Abstract: A system and a method for connecting a call through a telecommunications network. A base station, connected to a public switched telephone network, includes a call processor, a memory and a transceiver. The memory includes a database containing dialing instructions for a wireless station for a telephone connection through the public switched telephone network to a destination station. The transceiver receives a call request from the wireless station, and the call processor in response to the call request, accesses the database and dials a call for connection through the public switched telephone network to the destination station based on the dialing instructions for the wireless station.

Abstract: Communications network architectures integrate communications using a geosynchronous satellite communications system including a geosynchronous communications satellite operating in the fixed satellite service (FSS) band and a low earth orbit satellite communications system including a plurality of low earth orbit communications satellites. A low earth orbit gateway having a terminal is used to communicate with the low earth orbit communications satellites using multiple access communication channels, and is used to communicate with a public switch telephone network. A geosynchronous gateway having a terminal is used to communicate with the geosynchronous communications satellite by overlaying multiple access communication channels onto fixed channel assignments and transmitting the overlayed channel assignments. The terminal in the geosynchronous gateway is also used to communicate with the public switch telephone network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing quality of service and transponder utilization billing for use with a data broadcasting system. The data broadcast system includes a plurality of receivers coupled to a plurality of channel encoders, a multiplexer for multiplexing encoded channels, and a transmitter for transmitting the channels. A video system controller is coupled to the multiplexer and channel encoders. A content access management system schedules, tracks, and reports customer content, and a transponder management system outputs billing reports. In accordance with the present invention, the multiplexer generates statistical feedback to the encoders to control encoding quantization rates to achieve optimum channelized video throughput. The video system controller generates quality parametrics comprising average channel quantization rates that are indicative of the quality of each channel of the data broadcasting system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retractable seat assembly for a motor vehicle which is fully retractable below the level of the vehicle's floor. Typically, the invention involves a bench-type seat which is located behind the driver and passenger seats of a minivan or other vehicle. In an operative position, the seat has generally upright seatback which cooperates with a lower horizontal member to provide the seating portion. In the non-operative or stored position, the entire seat assembly is positioned below the level of the vehicle's floor. In one application, the forward edge and rearward edge of the seat are interconnected to the body of the vehicle for pivotal movement about translatable and fixed axes, respectively.

Abstract: A wireless broadband communication system architecture is structured to provide an array of narrowband and broadband services to an end user on demand. The bandwidth of delivery is dynamically adjusted to deliver and satisfy service requirements by utilizing the appropriate bandwidth on demand. Bandwidth-on-demand is provided in accord with the invention by rearranging spectrum allocations so that a particular band spectrum is convertibly used to accomplish different purposes depending on present allocations and active applications of the system. The communications system is designed to utilize wireless communication for end point delivery to both fixed and potable terminals. The system supplies basic telephone service, wireless ISDN service, wireless data service, wireless multimedia service and various other wireless broadband service including types of interactive and broadcast video.

Abstract: A universal wireless radiotelephone communication apparatus is operative in both a first radiotelephone communication system including a first base station having a wide area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a first band of frequencies and in a second radiotelephone communication system including a second base station having a localized area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a second band of frequencies higher than said first band of frequencies. The second band of frequencies is optimally selected with an offset of less than twice a frequency contained within said first band.

Abstract: A wireless base station architecture that is particularly well-suited for providing audio, video and data services. An exemplary embodiment preferably transmits to all of an area those "common services" (e.g., broadcast television) that are intended to be received by multiple recipients throughout the area, but, in contrast, transmits only into a sector those recipient-specific services (e.g., point-to-point voice services, interactive video services) that are intended for less than all of the recipients in the area. In an exemplary embodiment, a demultiplexor directs both broadcast video and recipient-specific or "sectorized" video signals to a video processor, which prepares them for transmission. The demultiplexor also directs sectorized audio signals to an audio processor/RF combiner, which prepares them for transmission.

Abstract: An information system for automatically providing mobile vehicles with information related to their geographical location and to provide routing control information downloaded from a broadcasting or directed cellular call source includes a GPS receiver and associated data storage unit. A cellular packet data receiver is included to receive data with location markers from a transmission source. The data from the data storage unit and the received data with location markers is coupled to a controller module which includes stored program controls to select data relevant to the present geographical location and to provide centralized alerts and local readout in the mobile vehicle of this information.

