Abstract: To integrate telephony with Web-based information services, and develop multi-modal telephony applications that combine graphical input and output with traditional speech-based user interfaces, a Web server for handling information which is in these different modal forms, has an internet interface for supporting connections on the internet, and a terminal interface for supporting connections from the server to user terminals, and for passing information in at least one of the modal forms. A service controller controls input or output of the information on the interfaces, and processes the information received from or sent to either interface, according to its modal form.

Abstract: An adaptive filter having a hybrid structure and capable of operating in a tri-mode regime is disclosed. The tri-mode adaptive filter includes three sub-filters which operate in a fast convergence mode, a slow convergence mode, and a freezing mode respectively. The adaptive filter further comprises a quality detector which measures non-convergence and a near-end signal of the tri-mode filter and generates a feedback signal which is sent to a switching means. In response to the feedback signal, the switching means provides switching between the sub-filters so that one of the sub-filters operates at a time, providing adaptive filtering in accordance with its corresponding filtering method.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for ancillary data in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system. According to the invention, a low bit rate channel is provided over a amplitude modulated sub-carrier that is in turn used to amplitude intensity modulate an optical data signal that is output from a transmitter in the network. Data carried by the low bit rate channel can by used by another network element (NE) to determine the identity of the channel source, thereby allowing the NE to verify its connectivity to that source via the network. This invention is particularly useful in metropolitan optical networks (MON) where inexpensive methods of determining network connectivity are required.

Abstract: An array of stimulators associated with a personal communications device for providing the user with tactile messaging respecting call processing or call network status. The array is positioned on the device so as to be in contact with the user while the terminal is carried or worn, on a wrist, for example. The stimulators of the array, are activated independently so as to provide the user with an encoded message of call processes such as alerting, dial tone, busy signal, etc. Preferably each status is associated with one of a set of unique patterns of operation of the stimulators recognizable by the user as tactile image or pattern of operation, rather than necessitating tactile sensation of individual sequences of each stimulator. Advantageously audio and haptic signalling is synchronised to provide a tactile warning to alert user to impending audio signal, and thereby allow a lower level, i.e. quieter, audio signal to be used, because the user is primed by the tactile signal to expect the audio signalling.

Abstract: A packet based telecommunication system, such as ATM, comprises a main data path and at least one bypass path, for bypassing a portion of the data path, the portion and the respective bypass defining a protection domain, the system comprising nodes for each of the domains, for monitoring respective domains and for issueing alarms in the form of packets, to other nodes downstream, with a domain identifier indicating the respective domain in which the alarm originated. At a given one of the nodes an alarm issued from a node upstream of the given node and a corresponding identifier, are detected. At the given node it is determined whether to trigger a rerouting of the data along one of the bypass paths which bypasses the domain monitored by the given node, on the basis of the detected domain identifier. Using the identifier, downstream nodes can determine more easily whether the alarm is caused by a domain which has a bypass path triggered by another node upstream.

Abstract: For use at a subscriber site with a subscriber line, for simultaneously sending a telephone call from a PSTN compatible telephone terminal on the subscriber site, and IP packets from a first computer, over the subscriber line, the adaptor has a converter for converting signals from the telephone terminal into IP packets, and a multiplexer, for sending simultaneously the IP packets representing the telephone call and those from the computer, along the subscriber line. The adaptor is also arranged to handle calls without conversion to IP packets, when the subscriber telephone line is not used for carrying IP packets. Using one subscriber line, all phones in a household can remain operational, to make and receive calls, while one or more PCs are concurrently accessing online services, without needing a second line, or special equipment to increase the bandwidth transmissible over the line.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit for a phase locked loop includes series-connected FETs in which a reference current flows and other series-connected FETs in which sourcing and sinking currents flow. The junctions of the two series-connected FETs are connected to the non-inverting and inverting input terminals of an operational amplifier. The amplifier detects the voltage difference between a reference side junction and the output voltage of the charge pump circuit and provides an amplified voltage of the detected voltage difference. In response to the amplified voltage, the charge pump circuit sources to and sinks current from an external circuit to which the charge pump circuit is connected. Due to the definite and high input impedance of the operational amplifier, there is no mismatch between the source and the sink currents. A start-up FET initializes the charge pump circuit so that current flows in the series-connected FETs.

Abstract: A system and method for caller identification, named certified caller ID (CCID) provides an enhancement to existing calling line identification services by providing the terminating end of a telephone call with a cryptographically-certified identity of the caller, rather than the identity associated with the calling telephone line. Advantageously, in the operation of CCID, the caller's identity is authenticated by a token, such as a smart card or other integrated circuit device which is capable of executing a cryptographic authentication protocol, optionally in conjunction with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or biometric confirmation. Beneficially, CCID works in conjunction with several associated Customer Local Area Signalling Services (CLASS), e.g. Selective Call Acceptance, Selective Call Forwarding and Distinctive Ring to provide special call treatment based on the identity of the caller.

