Abstract: The contents of a pair of mailboxes (21, 31), one of which resides in an e-mail system (29) and the other of which resides in a voice-mail system (39), are automatically synchronized both in message content and in message state by a synchronizer (10), even though messages in the two mailboxes may have different data structures and carry information expressed in different media and having different formats. Synchronization is effected by automatically creating a corresponding message in one mailbox for every message that arrives in the other mailbox of the mailbox pair.

Abstract: A program-implemented arrangement (26) executing on a computer (22) facilitates use of a voice messaging system (VMS 12) by other application programs (25) by interacting with the application program interface (API) of the VMS on behalf of the application programs. In response to an application program writing a message identifier and a destination identifier to a pipe (37), a daemon process (34) of the arrangement retrieves the identified message from its database (33) and causes the VMS to deliver it to the identified destination. Messages to populate the database are generated via the conventional VMS message-creation facility and are brought into the database by a message-retrieval process (32) of the arrangement.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing the amount of junk e-mail received by a user of an e-mail system. A recipient description containing non-address information is added to an e-mail message. The user has an e-mail filter which has access to information which provides a model of the user. The e-mail filter uses the non-address information and the model information to determine whether the e-mail message should be provided to the user. The e-mail filter further has access to information which provides models of the user's correspondents. If the filter does not provide the message to the user, it uses the non-address information and the model information of the user's correspondents to determine who the message might be forwarded to. A sender of e-mail can also use the model information of the sender's correspondents together with the non-address information to determine who the message should be sent to. The techniques are used in a system for locating expertise.

Abstract: A digital port includes a passive bus and, at least, the registration and call transfer features associated with a switch to provide cellular wireless capability. The passive bus allows a base station to be connected to the channel and thereby interface a plurality of wireless terminals to the switch. While only some of the wireless terminals in the neighborhood of a base station can be active concurrently (as is the case in all wireless systems) by way of a digital communication channel that is included in the passive bus, the switch can register and, hence, keep track of, a larger number of wireless terminals that are present in the base station's neighborhood. The passive bus also includes at least one circuit switched channel to allow communication with one or more wired or wireless terminals.

Abstract: An arrangement (FIG. 1) that allows banks (15, 25) of up to eight duplicated active devices (30-37, 40-47) to be connected to a SCSI bus (14) and to share SCSI device IDs, and also allows multiple hosts (10, 20) to share the SCSI bus and the connected active devices. Tri-state buffers (200) act as gates (13, 23, 38, 48) to interface host adapters (12, 24) of a plurality of hosts, and active devices of a plurality of device banks, to the SCSI bus. The gate of only one host adapter and the gates of only one bank of devices are enabled at any one time. Only the devices of the enabled bank can receive and respond to addresses from the SCSI bus, while the devices of the other banks are prevented from receiving and responding to addresses from the SCSI bus. Each host has a tri-state buffer acting as bank selector (16, 26) for selecting one of the device banks, by enabling the gates of the devices of the selected bank through a bank select bus (50). Only one host's bank selector is enabled at any one time.

Abstract: A system and means for identifying references by a process or a subprogram of a process to deallocated memory in a dynamic memory allocation system. The system and method are effective in identifying such references even before they have manifested themselves, and also in identifying the perpetrators of such references. The system and method make use of that portion of the address space of the process which is not otherwise used. A dynamic memory allocation function responds to a requestor's request for memory allocation by mapping memory which the function is allocating to the requestor into otherwise-unused virtual address space, recording this mapping in the system's memory map, and returning the virtual address to the requestor for use in referencing the allocated memory. Hence, any attempted access by the requestor to the allocated memory uses the virtual address, and the virtual address must be translated through the process memory map before the access can be established.

Abstract: A graphical password arrangement displays a predetermined graphical image and requires a user to "touch" predetermined areas of the image in a predetermined sequence, as a means of entering a password. The password is set by allowing the arrangement to display the predetermined areas, or "tap regions", to a user, and requiring the user to position these tap regions in a location and sequence within the graphical image, with which the user desires the password to be set at. These "tap regions" are then removed from the display, leaving the original image by itself. The arrangement then waits for an entry device (user) to select the "tap regions", as described above, for possible access to a protected resource.

Abstract: A PBX (14) is employed as a feature server for another telecommunications subsystem (11), such as a broadband or a multi-media subsystem or another PBX. The PBX's feature set is thus made available to the other subsystem. Also, inter-PBX feature transparency is implemented thereby.

Abstract: A translation database (23) is used to allow an administrator to use a foreign language to administer, in real time, a switching system (10) whose administration database (11) is constructed from forms, files, and other administration patterns expressed in a native language and that stores administration data also expressed in the native language. The translation database is constructed from equivalents of the administration patterns that are expressed in the foreign language. The translation database is devoid of the administration data, but includes information that is enterable by the administrator as administration data, expressed in both the native language and the foreign language.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) mounts a telephone, particularly the handset (15) of a portable telephone, to a wall A.C. power outlet (11) and supplies power from the power outlet to the telephone. The apparatus comprises a chassis (12), at least one A.C. power plug (30,31) carried by the chassis for electrically connecting to, and mounting the chassis on, the A.C. power outlet, at least one A.C. power socket (40, 41) connected to the A.C. power plug and carried on the chassis so as not to deprive a user of the use of the power outlet, a cradle (14) carried by the chassis for the telephone handset (15) of a portable phone, and a power converter (18) carried by the chassis for obtaining A.C. power from the A.C. power outlet through the A.C. power plug, converting the obtained power into D.C. power, and supplying the D.C. power to the telephone handset through the cradle.

