Abstract: A video signal processor reduces the deterioration of image quality due to the superposition of noise on a sync signal included in a luminance signal. A frequency discriminator outputs a first error signal if a ratio of the frequency of a frequency-modulated signal during a sync-signal interval to the frequency of a reference frequency signal is smaller than a predetermined ratio. Alternatively, the discriminator outputs a second error signal if the ratio is greater than the predetermined ratio. If the first error signal has been input to a frequency controller a preset number of times or more during an interval before the second error signal is input thereto, the controller instructs a frequency modulator to increase the frequency of the frequency-modulated signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining a transmission configuration for a dedicated channel in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, an optimum configuration is determined based on minimizing Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAR) of the channel. The configuration is defined as a transmission pair of transmission branch and spreading code. The transmission branch may be the In-Phase (I) branch or the Quadrature (Q) branch. PAR analysis may be performed off-line to determine the optimum configuration. In operation, if the spreading code of the optimum configuration is used by another channel, the next best optimum code is used.

Abstract: A wireless audio transmission and reception system includes a pulse width amplifier, an up-converter, a transmitter, a receiver, a down-converter, an integrator, and a power amplifier to transfer an analog signal to a transducer such as a speaker. The pulse width amplifier receives an analog signal and modulates a pulse width of a timing signal with the analog signal. The pulse width of the timing signal is modulated such that the pulse width is proportional to the amplitude of the analog signal, and provides a pulse width modulated signal. The up-converter is in communication with the pulse width amplifier to receive the pulse width modulated signal and convert the pulse width modulated signal to a modulated carrier signal. The transmitter in communication with the up-converter to receive the modulated carrier signal and to transfer the modulated carrier signal wirelessly.

Abstract: An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player. The assembly includes a modular docking unit having a main body portion with a docking cavity therein, wherein the main body portion contains the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, with coupling means in the docking cavity for connecting the MP3 player with the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by the FM transmitter of audio content when played by the MP3 player in the docking cavity of the modular docking unit, and adapted for transmitting electrical power through the modular docking unit and the power/charging circuitry therein, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

Abstract: A vibration diagnostic instrument for use by an automotive maintenance mechanic. The vibration diagnostic instrument includes a sensor, which senses vibrations and generates a sensor signal in response thereto, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the sensor and receives the sensor signal. The controller includes a transmitter portion that generates a diagnostic signal responsive to the sensor signal. The transmitter portion transmits the diagnostic signal over radio waves so that it may be received by an appropriate receiver, such as a conventional FM receiver.

Abstract: In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a method (400) and a base station (140) for providing phase-shift transmit diversity in a wireless communication system are described herein. The base station (140) phase-shift modulates a first signal with a reference signal to produce a first phase-shift modulated signal including a first phase shift. Further, the base station phase-shift modulates a second signal with the reference signal to produce a second phase-shift modulated signal including a second phase shift. The second phase shift is distinct from the first phase shift such that the second phase-shift modulated signal is diverse relative to the first phase-shift modulated signal. Accordingly, the base station transmits the first phase-shift modulated signal via a first antenna and the second phase-shift modulated signal via a second antenna to a plurality of mobile stations.

Abstract: In a reception coil, a carrier signal is frequency-modulated around a carrier frequency with a modulation signal corresponding to an analog magnetic resonance signal. The frequency-modulated carrier signal is wirelessly transmitted from the reception coil to a reception circuit that is spatially separated from the reception coil. The frequency-modulated carrier signal is demodulated in the reception circuit in order to reacquire the modulation signal.

Abstract: A portable apparatus to record and replay one or more radio programs, where that portable apparatus includes a digital recorder, a tuner/player portion, a communication link interconnecting the recorder and the tuner/player, an antenna disposed around the periphery of the communication link, where the recorder, tuner/player, communication link, and antenna, are removeably disposed within a portable carrying case. The case is designed to position the recorder and tuner/player to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) emanating from the digital switching circuits in the recorder which could add noise in the sensitive tuner/player during recording.

