[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: System And Method For Adjusting A Power Transmission Level For A Communication Device

Technical Field and Background:
Wireless mobile communication devices perform a variety of functions to enable mobile users to stay organized and in contact with others in a communication network through e-mail, schedulers and address books. Wireless devices are designed to enter and leave different wireless networks. A communication device may have multiple simultaneous connections to multiple networks. Transmissions and communications to multiple networks simultaneously require management of all aspects of communications for both networks. Operating regulations for one communication network may affect how communications for another network are provided. There is a need to enhance operating parameters for one or both networks for the communication device in such environments.

Invention Disclosure:
A system, method and device for adjusting a communication parameter for a network communicating with a communication device are provided. The method comprises: monitoring for a condition relating to a first network that has been in communication with the communication device; and determining whether an adjustment is to be implemented on a communication parameter of a second communication network that has been in communication with the communication device based on the condition and if so, implementing the adjustment to the communication parameter for the second communication network.

[Assistant]
1. A method of adjusting communication parameters for networks communicating with a communication device, the method comprising:
monitoring for a condition relating to communication frequencies used in a first network communicating with the communication device, and communication frequencies used by the communication device for communications to a second network;
determining whether the communication device is operating in an access point mode in the second network; and
in response to determining that (i) the communication device is not operating in the access point mode in the second network, and (ii) an adjustment is to be implemented on a communication parameter of the second network communicating with the communication device based on the condition, implementing the adjustment to the communication parameter for the second network;
wherein the adjustment comprises reducing a transmission power level for communications sent by the communication device to the second network following a back-off scheme.

2. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the first network is a cellular communication network and
the second network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
reducing the transmission power level enables the communication device to comply with a specific absorption rate (SAR) limit for transmissions sent from the communication device.

4. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
reducing the transmission power level comprises reducing the transmission power level based on a transmission band associated with the cellular communication network.

5. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring for a second condition relating to the first network communicating with the communication device; and
in response to determining that a further adjustment is to be made to the communication parameter of the second network communicating with the communication device based on the second condition, implementing the further adjustment to the communication parameter for the second network.

6. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
the second condition is a loss of the connection to the first network; and
implementing the further adjustment comprises increasing the transmission power level for communications sent by the communication device to the second network.

7. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
implementing the further adjustment comprises changing a channel for communications sent by the communication device to the second network.

8. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
implementing the further adjustment comprises periodically placing communications sent by the communication device to the second network in a sleep mode.

9. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
the communication device is a station in the WLAN and is communicating with a second communication device that is an access point (AP) for the WLAN;
data for a first adjustment level for the reduction in the transmission power level is provided to the communication device; and
the communication device selects either the first adjustment or the second adjustment level as the adjustment for communications sent by the communication device to the WLAN.

10. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
the communication device selects the greater reduction provided by either the first adjustment level or the second adjustment level as the adjustment for communications sent by the communication device to the WLAN.

11. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
second condition is determination of the communication device being at a predetermined location.

12. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
second condition is determination of the communication device being in a predetermined orientation.

13. The method of adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
providing updated data for a first adjustment level for the reduction reflecting a further adjustment level conforming to a new regulatory requirement.

14. A system for adjusting communication parameters for networks communicating with a communication device, the system comprising:
a processor;
a memory module for storing instructions for execution on the processor; and
a monitoring module for providing instructions for execution on the processor to:
monitor for a condition relating to communication frequencies used in a first network communicating with the communication device, and communication frequencies used by the communication device for communications to a second network;
determine whether the communication device is operating in an access point mode in the second network; and
in response to determining that (i) the communication device is not operating in the access point mode in the second network, and (ii) an adjustment is to be made to a communication parameter of the second network communicating with the communication device based on a condition, implement the adjustment to the communication parameter for the second network;
wherein the adjustment comprises reducing a transmission power level for communications sent by the communication device to the second network following a back-off scheme.

15. The system for adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
the first network is cellular communication network and the second network is wireless local area network (WLAN).

16. The system for adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 14, wherein the monitoring module provides further instructions for execution on the processor to:
monitor for a second condition relating to the first network that has been in communication with the communication device; and
in response to determining that a further adjustment is to be made to the communication parameter of the second network communicating with the communication device based on the second condition, implement the further adjustment to the communication parameter for the second network.

17. The system for adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
reducing the transmission power level for communications sent by the communication device over the second network enables the communication device to comply with a specific absorption rate (SAR) limit for transmissions sent from the communication device.

18. The system for adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 15, wherein:
reducing the transmission power level comprises reducing the transmission power level based on a transmission band associated with the cellular communication network.

19. The system for adjusting communication parameters for networks as claimed in claim 16, wherein:
the second condition is a loss of the connection to the first network; and
the further adjustment is implemented by increasing the transmission power level for communications sent by the communication device to the second network.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Organic Light Emitting Element

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an organic light emitting element. 2. Description of the Related Art An organic light emitting element is an element including an anode, a cathode, and an organic compound layer arranged between the electrodes. Holes and electrons injected from the electrodes recombine in an emission layer which is the organic compound layer to produce excitons, and the organic light emitting element emits light upon return of the excitons to the ground state. Recent development of the organic light emitting element is significant, and allows the organic light emitting element to be a light emitting device having the following features: a low drive voltage; light emission at various wavelengths; high-speed responsiveness; a small thickness; and a light weight. In the organic light emitting element, it is important to improve an electron injection property from the viewpoint of reducing a voltage of the element. An approach to improving the electron injection property is, for example, an approach involving using an alkali metal as a constituent material for the organic light emitting element, in particular, an electron injection material. However, the alkali metal involves a problem in that the metal has high water solubility and hence the moisture resistance of the organic light emitting element reduces. Lodz. Towarz. Nauk: Wydzial III, Acta Chim. (1958), 3, P93-97. discloses a method of synthesizing the following compound a-1 and chemiluminescence involving using the compound. In addition, Guangpuxue Yu Guangpu Fenxi Volume 18 Issue 6 Pages669-672 1998 discloses charge transfer in a solution using the following compound a-2.

Invention Disclosure:
Provided is an organic light emitting element that has high moisture resistance, is driven at a low voltage, has high efficiency, and has a long lifetime. Specifically, provided is an organic light emitting element, including: an anode; a cathode; and an organic compound layer arranged between the anode and the cathode, in which: the organic compound layer includes an organic functional layer; and the organic functional layer contains an organic compound represented by the following general formula [1].

[Assistant]
1. An organic light emitting element, comprising:
an anode;
a cathode; and
an organic compound layer disposed between the anode and the cathode,
wherein:
the organic compound layer comprises an organic functional layer; and
the organic functional layer comprises an organic compound represented by the following general formula [1]:
in the general formula [1], X 1 and X 2 each represent an aryl group, and the aryl group may further have a halogen atom or an alkyl group, and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, R 15, and R 16 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl group, and an aryl group, and when any one of R 1 to R 16 represents an aryl group, the aryl group may further have a halogen atom or an alkyl group that may have a halogen atom.

2. The organic light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein X 1 and X 2 each represent a phenyl group.

3. The organic light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein X 1 and X 2 each represent an aryl group containing two or more benzene rings.

4. The organic light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein one of X 1 and X 2 represents an aryl group having a fluorine atom.

5. The organic light emitting element according to claim 1, wherein the organic functional layer is disposed between the cathode and an emission layer.

6. The organic light emitting element according to claim 5, wherein the organic functional layer is in contact with the cathode.

