Abstract: The management of a telephone network is enhanced by arranging an associated operations system so that it correlates related messages, e.g., alarm messages, that may be received from different elements forming the network. Advantageously, then, related messages may be displayed together on the display of a terminal, rather than intermingling those messages on the display with other unrelated messages in some predetermined order, such as the order in which the messages are received. In this way a user may view and readily determine the underlying cause which prompted the generation of displayed correlated messages.

Abstract: The temperature of a thermo-electric cooler that is used to cool a laser is effectively controlled using a monitor which accurately and continuously measures the temperature of the thermo-electric cooler and using apparatus that determines the difference between the measured temperature and a desired thermo-electric cooler temperature. A discriminator circuit causes the thermo-electric cooler to enter (a) a heating cycle when such difference is below a first reference level or (b) a cooling cycle when such difference reaches a reaches a second reference level. Power consumption within the associated cooling/heating system is also accurately controlled using a pulse width modulated power supply to provide the voltage signal that drives the thermoelectric cooler.

Abstract: A facility is provided in which an ATM switch may operate as a switch in the provision of connection oriented services and operates as a router in the provision of connectionless services. In the router mode, the ATM switch may determine "on the fly" a route which may be used to forward received data cells to an intended destination and then forwards each of the data cells in sequence over the determined route. In the switch mode, the ATM switch operates conventionally and forwards a received data cell over a previously defined switched virtual path. In certain cases, the ATM switch may operate as a router only.

Abstract: An optical amplifier is adapted to cancel the Raman gain of an optical transmission path that degrades those optical signals occupying the low end of the bandwidth such that the power is transferred from the latter signals to the optical signals occupying the high end of the bandwidth. More specifically, the optical amplifier adjusts the gain that it applies to the optical signals so that it favors the signal components at the low end of the bandwidth.

Abstract: The subject matter is directed to a parallel array of optical amplifiers and is also directed to equally sharing the optical power supplied by a plurality of optical pumps among the array of optical amplifiers such that if one of the pumps fails the power outputted by the remaining pumps is still equally shared among the array of optical amplifiers.

Abstract: We have recognized that there is a strong need to control and maintain the secrecy of the intelligence that may be used by computers to communicate with another, for example, by encrypting the messages that they exchange with one another. Thus, the encryption keys used to encrypt such messages need to be managed in a highly secure manner. Accordingly, we provide an encryption module, which, in accord with an aspect of the invention, generates a unique device encryption key (S.sub.local), a cryptographic key formed from a unique identification key (S.sub.id) and an associated public key (KP.sub.id), and at least one program encryption key, in which the public key is generated as a function of the unique identification key. The module then encrypts the unique identification key and program encryption key using said device encryption key and stores the encrypted result in memory internal to security module, thereby securing the keys against misappropriation.

Abstract: The call processing capacity of the of a telecommunications network by forming the communication switches forming the network into respective groups of communication switches. The communication switches forming a respective group of switches are fully interconnected to one another and then each of the communications switches forming a respective group is connected at least one other group of telecommunication switches as a way of interconnecting the groups with one another.

Abstract: The efficiency of a telecommunications network is enhanced by associating each of the communication switches forming the network with an external connection control processor and forming the switches into respective groups of communication switches. The communication switches forming a respective group of switches are fully interconnected to one another and then each of the communications switches forming a respective one of the groups is connected at least one other group of telecommunication switches as a way of interconnecting the groups with one another.

Abstract: A facility is provided for correcting fixed column noise that may appear in a fingerprint image acquired from a capacitive fingerprint sensor. In particular, corrective gain and offset values are determined for each column of pixel signals generated by the sensor and are applied to such signals to greatly diminish the fixed column noise that may be present in that column.

Abstract: The distribution of multicast information in a communications network formed from a plurality of communications nodes, e.g., ATM switches, is enhanced by providing an efficient mechanism for routing a request to join a multicast connection to an originator of the multicast and an efficient mechanism for then connecting the requester to the multicast connection.

Abstract: A facility is provided for maintaining automatically the integrity of data associated with respective data applications. The facility achieves this result by providing a plurality of data modules for interfacing respective ones of the applications with their associated data bases such that, in response to receipt of a data request from one of the applications, the respective interfacing module unloads the requested data from the associated data base. The interfacing module then communicates with other ones of the modules to determine if the requested data is consistent with related data stored in their associated data bases. If the requested data is found to be so consistent, then the data is supplied to the requesting application. If not, then the interfacing module corrects the inconsistency in accord with predefined data rules, and then supplies the corrected data to the requesting data application.

