Abstract: A method of administering an emergency call service in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) (60) includes: receiving a call at a switching facility (70) from an end user terminal (EUT) (52) served by the facility (70), the facility (70) providing the EUT (52) access to a telephone service feature; disabling the telephone service feature for the EUT (52) in response to the facility (70) recognizing the received call as an emergency call; routing the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) (80) serving a geographic region in which the EUT (52) is located; and, providing a call taker (84) at the PSAP (80) control over the telephone service feature, such that the call taker (84) can selectively enable the telephone service feature.

Abstract: A method is provided for regulating transmission power levels for wireless calls. The method includes: determining whether or not a mobile station (MS) (90) is outside a service area of a wireless telecommunications network (70); detecting whether or not a call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; setting a transmission power level of the MS (90) in response to the MS (90) being outside the service area of the wireless network (70) and detecting that the call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; transmitting call set-up signaling from the MS (90) at the transmission power level set for the MS (90); determining whether or not a base station (BS) (82) of the wireless network (70) receives the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); setting a transmission power level of the BS (82) in response to the BS (82) receiving the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); and, transmitting a reply to the call set-up signaling from the BS (82) at the transmission power level set for the BS (82).

Abstract: A method and apparatus whereby RF (radio frequency) interference in a Bluetooth wireless communications link is suppressed using an enhancement to the Bluetooth protocol which operates to eliminate noise that is induced on the RF path by external electronic interference. The sampling rate at a Bluetooth transmitter is doubled, and samples are transmitted alternately with and without audio data (e.g., the microphone input data for a Bluetooth headset in transmit mode, or the speaker output data for a Bluetooth mobile phone in transmit mode) included therein. At the Bluetooth receiver, received samples which have been transmitted without audio data are subtracted from (i.e., inverted and digitally added to) corresponding ones of the received samples which have been transmitted with audio data, and the receiver then advantageously uses (only) the (modified) samples resultant therefrom, thereby removing the interference from the signal without reducing the effective sampling rate.

Abstract: An alarm system integrating the sense of smell (i.e., an olfactory component) as an alerting modality is described. The olfactory component is uniquely recognizable and distinguishable from traditional visual or audible alerting components and can be used to increase the number of separate alarms that a person can respond to and/or decrease the reaction time for responding to the alarms.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for measuring performance in processing systems such as communications systems and computing systems. For example, a method of measuring performance in a processing system having a plurality of processing devices includes the following steps. A measurement system coupled to the plurality of processing devices generates an interrupt signal. The measurement system applies the interrupt signal to a set of processing devices under test, wherein the set of processing devices under test is selected from the plurality of processing devices, such that each processing device of the set under test makes data available to the measurement system. The available data represents data associated with the execution of at least one function performed by each processing device of the set under test.

Abstract: An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) defense system is described that forces premature detonation of IEDs by radiated sound energy signals. Embodiments of the invention provide for radiating sound energy signals from a stationary or mobile platform to a stationary or mobile area defining an “IED detonation zone.” IEDs within the IED detonation zone that are triggered by sound energy sources will receive the radiated sound energy signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.

Abstract: A system is provided for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure in a building (10) having a plurality of different localized areas (20). The system includes: a main fan or set of main fans (12) that is selectively controlled to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building (10); a plurality of interior sensors (22), each interior sensor (22) arranged to detect a localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building; a plurality of auxiliary fans (26), each auxiliary fan (26) being provisioned to selectively modify the localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building (10); and, a control unit (11) that is in operative communication with the plurality of sensors (22) to obtain air pressure readings therefrom, in operative communication with the plurality of auxiliary fans (26) to control operation thereof, and in operative communication with the main fan or set of main fans (12) to control operation thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided in a wireless telecommunications network (10) for capturing data regarding mobile stations (40) served by the network (10). The method includes: monitoring a designated geographic area provided wireless service by the telecommunications network (10) to detect call failures occurring in the monitored area; counting a number of failures detected via the monitoring that occur within a designated timeframe; comparing the counted number of failures to a threshold value; and, in response to the counted number of failures exceeding the threshold value, recording data regarding mobile stations (40) served by the network (10) that are recognized by the network (10) as at least one of in or near the monitored area.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing data wirelessly transmitted between a wireless peripheral (20) and a computer (10) to which the wireless peripheral (20) is wirelessly connected. The apparatus includes: a first device (30) that is operatively connected to a first component, the first component being the wireless peripheral (20); and, a second device (32) that is operatively connected to a second component, the second component being the computer (10). Suitably, at least one of the devices is operative to encrypt data from one of the components to which it is operatively connected prior to the data being wirelessly transmitted to the other one of the components, and at least the other one of the devices is operative to decrypt the data wirelessly received at the other one of the components.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for protecting the privacy of communication content by means of a synchronized noise insertion process operated by counterpart sending and receiving devices. In send mode, a synchronized noise pattern is introduced by a sending device onto a source content, rendering the source content unreadable (or at least partially obfuscating the source content so as to inhibit interception of the content); and in receive mode, a corresponding pattern is introduced 180-degrees out of phase so as to effectively subtract the synchronized noise pattern and yield the original source content. In such manner, communication privacy is achievable without encrypting, encoding or transforming the source content at the sending or receiving device.

