Abstract: A system and method for extending the reach of a data communication channel using flow control interception devices is described. The method decreases the latency-induced reduction in the data throughput and permits data transmission at subrates through the data communication channel. The method includes transmitting a data frame from a sending device. The data frame is transmitted through the data communication channel if a flow control signal is not asserted. The data frame is buffered if the flow control signal is asserted. The buffered data frame is transmitted through the data communication channel in response the flow control signal changing to an asserted state. The method also includes receiving the transmitted data frame from the data communication channel and transmitting the received data frame to a receiving device if the receiving device is available to process the data frame.

Abstract: A method for determining optical power in a WDM optical signal that includes extracting a representative portion of the optical signal with wavelengths within some band ? wherein ? is a subset of ?, the set of all channel wavelengths present in the optical signal and measuring the intensity of the extracted optical signal to determine the optical power per channel for any of the channels whose wavelengths are within the band ?.

Abstract: A telecommunications switch for switching protocol data units across communications links connecting the switch into a communications network and supporting multiple service types concurrently is disclosed. The switch includes an ingress processor for receiving protocol data units from a communications link, an egress processor for transmitting protocol data units onto another communications link, and a switching fabric for routing protocol data units from the ingress processor to the egress processor. The switch includes a structure of queues and schedulers that is arranged to provide concurrent class-based and flow-based queuing and scheduling of the protocol data units. This arrangement allows an amount of switching bandwidth to be guaranteed to protocol data units belonging to a given flow and allows classes of service within the flow to be allocated a relative proportion of that bandwidth.

Abstract: A multi-class digital network is described. The network supports a plurality of digital services using dynamically-configured service bands to support various transport modes and qualities of service. A network control element receives traffic and network state information from the nodes. The network control element maintains a network topology and uses the network topology to compute route sets for the nodes. The network control element uses the traffic information to compute network size specifications. The switching nodes use rate controllers to divide the capacity of each link among the connection classes according to rules which ensure consistent service attributes for each band across the network. The rate controllers are adapted to support different transport modes and different packet sizes so that the deconstruction and reconstruction of packets at network edge devices is eliminated.

Abstract: This invention provides a conferencing arrangement for use with two or more wireless terminals. According to the invention, the conferencing arrangement receives signals from a plurality of input communication paths of which at least two are from wireless terminals. In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminals will receive either a low bit rate (LBR) signal which has undergone conversion from a pulse code modulated (PCM) signal, or an LBR signal forwarded from an input terminal without any conversion. Advantageously, the ability to forward an original LBR signal from a wireless terminal to one or more output terminals reduces unnecessary tandem encoding. In another embodiment, only LBR signals required for conference summing are decoded and encoded, thereby resulting in hardware savings.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber and a fiber termination which provide an output of laser light propagating through the fiber in a required direction while focusing it into a small spot. In one embodiment of the invention the termination includes a tapered fiber rod with an angled ball formed at the end of the rod. A corresponding method of manufacturing of the termination is provided. In another embodiment the termination includes a fiber rod having an angled end and a GRIN lens disposed so as to receive light reflected from the angled end, the lens being an integral part of the termination. In other embodiments the lens is replaced with a cylindrical or tapered multimode stub which provide similar function.

Abstract: A telephone base unit for use with a mobile telephone handset comprises means for interfacing the handset with the base unit for enabling user definable data entry key settings of the handset to be downloaded and emulated at the base unit such that when interfaced with the base unit, the mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of the base unit as a wireless desktop interface. The interface means is comprised of means for transferring user definable data entry key settings of the handset to the base unit, means for storing the user definable data entry key settings of the handset at said base unit and controller means to enable a user to use the user definable data entry key settings with the user interface of the base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from the base unit via the mobile telephone handset.

Abstract: In a method of assembling an electronic component onto a substrate, a fiducial is defined by a solder mask positioned upon the substrate. A fiducial-defining window in the mask has a base of the window completely provided with a material of different light-reflecting quality than the mask surface. This provides for the peripheral edge of the window, i.e. the mask, to be the edge of the fiducial. Windows in the mask which expose terminal pads upon the substrate and fixed in position relative to edges of the fiducial and both these windows and the fiducial are determined by the mask. Surface mount components are then located upon the substrate relative to the window positions and not relative to the terminal pad positions. This process reduces the number of incorrect connections of terminals of components to terminal pads.

Abstract: A structure of a printed circuit board and a fiber storage holder for accommodating a superfluous length of fiber to be connected to a terminal on the printed circuit board. This structure if for use with the board mounted within an electronic shelf and solely accommodates superfluous lengths of fiber with pre-specified lengths. To enable removal of the printed circuit board from its shelf, free fiber is necessary. This is accommodated by a fiber storage facility which is additional to the holder. The fiber storage facility is located outside the printed circuit board receiving chamber of the shelf and is preferably attached to a shelf wall, e.g. a bottom wall, so as to store a removable length portion of fiber. Upon removal, the removable length portion provides a free fiber length which, by flexing, allows for removal from and return to the shelf of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and protocol to enable a simple, reliable and highly scaleable data transfer facility in a digital data network. A connectionless, unacknowledged data transfer protocol minimizes resource utilization at a data server and is combined with source rate control to reduce congestion in the intervening network. The data transfer server implementing the protocol, operates by defining a circular ordering of individual scheduling timeslots having zero or more download records. The server selects in sequence, at a predetermined rate, the individual scheduling timeslots, and services, responsive to the selected timeslot having at least one download record, each record therein according to parameters in that record.

