Abstract: Disclosed herein are antenna boards, antenna modules, antenna board fixtures, and communication devices. For example, in some embodiments, a communication device may include an integrated circuit (IC) package, an antenna patch support, and one or more antenna patches coupled to the antenna patch support by solder or an adhesive.

Abstract: A customer-focused, web-based computer system and methods may put the agency and the agency/broker code's perspective into billing, collections, and cash application processes. The system and methods may also allow a carrier to manage relationships with agents while including linkage to policy documents, a consolidated agency/broker code bill and commission presentment, online account reconciliation, and automated payment application. Furthermore, the methods may provide an agent user with access to data and functions that allow the system to consolidate an agency's multiple agency/broker code invoices into a single invoice for the entire agency or multiple groupings that align with the agency's accounting needs.

Abstract: A method for performing audio input/output through a telephone in a computer system, wherein a telephony driver and an audio driver and an audio task executing on a digital signal processing subsystem of the computer system perform sound sample data conversion to a standard data format and perform sample rate conversion and stereo to mono conversion for digital telephone compatibility.

Abstract: A method for dynamically scaling consumption of processor cycles by a task executing in a multi-tasking input/output subsystem, wherein a performance task executing in the multi-tasking input/output subsystem determines a real-time error measure that indicates a number of real-time errors logged by at least one input/output driver executing in the multi-tasking input/output subsystem. If the measure of real-time data gathering errors exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the consumption of processor cycles consumed by the task is reduced.

Abstract: A transceiver providing simultaneous transfer of control information with voice and data over a public switched telephone network line is disclosed. In a typical system application, the transceiver is coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a single telephone line. The transceiver includes logic for generating control information and for combining the control information with voice signals or data signals for transmission and reception through the PSTN using a single telephone line. The present invention provides a PSTN channel having two component subchannels, a main channel and a side channel. The main channel is provided for the transfer of voice signals and data signals at the same time the side channel is transferring control information and/or additional data signals. The control information transferred on the side channel is used primarily for selecting the transfer of either voice signals or data signals on the main channel.

Abstract: A method for dynamically scaling consumption of processor cycles by a task executing in a computer system, wherein a performance task determines an error measure that indicates real-time errors logged by at least one driver executing in computer system. If the error measure exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the consumption of processor cycles by a high consumption task is reduced.

Abstract: A real-time media driver for scheduling and mixing media in a multimedia environment. Implemented to operate in conjunction with a non-real-time operating system, the real-time media driver comprises a wave driver which controls a predominant percentage of the operations of the media hardware device and a mini-device driver which is software provided by the vendor of the media hardware device to support functions unique to the particular media hardware device. Furthermore, the real-time media driver comprises a media scheduler which (i) synchronizes multiple media streams prior to being input into a mixing/splitting device of the media scheduler; (ii) allows reconfiguration of attributes of media streams without loss of content prior to and after operations by the mixing/splitting device; and (iii) appropriately mixes media to produce multi-channel media according to a certain "prioritized sharing" policies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing the removal of electronic or acoustic echo from a full-duplex audio data stream. Audio data which has been input into a processing system is sampled at a predetermined rate. Audio data which has been received by the processing system and which is to be output from the processing system is also sampled. Each sample of the output audio data corresponds in time to the most recent sample of the input audio data and approximates the value of the output audio data at the time the most recent sample of the input audio data was acquired. A storage device is provided for storing N samples of the input audio data and N corresponding samples of the output audio data, where N is a positive integer. N samples of the input audio data and N corresponding samples of the output audio data are stored in the storage device, such that the contents of the storage device represent both the input audio data and an approximation of corresponding output audio data during a given time interval.