Abstract: A personnel monitoring system includes a transmitting or transponding unit that is worn or carried by the individual being monitored. This transmitting or transponder unit periodically, or upon request, transmits a uniquely encoded signal that identifies the person being monitored, as well as information about the condition or activities of the person being monitored. Such condition or activites are sensed by sensors, coupled to the transmitting unit, that monitor selected body functions or parameters, such as heart rate, amount of skin perspiration, muscle movement, and the like. The monitoring system also includes a field monitoring device, or FMD, that is positioned near the person being monitored (or at a location where the person being monitored should be found). The FMD receives, processes, and stores the periodic or requested signals transmitted from the transmitting unit as directed by a program stored in a factory-removable and replaceable memory pack.

Abstract: A paging receiver having acknowledge back capability is provided with the capability to request a received message to be forwarded to an alternate paging receiver in a paging system after having received its address and associated message. The paging receiver includes an entry device for selecting the alternate paging receiver to which the message is further to be sent, and after the selection is made, the paging receiver generates the acknowledge back response requesting the message be further sent to the selected alternate paging receiver.

Abstract: In a crosspoint matrix in which matrix input lines respectively comprising two signal conductors connected to differential outputs of differential line drivers lead to matrix output lines likewise each comprising two signal conductors and having signal outputs of a differential amplifier which has a trigger behavior connected thereto and wherein the two signal conductors of each matrix output line are respectively connectible via a pre-charging transistor to the operating voltage source, these two signal conductors also being connected to one another via a shunt transistor for an early balancing of potential. A pre-charging transistor, in addition to a sampling transistor, can be provided at a pseudo-grounded line associated to a matrix line.

Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of separate transmission units. A common signal line connects the units. A token is transferred from a first of the units to a second of the units during one sequence. The token is a right to output data to the common signal line. When the token is rejected by the second unit, the token is retransferred from the first unit at maximum a predetermined number of times during that sequence to the second unit. When the retransferred token is rejected by the second unit, the token may be transferred from the first unit to a third of the units during that sequence. In a next sequence, said predetermined maximum number of times said token is retransmitted to said second unit is then reduced.

Abstract: A radio communication system having the capability of providing acknowledgement messages to incoming messages while compensating for failed components that have the duty of acknowledging messages or redistributing the acknowledgment duties evenly among the components when there is a change in acknowledgment responsibilities. There is also disclosed a method for cooperatively reassigning certain tasks to certain users within a communication system.

Abstract: Paging system comprising a call transmitter, at least one portable paging receiver and a control transmission system with a control transmitter to which a number of transmission loops are connected encompassing essentially adjacent zones. The call transmitter is capable of transmitting a call transmission signal comprising a call address code. On receipt of a cell address code which corresponds to a call address code stored in the paging receiver, the receiver can generate a signal for the user of the receiver by means of a signalling member. The control transmission system is capable of transmitting by means of the loops a control transmission signal comprising a control command. On receipt of a control command by the receiver, the receiver can go into and remain in a state corresponding to the control command, in particular on or off.

Abstract: A remote control receiver responds to a coded signal from a transmitter by actuating a switch that in turn acts to deliver power to a load or device connected to it. This switch responds not to one specific signal using a particular format, but instead it acts in response to any existing signal originating from any of a plurality of remote control transmitters. This switch, therefore, allows a remote control transmitter intended solely for activating and controlling a single device to control any such device provided the switch is attached to it in the manner disclosed.

Abstract: The data transmission system includes a data transmitter for transmitting either data bits or a sequence of N alarm bits in a first binary state. The transmitter includes a decode circuit (16) providing a detection signal each time that, in a data bit stream, a sequence of n bits in the first binary state has been loaded in a shift register (14), a XOR circuit (18) modifying the binary state of the bit following the sequence of n bits in response to the detection signal provided by the decode circuit (16), thereby providing a modified data bit stream on the transmit line (20), the number n being chosen so that no modified data bit stream can be formed of N bits in the first binary state which could be confused with the sequence of N alarm bits. On the reception side, the data receiver performs the reciprocal operation of the data transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a universal electronic locking system (UELS) which controls an actuating device for a lock is disclosed. The system is composed of two elements, a signal-transmitting unit and a signal-receiving unit. The signal transmitting unit transmits one or more encoded signals on electromagnetic carriers. An integrated circuit includes a programmable memory unit such that various codes may be entered and the codes may be changed at any interval desired by the operator. The signal-receiving unit comprises a means for receiving the encoded signals from the signal-transmitting unit and contains a programmable memory unit which is responsive to each and all codes contained in the signal-transmitting unit. Upon changing the code signal in the signal-transmitting unit, the memory unit of the signal-receiving unit may be reprogrammed so as to be responsive to the newly encoded signal and allow the latching mechanism of the lock system to be operated.

Abstract: The invention provides a crosspoint switching system (30) comprising a plurality of switching planes for transferring data therethrough. The switching planes are comprised of two types, data planes (32) used only for transferring data between processors and at least one control/data plane (34) capable of transferring data and controlling crosspoints in the other data planes. The switching system is operable with two protocols, a message-switched mode in which only the control/data plane is used for transfer of data and a circuit-switched mode in which the control/data plane and the other data planes are used for transfer of data.

Abstract: A high speed collision N.times.M tri-state crossbar switch having M collision busses uses contention detection at the destination. In the event of a collision of messages, remedial action can be taken such as rerouting colliding messages over an alternate path provided by a second interconnection network with contention resolution capability. Collision detection codes are transmitted prior to the transmission of messages to each input port. The tri-state output buses are monitored for the collison detection codes to detect an error. In order to prevent damage to driver transistors connected to the tri-state buses when a contention occurs, current limiting is provided to limit the current through the driver transistors to a predetermined level.

Abstract: In a system having a mobile part and an immobile part between which data and energy are transmitted, an electronic control for two resonant circuits serve the purpose of transmitting energy to the mobile part. The resonant circuits are driven so that their oscillations have a prescribed phase shift relative to one another. For data transmission to the mobile part, a phase shift is superimposed on the transmitted signal at one resonant circuit. On the basis of the phase relation of the signals relative to one another, the mobile part can identify which resonant circuit is transmitting the data. The oscillation of the resonant circuit that is transmitting new data via the phase shift is used for the formation of the clock signal on the part of the mobile part.

Abstract: A transceiver must pass through a predetermined area and receive two codes before relocating from a low power to a high power communication system (and vise versa). By determining in which order the two codes were received, the transceiver knows whether it has advanced from a low-to-high or high-to-low power communication system. Accordingly, the transceiver may adjust its transmitter power or other operational parameters to properly operate in both communication system. Also, the transceiver operates to approximate remaining battery life when it determines that it is moving from a low power to a high power mode. In this way, the transceiver may inform an operator of limited operational life in a high power mode, while the individual has an opportunity to obtain additional or a replacement battery.