Abstract: A radio (10) communicates compatibly with a dedicated short range roadside information service and is adapted and configured to be worn by a pedestrian or otherwise mounted on or installed in a variety of nonautomotive roaming objects. Various modes of operation are supported including a beacon mode (50), a remote transmitter mode (60), a remote disable mode (70), and a location based operating mode (80).

Abstract: An in-vehicle system (10) having a radio (12) sends and receives messages that include an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle and that further includes affinities as correspond to the vehicle and/or occupants of the vehicle. The messages can constitute requests for information (43), offers to provide information (44), and other representations. Such requests and offers can correlate to an information payload contained within the message and/or to the affinities set forth in the message identifier.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system (10) having a radio (12) sends and receives messages that include an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle and that further includes affinities as correspond to the vehicle and/or occupants of the vehicle. The messages can constitute requests for information (43), offers to provide information (44), and other representations. Such requests and offers can correlate to an information payload contained within the message and/or to the affinities set forth in the message identifier.

Abstract: Substantive informational conflicts as between navigation information provided by an in-vehicle navigation unit (101) and an in-vehicle roadside information service receiver (107) are detected (203). When detected, information from one source or the other is modified (207). Such modification can include alteration and/or deletion of one information item or the other. The modification can alleviate the conflict and/or otherwise provide alternative information to a user of the vehicle to support journey goals.

Abstract: An in-vehicle system (10) having a radio (12) sends and receives messages that include an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle and that further includes affinities as correspond to the vehicle and/or occupants of the vehicle. The messages can constitute requests for information (43), offers to provide information (44), and other representations. Such requests and offers can correlate to an information payload contained within the message and/or to the affinities set forth in the message identifier.

Abstract: A radio (10) communicates compatibly with a dedicated short range roadside information service and is adapted and configured to be worn by a pedestrian or otherwise mounted on or installed in a variety of nonautomotive roaming objects. Various modes of operation are supported including a beacon mode (50), a remote transmitter mode (60), a remote disable mode (70), and a location based operating mode (80).

Abstract: Substantive informational conflicts as between navigation information provided by an in-vehicle navigation unit (101) and an in-vehicle roadside information service receiver (107) are detected (203). When detected, information from one source or the other is modified (207). Such modification can include alteration and/or deletion of one information item or the other. The modification can alleviate the conflict and/or otherwise provide alternative information to a user of the vehicle to support journey goals.

Abstract: An apparatus at a fixed portion (102) of a communication system controls utilization of software (398) in a portable communication device (122) that includes a transceiver (302) for communicating with the fixed portion. The portable communication device receives (604) a request for utilization of the software. In response, the portable communication device seeks (612) a usage authorization for utilizing the software by generating (614) an external authorization request (428) that includes at least one of a size (396) of the software, a software name (394), a secure checksum, and an address (313) identifying the portable communication device, and by communicating (616) the external authorization request to the fixed portion.

Abstract: A hybrid analog-digital phase error detector (107) is utilized for detecting a phase error between first and second clock signals (132, 104). Digital and analog phase error detectors (108, 116) are connected to the first and second clock signals (132, 104), and are utilized for producing digital and analog phase error values (110, 118). The digital and analog controllers (112, 120) connected to the digital and analog phase error detectors (108, 116) execute digital and analog control algorithms based on the digital and analog phase error values (110, 118) to produce digital and analog control signals (114, 122). A summer (124) connected to the outputs of the digital and analog controllers (112, 120) combines the analog control signal (122) and the digital control signal (114) to produce a composite control signal (126) representing the phase error.

Abstract: A battery powered paging receiver for receiving paging messages includes a memory for storing address information for the paging receiver and for storing information related to features or functions of the paging receiver. When the address information of the received paging message corresponds to the stored address information, the paging receiver processes the received paging message in accordance with the stored information related to features or functions of the paging receiver.

