Abstract: In a burst mode communication system bursts arrive at a receiver which must correctly acquire and track carrier and clock phases in order to recover the transmitted symbols. A burst mode receiver is used to recover the clock and carrier phase. The detection of an initiator pulse indicates the presence of a burst signal, and a cross-coupled fractionally spaced digital filter structure is used with a known preamble to perform symbol sampling phase recovery and carrier phase acquisition, and during the normal mode of operation results in a tracking of the symbol and carrier phases.

Abstract: In a burst mode communications system, bursts of information with a known preamble are transmitted from a burst mode transmitter and are received by a burst mode receiver which uses the preamble to determine the presence of a burst and to determine the correct carrier frequency, carrier phase, symbol clock frequency and symbol clock phase in order to correctly recover the symbols transmitted, and thus the information contained within the burst. The present invention comprises a method of burst transmission using a preamble which contains an initial pulse and a Barker sequence following the initial pulse separated by a dead time period equal to the transmission time of at least one symbol. The preamble can be transmitted on orthogonal carriers and the order of the Barker sequence can be reversed and multiplied by minus one on one of the carriers to reduce the probability that noise events on both carriers make the Barker sequence less detectable on each channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an in-home communication system based on the use of a telecommunications terminal of a Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC) network is described. In this system signals are sent from a first device in a home to the FTTC terminal over a subscriber coaxial cable network, and routed from the telecommunications terminal back to the home, where they are received by a second device in the same home. Signals are routed back to the home at the telecommunications terminal by recognizing a particular address which corresponds to in-home signals or by timing information. In the event that the information is contained within Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, the Virtual Path Identifier (VPI) field of the ATM cells can be used to indicate that cells are to be redirected back to the home.

Abstract: An ergonomically adjustable sit/stand keyboard arm apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is slidably mounted on the underside of a work surface such as a table. A first rotatable housing depends from the sliding mount. The first housing is connected to a second housing by a parallel linkage means. A keyboard platform is rotatably mounted on the second housing. An extender is provided between the second housing and the keyboard platform to raise the keyboard platform to sufficient height for use by the operator while standing and to permit the arm to be lowered below a generally horizontal orientation. The keyboard platform is maintained in position by a self-locking pneumatic cylinder and an adjustable cylinder assembly for counterbalancing the load on the parallel linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A cell grant mechanism is presented which allows a central device to control the transmission of cells from one or more remote devices connected to the central device over a physical medium. Grants are issued from a grant table in the central device to allow remote devices to transmit cells to the central device. The spacing of the grants are optimized to minimize cell delay variation. When there are unused cell opportunities, central device can issue grants to devices to utilize the unused cell opportunities on an available bit rate basis.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for prioritizing and scheduling ATM cells that are competing for a given time slot for transmission onto a network. A segmentation and reassembly controller establishes a data structure within a memory. The preferable data structure includes a virtual connection time table and a virtual connection parameter table that use linked lists to index to one another. The segmentation and reassembly (SAR) controller includes a sorter for determining the priority of the ATM cells and selecting one for a given time slot and a microcode engine to compute next scheduled time slot and adjust the virtual connection parameter table for a given virtual connection. Coupled to the microcode engine is a random access memory for storing microcode programs so that the SAR may be programmed to prioritize and schedule in a different manner.

Abstract: A convertible stocking for use by dancers is disclosed. The stocking may be converted from a footed to footless stocking without changing the stocking. The stocking has a main tubular portion, a toe pocket portion, and a foot opening collar. The main tubular portion is knitted in a continuous, circular manner to form a substantially uniform knit tube having a border at one end. The toe pocket portion is knitted in a continuous, reciprocating manner onto about one half of the border of the main tubular portion using successive courses of yarn beginning with about one half the total number of knitting needles of the knitting machine and progressively decreasing the number of knitting needles used to knit each course and then increasing the number of knitting needles to about one half the total number of knitting needles thereby forming a knitted pocket over about one half the border of the main tubular portion. The pocket has a terminating edge.

Abstract: In a communications system packets containing compressed digital signals are transported in multiple cells, typically in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode format. Upon reception of these cells, a determination is made as to whether cells have been lost, additional cells inserted, or whether there were bit errors in the transmission of the cells. If so, null packets are substituted for the erred packets and are sent to the video decompression layer.

Abstract: A boot having an improved blast and fragment resistant vulcanized rubber boot sole (13) for protection against large anti-personnel mines is described. The sole comprises embedded protective material composed of at least one layer (18) of woven polyaramid (Kevlar) material. The boot further has an upper insole (19) having a critical supporting structure comprised of at least one polyaramid layer (18). An additional graphite or engineering polymer (e.g. Delrin 100) toe-cap (41) and shank are also described.

Abstract: In an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communications network which operates over a shared media a method of addressing and access control between a central transceiver and multiple transceivers in a residence is required. A device identifier is placed in the in the Generic Flow Control (GFC) field of the ATM cells to indicate that cells are designated for a particular transceiver or transceivers in the residence. In the reverse direction, transceivers in the residence use the GFC field to indicate that they are attempting to sign onto the network. The GFC bits are returned to zero prior to passing the ATM cells to the ATM processing layer.

Abstract: Digital data is transported bidirectionally between a broadband network unit and devices. The data is transmitted in a series of frame intervals that include request slots and cell slots for transmission of ATM data. The request slots may be used by a device to request one or more cell slots. The broadband network unit determines which requests to grant. If the request is granted, the device may use the cell slot to transmit ATM data. In addition, the request slot can accommodate Time Division Multiplex data such as digital telephony.

Abstract: A hazardous material containment and storage unit is disclosed. The unit comprises a basin in which a plurality of molded plastic pods are positioned to form a support surface for placing containers of hazardous material such as conventional fifty-five gallon drums. Each pod may be molded form a collection basin so that only individual pods have to be removed and cleaned when a spill occurs. The containment tray formed by the basin and pods may be enclosed by a plurality of door structures pivotally attached to a door support arch. The vertical sides of the door support arch are positioned within recesses and attached to ledges on the outside surface of the basin. Each door structure has a top, side and front panel which covers a separate quadrant of the containment tray when the doors are closed. A pod for supporting a conventional drum in a generally horizontal orientation over the basin is also disclosed.