Abstract: Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network instantiates a communications function that effects an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements identified in a playlist(s) generated by at least one playlist server, via the advertisement download communication link, at the selected advertisement download times, an advertisement storage function for storing the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements.

Abstract: A system for performing transmit power and admission control for a satellite based wireless communication systems. Admission control uses centralized admission and distributed admission controls. Centralized admission control uses a maximum persistence value broadcasted from a hub to terminals. Persistence is the probability that a transmission will timely occur. Each terminal transmits a persistence that is no greater than the maximum persistence value. If the transmission fails, the transmission is repeated using the same probability. Lowering the persistence introduces a delay for alleviateing congestion. Power control is performed using centralized and distributed power control. Centralized power control uses power control commands transmitted from the hub to each terminal. When an acknowledge is not received, a backoff and recovery procedure is performed.

Abstract: A system for performing transmit power and admission control for a satellite based wireless communication systems. Admission control uses centralized admission and distributed admission controls. Centralized admission control uses a maximum persistence value broadcasted from a hub to terminals. Persistence is the probability that a transmission will timely occur. Each terminal transmits a persistence that is no greater than the maximum persistence value. If the transmission fails, the transmission is repeated using the same probability. Lowering the persistence introduces a delay for alleviating congestion. Power control is performed using centralized and distributed power control. Centralized power control uses power control commands transmitted from the hub to each terminal. When an acknowledge is not received, a backoff and recovery procedure is performed.

Abstract: A display device which can provide configuration information to the driver circuit and methods of manufacturing and operating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display device comprises a display array and a collection of links configured to store information related to the display array.

Abstract: A detector is used to sample of set of power measurements of a receive signal. The receive signal may comprise one or more signals from remote users as well as interference. A variance of the set of power measurements is also determined. The variance is compared to an overload threshold value. If the variance exceeds the overload threshold value, for some period of time, the system is declared to be operating at a potentially unstable point. In this state, future connection originations are denied.

Abstract: Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications via a communications network instantiates a communications function that effects an advertisement download communication link between the client device and an advertisement distribution server system via the communications network, at selected advertisement download times, an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements identified in a playlist(s) generated by at least one playlist server, via the advertisement download communication link, at the selected advertisement download times, an advertisement storage function for storing the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, and an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements.

Abstract: Techniques to partition and allocate the available system resources among cells in a communication system, and to allocate the resources in each cell to terminals for data transmission on the uplink. In one aspect, adaptive reuse schemes are provided wherein the available system resources may be dynamically and/or adaptively partitioned and allocated to the cells based on a number of factors such as the observed interference levels, loading conditions, system requirements, and so on. A reuse plan is initially defined and may be redefined to reflect changes in the system. In another aspect, the system resources may be partitioned such that each cell is allocated a set of channels having different performance levels. In yet another aspect, terminals in each cell are scheduled for data transmission (e.g., based on their priority or load requirements) and assigned channels based on their tolerance to interference and the channels' performance.

Abstract: A novel and improved method for implementing a high-transmission-rate over-the-air interface is described. A transmit system provides an in-phase channel set and a quadrature-phase channel set. The in-phase channel set is used to provide a complete set of orthogonal medium rate control and traffic channels. The quadrature-phase channel set is used to provide a high-rate supplemental channel and an extended set of medium rate channels that are orthogonal to each other and the original medium rate channels. The high-rate supplemental channel is generated over a set of medium rate channels using a short channel code. The medium rate channel is generated using a set of long channel codes.

Abstract: Software for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an obscured ad monitor function that determines whether an obscured ad condition has occurred, whereby the obscured ad condition occurs when an advertisement currently being displayed on the display associated with the client device is being obscured by one or more other items currently being displayed on the display, and an obscured ad nag function that generates an obscured ad nag display in response to detect

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a variable mode multi-media data object storage device. Large digital objects can be quickly downloaded in approximately a minute. The digital objects can be utilized or played back at real-time speeds. Utilization or playback consumes minimal power, allowing the disk to support portable devices operating on battery power. The storage device uses multiple disk rotation speeds to support multiple modes of operation. The storage device operates in at least two modes of disk drive operation, supporting a fast platter rotation speed for writing and a slower platter rotation speed for reading. The multiple rotation speeds operate in conjunction with a head assembly configured with at least one head for reading and multiple heads for writing. When writing, the disk spins at the faster rotation speed. When in utilization or playback mode, the disk spins at the slower, power conserving rotation speed.

Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. In yet other aspects, techniques are provided to efficiency schedule data transmissions and to assign channels to users.

Abstract: A method for reducing call dropping rates in a multi-beam communication system. The multi-beam communication system includes a user terminal, a gateway, and a plurality of beam sources, where each beam source projects a plurality of beams, and where a communication link between the user terminal and the gateway is established on one or more beams. The method according to the present invention relies on a messaging protocol between the gateway and the user terminal. Based on messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway, preferably on a preselected periodic basis, the gateway can determine the more desirable beam(s) for transmitting data or information to the user terminal. The messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway contain values representing beam strengths as measured at the user terminal. The gateway uses the user terminal measured beam strengths to select the beams that should be used for transmitting data or information to the user terminal.

Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: Software, for use on a client device that is configured for communications with at least one remote source of advertisements via a communications network, instantiates an advertisement download function that downloads advertisements from the at least one remote source, during one or more advertisement download sessions, an advertisement storage function that stores the downloaded advertisements on a storage medium associated with the client device, an advertisement display function that effects display of at least selected ones of the stored advertisements on a display associated with the client device, an audit function that compiles ad-related statistical data relating to the downloaded advertisements, wherein the ad-related statistical data includes display event-related data regarding advertisements that were displayed during a prescribed audit interval, and an audit data transmit function that transmits the ad-related statistical data to a prescribed server system.

Abstract: A detector is used to sample of set of power measurements of a receive signal. The receive signal may comprise one or more signals from remote users as well as interference. A variance of the set of power measurements is also determined. The variance is compared to an overload threshold value. If the variance exceeds the overload threshold value, for some period of time, the system is declared to be operating at a potentially unstable point. In this state, future connection originations are denied.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for distributing advertisements to a multiplicity of client devices each of which is configured for communications via a communications network, which system includes an advertisement distribution facility that communicates with each of the client devices over the communications network, via a respective advertisement download communication link. Preferably, each of the client devices downloads advertisements from the advertisement distribution facility via the respective advertisement download communication link, and each of the client devices communicates with a data communications service provider over the communications network via a respective data communications link that is separate from the respective advertisement download communication link.

Abstract: A detector is used to sample of set of power measurements of a receive signal. The receive signal may comprise one or more signals from remote users as well as interference. A variance of the set of power measurements is also determined. The variance is compared to an overload threshold value. If the variance exceeds the overload threshold value, for some period of time, the system is declaraed to be operating at a potentially unstable point. In this state, future connection originations are denied.

Abstract: A predistortion technique for high power amplifiers includes an adaptive predistortion algorithm that operates independently of data samples to write a set of complex gain values, or predistortion parameters, to a lookup table. The algorithm may be processor-driven. The gain values are taken from the lookup table and multiplied by a complex digital baseband waveform. The gain values may first be subjected to interpolation. The downconverted output of the amplifier is measured to gauge the efficacy of the predistortion. Based on the effect of the predistortion upon the ratio of in-band power to out-of-band power, decisions are made on the set of predistortion parameters for the next iteration of the algorithm. The algorithm runs continuously, perturbing parameters and adapting the predistortion functions accordingly in an effort to continually reflect instantaneous amplitude-modulation and phase-modulation relationships that may change over time with temperature variation or component aging.

Abstract: In some aspects, each cell in the communications system can be designed to operate in accordance with a set of back-off factors that identify the reductions in peak transmit power levels for the channels associated with the back-off factors. The back-off factors are defined to provide the required power to a large percentage of the users while reducing the amount of interference. In some other aspects, the cells operate using an adaptive reuse scheme that allows the cells to efficiently allocate and reallocate the system resources to reflect changes in the system. A reuse scheme is initially defined and resources are allocated to the cells. During operation, changes in the operating conditions of the system are detected and the reuse scheme is redefined as necessary based on the detected changes. In yet other aspects, techniques are provided to efficiency schedule data transmissions and to assign channels to users.