Abstract: Disclosed are a hands-free device and a method of a hands-free device for automatic connectivity to two or more handheld devices. Upon power-up of the hands-free device, the device may cycle through all voice communication devices on its paired device list until it either cycles through the entire list or establishes a connection link before reaching the end of the list. It may then cycle through all non-voice communication devices on its paired device list. Once all voice and non-voice communication devices on the paired device list have been paged, the hands-free device may enter an idle mode where it is possible for a user to add a new device to the paired device list. The hands-free device may repeat the cycle through the voice communication devices in the paired device list, at a slower rate than the previous cycle through.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hands-free electronic device including an FM receiver and an FM scanner to continuously scan for FM channels and to locate available FM channels for a list of available FM channels rated according to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and/or a received signal-strength indication (RSSI). A short range transceiver may transmit and receive short range communications, from a handheld device. An FM transmitter of the hands-free device can transmit received short range communications via available FM channels of the rated list of available FM channels. The hands-free device may be in communication with, for example, an automobile FM radio. In this way, the car radio may audibly output that which is transmitted from the handheld device. In an embodiment, a speech synthesizer may be configured to generate speech output to indicate an available FM channel from the rated list of available FM channels.

Abstract: A method (200) for controlling audio signals to an FM transmitter and a loudspeaker of a hands-free adapter first sends a first audio signal to the loudspeaker (242) and measures and records a loudspeaker audible artifact such as echo return loss (244) and/or echo tail length (246). Next, the hands-free adapter sends a second audio signal to the FM transmitter and the loudspeaker (252) and measures and records an FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact such as echo return loss (254) and/or echo tail length (256). If the FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact minus the loudspeaker audible artifact is greater than a threshold (263, 266), the hands-free adapter sends a third audio signal to the FM transmitter only (270), and if the FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact minus the loudspeaker audible artifact is not greater than the threshold, the hands-free adapter sends the third audio signal to both the FM transmitter and the loudspeaker (280).

Abstract: A downlink activity and double talk probability detector and method for an echo canceler circuit (10) improves the stability of an echo canceler adaptive filter (300) and improves the attenuation of post-echo canceler uplink data (388). The echo canceler circuit (10) includes a downlink activity and double talk probability data generator (30) and an echo canceler stage (20). The downlink activity and double talk probability data generator (30) receives pre-echo canceler uplink data (40) and downlink data (50) and in response produces double talk probability data (60) and downlink activity data (70). The echo canceler stage (20) receives the downlink data (50), the pre-echo canceler uplink data (40), the double talk probability data (60) and the downlink activity data (70), and in response produces uplink data (80).

Abstract: A method of dynamically configuring access to services (114, 130) between a remote communications node (104) and a remote communications device (106) includes determining if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with a distributed communications system (100). The remote communications node (104) is configured as a primary gateway (301, 401) if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with the distributed communications system (100) and configured as a secondary gateway (303, 403) if it is not. A remote communications device (106) is initialized and the remote communications node (104) and remote communications device (106) are dynamically configured to optimally access services (114, 130) in a serial configuration.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication in restricted wireless zones (102) includes providing a restricted wireless zone communication system (104) having one or more wireless nodes (106) and a wireless device (110) having a first transceiver (150) restricted from operating in a restricted wireless zone (102) and a second transceiver (152) not restricted from operating in a restricted wireless zone (102). Upon entering restricted wireless zone (102) first transceiver (150) is disabled and second transceiver (152) is enabled to communicate with restricted wireless zone communication system (104). Wireless device (110) is then able to send and receive content from outside restricted wireless zone (102). Upon wireless device (110) leaving restricted wireless zone (102), the second transceiver is disabled and the first transceiver (150) is enabled.

Abstract: A method of wireless link (316) reestablishment between a remote device (302, 402) and a client device (304, 404) in a wireless personal area network (102, 202) includes establishing a wireless link (316) between remote device (302, 402) and client device (304, 404) where client device (304, 404) maintains connection data (318). The wireless link (316) is subsequently terminated. Client device (304, 404) determines the type of termination by differentiating between a link loss termination and a non-link loss termination. If loss is due to a link loss termination, client device (304, 404) reestablishes the wireless link (316) to remote device (302, 402) utilizing connection data (318).

Abstract: A method of wireless communication in restricted wireless zones (102) includes providing a restricted wireless zone communication system (104) having one or more wireless nodes (106) and a wireless device (110) having a first transceiver (150) restricted from operating in a restricted wireless zone (102) and a second transceiver (152) not restricted from operating in a restricted wireless zone (102). Upon entering restricted wireless zone (102) first transceiver (150) is disabled and second transceiver (152) is enabled to communicate with restricted wireless zone communication system (104). Wireless device (110) is then able to send and receive content from outside restricted wireless zone (102). Upon wireless device (110) leaving restricted wireless zone (102), the second transceiver is disabled and the first transceiver (150) is enabled.

Abstract: A method of dynamically configuring access to services (114, 130) between a remote communications node (104) and a remote communications device (106) includes determining if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with a distributed communications system (100). The remote communications node (104) is configured as a primary gateway (301, 401) if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with the distributed communications system (100) and configured as a secondary gateway (303, 403) if it is not. A remote communications device (106) is initialized and the remote communications node (104) and remote communications device (106) are dynamically configured to optimally access services (114, 130) in a serial configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely loading a telephone number into a mobile unit is disclosed. A registration computer in a credit card payment radiotelephone system places a call to a mobile radiotelephone unit and conveys a telephone number to the mobile unit which is stored at the mobile unit. This telephone number may later be recalled and transmitted by the mobile unit to accomplish a telephone call.

Abstract: The single power conductor carries audio and a serial data bus. The microphone's amplifier (102) is connected to the conductor (108). The incoming audio signal rides on the DC supply voltage from the radiotelephone. The supply voltage, through a voltage regulator (103), supplies power to the amplifier (102) and a microprocessor (105), used to transmit the serial data message on the conductor (108). Both the amplifier (102) and the voltage regulator (103) are isolated from the power conductor (108) by a FET switch (104) that is controlled by the microprocessor (105). The switch (104) is turned off, isolating the circuitry when the microprocessor (105) is transmitting.

Abstract: A credit-card radiotelephone for a vehicle with a door includes a radio transceiver and a control unit with a telephone handset, credit card reader, hookswitch and door switch. The telephone handset has a microphone, a speaker, and a dial. The radio transceiver has a transmitter, a receiver, and a first microprocessor for electronically locking and unlocking the radio transceiver. The credit card reader reads a credit card number and produces an output indicating the read credit card number. The control unit also includes a second microprocessor coupled to the credit card reader for receiving the read credit card number and determining if the read credit card number is valid, coupled to the first microprocessor, hookswitch and the dial for electronically unlocking said transceiver and placing telephone calls when the read credit card number is determined to be valid, and coupled to the door switch for electronically locking said transceiver means when the door is opened.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for communicating credit card information read at a mobile radiotelephone unit is disclosed. Data read from a credit card is placed in a variable length error protected format and transmitted from the mobile radiotelephone unit to authorize payment of the radiotelephone call.