Abstract: A medical sensor system comprises a gateway comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each gateway configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more wearable sensors and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the sensors to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one wearable sensor comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor data frame to the gateway using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from the gateway using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A medical sensor system comprises a gateway comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each gateway configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more wearable sensors and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the sensors to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one wearable sensor comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor data frame to the gateway using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from the gateway using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A method for wireless positioning includes: receiving by a plurality of controllers using wideband receivers a wideband positioning frame from one or more devices and transmitting using narrow band transmitters acknowledgement frames including timing and control data for use by the one or more devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and transmitting using a wideband transmitter by at least one of the devices the positioning frame to the plurality of controllers and receiving using a narrow band receiver the acknowledgement frame from one or more of the plurality of controllers, extracting timing and control information from the acknowledgement frame, and adjusting a timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A positioning system comprises a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each controller configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more devices and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one device comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the device configured to transmit a positioning frame to the plurality of controllers using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from one or more controllers using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A positioning system comprises a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each controller configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more devices and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one device comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the device configured to transmit a positioning frame to the plurality of controllers using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from one or more controllers using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A medical sensor system comprises a gateway comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each gateway configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more wearable sensors and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the sensors to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one wearable sensor comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the sensor configured to transmit a sensor data frame to the gateway using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from the gateway using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Abstract: A handheld data-processing device in the form of a personal digital assistant (PDA) (10) for use in an industrial environment includes an expansion module (100) arranged to be releasably fixed to a rear face of the PDA (10) and so as to be operatively coupled thereto. Each of the PDA (10) and the expansion module (100) includes a respective data communications connector (50, 150). Each connector (50, 150) is the same as the other connector (50, 150). Each connector (50, 150) includes two parallel rows of terminals (60, 70), with the terminals (60) of the first row projecting further from the remainder of the connector (50, 150) that the connectors (70) of the second row. The terminals (60) of the first row in each connector (50, 150) are for connecting with the connectors (70) of the second row in the respective other connector (50, 150) when the two connectors (50, 150) are brought together.

Abstract: A PDA (10) and an external battery pack (100) for fitting thereto. The battery pack (100) can be used to supplement an internal battery of the PDA (10). The PDA (10) has electrical contacts (40) that are for contacting electrical contacts (140) of the battery pack (100). The electrical contacts (40) of the PDA (10) are heat staked into material of a casing (20) of the PDA (10) to provide sealing therebetween. Electrical contact between the contacts (40) of the PDA (10) and a PCB (50) contained therein is provided by a respective helical spring (46) that abuts each contact (40) and the PCB (50). This helps to maintain the contact in the event that the PDA (10) is dropped. The electrical contacts (140) of the battery pack (100) are insert moulded in casing thereof to provide sealing therebetween.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising a casing (5); a speaker (20) mounted adjacent an orifice (10) of the casing (5); an air permeable membrane (25) sealingly mounted to the cading (5) intermediate the orifice (10) and the speaker (20), so as to form a chamber (35) between the speaker (20) and the membrane (25); wherein the membrane (25) permits the ingress and egress of air (30), into the casing (5) through the orifice (10).

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising a stylus for use with a touch screen of said portable electronic device; a storage portion for storing the stylus; said stylus comprising a grip at a first end of the stylus; an elongate portion connected to the grip, said elongate portion having a contacting end for engaging the touch screen of the portable electronic device; said elongate portion adapted to slide into the storage portion of the portable electronic device in order to store said stylus with said device; said portable electronic device including an engagement means for maintaining the stylus in the stored position; said engagement means including at least one resiliently deformable portion a recess, and; a projection wherein; the stylus is maintained in position through engagement of the recess and projection and released by application of force to the at least one resiliently deformable portion sufficient to deform said portion so as to effect relative movement of the projection and recess and so permit

Abstract: A transmit-only Bluetooth-compatible apparatus is described comprising: a protocol stack compatible with the Bluetooth protocol standard, the protocol stack including selected portions of the Bluetooth protocol used only for transmitting data; and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the protocol stack and configured to physically transmit the data. Also described is a receive-only Bluetooth-compatible apparatus comprising: a protocol stack compatible with the Bluetooth protocol standard, the protocol stack including selected portions of the Bluetooth protocol used only for receiving data; and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the protocol stack and configured to physically receive the data. Also described is a method comprising: generating a transmit-only Bluetooth protocol stack by removing elements of a standard Bluetooth protocol stack related to receiving data; and configuring the transmit-only Bluetooth protocol stack in a transmit-only wireless device for transmitting data.

