Abstract: A system enables a user to remove a file from a file system and from all backup tapes without ever mounting a single tape. When a file is backed up, it is first encrypted using a randomly generated key and then backed up. When the user wishes to remove the file from the backup tape, the key used to encrypt the file is deleted. Deleting the encryption key renders the data on the tape inaccessible. No one, including the file owner, can ever access the file again. The encrypt before-backup method is completely transparent to the user. Only the computer system's operating system knows which key was used to encrypt the file during backup. This ensures that when the operating system is instructed to delete the encryption key, the key is "lost" forever and thus the backed up files become unreadable. Unlike prior cryptographic file systems, the revoked backup files are inaccessible to both the user and others.

Abstract: A system (300) for combining a panning camera (308) with one or more displays (304), such as head-mounted displays, is provided. A panoramic view from an electronic panning camera may be provided to an electronic panning control circuit (510). The electronic panning control circuit may be responsive to a view selector (306), such as a head-tracker located on a user's HMD. The electronic panning circuit selects the desired portion of the panoramic view to send to the user's display. A stereoscopic, view providing for a depth-of-field effect simulating actual vision, stereo view is achieved by locating a first electronic panning camera (502) in an optically horizontally offset relation with a second electronic panning camera (504). An image splitter (510), such as a half silvered mirror, sends the same, slightly horizontally offset, to both cameras. Individually pannable views may be delivered to users via a communications network (312).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for completing a call between an originating switch and a destination switch in a telecommunications network supporting number portability. The method and apparatus use a ported number list or a routing cache in a network switch or adjunct processor to avoid inefficiencies of QOR and N-1 call processing procedures. The invention includes an originating switch for completing a call between the originating switch and a destination switch, the originating switch including structure for storing a ported number list or routing cache, structure for searching the ported number list or routing cache, and structure for routing a call to the destination switch.

Abstract: Intelligent network components, systems, and methods supporting public switch telephone network users equipped with data communications devices such as personal computers. An Intelligent Data Peripheral allows the exchange of data messages between PSTN users and the Intelligent Data Peripheral under the guidance of service logic residing in intelligent network Service Control Point systems. In general, the intelligent network services involving the use of an Intelligent Data Peripheral have similar call flows to services involving the use of a traditional Intelligent Peripheral. When the PSTN call originator attempts to establish a call, the Service Switching Point (intelligent network capable switch) under the guidance of the Service Control Point system routes the call to an Intelligent Data Peripheral. Then, the call originator interacts with the Intelligent Data Peripheral.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring both the contact force and ferrule length of a fiber optic connector and for measuring the length of an adapter versus the requirements of the TIA/EIA's specifications so that connector intermateability may be determined. The contact force and ferrule length measurement apparatus includes an adapter for holding the connector being tested in place, a gauge pin for detecting the spring force of the connector, a gauge force meter for measuring the force exerting on the gauge pin, and a micropositioner for aligning the gauge pin with the ferrule of the connector. Once the gauge pin and connector are aligned, the spring force is measured based on displacement of the position of the ferrule. The adapter length measurement apparatus includes two sets of test reference connector plugs, each electrically connected at one end to an ohmmeter, so as to form an electrical circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for unambiguously detecting fiber cuts in an optical network regardless of the number of EDFAs that are located between the fiber cut and the monitor point. In accordance with our invention, the power of a marker wavelength is compared to the power of a nearby spectral region. Where the comparison indicates that the power ratio is approximately equal to unity a flag is raised indicating that there is fiber cut. Where the comparison indicates that the power ratio is much greater than unity the flag is not raised. The monitoring point includes circuitry for detecting the ratio between the marker wavelength and the nearby spectral band and for indicating when there is a fiber cut.

Abstract: A customer contact services node/Internet gateway (CCSN/IG) connects a user to the services and to information from a provider via the Internet. The user can thereby get information about the services and can initiate service changes and can get user-specific information.