Abstract: A new communication system merges a voice communication with an image communication into a single transmission channel to provide a virtual voice/video communication service over a limited channel bandwidth. A voice communication path is established between two subscriber communication stations and a desired still picture image is transmitted via the voice channel at the start of the transmission. Portions of the still image expected to be visually active during the communication, such as facial movements (e.g. the lips of the speaker), are replaced at the receiver by an idealized representative image. The voice portion of the transmission is digitally encoded and transmitted from the transmitting station to the receiving station. Synchronous activation of the idealized image (e.g. the lips) are animated by code book coefficients of the digitized speech message.

Abstract: A universal wireless radiotelephone communication apparatus is operative in both a first radiotelephone communication system including a first base station having a wide area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a first band of frequencies and in a second radiotelephone communication system including a second base station having a localized area of coverage, transmitting radiotelephone signals at a second band of frequencies higher than said first band of frequencies. The second band of frequencies is optimally selected with an offset of less than twice a frequency contained within said first band. The wireless radiotelephone communication apparatus has a common baseband circuitry for operating with both the first base station covering the wide area and with the second base station covering the local area.

Abstract: A mobile data telephone capable of transmitting and/or receiving voice and/or data signals over cellular communication channels or other air interfaces comprises a radio transceiver and a data modem in the same physical package. The transceiver and the modem have their respective controllers coupled so that they are effectively linked to achieve control of data transfer therebetween. In response to communication channel conditions in the air interface, the data flow between the modem and an audio processor of the transceiver can be selectively altered yielding high performance and high quality data transfer rates in the presence of severe channel impairments.

Abstract: An off-line switcher includes an auxiliary winding on the secondary side of the power transformer coupled by a power switch to a secondary voltage source in order to provide uninterruptible power to the output from either a primary AC or a secondary DC source. The power switches coupling both primary and secondary source voltages to the power transformers are driven at identical duty cycles by a common regulation control. Differing transformation ratios between primary and secondary sources of power define different operational ranges and determine flow of power based on the magnitude of the primary source of power.

Abstract: A microcomputer surveillance system is operative to monitor the output signal of a power supply to determine if an alarm limit has been reached and to center the alarm limits around an operating point of the power supply. Sensed output signals are converted to signal frequencies and transmitted optically to counters which accumulate counts indicative of the output signal. A microcomputer controller uses these counts to set alarm limits and determine if an alarm limit has been exceeded.

Abstract: A base drive circuit for a power switching transistor in a power inverter circuit utilizes a center tapped current transformer winding to regeneratively couple the collector current of the power switching transistor to its base drive electrode. A first segment of the center tapped transformer winding is coupled via a control transistor to provide proportional base drive to the power transistors when it is biased into conduction.This forward drive mode continues until the control transistor is biased nonconducting, at which point, the second segment of the center tapped transformer winding is connected to the base drive electrode to provide a reverse drive current to the power transistor base to provide rapid turn-off and reset the transformer.

Abstract: A pulse-width modulated current regulator (FIG. 4) includes a current flare out control (406,407,409,412) to limit current output at low output voltages. Current variation in an output filter inductor (408) is monitored and compared with a reference standard (407). A conduction interval is controlled in response to the comparison in order to limit current flare out.

Abstract: A turn-off loss reduction network is applied to the power transistors of a double-ended inverter circuit to reduce power dissipation therein. A switched resonance discharge circuit is utilized to discharge the storage capacitor of the turn-off loss reduction network. Dissipation during discharge is eliminated by including an energy recovery circuit in the discharge network which is operative to return the energy to the input voltage source of the inverter. The gate discharge circuit includes a gated resonant discharge path with an inductive storage medium having a secondary winding or otherwise coupled to return the energy to the input voltage source.At the beginning of the conduction cycle of the power switching transistor, a gate is enabled which allows the capacitor to discharge into the inductive storage medium. When the discharge current reaches its peak value, the gate is disabled, and the energy stored in the inductive medium is discharged to the source by flyback action.