Abstract: An electronic system that includes control logic that causes input and output ports to be disabled during the interruption windows of the initialization process, and subsequently to be selectively disabled or enabled after completion of the initialization process. The input and output ports are disabled during initialization of the electronic system to prevent interruption of the initialization process by the user. The input and output ports are disabled or enabled, after completion of the initialization process, to control access to content stored on, or made available by, the electronic system.

Abstract: A set top box is provided with a patch antenna to wirelessly communicate with other devices. In one embodiment, the set top box has a metallic enclosure with a non-metallic bezel covering the front of the device. A communication circuit board with an imprinted patch antenna is located in the interstitial space between the metallic enclosure and the non-metallic bezel. The communications board preferably comprises a thin (0.06 inch) FR-4 circuit board with etched copper cladding. The patch antenna preferably comprises a ground plane on one side of the circuit board, and a rectangular patch on the opposite side of the circuit board. The patch is side-fed by a microstrip feed. The dimensions of the antenna are selected to optimize the antennas performance in frequency range between 2.400 and 2.483 GHz when located in the above-described interstitial space.

Abstract: A repeater is disclosed which is usable to permit a satellite phone, normally requiring a direct line of sight link to an orbiting satellite, to communicate with the satellite when the satellite phone is otherwise obstructed from communicating with the satellite. The repeater is usable in any situation in which the satellite phone is blocked from a direct line of site to the satellite, such as inside a building, aircraft, or natural formation (e.g., cave).

Abstract: A satellite phone repeater comprises a plurality of antennas and a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the antennas. At least one of the antennas is configured to communicate with a plurality of handsets. Through the repeater, the handsets simultaneously can communicate with a satellite. The repeater may include phase shifters to ameliorate multipath interference. The repeater may also include an electronically controlled switch that couples each of two receiver/transmitters to a single antenna configured to communicate with the satellite.

Abstract: An electronic system that includes control logic that causes input and output ports to be disabled during the interruption windows of the initialization process, and subsequently to be selectively disabled or enabled after completion of the initialization process. The input and output ports are disabled during initialization of the electronic system to prevent interruption of the initialization process by the user. The input and output ports are disabled or enabled, after completion of the initialization process, to control access to content stored on, or made available by, the electronic system.

Abstract: A repeater is disclosed which is usable to permit a satellite phone, normally requiring a direct line of sight link to an orbiting satellite, to communicate with the satellite when the satellite phone is otherwise obstructed from communicating with the satellite. The repeater is usable in any situation in which the satellite phone is blocked from a direct line of site to the satellite, such as inside a building, aircraft, or natural formation (e.g., cave).