Abstract: An improved positioning system and method for use in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations each having a corresponding coverage area. Scaled contour shapes are generated having minimum and maximum boundaries based upon determined RF measurements of each of the base stations. The intersections of the contour shapes define a bounding polygon area that describes the position of a mobile unit in terms of minimum and maximum error estimate. Once the bounding polygon area has been defined, the latitude and longitude of the center of the polygon area is determined whereupon corresponding street addresses may be obtained through reference to one or more databases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus remotely retrieves messages intended for an acknowledge-back pager (400, 700) in a communication system including a fixed portion (100) and the pager (400, 700). The communication system has provisions for interconnection with a user by telephone. The fixed portion (100) accepts (502) a selective call origination from a caller, including a message intended for the pager (400, 700) and sends (504) the message to the pager (400, 700) in response. The pager (400, 700) stores (506) the message within a pager memory (418). Thereafter the fixed portion (100) accepts (508) a selective call origination from the user, including a predetermined retrieval code associated with the pager (400, 700). The fixed portion (100) sends (510) a predetermined retrieval command to the pager (400, 700) in response, and the pager (400, 700) retrieves the message from the pager memory (418) in response.

Abstract: A method of establishing communications between a first communication station and a second communication station comprising the steps of: storing a communication originate packet in the first station; storing a communication answer packet responsive to the originate packet in the second station; transmitting the originate packet to the second station from the first station; detecting the originate packet in the second station; transmitting the answer packet from the second station to the first station upon receipt of some but not all of the originate packet; and, establishing communications between the first and second station in response to receipt by the first station of the answer packet.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system, employs a remote antenna driver for converting TDD receive signals, broadcast from a cordless handset operating in a TDD (time division duplex) mode, to FDD (frequency division duplex) receive signals and for converting FDD transmit signals into TDD transmit signals and broadcasting the TDD signals to said handset. A base station operates in an FDD mode for supplying the FDD transmit signals to the remote antenna driver and for receiving the FDD receive signals from the remote antenna driver. The base station has a transmit signal path for supplying the FDD transmit signals and a receive signal path separate from the transmit signal path.

Abstract: A method, performed by a mobile station (119), prevents an active call from being dropped when the mobile station (119) suddenly transitions from a first coverage area (121) to a second coverage area (122) in a code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular radiotelephone system (100). The active call is determined (601) to be in danger of being dropped responsive to the mobile station (119) suddenly transitioning from the first coverage area (121) to the second coverage area (122). The first base station (115) is notified (602) that the active call is in danger of being dropped responsive to the step of determining (601). The active call with the first base station (115) is determined (603) to be in the process of being dropped responsive to the step of notifying (602). The active call is established (604) with the second base station (116) in the second coverage area (122) before the active call with the first base station (115) is dropped responsive to the step of determining (603).

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a remote location, such as a vehicle or building, the system including a calling transceiver, a central transceiver, and a satellite. In the system and method, the calling transceiver and the central transceiver (or central switching facility) are used to transmit a forward wireless communication over-the-air, through the satellite, and to a pager transceiver located in the remote location in order to control a device located in the remote location. Upon receiving the signal, the pager transceiver generates a first signal, which is received by a tripping circuit, which in turn generates a second signal. The second signal causes a switch to trip, which thereby controls the device located at the remote location. The pager transceiver also has the capacity to transmit reverse wireless communications through the satellite, which allows monitoring of the device.

Abstract: A comprehensive method for mobile station registration in a cellular communication system wherein registrations are made due to multiple stimulus. Registration can occur as a function of distance traveled since the previous registration. Registration can occur due to entering the coverage area of a base station assigned to a zone in which the mobile station has not recently registered. A registration timer can be used to ensure a minimum time between registrations. Registrations can occur at power up and at power down. The mobile station can be ordered to register by a transmission from a base station. Registration can occur due to parameter changes with in the mobile station. Registration may also occur through necessary communication with a base station which is not expressly directed to registration.

Abstract: Cellular telephone apparatus having at least two pieces that are separated or separable such that the cellular antenna may be situated at a distance from the user during use. The cellular telephone apparatus has a cellular antenna which communicates with the user microphone and speaker via either a cordless phone type radio link or a cord. High frequency, electromagnetic radiation emitted from the cellular antenna is thereby substantially diminished by the time it reaches the phone user.

Abstract: A system of the subject invention includes a mobile telecommunications switching office (MTSO), several base stations and mobile units. The base stations serve respective sectors or cells to establish radio communications with mobile units in their sectors or cells. The base stations are connected to the MTSO which performs switching to establish call connections between mobile units and/or between units served by an external network to which the MTSO is connected. The MTSO uses dynamic channel allocation to designate base stations to serve a call connection in active mode and in standby mode for a particular channel. Therefore, if communication with the base station serving a call connection in active mode is disrupted by a building, terrain or an equipment failure, for example, the MTSO can set the base station currently in active mode to standby mode, and can set the base station currently in standby mode, to active mode to serve the call connection on the channel.

