Abstract: Fixed network equipment (100) initializes a channel aggregation strategy and establishes a default channel aggregation. A request for a service requiring additional bandwidth is received from a device. An updated channel aggregation is generated based upon the request and the channel aggregation strategy to create an updated channel aggregation. The updated channel aggregation is signaled to at least one mobile station (116) via an in-band message.

Abstract: A first set of coordinates (100) of a device and an estimated positional error (“EPE”) radius (102) is measured. An EPE circle (104) is derived, in which the device is approximately located, from the first set of coordinates (100) and the EPE radius (102). When it is determined that the EPE radius (102) exceeds a predetermined threshold, a first range (106) between the device and a ranging site (108) is measured, and a locus of points (110) on and within the EPE circle (104) is determined, wherein a distance between the ranging site (108) and each point in the locus of points (110) approximately equals the first range (106).

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) device for increasing tag activation distance comprises a first exciter electrode (2), a second exciter electrode (21), a dielectric substrate (3), and a first exciter voltage source (4). The second exciter electrode is positioned behind the first exciter electrode. The dielectric substrate is disposed between the first and second exciter electrodes. The dielectric substrate isolates the first exciter electrode from the second exciter electrode. The first exciter voltage source is coupled to at least one of the first exciter electrode and the second exciter electrode.

Abstract: An access point (100) transmits at least a first set of parameters intended for a first set of users (102) and a second set of parameters intended for a second set of users (104). The access point communicates with the first set of users during a first time period and communicates with the second set of users during a second time period, wherein the first time period and the second time period are exclusive of each other. Moreover, the first time period and the second time period lapse prior to the AP transmitting a next set of parameters intended for the first set of users.

Abstract: A perimeter threshold of an area is defined. The location of a device (102) is tracked using a first location technology (108) when the device (102) precedes the perimeter threshold. The location of the device (102) is tracked using a second location technology (100) when the device (102) exceeds the perimeter threshold.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a charging device (900) is capable of receiving a first device (102) coupled to a second device (100). The first device has a first battery associated therewith and the second device has a second battery associated therewith. The charging device is capable of charging the first battery and the second battery in one of the following manners: charging the first and second batteries in a serial manner, charging the first and second batteries in a parallel manner, and charging the second battery from the energy stored in the first battery.

Abstract: A shield (100) having an outer surface (104) and a plurality of sidewalls (106) is disclosed. The plurality of sidewalls (106) extends from the outer surface (104). At least a portion of the plurality of sidewalls (106) are designed to retain the shield to at least a portion of a substrate (102). Further, at least a portion of the plurality of sidewalls (106) are designed to deflect away from the substrate (102) when pressure is applied to the outer surface (104) in such a manner that the outer surface (104) assumes a concave position (202).

Abstract: A Packet Network for use in association with a wireless communication system employs packet distribution and call set-up methods optimized to select from a plurality of network routing devices, a single node (i.e., Rendezvous Point (VP) or.multicast core) as a function of attributes exhibited by the communication devices involved in the call or as a function of various communication system performance and/or quality of service (QOS) attributes, including but not limited to, bandwidth requirements, resource availability, network processing capacity, network response time, network traffic data, information technology and other knowledge and know-how regarding system equipment, system software, system integration, installation and/or deployment, bit error rate (BER), received signal strength indication (RSSI), quality of service (QOS) metrics, and any other measure of system performance or call quality.

Abstract: From an unusable site, one or more communication units selects a usable site, thereby reducing missed communications. First, a manager determines (201, 401, 601) that a site is unusable for a predetermined set of communication unit(s). The predetermined set of communication units may include one or more individual communication units or communication units that are affiliated with a particular talkgroup at a particular time. A zone controller (104) identifies (205, 405, 605) any communication units from the set that are registered at the unusable site. The zone controller sends (207, 407, 607) a message to the identified units to assist them in leaving the site. The communication units search (303, 505, 709) the near sites for usability and register (307, 515, 713) at new usable sites. An algorithm is provided to stagger registration by communication units at usable sites.

Abstract: A packet delivery method employs redundant path definitions to improve reliability in a packet delivery system.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprises a plurality of data fields. The RFID device transmits a data symbol from a data field, receives an acknowledgement symbol, and compares the transmitted data symbol to the received acknowledgement symbol. The RFID device repeats these steps until data transmission is complete as long as each transmitted data symbol is equivalent to a corresponding received acknowledgement symbol; otherwise, the RFID device maintains the data field from which the last data symbol was transmitted, and temporarily suspends data transmission. When the RFID receives a request for RFID devices temporarily suspended in a given data field to resume data transmission, if the given data field in the request is equivalent to the data field that was maintained, the RFID device repeats the steps above starting with the first symbol in the data field that was maintained.

