Abstract: A command decoder circuit generates command signals for performing internal operations and according to external command signals, according to values of the write latency values and whether write latency is an even numbered or odd-numbered value.

Abstract: A power-down control circuit utilizes the control signals employed in an active mode operation to operate when a power-down mode entry command is received during an active mode operation. The circuit is simplified requiring less area for devising the control circuit while lowering power consumption. The power-down control circuit in a semiconductor memory device includes at least a clock enable buffer unit, an external clock buffer unit, a latch unit, a control circuit for controlling internally operating clocks employed in active mode operation by using a control signal used in the active mode operation when a power-down mode entry command is received during the active mode operation, and a clock enable generation circuit for outputting clock enable signals for enabling entry to the power-down mode by using the clock control signals, when the external clock pulse signal is low level.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device, system and method embodiments decode interleaved row and column request packets transferred on an interconnect at a first clock frequency. Separate row decode logic and column decode logic, clocked at a relatively slower second clock frequency, output independent column and row control internal signals to a memory core in response to memory commands in the request packets. An integrated circuit memory device includes an interface having separate row and column decode logic circuits for providing independent sets of row and control signals. A row decode logic circuit includes a first row decode logic circuit that provides a first row control signal, such as a row address, and a second row decode logic circuit that provides a second row control signal. A column decode logic circuit includes a first column decode logic circuit that provides a first column control signal, such as a column address and a second column logic circuit that provides a second column control signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving horizontal spatial resolution of a flow field in compact jet-like current features so as to quantify the axial velocity in the cross section of a compact jet using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP is a four-beam, Janus-type ADCP having beams aligned so that each of the beams is at an angle of about 20° to 30° to vertical and at 45° to the fore and aft axis of the vessel, such that two beams point at 45° to forward and two pointing 45° to aft. The measurements from each range bin of the aft-facing beams are combined with the previously measured samples from the corresponding forward-facing beams at the same position along the vessel track.

Abstract: An obstacle sensor includes: a supersonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in a first range, the supersonic sensor including a substrate, a transmission device and a reception device disposed on the substrate; a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a second range; and a case. The reception device includes multiple reception elements. At least a part of the first range of the supersonic sensor is different from the second range of the detection element. The supersonic sensor and the detection element are disposed in the case.

Abstract: In a method for processing an echo profile generated by a pulse-echo ranging system, the echo profile is compared with a time-varying threshold function to identify valid echoes in those portions of the echo profile which exceed the TVT function. Based on the amplitude and/or area above the TVT function, each echo is rated and attributed a level of confidence. The echo with the highest level of confidence is selected as the echo of interest, and the level of confidence is reported. To provide an improved echo processing with increased accuracy in determining the confidence level of the selected echo of interest, it is furthermore determined whether the portion of the threshold function which timely corresponds to the selected echo of interest is part of a hump-shaped section of the threshold function. If so, said section is reshaped to reduced hump amplitude, and the confidence level of the echo of interest is redetermined based on the amplitude and/or area above the reshaped TVT function.

Abstract: A system and method for providing precision locations for sensors which make up an array of sensors in a gunshot detection system. In a preferred embodiment sensors employ a commercial GPS which reports a sensor position or a group of pseudoranges to GPS satellites. A server collects differential information from a differential node and, in one preferred embodiment, calculates a precision position for each sensor by adjusting the reported position or pseudoranges with the differential information. In another preferred embodiment differential information is sent from the host to individual sensors which calculate their own precision positions. Differential information may be latitude and longitude corrections, pseudorange corrections, ionospheric delay, GPS satellite clock drift, or other corrective term which will improve the accuracy of a sensor position.

