Abstract: The invention pertains to a vending system in which a compartment unit (1) with a given number of compartments (2) each of which is provided with a door (4) that can be locked by a locking device is assembled in a room (6) together with a computing unit (3). A presentation device (40) is assigned to the computing unit (3), whereby the presentation unit comprises at least one memory device (42, 49) in which text and/or visual information about the goods offered in designated compartments (2) are stored. The compartment number of the compartment (2) containing the corresponding goods as well as the price of these goods can be assigned to the text and/or visual information. The presentation device (40) can receive information to reserve a compartment (2), the offer number assigned to certain text and/or visual information and information pertaining to the identification of the customer by an input device (43, 47).

Abstract: A hearing aid is fitted to a patient by first creating a filter having a frequency response dependent on the product of the frequency response of a target hearing aid and the inverse frequency response of a master hearing prosthesis that includes a microphone and an electro-acoustic transducer. The patient is then equipped with the master hearing prosthesis and the microphone of the master hearing prosthesis is exposed to an input acoustic signal, whereby the microphone generates an electrical signal. The electrical signal is processed by the filter and the filtered electrical signal is applied to the electro-acoustic transducer, whereby the patient receives an acoustic signal representative of the input acoustic signal modified by the transfer function of the filter.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic remote activation of the cellular telephone with the carrier, includes a central processing unit containing and operating in accord with a control program. The central processing unit has, in a memory, a plurality of hardware and firmware drivers having, respectively, the operating circuitry and commands necessary for controlling a selected cellular telephone. The control program operates to select a desired one pair of hardware and firmware drivers for activation programming of the cellular telephone. An input device is connected to the central processing unit, for manually entering data thereinto. A cable connects the central processing unit to the Input/Output data interface bus port of the cellular telephone unit for transferring data therebetween. A modem connects the central processing unit with the authorizing computer of the selected carrier for transferring data therebetween.

Abstract: A cordless telephone public base unit employed in a public telephone system in close proximity with other public base units effectively avoids contention with these other base units for access to a cordless telephone handset unit generating a service request. Contention between the public base unit and the other public base units is resolved by assigning a specific one of a plurality of times during which the base unit may respond to the service request from the handset unit. The time in which the base unit responds to the service request may advantageously be determined by a randomly generated number, the received signal strength of the service request or a combination of these two parameters. Once access to the handset unit is acquired by a base unit and communications between these two units is established on a communications channel, all other handset units and base units are prevented from interfering with the communications between these two units.

Abstract: A resynchronization method for use in a communication system, such as a second generation cordless telephone system 800, begins by determining that synchronization has been lost by a receiving unit (830). The receiving unit than mutes any transmit data and generates zero data which is combined with a pattern generated by pattern generator (812). The transmission is then received by handset (830), which detects the pattern generated by pattern generator (812) using pattern detector (850). Pattern detector (850) then generates a pattern detected signal (852) which causes handset (840) to also stop sending data and generate a pattern accompanied by zero data. Base station (830) detects the pattern and again generates another pattern accompanied with zero data which is transmitted to handset (840). Handset (840) after decoding the pattern for the second time begins to resumes the normal transmission of data to base station (830).

Abstract: A method for carrying out a location updating from a mobile cellular radiophone system, such as a DECT system, to another cellular radiophone system, such as the GSM mobile phone system.

Abstract: A snap-in attachment of a headband or other support means for a hearing-protection cup is described. The snap-in contact comprises a sliding pin (6) the journal section (7) of which is oval or elliptical in cross section, and a jaw element with two resiliently deformable jaws (11, 12). The inner walls (21, 22) of the jaws (11, 12) and the wall section (20) connecting them define a locking space (13). The journal section (7) of the sliding pin can be inserted into the locking space (13) against a resilient counter member only in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the journal section (7) and is thus lockable between the jaws (11, 12) in a first locked position. After being turned (angle .alpha.) against another resilient counter member, the sliding pin is locked by its journal section (7) in the locking space (13) in a second locked position, in which it is pivotable to a limited extent (sector with angle .beta.).

Abstract: An apparatus for active reduction of noises transmitted from a noise source into a space. The active noise reduction apparatus comprises residual noise sensors for detecting the residual noises in the space. A reference signal is produced based upon the noise generating condition of the noise source. The reference signal is used, along with the detected residual noises, to drive control sound sources so as to reduce the noises in the space. A filter is adjusted to correspond to acoustic transfer characteristics between the control sound sources and the residual noise sensors. An identification sound is generated to correspond to the background noise level detected in the space and to the spectral distribution of the noises transmitted into the space. The coefficients of the filter are updated according to acoustic transfer characteristics between the control sound sources and the residual noise sensors.

Abstract: A unique a method for memory dialing for cellular telephones includes storing a recall sequence having a variable number, and replacing the variable number with a directory number in response to a prompt from the telephone when employing memory dialing. In particular, the method comprises the steps of selecting a memory location in a telephone for designating a recall sequence and storing within the memory location the recall sequence including at least one predetermined number which is automatically dialed by the cellular telephone and at least one variable number to be inserted by the user (59); accessing a memory location (60); responding to a prompt from the telephone (64); and replacing the variable number to complete a calling sequence (66). Finally, the present method provides for the transmission of both data and DTMF tones.

Abstract: A cellular switching system and architecture is described in which the switching associated with a call originated within one cell but now serviced within another cell is distributed among base stations which are interconnected with each other through a local area network or a packet switch. The routing procedure associated with the point of origin for a given call is stored in the memory of a switch of public switched telephone network. As an active subscriber crosses a cell boundary, the switch routes all packets of information for the given call to the originating base station for the duration of the call. Importantly, each base station then forwards each packet to the subscriber's current base station via the local area network or a packet switch.