7. An organic light emitting element according to claim 6, wherein:
the organic functional layer contains a first organic compound and a second organic compound;
the first organic compound comprises the organic compound represented by the general formula [1]; and
the second organic compound comprises an organic compound of a kind different from that of the organic compound represented by the general formula [1].

8. The organic light emitting element according to claim 6, wherein the organic compound layer further includes a layer that contains an organic compound of a kind different from that of the organic compound represented by the general formula [1], and that is adjacent to the organic functional layer on the emission layer side.

9. A display apparatus, comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one of the plurality of pixels includes the organic light emitting element of claim 1, and an active element connected to the organic light emitting element.

10. An image information processing apparatus, comprising:
an input portion configured to input image information; and
a display portion configured to display an image,
wherein the display portion comprises the display apparatus of claim 9.

11. A lighting apparatus, comprising:
the organic light emitting element of claim 1; and
an AC/DC converter configured to supply a drive voltage to the organic light emitting element.

12. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a photosensitive member;
a charging portion configured to charge a surface of the photosensitive member;
an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member; and
a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member,
wherein the exposure portion includes the organic light emitting element of claim 1.

13. An exposing apparatus configured to expose a photosensitive member, comprising a plurality of the organic light emitting elements of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the organic light emitting elements are arranged in a line.

14. An organic electric field element, comprising:
a pair of electrodes; and
an organic functional layer disposed between the pair of electrodes,
wherein the organic functional layer comprises an organic compound represented by the following general formula [1]:
in the general formula [1], X 1 and X 2 each represent an aryl group, and the aryl group may further have a halogen atom or an alkyl group, and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, R 15, and R 16 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl group, and an aryl group, and when any one of R 1 to R 16 represents an aryl group, the aryl group may further have a halogen atom or an alkyl group that may have a halogen atom.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Connecting Multiple Electronic Devices

Technical Field and Background:
There are many situations requiring data exchange between devices via efficient and reliable channels. Conventional means of connecting multiple devices include using cable or connectors (such as a USB connection), through which data are communicated. However, wired links are not compatible with the ever-increasing need for a more convenient and readily establishable connection between two devices. This is because it is always necessary to manually align and connect the connector(s) to the port of the device(s). Wear of the connectors and connection ports is also a problem. Besides wired connections, wireless protocol such as Bluetooth and infrared protocols are also available for data communication between two devices. Wireless connection channels bring the benefit of simple connecting procedures since two devices can conveniently communicate with each other remotely without any physical connection in between. Thus, no manual alignment of the connector and port is necessary, and data is communicated through the electro-magnetic (EM) waves travelling freely through space. On the other hand, since wireless communication has less transmission directivity. Energy loss and low transmission efficiency are a problem for wireless communication over a long distance. More importantly, there have been increasing concerns about the harmful side effects of such EM emission on the human body. It is desirable to provide a convenient, wear resistant and hassle-free communication channel between electronics devices, eliminating connecting wires and their connectors while minimizing EM emission losses. Close contact data communication had been explored in recent years. In this case, two electronic devices are brought in contact with each other at an intended location to allow the EM couplers located on the exterior casing of each device to be aligned thereby establishing surface connection for data communication. However, this usually requires some form of manual alignment between the two devices/couplers. Conventionally, the alignment is achieved either through mechanical guides or slotted plugs. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a coupling technique such that when a user casually leaves a mobile device such as a camera or a smart-phone on a corresponding device such as a display instrument or a storage drive, two couplers of the respective devices become automatically aligned, without the user consciously aligning the devices accurately. As such, robust data communication could be achieved through the surface contact.

Invention Disclosure:
A data processing system is proposed which comprises two electronic devices, each of them having an electro-magnetic coupler embedded on the exterior casing, at least one of the electronic device having one or more sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the two devices, such that they automatically come into correct alignment during the sliding.

[Assistant]
1. A first electronic device configured to connect to a second electronic device, said first electronic device comprising:
a casing that comprises a depression that has a curved side wall and a flat bottom surface;
one or more data processors enclosed by said casing; and
a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler fixed at said flat bottom surface of said depression,
wherein upon said first electronic device and said second electronic device being urged together by a force, a protrusion in said second electronic device slides along said curved side wall to bring said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler into alignment with a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler of said second electronic device.

2. The first electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said curved side wall directs relative movement between said first electronic device and said second electronic device.

3. The first electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a surface connection is established between said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler and said second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler to enable data communication between said first electronic device and said second electronic device.

4. The first electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said force is gravitational force.

5. The first electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said depression being configured to carry the protrusion on said second electronic device.

6. The first electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler is fixed at a center of said flat bottom surface of said depression.

7. A first electronic device configured to connect to a second electronic device, said first electronic device comprising:
a casing that comprises a protrusion that has a curved surface and a flat bottom surface;
one or more data processors enclosed by said casing; and
a first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler fixed at said flat bottom surface of said protrusion,
wherein upon said first electronic device and said second electronic device being urged together by a force, said protrusion slides along a curved side wall of a depression in said second electronic device to bring said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler into alignment with a second data transfer electro-magnetic coupler of said second electronic device.

8. The first electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said first data transfer electro-magnetic coupler is fixed at a center of said flat bottom surface of said protrusion.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Method For Operating A Fuel Injection System Of An Internal Combustion Engine

Technical Field and Background:
Fuel injection systems of this type are used in modern petrol or diesel engines. In addition to the injectors, the high pressure rail, said injectors also have a high pressure fuel pump for generating the necessary pressure. In this context, fuel is fed from a fuel tank by a pre-feed pump to the high pressure pump which feeds the fuel under high pressure to the high pressure rail. The injectors are fed via the high pressure rail. In modern injection systems, high pressure fuel pumps with digital inlet valves are used. The term digital inlet valve here denotes a valve which assumes only an open position or closed position and is not actuated to assume intermediate positions. Such digital inlet valves are activated electromagnetically. In the inlet phase, the inlet valve is opened, with the result that the piston of the high pressure pump can suck fuel into the cylinder. In the feed phase, the inlet valve is closed and the piston of the high pressure pump forces fuel into the high pressure system. In other embodiments (valves which are closed in the currentless state (D/V), the inlet valve is kept open electrically during the induction and is deactivated in the expulsion phase if feed is desired. Electrical energy is required to activate such a digital inlet valve. Furthermore, switching noise is generated owing to the opening/closing of the digital inlet valve. Such noise emissions are undesired. There is also generally an interest in lowering the energy consumption of such injection systems. Certain methods are known for reducing the noise emissions owing to the actuation and therefore the closing and/opening of a digital inlet valve. An example of this is to use a specific current profile to actuate the digital inlet valve. This method is relatively costly.

Invention Disclosure:
A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injection system comprises a high pressure accumulator (rail) and a high-pressure fuel pump with a digital inlet valve and which guides fuel into the high pressure accumulator. The number of the control pulses for the digital inlet valve and thus the number of the pump delivery strokes is reduced with respect to the number of the injection steps of an injector of the injection system, in order to thereby reduce the noise and the energy consumption of the high-pressure pump.

