Abstract: A wireless network permits wireless devices to determine their own location and receive location-based services. The network includes a communication server coupled to a plurality of access points and at least one mobile wireless device that wirelessly communicates through the access points. Each wireless device includes a location table through which the wireless device can determine its physical location. The location table includes the physical location of the various access points indexed by their network addresses. When the wireless device communicates with an access point, the access point provides the wireless device its address. The wireless device uses the address of the access point as an index into the location table to determine its own location based on the location of the access point. Once the wireless device has determined its own physical location, it requests location-based services from or through the communication server.

Abstract: A method for implementing standard local area networks utilizing additional peripherals such as file and program storage devices, which combines the advantages of networked peripherals without the cost disadvantages. This is achieved by using the CPU memory of the LAN gateway to control low cost printers and storage devices.

Abstract: A wireless network permits wireless devices to determine their own location and receive location-based services. The network includes a communication server coupled to a plurality of access points and at least one mobile wireless device that wirelessly communicates through the access points. Each wireless device includes a location table through which the wireless device can determine its physical location. The location table includes the physical location of the various access points indexed by their network addresses. When the wireless device communicates with an access point, the access point provides the wireless device its address. The wireless device uses the address of the access point as an index into the location table to determine its own location based on the location of the access point. Once the wireless device has determined its own physical location, it requests location-based services from or through the communication server.

Abstract: A computer having a control panel for directly controlling software and hardware of the computer, eliminating the necessity of navigating software to control such functions. These direct controls can include audio CD controls, telephone answering machine controls, instructional software controls, power setting controls, and volume controls.

Abstract: A computer having a control panel for directly controlling software and hardware of the computer, eliminating the necessity of navigating software to control such functions. These direct controls can include audio CD controls, telephone answering machine controls, instructional software controls, power setting controls, and volume controls.

Abstract: A printed circuit board modular assembly is disclosed. The disclosed invention comprises a first printed circuit board having an electronic terminal portion for providing electrical connection to the first printed circuit board; a second printed circuit board having an electrical terminal portion for providing electrical connection to the second printed circuit board; a spacing member disposed between the first and second printed circuit boards; and electrical signal transmission contacts situated on the spacing member for providing electrical connection between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board.

Abstract: A printed circuit board modular assembly is disclosed. The disclosed invention comprises a first printed circuit board having an electronic terminal portion for providing electrical connection to the first printed circuit board; a second printed circuit board having an electrical terminal portion for providing electrical connection to the second printed circuit board; a spacing member disposed between the first and second printed circuit boards; and electrical signal transmission contacts situated on the spacing member for providing electrical connection between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board.

Abstract: The main system printed circuit board of a computer is mounted on a tray structure that also supports other CPU components of the computer and is removably insertable into the housing portion of the computer. A specially designed card edge connector portion of the system board is operatively insertable into a socketed connector on another circuit board interiorly mounted within the housing. Electrically conductive signal fingers and grounding fingers are respectively mounted on first and second sides of the card edge, with the signal fingers being connected to the signal plane of the system board, and the grounding fingers being connected to its ground plane.

Abstract: A pair of surface mountable electrical component interconnect devices are mounted in a back-to-back relationship on opposite side surfaces of a printed circuit board using specially designed elongated fastening structures that longitudinally extend through mounting holes in the circuit board and corresponding openings in the support board portions of the interconnect devices. Each of the fastening structures is of a plastic material and comprises male and female telescopingly engageable longitudinal sections, provided with enlarged head portions, that may be simply snapped together in an axial direction to create a firm locking engagement between annular exterior and interior barb portions respectively formed on the male and female sections.

Abstract: A surface mountable insulation displacement type connector for electrically coupling an end portion of a connector ribbon to a spaced series of surface mounted electrically conductive contact pads on a printed circuit board has an elongated base portion through which the central body sections of a longitudinally spaced series of metal contactor pins transversely and slidably extend. The pin body sections have bifurcated, barbed top end portions disposed above a top side of the connector base portion, and transversely enlarged bottom end portions disposed below the bottom side of the base portion. The base portion is secured to the circuit board by soldering the bottom pin end portions to the baord contact pads, with the slidable mounting of the pin body sections automatically compensating for board surface height variations in the region of the surface contact pads.

Abstract: The projecting underside connector portions on an electrical component are removably connected to surface mounted electrical contact points on one side of a printed circuit board using a specially designed interconnect device. The interconnect device includes a support board through which a spaced series of openings transversely extend, the openings being alignable with the component connector portions and the surface mounted contact points. Barrel portions of longitudinally resilient, electrically conductive connector pin members are anchored within the support board openings and have recessed first end portions positioned adjacent a first side of the support board and configured to removably receive and firmly hold the electrical component connector portions. Projecting outwardly beyond the second side of the support board are spring-loaded, longitudinally depressible second end portions of the connector pin members.