Abstract: A transmitting unit (10) transmits a video digital signal. The transmitting unit (10) is the delivery system associated with a source that can provide digital video signals, including but not necessarily limited to a satellite television system, a local television station or a cable television provider. A receiving unit (100) receives the broadcasted signal and demultiplexes the signal into a multicasting segment (52) and a baseline video bitstream (54). A portion of the multicasting segment (52) is stored in memory until such time that it is displayed on a television monitor (110). The baseline video bitstream (54) usually comprises a television show which is displayed on the television monitor (110) unless the multicasting segment (52) (e.g., commercial) is being displayed.

Abstract: A transmitter system (18) which transmits a communication signal (14) through a phased-array antenna (10) uses a signal processor (26) and a multiplicity of direct modulators (30). Each direct modulator (30) drives a single element (12) of the antenna (10). Each direct modulator (30) receives a digital baseband phase point data signal (62) from a digital data stream (28). The digital data stream (28) also conveys digital beam formation data (60). Each direct modulator (30) digitally combines the baseband phase point data (62) with the beam formation data (60) to produce digital streams that modulate an RF carrier signal (34). The digital data stream (28) is generated by a phased-array signal processor (26) which processes user data bits (86) received from any number of input signals (22) and processes beam signals (24). In one embodiment, the signal processor (26) calculates phase point data (62) representative of all input signals (22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining and separating groups of signals starts by a transmitter (500) receiving a number of CDMA-encoded signals from data sources (510). The CDMA-encoded signals are sorted (502) based on their intended destinations. Those CDMA-encoded signals which are intended for a common destination are multiplexed (504) together into a group. The group is further CDMA encoded (506) using a group code and the encoded group is transmitted (508) to an intermediate transceiver (600) or a destination transceiver (700). The intermediate or destination transceiver decodes (604, 704) the group using the appropriate group code and routes the resulting group of signals accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality and transmission rates of speech is presented. Upon connection of a call with a receiving terminal, a communication unit (12, 26, 28, 42, 57, 54, 60) reads a dynamic user-specific speech characteristics model (SCM) table and user-specific input stimulus table and sends them to an appropriate point in the connection path with the receiving terminal. As normal voice conversation begins, the user's speech is collected into speech frames. The speech frames are compared to input stimuli entries in the user-specific input stimulus table, and are used to calculate SCMs which are compared to dynamic user-specific SCM table entries in the dynamic user-specific SCM table to generate an encoded bit stream. Simultaneously, speech characteristics statistics are collected and analyzed in view of multiple available generic SCMs to update and improve the dynamic user-specific SCM table during the progress of the call to closely track changes in the user's voice.

Abstract: A voice encoding method ?and apparatus initialize! initializes (160) transmit and receive vocoders operated within communication units (12, 42) with a user-unique speech characteristic model (SCM) table (320) and an input stimulus table (340). The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) are created during a training task (120) and stored (144) in a user information card (360), within a communication unit (60), or at a control facility (90). During call setup, the tables are exchanged (180) between the transmit and receive vocoders and the user's speech is encoded (200) using the SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340). During encoding (200), either compressed table entries that most closely match the input speech, or indexes that identify the closest table entries are sent (220) in a bitstream to the receive vocoder. The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) can be updated (240) during or after the call.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention uses DSI with a TDMA/FDMA communication protocol. For each speech frame detected by a speech detector (110), a communication unit (CU) (108) sends (440) a speech detected indicator (SDI) (208) to a switching facility (SF) (138). In response, the SF (138) allocates an uplink reuse unit (260) which identifies a carrier frequency (301-360) and timeslot (190-193) which the CU (108) should use to transmit a traffic burst containing a compressed speech frame. The SF (138) allocates (506) the uplink reuse unit (260) from a pool of available uplink reuse units and, if necessary, allocates a downlink reuse unit (262) from a pool of available downlink reuse units. A message (220) describing the reuse units (260, 262) is transmitted (508) to the CU (108) which then transmits (450) and receives (480) traffic bursts during the allocated reuse units (260, 262).