Patents Examined by Ray Persino
  • Patent number: 6771992
    Abstract: A portable telephone includes a multi-function key-switch unit in which a key top is operated in a plurality of directions. The multi-function key-switch unit comprises a stick switch which comprises a switch body and a stick projecting from the switch body, and the approximately cylindrical key top which is attached to the stick. The key top has a stopper portion provided on the bottom surface thereof, the stopper portion coming into contact with the switch body when the key top is operated to more than a predetermined degree so as to prevent the key top from inclining more than a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Tomura, Kenji Tajima, Tatsuzi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 6545995
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a group call in a mobile communication system comprising a network infrastructure and mobile stations, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a group call in which a first mobile station is prioritized and the mobile stations participating in said group call communicate in speech items, the frame structure comprising time slots that a second mobile station sending a speech item employs in its speech item. In the method, the first mobile station is allocated time slots or time periods in which only the first mobile station can transmit signalling messages to the network infrastructure; the first mobile station and the third mobile stations are transmitted data indicating in which time slots of time periods only the first mobile station can send signalling messages to the network infrastructure; and the third mobile stations refrain from sending their signalling messages in the time slots or time periods allocated to the first mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kimmo Kinnunen, Osmo Schroderus
  • Patent number: 6539229
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the geographic location of a mobile station in a mobile telephone system is disclosed. The system broadcasts a series of forward link triangulation signals from an array of base transceiver stations, so that a mobile station may determine the differential times of arrival, and thereby the mobile station's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Farhan Ali
  • Patent number: 6496688
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved audio equipment is employed. The audio equipment includes a housing, audio circuitry installed within the housing, and a first protective bar flexibly connected to the housing. The audio equipment may also include a handle attached to the first protective bar, a second protective bar flexibly connected to the housing, and/or a connector assembly flexibly connecting the first protective bar to the housing. The connector assembly may include a flexible gasket preferably disposed between the first protective bar and the housing. Also disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing an audio equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Q. Smith
  • Patent number: 6469994
    Abstract: A packet transfer system for transferring data from or to a plurality of terminals while sectioning the data into given data-length packets, the system having a communication system that has the plurality of terminals, a base station connected through a wireless line with the plurality of terminals and a switching office connected through one or more wired lines with the base station, the wired lines being of shared channels that the plurality of terminals can use commonly and a leased channel that one terminal can use exclusively. When the amount of data transferred from or to one of the plurality of terminals is greater than a predetermined value, one of the shared channels is assigned exclusively to the one of the plurality of terminals or the leased channel is assigned to the one of the plurality of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 6434394
    Abstract: A multiple handset cordless telephone includes a Caller ID/handset association table to identify a desired intended handset to receive an incoming call before the call is answered. When a match is made as between received call related information and a pre-stored entry in the Caller ID/handset association table, one or more intended handsets are provided with the subsequent ring signals and/or the subsequent voice conversation. If no match is found the cordless telephone operates otherwise in conventional fashion, i.e., all handsets ring in response to the incoming call, and any or all of the handsets may join the conversation at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Grundvig, Kenneth Alan Newton
  • Patent number: 6434375
    Abstract: The present invention describes an inexpensive as well as efficient smart antenna processor for a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communications system, such as a 3rd generation (3G) CDMA2000 or W-CDMA system. Separate channel estimation is not required in the present invention, in contrast to a CDMA system with a conventional smart antenna. In addition, the phase distortions due to the different radio frequency (RF) mixers can be automatically compensated in the present invention. Thus, separate phase calibration is not necessary for a smart antenna processor according to the present invention, if the reverse link demodulation is concerned. Furthermore, bit error rate (BER) performance of a CDMA system with the adaptive algorithm in the present invention can be smaller than that of a conventional algorithm, for fading and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: NeoReach, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatcha Chulajata, Hyuck M. Kwon, Kyung Y. Min
  • Patent number: 6421426
    Abstract: A full duplex infrared communication system suitable for use in connection with a telephone system is disclosed. The communication system includes a base station and a remote wireless set. High quality audio is provided through use of an FM sinusoidal current driven signal transmission between the base station and the remote wireless set. Further, transmission is made over bands which do not harmonically overlap. For example, the base station may transmit at 250-430 1 KHz and the remote wireless set may transmit at 1.45-1.63 MHz. Further, adverse effects of cross-talk and signal reflection are reduced by using transmission carrier signals for the base station and the remote wireless set having different wavelengths. For example, the base station may use LEDs which emit signals at a wavelength of 940 nm while the remote wireless set may use LEDs which emit signals at a wavelength of 880 nm. LEDs with slow turn-on and turn-off times, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: GN Netcom/Unex Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Lucey
  • Patent number: 6370390
    Abstract: The invention relates to delivery of short messages to mobile stations and particularly to delivery of short messages in mobility-supporting packet radio networks that use a mobile communications network as an access network, to a dual-mode mobile station in a situation where the mobile station is not reachable in the packet radio network. The object of the invention is to minimize unnecessary signalling. The invention is based on the fact that parameters controlling the network elements are inserted into the signalling messages and a flag indicating the state of the mobile station is inserted into the home location register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventors: Hannu-Pekka Salin, Serge Haumont
  • Patent number: 6366775
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring satellite signals and subscriber unit signals utilizes broadcast beams (205) and acquisition beams (215) projected from a satellite (20). The broadcast beams (205) and acquisition beams (215) form broadcast acquisition beam pairs that are swept within the footprint (50) of the satellite (20) on the surface of the earth. Broadcast bursts are transmitted by the satellite (20) in the broadcast beams (205), and acquisition bursts broadcast by subscriber units (30) are received by the satellite (20) in acquisition beams (215).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Startup, Jim E. Helm, Shawn Wesley Hogberg