Abstract: Frequency modulation switching apparatus for rapidly increasing and decreasing the frequency within radio-frequency pulses of radio wave pulse trains transmitted by an antenna having series inductance and capacitance, the apparatus having, in combination, a solid state four-terminal rectifier bridge circuit with opposing pairs of bridge terminals connected with one pair of opposing terminals shunting said inductance and said capacitance; and series-connected staturable and linear inductors and an SCR switch connected between the other pair of opposing terminals of the bridge circuit, whereby the high-speed triggering of the SCR on effects corresponding high-speed frequency increasing or decreasing of the frequency within the radio-frequency pulse to provide the desired frequency modulation therein

Abstract: An RFID tag is powered both by an internal battery and passively by an interrogating RF field. As a result, the RFID tag can be passively powered after the internal battery has been depleted. More particularly, an embodiment of the RFID tag includes electronic circuitry to provide RFID functionality, and an energy storage device coupled to the electronic circuitry to provide an operational voltage thereto. A battery is operatively coupled to the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device. A rectified RF power source derived from an interrogating RF field is also operatively coupled to the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device. The rectified RF power source and the battery are electrically separated from each other. The energy storage device remains charged by the battery in the absence of the RF interrogating field while the battery has remaining capacity.

Abstract: Herein disclosed a communications system according to the present invention comprises, a wireless microphone transmission apparatus for transmitting a radio microphone signal on a predetermined wireless microphone frequency channel carrying a voice signal and a tone signal; and a wireless receiving apparatus for receiving the radio microphone signal on the predetermined wireless microphone frequency channel carrying the voice signal and the tone signal transmitted by the wireless microphone transmission apparatus. The wireless receiving apparatus includes an integral computing unit for sequentially computing integrals of the signal levels of the tones of the tone signal at first predetermined time intervals and a data information computing unit for sequentially computing differences between two respective integrals of the signal levels of the tones of the tone signal, at respective second predetermined time intervals to acquire data information.

Abstract: A narrow-band digital frequency-modulation (FM) limiter-discriminator (LD) receiver with two independent detectors that combine to remove most of the bit errors caused by FM-clicks in an encoded channel. The output of the LD circuit is presented to a sample-and-hold (S&H) detector and to an integrate and dump (I&D) detector. Because the S&H and I&D detector outputs are offset in time by one-half bit and they are not entirely correlated, an error in one does not necessarily imply an error in the other. Using convolutional coding and Viterbi decoding, with threshold-compensation of the I&D detector output and threshold- or envelope-compensation of the S&H detector output, averaging the two compensated detector signals improves the receiver bit error rate (BER) performance by more than 3 dB over the soft-decision thresholded I&D detector alone, which until now was believed to be optimum in the art.

Abstract: The IC card includes a non-contact type I/F section 32 for performing transmission/reception of data with an electronic ticket system 80 via a radio link R2 for IC card and a contact-type I/F section operating independently of the non-contact type I/F section 32, for performing transmission/reception of data via a physical contact is mounted. The portable telephone set includes a contact type IC card reader/writer 23 for performing read/write control of data with respect to the IC card 30 via the contact and the contact-type I/F section.

Abstract: In a satellite communications system, a flywheel timing value generating method includes generating flywheel timing values based on a satellite drift over a predetermined time. This drift can be a satellite drift in the north/south direction, measured over a sidereal day. By measuring and recording prior drift history in a normal operation, predicted receive and transmit delay times are calculated in order to generate a start of receive control frame and a start of transmit control frame used in a flywheel operation.

Abstract: A wireless method and apparatus for transmitting signal, for example, from a source, to headphones or speakers, while allowing relatively unrestricted range of movement/placement for the headphones or speakers. An infrared transmitter diverges its signal by passing the signal through a concave lens. The signal is processed to bounce off of objects, such as, walls, ceilings and floors before reaching the receiver on the headphones/speakers. The receiver has a convex lens affixed to it, so as to converge the transmitted signal. The signal is polarized so that ambient light is filtered.

