1. A device for enhancing performance of a portable wireless communication device within a mobile vehicle, comprising:
a housing to enclose the portable wireless communication device, the housing including an exterior reflective layer and an interior nonreflective layer;
an RF coupling device positioned within the housing; and
a transceiver positioned on an exterior surface of the vehicle, the transceiver operably connected to the RF coupling device,
wherein the exterior reflective layer reflects extraneous noise signals away from the housing.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the RF coupling device is a quarter-wave antenna.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is an antenna.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the RF coupling device and the transceiver are operably connected using a coaxial cable.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the nonreflective layer comprises foam.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the reflective layer comprises metal.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the metal comprises aluminum.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a closable opening through which the portable wireless communication device may be inserted or removed.
9. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
an RF signal amplifier.
10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a second transceiver operably positioned within the housing, the second transceiver operably connected to a vehicle sound system.
11. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a power source positioned within the housing, the power source compatible with the portable wireless communication device.
12. A method for enhancing performance of a portable wireless communication device within a mobile vehicle, comprising:
enclosing the portable wireless communication device within a housing;
reflecting noise signals from outside the housing;
reducing reflection of communication signals within the housing; and
transmitting and receiving signals between the enclosed communication device and a transceiver operably positioned on an exterior surface of the vehicle.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
transmitting and receiving signals between the enclosed communication device and a sound system within the vehicle.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
amplifying the transmitted and received signals.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising;
providing power to the portable wireless communication device.
16. A system for enhancing performance of a portable wireless communication device within a mobile vehicle, comprising:
means for enclosing the portable wireless communication device;
means for reflecting noise from outside the enclosing means;
means for reducing reflection of communication signals within the enclosing means; and
means for transmitting and receiving signals between the enclosed communication device and a transceiver operably positioned on an exterior surface of the vehicle.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:
means for transmitting and receiving signals between the enclosed communication device and a sound system within the vehicle.
18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:
means for amplifying the transmitted and received signals.
19. The system of claim 16 further comprising;
means for providing power to the portable wireless communication device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-10. (canceled)
11. A method for substitute switching of spatially separated switching systems, comprising:
providing a pair of switching systems having one-to-one redundancy, comprising a first switching system in an active operating state in terms of switching, and a second switching system in a hot-standby operating state in terms of switching, the second switching system geographically separated from the first switching system;
establishing communication between a monitoring system and at least one of the paired switching systems; and
changing over in terms of switching from the active switching system to the hot-standby switching system in the event of a loss of communication to the switching system in the active operating state,
wherein the change over occurs in real time.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11,
wherein each switching system comprising a central controller,
the method further comprising exchanging test messages between the monitoring system and the central controllers of the paired switching systems.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the messages are exchanged periodically.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exchange of the test messages between the monitoring system and the switching system in the active operating state is controlled via the switching system by sending a test request to the monitoring system and receiving a positive acknowledgement.
15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exchange of the test message between the monitoring system and the switching system in the hot-standby operating state is controlled via the switching system by sending a test request to the monitoring system and receiving a negative acknowledgement.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exchange of the test messages between the monitoring system and the switching system in the hot-standby operating state is controlled via the switching system by sending a test request to the monitoring system and receiving no acknowledgement.
17. The method as claimed in 12, further comprising:
reporting to the network management system by the monitoring system the loss of communication with the switching system in the active operating state; and
sending changeover instructions to the monitoring system.
18. The method as claimed in 12,
wherein the change over is controlled by the monitoring system by sending a positive acknowledgement to a test request sent by the switching system in hot-standby operating state, and
wherein the switching system in the hot-standby operating state is changed to the active operating state by the central controller after receiving the positive acknowledgement.
19. The method as claimed in 18, wherein the switching system with the communication loss is changed to the hot-standby operating state and is not automatically switched back to the active operating state following a resolution of the communication loss.
20. The method as claimed in 11, further comprising:
reporting to the network management system by the monitoring system the loss of communication with the switching system in the active operating state; and
sending changeover instructions to the monitoring system.
21. The method as claimed in 11,
wherein the change over is controlled by the monitoring system by sending a positive acknowledgement to a test request, and
wherein the switching system in the hot-standby operating state is changed to the active operating state after receiving the positive acknowledgement.
22. The method as claimed in 21, wherein the switching system with the communication loss is changed to the hot-standby operating state and is not automatically switched back to the active operating state following a resolution of the communication loss.
23. A monitoring system for monitoring a failure of an active switching system, comprising:
a first monitor comprising:
a first communication link to the active switching system, the active switching system in an active operating state in terms of switching,
a second communication link to a second switching system that is geographically separated from the first switching system, the second switching system in a hot-standby operating state in terms of switching;
a second monitor that is geographically separated from the first monitor, the second monitor comprising:
a first communication link to the active switching system, the active switching system in an active operating state in terms of switching,
a second communication link to a second switching system that is geographically separated from the first switching system, the second switching system in a hot-standby operating state in terms of switching; and
a communication link between the first and second monitors,
wherein a failure on the first communication link triggers the second switching system to change over to the active operating state, and
wherein the change over is in real time.
24. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the a communication loss between the first monitor and the active switching system causes a synchronization between the monitoring systems in order to trigger the second switching system to change over to the active operating state.
25. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the active switching system determined by both the first and second monitors is maintained active if a communication fault between the first and second monitors occurs.