Abstract: A device for seismic emission in an underground formation comprising one or more vibrators of any type and method for implementing same. According to a preferred embodiment, each vibrator comprises at least one pillar (1) of sensitive elements (of piezoelectric type for example) between two end plates or slabs (2, 3) and a signal generator for applying vibrational signals to the pillar. The pillar (1) is coated with a protective sheath (4) and the vibrator is positioned in a well or cavity (W) and embedded in a mass of a solid coupling material (7) in contact with protective sheath (4) and the two end plates (2, 3) over at least part of each of the respective faces thereof, which provides coupling of the vibrator with the surrounding formation. The vibrators can be buried at intervals in relation to one another in a well. Sequential triggering thereof with selected delays allows reinforcement of the waves emitted by the device in a preferred direction.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a controller having an integrated circuit operable in at least a first and second mode, and a dial having a window through which at least one indicator is visible, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode indicator positioned on an actuation mechanism side of the dial, wherein the mode indicator has at least a first indicator and a second indicator each respectively representative of one of the at least two modes within which the electronic device is operable; a gearing assembly comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the mode indicator so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the mode indicator; an actuation mechanism, rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the actuation mechanism causes the rotation of the mode indicator; wherein the integrated circuit controls the actuation of the actuation mechanism so as to initiate the rotation of the mode indicator; and ac

Abstract: The device includes data entry means (10), control means (14) connected to means (12) for displaying said data. The invention is characterised in that it further includes a processing unit (16) inserted between the data entry means (10) and the control means (14). The processing unit (16) includes a memory (11) for storing reference times and particularly the Time Out, a counter (18) storing the time TC that elapses from the start of a manipulation and the time TM the elapses between two manipulations, and a comparator (21) including a first comparison unit (23), which acts on the one hand on an ON/OFF switch (24) to interrupt, via control means (14) the energy supply when TC>TO and which, on the other hand, enables TO to be altered at the end of a series of manipulations as a function of certain reference times of the memory and the speed at which the manipulations have been carried out.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a striking mechanism (20) which includes a mobile part (60, 70), and a time-setting mechanism (16) which cooperates with a winding stem (26). The time-setting mechanism (16) includes a pull-out piece (50) whose pivoting is controlled by a time-setting lever (30). The pull-out piece (50) controls the sliding of a sliding pinion (36) from a winding position to a time-setting position. The pivoting of an isolating lever (94) is controlled by the mobile part (70) of the striking mechanism (20) so as to cause the sliding pinion (36) to slide from the winding position to an intermediate position, located axially between the winding position and the time-setting position thereof.

Abstract: A timepiece movement is disclosed which may comprise a going train, and a mechanism having a first cinematic connection with the going train and arranged to drive an indicator member in a stealthy rotational movement, the latter being activated periodically with a predefined period. The mechanism may also comprise a first wheel-and-pinion unit comprising a first wheel at least indirectly in engagement with the going train, a second wheel-and-pinion unit, mounted coaxially with the first wheel-and-pinion unit and, having at least one stop region and a second wheel, these being integral in rotation. A second cinematic connection connects the second wheel to the indicator member, an elastic member connecting the first wheel-and-pinion unit to the second wheel-and-pinion unit in such a way that its degree of tension is a function of respective angular positions of the first and second wheel-and-pinion units.

Abstract: The surface of metallic appearance of the timepiece dial has a visible morphology corresponding to that of mother-of-pearl. According to the process for manufacturing this dial, a mother-of-pearl sheet is subjected to a sandblasting operation, to give its surface finish the morphology of mother-of-pearl, this surface is cleaned and coated with a layer of metallic appearance.

Abstract: A watch with a clockwork comprising a ringer whose actuation is controlled from outside the watch by means of a control unit, a dial plate comprising an opening, a shutter (10) movable between a first position covering the opening and a second position leaving the opening free. The control unit (12) is arranged in such a way that it enables the shutter to be moved from the first position to the second position when the ringer is actuated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic recording medium in which a seed layer, under layer, intermediate layer, first magnetic layer, nonmagnetic layer, second magnetic layer, protective layer, and lubricant layer are successively laminated on a glass substrate, the nonmagnetic layer is constituted of an alloy containing Cr and C, and the magnetic layer is constituted of an alloy containing Co and Pt. The under layer includes at least the seed layer for finely dividing the crystal particles of the magnetic layer, the seed layer includes at least two or more layers of nonmagnetic films, and the intermediate layer formed of the material different from that of the nonmagnetic film is interposed between the nonmagnetic films. In measurement of the thermal stability of the magnetic recording medium, a head is used, the head includes a read/write element, and a write track width is twice or more as large as a read track width in the head.