Abstract: A batteryless transponder (10) which acquires its supply energy in that it rectifies an RF interrogation pulse transmitted by an interrogation device during a reception phase and that it uses the direct current so obtained to charge a storage device which serves as a supply voltage source during a transmission phase. In response to the reception of the RF interrogation pulse, the transponder transmits the information stored in it, wherein the coil of a tuned circuit serves as an antenna for both the reception of the interrogation pulse and the transmission of the information. The transponder contains a controllable switching device (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) which disconnects the tuned circuit (26) from the supply source during the transmission phase, and connects it to the supply voltage source only for a duration which is short as compared with a quarter period of the resonant oscillations, depending on the occurrence of each oscillation minimum of the resonant oscillations.

Abstract: A wireless method and apparatus for transmitting signal, for example, from a source, to headphones or speakers, while allowing relatively unrestricted range of movement/placement for the headphones or speakers. An infrared transmitter diverges its signal by passing the signal through a concave lens. The signal is processed to bounce off of objects, such as, walls, ceilings and floors before reaching the receiver on the headphones/speakers. The receiver has a convex lens affixed to it, so as to converge the transmitted signal. The signal is polarized so that ambient light is filtered.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for using electromagnetic energy as the means of automatic data collection (ADC). The communication system that comprises the invention utilizes frequency modulated (“FM”) sideband electromagnetic energy to enable full duplex communication with another communication device. In one embodiment one of the communication devices is passive and the carrier is used to power the passive device. In another embodiment the communication devices are active and the carrier is suppressed to increase range or decrease power constraints, as the application requires.

Abstract: An RFID interrogator has a receiver/transmitter architecture that accounts for the variation in tolerances of radio system electrical components. The RFID interrogator includes a memory in which is stored desired initial condition data of the receiver/transmitter architecture, and this initial condition data is used upon initialization of the RFID interrogator to define the operational condition of the RFID interrogator. Each individual RFID interrogator may contain unique initial condition data corresponding to the particular component tolerances of that radio system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting signals concerning the location of an emergency vehicle to other cars traveling in the vicinity of the emergency vehicle alert the other vehicles to the presence of the emergency vehicle. A transmitter unit which is desirably automatically switched on whenever the flashing lights and sirens of the emergency vehicle are activated. transmits a signal preferably only within a limited range adjacent or near the emergency vehicle. The transmitted signal preferably identifies the present location and direction of the emergency vehicle. The location and direction information of the emergency vehicle is preferably provided by GPS data generated by a GPS system associated with the emergency vehicle. Automobiles and other vehicles are outfitted with receivers for receiving the signals transmitted by emergency vehicles as described above.

Abstract: An adaptive loading calculation scheme and signalling scheme usable for is used for wireless, multicarrier transmission, with minimum changes required in the current standards. The concept can be applied as an extension to the existing standard with full backward compatibility. Only the bits-to-symbol mapping block (7) on the transmitter side (10) is affected (and the corresponding block on the receiver side), all other blocks maintain the same. The Adaptive Loading Calculation block (7) calculates loading tables (13), one entry for each data subcarrier. For simulations the knowledge of the current fading profile is assumed, in an actual system implementation this information (9) is e.g. measured at the receiver side (1) and exchanged between the receiver and the transmitter.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a communication system are provided that allow a reduction in a frame loss due to interference caused by use of the same channel. A transmitting apparatus disposed in a base station includes a GPS receiver for receiving a GPS signal, a timing generator for controlling respective function blocks in accordance with the GPS signal and an inter-base-station control signal so as to precisely synchronize the timing of frame transmission among base stations, the front-end transmission processing unit including for converting transmission information into transmission time slots, a frame generator for generating a frame including a plurality of time slots and one frame guard, and a back-end transmission processing unit for transmitting the generated frame as a radio signal.

