Abstract: The claimed invention provides a self-actuating lenticular display assembly that places the lenticular image in intimate contact with the lenticular lens while maintaining the lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens to form the lenticular display. The lenticular display assembly further comprises a rigid back plate placed behind the lenticular display so that the lenticular image moves in a parallel plane between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate, a motor that accomplishes movement of the lenticular image in relation to the lenticular lens, alignment mechanisms that allow the lenticular image to be incrementally adjusted in relation to the lenticular lens, and different means for maintaining intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens, thus eliminating undesirable “soft spots” that may occur.

Abstract: The outside distribution plant of the invention consists of a remote narrowband terminal such as a digital loop carrier and a remote broadband terminal such as broadband distribution element or the like that receive narrowband and broadband telecommunications signals, respectively, from a switching system or other network element. The signals are delivered to a variety of different types of line cards where each of the different types of line cards provide a different type of telecommunications service as is known in the prior art. Connection lines emanating from selected ones of the broadband line cards are connected to the inputs of a remotely controlled crossbar array where the inputs of the array can be selectively connected to the outputs of the crossbar array. The outputs of the crossbar array are connected to distribution lines that terminate at one of a plurality of diplex filters.

Abstract: The system of the invention consists of a central office service unit (COSU) connected to a plurality of switching systems via dedicated telemetry trunks or a common channel signaling network such as the CCS7 network. The switching systems are connected to a plurality of inbound-only TIUs located on the customer premise that are in turn connected to customer devices such as utility meters, appliances, security systems or the like. The TIUs are inbound-only that can originate calls but cannot answer calls initiated by the controlling entity. A controlling entity, such as a utility, is connected to one of the switching systems over a customer line such that the controlling entity can be connected to any TIU hosted by the switching systems. The controlling entity requests that an alerting tone be sent by the COSU to a desired TIU. The COSU, as is known in the art, delivers an alert tone through a suppressed ringing connection to the TIU that does not audibly ring the customer's telephone.

Abstract: The interface card consists of a circuit pack containing the line or trunk circuitry and a face plate connected to one side of the circuit pack. A first connector is located on the side of the circuit pack opposite the face plate for connecting the line card to the backplane of the switching system or other network element. A second connector is provided on the face plate for connecting the circuit pack to the cable plug of the cabling. To disconnect the connector, an ejection mechanism is provided on the face plate of the interface card. The ejection mechanism slides relative to the face plate to force camming surfaces into engagement with abutment surfaces on the cable plug thereby forcing the cable plug perpendicularly away from the face plate. Thus the plug is removed without damaging the pin connectors. A locking device can be optionally provided on the ejection mechanism to lock the cable plug into engagement with the pin connector to prevent inadvertent disconnection.

Abstract: A utility meter or other fixed device is assigned a permanent dialed number that is unrelated to the telephone number of the customer premise where the device is located. Instead, the dialed number is permanently assigned to a line termination location in the switch such that when the dialed number is dialed a connection is made to the line terminated at that physical location in the network switching system irrespective of the customer's telephone number. As a result, the number dialed by the calling party is unrelated to the customer's telephone number such that changes in a customer's telephone number do not affect the telemetry system. Moreover, the telemetry number could be selected from a specified range of numbers or could include a predetermined command digit such as *8 prior to the number string.

Abstract: The outside distribution plant of the invention consists of a remote terminal such as a digital loop carrier, broadband distribution element or the like that receives telecommunications signals from a switching system or other network element. The signals are delivered to a variety of different types of line cards where each of the different types of line cards provide a different type of telecommunications service as is known in the prior art. Connection lines emanating from the line cards are connected to the inputs of a remotely controlled crossbar array where the inputs of the array can be selectively connected to the outputs of the crossbar array. The outputs of the crossbar array are connected to distribution lines that terminate at one of a plurality of feeder distribution interfaces that connect to customer lines that terminate at customer premise equipment. The crossbar array serves as the access point for competitive service providers.

Abstract: A voice packet, containing coded voice information for a communication talkgroup that is currently being monitored, is received and stored in a buffer (200-202) dedicated to the communication talkgroup. When a decoder (203-205) is available, the voice packet is decoded and the resulting decoded voice information is combined with other decoded voice information, pertaining to other monitored communication talkgroups, such that the combined decoded voice information can be rendered audible.

