Abstract: A multi-party conferencing method and system determine which participants are currently speaking and send a speaker identification message to the terminals used by the participants in the conference. The terminals then display the speaker's identity on a display screen. When more than one participant is speaking at the same moment in time, the system analyzes the audio streams from the terminals and identifies a terminal associated with a dominant party. When multiple participants are using the terminal associated with the dominant party, the system identifies the speaking participant within the dominant party based on an indication received from the speaker. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in an H.323 Internet telephony environment.

Abstract: A method and system for attenuating noise including arranging a plurality of accumulators (210, 310) to form a transmittance path for compressible flow mass and noise between a noise source (212, 312) and the external environment (218, 318), and selectively accumulating and confining compressible flow mass and noise within at least one of the plurality of accumulators, and attenuating noise confined within the at least one accumulator by ringdown. The system may include a plurality of interruptors/valves (220, 320) which are operated at respective timings for periodically accumulating and confining compressible flow mass and noise in at least one of the plurality of accumulators.

Abstract: A method of estimating the position of a transmitter using angle-of-arrival values determined at each of a plurality of base stations. The method includes calculating a position estimation using the angle-of-arrival values from all of the base stations, calculating an error at each of the base station, and removing those base stations whose error exceeds a threshold from the calculation.

Abstract: An expandable tool for laying out and marking predetermined angular layout lines on a work surface. The tool is comprised of a first leg (202), second leg (204), and hypotenuse leg (206) which are assembled by the user such that the intersection of the first and second leg form the desired angle as defined by the hypotenuse (206). The general shape of the assembled tool will normally be a triangle. Each leg of the tool can consist of a single leg portion (or member), or alternatively, each leg can be made up of more than one leg portion. The ends of each leg are fitted with a fastening mechanism (214) for connecting the leg portions together. The tool can be made to various sizes by the addition and deletion of leg portions. Additionally, the tool can be disassembled to facilitate compact transport to subsequent work sites.

Abstract: A telecommunication system supports local number portability. The system includes a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch. The local number portability database contains a table for translating geographic numbers to routing information. The local number portability switch queries the local number portability database using a dialed geographic number in response to initiation of a call. The local number portability database translates the dialed geographic number to corresponding routing information and returns the corresponding routing information to the local number portability switch. The local number portability switch uses the corresponding routing information to route the call.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for providing wide bandwidth using the present twisted pair telephone network. The methods and systems increase the bandwidth of ADSL by statistically sharing the bandwidth of many twisted pair in the neighborhood. An active subscriber would communicate over several twisted pair in the neighborhood, thereby obtaining a dramatic increase in bandwidth.

Abstract: A system provides messaging services by transmitting messages to groups of message recipients. The system receives a message from a subscriber in an input format and identifies the group of message recipients to receive the message (510). The system determines one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the group (530) and converts the message from the input format to the output format(s) when the output format(s) differ from the input format (540). The system then transmits the message to the group of message recipients in the output format(s) (550).

Abstract: A method for providing a communication link from an aircraft (110) to a target (130) is provided. The method includes releasing a first end of a fiber optic cable (120) from an aircraft (110) and then lowering the first end of the fiber optic cable (120) to the target (130). The method also includes connecting the first end of the fiber optic cable (120) to a device at the target (130). The device at the target (130) may then communicate with devices on the aircraft (110).

Abstract: A method (1000) of estimating the delays that data packets experiences along a path in an IP network is presented. The method involves sending probe packets (102), transmitted along the same path as the data whose delays are to be estimated, with a frequency dictated by statistics that include Poisson statistics. Information obtained about the delays in the probe packet transmissions may be used to estimate data delays.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A system facilitates visual monitoring of a dangerous location. The system includes a stationary camera device (110) and at least one mobile display device (120) corresponding to at least one vehicle. The camera device (110) captures a video image of the dangerous location and transmits video signals representative of the captured video image. The display device (120) receives the video signals from the camera device (110) when the corresponding vehicle is in proximity to the camera device (110) and presents the video signals as a video image of the dangerous location to a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for performing online data queries. The system for performing online data queries is a distributed computer system with a plurality of server nodes each fully redundant and capable of processing a user query request. Each server node includes a data query cache and other caches that may be used in performing data queries. The data query, as well as request allocation, is performed in accordance with an adaptive partitioning technique with a bias towards an initial partitioning scheme. Generic objects are created and used to represent business listings upon which the user may perform queries. Various data processing and integration techniques are included which enhance data queries. An update technique is used for synchronizing data updates as needed in updating the plurality of server nodes. A multi-media data transfer technique is used to transfer non-text or multi-media data between various components of the online query tool.