[Assistant]
1. A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, which fuel injection system has at least one fuel injector coupled to a high pressure rail and a high pressure fuel pump which feeds fuel into the high pressure rail and has a digital inlet valve, the method comprising:
operating the fuel injection system according to a first control protocol, comprising:
controlling the at least one fuel injector to perform a first plurality of injection processes, and
activating the digital inlet valve of the high pressure fuel pump using a number of first actuation pulses corresponding to the number of the first plurality of injection processes, wherein each first actuation pulse opens the digital inlet valve to permit a pump feed by the high pressure fuel pump,
automatically switching over to a rail pressure control protocol for the fuel injection system in response to a predefined engine operation event, and
operating the fuel injection system according to the rail pressure control protocol, comprising:
controlling the at least one fuel injector to perform a second series of injection processes, and
activating the digital inlet valve of the high pressure fuel pump using a number of second actuation pulses that is less than the number of the second plurality of injection processes, wherein each second actuation pulse opens the digital inlet valve to permit a pump feed by the high pressure fuel pump.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of second actuation pulses is reduced as a function of a predefined minimum rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range corresponding to emission limiting values of the internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined minimum rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range is determined by trials in an engine development phase.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of second actuation pulses is reduced as a function of an operating state of the internal combustion engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein according to the rail pressure control protocol, the high pressure pump is actuated such that after one or more injection processes without a corresponding activation of the digital inlet valve, a subsequent actuation pulse is generated that causes a pump feed having an increased quantity of fuel to compensate for a pressure loss resulting from the one or more injection processes without a corresponding activation of the digital inlet valve.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed only during operation of the engine in specific areas of an engine characteristic diagram.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a corresponding engine characteristic diagram is implemented in an engine control device in order to switch the rail pressure control protocol from the first control protocol to the rail pressure control protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
calculating a pressure drop associated with a representative injection process, and
reducing the number of second actuation pulses as a function of (a) the predefined rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range and (b) the calculated pressure drop.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the high pressure fuel pump has a digital outlet valve in addition to the digital inlet valve, and
the method comprises activating—the digital outlet valve in a manner analogous to the activation of the digital inlet valve.

10. A fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system comprising:
at least one fuel injector coupled to a high pressure rail,
a high pressure fuel pump which feeds fuel into the high pressure rail and has a digital inlet valve, and
a control device configured to:
operate the fuel injection system according to a first control protocol, comprising:
controlling the at least one fuel injector to perform a first plurality of injection processes, and
activating the digital inlet valve of the high pressure fuel pump using a number of first actuation pulses corresponding to the number of the first plurality of injection processes, wherein each first actuation pulse opens the digital inlet valve to permit a pump feed by the high pressure fuel pump,
automatically switch over to a rail pressure control protocol for the fuel injection system in response to a predefined engine operation event, and
operate the fuel injection system according to the rail pressure control protocol, comprising:
controlling the at least one fuel injector to perform a second series of injection processes, and
activating the digital inlet valve of the high pressure fuel pump using a number of second actuation pulses that is less than the number of the second plurality of injection processes, wherein each second actuation pulse opens the digital inlet valve to permit a pump feed by the high pressure fuel pump.

11. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein the number of second actuation pulses is reduced as a function of a predefined minimum rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range corresponding to emission limiting values of the internal combustion engine.

12. The fuel injection system of claim 11, wherein the predefined minimum rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range is determined by trials in an engine development phase.

13. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein the number of second actuation pulses is reduced as a function of an operating state of the internal combustion engine.

14. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein according to the rail pressure control protocol, the control device is configured activate the high pressure pump such that after one or more injection processes without a corresponding activation of the digital inlet valve, a subsequent actuation pulse is generated that causes a pump feed having an increased quantity of fuel to compensate for a pressure loss resulting from the one or more injection processes without a corresponding activation of the digital inlet valve.

15. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein the control device is configured to switch to the rail pressure control protocol only during operation of the engine in specific areas of an engine characteristic diagram.

16. The fuel injection system of claim 15, wherein the control device implements a corresponding engine characteristic diagram in order to switch the rail pressure control protocol from the first control protocol to the rail pressure control protocol.

17. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein the control device is further configured to:
calculate a pressure drop associated with a representative injection process, and
reduce the number of second actuation pulses as a function of (a) the predefined rail pressure limiting value or rail pressure range and (b) the calculated pressure drop.

18. The fuel injection system of claim 10, wherein:
the high pressure fuel pump has a digital outlet valve in addition to the digital inlet valve, and
the control device is further configured to activate the digital outlet valve in a manner analogous to the activation of the digital inlet valve.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Timeout Of Communication Radio Link

Technical Field and Background:
Mobile communication is an integral part of modern life. Various services are offered and provided to a user via cellular networks. Services may provide payload data for certain applications executed by a terminal of the user. Typically, various quality of service (QoS) parameters are associated with services implemented by a corresponding terminal of the user and the cellular network. One particular type of QoS parameter is latency. Typically, latency denotes a delay between triggering a certain action associated with the service and actual execution of the action. E.g., latency can denote the delay between requesting certain data and receiving the requested data. Modern cellular networks strive to reduce latency associated with certain services. QoS latency requirements can be as low as 1 to 10 milliseconds. E.g., low-latency services can be employed in e.g. remote controlled services over cellular networks, vehicle-to-vehicle communication or machine-type communication (MTC), but can also be a general building block for new types of services requiring short communication delays both in the radio access network (radio access network, RAN latency), as well as complete end-to-end delay (system latency). Challenges may arise where low-latency requirements are combined with large amounts of traffic to be communicated via radio links of cellular networks. In particular, the combination of increased traffic load and decreased latency is expected to cause challenging design implications on future communication systems.

Invention Disclosure:
A message is received via a time-synchronized communication channel implemented on a radio link of a cellular network from a terminal. The message includes data associated with the service implemented by the terminal and a node of the cellular network. The message has been transmitted by the terminal at a first point in time. A timeout point in time of communication associated with the service is determined based on the first point in time.

[Assistant]
1. A node of a cellular network, comprising:
an interface configured to communicate with a terminal on a time-synchronized communication channel implemented on a radio link of the cellular network,
at least one processor configured to receive, via the interface from the terminal, a message including data associated with a service implemented by the terminal and the node, the message having been transmitted by the terminal on the channel at a first point in time,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a timeout point in time of communication associated with the service based on the first point in time,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor the timeout point in time,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to re-negotiate a latency parameter of a quality of service associated with the service based on said monitoring,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a timeout rate of communication associated with the service based on said monitoring,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare the timeout rate with a timeout rate parameter of the quality of service associated with the service, and
wherein the at least one processor is configured to selectively re-negotiate the latency parameter based on said comparing.

2. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the timeout point in time further based on a second point in time corresponding to arrival of the data at an upper layer of a transmitter protocol stack of the channel.

3. The node of claim 2,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the second point in time based on at least one of a predefined value and timestamp information indicative of the second point in time included in the message.

4. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the first point in time based on a synchronization signal communicated on the channel.

5. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to add timestamp information indicative of the timeout point in time to a further message including the data,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the further message.

6. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to discard the data based on said monitoring.

7. The node of claim 6,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit a notification message including an Acknowledgement Repeat Request protocol sequence number of discarded data, in response to said discarding.

8. The node of claim 7,
wherein the message and the notification message are communicated on a payload section of the channel.

9. The node of claim 6,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a timeout rate of communication associated with the service based on said monitoring,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to selectively execute said discarding based on the timeout rate.

10. The node of claim 9,
wherein the timeout rate comprises a discard rate of discarding data associated with the service in response to a timeout of communication associated with the service.

11. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to discard further data associated with the service based on said monitoring.

12. The node of claim 11,
wherein the data prompts the further data.

13. The node of claim 1,
wherein the timeout rate comprises a discard rate of discarding data associated with the service in response to a timeout of communication associated with the service.

