Abstract: A service control processor includes a plurality of service feature processors each corresponding to selected telephone service, and a plurality of call processing records, each corresponding to a customer of a service provider. The customer call processing records specify services subscribed to by the caller. A feature manager processor manages call processing and the implementation and execution of services by managing the individual service feature processors. In an alternative embodiment, multiple feature manager processors are included, and a trigger manager selects between them in response to call processing triggers.

Abstract: A queuing system and method to provide efficient and effective message communication between computers, processing devices, or network elements. The queue includes three tables. A message data table includes the message data. A message state table identifies several parameters about a message including a message time-stamp, state, and partition. The partition associates the message with a predetermined one of several message processors used to send and receive messages. Each message processor selects and sends only messages having a corresponding partition. The queue further includes a queued message table that lists all messages destined for a computer or other processing device that cannot receive messages. In this manner, failed messages in the queued table are taken out of a processing queue until the off-line computer or other processing device comes back on line.

Abstract: Radio ports (RPs) in an unlicensed personal communications system adaptively, autonomously set their interference threshold and/or transmission power levels. This may be done by the RP measuring the signal level on each of the available channels and then setting the interference threshold and/or power level according to these measurements. In a preferred method, the interference threshold is determined by measuring the signal level on each channel, ranking the channels in order of measured signal level, and using these rankings to determine the threshold. The transmission power level may be set with reference to the adaptive interference threshold level. This level is determined by using the system and FCC power limitations and current conditions to provide a satisfactory transmission level.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor based on the InP/InGaAs materials family and its method of making. An n-type collector layer, principally composed of InP is epitaxially grown on an insulating InP substrate by vapor phase epitaxy. The collector layer is then laterally defined into a stack, and semi-insulating InP is regrown around the sides of the stack to the extent that it planarizes with the stack top. The semi-insulating InP electrically isolates the collector stack. A thin base layer of p-type InGaAs, preferably lattice matched to InP, is grown over the collector stack, and an n-type emitter layer is grown over the base layer. A series of photolithographic steps then defines a small emitter stack and a base that extends outside of the area of the emitter and collector stacks. The reduced size of the interface between the base and the collector produces a lower base-collector capacitance and hence higher speed of operation for the transistor.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating the actual demand on a resource in a computer or communication network is taught using patterns of the traffic volume carried by the resource. Monitors on network resources periodically measure queue size and average transmission occupancy over the period. The monitors also mark times of queue overflow. Data transmission populations within the system are estimated between queue overflows and the resulting pattern is used to distinguish actual user demand that may be camouflaged by a reduction in traffic caused by the transport protocol response to lost or corrupted data transmissions.

Abstract: A novel video object extraction has a first object 12, such as a foreground object, illuminated with visible light 16 and a second object 14, such as a background object, illuminated with a combination of infrared 18 and visible light 16. A novel camera system observes the scene. The novel camera system includes an infrared light camera 24 and a visible light camera 20. The infrared light camera output 24 contains bright images of the second object 14, with relatively little brightness of the first object 12. The signal from this infrared light camera 20, once thresholded, serves as a key to remove the second object 14 from the video image captured by the visible light camera 20.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling international telephone numbers even in the presence of conflicting national numbering plans wherein the telephone numbers are parsed according to the nature of address of the number, such as international, national, or other. Based on this determination the remainder of telephone number is processed, including parsing the telephone number and executing error handling procedures.

Abstract: A method for broadcasting movies within channels of a wide band network by breaking the communications path into a number of logical channels and breaking each movie up into a number of segments of increasing size. The first segment of each movie is the smallest segment is transmitted in sequence over the first logical channel and repeated. The second segment of each movie which is proportionately larger than the first segment of each movie is transmitted in sequence over the second logical channel and repeated. This is repeated for the total number of segments which equals the total number of logical channels. The segments are broadcast in such a way that, once the first segment is received at a client location, the subsequent segments are also received in time, so that the movie can be viewed continuously.

Abstract: The cycling stability and capacity of Li-ion rechargeable batteries are improved, particularly in an elevated temperature range of about 55.degree. C., by the use of lithium magnesium manganese oxy-fluoride electrode components having the general formula, Li.sub.1+x Mg.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y O.sub.4-z F.sub.z, where x.ltoreq.0.2, 0.1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.3, and 0.01.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.5.

Abstract: To support local number portability and service portability in a telephone network, a method and apparatus handle subscription and administrative service requests in a local service management system to maintain records at a service control point. The subscription requests include create, modify, and delete requests of records in the service control point. The administrative service requests include Numbering Plan Area (NPA) code split, mass change, and query and resend requests. The records at the service control point are accessible by switches via respective signal transfer points to determine the network addresses of the switches handling services and calls corresponding to a particular telephone number.

Abstract: A system and method that allow a subscriber to have incoming telephone calls automatically screened and directed is described. The system allows a subscriber to automatically manage his incoming communications in a way that is easy to control and which requires a minimum of unnecessary interruptions. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) which is accessible through the subscriber's personal digital assistant (200), a Network Interface (304), a service control module (306), and a database (308). The system and method allow a subscriber to have all of his incoming telephone calls screened in order to identify those that are of the high importance to the subscriber. The subscriber controls this system by user-friendly interfaces to a name and telephone number database and an appointment calendar database.