Abstract: Data communication apparatus comprises a master unit (2) and at least one physically separate, passive slave unit (4). The master unit (2) has a first part (29) of an inductive communication system, and a processor (20) connected to the first part of the inductive communication system. The slave unit has a second part (40) of the inductive communication system, a data store (48), and a modulator (44, 49) responsive to data from the data store and connected to the second part (40) of the inductive communication system. The first and second parts of the inductive communication system (29, 40) are constructed so that when the slave unit (4) is brought into proximity with the master unit (2), power is inductively coupled from the master unit to the slave unit via the inductive communication system. The modulator (44, 49) in the slave unit (4) is thereby activated to cause data from the store (48) to be inductively communicated from the slave unit (4) to the master unit (2) via the inductive communication system.

Abstract: A system and method to use a wired network to extend radio coverage of a wireless network is described. With respect to one embodiment, the method comprises converting incoming wireless signals sent by a wireless unit to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The method further comprises transmitting the converted IF signals over a wired network and retrieving the transmitted IF signals from the wired network. In addition, the method comprises converting the retrieved IF signals to digital data that can be routed to a destination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for aiding the analysis of signals by using symbols-based digital modulation. The device comprises a signal memory for storing a complex digital signal, representative in amplitude and phase of a captured signal, over a chosen duration, as well as processing means for searching for the properties relating to the carrier frequency of the complex signal and to its modulation. According to the invention, the processing means comprise projection means for calculating the components of the complex signal in a function basis, parametrized according to an estimated tempo of the modulation, as well as calculation means, operating on these components so as to determine an estimate relating to a property of the complex signal, from among its elementary pulse shape, the string of symbols of the complex signal and its carrier.

Abstract: A mobile communications device is arranged to receive a modulated signal having a predetermined frequency. A frequency demodulator of the device demodulates the modulated signal, and a frequency correction arrangement calibrates the demodulation frequency of the device to the predetermined frequency by providing a preliminary difference estimation between the predetermined frequency and the demodulation frequency using a broadband portion of the modulated signal, followed by a main difference estimation (between the predetermined frequency and the demodulation frequency) using a dedicated narrowband portion of the modulated signal.

Abstract: An input signal of varying amplitude and varying phase is converted into more than two signals of constant amplitude and controlled phase. Each of the more than two signals of constant amplitude and controlled phase is then separately amplified in separate amplifiers. The separately amplified more than two signals of constant amplitude and controlled phase are then combined to produce an output signal that is an amplification of the input signal at the desired power level. When converting the input signal into more than two signals, the phase of each of the more than two signals of constant amplitude and controlled phase is controlled to produce the output signal that is an amplification of the input signal at the desired power level. According to another aspect, a signal of varying amplitude and varying phase is generated from a plurality of constant amplitude varying phase signals, the sum of which is the signal of varying amplitude and varying phase.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting the presence of an FM-modulated audio signal from an auxiliary source, and operating a switch to provide that audio signal to a tuner in lieu of the radio frequency signal received at the tuner antenna. The tuner can be a vehicle tuner. The system also comprises a modulator unit for modulating the audio signal and an output plug for insertion into a cigarette lighter receptacle or power receptacle of a vehicle. A radio frequency transmission line, such as a coaxial cable, connects the cigarette lighter receptacle or power receptacle to the vehicle battery and to an antenna switch unit and transports both DC power and the FM-modulated audio signal. The antenna switch unit comprises switched inputs for the vehicle antenna and the output from the modulator unit, and a radio frequency signal detection device for detecting when the FM-modulated audio signal is present. The antenna switch unit provides the output from the modulator unit to the tuner whenever it is detected.

