Abstract: An ATM cell constructor (100) of an ATM transmitter assembles a stream of frames of constant bit-rate traffic received on a listen TDM bus (102) into cell payloads (1104) using ATM adaptation layer 1 (AAL1). Once every eight cells, the AAL1 structured data transfer (SDT) cell constructor layer (112) introduces a one-octet SDT offset pointer (1120) into the payload. This pointer designates traffic-block (TDM frame) boundaries. The payload with an attached ATM header forms an ATM cell, and the constructor transmits a stream of the ATM cells to an ATM cell deconstructor (2100) of an ATM receiver. The deconstructor disassembles the payloads of the received ATM cells and transmits the stream of frames of constant bit-rate traffic on a talk TDM bus (102). In response to each received SDT offset pointer, the deconstructor's time slot interchanger (TSI 2108) resets to the start of frame-processing, thereby aligning frames formed by the TSI with the received frames.

Abstract: The flow of work items (40) through a workflow process (50) is optimized by repeatedly reordering (FIG. 3) work items enqueued in inbox queues (21) of workflow process tasks (500) to maximize results according to a given business strategy expressed through target times. Each enqueued work item has an associated in-queue rating (IQR 28) that represents the number of queue positions (23) that the work item can be retarded or needs to be advanced to meet its target time. When a work item enters a queue and whenever a work item changes its queue position, its IQR is computed. An optimization function is then performed (404) on the queue to determine an order of the enqueued work items that optimizes a metric of those work items that may fail to meet their target times. The work items in the queue are then reordered (406) accordingly.

Abstract: An information network, such as the Internet (FIG. 1), uses a plurality of servers (140-142, 160, 170-171) each one of which serves only a single object (200-205), whereby the servers avoid the processing overhead involved in searching through files containing a plurality of objects for a requested object. Rather, receipt of a request by a server can only mean a request for the one object served by the server, which the server retrieves and provides to the requesting client (120). Since each server serves only one object, the client must contact a plurality of the servers in order to obtain a page (250) of information that comprises a plurality of objects.

Abstract: Resolution of contention over resources (102-105) in an automatic call distribution (ACD) system (101). Call (201) attributes (202) and resource (221) attributes (222) are defined (140,130). Rules (211) match calls' attributes with resources' attributes, Rules have priorities (212) comprising an initial value (213) and a function (214) that changes the value over time. Rules preferably define call coverage paths (215). Each resource has its own call queue (121-129). Rules are matched (230) to arriving call's attributes, to determine (240) resources that can handle the call. A token (250) for every matching rule is placed in the queues of all resources that can handle the call, at a position determined by the rule's priority. The priority and queue position changes over time according to the rule's time function. When a resource dequeues the call's token to process the call, tokens for the call are removed from all queues.

Abstract: A call originating in the Internet network (102) is converted by a gateway (104) into a telephone call and is completed to a call center (106) as a conventional inbound call including caller identification. An Internet user who has accessed a World Wide Web (WWW) home page (114) of a call center customer indicates a desire to speak to a call center agent by activating a “call” virtual button (115) of the home page by means of the WWW browser (101) of the user's Internet phone (99)-equipped client (100). The WWW server (103) of the home page responds by sending an executable applet (117) and the call center's telephone number (116) to the client (100). The client executes the applet to obtain the user's telephone number from the user, to establish an Internet connection between the Internet phone (99) and the gateway, and to provide the user's and call center's telephone numbers to the gateway.

Abstract: When a wireless terminal enters a new location, the telephone number assigned to the wireless terminal is automatically changed to a telephone number assigned to that location based on an assignment level of the wireless terminal for that location. The features associated with the wireless terminal will also be changed to the features assigned to the location. In addition, this invention allows flexibility for the telephone number of the wireless terminal to remain fixed and not to be changed to a telephone number assigned to a particular location. Further, a wireless terminal has a plurality of assignment levels with different assignment levels being utilized for different locations. This allows the user of the wireless terminal to perform different functions within different locations. In addition, each wireless terminal has a personal telephone number assigned to it.

