Patents Examined by Thuan T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6259909
    Abstract: Method for secure user access to a remote system using a communications device. Access to the system is released only after the input of valid code words via independent communications devices. One of the communications devices may be a data processing unit and the second communications device may be a mobile telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Georg Ratayczak, Norbert Niebert
  • Patent number: 6253061
    Abstract: A system and method for selective paging provides a page to a paging transceiver but does not automatically provide an associated message. The paging transceiver receives the page and alerts the user that a message is waiting and preferably provides a short description of the message. The user can then download or otherwise act on the message at a time and at a place convenient to the user. The user can therefore place the paging transceiver in a location where it can easily receive and reply to the message. The paging system conserves air time and the paging transceiver conserves memory by not automatically receiving the associated messages. The paging transceiver can receive transmissions during off-peak hours and has a timer which can be programmed so that messages are delivered at a desired time. The content of the messages may be stored in a plurality of different systems and one or more of these systems may page the paging transceiver to inform it of the messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Richard J. Helferich
  • Patent number: 6253064
    Abstract: A traffic management, security and surveillance system for commercial vehicles while in port incorporates a plurality of strategically located sensors for identifying the location of both commercial vehicles and support assets, as well as personnel, for monitoring traffic flow and supporting traffic management of the commercial vehicles, assets and personnel while in the area. The location signals are transmitted to a ground based monitoring and control center and may be archived for later playback. The system also is adapted for utilizing on board location signal generators such as GPS sensors to provide traffic flow information and traffic management of all commercial vehicles, assets and personnel on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: David A. Monroe
  • Patent number: 6246868
    Abstract: A method and system for the reception, conversion and distribution of wireless signals over AC power lines to one or more telephone communication devices within a building, office or complex is disclosed. This invention specifically provides for the reception of PCS, cellular and/or satellite communication signals, by receiving the wireless signal and providing an interface to standard generally available telephone equipment. By making use of the power line carrier channel, this invention provides for the reception of the wireless signals upon telephone equipment that is located in the building or complex in locations remote from standard telephone wiring. Moreover, by distributing such received wireless signals over the power line a number of telephone devices can be used to receive the distributed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Phonex Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. Bullock, John M. Knab
  • Patent number: 6246862
    Abstract: A portable communication device (100) that has a processing section (208) to control operation of the portable communication device (100) in response to an input signal (TS_INPUT) and a user interface having a touch sensitive input device (128) for generating the input signal (TS_INPUT), also has a sensor (134). The sensor (134) disables the touch sensitive input device (128) from generating the input signal (TS_INPUT) when the portable communication device (100) is positioned in close proximity to a user and, thereby, preventing inadvertent actuations while the user holds the portable communication device (100) against his or her head to facilitate communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris J. Grivas, Rachid M. Alameh, Fan He
  • Patent number: 6246891
    Abstract: To enable use of an intelligent mobile communication unit (1) in areas where there are restrictions on the emission of radio frequency energy, the unit is provided with means (3) for actively preventing radio frequency radiation from the unit (1) even if non-radio frequency energy emitting parts of the unit (1) are operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: B. Johanna Isberg, Mikael Dahlkvist, L. Fredrik Liljegren, Ulf C. Björkengren, Anders Khullar
  • Patent number: 6243592
    Abstract: A digital portable radio having a plane antenna, which minimizes the area of a board occupied by a built-in antenna without deteriorating gain. More specifically, a built-in antenna radiation element having a conductor capable of being electrically connected to a power feed circuit provided on the circuit substrate is fixed on the internal wall of the casing. A built-in antenna which accomplishes high gain and occupies a small area is obtained. Further, the antenna radiation element is formed from a metal plate and has a branch where one end of a longer radiation element formed from a thin metal plate is connected to one end of a shorter radiation element, and the other end of each of the radiation elements is open. Further, gap is formed by bringing the open end of the longer radiation element in close proximity to the open end of the shorter radiation element. Impedance matching is accomplished by utilization of coupling capacitance developed in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakada, Mamoru Tsumuraya
  • Patent number: 6243578
    Abstract: A telephone transmitting/receiving unit comprising an electronic circuit having a function of converting a signal received by an antenna to signal to be outputted by a speaker, a function of converting a signal inputted by a microphone to a signal to be outputted by the antenna, a function of performing prescribed processing, based on a signal from an operational unit, a function of generating a signal to a display unit, a cartridge removably loaded in a slot formed in the mobile communication terminal, and an input/output unit for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the mobile communication terminal is loaded in the mobile communication terminal. The telephone transmitting/receiving unit is loaded in the mobile communication terminal, whereby mobile communication can be performed by the use of the mobile communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Kunihiko Koike
  • Patent number: 6243561
    Abstract: A novel and improved method for performing paging is described. In one embodiment of the invention a searcher is used to detect spread spectrum signals. Samples received RF signals are stored in a sample buffer. During standby mode, the samples are gathered during paging slots assigned to the mobile. A set of searches are performed on the samples, and if pilot signals are detected additional demodulation is performed to detect paging messages. The resulting set of demodulation data may be combined to increase detection. After a page message has been detected, additional demodulation resources may be activated to processes more complete page messages, or other information channels. In one embodiment of the invention, the searcher includes a demodulator to perform quick page detection without the use of finger elements to reduce idle mode power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian K. Butler, Haitao Zhang, Edward G. Tiedemann, Jr., Qiuzhen Zou, Gilbert C. Sih, Avneesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 6233430
    Abstract: A paging transceiver and method for selectively paging provides a page to a paging transceiver but does not automatically provide an associated message. The paging transceiver receives the page and alerts the user that a message is waiting and preferably provides a short description of the message. The user can then download or otherwise act on the message at a time and at a place convenient to the user. The user can therefore place the paging transceiver in a location where it can easily receive and reply to the message. The paging system conserves air time and the paging transceiver conserves memory by not automatically receiving the associated messages. The user can determine the time at which the paging transceiver receives transmissions, such as during off-peak hours. The messages stored by the systems and delivered to the paging transceiver may be of different types, such as voice, text, audio, or even video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Richard J. Helferich