Abstract: A high frequency signal transmission apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting received signals from a signal source as a modulated signal on a high frequency 900 MHz carrier to a remote receiver. The remote receiver converts the high frequency carrier in at least one conversion step to a lower frequency carrier signal. The lower frequency carrier signal carrying the modulated signal is then converted to another carrier signal and retransmitted as a modulated second signal to another remote receiver capable of demodulating the signal and broadcasting the audio sounds or video images. The oscillators in the transmitter and receiver are selectable to operate at discrete frequencies. Automatic fine tuning control is provided in the receiver to accommodate drift of the oscillator in the receiver.

Abstract: A phase modulator for communication applications is constructed in so as to be easily implemented by way of MMIC technology. A phase modulator section is followed by a saturated amplifier section so as to provide substantially constant amplitude for all bits or states. The phase modulator section is a bi-phase shift keyed or quadrature-phase shift keyed modulator constructed in accordance with the present invention for discretely varying the phase of an input carrier signal between two or four possible phase states, respectively. The bi-phase shift keyed modulator includes at least a first pair of first and second transmission line segments and a pair of switches which each serve as a single-pole double-throw switch for operatively connecting one of the pair of transmission line segments between an input associated with the first switch, and an output associated with the second switch.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for conducting local wireless audio signal transmissions from a local audio signal source to a person within a local signal transmission area. In certain embodiments, the transmissions are conducted over the 900 MHz local transmission band to a portable receiver unit supported on the headband of a stereo headphone unit. The receiver unit serves to down convert the 900 MHz signal to a local frequency band which is received by an FM receiver of the receiver unit which serves to reproduce the audio signals therefrom which are, in turn, converted to acoustic signals by electroacoustic transducers of the headphone. A transmitter unit includes a ceramic resonator stabilized FM transmitter, as well a filter for suppressing high frequency noise in an audio modulation signal, a stereo audio multiplexing unit utilizing a 3fH subcarrier and an overmodulation detection unit.

Abstract: A wireless communications system for enabling an information handling system to wirelessly couple to a network is disclosed. A peripheral communications device for communicating information is sent to and by the information handling system via a wireless transmission medium. A base station couples to the peripheral communications device via the wireless transmission medium. The information handling system is enabled to communicate over a network via the network communications device. A method for communicating between an information handling system and a network via a wireless transmission medium is disclosed. Information to be transmitted is sent from the information handling system to a peripheral device, translated into a wireless data transmission format, transmitted via a wireless transmission medium to a remote device, converted into a network communications format, and sent to a modem connected to the network for transmission via the network.

Abstract: The present system increases the number of channels in a given communication band by using narrow or very narrow band frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM). The system also improves sound quality, increases the signal-to-noise ratio, increases the power of the transmitted information, and/or achieves high selectivity, high fidelity and/or low distortion. Narrow band FM or PM signal communication can be implemented by transmitting a signal with a narrow or very narrow frequency spectrum, receiving the signal, converting the received signal to an IF (intermediate frequency) signal, and then expanding the narrow frequency deviation of the FM or PM signal. The narrow band frequency deviation may be expanded by frequency-multiplying the IF signal. A discriminator may then convert the frequency-deviation-multiplied signal to a low frequency signal or audio signal for further processing.

Abstract: An improved damping modulation circuit (140) for a transponder (14) receives energy transmitted from a transmitter/receiver antenna (16) to produce a unique recognition signal in the transponder. The improved damping modulation circuit (140) includes a high fieldstrength circuit (152, 160, 174) that protects full-duplex transponder (14) from over-voltage through the use of voltage limiters (132), while still providing power to transponder (14). Low fieldstrength circuit (152) activates only minimal circuitry to provide the highest possible amount of power to full-duplex transponder (14). Medium fieldstrength circuit (152, 160) increases the fieldstrength in full-duplex transponder (14) for establishing a sufficient amount of current flow for proper modulation using only a medium amount of transponder (14) circuit elements.

