Abstract: An enhanced vehicle remote control system adds a new transmitter and a new receiver to an original remote control system. The new receiver is connected for direct operation of the original transmitter which is permanently installed in the vehicle. In response to signals from the original transmitter, the unmodified original receiver controls the same functions in the same way as before. The new receiver is also connected to control functions in the vehicle which were not controlled by the original remote control system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transmission of data files over a network has particular application in connection with store-and-forward systems. A message transmission is composed using a chosen data format, which may be chosen from graphics, facsimile, audio, video or text file formats. A unique identifier code, corresponding to the data format, is annexed to the message file, and the unified transmission is sent to a reception host facility through the network. The reception facility stores the message, advising the particular recipient of its reception and the nature of the data, obtained upon inspection of the identifier code. Because the code is exterior to the message, the data format may be determined without examination of the message contents, such that the integrity and privacy of the message is maintained.

Abstract: A paging device references current ambient sound energy in selecting alarm presentation. In the illustrated embodiment, a low volume alarm presentation occurs in relatively quiet ambient sound conditions and a high volume alarm presentation occurs in relatively loud ambient sound conditions. Multiple levels of ambient sound energy cause a selected one of multiple potential alarm volumes. By making alarm volume presentation a function of ambient sound conditions, the paging alarm of the present invention better matches current conditions to improve the user's ability to hear the alarm and to reduce the risk of annoying others.

Abstract: An identification system including a device for locating land and construction survey traverse control points, other survey sites or any location marking the position of a place or thing comprised of a read only or read/write radio frequency transponder enclosed within a durable watertight container including a stake which may be driven into the earth, a read/write reader assembly and, a portable computer. The radio frequency transponder may be written to or read by a non-contacting radio frequency read/write reader assembly. The reader assembly connected to a portable computer through a data interface means such as RS232 or RS422/485. The stake or other container may be buried under any non-metallic material or otherwise not visible as long as it is within the operating range of the reader assembly. Each radio frequency transponder will have a unique identification code imprinted in its memory and, on the read/write transponders, may have additional information written into its memory.

Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption in a selective call receiver includes the steps of first receiving a paging signal that includes a preamble and a plurality of batches, each of the batches having a synchronization codeword and a plurality of frames including at least an address information, detecting a skip code within one of the batches, skipping a predetermined number of batches without decoding any address information contained therein in response to the skip code, and decoding the address information of a one of the batches next subsequent to the predetermined number of batches. The skip code can be encoded in a portion of the signal, such as the synchronization codeword of the one of the batches, the address information of the one of the batches, and a selected frame of the one of the batches. The predetermined number can be contained in either of a codeplug in the selective call receiver or the signal portion containing the skip code.

Abstract: An authentifying method is revealed which uses as an identification feature images, tokens, texts or sounds which are based on individual knowledges and experiences of a person (PSPI) and which consist of a principal part and a complement or of associated notions, with that person performing the following steps with regard to a plurality of these PSPI: first register them within a memory and keep them inaccessible to other people, secondly make them visible or audible without the complement and in a sequence which other persons cannot foresee, thirdly restore them with the missing complement or verify them; or first subdivide them into their associated elements and assemble and register the latter ones within a plurality of element groups according to superordinated categories of these associated elements, whereby the elements may be accompanied by tokens like numbers or letters, secondly make them visible, audible or available in their subdivided form according to the groups, for the elements of one category

Abstract: Apparatus and method for switching between two input sources to a television receiver and/or video recording device. Switching may be carried out with a conventional remote control otherwise dedicated to the video recorder or television receiver by holding down a control button thereof for at least a predetermined interval of time, for example two seconds. Five RF diode switches along with solid state logic components are employed to respond to the remotely developed switching signals for carrying out TV receiver and VCR source selections by the viewer. The pre-existing television or VCR operational status is not affected by the remote controllers where an ongoing channel selection simply is reinforced or a function of the remote controller is elected which has no undesired effect upon that ongoing operational status.

Abstract: A method of modifying reverse channel messages in a two-way paging system (101) to authenticate reverse channel messages is disclosed. The intended frequency of the reverse channel message is converted into a unique binary integer. The binary integer is used to modify a checksum (207) in the reverse channel message so that the checksum is now dependent upon not only the message (205) contents but also the intended frequency of the reverse channel message. When received by a paging receiver (109) of the paging system, an identical calculation takes place and if the modified checksum transmitted with the reverse channel corresponds with the calculated checksum, the message is authenticated. Otherwise, the reverse channel message is rejected.

Abstract: Back door packet communication between a workstation on a network and a device outside the network is identified by detecting packets that are associated with communication involving devices outside the network, and identifying packets, among those detected packets, that are being sent or received by a device that is not authorized for communication with devices outside the network.

Abstract: An identification system having an electronic label for processing articles such as baggage or carrier cargo. The system uses the principle of electromagnetic communication in which an interrogator containing a transmitter generates an electromagnetic field through which the electronic label containing a label receiving antenna may pass. The electronic label is attached to the article being processed and includes means for sensing the electromagnetic field and means for generating intermittently repeated label reply signals. The system includes a receiver for detecting and decoding the label reply signal. The electronic label replies intermittently as long as it is within the electromagnetic field, and the field is maintained for a period of time which is greater than the time interval between the intermittently repeated label replies.

