Abstract: A method and a system for managing communications sessions, in accordance to events that occur in either one of a telecommunications network, such as the PSTN network or a mobile telephone network, and a data communications network such as the Internet is provided. The system includes a service logic controller supporting a data structure that holds a plurality of communication session disposition program entries. The service logic controller connects with the telecommunications network and with the data communications network through respective gateways that transmit communication session disposition inquiry messages. In response to those messages, the service logic controller retrieves the appropriate communication session disposition program and generates from that program an instruction to the entity that originated the inquiry message. The communication session is then processed according to the instruction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communications system for providing post call information to a caller using a data processing system within the communications system. The processes of the present invention are implemented in a data processing system within the communications system. A connection of the caller to the communications system is detected in which the caller is initiating a call for which post call charge information is desired. The post call charge information for the call is automatically identified in response to termination of the call by the caller. The post call charge information is automatically presented to the caller.

Abstract: In a telecommunications system, a subscriber station invokes a sponsored-call application service program when the subscriber station originates a call. Based upon certain criteria, service logic determines whether the call is sponsored or not. If sponsored, additional service logic utilizes the location of the call origination (i.e., location of the subscriber station) and/or other attributes of the subscriber station to select an announcement from a plurality of announcements for transmission to the subscriber station. After the announcement is transmitted (i.e., played), the subscriber station is connected to the call's desired destination. If not sponsored, the call is handled as a normal call.

Abstract: A network includes an administrative update station and an audio update station that are connected to a computer network, in particular, the World Wide Web. One or more IVR systems and one or more audio servers are likewise connected to the World Wide Web. The audio server holds the master address URL for the audio files. The IVRs access the Web in order to download updates of audio files. The audio files are administered through the Web by the administrative site and are updated through the Web by the audio update site.

Abstract: A method and system, for use with wireless communications systems having a cellular architecture, for achieving near real time reservation of channels in a first cell for servicing call-in-progress handoffs from other cells such that blocked calls originating within a first cell and blocked handoff of calls-in-progress from other cells are held within acceptable levels. The method and system specify that a minimum number of unutilized channels in a first cell be reserved for servicing call-in-progress handoffs. In the event that a request for a call-in-progress handoff from one of the other cells into the first cell cannot be serviced due to a lack of unutilized channels, the specified minimum number of reserved channels is dynamically adjusted upward and the request for a call-in-progress handoff that could not be serviced is enqueued. Enqueued requests are serviced in a first in first out fashion as unutilized channels become available.

Abstract: Ethernet frames are communicated via a telephone line between master and slave modems using half duplex communication of data and control information to avoid collisions, data to be transmitted being buffered in each modem. Different communication modes, involving different transmitted symbol frequencies, modulation methods, and bits per symbol to provide different transmission rates, can be used depending on errors on the line. To reduce signal attenuation and interference both of which increase with increasing frequency, a lowest frequency communication mode is used for transmitting control information when there is no data in the buffer for transmission, whereas a higher transmission rate communication mode is used for transmission of data and control information when the buffer is not empty.

Abstract: An improved echo canceller capable of reducing a magnitude of an echo signal propagating in a return channel of a communication device. The echo canceller includes an adaptive filter that models the echo path to generate an estimate of the echo. That estimate is subtracted from the echo-corrupted signal. The residual echo signal (error-signal) is then attenuated in a switching loss device. The switching loss device manifests a variable attenuation level selected in accordance with certain characteristics of the residual echo signal. These characteristics are the strength of the residual echo signal and its duration. For residual echo signals of very short duration, the attenuation level is set lower because those signals are perceived by the human ear as being weaker. For signals having a longer duration, the attenuation level is raised to inhibit the residual echo to acceptable levels.

Abstract: A method and system for use with wireless communications systems having a plurality of groups of channels, and wherein the method and system assign specific groups of channels such that channel interference is minimized. The method and system accomplish their objects via the use of communications equipment adapted to do the following: define a geographic area; map the defined geographic area with at least one high bandwidth cell cluster wherein each cell has at least one sector; and eliminate channel adjacencies by selectively assigning channels, drawn from the plurality of groups of channels, to the at least one high bandwidth cell cluster.

Abstract: A flat-plate dual band antenna element is described which comprises two superposed sets of excitation probes and apertures each of which operates in a different frequency band. These antenna elements are used in an array together with a plurality of single band elements to create a flat-plate, dual band array antenna that is low cost and permits monopulse alignment methods and distributed power amplification to be used. The geometric arrangement of the antenna elements is such that distribution networks for the excitation probes can be accommodated in the limited space available. Dual band flat-plate array feeds for a reflector antenna are also described. These use either a combination of the above mentioned dual band antenna elements and single band antenna elements or alternatively, two sizes of single band antenna elements.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for isolating a communication fault within a token ring network are described. The token ring network includes a number of stations, each of which is configured to generate or repeat beaconing data indicating a network communication fault. The method requires firstly isolating each station of the token ring network in a closed-loop station ring. A location in each of these isolated station rings is then monitored for the transmission of beaconing data indicating a communication fault within the respective station ring. If the transmission of such beaconing data is not detected, the station is reconnected to the token ring network. On the other hand, should the transmission of such beaconing data be detected, the station is maintained within the closed-loop station ring. In this way, faulty stations are isolated from the token ring network.