Abstract: A method and system provide a unique communication and protocol between an optical line termination device and a plurality of optical network units sitting at different distances from the optical line termination device. The OLT determines the distance between it and each ONU and then requests communications from the ONUs in ascending order from nearest to farthest. The OLT also determines a time delayed period between the nearest ONU and the farthest ONU and awaits that time delay period before initiating subsequent ONU communication with the ONUs.

Abstract: A wide area information system includes a client and at least one server on which audio data is stored. Audio data is selectively transferred to the client from the server by at least occasionally establishing a transfer connection between the server and the client. The transfer of audio data is controlled by user-selected commands and inputs that are entered via an input interface provided on the client. These commands and inputs are also transferred to the server via the at least occasionally established transfer connection between the client and the server. The audio data on the server is organized in page units that are cross-linked by way of hyperaudio links. The page units are characteristically searchable with the use of cyclically repeating directory pages of audible directory information. Finally, a data protocol is defined for enabling such an audio-based system.

Abstract: A system for connecting fiber optic telecommunications and video services to individual homes using a single twisted pair or coaxial cable line between the optical network unit and each service location. The single twisted pair or coaxial cable line connects to a broadband gateway located at the home, from which both telephone lines and other services may be delivered. Under this invention, the optical network units serve solely as connection and routing points for the drop lines, with telephone, video, and other services derived through the broadband gateway.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for providing wireless access to a network, such as the internet. The disclosed technique takes into account the inherent asymmetric and bursty characteristics of internet communication to obtain more efficiency in the communication between a user and an access provider. In doing so, the invention provides a technique that can be used to economically provide wireless access to the internet at data rates that are comparable to what a user would receive over ISDN lines.

Abstract: Method and system for preventing copying of textual images during display on a screen. The method includes randomly adding bits to the bitmapped background of the textual image to produce two random bitmapped textual images. The random bitmapped images are then alternately displayed on the screen so that the instantaneous display of the on screen textual images is unreadable. By a second method, the bits that form the bitmapped image of the text bits are randomly modified to produce a pair of random bitmapped texts. The random bit mapped text pairs are then alternately flickered on the display screen. Again, by this second method, the instantaneous display of the on screen textual images is unreadable. Although in both cases the instantaneous display is unreadable, the human eye averages the two different bitmapped images as they alternate on screen so that the text is human readable.

Abstract: A video conferencing system and method that uses a central multimedia bridge to combine multimedia signals from a plurality of conference participants into a single composite signal for each participant. The system gives each conference participant the ability to customize their individual display of other participants, including keying in and out selected portions of the display and overlapping displayed images, and the ability to identify individual images in a composed video stream by click and drag operations or the like. The system uses a chain of video composing modules that can be extended as necessary to combine video signal streams from any number of conference participants in real time. Multimedia association software is provided for associating different media types to enhance display and manipulation capabilities for multimedia uses. The system also allows each user to dynamically change who can receive the information they provide to the conference.

Abstract: A secure hash function according to the present invention uses a stretch function 202 and a compression function 202 to provide a secure hash value. A stretch function is a function which increases an input string (pre-image). In one version of the invention, a stretch function .function. maps l-bit inputs into 2m bit, where 2m>l. Preferably, the stretch function .function. is one-way. The stretch function randomizes the input string. The output of the stretch function is fed into a compression function c, which compresses the stretch function output from 2m bits to 2n bits, where m>n. The compression function is preferably a cryptographic primitive selected from a family of compression functions. In a preferred embodiment, a standard key scheduling algorithm of the cryptographic compression function (such as DES) is replaced and an output of the stretch function is used as the key.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual display (300) which provides a wide field-of-view that is lightweight and may be as thin as ordinary eyeglasses. One version of the invention includes a display (302), such as an LCD, a microlens array (304), and an aperture array (306) disposed between the LCD and the microlens array. The virtual display provides a pin-point of light for each pixel (306) of a display (302). Each pin-point of light in collaboration with an associated microlens (308) generates a directed ray of light. The ensemble of these rays forms a coherent image on a viewer's retina. Using high "f" number microlenses permits a very short focal length between the pin-points and the microlenses and thus provides a very thin virtual display. The aperture array may be provided by a plate disposed between the display and the lens, or it may be apertures configured on the back side (away from the viewer) of the microlenses or on the front (towards the viewer) of the display.

Abstract: An InP-based opto-electronic integrated circuit including an active layer having one or more quantum wells (36, 38). According to the invention, a barrier layer (34) of AlGaInAs is formed, preferably between the quantum wells and the substrate (30) to prevent the migration of species from the substrate and lower InP layers that tend to shift the emission wavelengths of the quantum wells to shorter wavelengths, i.e., a blue shift. The barrier layer can be patterned so that some areas of the quantum wells exhibit blue shifting to a shorter wavelength while other areas retain their longer wavelength during annealing.