Abstract:
A local switch includes circuitry for determining whether a called party is a subscriber of a call type delivery service when a call is being placed to the called party. The local switch also includes circuitry to generate a message to prompt the calling party to identify whether the call is urgent, normal, or telemarketing. If the calling party does not respond in a timely manner, the local switch includes circuitry to analyze the response by the calling party and to generate corresponding signals to inform the called party of the unknown call type. More specifically, either a different ring pattern is generated or a specified symbol is displayed on a display or both to inform the called party of the call type. The present invention may be used in conjunction with modern communication networks such as intelligent networks and public land mobile networks.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for improving the reception characteristics for lower-power portable telephone units at a base station site (8) is disclosed. A normal three-sector antenna site (8) is divided into a plurality of sectors each having a central line of focus. The frequency channels assigned to the base station site (8) are divided among the sectors, and an antenna (10) within each sector radiates the assigned frequencies along the central line of focus for each of the sectors.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus enabling operation of a dual mode TDNA portable telephone unit (12) are disclosed. The first mode (20) of operation enables synchronous communication up to 75 kilometers. In the second mode (22) of operation, the portable telephone unit (12) operates according to a frame structure (24) enabling synchronization between the portable telephone unit (12) and the base station (10) for ranges greater then 75 kilometers. This increased range is achieved by moving the transmission timeslot (24c) within the frame structure (24) of a TDMA transmission in the second mode (22) to a later timeslot than in the frame structure (24) of the first mode (20).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a homodyne cellular base station is disclosed. A cellular antenna is coupled to both a conventional signal channel receiver and a homodyne receiver. The conventional single channel receiver is configured to receive the control channel from a cellular band signal. The homodyne receiver utilizes a quadrature downconverter and local oscillator to receive the voice channels. The local oscillator is tuned to the frequency of the control channel to limit all DC offsets to the control channel within the homodyne receiver. All DC offsets and the control channel frequency are filtered from the homodyne receiver signal and, the filtered signal is then digitized and digitally processed to separate the signal into each of the traffic channels.
Abstract:
A unified battery charge method allows for controlling constant as well as time varying current sources. Unlike the charging method used for a constant current source, the input current of a time varying current source must be checked continuously during the charging process. The amount of current output to charge the battery or to supply the phone power is set to a desired value by selecting duty-percentage based upon the input current measurement. A unified formula for different power sources and various required current improves the preferred output current computation. Thus, the unified formula can be used to control input and output currents regardless of whether a constant current source or a time varying current source is used. In order to obtain smoother current average, the method incorporates an adjustable time period, which is determined based on the difference between an input current and a desired output current.
Abstract:
A roaming mobile station (30) travels into a new mobile switching center (MSC) (40) coverage area and performs a location update (250) with a home location register (HLR) (90) associated with the mobile station. An application module (240) within the HLR determines that the mobile station is located outside of the home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) (310) and updates (270) a serving number portability database (NP-DB) (140) to reflect that the mobile station has been ported to the new PLMN. All incoming calls cause a querying (160) of the NP-DB to identify the new PLMN for the mobile station. In accordance with the retrieved network address (165), the calls are accordingly routed (270) to the new PLMN directly without establishing a call connection to the home PLMN. Whenever the mobile station travels back into the home PLMN, the HLR again updates (320) the NP-DB to remove the previously stored data indicating that the mobile station has been ported.
Abstract:
A base station is configured to facilitate its rapid deployment to provide trunked radio communication system. The base station includes a receiving section and a transmitting section functioning as a repeater operating on a single trunked duplex channel. The base station also includes another receiving section for interrogating the presence of pre-existing RF energy in a given geographic area before allowing the base station to become active. This prevents a newly introduced deployable base station from interfering with pre-existing deployable or fixed base stations.
Abstract:
A method and system for transmitting control information, such as Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH) information in a digital TDMA communication system. Control information, when required, is transmitted over every other TDMA frame, and speech and data are transmitted over the remaining TDMA frames. Coding protection is reduced during transmission of the control information.
Abstract:
An adapter for producing a predefined electrical output based on any one of a plurality of different electrical inputs. The adapter comprises a number of swivel input plugs, each plug being specifically configured to be compatible with a certain electrical outlet that forms the source of a respective electrical input. The plugs are movable between operative and inoperative positions. In the operative position, a plug effectively connects an electrical input with a matched conversion circuit which converts that electrical input to the predefined output.