Abstract: A conference call system receiving calls through a common carrier switch, where the conference call system includes a plurality of multi-port conference bridges, is operated by accepting a bridge having adequate port capacity and for each incoming call for the requested conference: establishing a first incoming connection segment from the carrier switch to the system; prompting the incoming caller for a conference access code; and, if the access code received in response to the prompt matches the conference access code, calling the target bridge through the carrier switch to establish an outgoing connection segment from the system to the carrier switch and a second incoming connection segment from the carrier switch to the target bridge; associating the second incoming connection segment with the incoming call; dropping the first incoming connection segment and the outgoing connection segment; and adding the incoming call to the conference on the target bridge.

Abstract: A method operationally associates a participant's telephone connection to a conference call system with a data connection via the Internet world wide web from the participant's computer screen to the conference call system. The conference call system establishes voice connections between itself and multiple conference call participants. The method comprises the steps of (1) generating a unique temporary code when a data connection is established between the participant and the conference call system, (2) displaying the code over the data connection to the participant on that participant's computer screen, and (3) instructing the participant to enter the code over his telephone connection to the conference call system. Four respectively different scenarios based upon the same underlying method include web then dial-in, dial-in then web, dial-out then web, and web then dial-out.

Abstract: Participants of a conference call are permitted to see a continuously updated display on their own web browsers identifying the current speaker(s) on the conference call. In a telecommunications conferencing system which includes a conference bridge having a plurality of ports, voice connections are established between a plurality of conference participants and respective ports of the conference bridge, human readable visual labels are assigned individually to each of the participants and their respective ports, data connections are established between the conference bridge and respective video monitors for at least some of the participants, respective visual labels for the active speakers are displayed at a fixed location on each of the video monitors, the ports being used by the currently active speakers are detected, and the displayed labels are continually updated according to detected ports as the currently active speakers change.

Abstract: Participants in a pre-planned conference call are permitted to make reservations for ports on a conference bridge that are either guaranteed or bumpable. Guaranteed reservations are fulfilled regardless of subsequent requests for conference bridge space, while bumpable reservations are fulfilled only if subsequent requests for guaranteed conference bridge space do not require use of the same conference bridge ports.

Abstract: Information flow in the form of individual channels of digital data across a time division multiplex (TDM) bus is controlled when the bandwidth b.sub.c of an individual channel may not be integrally related to the bandwidth b.sub.t of individual time slots of the TDM bus. A channel is assigned to a selected number m of TDM bus time slots, where m=n and the relationship between b.sub.c and b.sub.t is given by the expression (n-1)b.sub.t <b.sub.c .mu.nb.sub.t. Sequential bytes of data from the channel are transmitted during data byte opportunities in the channel's selected time slots. A validity identification signal is generated for each data byte transfer opportunity in the selected time slots, and a predetermined binary state is transmitted substantially simultaneously with each data byte transfer opportunity. A VALID signal is transmitted, independently of the TDM bus, substantially simultaneously with each data byte transfer opportunity filled by the channel.

Abstract: A quad-port random access memory (RAM) is accessed simultaneously by a input-output (I/O) device, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a system bus with no need for any request/granted handshake. The I/O device, DSP, and system bus all constitute respectively different data transferring devices. The RAM is provided with three memory pages which are rotated logically by 120 degrees during successive time slots. The first memory page is accessed by the I/O device, the second memory page is accessed by the DSP, and the third memory page is accessed by the system bus during a first time slot. During subsequent time slots, the memory pages of the RAM are rotated logically so that data transfer is stepped through a predetermined sequence of data transferring device and memory page combinations in successive time slots so that all three data transferring devices are permitted to access the RAM at all times. The sequence continues repetitively during subsequent time slots.

Abstract: A computer method manages risk in multiple-parameter physical systems performing interrelated activities, where at least one of such activities is risk-related in that it may have an outcome level which may fall outside of boundary limits. The method establishes a course of action (strategy) for the physical systems that facilitates preventing any outcome levels for risk-related activities from falling outside of boundary limits. The method assumes the existence of a computational multiscenario decision-making model that describes the physical systems and determines, under some set of criteria, both feasible and desirable levels of their activities. The method may assume either certainty, under which the value of each model parameter is known, or uncertainty, under which the values of one or more of model parameters are unknown.

Abstract: A networking node for interconnecting a local telephone switch such as a private branch exchange (PBX) with other such switches through other nodes, with respective internodal multichannel digital transmission links interconnecting the various nodes, provides service for both data and voice messages. The networking node provides at least two levels (one of which may be zero) of compression for voice messages and permits one of those levels to be preselected for all voice messages from the switch with which the node is associated to a predetermined one or more of the other nodes in the network. A look-up table is stored in memory within the node to control the assignment of particular levels of compression to particular destinations.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit (1) is arranged to amplify a signal of variable magnitude from a photodiode (3) having capacitive characteristics. The circuit (1) comprises a first feedback path containing a voltage controlled variable resistor (8) for varying the gain of the amplifier in relation to the magnitude of the signal so as to provide an output signal of substantially uniform magnitude. The first feedback path also contains a capacitor (7) which compensates for adverse effects of reactance in the circuit caused by the capacitance of the photodiode (3) and of the variable resistor (8) in order to optimize the frequency response characteristics of the amplifier. A second feedback path comprising a fixed value resistor (9) becomes operable when the resistance of the first feedback path is large to provide fixed gain amplification of signals received from the photodiode (3).

Abstract: The bandwidth of a packet data transmission node is switched asynchronously without interruption of data transmission and with a minimum of circuit complexity. In particular, a packet channel is permitted to "breathe", gaining bandwidth when additional bandwidth becomes available from other temporarily unused digital channels and losing such additional bandwidth when such unused digital channels revert to other use. To permit such uninterrupted asynchronous operation, a "pad" or "throw away" character is defined which is ignored or discarded when it is received by another packet network node. Such a "pad" or "throwaway" character is unique only in the sense that it is distinct from and may not be confused with characters or bytes which may occur in normal data transmission sequences.

Abstract: A hub for a segmented virtual local area network with shared media access has at least one internal port for receiving and transmitting digital data messages within the hub and may have at least one external port for receiving and transmitting digital data messages external to the hub. The hub further includes a memory for storing virtual local area network (VLAN) designations for internal and external ports. The hub associates VLAN designations with at least one internal port, stores such VLAN designations in the memory, and associates the stored VLAN designations with messages transmitted from any of the ports to which the VLAN designation has been assigned. Additionally, the hub identifies VLAN designations associated with messages received by or within the hub and means and transmits to any of the internal ports only messages received within the hub and having associated with them a VLAN designation which matches the stored VLAN designation assigned to the port.