Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for re-initializing a secure password series based on an iterated hash function. User login information is communicated over an insecure network connection or other transmission medium between a client and a server. The server provides an indication that a first login series based on a first password has reached a predetermined minimum number of remaining hash function iterations. This indication could also be generated by the client. In either case, the client responds to the indication by generating an initialization signal which relates the first login series based on the first password to a second login series based on a second password. The initialization signal may be generated as the exclusive-or of the results of applying a first number of hash function iterations to the first password and a second number of hash function iterations to the second password.

Abstract: A novel process for making Li.sub.x Mn.sub.y O.sub.4 intercalation compounds, wherein 0<x.ltoreq.2 and 1.7.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2, comprises the steps of: (1) synthesizing a lithiated manganese oxide precursor by reacting lithium hydroxide, manganese dioxide, and one or more polyhydric alcohols; and (2) heat-treating the lithiated manganese oxide precursor. The intercalation compounds are effectively employed as active components of positive electrodes in rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cells.

Abstract: A method for the direct reconstruction of an object from measurements of the transmitted intensity of the scattered radiation effected by irradiating the object. The transmitted intensity is related to the image by an integral operator. The image is directly reconstructed by executing a prescribed mathematical algorithm, as determined with reference to the integral operator, on the transmitted intensity.

Abstract: An optical filter, such as a wavelength-division multiplexer, demultiplexer, or optical router, in which several single-mode waveguides are coupled to the sides of an optical interaction region containing a wavelength dispersive element that collects light from one or more input waveguides inputting light to the interaction region and disperses it according to wavelength to one or more output waveguides outputting wavelength-separated light. According to the invention, a multi-moded waveguide is interposed between one or more of the single-moded waveguides and the optical interaction region. It has a predetermined length to create at one end a multiply peaked image of a singly peaked profile presented to it at the other end, thus being a multi-mode interference (MMI) filter that presents a flatter filter profile at the interface between the MMI and the optical interaction region and affords reduced filter sensitivity to wavelength drift of an optical signal.

Abstract: A personal communications internetwork provides a personal communications internetwork providing a network subscriber with the ability to remotely control the receipt and delivery of wireless and wireline electronic text messages. The network operates as an interface between wireless and wireline networks. The subscriber's message receipt and delivery options are maintained in a database which the subscriber may access by wireless or wireline communications to update the options programmed in the database.

Abstract: A person communications internetworking provides a network subscriber with the ability to remotely control the receipt and delivery of wireless and wireline voice and text messages. The network operates as an interfaces between various wireless and wireline networks, and also performs media translation, where necessary. The subscriber's message receipt and delivery options are maintained in a database which the subscriber may access by wireless or wireline communications to update the options programmed in the database. The subscriber may be provided with CallCommand service which provides real-time control of voice calls while using a wireless data terminal or PDA.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing reducing crosstalk in optical cross-connects by configuring unused switching elements into a common switch state. The optical cross-connect may be a 2.sup.N .times.2.sup.N cross-connect which includes a plurality of dilated 2.times.2 switches each having a number of switch elements. A group of the switch elements connected between one or more inputs and one or more outputs of the cross-connect are suitably configured to provide one or more desired optical signal paths through the cross-connect. Unused cross-connect switch elements which are not part of any desired optical signal path are configured such that any unused switch elements in a given dilated 2.times.2 switch are placed in a common cross or bar switch state. The resulting cross-connect outputs will include at most one second order crosstalk term, as compared to conventional switch configurations in which a cross-connect output may have up to N second order crosstalk terms.

Abstract: A video conferencing system and method that uses a central multimedia bridge to combine multimedia signals from a plurality of conference participants into a single composite signal for each participant. The system gives each conference participant the ability to customize their individual display of other participants, including keying in and out selected portions of the display and overlapping displayed images, and the ability to identify individual images in a composed video stream by click and drag operations or the like. The system uses a chain of video composing modules that can be extended as necessary to combine video signal streams from any number of conference participants in real time. Multimedia association software is provided for associating different media types to enhance display and manipulation capabilities for multimedia uses. The system also allows each user to dynamically change who can receive the information they provide to the conference.

Abstract: A birefringence-free semiconductor waveguide comprising on a substrate a plurality of layers some of which are in tensile strain with respect to the substrate and others of which are in compressive strain. Birefringent-free behavior with respect to a guided light signal traveling in the waveguiding structure and possessing a photon energy lower than the bandgap of the constituent waveguide layers is obtained when birefringence introduced into the individual layers of the waveguiding structure by the strain is sufficient to compensate for the intrinsic geometric modal birefringence of the waveguiding structure that exists in the case where all layers are not strained.