Abstract: A technique is used in a selective call communication system (100) and in a broadcast communication system (106) to provide additional information about a broadcast to a selective call device (111). A broadcast receiver (109) receives a broadcast that includes a prompt (220), such as a FLEX.TM. logo, and an information address signal (305), such as an inaudible portion of the sound portion of the broadcast. The prompt indicates that additional information is available in a message to be transmitted by the selective call communication system. The selective call device receives the information address signal when activated to do so in response to the prompt. The selective call device receives and decodes an information address from the information address signal and uses it to recover the message at a protocol position indicated by the information address. The additional information is then recovered from the message.

Abstract: A remote video delivery system transmits video and text from a hotel office to hotel rooms. A series of video players generates the video signals to modulators. The modulators transmit the signals on various frequencies. A system controller directs the signals from the modulators to the appropriate converter boxes within the rooms. An outside vendor runs a billing system to charge the guests for the video delivery without the need for involvement by the hotel staff.

Abstract: A novel network controller for use with a digital cable headend capable of monitoring and controlling set top terminals in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for a network controller that manages a configuration of set top terminals in a program delivery system. The invention is particularly useful in program delivery systems with hundreds of channels of programming, a menu driven program selection system, and a program control information signal that carries data and identifies available program choices. Specifically, the invention modifies a program control information signal at the cable headend before the modified signal is transmitted to each set top terminal. This signal is used with polling methods to receive upstream data from the set top terminals. The invention initiates such upstream data retrieval, gathers all data received and compiles viewer demographics information and programs watched information.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber unit (30) contains an advertisement manager (56). The advertisement manager (56) is programmed to assign an advertisement icon (54) to a message indicator (46) on the display (42) of the wireless subscriber unit (30). Assignment of the advertisement icon (54) to the message indicator (46) associated with a message (26) may be based on a predetermined algorithm in the advertisement manager (56), or based on a notification received from the wireless communication system (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributed conditional access (CA) control on a serial communication network. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a CA subsystem over a 1394 network, the CA subsystem comprising a receiver unit for receiving a digital broadcast signal (DBS) and OOB data from an external source, where the DBS and OOB data are transmitted from the external source to the receiver unit in different broadcast frequencies. The receiver unit comprises a main tuner subunit coupled to receive the DBS, which can be encrypted with respect to a first encryption scheme. The receiver unit also comprises an OOB tuner subunit coupled to receive the OOB data for decrypting the DBS with respect to the first encryption scheme. The CA subsystem also comprises a CA control unit coupled to the receiver unit, which in turn comprises a CA subunit coupled to receive the DBS and OOB data.

Abstract: A picture distribution service system carries out a distribution control of picture information service in a broadband transit switching network having a hierarchical structure. The system comprises a plurality of transit switches for switching transit lines through which picture information is transmitted from a source and distributed by a center switch, a first trunk part provided for each of the transit switches for distributing the picture information from the center switch to the transit lines, a plurality of subscriber switches for switching subscriber lines through which the picture information from each of the transit lines is transmitted to a plurality of subscriber terminals, and a second trunk part provided for each of the subsriber switches for distributing the picture information from each of the transit switches to the subscriber lines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule system with a user interface which allows a user to control access to television programs by time, rating, content, and/or channel. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.

Abstract: A novel system and method for secure electronic delivery of motion pictures in digital format to many end users simultaneously. In particular, the system comprises a headend system and a theater system. The headend system comprises a baseband processing system which receives analog cinema film as input, a storage system which receives digitized cinema files from the baseband processing system, a radio frequency transmission system which communicates cinema and data files to and from various users as a radio frequency bit stream, and a management system which controls transmission and storage of cinema and data files.

Abstract: An integrated transceiver circuit (10) includes a single side-band mixer (12) and a phase locked loop (30). The phase locked loop (30) includes a phase detector (32) coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator (36) via a summing circuit (33) and a low pass filter (34). A feedback signal from the voltage controlled oscillator (36) is transferred to the phase detector (32) through a counter (38). Either a phase modulation signal or a frequency modulation signal are inputs of summing circuit (33) and modulate the transmitter carrier signal generated by the voltage controlled oscillator (36). The carrier signal generated at an output terminal (40) of the transmitter tracks the frequency of the local oscillator signal that is supplied at an input terminal of the single side-band mixer (12) in the receiver.

