Abstract: Data for transmission may be convolutionally encoded and punctured prior to transmission. The invention relates to a method and apparatus for decoding such data. In accordance with the invention, a table of error metrics is prepared when a given group (Gt) of n bits is received at a particular time (t). The error metrics (Mti) are calculated for comparisons of the n bits received with each possible permutation (Pi) of n bits. These error metrics (Mti) are placed in the metric table. Next a look-up table (Tt) is consulted which lists each state change (Sj) which the encoder could have undergone at the particular time (t) together with the permutation (Pi) of bits which would have been produced by the encoder for that state change. The look-up table (Tt) is particular to the puncturing scheme which the encoder uses at the particular time (t). The metric table is then used to add to the look-up table (Tt) the error metric (Mti) appropriate to each state change (Si) in the table (Tt).

Abstract: In a communication device (100) with an earpiece (110) and a microphone (120), there is a sensor (130) relating a first connection line (105) from the earpiece (110) to the microphone (120) on a system (200, 300) which is independent of the device and of the person using it, such as the earth's gravitational field, and which selects the operating mode QUIET (1) or LOUD (2) of the communication device in accordance with this. The sensor (130) switches the communication device (100) to QUIET when the angle (230) between the connecting line (105) and the plumbline (205) of the gravitational field basically corresponds to the angle (330) between a second connecting line between the ear (310) and the mouth (320) of a person (300) who is authorized to make the call, so as to bar other persons (400) who are in the vicinity (X2) from hearing the output from the communication device loudspeaker (110).

Abstract: A method of sending (321) a service utilization message in a communication system (100) includes the steps of forming (303 through 317) a service utilization message and sending (321) the service utilization message via a service port (109). The service utilization message includes a header, a service controller packet, and a service manager packet. The header includes a block source field (201), a block destination field (203), a block length field (205), and a block command type field (207). The service controller packet includes a block opcode field (209) and a controller packet (211). The service manager packet includes a manager packet (213) and a block sequence number field (215). The service utilization messages assist with call billing and call logging for communication systems (100). A service utilization linking message is similarly formed (503 through 517) and sent (521).

Abstract: A display-based terminal (101) employs a method and apparatus for dynamically grouping (719, 723, 819, 823) communication units in a communication system. The terminal displays a map (703, 803) to the terminal user that indicates locations of communication units in at least a portion of the communication system. The terminal receives (705, 805) an indication of a geographic area on the map. After the area has been indicated and the talkgroup identified, the terminal automatically groups (719, 723, 819, 823) communication units that are in or have entered the selected area into the identified talkgroup. If a regrouped unit exits the selected area, the terminal automatically removes the exiting unit from the talkgroup. The terminal user may further input criteria to limit which units entering and leaving the indicated area are actually grouped or ungrouped.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of supporting a wall utilizes a multiple-featured support system. At least one support apparatus (200, 1000) is mounted to one or more walls (101), particularly foundation walls, in order to support the wall(s) and any load supported thereby, such as a building, statue, monument, bridge, and other structures. The support apparatus (200, 1000) may be mounted to the inside or outside of the wall. A channel (901) may be mounted between two adjacent support apparatus to provide a more structurally sound support system for different situations.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of supporting a wall utilizes a multiple-featured support system. At least one support apparatus (200, 1000) is mounted to one or more walls (101), particularly foundation walls, in order to support the wall(s) and any load supported thereby, such as a building, statue, monument, bridge, and other structures. The support apparatus (200, 1000) may be mounted to the inside or outside of the wall. One version of support apparatus (1000) is mounted to two different walls, so that both walls may be lifted simultaneously with even stress on both. A channel (901) may be mounted between two adjacent support apparatus to provide a more structurally sound support system for different situations.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of supporting a wall utilizes a multiple-featured support system. At least one support apparatus (200, 1000) is mounted to one or more walls (101), particularly foundation walls, in order to support the wall(s) and any load supported thereby, such as a building, statue, monument, bridge, and other structures. The support apparatus (200, 1000) may be mounted to the inside or outside of the wall. One version of support apparatus (1000) is mounted to two different walls, so that both walls may be lifted simultaneously with even stress on both. A channel (901) may be mounted between two adjacent support apparatus to provide a more structurally sound support system for different situations.

Abstract: A method of registration in a communication system includes the steps of detecting (201) an elevated registration level of at least a part of a communication system, selecting (203) a group recovery time, determining (205) a first random registration time that is less than or equal to the group recovery time, registering (209) a first communication unit (111) from a first talkgroup at the first random registration time, and upon receiving (212) a group activity message for the first talkgroup, delaying (213) registration by at least a second communication unit (113) from the first talkgroup.

Abstract: A method of handling an event by a plurality of consoles includes the steps of receiving an event (519) at a communication system and displaying the event at the consoles (101 and 117), wherein the event is displayed (525) using a first manner of display on each of the consoles (101 and 117). When the event is recognized (505) by a first console (101 and 117), the event is displayed (509) on the first console using a second manner of display in response to the recognition, and each of the consoles that is not the first console continues displaying (525) the event using the first manner of display. After the event is responded (511) to by a second console, the event is displayed (527) on the consoles using a third manner of display. After the event is responded to, the event is deleted (515) by a deleting console, and the event is displayed (533) on the consoles that is not the deleting console using a fourth manner of display and the displaying of the event is discontinued on the deleting console.