Abstract: An optical repeater is described which integrates an erbium doped optical fiber amplifier (EDFA) with a dispersion equalizer (DE) based on fiber gratings. The dispersion equalizer is based on parallel connection of a plurality of fiber gratings, or on parallel connection of a cascaded plurality of fiber grating branches, each branch carrying a plurality of gratings coupled in series. Each grating in each branch is chirped to provide selective reflection at one of the plurality of signal carrier wavelengths so that the total optical bandwidth of the dispersion equalizer is enhanced, i.e. the total bandwidth for a specific signal carrier wavelength is the combined optical bandwidths of the gratings which provide the reflection at the wavelength. The use of multiple gratings for each wavelength improves the optical bandwidth of the equalizer compared with single grating designs, enhancing the effective bandwidth.

Abstract: A method of assembling a substrate and an electrical or electronic component, the component having electrically conductive leads with surfaces of an alloy from the list consisting of tin, nickel, tin copper, tin silver, nickel palladium, gold palladium, and silver palladium, and the leads being soldered to copper-based terminals of the substrate by a solder alloy, the solder alloy comprising, by weight, 99.3% tin and 0.7% copper. The soldering takes place in a chamber having a nitrogen inert atmosphere. Lead solder is thus avoided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an architecture of a RAM (random access memory) with BIST (built-in self test) or functional test function. The RAM has a memory cell for storing differential or single-ended binary data and bit line signals are fully differential or single-ended. Shadow write is applied to read only and read-write bit lines. With the test function, port-to-port bit line shorts and port-to-port word line shorts are sensitized.

Abstract: An interconnect delay test uses the IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) controller. No modification of standard boundary cells is required. Since the standard boundary scan cells are used, circuit board and/or backplane interconnect delay tests do not affect ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) designs. It allows board and system designers to add new interconnect AC tests for any signals at any time without modification of ASICs. Since the method has no impact on the operations of the standard TAP controller, it is possible to use available test softwares for interconnect DC tests to perform the proposed delay test. The method can also be integrated as part of in-system interconnect tests.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) chips which are cascaded and connected to a common bus. Each of the CAM chips provides search results (hit, match address and multiple match). A hit signal and a multiple match signal are propagated from chip to chip. A system hit result is given from the furthest down stream CAM chip. The match address result of the system is given from the common bus, where on-chip self-timed signals guarantee that there is no driving contention on the bus. An example of the CAM chip includes an extra row including a model match line and modified core cells to provide a model miss signal. The self-timed signal is provided in response to the model match line. In another example of the CAM chip, each word is divided into two halves. The match lines of the two halves of the word are coupled by a NAND circuit, the output of which is coupled to an encoder of the chip. The CAM chip includes an extra row including a chain of model match lines.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) arrays and a plurality of logic circuits which are connected to a commonly shared bus. Each CAM array provides search results (hit, match address and multiple match) in a search operation in response to a clock signal. Hit, match address and multiple match signals are provided from the CAM arrays to the logic circuits which are associated with the CAM arrays. The hit signals provided from the CAM arrays are propagated from upstream to downstream logic circuits in response to a self-timed signal which is delayed in time from the clock signal. The logic circuits prevent more than one match address signal provided from the CAM array from being transferred simultaneously to the commonly shared bus. The multiple match signals provided from the CAM arrays are propagated from upstream to downstream logic circuits.

Abstract: A gyrator includes shunt or feedback nodal capacitors and shunt lossy inductors without shunt load resistors. The effective nodal capacitance is reduced by the introduction of the shunt lossy inductors. The inductors act to discriminate against injected power supply noise, resulting in improved oscillator phase noise. The inductors produce less dc voltage drop than the resistive load, so that larger linear oscillation is obtained with improved oscillator phase noise. The gyrator includes an automatic gain control circuit and a tuning control circuit which are separate from each other and fast and slow acting control loops which are augmented with each other.

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: Using a server to provide access to a plurality of unrelated types of services, to a user communicating from a remote terminal to the server, by detecting a service access command sent from the user, the service access command comprising an indication of a service type, the service access command having a syntax which uses only alphanumeric characters, or "#" or "*" characters. Interpreting the command involves extracting the service type, to detect if the command further comprises one or more parameters relating to the service, extracting any such parameters and initiating the provision of the selected service. By having a server which understands commands in a form having a syntax using a limited set of characters, service access from telephones or terminals with smaller keyboards, becomes easier.

Abstract: Improvements in MolyPhos corrosion resistant coatings for zinc plated surfaces and zinc alloy surfaces are presented, which enhances corrosion protection in marine environments, and other corrosive atmospheres. In particular a cerium fluoride stabilized MolyPhos coating, and organic acid stabilized coatings are provided, which improve resistance to standard salt fog test exposures to at least 300 hrs, thus extending applicability of a conventional MolyPhos coating to applications to telecommunications, electronics, automotive and aviation equipment. MolyPhos coatings offer promise as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chromate corrosion coatings.

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.