Abstract: A communications system and method for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box (100) includes one or more central stations (101) that defines a region of operation. A central drop box (102) is associated with the central station (101) for providing a database of spectrum usage information. Stations (103, 105, 107) using the communications system may submit information regarding spectrum usage to the central drop box (102) that affects the region of operation (109, 115) for providing the most efficient and non-interfering uses of the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: The system includes a touch sensing system in communication with a host. An overlay including one or more actuators is provided for interaction with the touch sensing system. Each actuator includes a touch-generating member which provides a footprint to a touch sensor of the touch sensing system. A configuration module is provided in communication with the host and a configuration file is provided to the configuration module to define attributes of the touch sensing system and to provide an instruction set. Upon initialization of the touch sensing system the attributes defined by the configuration module are applied. Upon activation of the actuator, the footprint provided by the actuator is identified and the instructions of the instruction set associated with the identified footprint are implemented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating spectrum within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During operation, a first base station will determine a location of a UE wishing to transmit. A database will be accessed containing wireless coverage area information for base stations with overlapping coverage with the first base station. Based on this information the first base station will determine if the UE is within an overlapping coverage area of multiple base stations. Spectrum will be assigned to the wireless equipment in a guard band, based at least in part on the determination that the UE is not within the overlapping coverage area.

Abstract: A system is provided for updating attributes of a display for rendering an image. The system includes a tool, a host device, and a monitor including the display. The tool is utilized by the user to define the desired display attributes and to create and export a configuration file which includes the attribute information. The tool allows for creation of the configuration file without requiring the user to have knowledge of the firmware associated with the display. The configuration file is received by the host device. During operation of the display and upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the host device provides updates to the memory addresses of a display controller to effectuate updates to the display attributes. The system includes a host agent and a display agent and provides the ability to update memory addresses of the display controller which are unassigned under the communications standard utilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of a node within a mobile ad hoc cognitive radio network is provided. The method includes sensing at least one assigned communications channel. Sensing at least one assigned communications channel includes measuring a value of at least one parameter corresponding to the communications channel. The method further includes comparing the measured value of the at least one parameter with a set of stored values of the at least one parameter to determine a change in the measured values. Finally a sleep mode of the node is activated for a time period, wherein the time period is determined using the change in the measured values.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and network that expands safety network coverage for first responder safety within a building environment. Activity of at least one independent network (106) is monitored. The independent network (106) includes at least a safety network. An emergency signal is received from the at least one independent network (106). Communication between at least the safety network (106) and a First responder network (110) is automatically bridged in response to receiving the emergency signal so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation between the safety network and the first responder network. Other networks that may also be bridged with the first responder network so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation among the various networks include IT networks and building automation networks in order to expand first responder network coverage.

Abstract: A method, wireless controller, and information processing system that define communication channel allocation. Communication channel allocation commands associated with a first network are monitored (102). The first network (102) comprises a plurality of communication frequencies assigned by the communication channel allocation commands. A set of communication frequencies are determined that have been assigned to wireless devices (108) associated with the first network (102) in response to the monitoring. A specification of unused communication frequencies within the plurality of communication frequencies are transmitted to a second network (104) in response to the determining.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating spectrum within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During operation, a first base station will determine a location of a UE wishing to transmit. A database will be accessed containing wireless coverage area information for base stations with overlapping coverage with the first base station. Based on this information the first base station will determine if the UE is within an overlapping coverage area of multiple base stations. Spectrum will be assigned to the wireless equipment in a guard band, based at least in part on the determination that the UE is not within the overlapping coverage area.

Abstract: A method for priority-based admission control in a network, comprises receiving an admission request for transmitting an information flow to a network through a communication channel and determining an admissible region within a range of a channel data rate of a communication channel for an information flow in response to a priority of the information flow, where the priority of the information flow is one of a plurality of priorities of information flow. The admissible region is one of a plurality of admissible regions within the channel data rate range that correspond to different ones of the plurality of priorities of information flow, respectively, and each of the plurality of admissible regions within the channel data rate range is useable for transmitting information flow with a respective one of the plurality of priorities.