Abstract: To prevent so-called "clip-on" fraud from occurring at a public telephone station, such as a coin operated public telephone, a unique signature identifier is transmitted at the telephone following the transmission of the dialed number. If remote equipment determines that the expected identifier is not correct, or it fails to receive the signature, then the remote equipment terminates the call. Once the call is completed, then the public telephone is expected to periodically transmits a second identifier. The completed call may also be terminated if the remote equipment does not receive the expected second identifier at an expected rate or if a received second identifier is not correct.

Abstract: Digital information is encoded in the video portion of a television signal such that "n" (n is an integer) bits of the digital information are carried by each successive frame in a group of frames. The digital information is encoded by modulating a carrier signal, using, for example, either amplitude shift keying (ASK) or frequency shift keying (FSK), and the modulated carrier is then added to the video signal selectively, only in portions of the television program that (a) are not likely to be perceptible by a viewer, and (b) are of sufficient intensity to transmit the data. The video signal including the encoded digital data, may be transmitted, in real time, to a television receiver, or recorded for later playback.

Abstract: A facility for mapping a plurality of different Virtual Circuit Channels (VCC) into a single VCC is provided for use in a data network. In operation, the facility assembles, in turn, data cells each having a data payload and appropriate header identifying a respective VCC into a series of data cells. The series is then segmented into a predetermined number of data payloads, and a header identifying a common connection over the network is then appended to each of the payloads. The result is then transported over the data network via the common connection.

Abstract: The propagation of very high frequency signals, e.g., 8 to 10 GHz, via a path printed on a printed wiring board is enhanced by arranging the path so that it simulates a high-quality transmission path at very high frequencies. The path comprises a conventional lead and a series of microstrips, in which the design of the microstrips is optimized to (a) minimize insertion loss and group delay distortion, (b) maximize return loss, and (c) minimize pulse distortion.

Abstract: In an antenna having a conductor of a length L and a dielectric material with a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.r1 contacting the conductor, a matching dielectric layer .epsilon..sub.r2 less than .epsilon..sub.r1 matches the dielectric constant to free space. Preferably .epsilon..sub.r2 =.sqroot..epsilon..sub.r1 , L=.lambda..sub.o /(2.sqroot..epsilon..sub.r1 ). The depth d of the second dielectric is a quarter wavelength in the matching layer. Multiple matching layers with successively decreasing dielectric constants forms embodiments. In one embodiment the resonant conductive arrangement is a microstrip patch antenna with the dielectric material supporting a patch and matching layer covering the dielectric material.

Abstract: A telephone base includes a base module and a rotatable base stand module. The base module may be elevated to a plurality of inclined positions by employing in the base stand modules the plurality of cantilever snap members each of which has a protruding locking member. The telephone base module includes a plurality of locking apertures which correspond to the locking members on the cantilever snap members. The desired inclined positions are obtained by rotating the base module around pivot elements in the base stand module and inserting the locking members on the cantilever snap members into appropriate ones of the locking apertures in the base module. Additionally, the base stand module may be rotated and locked in place to the base module by additional locking members to orient the telephone base for wall mounting. Advantageously all the elements required for the above features are integrally molded into the base module and the base stand module.

Abstract: The encoding/transmission of information in an OFDM system is enhanced by using complementary codes. The complementary codes, more particularly, are converted into phase vectors and the resulting phase vectors are then used to modulate respective carrier signals. The modulated result is then transmitted to a receiver which decodes the received signals to recover the encoded information.

Abstract: A subscriber line circuit which truly implements all of the BORSCHT functions and which does not rely on an external ringing generator to provide the ringing voltage when needed is disclosed. This implementation is achieved by recognizing that supervisory and ringing signals occur in some sort of sequence and, therefore, do not have to be generated simultaneously. Based on this recognition, we provide a circuit which truly implements all of the BORSCHT functions and includes a power section that generates each of the supervisory signals, e.g., -48 volts and -24 volts, and alerting signal, e.g., ringing signal, in turn and as required.

Abstract: A facility is provided for more efficiently controlling transmitted power in a forward link of CDMA telecommunications system. This is done by offsetting a power reference level that adjusts the level of the transmitted power using an power offset selected as a function of a transmission rate specified for the transmission of a coded frame. The coded frame is then transmitted at a power level selected as function of the adjusted power reference level, rather than the unadjusted level. Such efficiently is particularly noticeable when there is transition from one frame transmission rate to another such rate and vice-versa.