Abstract: An access point 220 is provided with an access link 212 to a first host 210. The access point 220 has a first link 231 to a wide area network 230 which is the Internet backbone. Packets are communicated on the wide area network 230 using a best effort scheme at an uncontrollable, unpredictable and fluctuating rate. Neither the first host 210 nor the access point 220 are capable of selecting or controlling the rate at which packets are transmitted on the wide area network 230. The access point 220 also has a second link 261 to a guaranteed bandwidth network 260. The access point 220 is able to, on demand, establish a continuous bandwidth channel on the guaranteed bandwidth network 260 with an arbitrary other access point 240, to which another host 250 is connected, at a particular continuous packet transfer rate. The first host 210 can generate a packet requesting that the access point 220 establish a continuous bandwidth session with a second host 250.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the transmission power level of a transmitter, particularly in a wireless personal communication system, is disclosed. This technique assists in the prevention of interference between transceivers from degrading the quality of transmissions. Transmission power level is controlled through a hybrid circuit containing both digital and analog electronics. The transmission power level is set by controlling both the amount by which a data stream is compressed and the gain of an analog transmit power amplifier. This approach allows adequate control over the transmission power level; it avoids the need for utilizing excessively wide data paths for the digital transmit signals (which may compromise portable terminal battery consumption), or utilizing expensive, hard-to-calibrate analog electronics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preprocessing multimedia presentations to be delivered to customers such that delays due to interactive response time is virtually eliminated is described. The preprocessor receives as inputs an original multimedia presentation and parameters characterizing other system components, which parameters include the round trip latency between a delivery processor and a presentation processor, and generates a preprocessed multimedia presentation including a delivery schedule in the form of a labelled, directed graph.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell having reduced self-discharge comprises a negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode wherein the surfaces of the aggregate lithiated intercalation composition particulates comprising the positive cell electrode have been coated with a passivating layer of a composition comprising a borate, lithiated borate, aluminate, lithiated aluminate, silicate, lithiated silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Electrical connection is maintained between an electrical conductor element (32) and a fragile expanded-metal grid current collector element (12) of a flexible laminate structure rechargeable battery (10) by means of thermally-activated adhesive sheet material (34) which provides physical reinforcement as well as maintaining stable electrically-conductive contact between the elements, Such adhesive materials comprising a metal foil surface (46) may also provide direct electrical connection between current collector or battery electrode elements and external utilization devices.

Abstract: An inverse twisted or super-twisted nematic liquid crystal device in which the alignment layers on the two sides are homeotropic so as to regularly cause the associated linear liquid-crystal molecules to be, in the absence of an applied field, perpendicular to the alignment layers. Nonetheless, the alignment layers are rubbed or otherwise conditioned, preferably in relatively perpendicular directions, and the gap is filled with a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy so that in the presence of a normally applied electric field the liquid crystals align perpendicularly to the applied field and are at their boundaries in parallel with the two perpendicularly aligned alignment layers, thereby forming a twisting structure within the cell gap. Thereby, in the absence of an applied voltage, light traverses the cell without effect upon its polarization.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2, where M is a metal, 0<x.ltoreq.3, 0<y.ltoreq.3, 1.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4, and n=2 or 3, comprising the steps of creating an aqueous solution of at least one metavanadate salt selected from the group consisting of NH.sub.4 VO.sub.3 and NaVO.sub.3, and a nitrate salt of the formula M(NO.sub.3).sub.n containing a large excess of a lithium salt; heating the solution; adding a sufficient amount of a base to obtain a suitable pH; and precipitating the amorphous lithiated vanadium metal oxide. A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the active material of the negative electrode is an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2 or an amorphous binary non-lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.

Abstract: A system and method for preprocessing and delivering multimedia presentations to customers such that delays due to interactive response time is virtually eliminated include a preprocessor, mass storage, a delivery processor, a distribution network, and a plurality of presentation processors. The preprocessor receives as inputs an original multimedia presentation and parameters characterizing other system components, which parameters include the round trip latency between the delivery processor and a presentation processor, and generates a preprocessed multimedia presentation including a delivery schedule in the form of a labelled, directed graph.

Abstract: In an intergrated broadband and telephone network, caller identification information is delivered to a remote user through a service control point which retrieves nee information from a database in the telephone network and sends ring telephone instructions to the remote user's telephone through the telephone network but caller identification information to a display device at the remote user's location through the broadband network. The caller information may be displayed on a television set, a computer screen, or a window overlay on a different graphics/video image.

Abstract: The extent of self-discharge of rechargeable Li-ion secondary batteries is significantly reduced by treatment of LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 intercalation compound electrode material with a chelating agent, such as acetylacetone. This treatment decreases the incidence of non-coordinated Mn-ion sites which can lead to battery electrolyte decomposition and resulting loss of battery capacity. The treatment, which also includes annealing at about 400.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., further prevents such decomposition by varying the surface area and topography of the potentially catalytic electrode material.

Abstract: Li.sub.x CoO.sub.2 wherein x is about 1.00 to 1.15 is annealed at about 950.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. for about 0.25 to 10 hours to yield a lithium intercalation material which is used in an electrode to provide a rechargeable battery having high specific capacity and the capability of maintaining such capacity over numerous operating charge/discharge cycles.