Abstract: A method is disclosed for computing the local time and date of a mobile computer, when a user has traveled to a time zone different from his or her home time zone is disclosed. A system identification number is received through a cellular transceiver which is associated with an antenna. The system identification number is received by the mobile computer through a cellular modem. A database is provided within the mobile computer listing all of the system identification numbers throughout the North American Cellular Network. The database also provides the geographic location and time zone for each system identification number. Also listed in the database is information whether daylight savings time is observed in the geographic location associated with the system identification number. The computer, upon receiving a system identification number, searches the database for the same identification number.

Abstract: A flexible cable assembly for coupling an electronic apparatus, having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, to at least one peripheral device, said flex cable assembly comprises a personal computer card connector, in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, for connecting into a corresponding port in the electronic apparatus, and a flexible cable connected to the personal computer card connector. The personal computer card connector also comprises an interface to said at least one peripheral device. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the flex cable assembly can also couple a first electronic apparatus, to a second electronic apparatus, each having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for "seamlessly" integrating telephone services relative to primitive analog telephone equipment into general purpose computer systems. The integration is effected through present "secondary" adaptation of data link control adapter devices which are adapted primarily for coupling such computer systems to high speed data communication links for transmission and reception of digital data. This permits general resources of the computer system (keyboard, memory, disk drives, etc.) to be used for specific applications associated with telephone services. Presently described link control devices have a telephone attachment port which couples through analog-to-digital conversion circuits to a primitive analog telephone (no dial or keys). Such devices operate normally in time division multiplex to process communication data between a computer (host) system and data link ports.

Abstract: A mobile data terminal external antenna is disclosed for use with a battery powered data processing terminal which includes a radio frequency communication device, such as a cellular telephone transceiver. Multiple antenna elements are mounted within a D-shaped flexible tubular member having a very low dielectric constant which is then affixed to the external surface of the data processing terminal, utilizing an adhesive on the flat surface thereof. The flexible tubular member is preferably mounted along at least two edges of the data processing terminal display module such that spatial or polarization diversity for the multiple antenna elements may be provided. A coaxial connector is utilized to couple the multiple antenna elements to a radio frequency communication device within the data processing terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for enhanced data transmission within a cellular telephone system having multiple assigned voice channels separated by adjacent buffer voice channels. A data processing terminal is utilized to divide the data stream into multiple relatively short data packets which are then sequentially transmitted within alternate adjacent buffer voice channels. By switching from one adjacent buffer voice channel to a subsequent adjacent buffer voice channel, in a predetermined and repetitive order, as each data packet is transmitted, the amount of interference experienced in any one assigned voice channel is minimized. Synchronization between adjacent data packets may be achieved by either utilizing adjacent buffer voice channels in a predetermined and repetitive order or by concatenating an indication of the next buffer voice channel utilized with each data packet. A synchronization packet may also be included with each data packet to permit synchronization between adjacent data packets at the receiver.

Abstract: A single chip integrated data link control (IDLC) device provides full duplex data throughput and versatile protocol adaptation between variably configured time channels on a high speed TDM digital link (e.g. T-1 or T-3 line) and a host data processing system. The device can handle multiple channels of voice and varied protocol data traffic, and thereby is suited for use in primary rate ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) applications. Synchronous and asynchronous special purpose logic sections in the device respectively interface with the network and a bus extending to external processing systems. Logic in the synchronous section forms plural-stage receive and transmit processing pipelines relative to the network interface.

Abstract: A telephone network having a public announcement system is disclosed. Announcements are divided into message segments each of which is stored in a sector of a disc memory. When an announcement is activated, the message segments are loaded into a corresponding number of buffers for transmittal to calling customers. Each buffer will transmit the entire message, but in real time the buffers contain different message segments. Upon request for an announcement, the buffer containing the beginning message segment is selected to minimize holding time and customer waiting.