Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for determining the presence of a patterned object on the surface of a sensor. The apparatus comprises a sensor system coupled to a means for generating a control signal. The sensor system is configured to sense an image corresponding to the patterned object and to translate the image into image data. The means for generating a control signal generates a control signal if statistics of the image data exceed a pre-determined number of threshold levels. In a preferred embodiment, the patterned object is finger with a fingerprint on its surface and the sensor is fingerprint swipe sensor. Preferably, the threshold levels are software programmable.

Abstract: Methods for encoding transitions between low-intensity regions and high-intensity regions such that the transitions are more readily detectable in a digital image captured by a digital image capture device. The encoding applied to the transitions act to retard and minimize blooming effects and ISI that can occur in the digital image, especially when the transitions are captured from a television, computer display screen or other transmissive media.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a portal-based, dynamically distributed application topology for cellular systems. The portal-based application topology, in one implementation, is an application architecture featuring strategic dynamic distribution of the man-machine interface (such as data acquisition and information presentation) and the backend processing aspects, of a particular application. In one implementation, all terminal interfacing aspects (such as data acquisition, data presentation) are formatted and handled by systems associated with a cellular system operator, as described below, while background processing is performed by a processing facility remote to the cellular system operator. In one implementation, the distributed application topology allows a mobile station, such as a cellular telephone, to simply act as a thin-client accessing an application server via a cellular systems operator's web portal for page-based interface screens.

Abstract: A system for and method of obtaining rotation information is disclosed. The method comprises capturing a plurality of patterned images from a plurality of locations, correlating the plurality of patterned images to generate sets of linear differences, and using the sets of linear differences to generate the rotation information. Preferably, the plurality of locations comprise a first part of a fingerprint swipe sensor and a second part of the fingerprint swipe sensor, each part configured to capture a part of a fingerprint image. Each part captures a part of the fingerprint image at two positions and correlates the parts at the two positions to determine one set of linear differences. Together, the sets of linear differences are used to calculate the rotation information, which can be used to emulate a rotational device such as a steering wheel, a joystick, or a navigation bar.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a portal-based, dynamically distributed application topology for cellular systems. The portal-based application topology, in one implementation, is an application architecture featuring strategic dynamic distribution of the man-machine interface (such as data acquisition and information presentation) and the backend processing aspects, of a particular application. In one implementation, all terminal interfacing aspects (such as data acquisition, data presentation) are formatted and handled by systems associated with a cellular system operator, as described below, while background processing is performed by a processing facility remote to the cellular system operator. In one implementation, the distributed application topology allows a mobile station, such as a cellular telephone, to simply act as a thin-client accessing an application server via a cellular systems operator's web portal for page-based interface screens.

Abstract: A system includes a modem which receives a burst of a time division multiple access (TDMA) signal. A burst mode controller, connected to the modem, is operable to detect a unique word in the burst. If the unique word is not detected, the burst mode controller loads a predetermined bit pattern into a channel identifier field of the burst. The predetermined bit pattern indicates that a payload field of the burst contains voice data.

Abstract: A system includes a unique word correlator module which correlates a unique word field in a burst of a time division multiple access (TDMA) signal against a predefined marker sequence. Automatic timing control circuitry is coupled to the unique word correlator module. The automatic timing control circuitry derives a number of errors that are allowable during correlation of the unique word field.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for allowing a seamless handover between base stations in a TDMA controller as a telephone handset is transported from one base station's area to another. The disclosed circuitry enables the TDMA controller to assess the quality of the handover before switching to the new base station. When it is determined that a handover operation is to commence, transmissions are made in the original slot time and a handover slot time within the same frame. Also during the same frame, data is received at two separate slot times. Only when it is determined that the data received in the handover slot time contains no transmission errors is the handover completed by then only transmitting on the handover slot transmit time and receiving on the handover slot receive time. In the preferred embodiment, it is determined whether the received data contains no transmission errors by detecting the CRC codes, the signal strength, and the existence of any invalid words.

Abstract: A multi-tasking, dynamically controlled micro-sequencer for use in a TDMA communication system is described. Rather than the output of the sequencer being solely a linear sequence of instructions in a microcode RAM, the output of the sequencer is augmented by an output of finite state machines (FSMs) providing a sequence of control codes. The FSMs provide control signals for building a slot in accordance with a specific protocol. The sequencer core provides enabling signals to the FSMs to enable the proper FSM depending upon the mode of the transceiver. A conditional logic block is included in the sequencer core which detects special operation codes (opcodes) for each slot to cause the microcode sequence to jump to a certain routine if a condition is met or not met.