Abstract: A radio receiver (40) for receiving an RF signal comprises receiving circuitry (42) for receiving and demodulating the RF signal and a microcomputer (44) coupled to the receiving circuitry (42) for enabling and disabling the receiving circuitry (42) at predetermined times. The radio receiver (40) further comprises an expansion chip (68) coupled to and controlled by the microcomputer (44) for communicating therewith to further process the RF signal. Communication between the microcomputer (44) and the expansion chip (68) occurs at a first speed when the receiving circuitry (42) is enabled and at a second speed faster than the first speed when the receiving circuitry (42) is disabled.

Abstract: A cooperative paging system (10) and radio telephone system (15) combine to provide conventional delivery of short paging messages to a combination pager/radio telephone (40) via a first communication path, while a radio telephone link operating at a higher data rate is used to deliver large data messages to the pager/radio telephone (40). The radio telephone link is formed by a transceiver section (205) of the pager/radio telephone (40) coupling to a radio telephone base station (50,52) and calling up a paging terminal (32) of the paging system (10). The paging terminal (32) retrieves the large data messages from a temporary message memory (42) to deliver to the pager/radio telephone (40).

Abstract: A battery saving apparatus selectively supplies power to the receiver functions of a battery powered communication receiver at predetermined time intervals prior to the reception of coded message signal. The selective supplying of power to the receiver functions enables the reception of the coded message signal with the receiver functions being powered prior to and only as long as is required for the receiver functions to stabilize and to enable reception of a coded message signal. The predetermined time intervals for the receiver functions are programmed into a code plug to provide the capability to change the turn-on times when required.

Abstract: A selective call receiver capable of presenting a message comprises a receiver for receiving a signal including a synchronization word and a security code word, and a processor for disabling the selective call receiver if the security code word is not received in conjunction with at least one of a predetermined number of synchronization words.

Abstract: A vibratory feed device is described for producing a high-speed single-file stream of aligned food articles. The feed device comprises a vibratory guide trough extending longitudinally from a receiving end to a discharge end. The guide trough has inclined and transversely-opposed sidewalls. An endless feed belt travels longitudinally through the guide trough from the receiving end to the discharge end. The feed belt has outer portions which incline upwardly to form a concave conveyor surface for conveying food articles through the guide trough. The guide trough oscillates to singulate and align food articles within the concave conveyor surface. The feed device also includes a redirection sheave at the discharge end of the guide trough. The redirection sheave supports the feed belt along a redirection arc which extends at least partially about the redirection sheave. An endless hold-down belt faces the feed belt along the redirection arc to hold food articles against the feed belt.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (1110) provides geographic protocol conversion for message delivery between communication transceivers (1118, 1118') operating within at least two geographic areas (1116, 1116'). The satellite based communication system (1110) comprises a first communication transceiver (1118) which provides two-way message delivery within a first radiotelephone network (1114) located within at least a first geographic area (1116), the two-way message being encoded in a first predetermined message transmission protocol. The first communication transceiver (1118) further enables two-way message delivery with a communication satellite (1120), the message also being encoded in the first predetermined message transmission protocol.

Abstract: A battery saving apparatus selectively supplies power to each receiver function of a battery powered communication receiver at predetermined time intervals prior to and continuing therefrom for enabling the reception of the coded message signals with each receiver function being powered only as long as is required for each receiver function to stabilize prior to the reception of the coded message signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a satellite signalling system. A ground station receives paging signals from an earth-bound terminal, and an up-link radio transmitter/antenna transmits paging signals and control signals to a satellite in earth orbit. An up-link receiver coupled to the satellite receives the paging and control signals. A down-link transmitter is coupled to an antenna whose beam may be directed in a predetermined sequence to a plurality of locations on earth as paging signals are transmitted to earth.

Abstract: An out of range detector determines whether a communications device is out of range of its signal if the signal is not detected and a history of received signal strength values consistent with approaching out of range is measured prior to nondetection of the signal.

Abstract: In a selective call radio paging device, a plurality of alerts are generated in response to the decoding of a message having an address corresponding to the address assigned to the pager. A specific alert envelope waveform is generated and drives an alerting device of a first type (e.g., a transducer). Inverting means is provided to invert the envelope and cause a second alerting device (e.g., visual) to be activated in a manner complementary to the first. Thus, alerting devices are not operated concurrently, and peak loads on a resident power source are avoided.