APC receives patent, accepts first production units of wireless device.BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 1995--American Personal Communications has received a U.S. Government patent for a device which enables new Personal Communications Service The company has also received the first production units of the device, called a Remote Measurement Unit,from its manufacturer, Stanford Telecom of Sunnyvale, Calif. "This is an exciting day for APC (1) (American Power Conversion Corporation, West Kingston, RI, www.apcc.com) The leading manufacturer of UPS systems and surge suppressors, founded in 1981 by Rodger Dowdell, Neil Rasmussen and Emanual Landsman, three electronic power engineers who had worked at MIT. , the rest of the PCS industry and for the public which will use PCS," said APC Chief Executive Officer Scott Schelle. Technological Milestone "It is a milestone in a process that began almost five years ago when we first began asking how PCS could share a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum electromagnetic spectrum Total range of frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The spectrum ranges from waves of long wavelength (low frequency) to those of short wavelength (high frequency); it comprises, in order of increasing frequency (or decreasing already occupied by hundreds of microwave systems," he explained. "Under the leadership of J. Barclay Jones, APC's vice president for engineering, we developed a frequency-sharing algorithm that has now been recognized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and which will become commercially available from Stanford Telecom." Schelle said Stanford, whose 1994 revenues of $100 million came predominantly from the Department of Defense and other government contractors, has begun producing the 19-inch rack-mountable Remote Measurement Units based on APC's patented technology. The units, to be located inside PCS base stations, will enable PCS system A PCS System in a personal communications service, is a collection of facilities (hardware, software, and network components) that provides some combination of personal mobility, terminal mobility, and service profile management. operators to share frequencies in the early years of operation while they negotiate with existing microwave systems to move to another portion of the spectrum. "PCS is the first mobile wireless technology in U.S. history which must share its frequency allocation The electromagnetic spectrum is an aspect of the physical world, like land, water, and air. It is a resource, limited by its usability. Use of radio frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum is regulated by governments in most countries, in a process known as with existing users," explained Schelle. "Although the Federal communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. has prescribed a process to relocate those microwave systems, relocation will take several years. PCS, however, must enter a wireless marketplace already served by the entrenched en·trench also in·trench v. en·trenched, en·trench·ing, en·trench·es v.tr. 1. To provide with a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying or defending. 2. cellular industry and thus must be able to compete for customers from the outset. Our technology will help make that possible, while protecting against interference and maximizing spectrum utilization and efficiency." Previously Recognized by FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. APC's invention has already received recognition by the FCC, which awarded APC a "pioneer preference" in PCS licensing based on it and other contributions by the company. The pioneer designation allowed APC to begin construction and deployment of its system without bidding for a license in FCC-conducted auctions. The company will pay a discounted amount for its license because of its pioneering contribution. "APC has aimed from its inception in 1989 to be a leader in the PCS industry," said Schelle. "That is why we were gratified grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. to be designated a pioneer by the FCC and are further gratified to receive a patent for our product. We look forward to moving it to the marketplace for other operators to utilize and for the public to receive its benefits." Schelle said APC has already licensed the frequency-sharing technology, which the company calls PathGuard(TM), to several prominent wireless equipment manufacturers. Stanford Telecom's Remote Measurement Units add the capability to measure microwave signal strengths. "The measured signal strengths are used in the PathGuard system to maximize PCS frequency availability and avoid microwave interference," Schelle explained. "PCS providers will be able to immediately deploy their systems while clearing the microwave paths through a negotiation process. This is extremely important since clearing the paths could take up to eight years," he added. APC is moving rapidly to become the first commercial PCS operator in the U.S., serving a market of some eight million people throughout the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). , Maryland, approximately half of Virginia and portions of West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. . It recently secured its 300th base station site, and has leased offices in Maryland and Virginia to house the state-of-the-art digital switching systems which will route calls to subscribers. PCS is a generic term for a variety of digital, wireless voice and data services aimed at both general consumer and business users. Because it is based on digital technology, its signals will offer more clarity and security than analog cellular systems. It will also offer data services such as facsimile and short messaging. -0- PathGuard is a trademark of American Personal Communications CONTACT: American Personal Communications Anne Phillips, 301/214-9200 |
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