Abstract: The invention is a system and method for processing connections. Connection identifiers are assigned to indexes and stored in corresponding index latches. When communications arrive over a particular connection, the identifier for the particular connection is provided to all of the index latches. The index latch that stores a matching connection identifier provides its associated index. The index can be used to access a memory location that houses a processing instruction for the particular connection. The invention can be used within ATM multiplexers and gateways to facilitate connection processing.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the transmission of data between a central unit and at least one functional unit via lines where each functional unit is connected to at least one sensor or actuator. Each functional unit includes an output amplifier for the transmission of data to a further functional unit and a memory for the storage of an interchangeable address. The system has three different operating modes which make it possible, depending on the requirement, to address the functional units as desired, to carry out a data interchange, or only to receive data.

Abstract: A distributed, scalable and modular asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching fabric is disclosed. The switching fabric includes port interface modules for connecting physical devices to the switch fabric. The switch fabric is arranged as rows of input buses running horizontally and columns of output buses running vertically. A junction module is located at each intersection of input and output buses. A switch can be constructed having any integer number M input and output buses, each input and output bus having an associated port interface module. The switching fabric for the specific case of M=2 is presented. Junction modules buffer and store cells received from the input buses and subsequently output cells onto the output buses. A junction module only accepts cells destined for one of the two output buses connected to itself. One output module is connected to each junction module situated with the same fabric column. Output modules instruct the junction modules when to store and output a cell.

Abstract: A multi-tasking, dynamically controlled micro-sequencer for use in a TDMA communication system is described. Rather than the output of the sequencer being solely a linear sequence of instructions in a microcode RAM, the output of the sequencer is augmented by an output of finite state machines (FSMs) providing a sequence of control codes. The FSMs provide control signals for building a slot in accordance with a specific protocol. The sequencer core provides enabling signals to the FSMs to enable the proper FSM depending upon the mode of the transceiver. A conditional logic block is included in the sequencer core which detects special operation codes (opcodes) for each slot to cause the microcode sequence to jump to a certain routine if a condition is met or not met.

Abstract: To provide a monolithic ATM transport the synchronous to asynchronous converter (SAC) of the invention converts the synchronous narrowband signals to composite cell ATM format. These cells can be combined with ATM video and data signals and can be delivered as an ensemble of ATM cells over either a standard SONET transport format or analog network to the customer premise. To convert the synchronous signals, the SAC provides format conversion needed to provide voice and other narrowband signals over ATM. The SAC also functions to agilely move between cell sizes such that the 48 bytes of the cell payload can be mapped to carry anywhere between the single and 48 connections. Thus, the SAC adjusts the cell configuration to balance performance and bandwidth use in a real-time manner.

Abstract: A bus bridge circuit employs a dynamic allocation scheme that allows read transactions to be pipelined without deadlock and without the need for permanently reserving multiple buffer slots for read response transactions. The bus bridge circuit associates input and output buffers with a node and includes a state machine to monitor the number and type of transaction packets currently in slots that make up the buffers. In particular, the state machine monitors the number of transaction packets loaded in the output buffer slots, the number of outstanding read transactions for the node, and the number of read response transactions currently loaded in the output buffer. The state machine then allows the node to load a READ or WRITE transaction only if the monitored data indicates at least one of the buffer slots will be available to service a READ RESPONSE subsequently loaded by the node.

Abstract: An ATM bus 11 is a bus for performing data transfers in an asynchronous transfer mode, while a control bus 8 is a bus for transferring control signals sent out by a central control section 1 in order to control bus users 10a.about.10d. The bus users 10a.about.10d and a bus arbitration circuit 12 are connected to this ATM bus. The bus users 10A.about.10d are ATM bus users. When the bus users 10a.about.10d simultaneously issue bus use requests, the bus arbitration circuit 12 selects a single bus use request from among these requests. Then, all of the bus users are sent data identifying the bus user which issued the selected bus use request. As a result, only the selected bus user begins a data transfer operation using the ATM bus 11.