Abstract: An optical signaling header technique applicable to optical networks wherein packet routing information is embedded in the same channel or wavelength as the data payload so that both the header and data payload propagate through network elements with the same path and the associated delays. The header routing information has sufficiently different characteristics from the data payload so that the signaling header can be detected without being affected by the data payload, and that the signaling header can also be removed without affecting the data payload. The signal routing technique can be overlaid onto the conventional network elements in a modular manner using two types of applique modules. The first type effects header encoding and decoding at the entry and exit points of the data payload into and out of the network; the second type effects header detection at each of the network elements.

Abstract: A pseudo-random number generator is used as a pre-processing step to generating a long random bit string. The bit string is then "stretched" by performing certain one-way functions in parallel on the bit strings. In a preferred embodiment, specialized constructions based on expander graphs are also used. Preferably, the strings generated by the one-way functions and expander graphs are exclusive-ored. An embodiment may operate in the following manner. Assume a slow but secure generator G.sub.0.1. Using G.sub.0, generate random numbers x.sub.1, x.sub.2, . . . , x.sub.n.2. Using a stretch function, stretch the random numbers into R=r.sub.1, r.sub.2, . . . , r.sub.n where each r.sub.i is a predetermined amount longer than x.sub.i.3. Use R as a one-time pad for encryption.This process provides a long, random, cryptographically secure bit string.

Abstract: Fast methods for generating randomly distributed pairs of keys for use in public-key cryptography use a precomputation step to reduce the online task of discrete exponentiation with long integers. After the precomputation is completed, the online steps required to produce a key pair are reduced to a small number .kappa. (about 16) of modular multiplications with long integers. The key pairs are of the form (k, g.sup.k) or (k, k.sup.e) where the exponentiations are computed modulo a long number p, g and e are fixed integers, and k is randomly distributed modulo ord(g), where ord(g) is the smallest positive integer that satisfies g.sup.ord(g) modulo p=1. The complexity of doing the precomputation step is itself about n exponentiation and may be accelerated to the same as two exponentiations, but the precomputation step needs to be done only very infrequently.

Abstract: A highly effective method for operating data processing equipment to achieve data compression with high coding and storage efficiency and a method and apparatus for fast data retrieval while preserving full information content of the source data. This compressing method was used to successfully reduce the U.S. Geological Survey Database from 9.4 gigabytes to 800 megabytes, a reduction of over 90%. The compression method is an iterative and recursive process. At each iteration a data element is read into a buffer and then the pair formed by the last two elements in the buffer is checked against the rest of buffer. If a match is found in the buffer, the second element of the data element pair is removed and the first element is replaced by an index that indicates the sequential location in the buffer when the matching pair is found. The search for a matching pair is then repeated using the last two elements now in the buffer.

Abstract: A method and system use voiceband transmission characteristics to estimate the viability of deploying broadband services over a subscriber loop in the public switched telephone network. The system gives network service providers the ability to predict the performance of broadband transmission channels, such as ADSL, on a subscriber loop from a central location and without reliance on outdated loop records maintained by a carrier. Based on this predicted performance a network service provider is able to efficiently determine the viability of deploying ADSL to a subscriber and, in turn, determine the viability of deploying ADSL in entire areas by creating an ADSL--ready consumer-lead list. The method comprises establishing an end to end voiceband modem connection from a logic device to a remote computer over a facility wherein the only analog elements reside in the subscriber loop.

Abstract: A communications network simultaneously transmits a single message to a number of recipients. This is called a "multicast" transmission. The communications network should have a recipient list database (1302) to receive a list of recipient addresses, a message database (1304) to receive and store the message, and a message delivery system (1306) to send the message to a number of recipients. The communications network may be adapted to collect acknowledgements or responses to a multicast message. If so, the communications network should have a calling record (1308) for storing message delivery information, a response record (1310) for receiving and storing recipient response information, a response processor (1312) for processing the response information, and a response delivery system (1314) for delivering the processed response.

