Abstract: A dartboard positioning device and method includes a housing that has a back wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The back wall is arcuate and abuttable against an edge of a dartboard. A center mark indicator is positioned on the first side wall. A distance measuring assembly is positioned in the housing and is adapted for determining a distance from the center mark indicator to a selectable point. A laser pointer mounted on the first side wall defines the center mark indicator and is adapted for directing a point of light away from the housing. The laser pointer is angled with respect to the housing so that the point of light strikes a floor surface spaced 7? 9.25? from the first side wall when the center mark indicator is positioned 5? 8? above the floor surface.

Abstract: An antenna tower adjusts a subscriber beam in elevation to reduce cell interference. The antenna tower includes vertically spaced antennas that generate a subscriber beam that may be precisely adjusted in elevation. The antenna tower may also periodically calibrate the subscriber beam in order to precisely point the subscriber beam in a desired direction.

Abstract: An antenna tower receives a first calibration signal and a second calibration signal. The antenna tower determines an adjustment angle from the first calibration signal and the second calibration signal, and uses the adjustment angle to adjust a subscriber beam in elevation to reduce cell site interference.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the level of subscriber unit transmission power in a two-way paging network. The ability to adjust the transmission power of individual subscriber units saves critical subscriber unit resources while still ensuring that a subscriber unit's transmissions are received at a base station in a paging network system. Transmission power-level control further facilitates eliminating interference among subscriber units that transmit to the same base station.

Abstract: A system and method for expanding high inbound message traffic in a two-way pager network. The network includes a central base station which receives inbound messages from a plurality of subscriber units via a plurality of receiver base stations, and wherein a central base station controller is adapted for receiving only one inbound message from a subscriber during each inbound transmission time slot. Inbound message capacity is expanded by providing a message management system between the receivers and the central base station controller. Subscribers are selectively grouped into a multicast group for simultaneously transmitting messages to the message management system, the simultaneously transmitted messages making up a multicast message group. The message management system receives the multicast message group, directs exactly one selected message of the multicast message group to the central base station controller, and diverts the remaining messages to a multicast processor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for resolving conflicts between the transmission or reception of disparate information over disparate beams transmitted or received by more than one base station. Simultaneous transmissions or receptions from a multiplicity of base stations carrying disparate messages on the same frequency are allowed. In certain pager-related embodiments, method and apparatus are provided for determining which subscriber units are accessible by any given beam, for determining the interference among beams, and/or for allocating transmission times for messages for various beams to support multiple simultaneous disparate transmissions or receptions, while ensuring that all subscriber units requiring service will get good quality of service in terms of signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, and latency.

Abstract: A substitute for the uplink infrastructure associated with typical two-way paging protocols. Instead of employing a microcellular arrangement of paging receiver sites, wherein each cell is served by its own receiver site, multiple cells are serviced from a single receiver site. The operation of the protocol need not be modified. A region surrounding the single receiver site is divided into angular sectors. Each angular sector has an associated beam of a multi-element antenna array. The sectors represent the cells used by prior art two-way paging infrastructure. This approach substantially reduces the cost of constructing and operating a two-way pager infrastructure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for resolving conflicts between the transmission or reception of disparate information over disparate beams transmitted or received by more than one base station. Simultaneous transmissions or receptions from a multiplicity of base stations carrying disparate messages on the same frequency are allowed. In certain pager-related embodiments, method and apparatus are provided for determining which subscriber units are accessible by any given beam, for determining the interference among beams, and/or for allocating transmission times for messages for various beams to support multiple simultaneous disparate transmissions or receptions, while ensuring that all subscriber units requiring service will get good quality of service in terms of signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, and latency.

Abstract: A pager protocol that permits individual pagers to operate in an inactive mode when not being addressed to save power but nonetheless also accommodates high capacity transmission schemes that require non-continuous illumination of sectors occupied by individual pagers. Capabilities of a conventional omnidirectional paging protocol such as one of the FLEX.TM. family may be exploited to facilitate operation in the context of non-continous illumination. A pager transmitter transmits a simulcast transmission where all pagers in all sectors receive the same message. This message includes schedule information about future transmissions to individual pagers. Pagers then plan their switching between the active and inactive states in accordance with the schedule which takes into account a timetable for illuminating sectors.

Abstract: In the context of a multi-channel paging system, a method and system for assigning a transmission time and a transmission channel to a pager message responsive to the location of the target of the pager message. This facilitates operation of a multi-pager system wherein different pagers are reachable on different channels and/or at different times depending on the location of the pager. Such a system greatly increases capacity over a conventional omnidirectional system.

Abstract: A base station including an antenna array that can be used to generate multiple well separated pencil radiation beams. Alternatively, these beams can be combined, without significant loss, to create a wide angle beam. Non-orthogonal beams (i.e. beams with significant spatial overlap) may be combined without significant field cancellation. The result is a single antenna array that can be used to transmit (or receive) different information on different beams (using every other beam) at the same frequency or alternatively it can be used for transmitting exactly the same information on all beams or on several beams that cover a sector.