Abstract: A first storage unit stores a reception count, which is the number of simultaneously-occurring messages for each of subscribers corresponding to subscriber identification information. A second storage unit stores a predetermined number of the simultaneously-occurring messages, which is an upper limit of allowing the messages to occur in parallel, for each of the subscribers corresponding to the subscriber identification information. A third storage unit stores each message identification information corresponding to each of the simultaneously-occurring messages, together with the order of occurrence, for each of the subscribers corresponding to the subscriber identification information. A control unit controls transfers of the simultaneously-occurring messages, by controlling the first, second, and third storage means according to the transfer order identification information, the subscriber identification information, and the message identification information extracted from the received data unit.

Abstract: A pulse density signaling input/output (PDSIO) scheme is implemented to provide a two-way, two-wire hybrid analog/digital communications system. PDSIO signals are sent as logic pulses from a "master" port to one or more "slave" ports over a twisted pair. From one to a predetermined maximum number of logic pulses are transmitted over two wires at baseband by a master port during a defined period. The modulation used by the master port is pulse density modulation at base band so that the transmitted signal appears to be a d.c. logic signal. The pulses transmitted to the slave port are also used to power the slave port. The slave port communicates with the master port over the same two wires using a pulsed current modulation that multiplexes data on the pulse signals from the master port.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing timing of signal transmissions in a telecommunication system (100) determines a "fixed portion" (222) of the propagation delay between the central unit (102) and subscribers (206, 208) in a particular node (202). Additionally, the method determines a `variable portion` (226) of the propagation delay that accounts for the variation of spacing of different subscribers (e.g., homes (206, 208)) on a particular node (202). The preferred method offsets the control unit's (102) receiving window (410) in accordance with the fixed portion, and directs the various subscriber units (206, 208) to offset the timing of signals (314, 322) (i.e., bursts of data) that they transmit by the variable portion (226).

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for transmitting, receiving, storing and replaying a user selected program, which has a service center including an electronic user accessible interface and an electronically stored library of user selectable programs. It includes a base unit having an electronic interface that is electronically interconnectable with the service center's user interface to receive the user selected programs, and an output port that interconnects the base unit with a cassette.The cassette includes a data input port for the reception of electronic data representing the selected programs from the base unit output port, and a memory storage to store the electronic data. The cassette is insertable into and interconnectable with electromechanical components of a standard magnetic tape audio cassette player whereby the stored program selections are transmitted from the cassette to the audio cassette player for broadcasting.

Abstract: A system for optimizing data for transmission that includes a data collector operable to collect a plurality of data packets, wherein each data packet includes an address label, a data assembler operable to order the data packets by address label and assemble all data packets with a common address label into a single data block with a single address label, and a transmitter for transmitting the data blocks, wherein the transmitter is operable to broadcast the data blocks.

Abstract: A system for creating multiple subchannels in a single two-way radio channel and a power control system for a mobile radio transmitter are described. Each subchannel in the system is capable of carrying voice or data. Each subchannel is split into an upper and a lower band with the upper band placed in a particular frequency range above the center of the channel and the lower band is placed in a corresponding frequency range below the center of the channel. Either one or two pilot tones placed at or adjacent to the center of the channel are used to provide a reference for all of the subchannels to allow for correction of distortions when the signal is received. The system includes base station with a transmitter and receiver and a plurality of mobile units each with a transmitter and a receiver. The base station transmits a signal which is the sum of all the subchannels. The mobile unit receives the signal, separates and processes the particular subchannel for that mobile unit.

Abstract: A broadband switching system and method switches asynchronously transferred cells of data using a dynamic bandwidth controller to control application of data cells from a number of transmitting end systems to an input port of the system. The dynamic bandwidth controller provides cell buffering from each source and controls output of data cells to the system according to a current cell rate assigned to cells from the respective end system. When an end system begins transmitting data cells, the controller detects the presence of incoming cells and requests bandwidth from a connection admission control forming part of the system. A default cell rate is provided for the end system so that transmission can continue until an appropriate bandwidth is allocated. The controller contains a buffer for buffering cells in this situation.

