Abstract: An interactive control unit is disclosed. The interactive control unit includes an interactive touchscreen display, an interface configured to couple the control unit to a surgical hub, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive input commands from the interactive touchscreen display located inside a sterile field and transmit the input commands to the surgical hub to control devices coupled to the surgical hub located outside the sterile field.

Abstract: A system to indicate the presence of one or more bystanders during wireless communications is herein presented. The system includes: a memory, controller, one or more bystander sensors, and a first transceiver device. The memory is configured to include one or more executable instructions. The controller is configured to execute the executable instructions. Each bystander sensor is configured to produce bystander information. The first transceiver device is capable of communicating with the controller. Moreover, the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive bystander information from the one or more bystander sensors; generate indicator information based on the sensor information; permit a first communication link to be established with the first transceiver device; and provide the first transceiver device with the indicator information through the first communication link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for choosing members of a local-area network and choosing a network coordinator among the members is provided herein. During operation a mobile node will determine presence information for nodes within its local area. These nodes will be solicited by the node to be part of a local-area network. Of all nodes that accept the request to form a local area network, a network coordinator for the local-area network will be chosen by determining which node's data budget allows for the cheapest transfer of data. The node with the best data budget is then chosen to be a network coordinator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: A method and system selects a serving cell based on call rejection information associated with registered user equipment (UEs). In particular, a UE initially registered with a first serving cell determines a first rejection rate for the first cell by tracking and evaluating call rejection information associated with the UE and neighbor UEs. If the first rejection rate is not greater than a threshold rejection rate, the UE transmits a connection request to a base station within the first cell. If the connection request fails, the UE searches, using call service redirection (CSR) information, for an alternate candidate serving cell with a low rejection rate. However, if the first rejection rate is greater than the threshold rejection rate, the UE determines whether an alternate candidate serving cell is identifiable using the CSR information. If the alternate candidate serving is identified, the UE attempts to register with the alternate candidate serving cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided that can perform multi-RAB communications with voice and data. The mobile communication device is adapted to predict an impending handoff event and delay the start of data connection message flow for enough time so that the handoff event can complete, abort or timeout without competing for signaling link resources, for example on a DCCH channel. After the handoff event is completed, aborted or timed out, the delayed data connect message flow is allowed to proceed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a social hierarchy for a user from a plurality of contacts includes, for each contact, tracking communications occurring between the user and the contact; determining, from the tracked communications, a rate of change for communications between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the rate of change, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact. Another method and apparatus includes tracking communications occurring between the user and a contact in the plurality of contacts, wherein tracking a communication comprises identifying a method of communication and a time the communication occurred; determining, from the tracked communications, that repeated communication attempts were made between the user and the contact; and identifying, based on the repeated communication attempts, a position in the social hierarchy for the contact.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device/station (MS) sends measurement reports of neighbor cells to a serving base transmitter station (BTS). The MS receives information messages transmitted by the BTS at a signaling period, while the MS is in a first cell. The MS is configured to receive a first information message and a subsequent second information message following a handoff. When both information messages are received, the MS transmits a measurement report to the base station, based on contents of the current, received information messages. Responsive to the MS failing to receive/detect the second information message, the MS transmits a measurement report to the BTS based on (a) a current/first information message(s) and (b) a previous information message of the same type as the undetected second information message. The BTS initiates another handoff based on the information in the second type of measurement report.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine an adaptive data rate in a wireless communication network. The method can include: setting (620) a wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold based on an average fade duration over a frame time; receiving (630) a number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages at a device over a given period; comparing (640), at the device, the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages to the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold; requesting (650) a higher data rate if the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages is below the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold; and requesting (660) a lower data rate if the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages is above the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine an adaptive data rate in a wireless communication network. The method can include: setting (620) a wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold based on an average fade duration over a frame time; receiving (630) a number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages at a device over a given period; comparing (640), at the device, the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages to the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold; requesting (650) a higher data rate if the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages is below the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold; and requesting (660) a lower data rate if the number of wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement messages is above the wireless network layer two negative acknowledgement message threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for choosing members of a local-area network and choosing a network coordinator among the members is provided herein. During operation a mobile node will determine presence information for nodes within its local area. These nodes will be solicited by the node to be part of a local-area network. Of all nodes that accept the request to form a local area network, a network coordinator for the local-area network will be chosen by determining which node's data budget allows for the cheapest transfer of data. The node with the best data budget is then chosen to be a network coordinator.

Abstract: A wireless mobile device/station (MS) sends measurement reports of neighbor cells to a serving base transmitter station (BTS). The MS receives information messages transmitted by the BTS at a signaling period, while the MS is in a first cell. The MS is configured to receive a first information message and a subsequent second information message following a handoff. When both information messages are received, the MS transmits a measurement report to the base station, based on contents of the current, received information messages. Responsive to the MS failing to receive/detect the second information message, the MS transmits a measurement report to the BTS based on (a) a current/first information message(s) and (b) a previous information message of the same type as the undetected second information message. The BTS initiates another handoff based on the information in the second type of measurement report.

Abstract: A method and a system for switching a mobile device (102) from a source Base Transceiver Station (BTS) to a target BTS in a mobile network (100) are disclosed. The method includes detecting an intention to switch the cell transmitted by the mobile device. A Base Station Controller (BSC) (112) then receives the switch detect time from the source BTS and/or the target BTS. The switch detect time is processed by the BSC to determine the switch time for the mobile device. The mobile device then switches from communication with the source BTS to communication with the target BTS, based on the switch time.

Abstract: A method of processing signals received from an electronic device (106, 202) in a cellular network (100, 200) that utilizes variable rate vocoding comprising receiving a first series of low rate frames (318) at the cellular network; receiving a high rate frame (320) that has at least one bit error at the cellular network after receiving the first series of low rate frames, wherein the rate of the high rate frame can be determined; and sending a request (310) to the electronic device to retransmit the high rate frame.

Abstract: A cell handoff signal processing system (200) including Base Transceiver System channel elements (204, 206) that receive multiple RF signals corresponding to a common RF signal containing user data transmitted by a wireless communications device (104). The multiple RF signals are received by antennas associated with different communications cells (230, 232) that are located at geographically separated antenna towers (120a, 120b). The at least one single base transceiver channel element (204) receives RF signals from geographically separated antenna towers (120a, 120b) through cell to channel element link (260) and simultaneously processes these multiple RF signals that were received at the geographically separated antenna towers (120a, 120b) so as to extract the user data transmitted by the wireless communications device (104).

Abstract: A method of processing signals received from an electronic device (106, 202) in a cellular network (100, 200) that utilizes variable rate vocoding comprising receiving a first series of low rate frames (318) at the cellular network; receiving a high rate frame (320) that has at least one bit error at the cellular network after receiving the first series of low rate frames, wherein the rate of the high rate frame can be determined; and sending a request (310) to the electronic device to retransmit the high rate frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the audio quality of a signal by reducing the effect of mis-determining the frame rate of a frame. The method includes the steps of determining that the frame rate of the current frame of information is eighth rate (324/340), determining that the previous frame was a full rate frame (334) and resetting the filter states of a speech decoder (336). The method further comprises the steps of utilizing alternative symbol error thresholds based on the number of consecutive frames with the same frame rate (308/328).

Abstract: A convolutional encoder (112) comprises a controller (201), having a transmission rate (e.g. frame rate) as an input. The controller (201) initializes the encoder (112) to an initial state based on a transmission rate currently being utilized. When decoding, a decoder (300) utilizes a Trellis diagram having an initial and final state based upon the frame rate.