Abstract: A source device (110) stores predetermined data and establishes a channel selection profile comprising a plurality of channel selections. Each channel selection is derived from a subset of the predetermined data. The source device (110) transmits at least a portion of the predetermined data over at least a first channel selected from the channel selection profile.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for updating a subscriber unit with an announcement group identification. A subscriber unit (210) requests affiliation (301) with a talk group (202) and an unknown announcement group identification is issued (315) in response to the request for affiliation. The present invention includes an embodiment where information that identifies which subscriber unit (210) received the unknown announcement group signal is stored (309). An updated announcement signal is subsequently sent to the subscriber unit (210) when a zone controller (114) receives an updated announcement group identification.

Abstract: A scalable slot format defining positions of synchronization symbols, pilot symbols and data symbols for various numbers of sub-channels and various lengths of time in a multi-carrier communication system. An initial pattern (500) and one or more follow-on patterns (600, 700) are defined identifying positions of data symbols, synchronization symbols and pilot symbols for a first number of sub-channels corresponding to a first bandwidth. An extended pattern is constructed from the one or more follow-on patterns. The extension pattern is appended to the initial pattern to form a base pattern (810, 910, 1010). The base pattern (810, 910, 1010) is replicated zero or more times to form an expanded pattern (812, 910, 1015) identifying positions of data symbols, synchronization symbols and pilot symbols for an expanded number of sub-channels corresponding to a second bandwidth.

Abstract: An IP mobility solution for mobile network(s) that combines features of IP multicast and mobile IPv6. The mobile network defines a mobile router (106) attached to one or more mobile network hosts (102). Upon movement of the mobile network from a home network to a foreign network, the mobile router obtains a multicast care of address on behalf of the attached mobile network hosts and creates a binding between the mobile subnet prefix and the multicast care of address. The mobile router communicates the binding information, via binding update messages, to a home agent (150). When a correspondent node sends packets to a mobile network nodes home address, they are intercepted by the home agent and tunneled to the mobile router via the multicast care of address. The mobile router receives the packet and forwards the packet to the targeted mobile network node.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for connection and operation in a phase locked loop arrangement has two or more operational states in each of which the VCO circuit is operable to provide activation of a selected one of two or more different phase locked loops when connected to the VCO circuit, the VCO circuit including switching means for switching the state of the VCO circuit to allow the operational state of the VCO to be selected. A frequency synthesizer circuit for use in radio communications to generate a stable frequency signal, the circuit includes the VCO circuit. The synthesizer circuit includes two or more different phase locked loops each having a first state in which the loop is activated and a second state in which the loop is deactivated. At least part of the VCO circuit is connected in and shared by the loops, so that the loop to be activated can be selected by selecting the operational state of the VCO.

Abstract: An error detection circuitry for detecting an error on a transmission path between a radio system (10, 12) and a transmitter is disclosed. The circuitry comprises means (16) for measuring the magnitude of a forward radio frequency signal directed from the radio system to the transmitter; means (16) for measuring the magnitude of a backward radio frequency signal directed from the transmitter to the radio system; and means for comparing the magnitudes of the forward radio frequency signal and the backward radio frequency signal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a self-synchronization is provided for synchronizing a sampling of the output voltages of detecting circuits (24, 26) relative to the occurrence of a signal on the transmission path.

Abstract: A wireless communication system 200 comprises a connectionless packet network 201 coupled to a plurality of sites 203-208 that are in location areas 260, 261. The sites join respective location area multicast addresses to receive messages from other sites in their location area. Communication units desiring to participate in talkgroup calls need only to register affiliation with a first site of the location area. Upon the first site receiving an affiliation message, it joins a payload multicast group address to receive payload for the talkgroup. In alternative embodiments, the first site sends, via the location area multicast address, either control message(s) or tunneled payload associated with the talkgroup call to secondary site(s) of the location area.

Abstract: A radio frequency communications system (100) includes wireless terminals (102) and base sites (104). The wireless terminals communicate with the base sites over a radio frequency channel (106). The base sites are interconnected to each other and other network elements via a packet network. A method and apparatus determine for a particular delay-sensitive application on the wireless terminal, for example, an audio or video transmission, the requirements for bandwidth for transmission over the radio frequency channel (500, 502). After the requirements on the radio frequency channel are determined, the necessary channel bandwidth, if available, is reserved or allocated to guarantee performance to the application (510). The reserved bandwidth is utilized by selectively granting access to the radio frequency channel on the basis of the bandwidth allocated to the device.

Abstract: In a device having a sound tube and a receiver, a test signal is generated to apply to the receiver. An electrical impedance of the receiver is measured, and a length of the sound tube is estimated by a shift in frequency of at least one of a maximum and a minimum in the electrical impedance.