Abstract: A system and method of securing and finishing exterior siding panels. The system includes a bracket mounted on an adjacent surface, a snap-in trim piece, and a siding panel covering a wall. The snap-in trim piece includes an extender having a plurality of crimps for interlocking with a hook at the end of the bracket. Additionally, the snap-in trim piece includes, at another end, a snap-in trim fastener for contacting the siding panel to the wall. Wires or cables may be run through a gap between the snap-in trim piece and a corner where the bracket and the siding panel meet. Additionally, the snap-in trim piece may also act as a trim sectional with coordinating colors to match and accentuate the beauty of the siding panels.

Abstract: A system and method for assisting in finishing and securing a top panel for a wall to a J-channel of a soffit. The system includes a soffit panel covering a surface, a J-channel bracket from which the soffit is mounted into, a top panel snap-in trim, and a top panel. The top panel snap-in trim includes, at an end, a top snap-in trim grasper for interlocking with a hook at the end of the J-channel bracket. Additionally, the top panel snap-in trim includes, at another end, a top panel snap-in trim fastener for contacting the top panel to the wall. Wires or cables may be run through a gap between the top panel snap-in trim and a corner where the soffit panel and the top panel meet. Additionally, the top panel snap-in trim may also act as a trim sectional with coordinating colors to match and accentuate the beauty of the siding panels.

Abstract: An artificial bait is provided which accurately simulates a wounded or dying natural prey of game fish. The bait includes an upper lure body section having a weighted bill, an interior channel for receiving a fishing line and a vertical channel for retaining a hook support wire, a lower tail section having a tail actuator mechanism, and a hinge mechanism. The tail actuator mechanism includes an actuator wire having a tying eye at each end and a counterweight in the proximity of one end. Operation of the invention causes the bill to dip and rise in the water as the tails moves between a horizontal and vertical position, and the lure stays suspended without moving forward. Cranking the bait forward causes the body of the lure to wobble through the water, similar to an injured fish, unable to right itself.

Abstract: A device and method for installing a keycap spring in a computer keyboard having a vertical tube and a base for mounting the keycap spring at the bottom of the vertical tube. The device comprises a handle, a shaft with a tapered head connected to the handle, a sleeve which slides over the shaft, and a sleeve spring connected to the sleeve which slides over the shaft and fits between the sleeve and the handle. The keycap spring is inserted into the sleeve where it fits over the tapered head of the shaft. The tool is then inserted into the vertical tube and the end of the tool is placed over the base. Downward pressure is then applied to the tool, causing the keycap spring to be compressed inside the sleeve. When the keycap spring is fully compressed, the downward pressure applied by the user forces the bottom end of the keycap spring onto the base. The tool is then extracted. The keycap spring is held by the base, causing the spring to slide out of the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention is a method within a radio telecommunications network for delivering a telephone call to a mobile station having a telephone portion, a pager portion, and a relay switch between the telephone portion and the pager portion. Data indicating that the mobile station is capable of receiving standard paging messages from a paging network is recorded in a home location register (HLR) associated with the mobile station. The method enables a subscriber to turn off the telephone portion to conserve battery power. When a call is received in a cellular network for the mobile station, and the mobile station cannot be contacted, the cellular network requests an associated paging network to send a page to the pager portion. The paging network is requested to page the pager portion of the mobile station via a datalink from the cellular network. The pager portion then activates the telephone portion through the relay switch, and the cellular network completes the call.

Abstract: A system for determining when a radio telecommunications network should switch between a first grade of service and a second grade of service based upon a highly accurate and reliable estimate of the bit error rate (BER). The system estimates the BER on an uplink and a downlink on a user channel, and determines whether the BER on the uplink and the downlink on the user channel are below a first set of thresholds. The system then measures the residual BER (RBER) and the frame erasure rate (FER) on the voice channel uplink, and determines whether the downlink BER, the uplink RBER, and the uplink FER are lower than a second set of thresholds. If lower, the system sends and receives a data message on a Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH). The system obtains a highly accurate estimate of the BER on a downlink on the FACCH channel, and reports the downlink BER in a message on the FACCH channel uplink. The system then estimates the BER on the FACCH channel uplink.

Abstract: A system and method for providing prioritized greetings to subscribers having cellular telephone services based on subscriber location. The system identifies a plurality of service zones in the system, and also transmits predefined services to subscribers when located in the service zones. The system transmits service zone identification information from each service zone to each of the subscribers located in the service zone. The system also transmits to each of the subscribers zone profile information having an associated priority for which the subscriber receives differing predefined services. The system compares subscriber zone profile information with the service zone information transmitted and provides a greeting to the subscriber identifying the predefined service available to the subscriber located in that zone whereby any overlap in zones for which a subscriber receives differing predefined services will result in the greeting relating to higher prioritized zone profile information.

Abstract: A system and method for providing short message service point-to-point extension phone service within a radio telecommunications network. The system includes a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), a home location register (HLR), a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs), and a plurality of intelligent terminals. The intelligent terminals are assigned to a single common pilot directory number (PDN) in addition to their individual directory numbers. When a call directed to the PDN is received in the G-MSC, the G-MSC sends a routing request message to the HLR. The HLR sends a short message service (SMS) data transmission to each of the plurality of intelligent terminals assigned to the PDN notifying associated mobile subscribers of an incoming extension phone call. Mobile subscribers desiring to accept the call utilize their intelligent terminals to send a responding SMS message back to the HLR.

