Abstract: To adjust an antenna and frequency diversity receiving apparatus comprising n antennas (A1-An) and using m receiving frequencies to the best antenna frequency combination each of the n antennas (A1-An) there is assigned an IF stage (Z1-Zn). A quality signal (Q1-Qnm) representing the receiving quality will be generated for each of the n×m possible antenna frequency combinations within the IF stages (Z1-Zn). A digital signal processor (DS) determines by comparing the best antenna frequency combination out of the n×m quality signals (Q1-Qnm). The selected antenna (A1) will be switched to the digital signal processor (DS) via a multiplex switch (M), and the assigned IF stage (Z1) is tuned to the determined receiving frequency.

Abstract: A database system for a global positioning (GPS) vehicular navigation device having a first database comprising street information data; a second database, comprising location information data that is independent of the first data; a working memory unit comprising a first memory area and a second memory area separate from the first memory area, where the first data comprising street information is stored in the first memory area and the second data comprising location information is stored in the second memory area.

Abstract: A tire pressure diagnostic system for vehicles is provided for diagnosing tire pressure for at least one of the tires based on the traveled distance of the vehicle and input indicative of the tire movement. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may be based on comparing the traveled distance of the vehicle with a distance determined based on the output from a tire sensor and a predetermined tire radius of the tire under proper inflation. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may also be based on comparing an actual radius of the vehicle, determined by the traveled distance of the vehicle, with a predetermined radius of the vehicle under proper inflation. The diagnosis of the tire pressure may further be based on comparing the number of wheel rotations, determined from the tire movement input, with a number of rotations determined based on the traveled distance and the predetermined radius under proper inflation.

Abstract: A system for outputting speech from speech data that may include an application, an internal speech data module, and an external speech data module is provided. The internal speech module stores default speech data that defines which speech data is compatible with the application. The external speech module, which may include a data carrier, may provide optional speech data, including a sequence identifier, separately from the application. To determine whether optional speech data fits the application, the application generates a sequence of one or more segment designators designating speech segments, and associating with them a sequence identifier. The application may also compare the sequence identifier generated by the application with that of the optional speech data. If a predetermined result occurs, the optional speech data may be used. Otherwise, the default speech data may be used. This method may be used to update default speech data with optional speech data.

Abstract: A control command, which has a command header sequence and a sequence of n parameters, is generated in a data source of a local network. The control command has a variable length defined by the data source. The control command is passed to the ring data line of the local network and is forwarded to a data sink. This data sink contains a control unit, a picture output unit, an interface and a memory, in which video data are stored. The video data can be read out and displayed on the picture output unit. The control command has n parameters of which the first m parameters are interpreted by the control unit. The number m is determined by the properties of the data sink and is independent of the properties of the data source. Using the m interpreted parameters, specific video data are read from the memory and are reproduced.

Abstract: A radio receiver for use in a vehicle, the radio receiver including a hard-disk drive having a hard disk, on which data can be stored in a non-volatile manner on storage locations of the hard disk, and a write-read memory so that data stored on the hard disk can be transferred into the write-read memory and can be displayed on a display device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation method for a means of transportation, in particular for a vehicle, motor vehicle, ship or aircraft, for navigating from a starting point to a destination, in which a route from the starting point to the destination is specified and the means of transportation or its user is guided along this route. Upon departing from the specified route before reaching the destination, the course traveled at least until re-entering the specified route or reaching the destination is recorded, stored in memory, and upon a later request for a route with the same starting point and destination, the course stored in memory is proposed as the route or the applicable route segment that replaces an originally proposed route segment.

Abstract: A car radio system includes a car radio and at least two speakers connected to the car radio. The system can be used by only some of the vehicle occupants without disturbing the other occupants by providing at least one of the speakers with a jack for connecting a headset plug and with a switch that can be used to deactivate playback via the speakers.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the reception of acoustic signals and an electric device, in particular, a telecommunications terminal, are described for interference-free reception of acoustic signals. At least two microphones can be connected to the electric device. The microphones convert acoustic signals received into electric signals. In addition, at least one adding element is provided to superimpose the electric signals of connected microphones with at least one phase delay element being provided to delay the phase of an electric signal before it is superimposed. The phase lag of the minimum of one phase delay element is selected so that the amplitude of the superimposed signal is in a predetermined range as a function of the location of the connected microphones for at least one predetermined location (55) when a sound source (55) delivers acoustic signals to the minimum of one predetermined location.

