Abstract: A broadband intelligent network employs a fast-packet switch having a plurality of ports and a switch processor for establishing switched or permanent virtual port connections, for routing cells through the connections to and from the ports, and for processing network operations signals. A network control system is coupled to the switch processor to receive network operations signals therefrom and to send network operations signals thereto. A network operations system is interfaced with the network control system which routes network operations signals between the switch processor and the network operations system. The operations system may be a family of operations systems which provide respective network support functions including administration, maintenance, provisioning and billing functions.

Abstract: The cycling stability and capacity of li-ion rechargeable batteries are improved by the use of lithium manganese oxy-fluoride electrode component intercalation materials having the general formula, Li.sub.1+x M.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y O.sub.4-z F.sub.z, where M is a transition metal, e.g., Co, Cr, or Fe, and x.ltoreq.0.4, y.ltoreq.0.3, and 0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.0.

Abstract: An interface between a protected computer or computer network and the World Wide Web (WWW). The interface comprises a split proxy system that encapsulates TCP/IP transmissions into a script transmission, which is not subject to problems in high latency systems, thereby greatly improving WWW access, via a wireless modem or other low-bandwidth communications network. The split proxy interface also provides compression, encryption and filtering capabilities and allows receipt of unsolicited transmissions from the service provider for such purposes as automatically updating or configuring WWW access software.

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 method and system for providing a software tool that aids on the current state of the art of systems engineering of large software systems. The process begins with the step of gathering data on observations of a large number of characteristics about a software system (including historical and planned system adjustments) for each uniquely identifiable software component. Also gathered are historical data regarding faults or problems with each software component. The fault data is statistically mapped to measured characteristics of the software to establish a risk index. The risk index can be used as a predictive tool establishing which characteristics of the software are predictive of the software's performance or, alternatively, the risk index may be used to rank order the components to determine which components need less testing in a effort to save resources.

Abstract: A system for maintaining various information representative of activities of an enterprise having four components. The first component creates the information including project data, subproject data, task data, and employee data. The second component stores the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data. The third component creates non-hierarchical relationship keys among the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data stored by the storing means; and the fourth component updates the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data stored by the storing means and for updating the relationship keys among the project elements, the subproject elements, the task elements, and the employee elements.

Abstract: A process for using a trusted third party to create an electronic certificate for an electronic file that can be used to establish the file and verify the identity of the creator of the file. The process is composed of two phases, a registration phase and an electronic file distribution phase. In the registration phase, a trusted third party receives information about an author, including the author's public key and affirmatively verifies the accuracy of this information. In the file distribution phase, an author sends to the trusted third party a signed message containing the hash of the file the author wants to distribute. The trusted third party creates an electronic certificate, signed by the trusted third party, containing the hash of the file sent by the author.

Abstract: An improved technique for simultaneously performing bit synchronization and error detection of received digital data bursts in a time division multiplexed/time division multiple access (TDM/TDMA) system, such as that used in conjunction with low power portable digital telephony. With the improved technique both bit synchronization and error detection are performed simultaneously to thereby reduce latency in the transceiver. Since round-trip delay is reduced, echo suppression techniques may not be needed.

Abstract: A broadband customer premises equipment ("CPE") interface device interfaces with conventional telephones, screen phones, and broadband data and video devices. The interface device includes circuitry to connect with a telephone network via a first telephone connection and circuitry to connect with a broadband network via a second, broadband connection. The interface device can provide control of video information being pumped to the CPE via the broadband network by sending control signals to a video server via the telephone network. In addition, the interface device includes ADSI off-hook alerting ("AOHA") circuitry and adds ADSI script management server ("ASMS") circuitry to provide noninvasive programming of screen phone-type CPE devices. ASMS programming information for a CPE device is transferred to the interface device via the broadband network and stored in the interface device.

Abstract: A key escrow technique is disclosed which permits cryptographic limits on wiretapping warrants. Specifically, time limits on wiretaps may be enforced. In addition, the wiretapper is targeted to a specific party or specific pairs of parties communicating in a network.

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 generalized noise canceler for canceling noise in a channel having noise composed of correlated noise components. The noise canceler is realized with a finite number of cascade networks, each network being composed of an inner product filter is series with another filter wherein both filters have characteristics determined from a eigenvector equations expressed in terms of the channel operator and noise operator.

