Abstract: A device (100) has a port (108), a first SPS receiver (104), and a processor (106) coupled to the first SPS receiver and the port. The processor is programmed to detect (102) a second SPS receiver (107) at the port, deactivate (206) the first SPS receiver, and determine (208) a location of the device according to signals received by the second SPS receiver from GPS satellites.

Abstract: A multi-protocol phone call routing system (10) and method (40) can include a wireless transceiver (22) capable of operating on a primary wireless network (24) and at least one alternative wireless network (32), and a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver. The transceiver can be programmed to monitor (44 or 52) signal quality, location or cost on the primary wireless network or on the alternative wireless network and request (48) to carry traffic on the primary wireless network or the alternative wireless network. The system can be further programmed to request (54) canceling forwarded calls to the alternative wireless network transceiver portion when the signal quality on the primary wireless network reaches above the predetermined threshold and to transfer calls back to the primary wireless network when the signal quality on the primary wireless network reaches above the predetermined threshold and optionally power down (56) the alternative wireless network transceiver.

Abstract: A device (100) has a port (108), a first SPS receiver (104), and a processor (106) coupled to the first SPS receiver and the port. The processor is programmed to detect (102) a second SPS receiver (107) at the port, deactivate (206) the first SPS receiver, and determine (208) a location of the device according to signals received by the second SPS receiver from GPS satellites.

Abstract: A device (100) has a housing assembly having a plurality of housing portions which can shift relative to each other, a plurality of antennas (102) distributed among the plurality of housing portions, a receiver (104A) coupled to the plurality of antennas for receiving signals carrying information from a source, and a processor (106) coupled to the receiver. The processor is programmed to sense (202) one or more operating states of the device, and identify (204) from the one or more operating states an antenna from the plurality of antennas having a probability higher than the other antennas for successfully receiving information from the source.

Abstract: A method for decreasing entropy of a quantum system, for example nuclear spins. The quantum system comprising at least two subsystems, a first subsystem of elements with a first relaxation time (hereinafter—computation elements) and a second subsystem of elements with a second relaxation time (hereinafter—reset elements), the second relaxation time being shorter than the first relaxation time. The method comprises adiabatically decreasing the entropy of the computation elements in the system (by entropy compression, entropy transfer, or both) and increasing the entropy of at least some reset elements, so that the entropy of the subgroup of reset elements is overall increased; and waiting for the total entropy of the subgroup of reset elements to decrease, wherein the above two steps are carried out at least once.

Abstract: A portable wireless communication device having a display screen, a light source that is capable of illuminating the display screen, and a processor coupled to the light source, dynamically adjusts a period of time during which the display screen is illuminated. The processor couples power to the light source to illuminate the display screen, determines at least one illumination time parameter associated with information to be displayed on the display screen, and maintains a coupling of power to the light source for a period of time that is based on the at least one illumination time parameter. In other embodiments of the present invention, the processor may further determine to not illuminate the display screen, or to terminate illumination of the display screen prior to expiration of the period of time, based on a received instruction or a detected level of ambient light.

Abstract: A method for decreasing entropy of a quantum system of at least two subsystems, a first subsystem comprising elements with a first relaxation time (hereinafter—computation elements) and a second subsystem comprising elements with a second relaxation time (hereinafter—reset elements). The second relaxation time is shorter than the first relaxation time.

Abstract: Security gate apparatus for securing building openings in the nature of window and door openings are disclosed; and comprise a security gate including gate-carried locking means which, while of particularly sturdy construction and effective to render it extremely difficult if not impossible as a practical matter to open the security gate from without the building opening, are nonetheless virtually foolproof in operation, and which are very readily and conveniently openable from within the building, even by those of somewhat limited mental and/or physical capacities, in readily apparent manner to thereby insure virtually immediate exit from the building through the building opening for the building occupants in emergency situations.