Abstract: A technique for combining biometric identification with digital certificates for electronic authentication called biometric certificates. The technique includes the management of biometric certificates through the use of a biometric certificate management system. Biometric certificates may be used in any electronic transaction requiring authentication of the participants. Biometric data is pre-stored in a biometric database of the biometric certificate management system by receiving data corresponding to physical characteristics of registered users through a biometric input device. Subsequent transactions to be conducted over a network have biometric certificates generated from the physical characteristics of a current user, which is then appended to the transaction, and which then authenticates the user by comparison against the pre-stored biometric data of the physical characteristics of users in the biometric database.

Abstract: A new self-routing multicast network that can realize arbitrary multicast (or one-to-many) communication without any blocking. Based on the binary radix sorting, all functional components of the network are recursively constructed reverse banyan networks using a self-routing procedure that provides for pipeline distribution of switch settings. The design allows a potential to greatly reduce the network cost by reusing part of the network. The new multicast network has O(n log2 n) cost (logic gates), O(log2 n) gate delay, and O(log2 n) set-up time, where the unit of time is a gate delay. Further, with feedback part of the network can be reused and the network cost is reduced to O(n log n).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for enhancing the security of a message sent through a network server from a client computer to a destination server. A secure connection for receiving and transmitting data is established between the client computer and the network server. Using client-identifying information and a secure authentication protocol, the network server may then obtain client-authentication information from a validation center. The client-authentication information is transmitted to the client and erased from the network server. The network server then receives the client-authenticating information back from the client with an accompanying message for the destination server. The network server may use the client-authenticating information to obtain permission data from the validation center for use in accessing the destination server.

Abstract: Wireless telephone communications are processed by first contacting a worldwide wireless access facility which interfaces between the caller and the phone systems to determine a present location of a subscriber. The facility queries the home system requesting a roaming status and number of the subscriber. If the subscriber is roaming, the home network identifies a present serving network for the indicated subscriber from a list maintained of each subscriber's roaming location. The home network queries the present serving system and obtains a temporary local directory number for the subscriber. The home network returns a number to the worldwide wireless facility for reaching the subscriber. The facility uses this number to direct the telephone call to the called party.

Abstract: A network (10) includes a broadband customer service module (B-CSM) (20). The B-CSM (20) includes a plurality of feeder interface cards (FICs) (36) and optical line cards (OLCs) (38) which are coupled together through a midplane assembly (34) so that each FIC (36) couples to all OLCs (38) and each OLC (38) couples to all FICs (36) through junctor groups (68). A reference clock which oscillates at a frequency slower than the data rate is routed with payload data so that it receives delays similar to those imposed on the payload data due to processing. At second stage switching fabrics (50) where data need to be extracted from signals flowing within the B-CSM (20), a clock regeneration circuit (32) generates a master clock signal oscillating at twice the data rate and phase synchronized to a delayed reference clock.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and system provides the ability to assign requests for data objects made by clients among multiple network servers. The invention provides a distributed computing system and methods to assign user requests to replicated servers contained by the distributed computing system in a manner that attempts to meet the goals of a particular routing policy. Policies may include minimizing the amount of time for the request to be completed.

Abstract: A method for improving the associating articles of information or stories with topics associated with specific subjects (subject topics) and with a general topic of words that are not associated with any subject. The inventive method is trained using Hidden Markov Models (HMM) to represent each story with each state in the HMM representing each topic. A standard Expectation and Maximization algorithm, as are known in this art field can be used to maximize the expected likelihood to the method relating the words associated with each topic to that topic. In the method, the probability that each word in a story is related to a subject topic is determined and evaluated, and the subject topics with the lowest probability are discarded. The remaining subject topics are evaluated and a sub-set of subject topics with the highest probabilities over all the words in a story are considered to be the “correct” subject topic set.

