Abstract: A portable processing device, such as a laptop computer, includes a time-of-day clock that is dynamically adjusted based upon occurrences of travel among different time zones. An itinerary is stored as a travel schedule of departure and arrival information and is used to identify anticipated multi-zone travel. When there is a coincidence between the clock and the occurrence of an anticipated multi-zone trip, the clock is automatically adjusted. The itinerary may be input via a user interface mechanism, such as a keyboard, may be entered by means of synchronization with a compatible program of a second device, or may be input via a network, such as the Internet. The determination of the relevant time zones preferably utilizes a database and most preferably utilizes an internal database of cities and time differentials among the cities. The dynamic adjustments of the time-of-day clock occur en route, without accessing externally generated signals or external devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding a better path through an integrated services digital network (ISDN) involves collecting a first data set about the current path and a second data set about a proposed replacement path. Each gateway or tandem public or private telephone network through which the path travels updates the respective data set with information about its link. The data sets are compared according to preselected criteria. The preferable connection is retained and the less preferable connection is released.

Abstract: A receiving method using a CDMA radio receiver with a plurality of receiving fingers each composed of a code generator, a correlator and a detector. In a visited cell search while in the ON-state of the power supply, different long-period spreading codes are set in the code generators, and if none of correlated outputs from the correlators respectively corresponding to the code generators exceed a threshold value, then new different long-period spreading codes are set in the code generators. If any one of the correlator outputs exceeds the threshold value, the mobile station is decided as staying in the cell corresponding to the long-period spreading code set in that correlator, and this long-period spreading code and time points at which peaks of correlator outputs were obtained with the long-period spreading code are set in the receiving fingers in descending order of the magnitude of correlation peaks.

Abstract: A personal communication system handset having a plurality of slots provided therein. Each one of the slots is adapted to store a corresponding one of a plurality of removable/insertable subscriber identity modules. The subscriber identity modules have stored therein different subscriber information. A user is thereby able to subscribe to two, or more, different providers and is able to remove at least one of the modules for use in another handset. Further, the modules are credit card size and are therefore less likely to be lost, or misplaced, than a chip sized module. An electronic switch is disposed in the handset for electrically coupling one of the modules to a transceiver in the handset selectively in accordance with a program stored in the handset based on a signal received by the transceiver from a base station cell. The selected module provides the base station cell with the stored subscriber information. Thus, the handset can automatically select the proper module based on the stored program.

Abstract: A mobile station for transmitting a mobile radio signal to a base station has a memory device in which a number of available applications are stored which can relate to different “carriers,” i.e., mobile radio network systems or service providers within a single mobile radio network. A selection device of the mobile station calculates expected charges for a desired connection for each of these applications which are being considered for the transmission connection. Based upon the calculations, the most cost-efficient application for the desired transmission is selected. The actual transmission of the communication data for the base station is then carried out on the basis of this application.

Abstract: A system whereby automatic dial-type recognition is employed to reduce the wait time for callers and prevent false identification of touch tone versus dial tone service. A system according to the present invention includes a control unit (103) located in a PBX (104) or other switch which detects whether a caller is placing a call using pulse or DTMF dialing. The control unit (103) in the PBX (104) generates a message during call setup which it provides to the remote system, such as an interactive voice response system.

Abstract: A mobile station position estimation scheme for a cellular mobile communication system which is capable of estimating a position of a mobile station in a simple manner even in the general cellular mobile communication systems in which base stations are not synchronized. According to this mobile station position estimation scheme, a first signal sequence and a second signal sequence which are uniquely predetermined for the mobile station are exchanged between the mobile station and the base station, and then a position of the mobile station is estimated at one station among the base station and the mobile station, by obtaining a phase difference between the first signal sequence and the second signal sequence and calculating an estimated distance between the base station and the mobile station according to the phase difference.

Abstract: Access is granted to a portion of a computing system, such as to a configuration menu of a telephone system. In order to grant access, a password is received from a user. A variable password is also calculated. The variable password varies with time. For example, the variable password varies with a current date and with a time of day stored by the computing system. The password received from the user is compared with the calculated variable password. When the password received from the user is equal to the calculated variable password, access is granted.

Abstract: A personal communication system handset having a plurality of slots provided therein. Each one of the slots is adapted to store a corresponding one of a plurality of removable/insertable subscriber identity modules. The subscriber identity modules have stored therein different subscriber information. A user is thereby able to subscribe to two, or more, different providers and is able to remove at least one of the modules for use in another handset. An electronic switch is disposed in the handset for electrically coupling one of the modules to a transceiver in the handset selectively in accordance with a program stored in the handset based on a signal received by the transceiver from a base station cell. The selected module provides the base station cell with the stored subscriber information. Thus, the handset can automatically select the proper module based on the stored program. An automatic subscriber identification module control system is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and a concomitant method of providing a technique, within each central office (CO) in a digital CO cluster, for translating a destination number for a signaling message into a destination point code. Such a CO generally contains a switching system, for providing an interface to various station lines (telephone lines) and links to other DCOs, and/or an A-link consolidator (ALC), and an SS7 signaling processing system for providing a software based control system to properly format, address and route signaling messages. Through the invention, the SS7 signaling processing system first translates a destination number into a destination point code. The destination point code is then incorporated into a signaling message. The signaling message is subsequently routed to a destination node that corresponds to the destination point code. The destination point code indicates either a CO within the cluster or an STP outside of the cluster.

