Abstract: An arrangement for reducing unwanted effects of spurious signals from interference sources in telecommunications at radio frequencies. A communication unit transmits and receives information at radio frequency. Receivers receive the radio signals from the communication unit and for reflecting radio signals back. A control unit is adapted at least to switch the transmitter or receiver of the communication unit off substantially at the frequency of the spurious signals.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing unwanted effects of spurious signals from interference sources in telecommunications at radio frequencies. A communication unit transmits and receives information at radio frequency. Receivers receive the radio signals from the communication unit and for reflecting radio signals back. A control unit is adapted at least to switch the transmitter or receiver of the communication unit off substantially at the frequency of the spurious signals.

Abstract: A time-division-multiplexed fixed wireless loop system and methods therefor are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of cells each having a base station and a plurality of terminals. The base station includes a steerable and adjustable multibeam antenna for communicating with each of the terminals, which have fixed antennas. A cell controller associated with each base station allocates communication time slots so as to minimize mutual interference between base station/terminal links sharing the same time slot. Slot assignment is based on regional, periodically updated interference measurements that are stored in data bases.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a duplex radio communication system comprises an Interrogator which generates a radio signal to at least one remote Tag. The remote Tag receives the radio signal. The Tag then generates a subcarrier signal, and using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), modulates an information signal onto the subcarrier. A Backscatter Modulator, using this modulated subcarrier, modulates the reflection of the radio signal, the reflected signal being a reflected modulated signal. The Interrogator receives and demodulates the reflected modulated signal to obtain the information signal. In one embodiment, demodulation utilizes a homodyne detector. In another embodiment, the Interrogator modulates an information signal onto the radio signal, transmits that modulated radio signal to the Tag, and the Tag demodulates that modulated radio signal to recover the information signal.

Abstract: A method for combining digital data with a perceptible program signal. The data stream is modulated onto an electromagnetic signal encoding the perceptible signal; the modulating employs a spread spectrum encoding of the data stream. The modulated program signal is transduced into perceptible form. A capture device receives the perceptible signal, and a decoder extracts the spread spectrum encoded data from the received signal. The method is particularly useful in encoding purchase information or watermarking information into the signal.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlling an appliance situated within a premises such as a home or office has a premises controller for receiving and storing appliance control information. The premises controller includes a wireless transmitter for generating and transmitting a packet of appliance control information to an appliance controller based on the stored appliance control information. In one aspect of the invention, the appliance controller is spaced from the premises controller but within range of the generated packet transmission for interfacing with the premises appliance. The appliance controller further includes a packet receiver for receiving the packet of control information. In one aspect of the invention, the premises controller has a microprocessor. An infrared pulse generator is operatively connected to the microprocessor and generates and transmits an infrared pulse code to the appliance.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an inexpensive RFID Tag design which uses an inexpensive Backscatter Modulator. The modulator is simply a CMOS gate driven by a shift register containing a modulating signal. The CMOS gate is connected to the antenna such that it modulates the reflectivity of the antenna in accordance with the modulating signal. In a second embodiment, the Tag is incorporated into a single CMOS integrated circuit which comprises all of the components, except for the antenna, necessary to implement an inexpensive read-only RFID Tag.

Abstract: The present invention involves an adaptive digital radio communications architecture which can be reconfigured by reprogramming at least one programmable device, and thus more efficiently use the available bandwidth of a time-varying RF channel and/or to provide a flexible and adaptive digital communications system. In certain embodiments, the programmable device uses a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) to perform the digital communications processing functions of the transmitter or the receiver of a radio communications system. In this context, PLD is a general term representing a family of programmable logic devices; examples of this family are a Programmable Array Logic (PAL), a Complex PLD (CPLD), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The architecture is reconfigurable in the sense that any or all of the digital communications processing algorithms can be modified by reprogramming the PLD.