Abstract: A computing system wherein communication between a host computer and peripheral units, e.g. computer mouse and keyboard, is performed using RF signals. The host computer and the peripheral units each contain a transceiver for managing and transmitting the RF communication messages. An acknowledgement is sent by the receiving transceiver to the sending transceiver to signify that the message was successfully received. If no acknowledgement is received by the sending transceiver, a subsequent RF communication message is sent until an acknowledgement is received. A sleep mode is invoked between messages to conserve battery power in the peripheral units, and the peripheral units send a report message to the host when awaking periodically, or by a user demand, from the sleep mode signifying that the peripheral unit is active and ready to send or receive messages.

Abstract: A wireless interface device for a keyboard of a computer system is achieved. The device comprises a radio transmitter and receiver. A modem encodes data to be sent by the radio transmitter and decodes data received by the radio receiver. A central processing unit is included. A direct signal connection is provided between the wireless interface circuit and a keyboard. A baseband circuit encrypts data to be transmitted and decrypts received data. The wireless interface device has built-in scanning and decoding functions for an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The wireless interface device has power saving functions to extend the battery life of the input device. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several communication frequencies or channels. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several data rates.

Abstract: A computing system wherein communication between a host computer and peripheral units, e.g. computer mouse and keyboard, is performed using RF signals. The host computer and the peripheral units each contain a transceiver for managing and transmitting the RF communication messages. An acknowledgement is sent by the receiving transceiver to the sending transceiver to signify that the message was successfully received. If no acknowledgement is received by the sending transceiver, a subsequent RF communication message is sent until an acknowledgement is received. A sleep mode is invoked between messages to conserve battery power in the peripheral units, and the peripheral units send a report message to the host when awaking periodically, or by a user demand, from the sleep mode signifying that the peripheral unit is active and ready to send or receive messages.

Abstract: A computing system wherein communication between a host computer and peripheral units, e.g. computer mouse and keyboard, is performed using RF signals. The host computer and the peripheral units each contain a transceiver for managing and transmitting the RF communication messages. An acknowledgement is sent by the receiving transceiver to the sending transceiver to signify that the message was successfully received. If no acknowledgement is received by the sending transceiver, a subsequent RF communication message is sent until an acknowledgement is received. A sleep mode is invoked between messages to conserve battery power in the peripheral units, and the peripheral units send a report message to the host when awaking periodically, or by a user demand, from the sleep mode signifying that the peripheral unit is active and ready to send or receive messages.

Abstract: A portable thread environment comprising: an application programming interface configured to support multiple application program tasks with each task comprised of one or more threads; host adaptation logic for communicatively interfacing the tasks and threads with a host processing environment; and a scheduler configured to determine an execution order of the one or more threads based on one or more execution variables.

Abstract: A wireless interface device for a keyboard of a computer system is achieved. The device comprises a radio transmitter and receiver. A modem encodes data to be sent by the radio transmitter and decodes data received by the radio receiver. A central processing unit is included. A direct signal connection is provided between the wireless interface circuit and a keyboard. A baseband circuit encrypts data to be transmitted and decrypts received data. The wireless interface device has built-in scanning and decoding functions for an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The wireless interface device has power saving functions to extend the battery life of the input device. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several communication frequencies or channels. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several data rates.

Abstract: A wireless interface device for a keyboard of a computer system is achieved. The device comprises a radio transmitter and receiver. A modem encodes data to be sent by the radio transmitter and decodes data received by the radio receiver. A central processing unit is included. A direct signal connection is provided between the wireless interface circuit and a keyboard. A baseband circuit encrypts data to be transmitted and decrypts received data. The wireless interface device has built-in scanning and decoding functions for an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The wireless interface device has power saving functions to extend the battery life of the input device. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several communication frequencies or channels. The wireless interface device has the capability of automatically selecting between several data rates.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for a portable thread environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first portable thread environment (PTE), comprising a diagnostic tool; a second PTE configured to receive and send threads; a third PTE configured to receive and send the threads; and a PTE router configured to receive the threads and route said threads, wherein the router copies the threads and routes the copies to the diagnostic tool.

Abstract: A portable thread environment comprising: an application programming interface configured to support multiple application program tasks, wherein each task is either a preemptive task comprised of preemptive threads or a cooperative task comprised of cooperative threads; host adaptation logic for communicatively interfacing said cooperative tasks, preemptive tasks, cooperative threads and preemptive threads with a host processing environment; a scheduler configured to determine an execution order of cooperative threads and preemptive threads based on each cooperative thread's and preemptive thread's priority levels.