Abstract:
A configurable flexible circuit substrate (100) is disclosed. The substrate (100) has an electrical circuit pattern (120) and an integral separable segment (130) containing a portion (132) of the circuit pattern (120). The substrate (100) also includes an integral extraction initiator portion (132), which is pivotable between a first position substantially planar with the surface of the substrate (100), and a second position away from the surface of the substrate (100). The extraction initiator portion (132) develops stress raisers (137) when pivoted toward the second position, and the extraction initiator portion (132) also effects a removal of the separable segment (130) from the substrate (100) when the extraction initiator portion (132) is pulled across the separable segment (130).
Abstract:
A communication system reduces audio holes due timing related to messaging and switching of ports during handoff. Additional resources are added between a base station controller (BSC) and a mobile switching center (MSC, 123) to aid in information transfer between a target BSC (120) and a source BSC (121) during handoff. By separating the timing problems related to each of the messaging and the switching of ports, the two are not able to compound one another, and the audio hole is subsequently reduced.
Abstract:
The present invention encompasses a method for establishing and maintaining communication in a portable telephone system adapted to operate with a plurality of base stations and at least one handset on a plurality of channels. The method generally includes steps of assigning a security code to the handset(s) operating in the portable communication system to enable RF communication between the handset(s) and the plurality of base stations (24); communicating the security code assigned to the handset(s) to the plurality of base stations to maintain within each of the plurality of base stations the security code(s) of the handset(s) operating in the system (26); and aligning the channel of the handset(s) with a channel of a base station to allow for communication between each handset and one of the plurality of base stations (28).
Abstract:
Radio frequency based cellular telecommunication systems often require both subscriber units (100) and communication units (130) of a fixed network communication system to maintain secret data which may be used to verify authenticity as well as provide encrypting variables for message encryption processes. An efficient real-time authentication method and apparatus are provided which use a single message (210) to provide authentication and communication link setup information. Further, an authentication method and apparatus are provided which uses instant-specific information such as a time of day, radio frequency carrier frequency, a time slot number, a radio port number, access manager identifier, a radio port control unit identifier, or a base site controller identifier to enhance the reliability of the authentication process. Furthermore, a method and apparatus are provided for maintaining secure packet data communications through an encryption process by utilizing a packetized message encryption key (502) and a unique packet number (504) as encryption variables.
Abstract:
A method is provided of topographically displaying selected information of a plurality of cells within a cellular communication system through a display device. The method includes the steps of accessing the selected information from an information database (100) and correlating the selected information to respective cells of the plurality of cells (102). The method further includes the step of creating topographical display of the plurality of cells of the cellular system through the use of representative polygons (103), with each polygon representing a service coverage area of a cell of the plurality of cells and displaying the selected information as visually variable values (104) within the representative polygons of the topographical display.
Abstract:
A multi-mode route guidance system and a corresponding method for same include a device to determine a present position, and an input device (111) for inputting a destination position. A map database (115) provides memory capable of storing a first type of record (225) that has topology and connectivity information (227), and a second type of record (217) that has topology, connectivity, and traffic flow restriction information (227, 229). A route guidance device (101) retrieves selected records (217, 219, 221, 223, 225) from the map database (115), determined by the specified destination position and the present position of a traveler. The route guidance device (101) uses a selected record of the first type (225) to provide ground track guidance cues (601) to the traveler, and a selected record of the second type (217) to provide maneuver instruction guidance cues (501) to the traveler.
Abstract:
A combined radiotelephone and paging device (101), hereinafter the combined unit, normally operates as a radiotelephone. In response to a predetermined condition, the combined unit operates as a paging device. The predetermined conditions include low battery voltage and poor communication channel quality or a request signal from a remote transceiver (109) of the radiotelephone system. The paging system and the radiotelephone system may be independent communication systems or they may be a single communication system. The combined unit (101) and its unique switching characteristics allows the combined unit (101) to utilize the paging devices beneficial qualities of lower power consumption and broader service range to enhance the usefulness of a radiotelephone.
Abstract:
A shielded microstrip assembly (100) includes a substrate (102) having a first ground plane surface (106) and a second surface (206) which includes a transmission line (216). A plurality of solder balls (104) provide electrical interconnection for the ground plane and for the terminals (210) and (212) of transmission line (216). The microstrip assembly (100) is then inverted and attached using solder balls (104) to a carrier (302). The inverted microstrip assembly (100) of the present invention provides for improved shielding, while maintaining the high Q and other advantages associated with a microstrip.
Abstract:
A method and associated circuitry for retuning a tuning frequency of the tuning circuitry (422) of a radio receiver (400) to a frequency channel of a set of frequency channels. The tuning frequency of the tuning circuitry is retuned when the tuning circuitry (422) is initially tuned to receive a communication signal (412) transmitted by a transmitter of a less-than-most desired network of the transmitters. If a communication signal (412) transmitted by a transmitter of a most-desired network of transmitters is detected by the radio receiver (400) when the receiver (400) is retuned, then the receiver (400) clamps to the transmitter of the most-desired network of transmitters.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus (232) for discriminating between voice and modem signals integrated into a single input signal operates upon the detection of a received signal's zero crossing rate and amplitude level in order to identify voice signals, data (modem) signals and silence.