Abstract: A time-division-multiplexed fixed wireless loop system and methods therefor are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of cells each having a base station and a plurality of terminals. The base station includes a steerable and adjustable multibeam antenna for communicating with each of the terminals, which have fixed antennas. A cell controller associated with each base station allocates communication time slots so as to minimize mutual interference between base station/terminal links sharing the same time slot. Slot assignment is based on regional, periodically updated interference measurements that are stored in data bases.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus initiates a transaction and includes an acoustic data receiver, and microphone for receiving an audio signal having encoded data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal. The microphone converts the sound waves into an electrical signal. A processor receives the electrical signal and retrieves transaction data that is part of the encoded data. A filter is associated with the microphone and removes a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone. Once the transaction data is retrieved, a telephone call can be originated and at least a portion of the transaction data can be transferred to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

Abstract: A system and apparatus controls an appliance situated within a premises, such as a home or office. A premises recording unit is able to receive and store telephone information from a telephone network and includes a wireless transmitter for generating and transmitting a packet of control information to a premises appliance such as a coffee pot. An appliance controller is spaced from the premises recording unit, but within range of the generated packet transmission, for interfacing with the premises appliance. The appliance controller includes a packet receiver for receiving the packet of control information and is responsive to the information for controlling operation of the appliance.

Abstract: An antenna design for a tag operating in an radio frequency identification system minimizes the influence of reflecting surfaces upon the antenna radiation pattern. The antenna advantageously provides near uniform performance when the tag is in varying proximity to different metal reflecting surfaces. The antenna operates as a quarter wave patch antenna and is constructed from a rectangular metal patch separated from a larger metallic plane. This metallic plane serves as the reference ground plane for a circuit attached to the antenna, with a direct short between the patch and the ground plane along one edge of the patch. The dimensions of the metal patch are selected such that one quarter of a wavelength of incident radiation forms a standing wave on the antenna. A careful choice of dielectric material and lateral dimensions determine the bandwidth of the antenna.

Abstract: A time-division-multiplexed fixed wireless loop system and methods therefor are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of cells each having a base station and a plurality of terminals. The base station includes a steerable and adjustable multibeam antenna for communicating with each of the terminals, which have fixed antennas. A cell controller associated with each base station allocates communication time slots so as to minimize mutual interference between base station/terminal links sharing the same time slot. Slot assignment is based on regional, periodically updated interference measurements that are stored in data bases.

Abstract: An system and apparatus records and displays information received from a premises such as ambient temperature or information received over a telephone network. A premises recording unit is connected to a telephone network and receives and stores telephone information received therefrom. The premises recording unit includes a wireless transmitter for generating and transmitting a packet of telephone information received from the telephone network. The generated signals can be radio, infrared and ultrasonic. A packet receiver is spaced distant from the premises recording unit but within range of the packet transmission generated therefrom for receiving and storing the packet of telephone information. The packet receiver displays at least a portion of the packet of information.

Abstract: An system and apparatus records and displays information received from a premises such as ambient temperature or information received over a telephone network. A wireless transmitter generates and transmits a packet of telephone information received from the telephone network. The generated signals can be radio, infrared and ultrasonic. A packet receiver is spaced distant from the premises recording unit but within range of the packet transmission generated therefrom for receiving and storing the packet of telephone information. The packet receiver displays at least a portion of the packet of information.

Abstract: A radio communication system includes an Interrogator for generating and transmitting a first modulated signal by modulating a first information signal onto a radio carrier signal, the first information signal indicating in which of multiple response modes a receiving Tag should respond. One or more Tags of the system receive the first modulated signal and decode it to obtain the first information signal. A Backscatter Modulator modulates the reflection of the first modulated signal using a second information signal whose content, data rate, or modulation is determined by said first information signal, thereby forming a second modulated signal. The Interrogator receives and demodulates the second modulated signal to obtain the indicated second information signal.

Abstract: A duplex radio communication system includes an Interrogator which generates a first modulated signal by modulating a first information signal onto a radio carrier signal. The Interrogator transmits the first modulated signal to at least one remote Tag of the system. The remote Tag receives and processes the first modulated signal received at its Antenna. A Backscatter Modulator uses a second information signal to modulate the reflection of the first modulated signal from the Antenna, the reflected signal being a second modulated signal. The Interrogator receives and demodulates the second modulated signal to obtain the second information signal.