Abstract: A battery charger and electronic device assembly is provided for recharging stackable electronic devices in multiple orientation or rotation with respect to each other without the need for either removing batteries or plugging devices into charging racks. In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery charger and rechargeable electronic device assembly includes multiple rechargeable electronic devices with opposing stackable surfaces having a plurality of electrical terminals extending therethrough to place each electronic device in electrical communication with each other device and the battery charger base unit without regard to the orientation the terminals or rotation of the device.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating accounting and billing operations information between a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) and a visiting mobile switching center (V-MSC) to which a call is being directed to a mobile station within a cellular telecommunications network. The method comprises the steps of: generating in the serving MSC first billing identification data for the call; transmitting the first billing identification data to the destination MSC; generating second billing identification data in the destination MSC corresponding to a call transaction that has occurred in the destination MSC; and returning the second billing identification data as related billing identification data to the serving MSC after an outcome for the call has been determined in the destination MSC. The outcome of the call is determined when a page response has been received in the V-MSC from the mobile station or alternatively, a call has been delivered by seizing a trunk from the serving MSC to the destination MSC.

Abstract: A personal communications terminal (PCT) in a case having a first half hingedly connected to a second half. The PCT operates in an open and a closed position and comprises a mobile telephone unit and a personal digital assistant (PDA) unit electronically connected to the mobile telephone unit. The PDA unit is a fully functional personal computer. The PDA unit comprises a memory for application software programs, a memory for data, a processor for performing operations with the data and the application programs, a modem for passing data between the PDA unit and the mobile telephone unit, and a mobile data interface for passing data between the PDA unit and the mobile telephone unit without utilizing the modem. When the PCT is in the open position, it forms two interior faces which include a PDA display screen on one face and a full alpha-numeric keyboard on the other face.

Abstract: A development test system and method for testing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 3 through 7 of a communications protocol utilized between nodes in a telecommunications network. The system comprises a protocol simulator that simulates OSI layers 3 through 7 of the communications protocol, a local area network (LAN) connected to the protocol simulator with a first Internet socket interface which replaces OSI layers 1 and 2 of the simulated communications protocol, and a target telecommunication node connected to the LAN with a second Internet socket interface and performing operations with blocks of application software to validate the use of the communications protocol with the target telecommunication node. A protocol interface gateway (PIG-tool) is connected to the LAN with a third Internet socket interface, and serves as a gateway to a target telecommunication system emulator.

Abstract: A system and method for stopping call setup in a mobile telecommunication system having a home location register (HLR), a visiting mobile switching center (V-MSC) and a subscriber mobile station (MS). Upon determining that a call to the subscriber mobile station is being dropped by the calling party, or upon determining that calls are not to be routed to the mobile station when the mobile station is located in the service area of the V-MSC, a release resources message is transmitted to the HLR and the V-MSC stopping the paging process or releasing the system resources, including any such resources associated with seizure of a voice channel between the V-MSC and the MS.

Abstract: A combined mobile phone and pager, and a corresponding method and network for implementing the mobile phone/pager is disclosed. The mobile phone/pager includes a mobile phone portion, which has an on/off switch. The mobile phone/pager also has a pager portion, and a relay. The relay is operationally connected to the pager portion and the on/off switch of the mobile phone portion for turning on the on/off switch upon receipt of a paging signal by the pager. A paging signal transmitted from a paging station is received through the pager portion. The pager portion then activates the relay, thereby turning on the on/off switch, and activating the mobile phone. The mobile phone portion may be turned off between calls to conserve battery power.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adapting the user bit rate of a time division multiple access (TDMA) cellular telecommunication system to achieve optimum voice quality over a broad range of radio channel conditions are disclosed. The system continuously monitors radio channel quality on both the uplink and the downlink, and dynamically adapts the system's combination of speech coding, channel coding, modulation, and number of assignable time slots per call to optimize voice quality for the measured conditions. Various combinations of the system's speech coding, channel coding, modulation, and assignable time slots are identified as combination types and corresponding cost functions are defined. By identifying and selecting the cost function with the lowest cost for the measured radio channel conditions, the system provides the maximum voice quality achievable within the limits of the system design.