Abstract: Disclosed is the apparatus and method for hanging and storing documents. The invention utilizes a substantially planar base, a hanging brace, a substantially planar hub longitudinally extending from the base and an arm having a first end adapted to slidably accept the inner circumferential edge of the hub. A document pocket is adapted to accept the arm such that the document pocket is suspended by the arm. The document pocket is sufficiently translucent to allow viewing of a document when positioned in the document pocket.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining control channel mode (CCM) status information for a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a plurality of base stations and cells. Following reselection of a new cell by the mobile station, or selection of a new analog or digital operating mode, the system notifies the MSC of the mobile station's identity, current CCM, and a base station identification. The MSC stores the CCM information and utilizes it for paging and for delivery of short message service (SMS) messages when the control channel is digital. The MSC also transmits the CCM information to a home location register (HLR) whenever the CCM changes. Upon loss of the CCM status information by the MSC, if an incoming call is received for the mobile station prior to a registration by the mobile station, the system retrieves the assigned CCM status information from the HLR.

Abstract: A method of automatically 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 polishing tape passes arcuately around a roller and passes between the roller and the surface film and contacts the surface film in a line running across the width of the tape. The system determines the thickness of the wafer surface film during the polishing process with a real time measurement device such as an effipsometer, or by determining a work-performed factor and calculating an estimated film thickness from the work-performed factor.

Abstract: A system and method for providing real-time billing (RTB) information to mobile subscribers operating mobile stations in a radio telecommunications network and involved in a call in which at least one of the mobile subscribers is a RTB subscriber. The system is implemented entirely within the network and without modifying the mobile stations. The system comprises a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs), which collect toll ticketing (TT) records associated with calls processed by each MSC and associate the collected TT records with individual calls by the use of billing identification numbers. Each MSC tags TT records that are associated with real-time billing calls, and sends the tagged records to a local post processing unit for immediate processing. Real-time billing information is computed and electronically transmitted to RTB subscribers immediately after the completion of the call.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for asynchronously transmitting data from an originating system to a receiving system over first and second channels. The system determines an originating data rate at the originating system, sets a threshold data rate, transmits data in character mode on the first channel when the originating data rate is below the threshold data rate, and transmits data in packet mode on the first and second channels when the originating data rate is above the threshold data rate. The system continuously monitors the originating data rate while transmitting data, and dynamically switches from character mode to packet mode when the originating data rate changes from below the threshold data rate to above the threshold data rate. The system also dynamically switches from packet mode to character mode when the originating data rate changes from above the threshold data rate to below the threshold data rate.

Abstract: A protocol interface gateway connects a telecommunication system emulator to a communications network. The gateway receives signals from the network and sends signals to the network that are formatted in a network protocol. The gateway converts signals received from the network into instructions in emulator code, and sends the instructions in emulator code to the emulator for processing. The emulator executes code in blocks of application software utilized in a target telecommunications node. The gateway then receives the processed instructions in emulator code from the emulator, converts the processed instructions into signals formatted in the network protocol, and sends the signals to the communications network. The protocol interface gateway utilizes a UNIX socket that replaces Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers 1 and 2 of the network protocol to send and receive the signals from the network.

Abstract: A multipurpose surface stripper apparatus is provided for removing surface coverings, linoleum, tile, or carpet from a supporting surface, floor or deck. The apparatus includes a chassis having a frame, a stripping assembly, a drive assembly, and a hydraulic system for controlling the operation of the stripping and drive assemblies. The stripping assembly includes a stripping blade, a blade mount, at least one carrier bearing fixably mounted to a supporting plate, and a roll axle extending through the carrier bearing for changing the roll of the blade. The axle has one end fixably connected to a lower surface of the blade mount and a second end connected to the stationary end of a pitch control hydraulic cylinder. The carrier bearing supporting plate is mounted between the blade mount and the front end of the frame.

Abstract: A system and method of providing seamless interoperability for a mobile station roaming between cellular telecommunication systems operating in multiple hyperbands such as the 1900-MHz PCS hyperband and the 800-MHz cellular telephone hyperband, utilizing United States cellular standards. An enhanced inter-exchange communications protocol based on IS-41 is utilized to communicate information required for seamless interoperability between mobile switching centers (MSCs). The enhanced inter-exchange communications protocol comprises a plurality of signaling messages and a plurality of modified message parameters within the signaling messages. The modified message parameters are modified to include information elements required for seamless interoperability between the multi-hyperband capable exchanges and are added as optional (overriding) parameters to the signaling messages.

Abstract: A system and method for providing rapid access to voice mail messages to a subscriber in a radio telecommunications network. The subscriber has a mobile telephone with a display, and the system comprises a mobile switching center (MSC) which includes a group switch for routing calls, and hardware connected to the group switch that enables the MSC to establish three-party calls. The system also includes an announcement machine connected to the MSC and a voice mail machine connected to the MSC. The system causes the display of the subscriber's mobile telephone to display the telephone number of the mobile telephone as a calling line identification (CLI) number when a call is made from the announcement machine to the mobile telephone announcing that the subscriber has a message in the voice mail machine. The system also sends the telephone number of the mobile telephone to the MSC and establishes a three-party call between the announcement machine, the subscriber, and the voice mail machine.