Abstract: In the communications network disclosed herein, each of a plurality of similar stations is operated so that the group automatically organizes or configures itself into a multi-layered network for relaying messages from station to station, with some of the stations operating at a relatively high power level as message gateways for a cluster of stations operating at lower power thereby to form, through the gateways, a network backbone providing longer distance network links. Initially, individual stations attempt to affiliate at a lower power level with an existing cluster gateway and, if that attempt is unsuccessful, the station switches to a higher power level and commences operation as a cluster gateway. Each cluster gateway periodically communicates data at least identifying to other cluster gateways the non-gateway stations which are affiliated with it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring call setup time is presented. A first device in a network sends a signal to a second device. The first device monitors for a response from the second device and adjusts an answer tone setting for the second device based on the response. After which, the first device calculates an elapsed time between sending the signal and a receipt of the response.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for performing online data queries. The system for performing online data queries is a distributed computer system with a plurality of server nodes each fully redundant and capable of processing a user query request. Each server node includes a data query cache and other caches that may be used in performing data queries. The data query, as well as request allocation, is performed in accordance with an adaptive partitioning technique with a bias towards an initial partitioning scheme. Generic objects are created and used to represent business listings upon which the user may perform queries. Various data processing and integration techniques are included which enhance data queries. An update technique is used for synchronizing data updates as needed in updating the plurality of server nodes. A multi-media data transfer technique is used to transfer non-text or multi-media data between various components of the online query tool.

Abstract: In a radio communications network (20) having a plurality of cells (34) employing a plurality of cell site configurations (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32), a computing system (116) and a computer-based method (178) create a hierarchical data structure (136) modeling the radio communications network (20). The hierarchical data structure (136) is created using object oriented programming methodology to create objects, representing the various physical components of a cell site. In addition, objects are created to represent the auxiliary information, such as available channels, channel assignment constraints, carrier-to-interference ratios, and neighbors lists under which a particular radio communications network configuration is devised.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing an improved IR system that performs information retrieval by using probabilities. When performing information retrieval, the improved IR system utilizes both the prior probability that a document is relevant independent of the query as well as the probability that the query was generated by a particular document given that the particular document is relevant. By using these probabilities, the improved IR system retrieves documents in a more accurate manner than conventional systems which are based on an ad hoc approach.

Abstract: System and method for deriving call routing information utilizing a network control data base system and voice recognition for matching spoken word sound patterns to routing numbers needed to set up calls. Public access is provided to a common database via a common access number or code. Terminating parties sponsor the call and originating parties need not be pre-subscribed to use the service. The common access number is used to initiate or trigger the service. The system advantageously operates under the direction of a service control point, which combines technologies for switching, interactive voice response, and voice recognition with the data base to automate the processes of assisting callers in making calls for which they do not know the phone number. Usage information is gathered on completed calls to each terminating party for billing. Three alternative deployments in the U.S.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling congestion in an IP network comprises the steps of preallocating, for a predetermined interval of time, a set of burst access parameters to a set of predetermined routes between a set of source node and destination node pairs in the IP network, and controlling, at the burst level, the traffic at each source node based on the preallocated set of burst access parameters and without communicating with other nodes in the IP network. Specifically, a network controller, for a predetermined interval of time, determines a set of routes between each source-destination node pair in the network, preallocates a set of maximum permitted rates to the predetermined set of routes, respectively, and pre-assigns a set of burst access thresholds to a set of service classes, respectively, in the predetermined routes, where the pre-assigned burst access thresholds are less than or equal to the corresponding preallocated maximum permitted rates.

Abstract: A system identifies analog channels for reclamation in a dual mode system (100) having a digital network (110) overlaid on an analog network (120). The digital network (110) includes multiple digital cell sites. The analog network (120) includes multiple analog cell sites. The system measures an amount of interference caused by the analog cell sites and an amount of interference caused to the digital cell sites. The system then compares the interference amounts to one or more thresholds and determines for which of the analog channels the interference amounts exceed the thresholds. The system selects the determined analog channels for reclamation.