Abstract: Collisions between messages simultaneously transmitted by multiple spread-spectrum transmitters are reduced by distributing the transmissions over the available resources of the receiver. The transmitters may be mobile stations and the receiver may be a base station in a CDMA cellular telephone system. Each mobile station uses one or more randomization methods to distribute its transmissions. In the first randomization, the mobile station time--delays its transmissions by a number of chips of the PN code with which it spreads the transmitted signal. A hash function produces the number from an identification number uniquely associated with that mobile station. In a second randomization, the mobile station randomly selects the PN code. In a third randomization, the mobile station inserts a random delay between successive message transmissions or probes if it does not receive an acknowledgement after a predetermined timeout period. A predetermined number of such transmissions is called a probe sequence.

Abstract: A method and system, for use in a communication system in which data is transmitted in data frames of a predetermined time duration, for the positioning of the data within the data frames for transmission. A computation circuit computes according to the deterministic code a pseudorandom position for the data within each data frame. A positioning circuit positions the data within each data frame in the computed position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmission power in a variable rate communication system is disclosed. The method disclosed provides for a closed loop power control method. A first remote station controls the transmission power of a second remote station by transmitting a rate dependent power control signal to the second remote communication station. Since only the second communication knows its transmission rate a priori, it must determine its course of action in accordance with both the received power control signal and the knowledge of its transmission rate. In the present invention, the power control system reduces the amount of overhead required by restricting the possible rate transition of the variable rate communication system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arranging various types of data, and at various rates, into a uniquely structured format for transmission. Data for transmission formatting may be vocoder data or different types of non-vocoder data. The data organized into frames of a predetermined time duration for transmission. The data frames are organized, depending on the data, to be at one of several data rates. Vocoder data is provided at one of several data rates and is organized in the frame according to a predetermined format. Frames may be formatted with a sharing of vocoder data with non-vocoder data to be at a highest frame data rate. Different types of non-vocoder data may be organized so as to also be at the highest frame data rate. Additional control data may be provided within the data frames to support various aspects of the transmission and recovery upon reception.

Abstract: In a digital communication system in which digital data is transmitted in data frames of a preselected time duration, a method and apparatus for formatting digital data in each data frame. A set of data bits of a first data type having a bit count corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined bit counts are provided. A set of parity check bits for the set of data bits of said first data type are generated when the bit count is a highest bit count or a next to highest bit count. A set of tail bits is generated in accordance with a predetermined frame termination format. In respective order the set of data bits of the first data type, the parity check bits, and the tail bits are porovided in a data frame if the bit count is of the highest bit count or of the next to highest bit count. Otherwise, the set of data bits of the first data type and the tail bits are provided in respective order in the data frame.

Abstract: A power control system for a cellular mobile telephone system in which system users communicate information signals between one another via at least one cell site using code division multiple access spread spectrum communication signals. The power control system controls transmission signal power for each cellular mobile telephone in the cellular mobile telephone system wherein each cellular mobile telephone has an antenna, transmitter and receiver and each cell-site also has an antenna, transmitter and receiver. Cell-site transmitted signal power is measured as received at the mobile unit. Transmitter power is adjusted at the mobile unit in an opposite manner with respect to increases and decreases in received signal power. A power control feedback scheme may also be utilized. At the cell-site communicating with the mobile unit, the mobile unit transmitted power is measured as received at the cell-site.

Abstract: A decoder for decoding trellis coded data in which the received signal is assigned a sector value corresponding to the phase of the signal in accordance with a predetermined signal space sectorization format. A Viterbi decoder is used to reconstruct from the received signal an estimate of a data bit that was coded for transmission. This estimate is re-encoded and provided to a trellis output mapper along with the sector value. The trellis mapper in response to the input re-encoded estimate and sector value provides an estimate of an an uncoded data bit transmitted with the coded data bit.

Abstract: In an adaptive block size image compression method and system for compressing image data, a respective method and system for further compressing the image data for transmission. Each block and corresponding sub-blocks of pixel data is subjected to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) operation. Varying levels of sub-blocks of resulting corresponding transform coefficients are selected for construction into a composite transform coefficient block corresponding to each input block of pixel data. The selection of transform coefficient block size for the composite block is determined by a comparison process between transform block and sub-block coding efficiency. The composite block is variable length coded to further reduce bit count in the compressed data. A discrete quadtree transform (DQT) operation is in supplement of the adaptive block size block selection with coefficient replacement to optimize image data compression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trellis coding of input data as phase point data for M-ary modulation and transmission upon a communication channel and a method and apparatus for decoding same. The trellis encoding is accomplished by an input encoder for receiving and encoding according to a first encoding format a set of input user data bits to provide a set of symbols; a precoder for encoding according to a second encoding format a first symbol of the set symbols to provide a second symbol; an output encoder for encoding the second symbol according to a third encoding format to provide a third symbol wherein the third encoding format has an inverse transfer function relationship with the second encoding format, encoding the second symbol according to a fourth encoding format to provide a fourth symbol; and wherein remaining symbols of the set of symbols and the third and fourth symbols collectively represent phase point data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing speech signal compression, by variable rate coding of frames of digitized speech samples. The level of speech activity for each frame of digitized speech samples is determined and an output data packet rate is selected from a set of rates based upon the determined level of frame speech activity. A lowest rate of the set of rates corresponds to a detected minimum level of speech activity, such as background noise or pauses in speech, while a highest rate corresponds to a detected maximum level of speech activity, such as active vocalization. Each frame is then coded according to a predetermined coding format for the selected rate wherein each rate has a corresponding number of bits representative of the coded frame. A data packet is provided for each coded frame with each output data packet of a bit rate corresponding to the selected rate.

Abstract: In a variable rate vocoder a method for determining a higher encoding rate of a set of encoding rates for unvoiced speech. The method is accomplished by generating an encoding rate indication based upon a first characteristic of an audio signal, determining a second characteristic of the audio signal, and modifying the encoding rate indication when the second characteristic of the audio signal is representative of unvoiced speech to provide a modified encoding rate indication corresponding to a higher encoding rate of the set of encoding rates.

Abstract: A fastener which enables the attachment of an article to a panel having front and rear surfaces and an aperture formed therebetween, particularly in cases where access to the panel is limited to one side only. The fastener includes a stud having a head and a shank, a spring mounted upon said stud, and a washer having a through hole. The shank further includes a first retaining portion for securely engaging the washer within said through hole and a second retaining potion for engaging an article for securement thereto.

Abstract: An echo canceller and method for cancelling in a return channel signal an echoed receive channel signal where the echoed receive channel signal is combined by an echo channel with an input return channel signal. The echo canceller has a first filter which generates first filter coefficients, generates a first echo estimate signal with the first filter coefficients, and updates the first filter coefficients in response to a first filter control signal. A first summer subtracts the first echo estimate signal from a combined return channel and echo receive channel signal to generate a first echo residual signal. A second filter generates second filter coefficients, generates a second echo estimate signal with the second filter coefficients, and updates the second filter coefficients in response to a second filter control signal.