Abstract: A paging system (10) includes any number of spaced apart transmitters (12), each of which has its own area (15) of coverage. A population of subscriber units (24) freely roams between the areas (15). When a subscriber unit (24) roams to a new area (15), a call is placed from a telephone instrument (22) to a destination controller (28) through the public switched telecommunication network (21). A subscriber ID and location data are transferred to the system (10) during this call. The location data are used internally by the system (10) to route pages to only the transmitters (12) whose areas (15) correspond to the location data, and only these transmitters (12) broadcast the pages. Subscriber units (24) may generate the location data which the system (10) uses in routing pages to transmitters (12). A position-determining receiver (42) may directly obtain location data from a positioning system (34). Alternatively, location data may be obtained from transmissions broadcast by the transmitters (12).

Abstract: An object-oriented software architecture interacts with "real" input/output devices exclusively through "virtual" input/output devices. Since all human interface with the operating system is performed through such virtual devices, the system can accept any form of real input or output devices. The lowest level of the operating system converts input from any physical device to virtual form and converts virtual output into suitable physical output. Any number of physical devices can be connected to, removed from, or replaced in the system without disrupting the system.

Abstract: A cable connector or jumper for providing alternating current between adjacent electrical modules comprises a first head member having a set of recessed prongs, a second head member having a set of recessed mating apertures, and a semi-rigid, tubular connecting member. The connecting member incorporates a ferrule of magnetic material for reducing RF emissions. The connecting member is sufficiently rigid to permit same to be manually grasped for insertion and removal of the head members into corresponding connectors on adjacent electrical modules, while the connecting member is sufficiently flexible to permit the head members to be moved relative to one another in order to facilitate their insertion into and removal from the module connectors.

Abstract: In a radio frequency communications system transmitting and receiving packetized voice information over a limited number of channels, certain time slots are preempted for signaling information. This is accomplished by providing a set of channels which are logically defined and multiplexed onto the voice traffic channels by stealing a voice packet from the traffic channel at regular intervals of time. The replaced voice packet is delayed and transmitted at the next allocated time slot. The added load due to signaling traffic is offset by the silence intervals in voice conversation, which are not transmitted in packetized voice communication.

Abstract: Neural networks learn expert system rules, for either business or real-time applications, to improve the robustness and speed of execution of the expert system. One or more neural networks are constructed which incorporate the production rules of one or more expert systems. Each neural network is constructed of neurons or neuron circuits each having only one significant processing element in the form of a multiplier. Each neural network utilizes a training algorithm which does not require repetitive training and which yields a global minimum to each given set of input vectors.

Abstract: In a data processing system comprising a plurality of processing elements coupled to a network, a method of single-stepping the processing elements aids in debugging the system. Only one processing element at a time is permitted to execute N steps while its data output is coupled to the network. Once it's finished executing, a time period greater than the maximum propagation delay time of the network is permitted to pass before stepping a succeeding processing element N steps. In another embodiment, the outputs of all processing elements to the network are first disabled, then all processing elements are allowed to execute N steps. Next the system is halted, and, one at a time, the data output of each processing element is coupled to the network, allowing sufficient time for each processing element's output to propagate through the network before coupling the output of a succeeding processing element.

Abstract: A technique for converting an existing expert system into one incorporating one or more neural networks includes the steps of separating the knowledge base and inference engine of the existing expert system, identifying the external and internal inputs and outputs, identifying subsystems from the inputs and outputs, using a neural network for each subsystem, training each neural network to learn the production rules of its associated subsystem, and computing exact or interpolated outputs from a given set of inputs. Each neural network utilizes a training algorithm which does not require repetitive training and which yields a global minimum to each given set of inputs.

Abstract: In a data processing system in which data is entered and validated, a method for performing edit procedures, according to which edit procedures are associated with input attributes via a table. The edit procedures are applied in a predetermined, yet modifiable order.

Abstract: A scan path debugger isolates and identifies hardware and software faults in a computer system containing scan path logic. A user can readily define what information is to be examined and in what format. The user can toggle between displaying information in data-aligned format or time-aligned format. The user may temporarily suspend control of the scan path debugger to allow the system to be controlled temporarily by a different, unrelated program. The user can check the operation of the system under different microcode files. The user can also save the complete logic state of the system under test, execute one or more scan path debugger instructions while observing the results, restore the saved state, execute the same or different instructions, and observe the results.

