Patents Examined by Darnell R. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 6163684
    Abstract: A broadband frequency synthesizer including a first local oscillator signal generated in a first phase locked loop. A second local oscillator signal is generated in a second phase locked loop. Third and fourth phase locked loops provide inputs to the second phase locked loop to control the second local oscillator frequency. The system and method provides for small step size tuning while maintaining wide phase lock loop bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Microtune, Inc.
    Inventor: Vince Birleson
  • Patent number: 6160999
    Abstract: A wireless communication system facilitates wireless communication with a mobile unit operating within a respective service area. The wireless communication system includes a mobile switching center and a plurality of base stations with each base stations coupled to the mobile switching center and providing wireless coverage within a respective portion of the service area. The mobile unit wirelessly connects to at least two of the base stations (or sectors of the base stations) that transmit to the mobile unit via respective forward links at respective transmit levels. These respective transmit levels are based upon forward link requirements of the mobile unit. The mobile unit transmits to the at least two base stations/sectors via a respective plurality of reverse links. Forward link transmit levels may be determined based upon the quality of corresponding reverse link transmissions or from the quality of pilot signals or forward link transmissions received by the mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Ashvin H. Chheda, Ahmad Jalali
  • Patent number: 6151512
    Abstract: A configuration of base stations and sectors within cells of a CDMA wireless communication network provide greater call handling capacity. By optimally configuring sectors of a cell controlled by multiple base stations, fewer channel elements are required to implement the desired service and a resultant system has improved signal demodulation, lower power requirements, improved performance, and lower cost for a service provider. The base stations are configured to support "N" sectored cells to ensure that each cell has a maximum amount of capacity for all mobile users therein. This method involves configuring the sectors serviced by a same base station adjacent to one another. By configuring the sectors associated with base stations in this manner, there are fewer instances of soft handoff and more instances of softer handoff. Furthermore, configuring the sectors to be adjacent to one another ensures optimal power collection by each of the sectors during the communication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Ashvin Chheda, Farhad Bassirat
  • Patent number: 6148220
    Abstract: An operating voltage applied to a transmitter's power amplifier in a mobile wireless transceiver is dynamically controlled so as to improve the efficiency of the transmitter at all output power levels. In one embodiment, the bias current levels within the transmitter are also varied to optimize the efficiency of the transmitter at all output power levels. In a preferred embodiment, a highly efficient switching regulator is controlled by a control circuit to adjust the operating voltage and/or bias current for the power amplifier in the transmitter. The control circuit has as its input any of a variety of signals which reflect the actual output power of the transmitter, the desired output power, or the output voltage swing of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Sharp, Stewart S. Taylor, Samuel W. Hammond, Ronald R. Ruebusch
  • Patent number: 6144839
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a database in a pager that contains menus that may be displayed on a pager display. A paging service sends a page including an identification to the pager. The pager receives the identification, retrieves a menu from the pager database and displays the menu. The pager responds to the page based on a selection selected from the displayed menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: AT&T Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Foladare, Shelley B. Goldman, Philippe Jakimowicz, David Phillip Silverman, Roy Philip Weber
  • Patent number: 6144857
    Abstract: In a mobile telephone network, a home location register (HLR) is provided with one or more cascaded home location registers to which some of the subscribers are allocated so as to share the workload in processing the subscriber information requests that are involved in the setting up of calls. Routing of requests to the correct HLR is simplified by routing all such requests to the original or master HLR and forwarding only those requests for which data is stored on one of the back-up or cascaded HLRs. This avoids the need for changes in the existing system routing plan. In a further embodiment two HLRs may form a mutually boosting pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: David Price, Ronald James Maginley
  • Patent number: 6137990
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling including hardware, software and protocol contained within a packet data communication system which enables a wireless communication system, for example an electronic display system, to adapt communication techniques to meet customer based accuracy requirements independent of changes in the signal to noise ratio of the communication channel and methods of using the same. Communication having low signal to noise ratios are improved using intelligent retransmissions of the communication signals and statistical detection or demodulation. Such techniques are particularly useful when used in wireless communication in unbalanced systems, such as electronic display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Joel I. Javitt
  • Patent number: 6122514
    Abstract: A communications system is provided for sending and receiving information relative to a mobile unit in which a number of network channels are available through which the information can be transferred. The system includes a link selector for selecting an acceptable network channel using application requirements for the particular channel, together with channel operating parameter values. When such a channel does not become available, the link selector is also involved with recovery procedures. These network channel operating parameters include bandwidth, information transfer costs and information transfer packet loss, latency and jitter. Weighting vectors are also utilized with such channel operating parameters in determining suitability values associated with the available network channels. The link selector communicates with a link scheduler that has responsibility for determining when information should be transferred including when there should be a change in the timing of the information transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: CellPort Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Spaur, Patrick J. Kennedy, Michael F. Braitberg, Kenneth J. Klingenstein
