Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling overload conditions using two values; an acceptance rate fraction allowed value and an occupancy fraction allowed value. The inventive techniques allow quick response to the sudden onset of overload conditions, are robust enough to be used when processor speeds are increased and compare favorably to known techniques.

Abstract: An optical transport network comprises a number of nodes, or routers, which are coupled together via optical fibers. When a physical link comes up between a node and a neighboring node, a handshake between the node and the neighboring node recognizes the link such that the node, and the neighboring node, include it in respective link assignment tables. In addition, the node and the neighboring node negotiate a predefined sequence for assigning link resources from their respective assignment tables for satisfying future connection requests.

Abstract: The time it takes to recover from a system initialization failure may be reduced by determining whether to enable a recovery process immediately, or defer such a process. Sometimes it is desirable to defer a recovery process until certain interdependencies between system components are satisfied.

Abstract: Information is transmitted over selected, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) sub-channels to avoid frequencies with unacceptable congestion, noise or interference levels. Using frequency hopping, selected non-contiguous OFDM sub-channels used for transmission may vary with time. Once a group of OFDM sub-channels is selected, a power level and modulation technique may also be selected based on channel quality.

Abstract: An intelligent switch and method are described herein which help to effectively retransmit a lost packet that is associated with a television broadcast stream to one or more set-top boxes.

Abstract: Data representing video content is distributed over a passive optical network (PON) on virtual channels that are assigned to television (TV) channels as subscribers request the TV channels and de-assigned from TV channels when subscribers are no longer viewing them. Associating and de-associating TV channels with virtual channels can be performed with very low latency by using a near-physical layer protocol, such as the Physical Layer Operation Administration and Maintenance (PLOAM) protocol.

Abstract: Multi-Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) traffic is re-routed to an alternate, Label Switched Path (LSP) to bypass a failure along a primary LSP, even though the failure occurs at or along an ingress section of an LSP, while associating an original IP address to the alternate path. Failures are also detected farther downstream outside an ingress section. When this occurs, MPLS traffic is re-routed to an alternate LSP which maintains the same quality of service as an original primary path and includes other network devices which are not a part of the primary path (except for the network device and a destination network device). The techniques require less resources than existing techniques.

Abstract: A telephone or similar device/system may be equipped or used to select preferred call back numbers. These preferred numbers may be programmed into a device by a user. When an incoming call comprising caller identity (“CID”) data is received, preferred call back numbers associated with a portion of the data are selected. A responsive, outgoing call is transmitted using one of the preferred call back numbers. The selected, preferred call back numbers may or may not be identical to a telephone number indicated in the CID data.

Abstract: The present invention is a transmitter device and related system and method for use in high speed optical transmission systems. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, light from a laser diode output is split into two branches of orthogonal polarization (Eox, and Eoy) of substantially equal power. Polarization selectors coupled thereto are operable to select a specific polarization to be output to a corresponding external optical polarization modulator. A first polarization modulator, receives light from the polarization selector, for example, Eox, and modulates URZ data from a URZ coder thereon. A second polarization modulator receives light from the second polarization selector, for example, Eoy, and modulates delayed data (URZd) representative of the URZ data from the URZ coder thereon. The URZ data and the delayed URZd data may be combined at the transmitter, fiber channel or receiver for transmission over a single optical medium, for example, a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Message retrieval methods and devices allow for the remote retrieval of caller identity delivery (“CID”) information or messages stored in telephones, telephone answering devices (“TAD”) and the like through the use of dual-tone, multi-frequency (“DTMF”) signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods utilize cradle contacts for completing diagnostic tests of rechargeable devices, such as cordless telephones. A cordless telephone handset or base is placed into a test fixture. Once the handset or base is cradled, diagnostic message signals are transmitted through cradle contacts in the test fixture and handset/base. The message signals may be made up of ASK signals. The beginning and end of each test may be identified by a code or codes embedded in a message signal. The use of cradle contacts to complete diagnostic tests alleviates problems associated with use of internal test access ports to carry out such tests.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for overcoming interference which occurs when one or more cordless devices seek to communicate over the same range of narrow band channels. Any one of a number of algorithms not based on channel clarity may be utilized to order groups of available channels which surround a cordless device. The device then selects a channel from within the ordered group of channels to assure clear communications between a cordless telephone handset and base. The algorithm may be randomly selected from among a number of algorithms or may be selected by other means.

Abstract: Intermittent miscounts generated by counters used in a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) are precisely measured by detecting changes to a predetermined waveform, such as a sawtooth waveform. The miscounts are detected using an open loop, not closed loop, set-up which comprises two separate signal generators feeding two separate frequencies into MAIN and REF counters of a PLL. Offsetting the frequencies slightly and integrating an output generates the predetermined waveform. Thereafter, miscounts can be detected by comparing waveforms corresponding to miscounts to theoretically predicted, predetermined waveforms.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for quickly producing all possible linear polarization states of light at the output of a length of optical fiber. Linearly polarized light is input and is transmitted through a fiber. Due to the birefringence of the fiber, light at the output of the fiber is elliptically polarized irrespective of the input polarization. The elliptically polarized states of light at the output are generated as an arbitrary circle on an output Poincare sphere. This arbitrary circle is then manipulated to produce a final circle substantially coinciding with the equator of the Poincare sphere. This final circle represents all possible linear polarization states at the output of the fiber. The invention eliminates the need for determining transformation matrices and performing point-by-point calculations in order to obtain input polarization settings for polarization-based, passive optical network (“PON”) testing.

Abstract: A microcomputer incorporates a pair of DMA controllers that are co-dependently operated to read and write common data blocks to two peripheral devices. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one of the DMA controllers is designated to read a data block from memory, store the data, and then write the data in a single write cycle to each of the two peripheral devices. This DMA controller provides the address and control signals necessary for writing the data to a first of the two peripheral devices, while the other DMA controller provides the address and control signals necessary for writing the data block to a second of the two peripheral devices. As a result, only one read and one write command are required for the data to be written to the two peripheral devices.

Abstract: A facility is provided for interfacing the Internet with a telecommunications network and vice versa so that a user who does not have access to the Internet may, nevertheless, provide a Web page and update the Web page via the telecommunications network and so that a user may access the telecommunications network via the Internet.

Abstract: Intelligent memory devices allow for the transfer of data between two or more electronic devices, such as digital signal processors and microcontrollers. The memory devices may be designed as dual port memory devices capable of sending/receiving synchronous, serial data. The use of serial data reduces the pin count of the memory devices and those connected to it. The memory devices also utilize a dedicated pair of data bits and memory pointers to carry out management of the memory and data transfers allowing connected devices to reduce the amount of processing time spent on such matters.