Abstract: A method and system for providing extension phone service within a mobile radio communication system. The mobile radio communication system includes a home location register (HLR), a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs), and a plurality of mobile stations. A single subscriber number is assigned to each one of the plurality of mobile stations. When a call is directed to the single subscriber number, the HLR transmits an individual routing request message to each one of the plurality of MSCs where mobile stations assigned to the single subscriber number are believed to be located. Each of the MSCs pages the mobile stations within its service area. Upon receiving a response from one or more of the paged mobile stations, each of the MSCs establishes voice channels with the responding mobile stations, and alerts the stations' subscribers. The MSCs then report to the HLR which of the alerted subscribers answered the alert.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a box of tissues, foliage, or other items is provided having two receptacles. The apparatus may be used as a base or form for craft projects such as a hand decorated tissue box cover or flower pot holder.The holder apparatus includes an exterior receptacle surrounding an interior receptacle. The interior receptacle has adjacent sides substantially perpendicular to a central base. The exterior receptacle extends around the outer perimeter of the interior receptacle and has a base in a horizontal plane below the base of the interior receptacle. The side walls of the exterior receptacle curve outward radially away from the side walls of the interior receptacle.

Abstract: An overhead platform elevation device for moving objects between a lower level of a building structure and an overhead storage space is provided including a rectangular platform having a base plate and a centrally disposed supporting surface, a motor assembly, opposed pulley assemblies, a plurality of platform adjustment cables, drive cables and telescoping stabilization members. The device of the invention is self storing, having the base plate of the platform raised flush with the ceiling of the building structure when in its raised storage position.

Abstract: A battery charging and conditioning circuit is provided wherein application of a charging current to a battery (B) is alternated with the application of short current spikes. The impedance characteristic and no load voltage characteristic of the battery are monitored and processed to select the charging current and spiked current applied to the battery. Processing of the impedance characteristic and no load voltage characteristic of the battery is made by a processing unit (5). The circuit used to generate the short current spikes responds to a timing signal produced by an oscillator (15) by opening and closing a switch (11) to release charge stored in a charge storage device such as an inductor (19), the released charge comprising a current pulse for application to the battery.

Abstract: A system and method for chemically and mechanically polishing a semiconductor wafer having a substrate and a surface film. A wafer mounting device, which may include a vacuum chuck, holds the semiconductor wafer without requiring that the wafer have a central aperture. The mounting device and wafer are moved with an orbit-within-an-orbit motion while a tape transport mechanism applies an abrasive polishing tape to the surface film of the moving wafer to polish one surface of the wafer to a flatness of less than two microns. The system determines the thickness of the wafer surface film during the polishing process with a real time measurement device such as an ellipsometer, or by determining a work-performed factor and calculating an estimated film thickness from the work-performed factor. Finally, the system automatically controls the polishing process to stop polishing the semiconductor wafer when the wafer surface film achieves a predefined planarization.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bi-directional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes. The method begins with the steps of selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests of the routing information in the network and selecting a number of nodes to be tested.

Abstract: A mobile terminal locator for locating a mobile terminal in a cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations and associated cells. The mobile terminal locator identifies a plurality of candidate handoff cells having sufficient signal strength to maintain a call with the mobile terminal, and forces sequential handoffs of the mobile terminal from its serving cell to the plurality of candidate handoff cells. The locator then measures signal strength and propagation delay between the mobile terminal and each base station associated with each of the plurality of candidate handoff cells and between the mobile terminal and the serving base station. Either the signal strength, the propagation delay, or both are then used to calculate a distance between the mobile terminal and each base station associated with each of the plurality of candidate handoff cells and between the mobile terminal and its serving base station.

Abstract: A non-corrosive, small particle resistant wheel axle-bearing assembly for a free wheeling hand carry device is provided which includes a wheel, an axle spindle and an annular bearing. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel includes a central bore, an inwardly facing-surface, and an outwardly facing surface. The inwardly facing surface includes a centrally disposed retainer between the wheel and the body of the device. The outwardly facing surface includes a cylindrical recess for receiving a thrust flange. The axle spindle is integral with the body of the free wheeling device and includes a plurality of longitudinal channels which terminate in slots on the device's body. The annular bearing has a flange at its outer end, a plurality of locking projections at its inner end, and an inner cylindrical wall defining a central bore and an outer bearing surface.