Abstract: In a system for allocating a user identifier to a user of a voice-operated service, the user is requested (20) to utter words in a set of requested words. A speech recognizer (2) compares (24) each received word with a set of speech recognition templates, each template corresponding to the requested words. For each word uttered the speech recognizer generates (26) codes (W1, W2) which are the first and second best matched templates, and further generates (28) scores (D1, D2) indicating the extent of deviation of the received uttered words from the first and second best matched templates. The speech recognizer (2) then computes (32) a reliability criterion for each word by subtracting the scores (D1, D2) and comparing (34) the subtraction result with a threshold. Words having the greatest reliability criterion above the threshold are selected for the user identifier.

Abstract: A telecommunication apparatus adapted to be used with a detachable memory device is disclosed. The detachable memory device such as an IC card are capable of storing information relating to a particular user. When the detachable memory device is connected to the apparatus, the apparatus retrieves information relating to the particular user out of the detachable memory device. Thereafter, the apparatus may perform one or more of functions on the basis of the retrieved information. When the detachable memory device is connected to the telecommunication apparatus, the apparatus detects the presence of identification information stored in the detachable memory device. In the event that the identification information is not detected, the apparatus provides an indication to a user so as to request the user to enter an identification information.

Abstract: In a cordless telephone system, several speech channels are periodically scanned by a base station during a standby mode to detect idle channels from the scanned channels. In response to receipt of a call request from a cordless station or an incoming call from a switched telephone network, the base station transmits a channel indicating signal to the cordless station over a control channel indicating that the detected idle channels can be used as possible candidate channels, switches to a first candidate channel and waits for an end-of-switching signal from the cordless station until a prescribed period of time expires. On receiving the channel indicating signal, the cordless station switches to the first candidate channel and makes a channel check on it and transmits an end-of-switching signal if it determines that the first candidate channel is idle.

Abstract: In a system for monitoring and collecting data on the viewing habits of television viewers or radio listeners, to enable operators of networks or television stations, programmers and advertisers to determine the numbers of viewers watching particular programs, a portable personal data collection device comprises a detector for providing a station identifier identifying the particular broadcast signal being received by the receiver, a clock for providing a signal representing time, a memory for storing data, a cellular telephone module for communicating with a central location, a control for the cellular telephone module, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor stores in the memory data comprising the station identification, and the time at the beginning and end of receiving signals from that station. The control is arranged to control operation of the cellular telephone module to transmit the stored data to the central location.

Abstract: A conferencing system for interactive video (and preferably also audio) communication, which includes a composite video signal generation means. The system preferably also includes a recording unit for producing a permanent, combined video and audio record of a conference (which may be a court proceeding such as a criminal arraignment). The system includes a monitor for each conferee, which displays a composite video signal including a principal video image in a large picture region of the monitor screen and secondary video images in small picture regions of the monitor screen. Preferably, all of the large and small picture regions have substantially the same aspect ratio, full secondary video images are displayed in the small and large picture regions, and the full video images displayed in the small picture regions do not obscure any portion of the full video image displayed in the large picture region.

Abstract: A locking arrangement is provided for limiting access to certain selected menu functions on a telephone terminal is provided. Although these functions are generally located in different sections of the menu hierarchy, each may be unlocked and relocked while a user remains in the same section of the menu hierarchy containing the selected function. For accessing the function, the user enter a password while located in the same section of the menu hierarchy as the function to be accessed. Once the password is entered, direct access to the selected menu function is permitted. The locking arrangement provides for the relocking of each of the selected functions automatically by the user simply exiting the accessed selected function.

Abstract: A method of establishing a telecommunications call connection in a cellular wireless system. If a mobile station is near the border between areas served by two mobile switching center (MSCs) then the mobile is paged from appropriate base stations of one of the MSCs while the other MSC is alerted to listen for page responses from the paged mobile station. Advantageously, the number of paging orders is substantially reduced thus increasing the call handling capacity of the base station systems. The second MSC is initialized to be prepared to process a page response from the mobile station being paged from the base stations of the first MSC. Advantageously, this permits straightforward recognition of a valid paging response and a record of the call with which that response is associated.

Abstract: A communication headset is disclosed having a microphone for transmitting the user's voice and a receiver for transmitting audio signals into the user's ear. In a monaural configuration, the headset includes a resilient, generally U-shaped headband, to be worn over the head, having a housing adjustably attached at one end and a stabilizing clip at the other. The receiver assembly is mounted to the housing with a ball and socket type arrangement, allowing the receiver assembly to rotate axially and pivot in a spherical fashion with respect to the housing, thereby increasing comfort and acoustic coupling with any size or shape ear. A binaural configuration is also disclosed wherein the stabilizing clip is replaced with a second receiver assembly, ball and socket joint, and housing.The microphone is mounted on the distal end of a microphone boom for positioning adjacent the user's mouth.

Abstract: A pull-out string for connection to a hearing aid which is constructed for use in an ear canal near a tympanic membrane. The pull out string has two ends and a fixing element at each end for connection to the hearing aid. The pull-out string has a plurality of beads, the distance from each bead to an end of the pull-out string being unique. In a method of manufacturing a hearing aid provided with such a pull-out string, the pull-out string is secured to the hearing aid at one end and is severed at a desired distance from the hearing aid such that the pull-out string has a bead at the resulting free end. This results in a hearing aid having a pull-out string whose length can be chosen from many possible values and whose free end can be gripped satisfactorily.

Abstract: A portable cellular telephone having a loud speaker for implementing a monitor mode function which operates separately from the normal head set mode of operation and further has a default mode selector which varies the monitor mode function depending on whether a call is being initiated or received. The portable cellular telephone further has a display for displaying the current mode of the monitor mode function.