Abstract: Automated test equipment (ATE) is provided with a plurality of hardware components, at least two of which provide a common test feature. The ATE is also provided with program code to access a number of security tokens, each token of which grants rights to use one or more test features without specifying a particular hardware component on which the test features are to be enabled. If a number of security tokens granting rights to use the common test feature are available, the program code enables the common test feature on user-selected ones of the hardware components that provide the common test feature, as permitted by the number of security tokens. Methods for provisioning and using the security tokens to enable the ATE are also disclosed.

Abstract: License management techniques for managing and analyzing license usage among license consumers.

Abstract: A low cost, automatic steering system and method of operation for mobile mounted, rotatable, directional antennas is described. The improved system and method provides a means to sense the direction of the satellite and also to determine changes in direction of the mobile vehicle on which the rotatable directional antenna is mounted, and uses those items of information to point the antenna toward the satellite and to maintain the pointing of the directional antenna as the vehicle changes speed and/or direction and during periods when the received communication signal is degraded or interrupted. The novel system and method separates the signal sampling for steering purposes from the antenna scanning for communication signal reception and replaces gyroscopes or magnetic compasses used with prior art systems to obtain directional information by deriving directional information from the action of the vehicle as determined by its steering mechanism and speedometer or equivalent devices.

Abstract: A time-division switching system including first and second control units operating in accordance with a generic program is disclosed. After a new generic program is stored in the second control unit, the first control unit still operating in response to the old generic program initiates the performance of a test sequence by the second control unit. The first control unit times the execution of the test sequence. When the test sequence is not completed within a predetermined period of time or when test results generated by the test sequence do not match expected test results, a failure message is generated. Alternatively, when the test sequence is completed within the predetermined period of time and test results match the expected test results, a success message is generated.

Abstract: A mobile, mechanically steerable satellite tracking antenna is described which employs a short vertically positioned length of coaxial cable bent at its upper end to an elevation angle setting at which the antenna is to be pointed. The flexible coaxial cable length carries a connector at its upper flexible end for quick connect/disconnect to an antenna element and reflector (if required). A rotatable mounting device is provided for supporting a fixed end segment of the flexible cable in a rotationally fixed position and carries an extended supporting arm at the end of which a sealed bearing unit rotatably supports the free flexible end of the cable which is bent to a desired elevation angle. The supporting arm with attached bearing unit and rotationally free but captured flexible free end of the cable is mounted on the outer housing of the mounting device and is rotationally driven by a reversible stepping or other motor via a gear train.

Abstract: An antenna utilizes a conductive helix mounted in front of a conductive cup and transformer impedance-matching balun, with the helix rotatable about the antenna center line to allow adjustment of the variable phase thereof with respect to a reference phase. An array formed of a plurality of the phase-variable antennas allows the maximum gain lobe of that array to be steered through some angle, relative to an array center line essentially parallel to the parallel center lines of the plurality of array antennas, by variation of the individual antenna phases, relative to a reference phase. The plurality of antennas may have the feed points thereof combined, to provide a high-gain steerable array of relatively great mechanical strength.

Abstract: An audience polling system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters, each transmitter capable of transmitting a pulse of electromagnetic energy on a selected one of a group of predetermined frequencies. Each frequency selected on which to transmit corresponds to one of a group of suggested responses to a given stimulus. The polling system includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted pulses and electronic counters for tallying the number of pulses received on each of the selected frequencies. An electronic display presents the results of the tallying for observation by the audience or others.

Abstract: An electronic voting system includes a plurality of wireless response units, each response unit capable of transmitting several different digitally coded signals. Each of these digitally coded signals corresponds to the response of a person responding to a given stimulus. Each response unit transmits a selected digitally coded response via a radio frequency signal during one of a series of time intervals, a different time interval corresponding to each of the response units. An interrogating and response processing unit signals the response units to commence response transmission and receives, processes and displays the transmitted responses for observation by selected persons.

Abstract: A metal seal plug for use in sealing a tubing run is disclosed. The plug includes upper and lower tubular housings connected together for limited movement therebetween by an inner mandrel. The lower housing contains a locking unit which when actuated locks into a recess formed in the tubing to lock the plug in the tubing. The upper housing contains an actuator for actuating the locking unit when the upper housing is forced down with respect to the lower housing. The lower housing also contains a metal seal ring which engages metal sealing surfaces on the tubing and on the lower housing to seal off the space between the plug and the tubing. The distance between the locking unit and the metal seal ring and the distance between the recess and the sealing surface on the tubing run are selected to ensure that the metal seal ring is properly loaded when the plug is locked in the tubing.

Abstract: The position of a ship or other object being located is determined at an earth station using an active ranging satellite and a satellite which transmits time signals. One line of position is determined by two-way active ranging through the first satellite. The other line of position is determined by one-way ranging from the second satellite. The time interval between the time of arrival of the timing signal at the ship and reception of the active ranging signal at the ship is measured and sent back to the earth station with the ship's active ranging response. The position fix is then computed at the earth station.

Abstract: The time-of-arrival of timing signals transmitted by two satellites is measured relative to a crystal clock, and an approximate position fix is computed for the ship or other object being located. Because of clock error the position fixes are displaced along a hyperbolic line of position. A two-way active range measurement through a third satellite or one timing signal satellite enables computation of an independently determined line of position, the true position fix being at its intersection with the hyperbolic line of position. The clock error is corrected and the method of position fixing from two timing satellites is repeated until the clock drift exceeds acceptable limits. A continuous navigation service and also position surveillance are realized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic, remote measurement of the internal delay time of a transponder at the time of operation is provided. A small portion of the transmitted signal of the transponder is converted to the receive signal frequency of the transponder and supplied to the input of the transponder. The elapsed time between the receive signal locally generated and the receive signal causing the transmission of the transmitted signal is measured, said time being representative of or equal to the internal delay time of the transponder at the time of operation.