Abstract: A method and system for providing local number portability using a concept known as Geographic Unit Building Blocks (GUBB). Service providers (carriers) accept and use a map that divides a geographic area, such as a State, into sub-area GUBBs. The carriers operating within the State jurisdiction would then assign GUBBs to the telephone numbers they serve which accurately reflect each telephone number's geographic location on the State map. All ported numbers will have an explicit GUBB assignment as part of the location routing number (LRN) which would then be stored in the Local Number Portability (LNP) database used to provide translations for routing the call.

Abstract: A method of reconfiguring a multi-wavelength communication network. The transition includes determining the union of the old and new topologies. During at least the start of the transition, the network supports the union topology. New connections are connected according to the new topology, and the old topology, as its connections expire, is gradually removed. In allocating wavelengths to a new topology, two algorithms are developed which assign wavelengths which do not color clash with the wavelength assignments of the old topology.

Abstract: Spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) apparatus is used for the non-destructive characterization of a semiconductor sample. PL excitation from a diode laser is transmitted through a dichroic coupler and, in turn, over a fiber to a fiber collimator wherein the laser light is collimated into a pump beam prior to entering an air path. The air path is composed primarily of an objective lens. The objective lens focuses the pump beam on the sample surface. The photoluminescence signal emitted by the sample travels the same path but in the opposite direction as the pump beam and is collected by the same fiber as a reflected signal. The dichroic fiber coupler is used to separate the return signal from the pump beam with a low insertion loss for each beam. The return PL signal is fed to an optical spectrum analyzer using a single mode fiber connected to the coupler. The sample is placed on a rotational stage capable of x, y and z movement under computer control.

Abstract: A system prefetches most frequently used domain names and stores the domain name data at local cache servers. It generates validity codes to enable error checking for valid domain names at the local cache servers without accessing root servers. A cache server obtains, stores, and propagates updates or new DNS data to local cache servers at predetermined intervals. Users can obtain internet protocol addresses of domain names directly from local cache servers, thus eliminating processing delays over the Internet.

Abstract: In the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) standard, availability of directory services is increased by apparatus and methods using agents inserted between requesting clients and servers. By using agents, additional functions are carried out which are not performed in a typical DCE environment. Each agent inserts itself between the requesters and servers by writing over the pointer to the server with information pointing to the agent, thus redirecting requests to themselves. The agent then receives incoming requests and forwards them on to its associated server and other agents. The agent handling requests for the master server is called the "master" agent and the agents handling requests for replica servers are "replica" agents. The agents make sure requests are performed before replying to the original requester. Agents also monitor themselves. If a master agent crashes, the remaining agents elect a new master agent.

Abstract: An anchor RS acts as the single interface between the switched telephone network and the wireless communications system throughout an entire call, even if the subscriber unit travels to different radio systems during the call. This allows (1) the signaling to set up the connections between the anchor and target RPCUs; and (2) the maintenance information for the call to remain in the anchor RPCU, which is connected to the original switch. This avoids tying up network switches with exchanging signals and call maintenance information about service features, thus resulting in a substantial "savings" in valuable telephone network resources. Also, existing switches do not need to be replaced or reconfigured to accommodate this hand over method.

Abstract: A Residual Time Stamp (RTS) technique provides a method and apparatus for recovering the timing signal of a constant bit rate input service signal at the destination node of a synchronous ATM telecommunication network. At the source node, a free-running P-bit counter counts cycles in a common network clock. At the end of every RTS period formed by N service clock cycles, the current count of the P-bit counter, defined as the RTS, is transmitted in the ATM adaptation layer. Since the absolute number of network clock cycles likely to fall within an RTS period will fall within a range determined by N, the frequencies of the network and service clocks, and the tolerance of the service clock, P is chosen so that the 2.sub.P possible counts, rather than representing the absolute number of network clock cycles an RTS period, provide sufficient information for unambiguously representing the number of network clock cycles within that predetermined range.