Abstract: A network having a number of terminals connected by a hub includes managing data transmission collisions by distinguishing among the terminals following a transmission. In the preferred embodiment, the terminals are arranged in a star configuration and the hub is an Ethernet hub that forwards a data packet from a terminal to all of the remaining terminals. A data packet is stored in memory while it is transmitted to all of the other terminals in the collision domain. If a collision is detected in forwarding the data packet, the transmission is completed to the collision-free terminals, thereby isolating subsequent forwarding of the data packet to the one or more collision-inducing terminals. When a no-carrier condition is sensed, the data packet is retransmitted to the one or more collision-inducing terminals.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for enabling communications devices to recognize call progress tones that may be used in foreign countries. The call progress tone detection system includes a communications device (50) having one or more frequency decoders (113) for determining the frequency of call progress tones, a cadence decoder (126) for determining the on/off pattern for the call progress tones and a table (122) for storing the call progress tone frequencies and the cadences. Recognition of call progress tones is accomplished by enabling the communications device (50) to receive one or more foreign call progress tones, enabling the user to associate the type of call progress tone for each call progress tone received and storing each call progress tone to a table (122) for later cross reference when initiating a call.

Abstract: A device (104) transmitting or receiving low priority data may receive or be directed to transfer higher priority data for transmission. If the incoming data is of sufficiently high priority, the device (104) will interrupt transmission of the outgoing data by generating a signal on the bus (102) indicative of a collision. The receiving device (106) will then back-off. To prevent another device (106, 108) from seizing the bus after the back-off, the device (104) immediately (i.e., before expiration of a single slot time), proceeds with the high priority transmission. Once it is finished, the device (104) may resume its earlier lower priority transmission.

Abstract: A method for communicating location-specific messages includes storing a library of such messages within a portable device having a capability of randoly accessing the messages. Each location-specific message has a content that is related to a particular geographical location within a facility. At each of the geographical locations, there is a device-readable identification of an identifier for each location-specific message relating to that geographical location. In the preferred embodiment, the identifier is transmitted to the portable device wirelessly. Also in the preferred embodiment, the message library is contained on a recording medium that facilitates automated random access, such as a compact disk, and the portable device is a personal digital assistant (PDA). In an application of the method, map information may be prerecorded and supplemented or complemented with time-dependent information downloaded from a source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely updating a portable calendar includes a receiver for receiving a first wireless data transmission which includes a proposed scheduling update to the calendar. A memory provides storage for data comprising the calendar. A display which is responsive to the receiver displays a graphical representation of the calendar and the proposed scheduling update. A user interface, such as a set of keys of a keypad or an alternative input device, is configured to transmit control signals to a processor in response to manipulation of the interface by the user. The processor is connected to the memory to execute a calendar control program and is configured to effect a scheduling update in response to a control signal received from the user interface.

Abstract: A method and system of processing speech information includes segmenting the speech information based upon detection of logical speech boundaries, such as isolated words, prior to compressing and/or transmitting the speech information. In one embodiment, a continuous stream of voice data is analyzed to detect signal segments containing the characteristics of an isolated word, thereby forming frames of speech information. The frames are data compressed to form packets that are transmitted to a remote site. Preferably, the packets include error checking information. In a receive mode, incoming packets are error checked prior to packet decoding. If transmission errors are detected, repairable packets may be corrected. Non-correctable errors cause generation of notice data that are used to notify a listener of the location of lost speech information. Notice data are also generated if the duration between two arriving packets exceeds a preselected threshold.

Abstract: Achieving high speed spreading code synchronization of a forward link control channel. A control channel information signal and traffic channel information signals are each spread by different first spreading codes which are fed from a first spreading code (short code) generator (11), and which have a period equal to the period of an information symbol. Subsequently, only the control channel information signal is spread by a third spreading code which is fed from a third spreading code (long code masked portion complex conjugate code) generator (12), and which has a form of complex conjugate of a long code (second spreading code) used for spreading in common. The signals of the entire channels are summed up by an adder (13) at appropriate timings, and the resultant sum is spread by the second spreading code fed from a second spreading code generator (14), thereby being output as a spread modulation signal.

Abstract: A PBX call discrimination system which provides voice, FAX, and data services utilizing one telephone number (DID) for each local line being serviced. The PBX connects incoming lines to local lines serviced by it. Each local line is identified by a DID received in a call setup message on the incoming line. The PBX stores information associating a voice call extension, a FAX line, and a modem line with each DID. The PBX identifies an incoming call as being a voice call, a FAX transmission, or a data transmission. The incoming call is connected to the FAX line associated with that DID if the incoming call is identified as a FAX transmission, and to the modem line associated with that DID if the incoming call is identified as a data transmission. FAX and modem servers can be connected to the PBX for directing FAX and data transmissions, respectively, to the intended called party. The routing information utilized by such servers is provided by the PBX.

Abstract: In a communication system across an in-office PC system (10) and an in-enterprise LAN system (20), in order to perform a transmission of packet data from a DDTE (22) on the LAN side to a M-DTE (14) on the personal station side without a need of a provision of complicated means, when receiving packet data addressed to the M-DTE (14) from the DTE (22), a LAN side control unit (23) transmits a connection request including the incoming packet address to a PBX (11) of the in-office PC system (10), the PBX (11) notifies a PS (13) of the incoming signal for the packet address through a CS(12), and on the other hand, the M-DTE (14) connected to the PS (13) acknowledges the incoming signal through the PS (13) and the CS (12) when the packet address which received this notice corresponds to the M-DTE (14), thereby achieving a connection. After the connection, the control unit (23) transmits packet data to the M-DTE (14).

Abstract: A system for integrating electronic location indicating systems (e.g., electronic door lock systems) with telecommunication systems (e.g., a PBX). This integrating of systems is done to improve the performance of a telecommunication feature, such as the camp-on feature. An electronic system is used to transmit a signal indicating information related to the user's location. A telecommunication system then receives the signal from the electronic system. This telecommunication system is capable of providing the telecommunication feature (e.g., the camp-on feature). The telecommunication system uses the signal from the electronic system as an input to the telecommunication feature.