Abstract: A selective calling receiver previously stores a plurality of visual patterns which are different in area from each other on screen. A counter function counts the number of times a single message was received for a predetermined period and then, according to the number of times the single message was received, a single visual pattern is selected from the stored visual patterns. The single message is displayed with the single visual pattern on screen. The visual pattern is preferably displayed with a selected attribute such as color and/or blinking cycle which are determined according to the number of times the single message was received.

Abstract: A system for marking a cow with a visible marking indicative of a treatment to be carried out on the cow, comprising an identification tag located on the cow and bearing a unique identity code for remotely identifying the cow, and a database containing for each cow in a herd a corresponding identity code and a treatment code relating to a treatment to be carried out on the cow. The cow passes through a paint spray station en route between a milking parlor and corral and is interrogated for determining in respect of each cow its corresponding unique identity code, and the database is accessed so as to extract therefrom the corresponding treatment code. The paint spray station is coupled to the database access means and includes a plurality of different colored spray guns which are responsive to the treatment code for marking on the cow a visible marking uniquely identifying the treatment code.

Abstract: A data communication receiver (100) includes a receiver (110) for receiving a message including at least one code, a database (155) for storing codes and image data associated with the codes, and a presentation element (150) for locating the at least one code in the database (155). The presentation element (150) then retrieves the image data associated with the at least one code. The image data associated with the at least one code is representative of at least one image. The data communication receiver (100) also includes a display (130) coupled to the presentation element (150) for presenting the at least one image as a graphic message.

Abstract: A method, in a SCR (Selective Call Receiver) (10), for providing to a user of the SCR (10) a voice memo in explanation of a received message. The SCR stores distinctive data (63) and a user-generated voice memo (67) that relates to the distinctive data. The voice memo (67) and the distinctive data (63) are stored in the SCR in association with each other. When a subsequent transmitted message (73) containing matching distinctive data is received, the SCR can annunciate the stored voice memo (67) in explanation of the subsequent message. Another feature allows voice memos to be stored and annunciated to explain the reason for alarms that are generated at times selected by the user.

Abstract: In a radio paging receiver with a display unit, a paging number corresponds to an information field to be received, a special portion of a message corresponds to an individual information item, in the information field, which is to be received, and the remaining portion of the message corresponds to information associated with the information item. The receiver comprises an input section for selecting an individual information item to be received, a storage/display section for storing and displaying an individual information item selected by the input section and information associated with the information item, and an update section for updating the storage/display section upon reception of a new message only when (a) a specific portion of the message corresponds to the selected individual information item, and (b) information associated with the information item changes.

Abstract: The present invention is a selective calling receiver comprising: a receiver having a power source; a vibration means having a secondary power source charged by the power source and a vibration generation source operated by the secondary power source; a first cord for connecting the receiver and the vibration means so as to enable the power source to charge the secondary power source and control operation of the vibration generation source; and a second cord for connecting the receiver and the vibration means so as to be used as a ground wire. The present invention can offer a receiver connecting the vibration generation section and the main body of receiver with two electric wires and additionally enabling cost reduction and miniaturization of the receiver.

Abstract: An improved acknowledge-back paging system which returns variable amounts of information requested to the individual or device requesting the information. The system uses a selective call receiver that receives a signal requesting information from the selective call receiver. In response to the signal, multiple acknowledge-back signals comprising the information are transmitted to a receiving station.

Abstract: A communication system for allowing a master to send commands to one or more slave devices across a normally static digital signal line of a bus. The master includes command logic for asserting a sequence of digital pulses according to a predetermined protocol with inherent timing to clock each data bit into a slave device. The master transmits several data bits to form each command, where each data bit is combined with clocking pulses to implement the self-clocking scheme. In particular, an initial data pulse incorporates a data bit to initiate a data phase. Each slave device includes a state machine which detects the data pulse and enables a sample and hold or latch circuit to capture the data bit. Then a clock pulse followed by a reset pulse is sent to clock the data into the slave device and reset the state machine. The slave also includes shift register logic to hold a command bit and address bits for each command.

Abstract: Building lights are master controlled to reduce power consumption under building master control, or in response to electric utility commands to the building computer. Each lighting wall control unit includes a transceiver which can communicate to at least one neighbor transceiver, thereby forming a distributed communication network extending back to the building computer. The transceivers operate asynchronously with low data rate FSK signals, using carrier frequencies between 900 and 950 MHz. Different communications protocols control packet forwarding and acknowledgement so that messages reach their destination but are not forwarded in endless circles, and so that collisions are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a method of reducing conductive and convective heat loss from the battery unit in battery-powered devices, such as RFID tag devices. Battery heat loss prevention is accomplished by suspending the battery in a vacuum or within a low thermally conductivity gas, such as air, nitrogen, helium or argon. Further improvement is accomplished by using a minimum number of suspension points made of solid material which possesses a low thermally conductivity. The battery can be suspended by various means, the first of which totally encapsulates the battery using the minimum number of solid material suspension points mentioned above, and the second of which only a portion of the battery (such as the lower portion) is suspended in a low thermally conductive material and the upper portion is encapsulated by the low thermally conductive material fabricated in an arching structure that does not contact the upper portion of the battery.