Abstract: A patch antenna with wider bandwidth, better axial ratio over the angle and controlled radiation patterns is provided. A central fixed patch antenna is surrounded with reactively or resistively loaded peripheral monopoles as surface-wave excited parasitic radiators. The surrounding monopoles may be printed on the same substrate as the patch, and may take a spiral (pin-wheel) shape.

Abstract: A patch antenna with wider bandwidth, better axial ratio over the angle and controlled radiation patterns is provided. A central fixed patch antenna is surrounded with reactively or resistively loaded peripheral monopoles as surface-wave excited parasitic radiators. The surrounding monopoles may be printed on the same substrate as the patch, and may take a spiral (pin-wheel) shape.

Abstract: The present invention is a selective announce system for announcing the receipt of electronic mail and instant messages (e-mail). The e-mail has an attached sound file and a predetermined identifier regarding the nature of the sound file. This sound file may be in the sender's voice, a third party's voice, a computer-simulated voice, or some combination. Upon receipt of the e-mail, the sound file is played or used to convert some portion of the e-mail text to voice. The sound file may be played at a recipient computer or it may be played at a recipient's voice mail or it may be played at some other terminal.

Abstract: A local CPE broadcasts incoming call information to at least one remote CPE. Before or after at least one ring tone is received, the local CPE is taken off-hook. An incoming voice message is received, and the incoming voice message is broadcast over a communications network to the remote CPE. Alternatively, incoming caller data is received, a corresponding voice message is determined as a function of at least a portion of the incoming caller data, and the voice message is broadcast over a communications network to the remote CPE. As a further alternative, the caller data is broadcast over the communications network, and the corresponding voice message is determined by the remote CPE. As yet another alternative, incoming call information is announced using on-hook customer premises equipment (CPE). An indication of an incoming CPE alerting signal (CAS) tone is received, a frequency shift keying (FSK) signal is detected as a result of receiving the indication.