Abstract: If regeneration is not performed normally when data is regenerated from a medium, a read retry processing unit changes the intensities of the laser beam and of the regeneration magnetic field respectively to prearranged stages to perform the regeneration again. A regeneration condition change unit remembers the regeneration sector number for one read command from the higher order. When retry occurs, the regeneration condition change unit counts the number of the sectors for each stage which can be regenerated at each stage, and by providing a coefficient for each stage in advance, changes the default regeneration condition using the sum of products of the coefficients and the number of the counted regenerable sectors.

Abstract: An optical recording medium 10 on which recording/reproducing or reproducing is performed by irradiating a light by means of an objective lens 4 having a numerical aperture equal to or more than 1 wherein an optical recording portion 2 is provided at least at the outer most surface at the irradiation side of the optical recording medium 10 and a relation n?NA is selected when the refractive index of the recording portion 2 is n and the numerical aperture of the objective lens 4 is NA. Accordingly, it can propose an optical recording medium and an optical recording/reproducing method suitable for a near-field optical recording method which uses an objective lens having a numerical aperture equal to or more than 1.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus for stable tracking lead-in of an optical disc which has wobble grooves as tracks, including: a signal detection unit that detects tracking error and wobble signals from an optical spot; a speed detection unit that calculates a relative moving speed between the optical spot and the tracks; a polarity judgment unit that judges that the optical spot is on a land if a wobble signal amplitude value is equal to or lower than a predetermined value in the vicinity of a zero-cross point; a moving direction judgment unit that, when the relative moving speed is within a predetermined range and the optical spot is on a land, judges a moving direction of the optical spot from a rise/decay direction of the tracking error signal; and a control unit that performs a tracking lead-in by reducing the moving speed, based on the moving speed and moving direction.

Abstract: An objective lens actuator of the present invention is an actuator capable of driving an objective lens which condenses a laser beam on an information recording surface of an optical disk, in each of a focusing direction, a tracking direction and a radial tilt direction. The actuator comprises a fixed unit including first and second magnets, and a moving unit which is arranged between the first and second magnets and which includes the objective lens, focusing coils, tracking coils, and a radial tilt coil. Each of the magnets is divided into four areas and being magnetized such that adjacent areas have opposite poles N and S, respectively. A direction of the magnetization is orthogonal to the focusing direction and tracking direction.