14. The node of claim 1,
wherein a timeout parameter of a quality of service associated with the service indicates an availability of timeout of communication associated with the service.

15. The node of claim 1,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the timeout point in time further based on a latency parameter of a quality of service associated with the service.

16. The node of claim 1,
wherein the node is an access point node or a gateway node of a core of the cellular network.

17. A method, comprising:
receiving, from a terminal attached to a cellular network via a time-synchronized communication channel implemented on a radio link of the cellular network, a message, the message including data associated with a service implemented by the terminal and a node of the cellular network, the message having been transmitted by the terminal on the channel at a first point in time,
determining a timeout point in time of communication associated with the service based on the first point in time,
monitoring the timeout point in time,
re-negotiating a latency parameter of a quality of service associated with the service based on said monitoring,
determining a timeout rate of communication associated with the service based on said monitoring,
comparing the timeout rate with a timeout rate parameter of the quality of service associated with the service, and
selectively re-negotiating the latency parameter based on said comparing.

18. The method of claim 17,
wherein the method is executed by the node of claim 1.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Driver Assistance System For Vehicle

Technical Field and Background:
Use of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications are known. Such car2car or vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (car2X or V2X or V2I) technology provides for communication between vehicles and/or infrastructure based on information provided by one or more vehicles and/or information provided by a remote server or the like. Examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,580,795, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Invention Disclosure:
A driver assistance system of an equipped vehicle includes a camera and a communication system operable to receive vehicle information pertaining to another vehicle. A control is operable to process the vehicle information to determine an estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at a location in a projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle. Responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than a threshold amount, the control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel. The alert may also be generated responsive to image processing of image data captured by a forward viewing camera when such image processing determines that an object is present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle.

[Assistant]
1. A driver assistance system of a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system so as to have a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera when disposed at the equipped vehicle to determine an object present in the forward field of view of said camera;
wherein a projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle is determined at least in part by processing of captured image data by said image processor;
a communication system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said communication system is operable to receive vehicle information pertaining to another vehicle;
wherein said control is operable to process vehicle information received by said communication system to determine an estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at a location in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than a threshold amount, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein, responsive at least in part to (i) a determination that the estimated time to arrival is greater than the threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein the projected path of travel is a turn at an intersection, and wherein said communication system receives information pertaining to a state of a signal light at the intersection; and
wherein, responsive to the information being indicative of the signal light being green and responsive to a turn signal of the equipped vehicle being activated, said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the intersection.

2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said communication system comprises a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than an emergency threshold amount, said control engages the brake system of the equipped vehicle to limit movement of the equipped vehicle along the projected path of travel.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the projected path of travel is a turn onto a road with moving traffic.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 4, wherein said control is responsive to GPS data indicative of the location and trajectory of at least one other vehicle traveling on the road.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 4, wherein said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the road near the current location of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to a determined speed of the other vehicle and a determined distance of the other vehicle from the current location of the equipped vehicle.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that (i) the estimated time to arrival is greater than a threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is not present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is safe to proceed along the projected path of travel.

8. A driver assistance system of a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system so as to have a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera when disposed at the equipped vehicle to determine an object present in the forward field of view of said camera;
wherein a projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle is determined at least in part by processing of captured image data by said image processor;
a communication system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said communication system is operable to receive vehicle information pertaining to another vehicle, wherein said communication system comprises a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system;
wherein said control is operable to process vehicle information received by said communication system to determine an estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at a location in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than a threshold amount, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein, responsive at least in part to (i) a determination that the estimated time to arrival is greater than the threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than an emergency threshold amount, said control engages the brake system of the equipped vehicle to limit movement of the equipped vehicle along the projected path of travel;
wherein the projected path of travel is a turn at an intersection, and wherein said communication system receives information pertaining to a state of a signal light at the intersection, and wherein said control is responsive at least in part to the information pertaining to the state of the signal light and a turn signal of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, responsive to the information being indicative of the signal light being green and responsive to the turn signal being activated, said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the intersection.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 8, wherein the projected path of travel is a turn onto a road with moving traffic, and wherein said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the road near the current location of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to a determined speed of the other vehicle and a determined distance of the other vehicle from the current location of the equipped vehicle.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 8, wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that (i) the estimated time to arrival is greater than a threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is not present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is safe to proceed along the projected path of travel.

11. A driver assistance system of a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system so as to have a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera when disposed at the equipped vehicle to determine an object present in the forward field of view of said camera;
wherein a projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle is determined at least in part by processing of captured image data by said image processor;
a communication system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said communication system is operable to receive vehicle information pertaining to another vehicle;
wherein said control is operable to process vehicle information received by said communication system to determine an estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at a location in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than a threshold amount, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein, responsive at least in part to (i) a determination that the estimated time to arrival is greater than the threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is not safe to proceed along the projected path of travel;
wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that the estimated time to arrival is less than an emergency threshold amount, said control engages the brake system of the equipped vehicle to limit movement of the equipped vehicle along the projected path of travel;
wherein at least one of (i) the projected path of travel is a turn at an intersection, and wherein said communication system receives information pertaining to a state of a signal light at the intersection, and (ii) the projected path of travel is a turn onto a road with moving traffic;
and wherein the projected path of travel is a turn at an intersection, and wherein said communication system receives information pertaining to a state of a signal light at the intersection, and wherein said control is responsive at least in part to the information pertaining to the state of the signal light, and wherein said control is responsive at least in part to a turn signal of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, responsive to the information being indicative of the signal light being green and responsive to the turn signal being activated, said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the intersection.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 11, wherein the projected path of travel is a turn onto a road with moving traffic, and wherein said control is responsive to GPS data indicative of the location and trajectory of at least one other vehicle traveling on the road, and wherein said control determines the estimated time to arrival of the other vehicle at the road near the current location of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to a determined speed of the other vehicle and a determined distance of the other vehicle from the current location of the equipped vehicle.

13. The driver assistance system of claim 11, wherein, responsive at least in part to a determination that (i) the estimated time to arrival is greater than a threshold amount and (ii) a determination via image processing of captured image data that an object is not present in the projected path of travel of the equipped vehicle, said control generates an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle that it is safe to proceed along the projected path of travel.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Semiconductor Light-Emitting Device And Method Of Forming Electrode

