logarithmic compression function (1510), a squaring function (1525), a doubling function (1595), and a logarithmic decompression function (1590). The logarithmic compression function (1510) accepts a binary input (1505) of width W and value X, and produces an output having a binary power component (1520) and a binary magnitude component (1515). The squaring function (1525) generates an adjusted squared magnitude component (1542) and a selection signal (1561). The doubling function (1595) generates a doubled power component (1556). The logarithmic decompression function (1565) generates an approximate squared output (1570) of width 2W from the doubled power and adjusted squared magnitude components (1556, 1542). The approximate squared output (1570) has a value that approximates the square of X to a predetermined amount of precision, N.

Abstract: A fuel cell (100) includes a membrane electrode assembly (110) located together with a layer of variable porosity porous gas diffusion material (150). The variable porosity gas diffusion material layer (150) operates to selectively limit the amount of reactants reaching localized areas of the membrane electrode assembly (110) in order to reduce hot spots.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (32) within a wireless on-call communication system (10) includes a device receiver (92) for receiving an on-call message (36), a device processor (98) coupled to the device receiver (92) for processing the on-call message (36); a device memory (100) coupled to the device processor (98) for storing the on-call message (36); and an on-call application (108) coupled to the device processor (98) having an on-call schedule (80) for defining an active time period (126) and an inactive time period (128). The device processor (98) processes the on-call message (36) during the active time period (126) and discards the on-call message (36) during the inactive time period (128).

Abstract: A microwave appliance (10) designed to communicate with a plurality of communication devices (11,13, & 15) within a piconet (30) includes a transmitter (24) for communicating with the plurality of communication devices within the piconet; and a processor (22). The processor is programmed to communicate (102) to a master within the piconet about operating information of the microwave appliance, delay bias (104) to a microwave source within the microwave appliance for a predetermined time upon a user request for microwave appliance operation and then return (108) to a normal operating condition.

Abstract: A bandwidth efficient method of wireless communication among simultaneous multiple users includes the steps of monitoring (102) for voice activity from a plurality of sources (302 or 304) on a channel and detecting voice activity (107) among the plurality of sources during a predetermined time period. If voice activity is detected from only a first source, then code the voice activity from the first source and transmit a full-rate packet of data (109) to a wireless subscriber (50). If voice activity is detected from at least a first source and a second source amounting to N sources, then code such N sources using a 1/N-rate vocoder to obtain N different 1/N rate data packets (112) and combining (114) the N 1/N-rate data packets from at least the first source and the second source before transmitting (116) a full packet of data to the wireless subscriber.

Abstract: A thermo-responsive polymer is incorporated into a fuel cell (50) in order to maintain optimum hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The thermo-responsive polymer (52) is situated proximate to the membrane electrode assembly (54) such that fuel or oxidant gas passes (56) through the thermo-responsive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. The thermo-responsive polymer swells or shrinks in response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrode assembly, altering the flow rate of the fuel or oxidant gas passing through the thermo-responsive polymer.