Abstract: A telephone signaling system is operative outside of the traditional calling and data transmission paths to provide originating to termination signaling. Routing of the signaling is in response to a locator system which includes a data base of terminations and a system for keeping up to date information of current termination locations of the intended recipient. In one illustrative embodiment the termination equipment includes locator devices such as GPS locating devices. The information supplied by the GPS locating device is provided to a central data base which routes the signaling system to the intended recipient termination device. The central routing system then selects a voice and data transmission path that optimizes some preselected criteria of transmission. A typical criteria could be cost, or bandwidth or some combination of criteria to be optimized.

Abstract: A mobile switching center of this invention includes a public network interface, a communication signal processing unit for performing code translation, a packet switching unit for performing switching of a packet signal between the communication signal processing unit and a radio base station in accordance with the destination of the packet signal, and a packet signal selecting apparatus. The packet signal selecting apparatus includes one input terminal, a plurality of signal storage sections for respectively storing a plurality of packet signals input through the input terminal, a switching means for distributing a plurality of continuously input packet signals to the plurality of signal storage sections and causing them to respectively store the signals, and a discrimination unit for comparing some or all of the packet signals stored in all the signal storage sections with each other to select one packet signal, and outputting the selected packet signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication system including a paging-type system for sending messages to a mobile device. A wireless communication link is set up between the mobile device and a communication medium capable of allowing the mobile device to communicate with a location specified by the messages. In this manner, the mobile device is able to communicate within the system.

Abstract: Transceiver frequency and optionally power level are allocated to a radio personal communications system which includes a base station connected to a wire telephone network and a cellular terminal operating within a region of a wide area cellular network to minimize interference between communications over the wide area cellular network and communications between the base station and the cellular terminal. The same cellular terminal may thus be used to communicate over the lower cost wire network when within range of the base station and over the wide area cellular network otherwise. The frequency for communications between the cellular terminal and the base station are optionally assigned by the operator of the wide area cellular network so appropriate frequencies and power levels can be assigned for base stations, to minimize same channel interference with the wide area cellular network.

Abstract: A universal wireless radiotelephone communication apparatus is operative in both a first radiotelephone communication system including a first base station having a wide area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a first band of frequencies and in a second radiotelephone communication system including a second base station having a localized area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a second band of frequencies higher than said first band of frequencies. The second band of frequencies is optimally selected with an offset of less than twice a frequency contained within said first band.

Abstract: A cellular radio communications system includes a cellular radio network for establishing communications, via a communications link such as a voice channel, with a cellular terminal and open communications link maintaining means for maintaining the communications link in an open state for a predetermined time period following termination of the communications with the cellular terminal. Accordingly, the user of the cellular terminal may continue to access the cellular radio network within the predetermined time period via the open communications link or voice channel. The cellular radio communications system may also include a feature node for providing predetermined functions to the cellular terminals associated with the cellular radio network. The open communications link maintaining means typically includes a timer and related controller for initiating and monitoring the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An improved user interface for use in interactive electronic devices. The user interface eliminates the complexity and ambiguity problems encountered in conventional interfaces through the incorporation of a physical overlay designed for use in cooperation with a contiguous touch screen or a plurality of individual touch screens. The physical overlay delineates the touch screen or screens into a plurality of context sensitive task and information display regions which may be accessed by direct user manipulation.

Abstract: A modified mobile cellular booster system is used to boost the power of a hand held portable cellular phone, from a maximum of six-tenths of a watt (0.6 watts), to the maximum power level of a mobile cellular phone, three (3) watts. The main components of the system come from a conventional mobile cellular booster system presently sold on the market. A completely portable, self-contained, modified mobile cellular booster system, including a power supply and antenna, is provided as a transportable unit, carried in a tote bag or case, and does not require permanent installation.

Abstract: An option attach connector has a first indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a public switched telephone network connection has been made to it. The presence of the first indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-MAIL communications applications are to be conducted over a PSTN link. The presence of the first indicator bit combination invokes a stored computer program to provide appropriate connections between the PSTN link and the telephone, FAX, and modem hardware in the device. The connections are made by an audio multiplexer that receives control signals from the system CPU, while executing the stored computer program. The program determines the communications application selected by the user and selectively configures the PSTN link to be connected to the either the ear piece and microphone for voice communications, or to the FAX/modem for FAX communications, or to the modem alone for E-MAIL communications.

Abstract: A cellular or non cellular radiotelephone system consisting of a plurality of base station radios at one or more radio base station sites including method of connection of such base station radios to the Mobile Switching Center by the use of standard public telephone circuits whereby connections on these public telephone circuits are established only when required to provide communications to a mobile subscriber served by the radio base station.

Abstract: The emergency wireless telephone and system describes improved control and service offered in the conventional public telephone system as pertains to cellular telephone service.