1. A method for reducing uplink noise in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:
determining if an uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is inactive;
if the uplink communication path is inactive, decreasing a gain level of an uplink antenna unit associated with the uplink communication path to a first predetermined value;
determining if the uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is active; and
if the uplink communication path is active, increasing the gain level of the uplink antenna unit associated with the uplink communication path to a second predetermined value.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined value is substantially lower than the second predetermined value.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if an uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is inactive comprises a step of determining whether or not a communication signal is being conveyed between a mobile unit and a base station via the uplink communication path.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if an uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is inactive comprises a step of determining if the uplink antenna unit is operating in a rest mode.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is active comprises a step of determining if at least one of the uplink antenna unit and a mobile unit connected via the uplink communication path is operating in an active communication mode.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is active comprises a step of determining if at least one of the uplink antenna unit and a mobile unit connected via the uplink communication path is transporting a communication signal on the uplink communication path.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gain level of the uplink antenna unit is associated with a level of uplink noise in the wireless communication system.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if an uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is inactive is performed at a base station.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if an uplink communication path in the wireless communication system is inactive is performed at the uplink antenna unit.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of decreasing the gain level of an uplink antenna unit associated with the uplink communication path to a first predetermined value comprises a step of decreasing a transmitter’s output gain.
11. A method for reducing uplink noise in a cellular communications network, comprising the steps of:
determining whether or not a remote antenna unit in the cellular communications network is receiving at least one communication signal from a mobile unit;
if the remote antenna unit in the cellular communications network is not receiving at least one communication signal from a mobile unit, decreasing a transmit antenna gain of the remote antenna unit to a first predetermined value;
re-determining whether or not the remote antenna unit in the cellular communications network is receiving at least one communication signal from a mobile unit; and
if the remote antenna unit in the cellular communications network is receiving at least one communication signal from a mobile unit, increasing the transmit antenna gain of the remote antenna unit to a second predetermined value.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote antenna unit comprises a wireless digital signal repeater or a wireless analog signal relay.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote antenna unit comprises an uplink antenna in a set of distributed antennas.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the cellular communications network includes a radio air interface that can operate in a terrestrial or airborne configuration in accordance with at least one of a GSM, AMPS, D-AMPS, CDMA, WCDMA, TDMA, CDPD, EDGE, GPRS, iDEN, OFDM, OFDMA, UMTS, 3GPP, WiFi, WiMAX, or RFID protocol.
15. A system for reducing uplink noise in a wireless communications network, comprising:
a plurality of mobile units;
a base station; and
a plurality of uplink antenna units located between the plurality of mobile units and the base station, wherein a control unit associated with at least one of the base station and an uplink antenna unit of the plurality of uplink antenna units is configured to:
determine if a communication link associated with the uplink antenna unit is active or inactive;
if the communication link is inactive, decrease a gain level of the uplink antenna unit to a first predetermined value;
re-determine if the communication link is active or inactive; and
if the communication link is active, increase the gain level of the uplink antenna unit to a second predetermined value.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular communications network.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the uplink antenna unit comprises a remote uplink antenna unit.
18. The system of claim 15, whereby a decrease of the gain level of the uplink antenna unit is associated with a decrease in an amount of noise contributed by the uplink antenna unit to an overall noise floor.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined value is substantially lower than the second predetermined value.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a terrestrial or airborne wireless communication network.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim:
1. Apparatus to assess spinal movement, comprising:
a device adapted for physical connection to upper or lower vertebral bodies; and
one or more handles coupled to the device enabling a user to move one or both of the vertebral bodies to assess relative position, motion, or orientation.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted for placement within an intradiscal space between the upper and lower vertebral bodies.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is externally expandable within an intradiscal space to reduce shear stress on the upper and lower vertebral bodies during insertion.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the device is externally expandable using one or more scissor jacks.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device includes:
a pair of opposing endplates, each bearing against a respective one of the vertebral bodies; and
a set of modular articulating components situated between the opposing end plates facilitating a range of motion.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a set of trial spacer components indexed to the modular articulating components to determine which set of the modular articulating components to utilize.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the modular articulating components include a feature to restrict motion in one or more dimensions.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is an artificial disc replacement (ADR).
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an instrument coupled to the device for measuring one or more aspects of the movement.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument is coupled to the device between a pair of handles.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures one or more distances associated with the movement.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures the force required for a movement.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures distances or forces associated with spinal flexion.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures distances or forces associated with spinal extension.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures distances or forces associated with lateral bending.
16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures distances or forces associated with spinal rotation.
17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instrument measures distances or forces associated with spinal retraction.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instrument is a torque wrench or torque screwdriver.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device includes a level to determine spinal alignment.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the device includes a handle with a level to determine spinal alignment.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handle is oriented perpendicular to a patent in a prone position to determine rotational alignment.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, further including the use of pre-operative or intra-operative CT, MRI, or fluoroscopy to assist with the assessment of the relative motion or position.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, further including a guide for cutting slots into a vertebral body to receive a keel.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, further including an artificial disc replacement (ADR) with a rotatable keel to adjust for axial rotation.
25. An artificial disc replacement (ADR) with a rotatable keel to adjust for axial rotation.