Abstract: An audio error mitigation technique for a TDMA communication system is disclosed. An audio error is assumed if any one of the following criteria is met: a detection of a CRC error in the control data or audio data within a slot; the received signal strength is below a certain threshold; or, the detection of an invalid code word, such as an all zero nibble. If either of the criteria is met, and the slot contains audio data, an error mitigation routine is performed. In one embodiment, the error mitigation routine replaces the faulty burst with the previous non-faulty burst. In another mitigation routine, any dv/dt spikes in the faulty burst are detected and smoothed by averaging nearby samples. In one embodiment, both mitigation routines are selectable in the TDMA system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides synchronous communication in a communication environment (102) wherein multiple base stations are adapted to operate on the same frequencies. In particular, the base stations which operate within range of one another must be coordinated to minimize interference with other base stations which may otherwise operate independently. Each base station operating in a system will determine whether another base station operating on the same frequencies is within range (310). One of the base stations will assume a role as a master and the remaining base station will then synchronize to the master base station (312). The preferred methods for synchronizing the base stations includes signaling protocols (702, 902) and collision avoidance techniques for digital multiple access communication systems.

Abstract: A multi-tasking, dynamically controlled micro-sequencer for use in a TDMA communication system is described. Rather than the output of the sequencer being solely a linear sequence of instructions in a microcode RAM, the output of the sequencer is augmented by the output of finite state machines (FSMs) providing a sequence of control codes. The FSMs provide control signals for building a slot in accordance with a specific protocol. The sequencer core provides enabling signals to the FSMs to enable the proper FSM depending upon the mode of the transceiver. A conditional logic block is included in the sequencer core which detects special operation codes (opcodes) for each slot to cause the microcode sequence to jump to a certain routine if a condition is met or not met.

Abstract: A TDMA communication system having a selectable synchronization code receive window is described. To eliminate any false detections of a synchronization code, a selectable window is created during which the synchronization code is expected to appear. The size of the window is reduced once the synchronization code is detected. In one embodiment, the size of the window is based on the elapsed time since the last synchronization of the TDMA system.

Abstract: A synchronization method for synchronizing a plurality of base stations in a TDMA communication system is disclosed. The synchronization topology may be via dedicated hardwire, via any DSL from the PSTN, or via an ad-hoc RF synchronization technique. Slots containing data are arranged in frames and these frames are transmitted to the base stations, and received from the base stations, by wireless telephone handsets. Each of the slots in a frame have a guard field comprising a plurality of guard bits. The base stations derive frame sync pulses via the received Unique Word correlation detect. These derived frame sync pulses are ultimately synchronized with frame sync signals received from the master base station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus increases spectrum efficiency in a wireless communication system having base stations which may be positioned to operate within range of one another. The method and apparatus eliminates the requirement for a base station to periodically transmit to maintain synchronization with an associated handset (504). The handset effectively assumes the role of a base station when making a call (508). The handset will synchronize with other handset traffic or another base station which is within range (506). The handset will then page the base station (510). Eliminating the requirement that the base station repeatedly transmit a signal to maintain sync with a handset significantly increases the available spectrum allocation for providing communication. Reversing the role of a handset also enables handset-to-handset communication independent of the base station (808).

Abstract: A method and structure for virtually eliminating any false detections of a synchronization code is described which creates a selectable window during which the synchronization code is expected to appear. A coincidental replication of the synchronization code outside the window does not trigger false synchronizations.

Abstract: A personal phone expansion system (10) includes a personal base station (12) and a plurality of portable units (18). The personal base (12) is connected to a phone line (16) and provides routing and switching between the phone line (16), the portable units (18), a full duplex speaker phone (24), and a voice messaging system (26). The voice messaging system (26), which is contained within the personal base station (12) provides full voice mail functions. The personal base station (12) communicates with the portable units (18) by radio signals through a wireless interface (32). The portable units (18) can be used as standard cellular telephones when outside the range of the personal base station (12).

Abstract: The GMSK real-time demodulation apparatus and process of the present invention demodulates a coherent quadrature phase modulated GMSK signal in real-time using a non-coherent receiver. The GMSK signal is initially non-coherent detected, thus producing a channel symbol signal. This signal is then differentially decoded to recover the encoded digital information.