Abstract: A bin volume predictor can receive data characterizing measurements of a temperature at a plurality of temperature sensors of a temperature sensor cable that is positioned to extend along a height of the storage bin in an interior of the storage bin and data characterizing measurements of an ambient temperature of an exterior of the storage bin. The bin volume predictor identifies, based on the measured temperature for temperature sensors in the interior of the storage bin, a topmost covered temperature sensor of the temperature sensor cable. Moreover, the bin volume predictor determines, based on the identified topmost covered temperature sensor, an amount of material stored in the storage bin.

Abstract: Electronic smoking articles, and methods are provided. An exemplary article comprises a control body portion having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion is removably engaged with the control body portion. The cartridge body portion includes a consumable arrangement having an aerosol precursor composition, a heating element, and a second control component. The consumable arrangement is configured to communicate with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions. The first control component is configured to send a challenge to the second control component, and to receive a response to the challenge therefrom. The first control component is further configured to authorize the consumable arrangement for use with the control body portion, if the response corresponds to the challenge.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling heating of an aerosol precursor arrangement of an electronic smoking article. An average power is directed from a power source to a heating device arranged to heat the aerosol precursor arrangement and a heating time period commensurately initiated. The average power corresponds to a selected power set point associated with the power source. An actual power directed to the heating device is determined as a product of a voltage at, and a current through, the heating device. The actual power is compared to the average power, and the average power is adjusted to direct the actual power toward the selected power set point. The actual power is periodically determined and compared to the average power, and the average power adjusted toward the selected power set point, until expiration of the heating time period. An associated apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling heating of an aerosol precursor arrangement of an electronic smoking article. An average power is directed from a power source to a heating device arranged to heat the aerosol precursor arrangement and a heating time period commensurately initiated. The average power corresponds to a selected power set point associated with the power source. An actual power directed to the heating device is determined as a product of a voltage at, and a current through, the heating device. The actual power is compared to the average power, and the average power is adjusted to direct the actual power toward the selected power set point. The actual power is periodically determined and compared to the average power, and the average power adjusted toward the selected power set point, until expiration of the heating time period. An associated apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: Electronic smoking articles, and methods are provided. An exemplary article comprises a control body portion having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion is removably engaged with the control body portion. The cartridge body portion includes a consumable arrangement having an aerosol precursor composition, a heating element, and a second control component. The consumable arrangement is configured to communicate with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions. The first control component is configured to send a challenge to the second control component, and to receive a response to the challenge therefrom. The first control component is further configured to authorize the consumable arrangement for use with the control body portion, if the response corresponds to the challenge.

Abstract: A digital radio communication system has a mobile station and a base station, the mobile station transmitting messages to the base station in a series of frames. Each frame has a header with a frame number and an optional polling indicator. A method of determining whether the base station is capable of receiving a message in automatic retransmission request (ARQ) format is provided. The method includes the step of transmitting from the mobile station to the base station a single frame in ARQ format with a polling indicator set such that the base station is prompted to send a status frame in ARQ format if the base station is capable of receiving messages in ARQ format. The method also has the step of determining if a status frame in ARQ format is sent from the base station to the mobile station in response to the single frame. A mobile station operating according to the method of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: A method for increasing the bandwidth within an air interface between a mobile station and a base station is disclosed. The method involves the seizing of multiple random access channels on the dedicated control channel between a single mobile station and the base station. Individual messages are then transmitted over each of the seized random access channels on a frame-by-frame basis. Up to six channels may be seized and utilized at any particular time.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which improve message processing in lost data circumstances for a communication system communicating over a wireless communication link by receiving part of a message which has been transmitted over the wireless communication link and determining if sufficient information was received in the message to perform an operation specified by the message. The operation is performed if it is determined that sufficient information was received in the message to perform the specified operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multiline fixed cellular systems in which a plurality of plain ordinary telephone service connections utilize a plurality of cellular terminals to conduct radio communication. In particular, the present invention discloses novel methods and systems of solving the paging problem in multiline fixed cellular systems. In the invention, a plurality of plain ordinary telephone service connections having an upper page range and a lower page range are connected with a fixed cellular switch. The fixed cellular switch is connected with a plurality of cellular terminals which are capable of conducting radio communication with a cellular network. A control unit is provided connected with the fixed cellular switch and the cellular terminals for switching an activated plain ordinary telephone service connection to an available cellular terminal when an incoming page falls within the upper page range and lower page range.

Abstract: A mobile communications device such as a pager or a cellular telephone enters a low power state more promptly than under TIA/EIA/IS-136 standards when an incoming message is pending for the device but is delayed by a first message broadcast for another such device. The device calculates the number of frames or SPACH slots required under those standards for the message for the other device; if that number is more than that reserved for the message for itself then it powers down immediately until the next paging channel slot is to be received. If the number of frames or SPACH slots required for the message for the other device is the same as or less than that reserved for the message for itself, then the device powers down immediately only for the duration of the message for the other device. By so powering down, the device achieves great savings in battery power as compared to present practices, without delay in reading incoming signals directed to the device.

Abstract: In a radiocommunication system including at least one base station and a mobile station connected across a first radio channel to the base station, the signal strengths of the first radio channel and neighboring radio channels are measured in the mobile station to determine whether reselection to a neighboring radio channel is necessary. Each radio channel is measured at various points in a frame period or in different frame periods, the measurements occurring in different time slots. The points at which the signal strength measurements of each radio channel are made may be rotated among the different frame periods, the measurements may be made at random points in the different frame periods, or the starting times of the measurements may be rotated among or occur randomly in the different frame periods. Alternately, the signal strengths of each radio channel may be measured at different points in a single frame period.