  • Patent number: 6356738
    Abstract: A method and system for communicating data between controller and a transponder where the processor is powered by current received from an antenna. The controller is magnetically coupled to the transponder to sense impedance variations in the transponder. The impedance of the transponder is altered by varying current used by a processor within the transponder. The processor current is controlled by varying the processor clock rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Gary W. Schneider, Drew J. Thwaites
  • Patent number: 6314281
    Abstract: A method and system for locating a precise physical location of a distressed enhanced mobile unit comprises use of a distress notification signal. In one embodiment, a distressed mobile unit emanates a predefined distress notification signal upon completion of an emergency services (e.g. 911) call. The distress notification signal is received by a rescue squad enhanced mobile unit in nearest proximity to the distressed enhanced mobile unit. The rescue squad enhanced mobile unit uses the distress notification signal to identify the location of the distressed mobile unit. In some embodiments, an audible distress signal is also issued by the distressed enhanced mobile unit so that rescue personnel can follow the audible signal to a user in distress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Jingfu Chao, Eshwar Pittampalli
  • Patent number: 6311077
    Abstract: A combined cosmetics compact and cellular radiotelephone device having a casing which includes the working components of a radiotelephone and a mirror. One of the working components of the radiotelephone is a display. The display operates in a first mode as the mirror. The display can include an apparatus for projecting information associated with the operation of the radiotelephone on the mirror when the display is operated in a second mode. The casing can include a first housing member and second housing member. The housing members and the working components of the radiotelephone form a cellular flip-radiotelephone. At least one receptacle for storing cosmetics can be provided in the casing. The battery of the device can be used for selectively operative for heating the receptacle. A cosmetics applicator can also be provided in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: M3 Advisory Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Bien
  • Patent number: 6285880
    Abstract: A system and method for conveying data in an inter-exchange message, said data identifying a selected one of a plurality of mobile station identifiers to be used in connection with a particular mobile station. The mobile station selects said mobile station identifier prior to registering with a first mobile switching center. Subsequently, the mobile station moves into an area served by a second mobile switching center. An inter-exchange message containing information about the mobile station is then sent from the first mobile switching center to the second mobile switching center. The information includes the plurality of mobile station identifiers and an indication of which one of the identifiers has been selected for use by the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Michel Gagnon, Uzma Abbas, Michel Houde
  • Patent number: 6282431
    Abstract: A time correcting method includes steps of receiving notifying information from a base station, the notifying information including an identification number identifying the base station, selecting a time differential information item corresponding to the identification number from a table which indicates a relationship between identification numbers identifying base stations and time differential information items in service areas of the respective base stations, and correcting a present time using the selected time differential information item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Konno
  • Patent number: 6266533
    Abstract: A wireless communication network and methodology providing GPS assistance data for positioning of mobiles with built-in GPS receivers (GPS-MS). The system and methodology includes obtaining a site location of the BTS currently serving a GPS-MS to be located, as well as obtaining the air interface time in relation to the absolute GPS time at the BTS currently serving the GPS-MS. Knowing the geographical location of the BTS currently serving the GPS-MS, range measurement assistance data is provided with a time of calculation to the GPS-MS. This information is used by the GPS-MS to obtain GPS measurement data at the indicated time of calculation using this a priori information. The GPS-MS obtains GPS measurement data based on the a priori information quickly, and returns the GPS assistance data to a mobile location center (MLC) which ultimately determines the position of the GPS-MS. The MLC has ephermis data, and converts the air interface time to the absolute GPS time for calculation of the GPS-MS position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Bagher R. Zadeh, Shahrokh Amirijoo
  • Patent number: 6263211
    Abstract: A system and method in a radio telecommunications network for automatically conveying a Wireless Office System (WOS) frequency set to a mobile station (MS) belonging to the WOS. The network includes a public cell, and a private WOS located within the public cell. A WOS controller sends the WOS frequency set from the WOS to an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) in the network whenever the WOS changes its frequency set. When the MS registers in the public cell in which the WOS is located, a mobile switching center (MSC) serving the public cell notifies an Intelligent Roaming Database (IRDB) of the registration. The IRDB fetches the WOS frequency set from the database, and obtains location information for the MS from a home location register (HLR). The IRDB then sends the WOS frequency set to the MS in an IS-136 R-DATA message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Richard Brunner, Akbar Rahman
  • Patent number: 6253082
    Abstract: In a wireless communications system, upon making a decision to roam, the mobile chooses an alternate communications channel in a prioritized manner and evaluates the chosen channel for whether it is able to support a data link interconnection. Upon evaluating that a chosen channel is able to support a data link connection, the chosen channel is selected as the next best alternate channel on which to attempt a data link establishment procedure. The channels are chosen from a set of possible channels in an order including a home channel, an in area channel, and then any of the possible channels. Advantageously, the selection of the next best alternate channel provides increased probability of establishing and maintaining a data link over the selected channel as well as providing a certain amount of control communications traffic flow in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Hengeveld
  • Patent number: 6058320
    Abstract: A portable radio telephone or transceiver in which power source control is effected to prevent cases in which the telephone cannot be used due to lack of battery charge, and is made up of: a voltage detector 1 that detects the voltage of a battery 2 and outputs battery voltage information 11; memory 5 that stores voltage 51, which is a voltage at which the remaining charge of a battery is nearly exhausted, and voltage 521 higher than voltage 51, to enable the battery to operate the radio transceiver for at least one calling operation; key input detector 4 that detects the key input and outputs key input information 41; processor 3 which compares voltage 52 with battery voltage information 11 and outputs switch control signal 31 which operates to disconnect the battery from the main circuit when voltage information 11 is less than voltage 52; and switch 8 that disconnects the battery from main circuit 7 in accordance with switch control signal 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetsugu Yokota