  • Patent number: 6119018
    Abstract: Each radio base station (12-1, 12-2) receives an upward communication channel signal from a mobile station (13-2), calculates a transmission power control signal on the basis of the upward communication channel signal, and transmits the transmission power control signal. A host station (11A) receives the transmission power control signals from the radio base stations as received transmission power control signals, selects, as a selected transmission power control signal, one of the received transmission power control signals that makes upward transmission power for the mobile station the lowest power level, and transmits the selected transmission power control signal to a particular one of the radio base stations that communicates with the mobile station. The particular radio base station receives the selected transmission power control signal and transmits the selected transmission power control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kondo
  • Patent number: 6112091
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for estimating system requirements of a radio telecommunication network (1). In a first step the area of interest is split in geographical regions with regard to their structural environment. In a next step each region is split in homogeneous zones with regard to such parameters as the height of the structures, their height variation, the distribution of the height variation and the type of vegetation. Each zone is further classified with regard to the typical building materials used and information of the system deployment conditions. From the area of each zone a preliminary number of radio access units (2) is calculated using its classification data and the range of the radio access unit (2) in such a zone. Thereafter the number of radio access units (2) of a zone or a group of like zones is examined with respect to the communication capacity required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Cornelis Adrianus Henricus Maria Van Puuenbroek, Jan Arie Van Houwelingen, Sten Erik Blomstergren, Frank Bastiaan Brouwer
  • Patent number: 6112083
    Abstract: In a mobile communication system, a system for providing communication between multiple users in a closed user group arrangement includes first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) registering with the mobile satellite system. The first MET selects a closed user group network identifier (NET ID) representing a NET group to establish voice communication therewith and transmits the NET ID to a central controller. The central controller receives the NET ID from the first MET, validates the first MET for communication, validates the NET ID, allocates a frequency for the NET group, and broadcasts the message to the NET group informing the NET group of the allocated frequency. The second MET tunes to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller. A full service dispatch (FSD) system monitors and displays detailed conference activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: AMSC Subsidiary Corporation
    Inventors: Richard S. Sweet, C. Edward Sigler
  • Patent number: 6108551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and radio unit for assigning transmission turns to a radio unit (RU2) wishing to operate on a direct mode channel (f1). To assign the transmission turns in a controlled manner, said radio unit (RU2) monitors the quality of the traffic (101) conducted on the direct mode channel, and if the quality of the traffic (101) falls below a predetermined value, said radio unit (RU2) starts to transmit its transmission (120) on said direct mode channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventors: Mika Lehmusto, Mika Heiskari
  • Patent number: 6108526
    Abstract: The improved antenna system provides significant cost reduction and improves the modularity of the antenna system by combining the power supply lines and the control lines on a single line. Control circuitry is responsive to a power supply signal which acts as the power supply for the antenna system to control the operation of the antenna system. In certain embodiments, the improved antenna system is connected to a single line which carries communication signals and the power supply signal. As such, the antenna system combines the communication lines, the power supply lines and control lines to provide a modular antenna system at a reduced cost. In controlling the antenna system, the control circuitry can control the operation of signal circuitry, which handles the communication signals, in response to the control information provided by the power supply signal. The control circuitry can control other features of the antenna system, such as antenna diversity circuitry, in response to the power supply signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jaap van der Plas
  • Patent number: 6097966
    Abstract: The Mobility Node (101) of the present invention maps signals, dialed digits, or other information from the mobile (140-142) to the appropriate protocols of the local exchange carrier's (LEC) Class 5 switch (120-123) and vice versa. If the signal does not have an LEC or base station equivalent, the Mobility Node (101) performs the appropriate processing. Multiple Mobility Nodes (101) are connected by a predetermined protocol link to enable inter-system communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: Donald V. Hanley
  • Patent number: 6091933
    Abstract: A satellite communications system is described. The system includes a plurality of satellites, each of which transmits one or more forward links containing traffic to one or more terrestrial users. Each forward link of each of the satellites has a maximum radiation limit. At least one terrestrial user is capable of concurrently receiving at least two of the forward links. The concurrently received forward links redundantly contain the traffic addressed to the user. A computing center has a traffic controller for allocating the traffic to the satellites using gateways. The traffic controller includes a fading model descriptive of fading characteristics for each of the one or more forward links; a link performance model descriptive of losses in each of the forward links; and a power allocation model for computing a traffic allocation for each satellite of the constellation of satellites. The traffic allocation causes transmitted satellite power to be less than the maximum radiation limit for each link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Globalstar L.P.
