Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for solid state electronically switched optical shutters of cameras and other devices. The disclosed non-mechanical camera shutter includes an electronically controlled material that provides optical density variation, to transition the shutter from being open to being closed. The layer of electronically controlled material is configured to change from substantially to transparent to substantially opaque, without scattering, by changing the state of the material. The transmittance period is the period of time that the layer changes transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0%. Electronic circuitry is in communication with a timing control module that is configured to provide a signal output to a transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer of electronically controlled material to initiate a change in its transmissivity. The described electronically switched optical component would add little or no additional bulk to a small camera.

Abstract: A method and system are presented in which communication redundancy is provided. Multicast packets having the same audio and/or control data are simultaneously transmitted between an RF site and different switches through different communication links. The packets from the RF site have different origination addresses and a unique ID, which permits duplicate packets having different origination addresses but the same unique ID and data to be eliminated and only one set of packets to be transmitted over the air to a receiving end device for which the packets are intended. A switch communication link between the switches permits the primary switch to establish operating characteristics for the alternate switch.

Abstract: A portable transaction-enablement platform carries out certain actions to improve the protection of sensitive information. This can comprise detecting when a user of the portable transaction-enablement platform prepares to use the portable transaction-enablement platform to facilitate a sensitive transaction and then responding in a corresponding manner. This can comprise, for example, automatically pre-enabling transaction-enablement platform functionality as pertains to the sensitive transaction while also limiting transaction-enablement platform functionality that does not support the sensitive transaction and that poses a risk to the sensitive transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mobile station hard handoff from a source base station to a target base station of a Flex Duplex call in a CDMA wireless communication network that includes a step of establishing Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station. A next step includes sending the Flex Duplex capabilities of the mobile station to the target base station. A next step includes configuring the mobile station and the target base station for the handoff of the call using the Flex Duplex capabilities.

Abstract: A method for communicating a group call within a communication network comprising at least one repeater and a plurality of communication devices includes: receiving at least one preamble slot and at least one synchronization slot from an originator communication device by the repeater and a communication device; operating the communication device to receive one or more calls directly from the originator device via eavesdropping on the repeater uplink channel when a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the direct preamble and synchronization slots is greater than a threshold; and operating the communication device to receive one or more calls from the originator device via the repeater on a repeater downlink channel of the repeater when the direct RSSI is not greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A method, a master short range accessory, and an ad-hoc personal area network device for pairing with multiple slave communication devices are disclosed. An audio user interface 310 may interact with a user. A primary device interface component 372 may create a primary audio connection with a primary mobile communication device 502 to facilitate a primary telephone conversation session with a primary communication partner 512. A secondary device interface component 372 may create a secondary audio connection with the secondary mobile communication device 504 to facilitate a secondary telephone conversation session with a secondary communication partner 532 while maintaining the primary audio connection. A processor 330 may send an audio hold indication to the primary communication partner 512 and mutes the primary audio connection.

Abstract: A method for interrupting active communications within a communication network, the method comprising in one embodiment: operating a communication device to terminate communication activity in response to receiving an interrupt request from an interrupting device; operating a repeater to wake up and initiate message communication activity in response to receiving a base station downlink activation message from the interrupting device; and operating the interrupting device to transmit one or more messages on a receive frequency of the repeater.

Abstract: Efficient frequency spectrum sharing between at least one incumbent communication system(s) (102, 152) and at least one cognitive radio (CR) system (105) is provided. The incumbent system's system parameters and CR system's operational requirements are copied to a mirrored database (106B). The mirrored database (106B) is controlled by a either a central authority (108) or a database manager having delegated authority (508). The mirrored database (106B) is accessed by the CR system (105). The mirrored database (106B) can be modified and updated by the central authority (108) or delegated database manager (508) to correct for interference detected in the incumbent system caused (152) by the cognitive radio system (105). The cognitive radio system (105) utilizes the updated mirrored database (106B) to avoid interfering with the incumbent system (102, 152) to determine CR system operating parameters thus enhancing the ability to share spectrum.

Abstract: The application discloses a method and apparatus for adjusting internal load impedances, by section, at feed points present on a distributed amplifier's output transmission line. The method includes determining a summing-point load impedance (Zx) at an off-chip output transmission line of the distributed amplifier. The method further includes determining a driving-point load impedance (Zd) at an output of an on-chip power transistor. The driving-point load impedance diverges and disperses over frequency from that summing-point load impedance due to reactance of at least one on-chip component coupled to the output of the on-chip power transistor. The method then includes determining and providing an offset to summing-point load impedance (Zx) based on the driving-point load impedance (Zd) such that the driving-point load impedance (Zd) converges to the summing-point load impedance (Zx) of that distributed amplifier section.

Abstract: A radio deployment pack (110) includes a plurality of radios and deployable infrastructure package within a single package. The package is created by placing an order including the selection of frequency band of operation and either stand-alone mode infrastructure, to be used when all existing infrastructure is inoperable, or expanded infrastructure mode, to be used to extend coverage across remote region having gaps in coverage. The selection of infrastructure is preferably used to assign a battery option, the battery option being either a disposable battery or rechargeable battery. The use of the RDP (110) provides a communication system without the use of local infrastructure and without prior knowledge of communication system operation. The package may further include RFIDs (404) for inventory and location tracking of the radios, portable infrastructure and or emergency equipment (410). Wired programming capability is optionally provided through the use of a smart rack 502.