Abstract: An optical pickup device comprises a semiconductor laser that causes outgoing of laser beam used for reproduction and recording of information on an optical disk, and an objective lens that conducts the laser beam outgoing from the semiconductor laser to the optical disk. The objective lens is driven by a yoke, a focusing coil, a tracking coil, etc. These elements are accommodated in a pickup housing. First and second bearing portions supporting the pickup housing to make the same movable are attached to the pickup housing and arranged on both sides with the objective lens therebetween. The yoke is thermally connected to the first bearing portion positioned on an opposite side of the yoke to the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: A compact and light flying head type magneto-optical head apparatus is provided. The magneto-optical head apparatus (1) of the present invention comprises a suspension (12) whose one end is fixed to a lower surface of an arm (11), a slider (13) fixed to a free end of the suspension (12), and a magnetic modulation coil (14) and an object lens (15) mounted on the slider (13). The slider (13) mounted with the magnetic modulation coil (14) and the object lens (15) floats due to a wind pressure caused by rotation of an MO disk (3). The magneto-optical head apparatus (1) is further provided with a collimeter lens (21) between a light source (71) and the object lens (15) in a hybrid optical apparatus (7) provided to the arm (11), and a position of the collimeter lens (21) can be adjusted vertically along an optical axis O-O by a collimeter actuator (23), so that optical conditions between the light source (71) and the object lens (15) are improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for causing an optical beam to impinge on a spot on an optical medium, while keeping an optical head apparatus in an essentially stationary position, such that it eliminates the need for a tracking function to move an optical head apparatus in order to direct an optical beam between tracks or to an location on the optical medium.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device whose optical axis adjustment can be performed while an increase in cost is suppressed and whose optical axis correction can be accurately performed even when a variation in arrangement between laser elements occurs. The optical pickup device includes a semiconductor 101 that houses at least three laser elements having at least three different emission wavelengths in a single package, and first and second diffraction gratings 102 and 111 for substantially matching optical axes of lasers emitted from the laser elements with the optical axis of the reference laser beam by a diffraction effect. The first diffraction grating 102 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect. The second diffraction grating 111 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for DVD (655 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a signal to determine on-track/off-track and/or a track cross direction, using a detection signal corresponding to a reflected main light beam and detection signals respectively corresponding to reflected first and second sub light beams, and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus using the same are provided. When detection signals respectively corresponding to one side portions, in a direction corresponding to a radial direction of the optical information storage medium, of the respective main light beam and first and second sub light beams are referred to as a first main signal, a first sub signal, and a second sub signal, respectively, the method and apparatus include obtaining a first operational signal, which is used to determine on-track/off-track and/or a track cross direction, by performing a subtraction on the combination of the first and second sub signals, and the first main signal.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus according to one aspect of this invention comprises a detection unit configured to detect a manufacturing error unique to an information storage medium, a transmission unit configured to transmit the manufacturing error detected by the detection unit to an external apparatus, a reception unit configured to receive a recordable capacity which is calculated by the external apparatus on the basis of the manufacturing error transmitted from the transmission unit, a limitation unit configured to limit data to be supplied on the basis of the recordable capacity received by the reception unit, and a recording/aborting unit configured to record the recording data, supply of which is limited by the limitation unit, or to abort recording of the recording data.

Abstract: A light sensing area of a light sensing element is comprised of A1 region, A2 region, B1 region, B2 region and N region. A tilt detector carries out a tilt detection in accordance with a first difference signal, which is a difference signal between a signal obtained from the A1 region and a signal obtained from the B1 region, and a second difference signal, which is difference signal between a signal obtained from the A2 region and a signal obtained from the B2 region. Accordingly, an optical-disk tilt detecting signal having a little influence of defocusing can be obtained even at boundaries between recorded information tracks and non-recorded information tracks.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical information recording method of an optical information recording and reproduction device that uses a semiconductor laser to record or reproduce data in an optical disk. Based on a detected value of an optical path difference of the optical disk, a calculated value of optimum recording power for recording data or an object value of recording power when data are being recorded is corrected. In addition, when calculating the optimum recording power before recording data in the optical disk, an optimum index (?) indicating the optimum recording power is corrected with respect to a predetermined first index, and the corrected optimum index is used as the calculated value of the optimum recording power Pwo. The predetermined first index is obtained by reproducing a trial write region which is recorded with recording power being varied stepwise.

Abstract: A device for recording digitally encoded video information records video segments and playback information for controlling the playback of the segments. The device has an error detection unit (32) for detecting recording errors, and a bridging unit for creating a bridge segment in the event of a detected recording error. The bridge segment (360,460) replaces the recorded video between an exit point in a segment before the detected recording error and an entry point in a segment after the recording error. The bridge segment (360,460) is recorded in a location in the track different from a location of the detected recording error. Further bridging playback information is recorded for controlling in playback mode to reproduce the encoded video up to the exit point via the bridge segment and continuing at the entry point.