Abstract: A gain control amplifier includes an input differential circuit having a pair of transistors, the emitters of which are coupled via a pair of emitter resistors. The input differential circuit includes a current sink for providing an operating current. With variation of the operating current, the gain control amplifier's gain is varied. Two emitter coupled differential amplifiers are connected to the input differential circuit having a current sink. A current flowing in the transistors of the emitter coupled differential amplifier and the input differential circuit is split by an additional emitter coupled differential circuit having a current sink. A current splitting factor is controlled in response to the voltage difference between the collectors of the two transistors of the two emitter coupled differential amplifiers. Since the relatively small currents flow in the emitter resistors, noise caused thereby is relatively low. Thus, it provides a wide input dynamic range with low noise.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing a communications network having configurable control mechanisms for the identification and transference of particular types of communications data. Detection points are established within the communications network, wherein particular types of communications data transferred through the detection points may be identified. Removable configurable control mechanisms are associated with the detection points mechanisms that manage the transference of communications data through the detection points, such that the removable configurable control mechanisms may be easily replaced and updated without deconstructing the communications network or extensively delaying communication services within the communications network. The communications network can include a wireless or wireline communications or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A base transceiver station operating a sectorized cell of a cellular radio system operates a plurality of narrow uplink main receive beams, and one or a plurality of uplink diversity received beams. A scanning means scans each of the uplink main receive beams to locate a communications channel on the main uplink beams. A diversity receiver receives a diverse beam signal from the diverse beam(s), which is compared with a beam signal received from a main uplink beam, and the main beam signal from the main beam, or a diverse beam signal from the diversity antenna is selected, depending on the comparative signal to noise ratio and signal strength of the main beam signal and diversity beam signal.

Abstract: A method for designing a soft handoff region in a wireless communications system. An inner region having an outer edge defined by a first radius is selected, wherein a mobile station communicates only with the base station within the inner region and has a selected outage probability at the outer edge of the inner region. Next, a soft handoff region having an outer edge defined by a second radius and an inner edge defined by the first radius is selected, wherein the mobile station within the soft handoff region has the selected outage probability. Actual coverage region having an outer edge defined by a third radius, wherein the third radius is selected to match soft handoff regions of other cells adjacent to the cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for locating with improved vertical positioning accuracy a discrete element on a semiconductor optoelectronic integrated circuit. The method employs an etch stop layer located beneath a series of semiconductor layers. The semiconductor layers may include waveguides to couple light between integrated or discrete elements. Pits with accurate depth are etched in the semiconductor layers down to the etch stop layer. Accurate alignment between a discrete element and another element is made possible by controlling their respective distances from the etch stop layer.

Abstract: Multiplexing and demultiplexing are commonplace for an efficient bandwidth utilization in telecommunications. SRTS (Synchronous Residual Time Stamp) technique is widely used for timing recovery in processing of digital signal streams. The bit stuffing is also prevalent for various purposes, one being rate adjustment. The invention performs the SRTS technique entirely digitally to monitor the rate of slower speed signal streams in relation to the rate of a higher speed stream. The digital implementation permits the use of context switching for processing a plurality of digital signal streams. As the result, hardware requirement is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A wideband receiver capable of handling the new extended A and B cellular spectrum is provided. Portions of the band are converted using analog conversion into a frequent between Fs/4 and Fs/2 where Fs is a sampling frequency of an analog-to-digital converter. Other portions of the band are converted such that when they are sampled by the analog-to-digital converter aliasing causes them to lie in the baseband frequencies between zero and Fs/2, and more particularly in baseband frequencies which do not interfere with the other converted bands.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for synchronizing a local data clock with timing information from received data, during a fraction of a frame period. The apparatus includes a transition detect unit, a digital phase comparator, a phase regulator, and a control unit, for detecting the bit transitions of received data, determining the phase difference between timing information and a local data clock, advancing or retarding the local data clock, and enabling and disabling the synchronization in accordance with a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A serial optical link for transmission of payload data is utilised so as to permit transmission of information facility data unrelated to the payload data. A superframe is constructed at the transmission facility made up of a serial series of data frames. Each data frame consists of serially arranged words including a number of payload data words and a non-payload word. One non-payload word of the superframe has information facility data which provides a communication channel from the transmitting facility to the receiving facility for information unrelated to the communication of payload data. Another non-payload word has alarm and status facility data. The information facility data is stored in a FIFO buffer when received. If the FIFO buffer is within two words of being full, a full signal is incorporated in the next alarm and status facility data word which causes the receiving end to suspend sending information facility data words.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device structure comprising an active region provided by a quantum well of an indirect bandgap material, the quantum well being divided laterally to form an active region comprising a two dimensional array of localized cells. Preferably the quantum well of indirect band gap material is selected from group IV semiconductor materials and comprises a silicon-germanium alloy. A silicon/silicon-germanium alloy multi-quantum well (MQW) structure is described. In a preferred embodiment, a Si/SiGe alloy MQW laser diode comprises a coplanar double grating configuration etched through the MQW structure to provide distributed feedback. The double intersecting grating structure functions to define an array of "cells" or regions of finite dimensions in the quantum well structure which "localize" carriers within the cells thereby enhancing the radiative emission probability. The grating also provides for combined gain-coupled and index-coupled distributed feedback.