Abstract: A method for priority-based admission control in a network, comprises receiving an admission request for transmitting an information flow to a network through a communication channel and determining an admissible region within a range of a channel data rate of a communication channel for an information flow in response to a priority of the information flow, where the priority of the information flow is one of a plurality of priorities of information flow. The admissible region is one of a plurality of admissible regions within the channel data rate range that correspond to different ones of the plurality of priorities of information flow, respectively, and each of the plurality of admissible regions within the channel data rate range is useable for transmitting information flow with a respective one of the plurality of priorities.

Abstract: A communications system and method for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box (100) includes one or more central stations (101) that defines a region of operation. A central drop box (102) is associated with the central station (101) for providing a database of spectrum usage information. Stations (103, 105, 107) using the communications system may submit information regarding spectrum usage to the central drop box (102) that affects the region of operation (109, 115) for providing the most efficient and non-interfering uses of the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of a node within a mobile ad hoc cognitive radio network is provided. The method includes sensing at least one assigned communications channel. Sensing at least one assigned communications channel includes measuring a value of at least one parameter corresponding to the communications channel. The method further includes comparing the measured value of the at least one parameter with a set of stored values of the at least one parameter to determine a change in the measured values. Finally a sleep mode of the node is activated for a time period, wherein the time period is determined using the change in the measured values.

Abstract: A method, wireless controller, and information processing system that define communication channel allocation. Communication channel allocation commands associated with a first network are monitored (102). The first network (102) comprises a plurality of communication frequencies assigned by the communication channel allocation commands. A set of communication frequencies are determined that have been assigned to wireless devices (108) associated with the first network (102) in response to the monitoring. A specification of unused communication frequencies within the plurality of communication frequencies are transmitted to a second network (104) in response to the determining.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and network that expands safety network coverage for first responder safety within a building environment. Activity of at least one independent network (106) is monitored. The independent network (106) includes at least a safety network. An emergency signal is received from the at least one independent network (106). Communication between at least the safety network (106) and a First responder network (110) is automatically bridged in response to receiving the emergency signal so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation between the safety network and the first responder network. Other networks that may also be bridged with the first responder network so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation among the various networks include IT networks and building automation networks in order to expand first responder network coverage.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, cells (106) are formed by a plurality of localized nodes (104) to alert other nodes within the cell of frequencies which must be protected or otherwise avoided. All nodes within the cell monitor a differing subset of all frequencies available, and share information with respect to acceptable and protected frequencies with each other via low-power, short-range communication. Each node then forms a list of available channels for communication, and chooses a single node to report this information back to controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting data between two devices (101. 102) is provided herein. During data transmission, a data and a strobe signal are transmitted simultaneously on the I and Q-channels, respectively, of over-the-air interface. More particularly, QPSK modulation is utilized, with the strobe signal being transmitted via the I-channel, and the data signal being transmitted via the Q channel, (or vice versa). Additionally, illegal constellation transitions are utilized to signal the transmission of control information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocation of shared spectrum in a wireless communication system uses a radio frequency (RF) beacon signal that is transmitted between access points of the wireless communication system. The information content of the RF beacon signal includes an identifier of the access point that generated the signal, identifiers of clients of that access point; and identifiers of the communication channels assigned to those clients. The client identifier may include at least part of an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the client. Additionally the beacon signal may contain client attributes to enable negotiation of the sharing of available communication channels between access points and clients.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, cells (106) are formed by a plurality of localized nodes (104) to alert other nodes within the cell of frequencies which must be protected or otherwise avoided. All nodes within the cell monitor a differing subset of all frequencies available, and share information with respect to acceptable and protected frequencies with each other via low-power, short-range communication. Each node then forms a list of available channels for communication, and chooses a single node to report this information back to controller.

Abstract: The presence of the non-television transmission within a channel is used to indicate that secondary non-licensed usage of the channel is permitted. Specifically, if secondary users incorporate the means to identify the unique modulation signature of the secondary user, decoding of a beacon signal may not be necessary. With the above in mind, a radio will be prevented from transmitting within a frequency band when no transmission within the licensed spectrum is currently taking place; the licensee is currently transmitting on the spectrum (e.g., television transmissions are taking place utilizing the spectrum, or the radio cannot sense the presence of a data channel (beacon).

Abstract: A manufacturing method (700) and device ((100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) provide a fixturing frame with an optics array alignment for a wireless local area network optics fixture array that has a plurality of circumferential cavities for collecting and detecting optical signals to achieve a quasi-diffuse collection/reception pattern.