Abstract: An artificial neuron, which may be implemented either in hardware or software, has only one significant processing element in the form of a multiplier. Inputs are first fed through gating functions to produce gated inputs. These gated inputs are then multiplied together to produce a product which is multiplied by a weight to produce the neuron output.

Abstract: A method for troubleshooting an electronic circuit board assembly which comprises a plurality of components interconnected by a plurality of nodes having electrical terminals without the need to de-solder. The method comprises measuring the resistance value for one of the plurality of nodes, and, if the measured resistance value does not match a target value, individually cooling or heating each of the components which are coupled to such node while simultaneously measuring the resistance value for the node, and identifying as faulty that component for which the measured resistance deviates most from the target value.

Abstract: In a computer human interface an abstract, device-independent "picture" is capable of containing multi-application information. A picture comprises a number of abstract picture elements which can be arbitrarily combined. A particular application attributes meaning to a particular organization of picture elements. No one application need be aware of the existence of any other, nor is it affected by any other, even though several applications may be sharing the same picture. A single, cohesive visual image, incorporating information from various applications, is presented on a suitable output device, such as a video display unit. Images representing portions of any or all of the applications can be displayed and updated on the output device simultaneously and independently of one another. User interface interface information, such as menus, icons, prompts, and help text, is also contained in the picture and may be displayed simultaneously with the application image(s).

Abstract: In a general-purpose subscriber unit a data communication method provides management and control functions to allow communication between one of a plurality of software applications and a selected communication device, such as a radio frequency modem. Messages received by the modem may be routed and stored for designated ones of said applications, even if they are not currently active. Likewise, an application operating in background mode may generate messages which are stored, routed, and transmitted through the modem.

Abstract: Information is displayed from an information based computer system which comprises the consolidation of information from various object instances onto a single form. Changes or corrections to data values are maintained in a historical record. When the form is displayed, options are provided indicating whether there are older or newer data values resulting from changes or corrections being made to the original data value.

Abstract: The database is provided with an audit trail for the structure types of the object instances. As a component of an object instance of the database is corrected/changed, the corrected/changed component is substituted for the original component and the original component is linked to the corrected/changed component.

Abstract: A device has a plurality of memory portions, a first portion having an output enable and input/output connections and a second portion without output enables and having separate input and output connections. A tri-state buffer has its input coupled to the output connection of the second memory portion and its output coupled to the input connection of the second memory portion. A control connection of the buffer is coupled to the output enable of the device.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit microprocessor, an M-bit priority encoder circuit indicates the highest priority bit position that is set in a first portion of an N-bit (N generally being greater than M) data word and provides control information regarding the number of bits that are set. If more than one bit is set, the highest priority bit is reset, the first portion is re-analyzed, and highest priority bit information and control information are again provided. If only one bit or no bit is set in the first portion, a second portion is analyzed, and highest priority bit information and control information regarding the second portion is provided. Analysis of the second portion, and of any subsequent portions, continues in similar fashion until no further bit positions are determined to be set in the data word.

Abstract: Annotations to data objects are stored in the object instance and may be stored in an annotation file or a reference may be store in a reference file. Once annotated, a cell displaying the data object will provide a notation indicating that the data object has an annotation associated therewith. Retrieval of annotations which are not stored in an annotation file or reference file occurs through a search of the object instances. Retrieval of annotations having a reference in a reference file occurs through use of the reference to access the object instances. Retrieval of annotations in an annotation file occurs through retrieval of the annotation file. Once retrieved, the annotations may be in a final form, such as the nursing progress notes, or may be on a scratch pad to allow the user to electronically transfer annotations from a scratch pad to a permanent record.

Abstract: Data is retrieved from a database, whose physical organization (indexed matrix) is similar to the logical organization (spread sheet) of the data, by requesting the parameters and the desired time interval. A data interface locates pages in the database containing the requested parameters. Entries from page indexes relating to desired parameters are consolidated into a master composite index. Pages relating to the time period requested are then bound and searched to find the desired data. This data is then returned to the requesting application.

Abstract: A spreadsheet comprised of a plurality of cells is described wherein each cell is separately identified by one or more parameters. The cells are dynamically configured so that the size may be changed depending on the information to be displayed. Each cell has an accompanying form which contains information. The information is generally broken down into mandatory, optional, notational, and other information. The determination of how the information is classified is determined by the cell definition, not by the form or data being displayed. Each cell will display the mandatory information and may display the optional information if present in the form. In addition, a notation (or indicator) will be displayed in the cell if notational information is present in the form.