Abstract: System and method for verifying data in forms. Each form has a corresponding one or more rule sets each with rules that designate a structure, format, or data type for fields in the form. The rule sets are verified in parallel. Rules within a rule set may also be verified in parallel when the processor determines it is beneficial such as for time consuming rule validation.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing and managing Qos (Quality of Service) in a network system including a plurality of open point-to-multipoint virtual circuits (VC)s between various endpoint sites, for example in multicast systems. VC optimization includes determining more appropriate set of VC endpoints to reduce oversent data. If below the VC limit, a set of potential VCs is determined, the set excluding combinations with VC connections already open. An estimation or calculation is performed to determined a reduction in oversent data that would occur if that a possible VC was opened. The possible VC with the greatest reduction in oversent data is then opened. Appropriate traffic is moved over to the newly opened VC, and any VCs which no longer have any traffic are closed. If a VC limit is reached for a node, a different optimization technique is used. A set of possible VCs to endpoint sites is determined.

Abstract: A method for modeling complex navigational logic that automatically controls the presentation of screen displays at the user interface of a client in a client/server environment utilizes a Navigation Analysis Vehicle “NAV”) (or module) and a Matrix Analysis Package (“MAP”). The MAP facilitates creation of navigation rules for linkage with the rest of the application. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the NAV communicates navigational instructions to a user interface for the display and take-down of screens, and also communicates with other processes such as editors and data manipulators. After the navigation rules are created, those rules are then applied to provide navigational logic for the user interface for the processing of the user interface screens. MAP creates the navigation rules in a user-friendly, C-like language and parses them into ANSI-standard C language for linkage with other processes that control the user interface.

Abstract: A low cost and highly accurate sniper detection and localization system uses observations of the shock wave from supersonic bullets to estimate the bullet trajectory, Mach number, and caliber. If available, muzzle blast observations from an unsilenced firearm is used to estimate the exact sniper location along the trajectory. The system may be fixed or portable and may be wearable on a user's body. The system utilizes a distributed array of acoustic sensors to detect the projectile's shock wave and the muzzle blast from a firearm. The detection of the shock wave and muzzle blast is used to measure the wave arrival times of each waveform type at the sensors. This time of arrival (TOA) information for the shock wave and blast wave are used to determine the projectile's trajectory and a line of bearing to the origin of the projectile. A very accurate model of the bullet ballistics and acoustic radiation is used which includes bullet deceleration.

Abstract: A method and device for generating a high amplitude sound wave is provided. The device includes a housing having an open end. A piston is slidably disposed in the open end of the housing and forms a chamber for holding a pressurized liquid. The pressurized liquid acts on the piston to move the piston relative to the housing. A latch is operable to fix the piston relative to the housing and to release the piston. Upon release of the latch, the piston moves relative to the housing to generate the sound wave. In the method of the present invention, a piston is fixed relative to a housing to form a chamber between the housing and the piston. The chamber is filled with a pressurized fluid and the piston is released to allow the pressurized fluid move the piston relative to the housing and generate the sound wave.

Abstract: Apparatus and software systems are disclosed that allow real-time interactive playing of musicians each at remote sites from each other. The remote sites are interconnected over a local communications network or a wide area network like the Internet. The apparatus is connected to music synthesizers that accept streams of MIDI data for playing, or generate streams of MIDI data by playing. The streams of MIDI data are bundled by a MIDI management system into transfer control protocol packets, such that the packets of MIDI data may be transferred over the communications network as or within the transfer control packets. In addition, the networked, remote computer systems are synchronized to a standard clock which is appended to the MIDI data packets, and additionally, the network delay is calculated and also appended to the MIDI data packets. In this manner the local musician can receive the MIDI data packets from the remote sites where musicians are playing and in real-time play with them.

Abstract: An interactive video distribution system includes a plurality of interactive video subscriber units (22), a head end facility (54), and a video distribution medium (56). The head end facility (54) is configured to transmit advertisements (40, 42) in connection with an interactive video program (36) and receive requests from one of the subscriber units (22′) to register the advertisements (40, 42) in a menu (116). In response to each of the requests, the head end facility (54) generates a entries (118, 144) associated with the advertisements (40, 42) in the menu (116). The menu (116) is communicated in a first video still image (134) to the subscriber unit (22′) through the medium (56). The head end facility (54) is further configured to obtain a selection request for one of entries (118, 144) and provide supplementary advertising information (148) associated with the selected one of advertisements (40, 42) to the subscriber unit (22′).