Abstract: A metallic RF or thermal shield (200, 200', 200") has a non-perforated area (202) around its center of mass, of a radius (203) sufficient for pick-up and placement of the shield by automatic vacuum pick-up equipment during automated surface-mount circuit assembly.

Abstract: An arrangement called PASS CONTROL (FIG. 11) is used in combination with a conventional RETURN statement as a substitute for a conventional CALL-and-RETURN subprogram invocation sequence (FIG. 2), and effects a return from a whole series of subprogram invocations directly to the subprogram that initiated the series without intervening returns to the subprograms that made the intermediate invocations in the series. The arrangement uses the conventional execution stack (114) to effect the series of invocations and the return therefrom (FIGS. 12-14). The subprograms that are invoked by the series of invocations share an execution stack frame (1620). Both a compiler arrangement and an application program execution arrangement for effecting PASS CONTROL functionality are disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid optical switching-fabric architecture, for implementation via Y-branch switching elements, comprises an 8.times.8 array (100) of eighty Y-branch switching elements (110) configured as a Benes outer layer (105) consisting of two columns (105a, 105b) of four 2.times.2 networks (103) and an active-splitter/active-combiner inner layer (106) consisting of one column of two 4.times.4 active-splitter/active-combiner networks (104).

Abstract: In a network of telecommunication switches, a first switch redirects a to-be-covered call to a remote call-covering endpoint served by a second switch, without losing control over the call. The first switch accompanies connection of the call to the second switch with signaling that identifies the call as a coverage call. The second switch responds to the signaling by determining the available status of the remote covering endpoint and signaling the status back to the first switch. If the remote covering endpoint is available, the second switch takes steps to connect the call to the endpoint. If the remote covering endpoint is not available, the first switch disconnects the call from the second switch and proceeds to cover the call to an alternative covering endpoint. The net effect is that call coverage works--from a user viewpoint--identically across a network of switches as it does on a single switch.

Abstract: An arrangement called PASS CONTROL (FIG. 11) is used in combination with a conventional RETURN statement as a substitute for a conventional CALL-and-RETURN subprogram invocation sequence (FIG. 2), and effects a return from a whole series of subprogram invocations directly to the subprogram that initiated the series without intervening returns to the subprograms that made the intermediate invocations in the series. The arrangement uses the conventional execution stack (114) to effect the series of invocations and the return therefrom (FIGS. 12 -14). The subprograms that are invoked by the series of invocations share an execution stack frame (1620). Both a compiler arrangement and an application program execution arrangement for effecting PASS CONTROL functionality are disclosed.

Abstract: The call-waiting feature is supported on voice-and-data modems (22,25) by causing voice-and-data modems to go into voice-only mode upon receipt of the modem clear-down signal (352-354). A first voice-and-data modem engaged in an initial voice-and-data call with a second voice-and-data modem responds to receipt (202) of a call-waiting signal by generating (204) a replica of the call-waiting signal on the user's audio channel. The first modem responds to a user request (300) to pick up the waiting call by sending (306) the modem clear-down signal to the second voice-and-data modem, going (312) into voice-only mode, and transmitting (314) a waiting-call acceptance signal. The initial call that is placed (332) on hold is thus a voice-only call. While in a voice-plus-data picked-up waiting call, the first modem responds to a user request (400) to reinstate the initial call by again sending (406) the modem clear-down signal, going (412) into voice-only mode, and transmitting (422) a call-resumption signal.

Abstract: In an automatic call distribution (ACD) system, an improved estimated waiting time arrangement derives a more accurate estimate of how long a call that is or may be enqueued in a particular queue will have to wait before being serviced by an agent, by using the average rate of advance of calls through positions of the particular queue. For a dequeued call, the arrangement determines the call's individual rate of advance from one queue position to the next toward the head of the queue. It then uses this individual rate to recompute a weighted average rate of advance through the queue derived from calls that preceded the last-dequeued call through the queue. To derive a particular call's estimated waiting time, the arrangement multiplies the present weighted average rate of advance by the particular call's position number in the queue. The arrangement may be called upon to update the derivation at any time before or while the call is in queue.

Abstract: A switching system (10) is modified to provide, in addition to conventional connections (110+111) between ports (100, 103), eavesdropping connections that couple only one-half of a conventional bidirectional connection between a pair of ports to a third port (102). If the pair of ports serves an adjunct processor such as a voice-mail system (11) and a user voice terminal (13), a voice- or speech-recognition unit (12) serving the adjunct processor may be connected to the third terminal to receive thereat only the transmissions (112) of the user voice terminal without the unwanted transmissions of the adjunct processor.

Abstract: A non-invasive directional coupler (51) comprising a voltage probe (300) and a current probe (301) is used to detect and separate from each other digital pulses (quats) being transmitted in opposite directions on a digital ISDN subscriber loop 200 (U-interface 15). The voltage probe measures the sum of digital pulse voltage of the conductors (201, 202) of the loop while the current probe measures the difference of digital pulse currents of in the conductors. An equalizer (304) converts the difference of the currents into the difference of the corresponding voltages. The sum and difference voltage measurements are then added (305) and subtracted (306) respectively to obtain voltages for digital pulses propagating in each direction. The voltages are provided to a decoder (52) such as a protocol analyzer for processing to interpret the traffic being sent in each direction on the loop.

Abstract: A call-management system (14) for a call center (FIG. 1) having a plurality of terminals (12) staffed by agents (13) includes a program-implemented arrangement (24) for communicating each agent's schedule to the agent via the agent's corresponding terminal and for monitoring the agent's adherence to the communicated schedule via the agent's corresponding terminal, thereby relieving a supervisor (19) of having to perform these functions. Other programs (25-27) that enable the supervisor to automatically communicate with the agents via their terminals are also included in the call-management system.