    Inventors: Richard H. Sherman, Vijaya Gallagher, John J. Y. Huang
  • Patent number: 6091937
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the automatic adjustment of a switch means for automatically switching between a reception operating mode and a transmission operating mode in a hands-free means of a communication terminal equipment comprising a reception signal branch in which received signals are processed and output via a loudspeaker, a transmission signal branch in which signals received via a microphone are processed and output, and comprising the switch means to be adjusted with which attenuation stages provided in the reception signal branch and in the transmission signal branch can be selectively driven dependent on signals transmitted over the reception signal branch and the transmission signal branch and whose sensitivity for the signals transmitted over the transmission signal branch and the reception signal branch is adjustable using an audio signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Uhlemann
  • Patent number: 6091951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to wireless communication systems involving multiple local area networks. A communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of local area networks (LANs). Each of the LANs includes: a network backbone; and at least one access point coupled to the network backbone which, when a mobile terminal is registered to the access point, enables the mobile terminal to communicate wirelessly with a device on the network backbone via the at least one access point. When the mobile terminal is registered to at least one access point in one of the plurality of LANs the mobile terminal is assigned a first network address, and when the mobile terminal is registered to at least one access point in another of the plurality of LANs the mobile terminal is assigned a second network address in place of the first network address, the second network address being different from the first network address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Telxon Corporation
    Inventors: Emil A. Sturniolo, Frank D. Clotti, Jr., Krishna P. Seshadri
  • Patent number: 6085074
    Abstract: An amplifier (300) comprising two amplifier stages (301, 303), a signal splitter (305), and a signal combiner (307) amplifies an amplitude-varying input signal (128) in the following manner. The signal splitter (305) receives a signal of varying amplitude (128) and splits the received signal into a first amplitude-varying signal (325) and a second amplitude-varying signal (327). The first amplifier stage (301) applies a first gain to the first amplitude-varying signal (325). The second amplifier stage (303) applies a second gain that is greater than the first gain to the second amplitude-varying signal (327) only when an amplitude of the second amplitude-varying signal (327) exceeds a threshold. The signal combiner (307) combines the amplified signals outputted from the amplifier stages (301, 303) to produce the amplifier output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence F. Cygan
  • Patent number: 6081700
    Abstract: A radio (100) includes a receiver circuitry (106) for use in conjunction with a tunable antenna (101). The radio includes a controller (122) which may be a digital signal processor. The controller (122) controls various radio functions including tuning of the antenna (101), measurement of the quality of received signals, and generation of a test signal. The radio is capable of generating a test signal on a desired frequency, which is radiated within the radio, received at the antenna (101) and then processed by receiver circuitry (106). Its quality is then measured and used to control the tuning of the antenna (101). The test signal generated by the controller (122) can be mixed up to the desired frequency by using one or more of the local oscillator signals of the radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Salvi, Gustavo D. Leizerovich
  • Patent number: 6081728
    Abstract: A distributed strip-type radiating cable comprised of a plurality of generally flat conductive strips disposed in substantially parallel relationship to one or more generally flat dielectric materials, adapted to radiate RF energy for communications applications. The radiating cable is designed to be efficiently and inexpensively manufactured and installed from lightweight, small size materials, and is designed to be easily attached and secured to a variety of surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Stein, Wesley R. Paxman, Henry G. Ryman