Abstract: Knowledge deficiency of an expert system (110) is alleviated by automating extraction of data that is relevant to the expert system's diagnostics knowledge database (112) and automatically and in an on-going manner updating the knowledge database with the extracted information. Evolving diagnostic knowledge in a domain is represented in the form of semi-structured natural-language reports (116). A computer-implemented tool (120) analyzes (206) a report to determine its kind, and then employs (222) an intelligent filter (124,126) corresponding to that kind of report to parse (224-244) the report's sections, to extract (226-244) data therefrom, and to perform consistency checks (228, 234) between sections on the extracted data. The computer then assembles (248) the extracted data into database records and includes (250) them in the knowledge database.

Abstract: The alternate destination redirection (ADR) feature (102) of telephone switching systems (101) or an equivalent is used to implement a “post-route” routing architecture having the benefits of a “pre-route” routing architecture in a network ACD (FIG. 1). The ADR feature is administered in the network (100) for individual ACD systems and individual call types at each ACD system to identify another ACD system as an alternative destination for calls of the individual call type rejected by the individual ACD system. The network distributes (302) calls to the plurality of ACD systems (110-112) on a basis (e.g., fixed percentage, round-robin) that does not require the network to know the status of the individual ACD systems. Upon having a call of an individual type routed thereto, an individual ACD system checks (304) the status of the ACD system that is administered as the alternative destination for its rejected calls of the individual type.

Abstract: A user defines their own call-coverage path (141) or other call-processing information by drawing a graphical flowchart (200) using an interactive GUI of a PC-based software application (140). Once the flowchart is drawn, it is activated with the push of a button, and that flowchart is now the logic that is applied to a user's coverage path. The call-coverage path (the flowchart) remains resident on the user's PC (103) and the communications switching system (101) retrieves call-coverage information from the PC whenever it must perform call coverage for that user. A plurality of different flowcharts may be drawn and stored on the PC, and then recalled and activated at any time as the present call-coverage path for the user. A call-coverage path may be activated by and/or for the user from anywhere on a LAN (104), WAN, or the Internet, so that the call-coverage path my be controlled remotely.

Abstract: A generic and dynamically-modifiable database schema has a tree structure that includes leaf nodes each defining a value of an attribute, branch container nodes each representing a different attribute and identifying those leaf nodes that define values of the container node's attribute, root nodes each representing a database record and identifying those leaf nodes in different container nodes that define values of an attribute of the root node's record, a root container node representing a database and identifying the root nodes that represent its records, attribute nodes each representing a different attribute and identifying the ii branch container node that represents that attribute, and a map container node identifying attribute nodes.

Abstract: A high-frequency, e.g., microwave, filter (100, 300, 400) is made, e.g., stamped or etched, from a single sheet (110, 310, 410) of electrically conductive material, e.g., a metal plate or a printed circuit board. The sheet defines a frame (112, 312, 412-413), one or more resonant filter elements (114, 311-315, 411-415) inside of the frame, one or more supports (116, 316-317, 416) connecting each resonant filter element to the frame, and a flange (118, 318, 418) on one of the resonant filter elements. The flange serves as an electrical contact to the filter; another flange (317, 417) on another element, or the frame itself, serves as a second contact. An electrically conductive housing (104, 304, 404) encapsulates both faces of the sheet.

Abstract: A high-frequency, e.g., microwave, antenna (100) is stamped from a single sheet (300) of electromagnetically conductive material, e.g., a metal plate. A manufacture comprising a frame (104), a plurality of radiator antenna elements (108), a plurality of first supports (112) each connecting a radiator antenna element to the frame, a feed network (110) connected to the radiator antenna elements, and a plurality of second supports (304) connecting the radiators and the feed network to each other and to the frame, are stamped out of the single sheet. A combiner (114) may be included in the manufacture as well. The second supports provide alignment and rigidity during manufacture and assembly. Preferably, a plurality of the manufactures are stamped out side-by-side from a single roll (400) for ease of automated manufacture and assembly.

Abstract: An application-independent language module for language-independent applications responds to a request from an application identifying a concept that is generic to a plurality of languages and the language that the concept is to be expressed in, by generating and returning an expression of the identified concept in the identified language for the application to communicate.