  • Patent number: 6229991
    Abstract: By employing AFC range extension, a high frequency communication device (100) can use a low cost, low accuracy crystal (119) in its reference oscillator (118). AFC range extension involves varying receive bandwidth of the communication device (100) to facilitate AFC or automatic frequency control. In particular, the receive bandwidth is set to a first, wide setting for AFC acquisition purposes (208). Frequency error associated with a received AFC signal is determined (212) and receive reception is adjusted (218) to reduce frequency error in the communication device (100). Once the frequency error is below a predetermined threshold (214), the receive bandwidth is set to a second setting different from the first setting for normal reception (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander W. Hietala, Arvind S. Arora
  • Patent number: 6226535
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cellular telephone with an auxiliary circuit board having a light source and a volume control module and comprising a horizontal main circuit board, an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel, a supporting frame, an auxiliary circuit board with a light source, a light guiding panel, and a zebra connector. In the production of the cellular telephone, no complicated soldering is required. In addition, the number of components are reduced and the general structure is improved and simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Acer Peripherals. Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Kai Sun
  • Patent number: 6226507
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting between a plurality of antennas utilized by a microcellular communications terminal for reception of a signal, wherein a gain imbalance exists between the antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Rajaram Ramesh, Sandeep Chennakeshu
  • Patent number: 6226513
    Abstract: A network mute feature deployed in a wireless telecommunications system allows a mobile user to eliminate ambient environmental and wireless transmission noise. Upon activation of the network mute feature, a voice path interconnecting the mobile unit to a party served by the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is opened. A portion of the open voice path is subsequently interconnected to a noise generator so that the PSTN party hears unobtrusive background noise indicating that the mobile user is still “on the line” and can hear transmissions by the party. The PSTN party, however, cannot hear noises associated with mobile user's environment or wireless transmission while the network mute feature is activated. Advantageously, the network mute feature enhances the ability of mobile users to participate in calls in which the quality of transmission (e.g., a conference call) is important.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Lawrence Wierzbicki, Randall Joe Wilson
  • Patent number: 6223033
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing mobile phones of the type having a protruding antenna includes an air chamber which provides radio frequency shielding and which surrounds the mobile phone under test, a radio equipment automated testing circuit, an antenna mounted within the air chamber which includes a hollow cylinder of electrically insulating material for surrounding a portion of the protruding antenna during testing, a thin, electrically conductive film mounted on a surface of the hollow cylinder, the film including a first band portion extending in a circumferential direction entirely around a peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder, a finger portion extending from the first band portion in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the hollow cylinder, the finger portion tapering to a point at a location furtherest from the band portion, and a second band portion having a width that is smaller than the width of the first band portion, and extending from the point of the finger portion in a circumferential
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: David Robert Lusterman
  • Patent number: 6223024
    Abstract: An intermittent control reception circuit enables materialization of low consumptive current of a reception circuit to be performed while executing intermittent control operation of a data output circuit and a low voltage detector respectively with the exception of increasing outer terminal. The reception circuit causes the data output circuit and the low voltage detector to be operated selectively in compliance with logic level of a signal inputted to the control terminal provided for the control switching circuit. Further, the control circuit to which output of the data output circuit and output of the low voltage detector are inputted, has the ability to recognize which output is inputted by the control switching circuit. Also in cases where materialization of LSI of the reception circuit is performed, it enables intermittent operation of the data output circuit and the low voltage detector to be implemented to materialize low consumptive current with the exception of increasing outer output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 6215983
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for complex phase equalization in a communication system. The method includes receiving and downconverting a two-dimensional communication signal to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components that have been phase-rotated by an unknown amount during propagation from a transmitter, and then processing the I and Q signals in a cumulant recovery processing system to obtain phase correction of the I and Q signals prior to demodulation. The final step is demodulating the two-dimensional communication signal. Phase correction is effected without regard to modulation type and independently of the demodulating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Mithat Can Dogan, Stephen Deane Stearns
  • Patent number: 6216011
    Abstract: A mobile unit deployed in a wireless telecommunications system includes a network mute feature. Activation of the network mute feature initiates a signaling protocol in which a network mute activation request is extended by the mobile unit to a serving base station. Deactivation of the network mute feature also requires the mobile unit to generate a signal which is extended to the serving base station. Advantageously, the network mute feature not only mutes the microphone of the mobile unit but also eliminates disruptive noise associated with wireless transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Lawrence Wierzbicki, Randall Joe Wilson
  • Patent number: 6208852
    Abstract: The user operates a hand-held telephone to set the telephone in the suspend mode in which call termination at that telephone is denied, and to set the time duration of the suspend mode. After they are set, the time elapsed after the mode is started is automatically calculated. When the telephone receives a call before the set suspend duration time elapses, a message indicating the remaining time until the suspend duration time elapses and that the telephone is in the suspend mode is sent back to the calling party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Nihon Medipack Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniyoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6208855
    Abstract: In data transmission from a base station to a mobile station, a received signal strength is monitored at the base station and the mobile station and, when the received signal strength reduces to less than a predetermined level, the base station concurrently transmits a plurality of radio signals each having a different frequencies and conveying the same data. At the mobile station, the original data is reproduced from the radio signals received from the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Tanaka