Abstract: A telecommunications apparatus for transporting ATM cells having either of isochronous units of payload data and asynchronous units of payload data, between receiving and transmitting ports includes a buffer for asynchronously queuing units of payload data received from the receiving ports and for subsequently transmitting the queued units of payload data in a time division multiplex data stream toward the transmitting ports. A timeslot interchanger is used to reorder a time defined sequence of isochronous units of payload data from the first data stream into a second time defined sequence of isochronous units of payload data in a second TDM data stream. An outgoing TDM data stream is assembled by transferring the first data stream into the outgoing data stream while substituting each payload occurrence of isochronous units from the second TDM data stream, into corresponding TDM locations in the outgoing data stream.

Abstract: A transmit by-pass cable for use in a telephone system having a headset and an amplifier. The by-pass cable finds application in an automatic call distribution network having automatic log-on/log-off capability. The by-pass cable connects the amplifier to the receive pair while the transmit pair is connected directly from the terminal to the headset.

Abstract: A method of using the existing radio resources to automatically determine the current cellular topology is described. Wireless basestations are placed into a mode where they can transmit a signal which can be received by all of the base stations in range of the transmitting basestation. Each base station in the system serially broadcast a signal which is received by all other basestations within the range of the transmitting basestation. Each of the receiving radios determines the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) at which they received the transmitted signal. The RSSI values are used to determine which base stations are physically co-located into cells and then determine the relative locations of the cells to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically optimizing the analog gain for a microphone in a telephone terminal operable in handsfree mode. The system makes use of a process whereby a relatively inexpensive analog to digital converter is used to meet gain requirements so as to accommodate the loudest echo through transmit path while maintaining an acceptable signal to noise ratio for the quietest talker. The system digital signal processor in conjunction with speech activity detection means is used to provide an optimum microphone gain under all circumstances.

Abstract: A wireless terminal for personal communication systems is provided with selective handsfree or handset receive mode of operation utilizing a single transducer. The transducer is mounted within a specially designed enclosure having front and back chambers each with strategically located acoustic ports for shaping the frequency response and providing good quality audio in each mode. Electronic equalization may be employed to further adjust the amplifier gain and shape the frequency response for dual mode operation.

Abstract: The invention constitutes a telephony based electronic voice greeting card service embodied within an adjunct processing system communicatively connected to a toll switching office of a public switched telephone network. The voice card system comprises a service controller, a storage node, an attendant controller and attendant services. The service controller is responsible for automatic processing of incoming and outgoing calls to provide the functionality for capturing new voice card messages, delivering voice card messages and status query of previously captured messages. The storage node provides a database of captured voice card message records, and the attendant controller in conjunction with the attendant services function to provide manual assistance to users. The voice card system allows a person, through use of a telephone, to create customized audio greeting cards by accessing various greetings through a comprehensive menu interface.

Abstract: A circuit for use with a SCWID adjunct to remove A.C. in-band signaling tones from the voice path to a telephone apparatus serially connected to the adjunct. The A.C. signal component is carried on top of the D.C. voltage used to power the telephone. The circuit includes means to monitor the D.C. voltage level and to pass this voltage substantially unchanged to the telephone. The A.C. signal in the form of a FSK tone, received from the central office, is used by the adjunct to provide a subscriber with call feature information such as the identity of a calling party while the telephone is off-hook.

Abstract: A system for displaying graphic information such as a facial representation on a communications terminal. The facial representation is digitized, compressed and stored in memory at the appropriate control center of a communications network. Upon receipt of a display command the digitized data is retrieved from memory and transmitted to the called party's display terminal using modem technology.

Abstract: A communication device such as a portable wireless terminal for a telephone system having a proximity sensor to automatically switch the receiving transducer from receiver mode to loudspeaker mode. The proximity sensor is positioned in the handset such that the associated circuitry switches the transducer from loudspeaker mode to receiver mode in response to the handset being brought into proximity with the user's ear.

Abstract: A system for providing a personal location, access control and asset tracking service using an in-building telephone network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, users of ID badges containing an RF transmitter can be located across the telephone network for receiving incoming calls. Receiver units in or near telephone sets instruct the system of the identity of the user located near the telephone set. In another embodiment, access to a building or rooms therein is controlled according to the identity of the ID badge wearer. Similar receiver units located at building and room entrances receive the RF transmission from the ID badge to allow or deny access to the rooms or building. In a third embodiment, ID tags placed on material assets permit the system user to monitor the movement and location of specific material assets associated with that ID tag. The ID tag also contains an RF transmitter which is used to transmit an RF burst to receiver units located across the telephone network.