Abstract: A squaring amplifier circuit (300) generates a substantially rectangular output signal from an a.c. input signal. An amplifier stage (303) is biased at a low quiescent current by a current source network (305) and a coupling network (306). Since the amplifier stage (303) current is a non-linear function of its input voltage, application of a low-level a.c. input signal (313), through an input signal coupling network (302), results in a substantially rectangular output signal having frequency and duty cycle that are substantially identical to the frequency and duty cycle of the input signal.

Abstract: A key management system permits a high degree of autonomous rekeying activity by communication units (105) in a secure communication system (100). Responsive to time reference information transmitted by a key management controller (101), the communication units (105) activate a designated key index at a predetermined activation time. If conditions so indicate, a communication unit may transmit a rekey request.

Abstract: A data communication protocol permits efficient and cost-effective transmission of control and ancillary messages among the components of a communication system infrastructure (200). Messages are organized into Infrastructure Control Words (300) with accompanying Format Identifiers (304), and interleaved with voice and data segments (707) to form message streams (700) that are transmitted from one infrastructure component, such as a base station (201), to another infrastructure component, such as a Digital Interface Unit (202).

Abstract: A method for transparently coupling an encrypted two-way RF communication unit (100) with an encrypted landline communication unit (104). An RF message comprised of a plurality of data frames (401,402, 403) is transmitted from the RF communication unit (100), wherein a plurality of the data frames include encrypted voice information (403). Some bits from the data frames (501,502) are selectively removed, without removing the encrypted voice information (503), to form reduced bit data frames, and the reduced bit data frames are transmitted via the landline to the landline communication unit (104).

Abstract: A quad linked data structure that provides bidirectional search capability for multiple related fields within a single record. The data base is searched by providing sets of pointers at intervals of N data entries to accommodate a binary search of the pointers followed by a linear search of the resultant range to locate an item of interest and its related field.

Abstract: A battery module (200) includes a preselected one (105) of a plurality of discrete electrodes (102-105) that is either electrically uncoupled, or is coupled in a fashion that is redundant with respect to one of the other electrodes (102-104). A battery module constructed in this fashion is compatible with both a microprocessor controlled rapid charger (400) and a trickle charger (500) constructed from simple discrete circuitry.

Abstract: An originator of a communication (110) selects from among a set of candidate displayable source indicators, which displayable source indicators can include both a unit ID and alias IDs, and then attempts to initiate a communication with a recipient communication unit (111). The attempt to initiate communication includes transmission of information, including the selected displayable source indicator. This allows a transmitting communication unit to most appropriately identify itself to a receiving communication unit.

Abstract: Lag information for use in a speech coder is developed by estimating lag values for the various subframes (201) of a speech coding frame (200) of information, and by then selecting lag values for each subframe that are both closely corresponding to the estimated lag values and that also observe the restrictions of a selected delta-coding routine. When a plurality of candidate sets of such information have been developed, they are compared against one another to identify that set which appears to provide the best set of lag values. This information is then available for framing and transmission. In one embodiment, the sets of candidate values are also selected to ensure provision for subsequent adjustment in either a positive or negative direction.

Abstract: An electronic device package includes a portion that functions as a membrane to allow small molecules, such as gas molecules, to relatively freely traverse the housing boundary, while simultaneously substantially preventing large molecules, such as liquid molecules, from entering the confines of the housing. As a result, the package can be readily used in reflow processing without risking damage to the boundary integrity between the housing and the support surface that supports both the electronic device and the housing.

Abstract: A method for recovering from encryption key variable loss, either inadvertent or the result of tampering. A predetermined key encryption key is encrypted with itself at the time when keys are first loaded, and the resultant key loss key is stored in non-volatile memory. This key loss key acts as a key encryption key for decryption of new shadow and traffic keys.

Abstract: An adaptive spectral postfilter in a synthesized speech platform has a denominator characteristic that corresponds to a preceding LPC filter stage, and a numerator characteristic that is developed as a function of the denominator characteristic through application of spectral smoothing techniques. This allows the numerator to track the denominator without the introduction of spectral distortion that would otherwise affect the processing in an adverse way.