Abstract: An extender circuit provides a serial communication interface between an ATM layer and a PHY layer. The extender circuit includes a first circuit serially coupled to a second circuit. The first circuit is coupled to the ATM layer and communicates in parallel with the ATM layer. The first circuit is operable to receive a control signal from the ATM layer. The second circuit is coupled to the PHY layer and communicates in parallel with the PHY layer. The first circuit does not transmit the control signal to the second circuit. The second circuit regenerates the control signal at the PHY layer. The first circuit and the second circuit function in like manners. The first circuit receives a control signal generated by the ATM layer. The control signal may comprise a start of cell signal. The first circuit transmits a first sequence of signals to the second circuit.

Abstract: In a computer implemented method, packets are transparently and securely communicated between a trusted computer and an untrusted computer connected by a gateway. Each packet including a source address, a destination address and a payload. The gateway, according to rules stored in a configuration database, intercepts a packet received in an Internet protocol layer of the gateway. The packet has a source address of the trusted computer, a destination address of the untrusted computer and a first payload. The intercepted packet is diverted to a proxy server operating in an application protocol layer of the gateway. The intercepted packet is consumed by the proxy server, and the proxy server generates a second packet having a source address of the gateway and the destination address of the untrusted computer and the first payload. The second packet is sent to the untrusted computer to enable the trusted computer to communicate with the untrusted computer securely.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting audio-associated text information in a multiple-channel transmission stream is disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of receiving text information associated with a song, formatting the information into song data, inserting the song data into a control data stream associated with an audio channel carrying a particular song, multiplexing the control data stream with a data stream associated with the song, transmitting the multiplexed data stream, receiving the control data stream, decoding the control data stream to obtain text associated with the song, and displaying the text. The method utilizes an existing control stream in the multiplexed transmission stream to forward text to a receiver. The receiver therefore requires no additional hardware to display the text on a connected video screen.

Abstract: A Fourier transform circuit in a receiver performs a Fourier transform on a orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal received through a transmission channel for each symbol to sequentially reproduce a received reference vector sequence and a received vector sequence. An interleave circuit interleaves elements of the received reference vector sequence and the received vector sequence. A memory stores the received reference vector sequence. A vector modulation circuit modulates the received reference vector sequence by respective signal point vectors representing each signal point to generate a modulation vector sequence for each symbol. A metric generation circuit then obtains a difference between the received vector sequence and the modulation vector sequence to generate the difference as a branch metric sequence. A trellis decode circuit reproduces a data sequence on the basis of the branch metric sequence.

Abstract: A mobile, satellite-based communication system includes a defined signaling arrangement developed from an analysis of factors including movement of the mobile terminals, movement of the satellite, beam discrepancies and duration of the call to the mobile terminal to set up a frame assignment plan for time division multiple access (TDMA) carriers and identifying permissible frame offset which can be accommodated throughout the entire transmission. As a result, timing and frequency references from a mobile to mobile command (MMC) may be provided from a reference source along with receive and transmit data communications without losing the command signals or the communication information and providing highly efficient use of each carriers time slots for receiving transmitting communication signals. Similarly, the signaling arrangement permits an efficient frame structure and a time slot assignment plan that does not require enhanced equipment at the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A paperless system that allows data including publications to be networked and retrieved includes a plurality of remote stations for transmitting the data to users, a plurality of local stations for connection to the plurality of remote stations via one or more communication links. The local stations are adapted to receive the transmitted data and to store the same, and are also adapted to be accessed bythe users to selectively retrieve the selected transmitted publications. A plurality of user stations are selectively linked to one or more of the plurality of local stations for enabling the users to retrieve the publications.