Abstract: A local traffic signal controller (3) is interfaced to a satellite subscriber unit (10) to provide for centralized control of the traffic signals (1) controlled by the local controller (3). A central controller (7) provides central control and can download program control information to local controller (3). Dial-up access to local controller (3) is provided to central controller (7) with the subscriber unit (10). The resultant communication path may be utilized to provide for accessing information from the local traffic signal controller (3). Such information may include indications of lamp failures, traffic pattern information and other status or traffic related information.

Abstract: An autonomous interrogatable information and position device combines the functionality of a satellite communications device capable of sending and receiving voice and digital data messages, a geo-location device capable of self-determining its positional location; an input/output port configured to allow attachment of the device to external local site sensors or equipment in order to obtain external local site sensor data or control the equipment, and a control processor capable of monitoring and responding to positional location information, input sensor data, and incoming voice and digital data messages.

Abstract: A satellite-based air traffic control system utilizes global-coverage satellite communications network to provide voice and data communication between an air traffic control center and one or more aircraft worldwide. Each aircraft is provided with an airborne navigation location reporting system device which has the capability of determining positional information of the aircraft and to transmit and receive voice and data messages to and from the ATC center via the satellite communications network.

Abstract: A battery powered electronic system (50, FIG. 1) is controlled by a movement sensor (20) which senses the acceleration of the electronic system (50). The output of the movement sensor (20) is filtered by an event duration filter (FIG. 2, 120, 121) which determines if the output is of sufficient duration and acceleration to trigger a change in the operation of the electronic system (50). If the acceleration meets the triggering criteria, the electronic system (50) can be made to change an on/off state, an operating mode, or to effect an incremental change in the electronic system (50) such as adjusting the volume or channel setting. Additional movement sensors (20) oriented in different axes can be used to trigger a change in the operation of the electronic system (50) according to a plurality of different directions of acceleration.

Abstract: A survival radio of the type useable in search and rescue operations and carried by the party to be rescued is described. The survival radio includes a GPS receiver, a transceiver and a microcontroller. The microcontroller responds to interrogation messages containing a predetermined identification code for the survival radio to cause a transceiver to transmit a geographic location of the survival radio as derived from GPS signals.

Abstract: In a GPS receiver, power is conserved by powering down P-code circuitry during and utilizing C/A code circuits during times when interfering signals, such as spoofing signals, are not detected. When spoofing is detected, the P-code circuitry is powered up so that the GPS receiver can continue to operate in the presence of spoofing.

Abstract: A method for organizing a communication system with automatic handoff. The method includes steps of: (i) sending a message from a first remote unit to a monitoring site during a specific time slot within a frame of time slots, wherein the first remote unit has a unique identification code and the message includes the unique identification code from the first remote unit; (ii) relaying the message including the identification code from the monitoring site to a central authority during a reserved time slot within the frame, the reserved time slot reserved for the relaying step; (iii) transmitting an acknowledgment message from the central authority to the monitoring site, wherein the monitoring site is determined from an updated lookup table of communications links between monitoring sites and remote units, during a time slot reserved for the acknowledgment message; and (iv) retransmitting the acknowledgment message from the monitoring site to the remote unit.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus to sense when an aircraft pilot has ejected is provided for safe actuation of a rescue locator radio. The ejection sensor apparatus (20) has a microphone (40), an accelerometer (35) and logic for determining that a pilot ejection event has occurred. The microphone (40) detects the differences in sound level (30) from normal cockpit noise to those during ejection and after deployment of a rescue chute. The accelerometer (35) detects the differences in acceleration level (25) during ejection and after deployment of a rescue chute. Pre-programmed acceptance templates (55) are compared in a digital processor (60) to ensure that ejection has occurred before a rescue radio (90) is activated. A manual turn on delay or turn off capability for the rescue radio is provided for facilitation of communications. Encrypted GPS location information and a pilot code are also included in the rescue radio transmission.

Abstract: A GPS based search and rescue system utilizes an airborne interrogation unit for extending the range of a second interrogation unit. The airborne unit relays communication between a survival radio and the second interrogation unit. The second interrogation unit is typically a ground based unit and is arranged to provide GPS correction information to the survival radio. The normal line of sight communication between a survival radio and an interrogation unit is extended to an over the horizon communication path by utilizing the airborne interrogation unit as a relay for communications.

Abstract: A battery compartment (12) adapted to accommodate any of several different types of batteries (30, 32, 34). The compartment (12) includes a hollow region having a length equivalent to that of one or more batteries (31, 33, 35) and includes a positive contact (65) disposed at one end thereof. The compartment also includes a cap (14) adapted to couple to an end of the compartment (12) remote from the one end. The one end includes a first contact (65) and one or more additional positive contacts (63). The additional positive contacts (63) are coupled to anodes of diodes (64) having cathodes coupled to the positive contact (65).

Abstract: Survival radio interrogator (1) transmits upon request a message including an identification of survival radio (3). Upon receiving and processing this message, survival radio (3) determines its position from the Global Positioning System and transmits a message back to the search aircraft (2) with the survival radio interrogator (1). The processor (10) of the survival radio interrogator 1 determines a range and bearing of the survival radio (3) and processes data from the survival radio 3 which data includes identification, position and messaging information for display on the LCD display 14. All message transmissions are conducted via the aircraft's (2) radio/intercom system (30).

Abstract: A symbolic language data processing system comprises a sequencer unit, a data path unit, a memory control unit, a front-end processor, an I/O and a main memory connected on a common Lbus to which other peripherals and data units can be connected for intercommunication. The system architecture includes a novel bus network, a synergistic combination of the Lbus, microtasking, centralized error correction circuitry and a synchronous pipelined memory including processor mediated direct memory access, stack cache windows with two segment addressing, a page hash table and page hash table cache, garbage collection and pointer control, a close connection of the macrocode and microcode which enables one to take interrupts in and out of the macrocode instruction sequences, parallel data type checking with tagged architecture, procedure call and microcode support, a generic bus and a unique instruction set to support symbolic language processing.

Abstract: A symbolic language data processing system comprises a sequencer unit, a data path unit, a memory control unit, a front-end processor, an I/O and a main memory connected on a common Lbus to which other peripherals and data units can be connected for intercommunication. The system architecture includes a novel bus network, a synergistic combination of the Lbus, microtasking, centralized error correction circuitry and a synchronous pipelined memory including processor mediated direct memory access, stack cache windows with two segment addressing, a page hash table and page hash table cache, garbage collection and pointer control a close connection of the macrocode and microcode which enables one to take interrupts in and out of the macrocode instruction sequences, parallel data type checking with tagged architecture, procedure call and microcode support, a generic bus and a unique insruction set to support symbolic language processing.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer which accommodates different print wheel fonts has switchable ROMs each containing print position and instruction information for each character on an associated print wheel. The possible number of printing positions is substantially double the number of characters carried on a print wheel.