Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

Abstract: A system for communicating data via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system (CMR). A data message system for communicating data collected from remote data sources includes sets of reporting devices, at least one mobile switching center (MSC) of a CMR system, and a data collection system connected to said MSC via a first communications link. Each recording device monitors a remote data source to obtain selected data and thereafter transmits a data message containing the selected data. The data collection system stores the data messages and processes the selected data. The data message system is equipped to process data messages of varying lengths, through the use of an expandable data message structure. A paging acknowledgment system is also provided for communicating both (1) paging messages and (2) acknowledgment messages to confirm reception of the paging messages.

Abstract: A cellular communications device for communicating over a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) system. A transmitter can transmit a data message formatted to correspond to an identification signal transmitted by a cellular radiotelephone when that device identifies itself to the CMR system. The data message contains selected data and is transmitted via the reverse overhead control channel of the cellular network control channel. A receiver can receive command signals from a mobile switching center of the CMR system via a forward overhead control channel (FOCC) of the cellular network control channel. A controller controls operation conducted by the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: An asymmetrical data communications system (ADCS) provides point-to-multipoint television programming including conventional television programming, near video-on-demand (NVoD) or video-on-demand (VoD), and the full variety of available programming, via a compressed, digitized UHF transmission. A program subsystem of the ADCS receives programming from content providers and processes the received signals for channel and VoD or NVoD service, then sends the aggregated signal to a transmission subsystem that modulates, channelizes, amplifies, filters and broadcasts the digital UHF signals over the air. Subscribing viewers are equipped with an intelligent control box (ICB) suitably configured to receive, demodulate, and decode the digital UHF broadcast and to transmit the resulting signal to one or more display or other terminal devices. The ICB further provides a matrix switch or gateway for receiving signals over any available transmission path.

Abstract: A system for communicating data via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system. The system includes a mobile switching center operable for receiving a registration signal from a registering cellular communications device. The registration signal includes identification information associated with the registering cellular communications device and a predefined data field containing data. The mobile switching center detects the presence of the identification information in the registration signal. In response to the identification information, the mobile switching center determines whether the registering cellular communications device is a member of a predetermined class of cellular sources, such as a class known as "roamer" units.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for emulating the operation of a peripheral device of a computer. An adapter for communicating keyboard data to a computer via a data link and for communicating display data from the computer to an external device. The adapter eliminates the need for the peripheral device to be directly connected to the computer by enabling the computer to operate without the peripheral device while still receiving or generating the data normally processed by the peripheral device. The adapter presents itself to the computer as if the adapter were the emulated peripheral device. Thus, the operation of the adapter is transparent to the computer. A remote user can access the computer, via the adapter, by communicating keyboard data generated by the user on a keyboard at a remote location. The adapter communicates display data to the user at the remote location, so that the user can monitor the operation and output of the computer.

Abstract: A system for communicating multiple page messages or pages via a forward overhead control channel (FOCC) of a cellular network control channel to a cellular-compatible receiving device and combining the data obtained from each received page to form an aggregate message comprising a data sequence. A cellular communications device operating in a normal state responds to a page received via the FOCC by comparing the received page to one or more masks maintained in its memory. If the received page contains a predetermined characteristic and matches a corresponding mask maintained by the receiving device, then it responds by transitioning from a normal state to a receive device identifier state. In the receive device identifier state, the cellular communications device monitors the FOCC for a page having a special identifier assigned to that device. Each received page is compared to a mask corresponding to the special identifier and maintained in memory of the selected device.

Abstract: A system for communicating location data regarding the present service area for a "roaming" cellular paging device in a paging system. Each cellular paging device monitors a cellular network control channel to detect a cellular system identification signal transmitted by a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) system. If the cellular system identification signal does not match a preassigned code for a host CMR system associated with the paging system, it responds by transmitting an identification signal to the MSC via the cellular network control channel. This identification signal includes: (1) a unique identification code that identifies the source of the identification signal, and (2) at least a portion of the system identification signal that was received by the cellular paging device. The CMR system determines that the identification signal has been transmitted by a "roaming" device associated with another CMR system and, accordingly, sends the identification signal to a verification system.

Abstract: A system for communicating data via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system (CMR). A data message system includes reporting devices, a mobile switching center (MSC) of a CMR system, and a data collection system. The MSC receives data messages via the cellular network control channel from reporting devices operating within coverage areas of the array of cells and forwards the data messages via a first communications link to the data collection system. A paging acknowledgment system also can communicate both (1) paging messages and (2) acknowledgment messages to confirm reception of the paging messages. The paging acknowledgment system includes a communications system, remote communications devices, and at least one MSC of a CMR system. A remote communications device responds to a data message corresponding to a paging message by transmitting an acknowledgment message containing an acknowledgment code to the MSC via a cellular network control channel of the CMR system.