Abstract: An electrically powered device (10) is provided that is equipped to receive television transmissions. Suitably, the device (10) is operative in one of two states, including a first state in which the device (10) is powered up for normal operation and a second state in which the device (10) is powered down for operation in a standby mode.

Abstract: A precautionary measure against wireless phone-triggered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) is described that forces premature detonation of the IED at a safe location, such as a position in advance of a convoy of vehicles or troops, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the IED. Embodiments of the invention provide for transmitting low power alerting signals (e.g., paging, ringing, message waiting, text messages) from a wireless terminal residing on a mobile platform that is operable to navigate a transportation path in advance of a prospective target, to mobile stations within close proximity of the platform defining an “IED detonation zone.” In such manner, mobile stations within the IED detonation zone that are IED triggering devices (as well as mobile stations that are not IED triggering devices) will receive the alerting signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.

Abstract: A precautionary measure against wireless phone-triggered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS) is described that forces premature detonation of the IED at a safe location, such as an unmanned checkpoint, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the IED. Embodiments of the invention provide for transmitting directionalized, low power alerting signals (e.g., paging, ringing, message waiting, text messages) from a stationary wireless terminal advantageously positioned a safe distance from a prospective target area, to mobile stations within a portion of a wireless service area defining an “IED detonation zone.” In such manner, mobile stations within the IED detonation zone that are IED triggering devices (as well as mobile stations that are not IED triggering devices) will receive the alerting signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for regulating transmission power levels for wireless calls. The method includes: determining whether or not a mobile station (MS) (90) is outside a service area of a wireless telecommunications network (70); detecting whether or not a call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; setting a transmission power level of the MS (90) in response to the MS (90) being outside the service area of the wireless network (70) and detecting that the call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; transmitting call set-up signaling from the MS (90) at the transmission power level set for the MS (90); determining whether or not a base station (BS) (82) of the wireless network (70) receives the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); setting a transmission power level of the BS (82) in response to the BS (82) receiving the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); and, transmitting a reply to the call set-up signaling from the BS (82) at the transmission power level set for the BS (82).

Abstract: A method for eliminating expired personal messages routed over a telecommunications network includes: receiving a message from a message originator for an intended recipient; at least temporarily storing the message; determining when the message expires based upon an expiration parameter included with the message; and, deleting the stored message automatically after the message expires.

Abstract: A system is provided for selectively connecting a plurality of diverse power adapters (12) to a specific portable electronic device (10). The system including: a set of connector converters (30), each connector converter (30) having a first end (32) which is configured the same as the first end (32) of every other connector converter (30) in the set; and a second end (34) opposite the first end (32), wherein the second end (34) is configured differently from the second end (34) of every other connector converter (30) in the set.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a building (10) includes: one or more microphones (22) arranged outside the building (10) to detect external noise; one or more speakers (24) arranged inside the building (10), the speakers (24) selectively producing sound within the building (10); and, a noise cancellation processor (28) that receives an output from the microphones (22) and in response thereto controls the speakers (24) so as to substantially cancel sound propagated into the building (10) due to the external noise detected by the microphones (22).

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detection of performance conditions in processing systems. For example, a method of detecting a performance condition in at least one particular processing device of a processing system having a plurality of processing devices includes the following steps. Data is input to a data structure associated with the particular processing device, over a given time period. The input data may be a buffer or a bucket. The input data represents data associated with the execution of at least one function performed by the particular processing device. The given time period includes the time period between consecutive heartbeat signals transmitted by the particular processing device. At least a portion of the input data is removed from the data structure associated with the particular processing device, near the end of the given time period. The removed input data is compared to an expected function execution level.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for measuring performance in processing systems such as communications systems and computing systems. For example, a method of measuring performance in a processing system having a plurality of processing devices includes the following steps. A measurement system coupled to the plurality of processing devices generates an interrupt signal. The measurement system applies the interrupt signal to a set of processing devices under test, wherein the set of processing devices under test is selected from the plurality of processing devices, such that each processing device of the set under test makes data available to the measurement system. The available data represents data associated with the execution of at least one function performed by each processing device of the set under test.

Abstract: A system for processing emergency calls in a telecommunications network includes: receiving a first call at a node (30) of the telecommunications network from a calling party that originated the first call; detecting that the received first call is an emergency call; establishing a conference bridge in response to the detected emergency call; connecting the emergency call over the conference bridge to a designated facility (40) that handles emergency calls; and, automatically originating at least one second call from the node (30) to at least one predetermined third party that is different than the calling party and the facility (40).