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device represented by light-emitting diode (LED) and the like, and a method for forming an electrode provided in the semiconductor light-emitting device. 2. Description of the Related Art The semiconductor light-emitting device represented by LED and the like has advantages such as low power consumption, compact in size, high brightness, and long life, and thus is recently used for various applications. For example, the semiconductor light-emitting device has been used for a lighting system, as a substitute for incandescent lamp that consumes a large amount of electric power. In addition, a semiconductor light-emitting device having a reflection layer capable of reflecting light exiting from a light-emitting layer in an electrode, in order to further increasing light extraction efficiency, is suggested. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-26392, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-41866, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-66461, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-80469, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-93358, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-204804 (hereinafter, referred to as “publicly known documents 1 to 6”), a semiconductor light-emitting device using Al that has high reflectance and is inexpensive as a reflection layer is suggested. However, Al has a low melting point and is a chemically active material, therefore, there are problems that the surface is susceptible to corrosion, and void and hillock, and migration are likely to occur in the interior. Also, Al is a material that is likely to interdiffuse when contacting with a dissimilar metal, and for example, when contacting with Au, an intermetallic compound of AuAl that is highly resistive and fragile is formed by interdiffusion, and it becomes a factor to damage the reliability of the semiconductor light-emitting device, such that the forward voltage of the semiconductor light-emitting device increases, the adhesion strength of the electrode deteriorates, or the like. Au is often used as a wire connecting an external power supply and a semiconductor light-emitting device, and in order to favorably connect to this wire, Au is often used as a pad layer of the electrode. However, when both Al layer and Au layer are contained in the electrode, the problem of contact described above arises. Therefore, for example, publicly known documents 1 to 6 suggest a semiconductor light-emitting device having an electrode in which direct contact between an Al layer and an Au layer is avoided by inserting between the Al layer and the Au layer a layer made of a material other than Al and Au. Publicly known documents 1 to 5 suggest a semiconductor light-emitting device having an electrode with a structure in which a layer made of a material such as Ti, Pt, W, Ta, and Pd is inserted between the Al layer and the Au layer. However, in the electrodes of the semiconductor light-emitting devices described above, the side surface of the Al layer is exposed, thus the side surface of the Al layer may corrode. In addition, an Au layer may be unintentionally formed on the side surface of the Al layer, and an AuAl intermetallic that is highly resistive and fragile may be formed by an interdiffusion of Al and Au. On the other hand, publicly known document 6 suggests a semiconductor light-emitting device having an electrode with a structure in which the top surface and side surface of an Al layer are covered with a W layer and the top surface and side surface of the W layer are further covered with an Au. However, in the electrodes of the semiconductor light-emitting devices, an Au layer is present not only in the upper side of the Al layer but also in the side of the Al layer, therefore, the portion where the Al layer and the Au layer are adjacent to each other is increased, and the possibility to generate interdiffusion of Al and Au is increased. In addition, in order to prepare an electrode of this semiconductor light-emitting device, multiple times of photolithography step and multiple times of film formation step are required, and the cost is increased as the manufacturing process is more complicated, thus it is not practical.

Invention Disclosure:
A semiconductor light-emitting device having an electrode that can be manufactured by a simple method and is unlikely to deteriorate, and a method for forming the electrode are provided. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention has a semiconductor layered structure having a light-emitting layer that emits light by supplying electric power and an electrode formed on the semiconductor layered structure. The electrode has a reflection layer that reflects light exiting from the light-emitting layer, a barrier layer formed on the upper side and side surface of the reflection layer, and a pad layer formed only on the top surface of the barrier layer.

[Assistant]
1. A semiconductor light-emitting device comprising:
a semiconductor layered structure having a light-emitting layer that emits light upon supply of electric power,
an electrode that supplies electric power to the light-emitting layer, and
a passivation layer formed so as to cover at least a part of the electrode,
wherein the electrode comprises:
a reflection layer that reflects light exiting from the light-emitting layer and is made of Al,
a pad layer made of Au, and
a barrier layer positioned between the reflection layer and the pad layer,
the barrier layer is formed on an upper side and a side surface of the reflection layer,
the pad layer is formed on a whole of an upper surface of the barrier layer, and
the passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer and the pad layer, and
wherein a side surface of the pad layer, a side surface of the barrier layer and a side surface of the reflection layer are inclined.

2. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the film thickness of the barrier layer formed on the side surface of the reflection layer is smaller than that of the barrier layer formed on the upper side of the reflection layer.

3. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode further comprises an adhesion layer that contacts with a top surface of the semiconductor layered structure, and the reflection layer is formed on a top surface of the adhesion layer.

4. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is made of a high melting point metal having a higher melting point than those of Al and Au.

5. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a film thickness of the pad layer is larger than that of the reflection layer.

6. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a film thickness of the pad layer is larger than that of the barrier layer.

7. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the adhesion layer is made of Ni.

8. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the adhesion layer has a film thickness of 2 nm or more and 4 nm or less.

9. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the barrier layer contains at least one of Pt, Mo and W.

10. A semiconductor light-emitting device comprising:
a semiconductor layered structure having a light-emitting layer that emits light upon supply of electric power,
an electrode that supplies electric power to the light-emitting layer, and
a passivation layer formed so as to cover at least a part of the electrode,
wherein the electrode comprises:
a reflection layer that reflects light exiting from the light-emitting layer and is made of Al,
a pad layer made of Au, and
a barrier layer positioned between the reflection layer and the pad layer,
the barrier layer is formed on an upper side and a side surface of the reflection layer,
the pad layer is formed on a whole of an upper surface of the barrier layer, and
the passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer and the pad layer,
wherein the semiconductor layered structure comprises a substrate, an n-type semiconductor layer, the light-emitting layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and a transparent electrode that are laminated in this order,
wherein the electrode has a p-electrode and an n-electrode, the p-electrode is formed on an upper side of the transparent electrode, and the n- electrode is formed on an upper side of the n-type semiconductor layer, and
wherein each of the p-electrode and the n-electrode comprises the reflection layer, the pad layer and the barrier layer, the pad layer is formed on the whole of the upper surface of the barrier layer, and the passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer and the pad layer.

11. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 10, wherein a surface of the substrate has concavity and convexity.

12. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 10, wherein the transparent electrode contacts with the passivation layer.

13. The semiconductor light-emitting device according to claim 10, wherein the passivation layer covers a side surface of the barrier layer and a side surface of the pad layer in each of the p-electrode and the n-electrode, and is formed on a part of an upper surface of the pad layer in each of the p-electrode and the n-electrode.

14. A semiconductor light-emitting device comprising:
a semiconductor layered structure having a light-emitting layer that emits light upon supply of electric power,
an electrode that supplies electric power to the light-emitting layer, and
a passivation layer formed so as to cover at least a part of the electrode,
wherein the electrode comprises:
a reflection layer that reflects light exiting from the light-emitting layer and is made of Al,
a pad layer made of Au, and
a barrier layer positioned between the reflection layer and the pad layer,
the barrier layer is formed on an upper side and a side surface of the reflection layer,
the pad layer is formed on a whole of an upper surface of the barrier layer, and
the passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer and the pad layer, and
wherein the passivation layer covers a side surface of the barrier layer and a side surface of the pad layer, and is formed on a part of an upper surface of the pad layer.

15. A semiconductor light-emitting device comprising:
a semiconductor layered structure having a light-emitting layer that emits light upon supply of electric power,
an electrode that supplies electric power to the light-emitting layer, and
a passivation layer formed so as to cover at least a part of the electrode,
wherein the electrode comprises:
a reflection layer that reflects light exiting from the light-emitting layer and is made of Al,
a pad layer made of Au, and
a barrier layer positioned between the reflection layer and the pad layer,
the barrier layer is formed on an upper side and a side surface of the reflection layer,
the pad layer is formed on a whole of an upper surface of the barrier layer, and
the passivation layer is in contact with the barrier layer and the pad layer, and
wherein the pad layer has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite from the first primary surface and a side surface that connects and is smaller than the first and second primary surfaces, and the side surface of the pad layer is inclined.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Clock Generator

