Abstract: A network management system and method in a telecommunications network for selectively accessing a plurality of synchronization sources of varying levels of accuracy, availability, and cost, and for enabling individual subscribers to select which synchronization source they utilize for each service application. Alternatively, the network management system may dynamically provide each subscriber with the least expensive synchronization source having the required level of accuracy for the subscriber's selected application.

Abstract: A method of providing a subscriber in a cellular telephone network with information from a subscriber service profile. The network includes a mobile station having a visual display, a mobile switching center (MSC), and a home location register (HLR) for storing the subscriber service profile. A request for the service profile information is transmitted from the mobile station to the mobile switching center and the home location register. The mobile switching center retrieves the service profile information from the home location register. The service profile information is appended to a short message service (SMS) message which is transmitted from the mobile switching center to the mobile station. The service profile information is then provided in a voice message or displayed on the visual display of the mobile station.

Abstract: A system and method of providing users of a mobile cellular telecommunication network, who subscribe to priority service, with priority access to voice or traffic channels during periods of congestion on these channels. The system provides priority to designated priority users for call origination, call termination, and handoff to congested cells. When the network is not congested, any channel is available for use by any user, whether a designated priority user or not. During periods of congestion, the system enables a service provider to designate whether a reserved bank of channels, a queue technique, or a combination of both is to be utilized to provide priority access and channel assignment (PACA). Call requests are positioned in a queue according to the priority level of the associated subscriber, and by time of arrival within each priority level.

Abstract: A shrimp deveining machine for cutting and deveining shrimp comprises a motorized driving mechanism inside a housing and a cutting mechanism outside the housing. An upper pair of rotating flexible disks grasps the top side of shrimp bodies and propel them past a cutting disk which slices the sand vein from the back of the shrimp. A lower pair of flexible disks is mounted on an adjusting shaft which may be positioned to adjust the depth of cut on the shrimp. The lower pair of flexible disks grasps the bottom side of the shrimp bodies and dynamically adjusts the position of the shrimp bodies in relation to the cutting disk, thereby achieving a more uniform depth of cut on shrimp of different sizes. The flexible disks also prevent longitudinal rotation of the shrimp bodies, and enable the deveining machine to make a butterfly cut on the shrimp bodies.

Abstract: A data processor memory system that combines in a single memory array, a plurality of first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer memories and a dual-port random access read-write memory (RAM). The memory array is divided into one region for the FIFO buffers and another region for the RAM memory. The memory system reads and writes data to the RAM region independently of the FIFO buffer region. The system enables access to the RAM memory by signals addressed to address fields within the RAM region, and enables access to the FIFO buffer memories by signals addressed to address fields within the FIFO region. The system writes data to each of the FIFO buffer memories utilizing an associated write pointer, and increments each write pointer when data is written to its associated FIFO buffer memory. The system reads data from each of the FIFO buffer memories utilizing an associated read pointer, and increments the read pointer when data is read from its associated FIFO buffer memory.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing and administering personal home areas for subscribers of a cellular telecommunications network. The system enables one or more Home areas to be designated for each subscriber. The Home areas may vary in size, and the system is capable of applying a different set of service parameters inside an area and outside the area. Each Home area is defined by designating the latitude and longitude coordinates, and the altitude of a subscriber's home location, as well as the radius of the Home area from the home location. A system operator may designate one of several alternate radii by entering the coordinates of the center of the area at various levels of precision, each of which corresponds to a different Home area radius.

Abstract: A manual home location register (M-HLR) for use in a cellular telecommunication system provides manual visitors in a visited network with the same registration capabilities as automatic visitors from networks that have automatic roaming agreements with the visited network. The M-HLR maintains a database of manual visitor information separate from the network's database of home subscribers and automatic visitors. Initial registration in the visited network by a manual visitor is recorded in the M-HLR and enables the manual visitor to roam freely between multiple mobile switching centers (MSCs) in the visited network without having to re-register in each MSC.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bi-directional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes. The method involves the operation system of the telecommunications management network selecting when to schedule verification tests of routing tables in the network. The operation system selects a test time duration period for scheduling all the verification tests to be run on the network. The operation system further selects the number of nodes to be tested and determines sub-tests to all destination nodes frown each node in the network to be tested. The operation system then selects a time test interval based or the quotient of the scheduled test time duration period and the total number of tests to be conducted.

Abstract: A system and method for natural light illumination of residential and commercial buildings. A tubular skylight, the system comprises a highly reflective tubular body positioned in the space between a building's roof and ceiling with a first end with a supporting lip attached to a roof assembly, and a second end attached to a ceiling assembly. The roof assembly further comprises a semi-spherical transparent globe and a molded roof mount with a tapered sleeve. The ceiling assembly comprises a semi-spherical, light diffusing cap and a molded ceiling mount with a straight sleeve. In a preferred embodiment of the system, the first end of the tubular body is inserted through the tapered sleeve and supported therein by a right angle supporting lip and the second end of the tubular body is positioned over the sleeve of the ceiling mount.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for determining the load to be induced on a network by running a routing verification test on the network. The method involves utilizing the telecommunications management network to sample through a general purpose management interface routing table information at live nodes in the operating network. The telecommunications management network subsequently determines the message tree between an operator selected source node and destination node and determines from this tree the number of transmitted, acknowledged and received messages that would be generated by conducting a routing verification test on the network. This method has the advantage that the operator is informed before running a verification test of the load that test will induce on the network. Thus the operator can run the test at his discretion to ensure that overload conditions are not experienced by running the test.

Abstract: A system and method implements a backup digital control channel (DCCH) within a base station in a telecommunications network without relying on backup auto-tuners. When a DCCH fails, a backup DCCH is created by reconfiguring an available time slot in a different transmitter in the associated base station. All neighboring cells and neighboring outer cells are notified of the creation of the backup DCCH in the cell serviced by the base station, and update themselves accordingly.

Abstract: A local control mechanism for automatically parking an active combiner filter and activating an alternate combiner filter in an auto-tune combiner in a radio telecommunications network is resident entirely at a remote base station. The mechanism samples the radio frequency (RF) energy level on the active combiner filter in an auto-tune combiner and determines whether the measured RF energy level exceeds a predetermined RF energy threshold. The mechanism then determines the number of RF energy samples taken, compares this number to a trigger number, and parks the active combiner filter and switches to an alternate combiner filter when the number of consecutive RF energy samples below the RF energy threshold exceeds the trigger number.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing or isolating holes, ruptures, splits or old perforations in marginal oil and gas wells from producing perforations. The apparatus includes two packer assemblies, a tube assembly and a slip assembly. The packer assemblies further include expandable packer elements and a vent cone mounted on a mandrel. The mandrels of the packer assemblies are connected to opposite ends of the tube assembly. The slip assembly is housed on the mandrel of one packer assembly and is used to create a positive mechanical set of the repair apparatus when positioned over the damaged area. Once the packer apparatus is positioned and the packer elements expanded, gas from producing formations flow to the wellhead through the tube assembly without interfering with the operation of down-hole pumps. The length of the gas vent packer apparatus can be varied between the packer elements depending upon the depth of damaged casing requiring repair or isolation.