Abstract: A display-based terminal (101) employs a method and apparatus for allowing a user of the terminal to communicate with communication units (105-113) in a communication system (100). The terminal displays a map (300, 400) to the user indicating locations of communication units in at least a portion of the communication system. The terminal then receives a selection from the map of at least one communication unit (105, 108, 109, 113) and an indication (309, 311) of the user's desire to communicate with the selected communication unit. The indication of the user's desire to communicate may be contemporaneous with the user's selection of the communication unit, for example, when the user has, prior to such selection, indicated a desired type (302-305, 401-404) of communication and/or a desired transmission mode (406) for subsequent communications with the communication units.

Abstract: A method is provided of identifying position location of a transmitter device, such as a mobile or portable, in an inbound system. The inbound system includes free receivers all coupled, over appropriate radio frequency (RF) links, to a common reference receiver, the latter equipped with a high precision timebase master clock for receiver synchronization purposes. Rather than requiring each and every receiver to maintain a separate high-precision timebase to record position related timing signals for position location determination, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the free receivers are configured to detect timing signals from the transmitter device, and without timestamping them, quickly forward them (in the form of a signal-received indication) after a fixed or otherwise known time delay to the reference receiver. The reference receiver, in turn, timestamps all signals from all free receivers according to its own master clock high precision timebase.

Abstract: A method of managing objects residing in a communication system includes the steps of reading (201), by a network manager for a plurality of objects represented by at least one agent and residing in a communication system, a mapping of bitmap types to object types and monitoring (203) at least one communication resource between the network manager and the at least one agent. After service interruption on one communication resource of the at least one communication resource, and upon detecting (207) a return to service of the one communication resource, the network manager reads at least one bitmap from the at least one agent, wherein the at least one bitmap represents information relating to at least one object of the plurality of objects, and interpreting (213) the at least one bitmap by utilizing the mapping of bitmap types to object types in order to determine a status of the at least one object of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: Communication units (107 and 109) are distinguished between preferred units and non-preferred units. The same message content is transmitted (207) to the preferred units at a preferred quality, such as at a preferred transmission rate, and to the non-preferred units (209) at a non-preferred rate, such as one-half the preferred transmission rate. The bandwidth saved can be reallocated for other messages, thereby resulting in a more efficient use of resources for a dispatch call.

Abstract: A two way radio communication system (20) includes a plurality of radio units (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) communicating via at least one communication resource (34, 36). At least one first radio unit (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the plurality of radio units includes a receiver (48) for monitoring available resources of the at least one communication resource (34, 36) and a processor (46) for maintaining a prioritized list (45) of said available at least one communication resources and for selecting the highest priority available communication resource when the at least one radio unit (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) wishes to enter into communication with at least one second radio unit of the plurality of radio units. In this manner, an optimized communication resource is selected for the communication.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of updating (305) each of the tiers of a multiple-tier database (200) by defining an independent data rate between each of the tiers of the database (200). The present method provides maximum data throughput, which is not provided with a solution that selects the lowest possible data rate for all transmissions between all tiers. By providing for a different communication rate (303) that is independent of the communication rate between each set of tiers of the database (200), throughput is maximized while limiting the possibility of surpassing or overwhelming component capabilities that could cause equipment malfunction or "crashing." The communication rate may be negotiated (401 through 413) between components at the different tiers of the database (200).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a current generator (101) having an output. A plurality of mixers (103, 105, and 107) is switchably coupled to the current generator output, such that a first average power output level is provided when a first mixer (103) of the plurality of mixers is engaged and a second average power output level is provided when a second mixer (105) of the plurality of mixers is engaged. The first average power output level and the second average power output level are different.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing broadcast group data within a communication system begins when a subscriber unit (28-32, 38-42) provides a data service message to a data gateway (12). The data service message includes identity of a subscriber unit, a data selection, and identity of at least one targeted host (e.g., a computer that stores the requested data) (22-26). Upon receiving the data service message, the data gateway (12) interprets it to determine whether the request is for an individual data broadcast or group data broadcast. When the data broadcast is for a group data broadcast, the data gateway temporarily stores the identity of the subscriber unit and the identity of the targeted host. Having done this, the data gateway (12) obtains the data from the targeted host and provides it to the requesting subscriber unit and other subscriber units that are currently involved in a group voice call with the requesting subscriber unit.

Abstract: A radio frequency communication system subscriber (110) has a unique identification code, public key and private key, and stores the identification code and public key for other system subscribers in its memory (115). When transmitting, the subscriber includes its identification code in a transmitted message (160) and encodes the transmitted message with its private key. When receiving, the subscriber authenticates a received message (170) by accessing the sending subscriber (120)'s identification code from the message, retrieving the sending subscriber's public key from memory and decoding the message with the retrieved key.

Abstract: The following describes an apparatus for and method of providing a secure method of downloading a program into a processor (101) from a device (103) external to the processor (101). The program may be encrypted (207) prior to its entry into the external device (103). The program may also have authentication information added (203 and 207) to it. Authentication information may be provided on an unencrypted and/or an encrypted program. The processor (101) decrypts (307) and/or successfully authenticates (311) the program before allowing the program to be executed by the processor (101).

Abstract: A wireless communication system 200 comprises a connectionless packet network 201 coupled to a plurality of sites 203-208 that are in wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber units 210-217 logically arranged into a plurality of talk groups having corresponding talk group identifications. In one embodiment, each site maintains mappings 220-225 of at least one multicast address to at least one talk group identification. In another embodiment, individual subscriber units maintain such mappings 320. When a subscriber unit affiliates with a given site and talk group (501, 601), the site identifies a multicast address corresponding to the talk group. Based on the multicast address, the site can participate in traffic targeted for the multicast address and, consequently, for the talk group. In this manner, mobility Processing is decentralized, system calability is improved and call setup delays are minimized.