Abstract: A multi-station video/audio distribution apparatus having at least two preview stations, a data control mechanism, a preview station interface mechanism disposed between the preview stations and the data control mechanism, and a video display interface mechanism disposed between the preview stations and the data control mechanism. Each of the preview stations has a user input in the form of a bar code scanner to enter a video material selection, an audio output and a video display. The data control mechanism retrieves digitized video and audio material corresponding to each of the user's video material selections.

Abstract: A stream transfer control system including a server unit and a plurality of clients connected to each other through a network, the server unit including a plurality of transmission buffers provided corresponding to the respective clients, a read management unit for issuing a data reading request upon receiving a transfer request from a client, as well as issuing a data reading request every time a data block stored in the transmission buffer is read to empty the buffer, and a data transfer unit for reading a data block in the transmission buffer after a lapse of a fixed time since when a transfer request arrives at the read management unit and at every lapse of the fixed time from then on, thereby transferring streams to the plurality of clients over the network.

Abstract: A method for employing a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP protocol) for transmitting streamed digital media data from a server. The server is configured for coupling to a client computer via a computer network. The method includes receiving at the server from the client an HTTP POST request. The POST request requests a first portion of the digital media data and includes a request header and a request entity-body. The request entity body includes a media command for causing the first portion of the digital media data to be sent from the server to the client. The method further includes sending an HTTP response to the client from the server. The HTTP response includes a response header and a response entity body. The response entity body includes at least a portion of the first portion of the digital media data.

Abstract: A multimedia system for delivering multimedia content to customer premises equipment via a circuit of a communications network includes a plurality of servers connected to a plurality of disk systems by a switch and a local area network. The switch includes an arbiter and a plurality of switching elements connected as a crosspoint mesh. Each switching element includes one or more gates and a register connected to a first input of each gate. The arbiter can set the registers to a logical one to allow selected multimedia content to flow through the gate either from the disk systems to the servers, or from the servers to the disk systems in response to customer demands. The local area network is used to transport switching messages from the servers and the disk systems to the arbiter.

Abstract: The present invention distributes digital video programs to a predetermined group of subscribers. The video programs are converted into a digital format in a central site (100) and then distributed to a remote site (110). Identification information for the digital video programs is broadcast to the group of subscribers. Each of the subscribers has the option of selecting one of the digital video programs for broadcast to the group. A continuous program which includes the digital video programs is broadcast to the group of subscribers or displayed on televisions (130-133). The order of the selected digital video programs within the continuous program is based at least in part on when the subscriber selections are received.

Abstract: A transmitter-receiver system including a transmitter unit installed in an audio equipment, and a receiver unit installed in an earphone, wherein the transmitter unit includes an automatic electric level regulator to regulate the electric level of the output signal of audio equipment to a predetermined range, a power control circuit controlled by the output signal of the audio equipment to provide the necessary working voltage, and an inductance antenna to transmit output signal from the audio equipment to the receiver unit; the receiver unit is of low working voltage design, including an automatic 24-time frequency divider circuit to effectively discriminate left and right sound tracks, and an auto-shut off circuit to automatically cut off power supply when the audio equipment does no work; the transmitter unit and the receiver unit further use a respective dual oscillation frequency regulating circuit consisting of an oscillating transistor, a dielectric resonator, and two variable resistors for regulating

Abstract: An assembly or system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control comprises, in accordance with the present invention, an infrared sensor for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal, the sensor being attached to an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system. A signal generator also attached to the speaker assembly is operatively connected to the sensor for generating an RF carrier signal modulated by control information encoded in the infrared control signal and the electrical signal. A transmission link is provided for transmitting the modulated RF carrier signal from the speaker assembly to the electronic device.