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a frequency locked loop, and in particular to a frequency locked loop suitable for use as a clock generator in integrated circuit form. 2. Description of the Related Art It is known to use a frequency locked loop (FLL) to generate a clock signal at a frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of an existing (input) clock signal. For example, a high-frequency output clock clocks a counter. At edges of the existing clock signal, the accumulated count is latched and the counter is reset. Thus, the count represents the ratio of the frequency of the output clock to the frequency of the existing clock. This ratio is subtracted from an input value representing the desired ratio, and the resulting frequency error signal is fed to a filter. The filter integrates the frequency error to produce an integrated error signal, which is used to drive a numerically controlled oscillator, with the output of the numerically controlled oscillator being taken as the high-frequency output clock fed back to clock the counter. The feedback of the output clock means that, if its frequency becomes higher than the desired frequency, a negative frequency error signal is generated, causing the output frequency to be reduced. Conversely, if the frequency of the output clock becomes lower than the desired frequency, a positive frequency error signal is generated, causing the output frequency to increase. Thus the frequency of the generated clock converges to the desired frequency. One application of such FLLs is in digital audio signal processing or reproduction circuitry, and in host devices employing such circuitry, including but not limited to, portable electronic devices, mobile phones, PDA's, netbooks, laptops, tablets, computers. For high quality audio reproduction it is important that the clock driving an output digital-to-analog converter has low jitter, especially in the audio frequency band, to avoid noise, distortion or spurious tones. The clock accompanying the input data may not be high quality, due to either a poor quality clock source or degradation along the transmission channel, and the clock for signal processing may need to be a multiple of the data transmission clock. Also the generated clock must be closely synchronised to the incoming data: any accumulated clock slippage may result in dropped samples or gaps in the data to be processed. Further, in some applications the clocks may be intermittent, perhaps due to the data being transmitted in bursts. Or the clock source may change as the modality of the host device is changed to service different use scenarios and to save any unnecessary power consumption. Yet any such clock transition should be undetectable in the reproduced audio. Also preferably, for economic implementation in integrated circuit form, there should be minimal external components such as large capacitors: a predominantly digital solution is desirable.

Invention Disclosure:
A clock generator receives first and second clock signals, and input representing a desired frequency ratio. A comparison is made between frequencies of an output clock signal and the first clock signal, and a first error signal represents the difference between the desired frequency ratio and this comparison result. The first error signal is filtered. A comparison is made between frequencies of the output clock signal and the second clock signal, and a second error signal represents the difference between the filtered first error signal and this comparison result. The second error signal is filtered. A numerically controlled oscillator receives the filtered second error signal and generates an output clock signal. As a result, the output clock signal has the jitter characteristics of the first input clock signal over a useful range of jitter frequencies and the frequency accuracy of the second input clock signal.

[Assistant]
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a clock generator, for generating a continuous output clock signal, the clock generator comprising:
a first clock signal input, for receiving a first input clock signal; and
a second clock signal input, for receiving a second input clock signal;
at least one digital audio interface, for receiving digital audio data with an accompanying audio data clock;
a digital-analog converter, for reconstructing analog audio data based on received digital audio data;
wherein the audio data clock is provided to the clock generator as the first input clock signal, and the output clock signal of the clock generator is used as a clock for the digital-analog converter;
wherein the received digital audio data and accompanying audio data clock are received by the digital audio interface in burst mode, and the digital-analog converter is continuously supplied with the output clock signal of the clock generator, and the output clock signal of the clock generator is based on the first input clock signal and the second input clock signal; and
wherein the clock generator further comprises:
a first frequency comparator, for generating a first frequency comparison signal based on a ratio of a frequency of the output clock signal to a frequency of the first input clock signal;
a first subtractor, for forming a first error signal representing a difference between an input desired frequency ratio and the first frequency comparison signal;
a first digital filter, for receiving the first error signal and forming a filtered first error signal;
a second frequency comparator, for generating a second frequency comparison signal based on a ratio of a frequency of the output clock signal to a frequency of the second input clock signal;
a second subtractor, for forming a second error signal representing a difference between the filtered first error signal and the second frequency comparison signal;
a second digital filter, for receiving the second error signal and forming a filtered second error signal; and
a numerically controlled oscillator, for receiving the filtered second error signal and generating the output clock signal.

2. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1, comprising first and second digital audio interfaces, for receiving respective first and second digital audio data streams with respective accompanying first and second audio data clocks, wherein the first or second audio data clock may be selectably provided to the clock generator as the first input clock signal.

3. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, comprising a multiplexer connected to receive the first and second audio data clocks, wherein an output of the multiplexer is connected to the clock generator to provide the first input clock signal.

4. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second digital audio interfaces are connected to an applications processor and a communications processor.

5. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a third digital audio interface, for receiving a third digital audio data stream.

6. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received digital audio data and accompanying audio data clock are received from a USB source.

7. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storage circuitry, for storing the received digital audio data and passing it to the digital-analog converter.

8. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output terminal, for supplying the reconstructed analog audio data as an output of the integrated circuit.

9. An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises an audio and/or video codec.

10. A device comprising an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
a clock generator, for generating a continuous output clock signal, the clock generator comprising a first clock signal input, for receiving a first input clock signal; and a second clock signal input, for receiving a second input clock signal;
at least one digital audio interface, for receiving digital audio data with an accompanying audio data clock;
a digital-analog converter, for reconstructing analog audio data based on received digital audio data;
wherein the audio data clock is provided to the clock generator as the first input clock signal, and the output clock signal of the clock generator is used as a clock for the digital-analog converter; and
wherein the received digital audio data and accompanying audio data clock are received by the digital audio interface in burst mode, and the digital-analog converter is continuously supplied with the output clock signal of the clock generator, and the output clock signal of the clock generator is based on the first input clock signal and the second input clock signal; and
wherein the clock generator further comprises:
a first frequency comparator, for generating a first frequency comparison signal based on a ratio of a frequency of the output clock signal to a frequency of the first input clock signal;
a first subtractor, for forming a first error signal representing a difference between an input desired frequency ratio and the first frequency comparison signal;
a first digital filter, for receiving the first error signal and forming a filtered first error signal;
a second frequency comparator, for generating a second frequency comparison signal based on a ratio of a frequency of the output clock signal to a frequency of the second input clock signal;
a second subtractor, for forming a second error signal representing a difference between the filtered first error signal and the second frequency comparison signal;
a second digital filter, for receiving the second error signal and forming a filtered second error signal; and
a numerically controlled oscillator, for receiving the filtered second error signal and generating the output clock signal.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a crystal oscillator, connected to the second clock signal input of the clock generator.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a speaker connected to an output terminal of the integrated circuit.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit comprises first and second digital audio interfaces, for receiving respective first and second digital audio data streams with respective accompanying first and second audio data clocks, wherein the first or second audio data clock may be selectably provided to the clock generator as the first input clock signal.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, comprising an applications processor and a communications processor connected to the first and second digital audio interfaces.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising RF front-end circuitry connected to the communications processor.

16. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a third digital audio interface, for receiving a third digital audio data stream.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a Bluetooth™ transceiver, an FM radio, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a High Definition Multimedia Interface, and S/PDIF interface or a USB interface, connected to the third digital audio interface of the integrated circuit.

18. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device is a smartphone, games console, tablet, laptop computer, desktop computer, or hi-fi system.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Methods And Devices For Cell Reconfiguration

Technical Field and Background:
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is responsible for the standardization of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE). The 3GPP work on LTE is also referred to as Evolved Universal Terrestrial Access Network (E-UTRAN). LTE is a technology for realizing high-speed packet-based communication that can reach high data rates both in the downlink and in the uplink, and is a next generation mobile communication system relative to UMTS. In a wireless communications network, such as an LTE or UMTS network, radio access is provided to wireless devices by one or more radio base stations, also referred to herein as a “network node” or “radio network node”. A base station is associated with one or more antennas which are used for the transmission and reception of one or more cells that are served by the base station. The base station and its associated antennas are sometimes referred to as a “base station site”, “cell site”, or simply “site” in the following. In the context of this disclosure, each cell is associated with a physical cell identity (PCI), which is at least locally unique, i.e. it is unique among the cells served by a certain base station and its neighbouring cells. The cell identity is broadcast within the cell, allowing wireless devices to identify the cell. In a typical, non-limiting scenario, a base station is associated with three sector antennas. In one configuration, each sector antenna forms a separate sector cell having a separate PCI. In an alternative configuration, all three antennas are utilized for transmitting a macro cell or “omni cell” having one single PCI. Intermediate configurations may exist, e.g. with one antenna transmitting a sector cell and the remaining two antennas transmitting a “multi-sector cell” covering two sectors. Throughout this disclosure, the term “multi-sector cell” or “multi-cell” will be used to refer to configurations where two or more sectors are merged into a single cell. It should be appreciated that the presence of a multi-sector cell does not exclude that additional sector cells, or even additional multi-sector cells, may be served by the same base station. The expression “omni cell” generally refers to a scenario where all sectors of a base station are merged into one cell. It should be appreciated that an omni cell is a special case of a multi-sector cell, and that examples and embodiments set forth herein referring to “omni cells” are also applicable more generally to multi-sector cells unless stated otherwise. In a UMTS radio access network (RAN), the network node providing radio base station functionality is referred to as a NodeB. The NodeB is a logical node handling the transmission and reception of a set of cells. A Radio Network Controller (RNC) manages radio resources and provides control functionality for one or more NodeBs. In an LTE RAN, the radio base station node is referred to as an eNodeB, and this node also handles the additional control functionality provided by the RNC in UMTS. To meet the ever increasing demand for higher capacity in wireless networks, one approach is to deploy heterogeneous networks (HetNets), i.e. a network containing base stations operating with different transmission power. Base stations operating with high transmission power are commonly denoted macro base stations (or macro sites), and base stations operating with lower transmission power may be referred to as e.g. micro, pico, or femto base stations, or more generally as low power nodes. In such heterogeneous network deployments, the macro base stations can be said to form a “coverage layer”, i.e. they provide a layer of macro cells having wide coverage areas. The low power nodes form a “capacity layer”, i.e. a layer of smaller cells providing increased capacity in smaller areas within the macro cells, where high traffic levels are anticipated. It is generally desirable to decrease energy consumption of radio access networks, both for environmental reasons and to save operational costs. Energy savings may be achieved at various different levels, e.g. by using more efficient components in the base stations, by improving the resource usage of individual radio links, or by improved network deployment strategies. Mechanisms for decreasing energy consumption have been considered in the Energy Aware Radio and neTwork tecHnologies (EARTH) project.

Invention Disclosure:
Some embodiments provide a method for performing cell reconfiguration in a network node, which is associated with at least two antennas. Each antenna is capable of transmitting a signal covering at least one sector. The method comprises switching (1212) from a first state (1210) wherein a multi-sector cell covering at least two sectors is active, to a second state (1220), wherein sector cells covering each of the at least two sectors are active in addition to the multi-sector cell. In the second state, the same antennas are utilized for the sector cells as for the multi-sector cell. The method further comprises switching (1222) from the second state to a third state (1230) wherein the multi-sector cell is deactivated and the sector cells are active.

[Assistant]
1. A method for performing cell reconfiguration in a network node, the network node being associated with at least two antennas, wherein each antenna is capable of transmitting a signal covering at least one sector, the method comprising:
switching from a first state wherein a multi-sector cell is active, the multi-sector cell covering at least two sectors,
to a second state, wherein sector cells covering each of the at least two sectors are active in addition to the multi-sector cell, and wherein the same antennas are utilized for the sector cells as for the multi-sector cell,
and switching from the second state to a third state wherein the multi-sector cell is deactivated and the sector cells are active.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network node comprises two or more power amplifiers, and wherein in the first state, one power amplifier is amplifying a signal corresponding to the multi-sector cell,
and wherein switching to the second state comprises turning on at least one additional power amplifier, such that in the second and third states the signals corresponding to the sector cells are amplified by one power amplifier each.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the third state, each sector cell signal is amplified by a separate power amplifier, and wherein in the first state, the signal corresponding to the multi-sector cell is inserted after the separate power amplifiers into antenna branches feeding two or more antennas.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein in the third state, each signal corresponding to a sector cell is amplified by a separate power amplifier, and wherein in the first state, the signal corresponding to the multi-sector cell is amplified by one of the separate power amplifiers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein switching from the first state to the second state comprises:
redirecting the multi-sector cell signal to pass through one or more of the separate power amplifiers; and
activating the sector cells.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein in the first state, the power amplifier amplifying the signal corresponding to the multi-sector cell is using increased gain, and wherein switching from the first state to the second state comprises decreasing the gain of that power amplifier to normal level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each signal corresponding to a sector cell is associated with two or more power amplifiers corresponding to different physical antenna ports of the same antenna, and wherein the third state is a merged antenna state where each signal corresponding to a sector cell is amplified by one of the two or more power amplifiers, and wherein in the first state, the signal corresponding to the multi-sector cell is amplified by one of the power amplifiers unused by the sector cells.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when in the second state, adjusting the transmit power of the multi-sector cell and/or the transmit power of one or more sector cells, such that the difference between the signal strength of at least one of the sector cells and the signal strength of the multi-sector cell exceeds a handover threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the first state, the multi-sector cell is serving one or more wireless devices, and wherein switching from the second state to the third state is performed after initiation or completion of handover of the wireless devices to the sector cells.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein switching from the first state to the second state is performed upon detecting, or receiving an indication of, high load in the multi-sector cell.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-sector cell is an omni cell.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each cell is associated with a physical cell identity which is unique within the network node and within other nodes having a neighbor relation to the network node.

13. A network node associated with at least two antennas, wherein each antenna is capable of transmitting a signal covering at least one sector, the network node comprising transmitting circuitry, a processor, and a memory, the network node being connectable to baseband circuitry configured to generate baseband signals corresponding to one or more cells, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the network node is operative to:
switch from a first state wherein a multi-sector cell is active, the multi-sector cell covering at least two sectors,
to a second state, wherein sector cells covering each of the at least two sectors are active in addition to the multi-sector cell, and wherein the same antennas are utilized for the sector cells as for the multi-sector cell,
and switch from the second state to a third state wherein the multi-sector cell is deactivated and the sector cells are active.

14. The network node of claim 13, further comprising two or more power amplifiers arranged between the baseband circuitry and the antennas, such that there is at least one power amplifier per antenna, and each power amplifier is connectable to an antenna port associated with one of the antennas.

15. The network node of claim 13, further comprising a first signal splitter arranged after one of the power amplifiers and before the antennas, the first signal splitter being arranged to insert a signal into two or more antenna ports associated with different antennas.

16. The network node of claim 15, further comprising a switch operable to connect or disconnect the first signal splitter.

17. The network node of claim 16, wherein the network node is operative to connect the first signal splitter by means of the first switch when in the first state.

18. The network node of claim 15, further comprising a second signal splitter arranged between the baseband circuitry and the power amplifiers, the second signal splitter being arranged to direct a signal from the baseband circuitry into at least two power amplifiers connectable to two or more physical antenna ports associated with different antennas.

19. The network node of claim 18, further comprising a second switch operable to connect or disconnect the second signal splitter.

20. The network node of claim 19, wherein the network node is operative to connect the second signal splitter by means of the second switch, and disconnect the first signal splitter by means of the first switch, when switching from the first state to the second state.