Abstract: A method of controlling location information of subscribers (210, 212, 222) in a wireless, ad-hoc communications network (200). The network (200) comprises a plurality of nodes (204, 216, 226), wherein at least portion of said nodes are provided with Home Location Registers (HLRs) (206, 218, 228) and each of said nodes (204, 216, 226) has a Visitor Location Register (VLR) (208, 220, 230). When an operation of a first node (216) is to be reconfigured at least a part of records from a first HLR (218) assigned to said first node (216) are transferred to at least one of the other nodes (226) of the network (200).

Abstract: An echo canceller (106) can include a first multi-band filter (152) which receives a first input signal (108) and generates a first plurality of sub-band signals (110, 111, 112), and a second multi-band filter (154) which receives a second input signal (122) and generates a second plurality of sub-band signals (156, 157, 158). The echo canceller also can include a plurality of double talk detectors (168, 169, 170) that each generate a double talk flag (182, 183, 184) based on at least a respective one of the first sub-band signals and a respective one of the second sub-band signals.

Abstract: A risk management system (100) for first responders (102) equips first responders with physiological and environmental sensors (104) in order to track the stress conditions and stress responses of the first responders. Data from the sensors is digitized and filtered and processed through a feature extraction system (202, 704) that may include noise filters, (710) derivative filters (706), integrators (708) and derived signal generators (712) that use stored data on first responders, before being fed into a pattern recognition system (402, 900) that assesses the risk state of the first responder. Data from multiple first responders in a team can be aggregated to obtain team risk assessments.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery (126) is normally charged using a constant current/constant voltage charge regime (206, 210), where the battery is charged to a preselected normal voltage level (210) whereupon the voltage is maintained at the limit while the charging current diminishes. The battery charge capacity can be selectively increased by charging the battery to an enhanced voltage level (212) and it can recorded that the battery voltage passed the normal voltage limit. The enhanced charging mode is selected by a user via a device user interface (112), or alternatively by a broadcast command (304) transmitted to the device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for enhanced signal detection in a frequency selective fading channel. Improved signal detection is realized by replacing single matched filters with multiple matched filters. The single matched filter spectrum is partitioned by frequency into M matched filter groups, where M is a positive integer greater than one. The filter bandwidth of each of the M matched filters is less than the bandwidth of the single matched filter from which they are derived. The M matched filters are provided to filter in parallel fashion the input signal into M sub-spectrums of the signal. The input signal is filtered through the M matched filters and also sent to the energy detector. The matched filter outputs are combined and the received signal is detected using the combined output and the energy in the received signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for selecting a root node in an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes including a first node. According to one implementation of these techniques, a first node can receive a message from at least one of the other nodes. Each message includes a number of primary factors associated with a particular node regarding capabilities of the particular node. The primary factors associated with each node can then be evaluated, and an attempt can be made to select the root node based on the primary factors associated with each node. If the first node is unable to select the root node based on the primary factors associated with each node, then the root node can be selected based on secondary factors associated with each node.

Abstract: A portable electronic device (100) includes a controllable skin texture surface that includes a skin texture surface actuation structure having a plurality of hinged elements (802-808) with a shape memory alloy (812) coupled thereto to effect movement of the hinged elements and a flexible skin structure (320) to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface. A method also includes controlling a first shape memory alloy to actuate a plurality of hinged elements and in response, controlling a second shape memory alloy to actuate a hinged lock structure to lock a plurality of hinged elements in a first position. The method also includes deactivating the first shape memory alloy and unlocking the plurality of hinged elements by actuating the first shape memory alloy to allow the hinged lock to disengage. Corresponding structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An interference contribution associated with a selected subcarrier of a plurality of subcarriers associated with a previously transmitted OFDM symbol or a current OFDM symbol is determined. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) output for the current OFDM symbol is also determined. The interference contribution is subtracted from the FFT output of the current OFDM symbol to form a modified FFT output.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronization of link layer windows in a wireless communications system is disclosed. At a transmitter in the wireless communications system, the transmitter transmits a plurality of frames in a transmitter's link layer window, wherein each frame comprises segments and sends a request for an acknowledgement of the plurality of frames to a receiver. Then the transmitter determines a last transmitted segment of an eldest frame of the plurality of frames in the transmitter's link layer window, if a response to the request is not received within a specified time period and sets a synchronization indicator in the determined last transmitted segment of the eldest frame. Finally, the transmitter transmits the determined last transmitted segment of the eldest frame with the synchronization indicator set to the receiver.

Abstract: An electronic device for manipulating graphical user interface elements has a touch-sensitive display (touch screen) and a touch-sensitive surface (touch pad). The electronic device displays at least two graphical user elements (data icon, program icon, application window, digital photograph, etc.) on the touch screen. A user touches a first element using either the touch screen or the touch pad. This touch user interaction selects the first element and “anchors” it while a user's slide interaction on the other touch-sensitive surface manipulates the second, non-selected element. The slide contact can be interpreted by the electronic device as a drag, push, rotate, or pixel-based move (e.g., zoom in/out) relative to the first element. Various features of the slide movement, such as the speed, the length, the pressure, the direction, and/or the pattern may affect the manipulation of the second element.