Abstract: Disclosed is electronic equipment enjoying improved ease of use, and a highlighting method and a program to be implemented or installed in the electronic equipment. For example, a user performs manipulations so as to reproduce a content up to the middle of the content, and then turns off a power supply. When the user turns on the power supply next, a playback selection menu screen image is displayed and “Playback from the middle thereof” is highlighted. Consequently, when the user wants to reproduce the content from the middle of the content, the user need not worry about whether to reproduce the content from the beginning or the middle thereof. The user should merely finalize the highlighted item. This would prove user-friendly and helpful. When the electronic equipment is used outdoors or the like, the number of manipulations to be performed on the equipment is smaller than the number of manipulations conventionally performed.

Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc and a recording medium employing the method. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in n.xy form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: A mark representing information of a multivalued level is recorded in each of cells arranged in a recording medium. Upon reproducing the multivalued level from a reproduction signal of the recording medium, the multivalued level of a present cell is judged by referring to a judged multivalued level of a preceding cell preceding the present cell or an ensuing cell ensuing the present cell, or by referring to the judged multivalued levels of both the preceding cell and the ensuing cell.

Abstract: An automatic power calibration apparatus for optical recording devices and a method therefore.

Abstract: An information recording medium wherein an optically detectable information recording medium is comprised of at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer. The information recording medium has surface roughness R? on the surface of the recording layer, which is in contact with the resin layer, under 5 nm. The information recording medium controls the reproduction signal noise, enables highly densified recording.

Abstract: An optical recording medium including two or more recording layers which are capable of transmitting at a high transmittance recording light or reproducing light for performing recording/reproducing of a first recording layer (3) without having to make the thickness of a second recording film (5) positioned towards the side from which the recording light or the reproducing light enters. An optical recording medium including two or more recording layers, and which includes the first recording layer (3), the second recording layer (5) positioned further towards, with an intermediate layer (4) in between, the side from which the recording light or the reproducing light enters than is the first recording layer (3), and includes, between the above-mentioned intermediate layer (4) and the above-mentioned second recording layer (5), a dielectric layer (7) for increasing the transmittance for light passing through the above-mentioned second recording layer as the incident angle of the light becomes greater.

Abstract: A temporary defect management area 14 is placed between a control information recording area 12 and a data area 11. Before a recording medium 10 is finalized, defect management information is temporarily recorded into the temporary defect management area. Upon finalizing, the defect management information is recorded into a definite defect management area 13 placed in the control information recording area.

Abstract: An optical recording and reproducing method is able to record and reproduce information by using an optical system using recording and reproducing light with a wavelength selected in a range of from 780 nm±10 nm and an objective lens with a numerical aperture NA selected in a range of from 0.45±0.01 and records and reproduces first and second optical recording mediums having different recording capacities. The first optical recording medium is constructed by using a substrate with a track pitch Tp1 being selected in a range of from 1.5 ?m to 1.7 ?m and a groove depth d1 being selected in a range of from 70 nm to 90 nm, and the second optical recording medium is constructed by using a substrate 11 with a track pitch Tp2 being selected in a range of from 1.2 ?m to 1.3 ?m and a groove depth d2 of the groove 12 being selected in a range of from 150 nm to 180 nm. This, the optical recording medium has compatibility with existing optical discs and has a recording density high enough to record a moving picture.

Abstract: Plural grooves or lands formed in an information recording carrier include at least a wobbling region and data is recorded wobblingly in this wobbling region by phase shift modulation while recorded digitally with a single or multiple waves as a channel bit.

Abstract: A method to increase capacity in a transmission system using parallel waveforms comprises several transmitters and at least one receiver. To determine the signal received at the receivers, the method takes account of all the parameters observed on all the sub-carriers of the majority of the receivers or their totality.