21. The network node of claim 13, wherein each antenna is associated with a first antenna port and one or more additional antenna ports, and a first power amplifier is associated with the first antenna port and an additional power amplifier is associated with each additional antenna port, and further comprising additional switches associated with each antenna and operable to merge the first antenna port with the additional antenna ports, such that the input to the additional power amplifiers associated with each antenna are redirected into the first power amplifier associated with the same antenna, and wherein the first signal splitter is arranged to insert the signal into one or more of the additional power amplifiers.

22. A network node associated with at least two antennas, wherein each antenna is capable of transmitting a signal covering at least one sector, the network node comprising means adapted to:
switch from a first state wherein a multi-sector cell is active, the multi-sector cell covering at least two sectors,
to a second state, wherein sector cells covering each of the at least two sectors are active in addition to the multi-sector cell, and wherein the same antennas are utilized for the sector cells as for the multi-sector cell,
and switch from the second state to a third state wherein the multi-sector cell is deactivated and the sector cells are active.

23. The network node of claim 22, wherein the network node is a radio base station.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Resuming Packet Services In A Mobile Network

Technical Field and Background:
In a conventional public land mobile network (PLMN), such as according to the 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), various radio access networks (RANs), such as a General Packet Radio Subsystem Evolved Radio Access Network (GERAN), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and an Evolved-UTRAN (E-UTRAN) may be connected to a common core network and may provide various and different services. For instance, GERAN or UTRAN may provide voice services, solely or in part. E-UTRAN, by contrast, may provide packet services, either solely or in part.

Invention Disclosure:
This disclosure relates generally to resuming packet services in a mobile network. A device, method, and/or system may include switching, with user equipment, from communicating with a first radio access network to communicating with a second radio access network, setting, with a processor of the user equipment, a register of the user equipment to initiate packet services with the first radio access network, and transmitting, with the user equipment, a request to a core network node of the first radio access network to resume communications with the first radio access network based, at least in part, on the register.

[Assistant]
1. A user equipment (UE) configured for inter-RAT mobility, the UE comprising:
a transceiver coupled to a processor, the transceiver and processor, configured to:
receive signaling to activate idle mode signal reduction (1SR) for subsequent use during inter-RAT cell re-selection while the UE is in idle mode;
perform inter-RAT cell reselection in accordance with ISR when ISR is activated, the inter-RAT cell reselection to establish a circuit-switched (CS) radio signaling connection within a target cell when the target cell is a non-E-UTRAN cell;
transmit signaling to suspend packet switched (PS) services while the UE has a signaling connection within a non-E-UTRAN cell;
transmit signaling to initiate a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when ISR is activated to resume PS services when the UE returns to a E-UTRAN cell; and
based on an unsuccessful resumption of PS services, deactivate ISR after returning to the E-UTRAN cell prior to initiating another TAU procedure to resume PS services.

2. The UE of claim 1 wherein the UE is configured to deactivate ISR locally by setting a temporary identity used in next update (TIN) parameter of the UE to a value indicating a Packet-Temporary Mobile Scriber Identity (P-TMSI) before initiating the TAU procedure,
wherein the P-TMSI refers to a RAT with which the UE was established before the inter-RAT cell reselection.

3. The UE of claim 2 further comprising a register, wherein the register is configured to store the P-TMSI.

4. The UE of claim 2 wherein to perform the inter-RAT cell reselection in accordance with ISR, the UE is configured to refrain from initiating a routing area update (RAU) procedure when reselecting a GERAN cell of a routing area corresponding to a routing area identification that was stored by the UE during a last RAU procedure and a temporary identity used in next update (TIN) parameter of the UE is set to a value indicating a RAT-related Temporary Mobile Scriber Identity (TMSI).

5. The UE of claim 4 wherein the signaling to activate ISR is received in a RAU or TAU accept message as part of a RAU or TAU procedure.

6. The UE of claim 5 wherein the signaling to resume the PS services when the UE returns to a E-UTRAN cell is initiated by a TAU request message sent to a MME.

7. The UE of claim 4 wherein when the non-E-UTRAN target cell is a GERAN cell, the UE is configured to, the UE is further configured to initiate CS call in the GERAN cell,
wherein when the UE does not support dual-transfer mode (DTM) comprising simultaneous use of CS services and PS services, the UE is configured to transmit signaling to suspend PS services for the UE.

8. The UE of claim 4 wherein the signaling to suspend PS services while the UE has a signaling connection within a non-E-UTRAN cell comprises a suspend request,
wherein prior to transmission of the suspend request, the UE is configured to transmit an extended service request message in a E-UTRAN cell to initiate a circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) call,
wherein transmission of the suspend request depends on whether the CSFB call is performed to a GERAN or a UTRAN target cell, and
information conveyed by the suspend request depends on whether the ISR was activated before the CSFB call.

9. The UE of claim 4 wherein the UE is configured to deactivate ISR after returning to the E-UTRAN cell when PS services were not resumed successfully prior to initiating a TAU procedure to resume PS services.

10. The UE of claim 2 wherein the non-E-UTRAN target cell is either a UTRAN cell or a GERAN cell.

11. The UE of claim 10 wherein when the non-E-UTRAN target cell is a GERAN cell, the UE is configured to transmit signaling to suspend the PS services while the UE is in dedicated mode and has a radio-resource (RR) signaling connection within the GERAN cell.

12. The UE of claim 2 wherein the non-E-UTRAN target cell and the non-E-UTRAN cell with which the UE has a signaling connection are different non-E-UTRAN cells.

13. The UE of claim 2 wherein the non-E-UTRAN target cell and the non-E-UTRAN cell with which the UE has a signaling connection are the same non-E-UTRAN cell.

14. The UE of claim 2 wherein the UE is configured to receive signaling from a mobile management entity to suspend the PS services when the ISR is activated before a CSFB call.

15. The UE of claim 2 further comprising two or more antennas configured to communicate with eNBs that provide cells with which the UE has a signaling connection with.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) to configure the UE to perform operations for inter-RAT cell reselection, the operations to configure the one or more processors to configure the UE to:
receive signaling to activate idle mode signal reduction (ISR) for subsequent use during inter-RAT cell re-selection while the UE is in idle mode;
perform inter-RAT cell reselection in accordance with ISR when ISR is activated, the inter-RAT cell reselection to establish a circuit-switched (CS) radio signaling connection within a target cell when the target cell is a non-E-UTRAN cell;
transmit signaling to suspend packet switched (PS) services while the UE has a signaling connection within a non-E-UTRAN cell;
transmit signaling to initiate a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when ISR is activated to resume PS services when the UE returns to a E-UTRAN cell; and
based on an unsuccessful resumption of PS services, deactivate ISR after returning to the E-UTRAN cell prior to initiating another TAU procedure to resume PS services.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the UE is configured to deactivate ISR locally by setting a temporary identity used in next update (TIN) parameter of the UE to a value indicating a Packet-Temporary Mobile Scriber Identity (P-TMSI) before initiating the TAU procedure,
wherein the P-TMSI refers to a RAT with which the UE was established before the inter-RAT cell reselection.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein to perform the inter-RAT cell reselection in accordance with ISR, the UE is configured to refrain from initiating a routing area update (RAU) procedure when reselecting a GERAN cell of a routing area corresponding to a routing area identification that was stored by the UE during a last RAU procedure and a temporary identity used in next update (TIN) parameter of the UE is set to a value indicating a RAT-related Temporary Mobile Scriber Identity (TMSI).