Abstract: A resonant capacitive coupler (124) couples signals across a gap (126) between signal transmission lines (112, 118) of two printed wiring boards (100, 102). The coupler has a conductive contact member (202 or 302) that is either positioned in close proximity to one of the transmission lines (112) or is connected to the one transmission line via a dielectric (204 or 304), and forms a capacitor therewith. The coupler further has a conductive interconnect member (200 or 300) that is connected to the contact member, and also to the other transmission line (108) either directly (FIG. 3) or via a second conductive contact member (202) (FIG. 2). The conductive interconnect member is dimensioned to have an inductive impedance at the frequency of the signals that equals, and hence cancels out, the capacitive impedance of the one or two capacitors formed by the one or two contact members.

Abstract: A bandpass planar filter (110) comprises a signal input and a signal output (116), and one or more resonator elements (112, 114) coupled serially end-to-end between the input and the output across gaps (118) that separate the elements from the input, the output, and from each other. The resonator elements form a serpentine shape such that at least two portions of the serpentine shape are positioned side-by-side parallel to each other separated by a spacing (120). The side-by-side portions effect additional coupling between the resonator elements that forms a notch (transmission zero) (204) in the passband (200) of the filter. The input, output, and resonator elements are etched into one surface (106) of a PC board (102); the other surface (104) of the PC board forms a ground plane of the filter, and the substrate (103) of the PC board forms a dielectric of the filter.

Abstract: In an integrated voice and multimedia communications system (FIG. 1), an end-user is given explicit control over which audio access mechanism he wishes to use regardless of whether a call is a multimedia or a voice call. The end-user's voice terminal (101) is equipped with a PC-Audio control button (127). When the user originates or receives a call, a multimedia PBX (102) automatically connects audio to the voice terminal's handset (124) regardless of whether the call is a multimedia or a voice call. If the user then presses the PC-Audio button, the PBX transfers audio to the audio subsystem (112-114) of the multimedia terminal (100), an LED (128) associated with the button is lit, and the user may cradle the handset without disconnecting the call. If the handset is subsequently lifted, audio is reconnected to the handset and the LED is extinguished. If the button is pressed while its LED is lit, the call is disconnected.

Abstract: A dual-supply line-interface circuit (100) uses a −48V power supply (VBAT1) to drive long subscriber loops (120) and uses a −28V power supply (VBAT2) to drive short subscriber loops. For intermediate-length loops, a dual-slope current-feed profile (FIG. 4) is employed to limit the line-circuit's power dissipation. The line-interface circuit operates in an apparent constant-current mode, generating about 40 mA of differential line current using the low power supply, up to a threshold line voltage of about 25V, which is equal to the low power supply voltage minus required overhead. For longer loops, the line-interface circuit switches to a second constant-current mode, generating about 22 mA of differential current using the high power supply, which maintains the loop current constant until it drops to the 48V resistive-feed value.

Abstract: Call centers (143-145) use an event-driven scheme (207) with a filter (366) to send status updates to an associated network call-routing system (150). The filter ensures that only minimal status changes are not reported to the network call-routing system. Each call center records (310) the status values (360-365) of different splits that it last sent to the call-routing system, and sends a new status update only when a status value of a split has changed (306) by the split's corresponding threshold amount (380-385). On the one hand, in large splits, the number of status-impacting events (such as call arrival, call serviced, call abandon, agent login/logout, etc.) is typically high, but the scale of the change in status effected by each of these events is minimal. On the other hand, in small splits, the number of status-impacting events is typically small but the scale of the change in status effected by each of these events is significant.

Abstract: A telecommunications switching system such as a private branch exchange (100) processes calls as follows. When it receives (200) a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), the switching system invokes conventional vectoring (107) and commences processing the call by executing (202) the VDN's call-processing vector. However, when it encounters (206) a “wait” vector command in the executing vector, the switching system sends (208) a notice of the call and the call's identity to an external source of vectors, such as an expert system implemented on an adjunct processor (110). This notice functions as a request for another call-processing vector for the call. The expert system obtains (252-256) information relevant to processing of the call from the switching system and from external databases (111-112), and based on that information dynamically creates (258) a new call-processing vector for the call, in real time.

Abstract: An application-independent language module for language-independent applications responds to a request from an application identifying a concept that is generic to a plurality of languages and the language that the concept is to be expressed in, by generating and returning an expression of the identified concept in the identified language for the application to communicate.