Abstract: An almanac data management system at a location remote from a cell phone (20) has an almanac memory (44) for containing at least a current version of almanac data (52). A mobile device information memory (48) contains an identification of a version of almanac data held by the cell phone (20). A downloading system (56) selectively downloads at least a subset of the current version of almanac data (52) to the cell phone (20) if the current version of almanac data (52) is later than the version of almanac data held by the cell phone (20).

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to techniques for computing a positioning solution for a mobile unit based on signals received from the satellite navigation system and the wireless communication system. The techniques allow for, and resolve, a synchronization bias that constrains a system time for the satellite navigation system and a system time for the wireless communication system relative to each other. The mobile unit may utilize the defined constraint to compute a position solution in environments where additional independent measurements would otherwise be required. The mobile unit may incorporate Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) functionality to validate the position and time solutions derived from each of received signals. According to the techniques described herein, the mobile unit may be able to utilize the defined synchronization bias to apply RAIM or similar techniques in environments where such techniques would otherwise be indeterminate.

Abstract: A method performs an update for a first device that consumes information with a known expiration time. The first device operates within a network that accommodates other devices also consuming the information. The method includes setting a time for the first device to refresh the information, the time to refresh being based on a pseudorandom time offset. The method also includes sending a refresh request to a resource for the data during the set time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for short multipath mitigation. In one aspect the method comprises subtracting a first stronger path from a correlation function to obtain a first residual signal, wherein one component of the first residual signal is a weaker path; applying reconstruction on the first residual signal to obtain a first reconstructed weaker path; subtracting the first reconstructed weaker path from the correlation function to obtain a second residual signal; and applying reconstruction on the second residual signal to obtain a second stronger path. In one aspect, the apparatus includes an antenna for receiving a composite receive RF signal, a receiver front-end for converting the composite receive RF signal into a composite receive digital signal; and a processor for performing signal correlation on the composite receive digital signal to obtain a correlation function and for processing the correlation function to obtain a desired signal.

Abstract: In a wireless mobile communication system having a position determination service, base station information is stored in a base station almanac. In addition to the position of the base station antenna, forward link delay calibration, and base station identification information, a base station almanac record includes the center location of the base station sector coverage area, the maximum range of the base station antenna, the terrain average height over the sector coverage area, the terrain height standard deviation over the sector coverage area, round-trip delay (RTD) calibration information, repeater information, pseudo-random noise (PN) increments, uncertainty in the base station antenna position, uncertainty in the forward-link delay calibration, and uncertainty in the round-trip delay calibration.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use by devices within in wireless communication network to request and/or provide assistance data and/or other like data associated with various Satellite Positioning Systems (SPSs).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for supporting multiple positioning protocol versions within wireless communication networks.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to techniques for computing a positioning solution for a mobile unit based on signals received from the satellite navigation system and the wireless communication system. The techniques allow for, and resolve, a synchronization bias that constrains a system time for the satellite navigation system and a system time for the wireless communication system relative to each other. The mobile unit may utilize the defined constraint to compute a position solution in environments where additional independent measurements would otherwise be required. The mobile unit may incorporate Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) functionality to validate the position and time solutions derived from each of received signals. According to the techniques described herein, the mobile unit may be able to utilize the defined synchronization bias to apply RAIM or similar techniques in environments where such techniques would otherwise be indeterminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor comprising a medium and, disposed therein, a hologram, wherein an optical characteristic of the medium changes as a result of a variation in a physical property of the medium, wherein the fringes of the hologram are formed by silver grains and wherein the medium comprises a material which does not bind silver. The brightness and sensitivity of such holographic sensors is increased as a result of reduction in the levels of unwanted (“background”) silver binding.

Abstract: A method for the detection of an analyte in a fluid, comprising contacting the fluid with a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the element changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the variation arises as a result of interaction between the medium and the analyte, and wherein the reaction and the variation are reversible; and detecting any change of the optical characteristic.

Abstract: A sensor for the detection of an analyte, comprising a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the hologram changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the medium is obtainable by formation in situ in the presence of a pore-forming agent, wherein the agent is not present in the sensor or does not react with the analyte and the sensor.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are provided for synchronizing a slave clock time with reference time signals received from a master clock. A first basis set of reference time signals received from a master clock is collected. A first comparison set of slave time signals from a slave clock is identified such that each of the slave time signals in the first comparison set correspond with receipt of each of reference time signals in the first basis set. A difference between each of the reference time signals in the first basis set and the slave time signals in the first comparison set is calculated. An average difference between each of the reference time signals in the first basis set and the slave time signals in the first comparison set is then calculated and a slave time kept by the slave clock is adjusted by the average difference.

Abstract: A highwall mining system for mining aggregate material from a seam (8) includes a mining device (9) for cutting aggregate material from the seam (8) thereby to form a drive (10) in the seam (8), a conveying device (11) for conveying mined aggregate material from the drive (10), and a circulation device located on or in the region of the mining device (9) for circulating the atmosphere at least at the forward end of the drive (10). The system further includes an inertization device (60, 61, 63, 71) for maintaining the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere in the drive (10) lower than the concentration of oxygen required for explosion of methane gas and/or dusts and/or other flammable materials in the drive (10).

Abstract: A highwall mining system for mining aggregate material from a seam (8) includes a mining device (9) for cutting aggregate material from the seam (8) thereby to form a drive (10) in the seam (8), a conveying device (11) for conveying mined aggregate material from the drive (10), and a circulation device located on or in the region of the mining device (9) for circulating the atmosphere at least at the forward end of the drive (10). The system further includes an inertization device (60, 61, 63, 71) for maintaining the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere in the drive (10) lower than the concentration of oxygen required for explosion of methane gas and/or dusts and/or other flammable materials in the drive (10).

Abstract: Management computers of a packet-switched computer network allocate transmission bandwidth for transmissions such as those for conferences between client computers of the network. Callers and callees request bandwidth from their associated managers for transmissions. Managers monitor and allocate bandwidth taking into account whether the transmissions are between local clients or local and external clients. Managers maintain records of active transmissions, but need not maintain lists of client computers with which the managers are associated.