Abstract: A method is provided for replacing at least one tire of a vehicle on a first wheel in a first wheel position, the vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system with a first sensor unit having a first ID code mounted to the first wheel. The first sensor unit is interrogated. Either a nominal result or a faulted result of the interrogation is detected. The at least one tire is removed from the first wheel. If the nominal result is detected during the interrogating step, then the first sensor unit is re-interrogated. Either a nominal result or a faulted result of the re-interrogation is detected. If either of the interrogation or the re-interrogation provide a faulted result then the first ID code is cloned into a replacement sensor unit and then the replacement sensor unit is swapped for the first sensor unit on the first wheel. A new tire is installed onto the first wheel. The first wheel is installed onto the vehicle in the first wheel position.

Abstract: A communications system operating in one or more frequency bands of various number of channels per band (for a total of N channels), and a novel transceiver for receiving these multiple bands of signals. The transceiver comprises an antenna and RF front end for each said band, a separate RF to IF downconverter for each said band. The IF for each band is centered at a succession of frequencies Fo such that the spectra for each band are non-overlapping, with the center frequencies. Analog-to-digital converter sampling rate is chosen such that one band is centered at baseband, and one or more other bands are centered at a specific relationship with the sampling rate such that each band is individually downconverted to baseband by appropriate selection of tap weight multiplying sequences (such as alternating +/− sequence for the case of Fo equal to one-fourth the sampling rate). An analog-to-digital converter converts analog signals to digital signals from the combiner.

Abstract: Most cable television systems in the United States (over 75% as of this application) are structured for one-way only service between the cable headend and the user. With more and more services being introduced that require a two-way connection with the user (e.g. impulse-pay-per-view, home shopping, Internet access), it has become necessary for more and more cable systems to upgrade to a two-way capability at considerable cost and over a fairly long period of time. The typical short-term solution to the lack of two-way capability is to send request backlinks over he user's telephone line. The problem with this solution is that when used, it ties up the telephone line and requires an additional telephone connection to be located near the cable set-top-box or modem. A more practical solution is the hub centered backhaul invention described herein. With this invention, users can operate their cable systems as if they were two-way systems, with all available interactive capabilities available.

Abstract: A position enhanced cellular telephone system wherein a cellular telephone device incorporates an RF position finder facility, a data modem and controller and a car alarm device, having a system for flexibly merging the functionality of the telephone device, position finder facility, data modem, controller, and car alarm, reduce overall components and lower the cost. A microprocessor, with a memory, is provided with a plurality of data input and output terminals. Car alarm and position signals from said RF position finder facility to an input terminal on the microprocessor. A signal conversion circuit converts RF to baseband and vice versa, and electronic switch device controlled by the microprocessor for coupling RF signals to and from the cellular telephone device to the signal conversion circuit.

Abstract: Most cable television systems in the United States (over 75% as of this application) are structured for one-way only service between the cable headend and the user. With more and more services being introduced that require a two-way connection with the user (e.g. impulse-pay-per-view, home shopping, Internet access), it has become necessary for more and more cable systems to upgrade to a two-way capability at considerable cost and over a fairly long period of time. The typical short-term solution to the lack of two-way capability is to send request backlinks over he user's telephone line. The problem with this solution is that when used, it ties up the telephone line and requires an additional telephone connection to be located near the cable set-top-box or modem. A more practical solution is the hub centered backhaul invention described herein. With this invention, users can operate their cable systems as if they were two-way systems, with all available interactive capabilities available.

Abstract: An accessory device for portable telephones which provides simultaneous functionality of a hands-free accessory device and a data-in-voice modem enabling a portable telephone to be used in a vehicle such that the driver can be engaged in a hands-free conversation at the same time as data (such as GPS position information) is being sent over the same cellular voice channel.

Abstract: An existing TDRSS satellite communication system is incorporated, together with low-power ground-based remote transceivers of special design, and additional beamforming and steering elements at the ground terminals, to make possible digital communication between low power field transceivers and satellite ground terminals. The satellite communication system transmits to its ground terminals a composite signal, comprising amplified, phase-coherent signals received by an array of broad-coverage antennas on the satellite. The field transceiver transmits a pseudonoise coded signal spread across all or a portion of the satellite's receive bandwidth. At the ground terminals, the downlinked composite signal is processed by a beamformer to define a narrow, high-gain beam between the satellite and low-power transceiver. Signal processing gain and beamformer gain in combination serve to elevate the received, demodulated signals well above the noise level at the receiver.

Abstract: An information broadcast system having a broadband broadcast system selected from cable and satellite for broadcasting requested information from a selected information source, including the Internet, to one or more selected subscriber stations includes an independent backhaul channel for communicating information request signals from a subscriber station to one or more central processing stations. The system includes a data broadcast station for transmitting requested data from the selected data source and central station via the data broadcast station to the one or more selected subscriber stations. The high-data rate broadcast station forwards requested data from a data source to the data broadcast station. A backhaul satellite communication system, independent of the broadband broadcast system, has a backhaul satellite ground terminal for coupling information request signals from backhaul satellite communication system to high data broadcast station terminal.

Abstract: A universal interactive control system for the downloading and playback of information and entertainment services from one or more network distribution centers, said one or more network distribution centers providing information and entertainment signals selected from video and audio programs, video catalogs, and data files, said universal interactive control system. The interactive control system includes: a controller circuit, a data distribution circuit controlled by the controller circuit, a data processor circuit controlled by the controller circuit, and a first plurality of interface connector circuits, with a first of the interface connector circuits for connecting the distribution circuit to a display device under control of the controller, and a second of the interface connector circuits for connecting the data distribution circuit to a storage device under control of the controller circuit.

Abstract: An existing TDRSS satellite communication system is incorporated, together with low-power ground-based remote transceivers of special design, and additional beam forming and steering elements at the ground terminals, to make possible digital communication between low power field transceivers and satellite ground terminals. The satellite communication system transmits to its ground terminals a composite signal, comprising amplified, phase-coherent signals received by an array of broad-coverage antennas on the satellite. The field transceiver transmits a pseudonoise coded signal spread across all or a portion of the satellite's receive bandwidth. At the ground terminal, the downlinked composite signal is processed by a beamformer to define a narrow, high-gain beam between the satellite and low-power transceiver. Signal processing gain and beamformer gain in combination serve to elevate the received, demodulated signals well above the noise level at the receiver.

Abstract: A demodulator apparatus for demodulating a data bearing broadcast signal in the absence of mixers and without incurring quantization errors. The apparatus incorporates a receiver for receiving a broadcast signal and producing therefrom a predetermined intermediate carrier frequency (F.sub.IF), transversal filter connected to receive the intermediate carrier frequency F.sub.IF has N active stages and tap weight means at each of said stages for entering a tap weight sequence to yield maximum correlation energy when desired alignment occurs to thereby make phase and frequency agreement between local timing and the received signal, and the frequency F.sub.IF is sampled at a clock rate (F.sub.s) of: ##EQU1## wherein F.sub.IF is the intermediate frequency and K is a scaling factor which is related to the number of carrier cycles per stage, the transversal filter includes a charge coupled device having the N active stages.

Abstract: A personnel capsule extraction apparatus having a personnel capsule mounted on extraction platform which is ejected from a low flying aircraft at an altitude between five and ten feet above the ground. A drougue parachute is utilized to deploy a large extraction parachute which pulls the personnel capsule out of the aircraft.