Abstract: A method for adaptively switching between the WS and S authentication schemes is based on the customer's usage. A first preferred embodiment provides a 2n-1 state automaton (where n>1), which switches from the WS Scheme to the S Scheme when the automaton passes from state n-1 to state n, and vice versa. At each new registration, the automaton increases one state if more than 1 call was made (i.e., incoming or outgoing) during the cycle; decreases one state if no calls were made during the cycle; and remains the same if 1 call was made during the cycle. The value of n is preferably determined by the PSP based on customer usage. A second preferred embodiment begins each new cycle with the WS Scheme, and will switch to the S Scheme if a call is made during the registration.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a dynamic key in usage records for correlating the usage data records created in a distributed computer or telecommunications network. The dynamic key is a composite structure which captures and reflects the control flow between the service components. The method as been implemented in a software object that would be resident in each component of a distributed telecommunications system. Specifically, the keys created are dynamic key comprised of at least two fields. The first field is a unique identifier that identifies the session. The second field is number that identifies the position within the sequence of invoked components that the present component was invoked. This dynamic key is forwarded to the next component and is used as the unique identifier and becomes the first field in the next component's key. These keys allow for correlating usage data records from disparate sources to accomplish such activities as billing and/or fraud detection.

Abstract: The number of calculations to determine the most likely path is reduced by eliminating a number of paths that are impossible to provide an optimal result. How to eliminate these non-optimal paths, thus greatly reducing the number of calculations performed by a signal processor. The determination of the probability score of the best path to state s at time t may be found as follows. First, transition probabilities to state s are sorted in order of descending probability. Second, the k highest probability scores at time t-1 are identified. Third, the highest transition probability associated with the k highest probability scores at t-1 is identified and designated maxrank. Fourth, the k highest probability scores at t-1 are multiplied with their associated transition probabilities with the highest product being designated maxvalue. Fifth, all transition probabilities higher than maxrank are multiplied with their associated probability scores at t-1.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated-circuit laser array including redundant lasers that is particularly useful in a wavelength-division multiplexed communication system requiring N channels regularly spaced in wavelength. According to a first aspect of the invention, a plurality of lasers are designed to operate at the same wavelength so that a single inoperative laser will not prevent the laser array from operating. Further, sets of lasers are chosen which have wavelength spacings closest to the design spacing. According to a second aspect of the invention, the laser array includes lasers with spacings in between the design wavelengths. Thereby, if all the lasers systematically vary in wavelength, a set of lasers can be selected that will operate not far from their nominal operating wavelength.

Abstract: Methods and circuitry for generating a cryptographic hash function using a strong pseudo-random generator along with the input data to create high quality pseudo-random keys as indices to pseudo-random functions, as well as a pseudo-random function from 2n bits to 2n bits given a pseudo-random function from n bits to n bits.

Abstract: In a telecommunication network, a method of creating, in response to inputs from an operator, a user defined call processing node for a call processing record. The call processing record contains logically related nodes and branches. Initially, the operator instructs the processor that he or she wishes to construct a user defined call processing node. The processor then presents to the operator a display screen in which to construct the user defined call processing node and presents the operator with a list of predefined nodes. From this list, the operator selects predefined nodes and arranges them into an underlying representation of call processing procedures. Once this is completed, the processor enables the underlying representation of call processing procedures as a single node for use in creating call processing records.

Abstract: Method and system for locating nomadic users in a personal communication services (PCS) system by utilizing two strategies for locating such users and a per-user criterion for determining which, if any, of the two strategies should be used. The method and system augment basic two-level strategies for locating users specified in IS-41 and GSM standards of PCS systems. One strategy utilizes forwarding pointers and the other strategy utilizes per-user location caching. One per-user criterion is a call-to-mobility ratio (CMR) which is the ratio of the average rate at which a user receives calls to the average rate at which the user moves. A variation of this criterion is the local CMR (LCMR) which is the ratio of the average rate at which a user receives calls from a given registration area, to the average rate at which the user moves. The method and system reduce the average time and overhead required to locate and deliver information to such nomadic users.

Abstract: A Broadband Intelligent Network employs an ATM fast-packet switch to route signaling cells from a calling party to a switch port directly connected to a network controller. The signaling cells carry a service request for download of a program module or data from a network resource unit to the calling party, or for download of a program module or data from the calling party apparatus to a network host resource unit, or for service circuit service to the calling party or in a connection path between the calling party and a called party, or for a message broadcast. The network controller responds to the information in the signaling cells and establishes the necessary switched virtual connections in the ATM switch to provide the requested services. A service creation program may be downloaded to the customer from the network, and used by the customer to create a new service script which is subsequently downloaded to the network for execution.