Abstract: Methods for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; adjusting at least one characteristic of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved; and dynamically switching modulation between tones of the plurality of tones to reduce the impact of using any corrupted tones.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host unit and a plurality of remote units using a multiple access scheme to communicate at the same time with the host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The host unit repeatedly performs an analysis of a transmission characteristic of at least one upstream signal from at least one remote unit. The at least one remote unit makes adjustments to the transmission characteristic based on the analyses performed by the host unit to assist the host unit in demodulating a plurality of upstream signals from the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: The invention performs orthogonal frequency division multiplex processing on a transmission signal to form an OFDM modulation signal (daubed in FIG.) and performs orthogonal frequency division multiplex processing and code division multiple access processing on a transmission signal to form an OFDM-CDM modulation signal (shaded in FIG.) to transmit the OFDM modulation signal and the OFDM-CDM modulation signal, which makes it possible to transmit data in a very high rate using the OFDM modulation signal while making it possible to transmit data in a higher quality using the OFDM-CDM modulation signal than using the OFDM—modulation signal, although it is slightly inferior to OFDM modulation in terms of high rate transmission.

Abstract: In the reception of a downlink MIMO CDMA signal, the receiving unit performs a simplified process of linear equalization that eliminates the need for inverting the correlation matrix. The correlation matrix is approximated to a good degree by a circulation matrix that is diagonalized by FFT operations, thus substituting two FFTs and one IFFT having a complexity of O ( L F ? ( N ? ? ? ) 3 + ( N ? ? ? ) 2 + 2 ? ( N ? ? ? ) 2 ? L F ? log 2 ? L F ) for the direct matrix inversion having a complexity of O(LF3).

Abstract: In a bandwidth policing apparatus which accommodates a large number of user groups, bandwidth policing for each user group is performed at high speed. When there is any extra bandwidth in bandwidth for a user group, the contracted committed information rate for each user is guaranteed invariably while using this effectively. The bandwidth policing apparatus accumulates packets of a plurality of user groups under bandwidth policing in the same packet accumulate FIFO. Also, for a packet which does not exceed the contracted bandwidth for each user, the contracted bandwidth for each user is guaranteed by deciding that the packet does not exceed the contracted bandwidth for each user group.

Abstract: A Look-ahead Contention Resolution (“LCR”) technique for application in burst switching networks is described. The LCR technique takes advantage of the existing separation of data bursts and their BHPs in time (offset or “?”). Through a look-ahead window (“LAW”) W time units wide, a network scheduler can process a group of BHPs prior to the arrival of their respective bursts and gain a collective knowledge of the state of the switch in the futures, rather than processing a single slot ? time units in the future.

Abstract: Self converging communication fair rate control systems and methods of the present invention facilitate fair utilization of node buffers and optimized utilization of available bandwidth. A self converging communication fair rate control method provides a fair rate that is utilized to determine a connection rate for communicating information from a plurality of virtual connection queues to a class of service buffer (COSB). The self converging communication fair rate control method includes establishing a self-convergence factor, determining a buffer flow ratio, and adjusting a fair rate value based upon the buffer flow ratio and the self-convergence factor. The buffer is divided into buffer fill regions designated by fair rate convergence-adaptation thresholds and are associated with self-convergence factors. The fair rate self-convergence factors dynamically decrease fair rate values that result in a buffer filling up and increase fair rate values that result in a buffer emptying out.

Abstract: A method of automatically suggesting service changes for a wireless communications network subscriber is provided. The method includes compiling a record of services used by the subscriber during a time period, determining one or more subscriber usage metrics, comparing the subscriber usage metrics to one or more thresholds, detecting a trigger condition including one or more of the usage metrics exceeding one or more of the thresholds, generating a service change suggestion, and informing the subscriber automatically of the suggested service change using the wireless communications network.

Abstract: Aggregated fragment acknowledgement in a LAN. A transmitter sends a data packet to a receiver. The receiver then constructs an AFAF and sends that AFAF back to a transmitter. The transmitter is then able to determine the success and/or failure, in full or in part, of the transmission of the data packet to the receiver. A very precise granularity, or resolution, of the success of the transmission may be achieved on a per fragment basis. Bandwidth savings may also be achieved. When no resolution on a fragment basis is required, then that level of resolution is not employed. The resolution of the fragment basis may be adaptively employed when required to notify the transmitter of the status of one or more fragments within a data packet.