Abstract: A method is proposed for analyzing digital signals which are transmitted on a transmission frequency other than one set on a radio receiver. For this purpose, within a read cycle of thereceiver section of a radio receiver, a short-term and temporary switchover is made, during the duration of successive bits of the digital signal, from the current frequency to the other frequency, and the bits of the digital signal received during the temporary switchovers are buffered. The buffered bits of the digital signal are analyzed subsequently to the read cycle, or concurrently therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently managing data channels in a network such as a network implementing the commercially-available Media Oriented System Transport or Media Oriented Synchronous Transfer (MOST) network standard. A network implemented in accordance with the present invention optimally utilizes the limited number of data channels available on the network by assigning to a new connection a data channel that is currently assigned to another connection. This results in data channels having multiple assignments and occupations, increasing the transmission capacity of the network without increasing the total number of implemented data channels.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for electrical devices, in particular automobile radio devices, is proposed, offering a capability of easily delivering a test routine to the device via a chip card, and querying the test results by the same route.

Abstract: To avoid misconnections and to increase data protection during communication between devices (1 to 9), which are linked with one another in a first network (M) and devices linked with one another in a second network (I), a second address is assigned to each device (1 to 9) in addition to a first address which identifies the device in the first network (M). This second address is formed by connecting the first address to a mathematical formation algorithm, e.g. a prefix. This second address makes it possible to identify the devices linked with one another in the first network (M) as devices belonging to the second network. It is especially advantageous to choose the prefix in such a way that the second addresses are interpreted as private addresses in accordance with the definition rfe 1918. The inventive method is especially suited for communication between a private network, e.g. an MOST network (M) installed in a vehicle, and a public network, e.g. the Internet (I).

Abstract: A network that provides a simple mechanism for communicating between the network, such as a MOST network installed in a motor vehicle, and a second network, such as the Internet. One unit of the network includes a network layer of the second network as well as an associated application interface (API). The network layer is an Internet Protocol (IP) or Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) network layer. Also installed in the network unit is an associated application program interface. Together, the network layer and API enable the network units in first network to communicate with the second network. Proxy computers are installed in the remaining units to substantially reduce technical complexity without impairing communication with the second network.

Abstract: To design a network, e.g. an MOST network, so that it can also process data telegrams of other standards, the header section (A) of the data telegram, formatted in accordance with the standard of the network or in accordance with another standard, contains standard information, which specifies that the remaining section (B, C) of the data telegram is formatted in accordance with a second standard (TCP/IP), and also specifies this standard.

Abstract: A multimedia device for a motor vehicle includes a housing that defines a recess sized to accept a multimedia player. The multimedia player includes a front loading side through which recording media is loaded into and removed from the multimedia player. The multimedia player is pivotally fastened to housing so said multimedia player may pivot out from said housing at an angle of at least 90°. The multimedia device is preferably situated in the center console or mounted the front seats of the vehicle. Consequently, the front loading side of the multimedia player can be swung forward or backward in the vehicle, thus allowing the multimedia player to be operated conveniently both from either the front or rear seats. In addition, the multimedia player can conveniently be loaded and unloaded with recording media from either the front or rear seats.

Abstract: To enlarge the possible applications of a car telephone, its control unit can be turned-off. The wireless telephone is blocked for outgoing calls, but is on standby for incoming calls so data arriving during calls can be stored in a memory. The operator can at any time query these stored data. The operator can block undesired callers against reception. Furthermore, he can program the car telephone, for example, in such a way that it sends requests at prescribed times to prescribed communication services, in order to receive data from these, which likewise are stored in the memory.

Abstract: A navigation system for a motor vehicle includes a position acquisition device that identifies the current position of the motor vehicle and provides position data indicative thereof, and an imaging device that captures an image of an area adjacent to the motor vehicle and provides image data indicative thereof. A processing device receives the position data and the image data, and processes the position and image data to provide traffic data that is output to a motor vehicle user. Using information from redundant sources increases the reliability of the position information provided to the motor vehicle user.

Abstract: A navigation system for use in a motor vehicle receives starting position data and destination position data and computes driving directions between the starting and destination positions. The navigation system includes a first memory unit that stores a basic navigation database including road map information, and a receiver that receives supplemental navigation data including digital road maps, and provides received supplemental navigation data that is stored in a second memory unit. A navigation computer computes driving directions between the starting position and the destination position using information from the basic navigation database and the received supplemental navigation data, and outputs driving directions for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A control circuit for a video camera by which a charge image of an object to be recorded is adapted to be produced, the image being at least partly erased when being read-out for generating a video output signal. In order to avoid an image flicker of a video image produced by the video output signal when light supplied to the video camera is periodically interrputed, a reading-out of the charge image of the video camera is periodically prevented, at least during the period in which there is a light supply from the object to be recorded to the video camera.