Abstract: A pilot flame sensing system employs an electromagnetic transducer (41) at the bottom of a vertical stack (11) used for burning waste gases which incorporates a pilot burner (15) at the top of the stack (11). The electromagnetic transducer (41) responds to acoustic energy generated by the pilot burner (15) and communicates down thorough an igniter tube (21) extending essentially the full height of the stack. At least one diaphragm (43) having a low loss tangent and high modulus is used to suspend the electromagnetic transducer (41) so as to allow the electromagnetic transducer (41) to resonate the diaphragm (43) thus improving a signal to noise ratio of an output signal of the electromagnetic transducer (41). The electromagnetic transducer (41) is preferably of the moving coil geophone type which provides an electrical signal at low impedance which can be coupled through relatively long leads to a remote control facility.

Abstract: In a multiple mode communication system (29), a radio communication device (22) selectively communicates, using a common pool of channels (42), through a cordless base station (30) and a cellular network having a plurality of cellular base stations (24). The radio communication device (22) determines and stores local station identifiers (88) for the cellular base stations (24) which are broadcasting message streams (48) over control channels (46) in a cordless radio coverage area (26) of the radio communication device (22). The radio communication device (22) transmits a message to the cordless base station (30) when a detected cellular base station identifier (51) matches one of the determined local station identifiers (88). The radio communication device (22) is prevented from transmitting a message when the detected cellular base station identifier (51) matches none of the local station identifiers (88).

Abstract: In the active muffler disclosed herein, a porous flow resistive member defines a wall of a duct carrying a noisy flow, e.g., a jet exhaust. The flow resistive member is characterized by having a flow resistance substantially less than .rho.c, the characteristic impedance of the acoustic medium. Loudspeakers in a chamber on the side of said porous member opposite the duct are actuated to reduce acoustic pressure in the region between the porous member and the loudspeaker, thereby increasing the acoustic flow through the porous member which in turn increases the dissipation of acoustic energy in the duct. The apparatus is particularly effective at low frequencies where a passive dissipative muffler would be of impractical size.

Abstract: The router disclosed herein employs a plurality of forwarding processors and a matrix switch for selectively connecting input ports, output ports and the forwarding processors. Each of the input ports includes means for selecting a respective forwarding processor for each incoming data packet in accordance with data in the respective packet header and for transmitting the packet header to the selected forwarding processor. The selected forwarding processor operates to transmit to the originating input port the identity of an output port appropriate for the packet's next hop.

Abstract: A communication technique for transmitting packet data over parallel communication sublinks coupled to a processor unit is provided. Initially, a method receives a packet of data from a first communication link which is coupled to a set of sublinks. The method distributes packets over each of the sublinks utilizing a unique byte-by-byte (BBB) striping technique. Logically, the data bytes associated with each sublink are collected into a slice of data and each set of slices are given a unique predetermined label. Each slice is then synchronously transmitted at the aggregate bandwidth of each sublink in parallel across each corresponding sublink to a receiver. A receiver receives the slices of data from the set of sublinks and aggregates the bandwidth of these two or more communication sublinks into a single communication link. Unless there are errors, a packet is transmitted in order using multiple slices. The system recreates the original packet of data from sets of slices having the same unique label.

Abstract: A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides additional services to a select group of customers. The system uses handsets (32) which automatically switch between a standard cellular radiotelephone mode of operation (1901) and an enhanced cordless mode (1420) when the handsets (32) are within range of pico cells (26) that are interconnected to the public switched telephone network (20). Each pico cell is controlled via a framework of overlay cells (10b) that operates independently of the radiotelephone network and uses a unique control protocol on a small number of reserved cellular channels. Each pico cell consists of a spectrally dynamic, non-capturing, frequency agile, multi-purpose base station (26) provided at customer-selected locations to cooperate with the overlay cell framework. Each pico cell is capable of supporting multiple handsets (32) and uses low power operation that achieves limited coverage.