Abstract: An operation and maintenance control point (OMCP) operates at an intermediate level in a telecommunications network between the network elements and the network management system (NMS). The OMCP reduces the processing load on the NMS, and rather than reporting symptoms, provides the NMS with suggested corrective actions to correct reported problems. The NMS executes the suggested corrective actions and compares the actual results in the network with predicted results. Feedback on the results is then provided to the OMCP to improve its analysis and provide more effective corrective actions are suggested if the problem recurs. By automatically interfacing with the NMS, which analyzes and executes the suggested corrective actions, the OMCP creates a self-engineering telecommunications network.

Abstract: A home location register (HLR) and method of routing a call directed to a portable directory number in a radio telecommunications network. The network includes an originating mobile switching center (O-MSC) and a Number Portability Database (NPDB). The O-MSC first sends a Location Request (LOCREQ) message to the HLR requesting a routing number. The LOCREQ message includes a dialed directory number. The HLR determines whether a routing number is assigned to the dialed directory number. If not, the HLR sends a Number Portability Request (NPREQ) message to the NPDB and includes the dialed directory number. A location routing number (LRN) assigned to the dialed directory number is then retrieved from the NPDB and sent to the HLR. The HLR forwards the LRN to the O-MSC, which then routes the call to the LRN.

Abstract: A system and method of deploying a plurality of aesthetically unobtrusive radio frequency (RF) antenna systems or complying with zoning ordinances and other restrictive covenants, and for providing an array configuration which is intelligently controlled to overcome many of the limitations of conventional RF antenna systems. Antennas and communications systems components including filter-preamplifier, frequency-converter, and beam-selection/manipulation subsystems are concealed by packaging and integrating them within common pole-like objects and panel-like structures. The pole-like objects include utility poles, street lamps, flagpoles, signs, church steeples, columns, railings, and roof balconies. Panel-like structures include advertising billboards and road signs, and building panels. The concealed antennas and related components are then integrated into larger scale antenna subsystems.

Abstract: An expandable safety flag stowed in a pouch attached to a flotation vest. The pouch includes an opening leading to an interior of the pouch. When not in use, the safety flag is stowed within the interior of pouch. When desired, the safety flag is removed from the pouch and expanded to a larger size. The user can then wave the flag to attract the attention of others.

Abstract: An engine service monitoring system and method for an engine having a spark plug, an ignition circuit with a transformer and a spark plug wire disposed between the spark plug and a coil of the transformer. A counting circuit for counting the ignition or spark pulses is inductively coupled to the spark plug wire such that for every spark pulse generated, a DC pulse is provided by a rectifier of the counting circuit. The DC pulses are provided to a computing element which computes the total number of the pulses, selectively adjusts the count on the basis of a low-oil pressure condition, an out-of-range temperature condition or other suitable operator-defined condition. The computing element also compares the adjusted count with one or more service change interval threshold values to provide an alarm to indicate that a service change is needed. The threshold values are either factory-set or field-adjustable.

Abstract: A rapid feed paintball loader for use upon a conventional paintball gun. The rapid feed paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs. At a bottom portion of the container is a rotatable drive cone having a plurality of vertical fins. Each fin spirals outwardly from a center axis of the drive cone. In addition, each fin forms a gap with an adjacent fin large enough to accommodate a paintball. At the bottom of the container is an exit tube which exits from the bottom portion of the container and leads to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A portion of the exit tube is sloped at an angle equivalent to the slope of a top surface of the drive cone. A catch arm is mounted on an interior surface of the container adjacent to the sloped exit portion of the exit tube. The catch arm is mounted at a height which is above the top surface of the fins, and which is approximately equal to the radius of a paintball.

Abstract: An improved method and system for attaching a welded wire grid-work panel to a plurality of face panels of a retaining wall. The method first begins by providing a plurality of stackable face panels, each face panel having a plurality of anchor links fixed within a back portion of the face panels. Each of the anchor links forms a vertical loop extending outwardly generally perpendicular to the back portion of the face panels. Additionally, each anchor link includes two legs extending laterally from each anchor link within the face panel. Next, a first tier of the face panels is disposed at the bottom of the embankment being erected. Soil is then back-filled behind the first tier of panels to a level of the anchor links disposed within the first tier of face panels. A welded wire grid-work panel, which extends perpendicularly from the back portion of the face panels into a soil embankment, is positioned so that a plurality of wire loops at the edge of the grid-work panel aligns with the vertical loops.

Abstract: A mapping function and method for mapping a Signaling System 7 (SS7) telecommunication signaling message from a Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) protocol layer to an Internet Protocol (IP) protocol layer in order to transmit the SS7 signaling message over a data network from an origination node to a destination node. The mapping function receives the SS7 signaling message from the SCCP protocol layer by sending and receiving Message Transfer Protocol (MTP) primitives from the mapping function to the SCCP protocol layer. The mapping function then maps the received SS7 signaling message into an IP message by mapping MTP primitives into IP primitives, mapping the SS7 message address into an IP message address, and utilizing a user interface to set IP protocol parameters that cannot be transferred by the SCCP protocol layer. The mapping function then sends the mapped IP message to the IP protocol layer by sending and receiving IP primitives from the mapping function to the IP protocol layer.

Abstract: An Event Management System (EMS) for logging and correlating alarm events in a network, and a method of efficiently integrating the EMS, which communicates in a standard format, with external devices and external viewers which communicate in device-specific formats. A plurality of core EMS components which log and correlate events are functionally separated from a plurality of EMS boundary components which interact with external devices and external viewers. The boundary components perform both generic external interface functions and device-specific functions. An external device's information, including a class and location for a protocol handler and a content handler for the external device, is stored in an information repository associated with the EMS. When a connection is initiated from the external device to one of the boundary components, the boundary component obtains the external device information from the information repository.

Abstract: A method of routing a call directed to a portable directory number in a radio telecommunications network having an originating mobile switching center (O-MSC), a home location register (HLR), and a Number Portability Database (NPDB). The O-MSC determines whether to send a Location Request (LOCREQ) message to the HLR for a routing number, or to send a Number Portability Request (NPREQ) message to the NPDB for a location routing number (LRN). The determination may be based on operator preference, a default preference, or statistics indicating that either the HLR or the NPDB is more likely to return a routing number. The O-MSC then attempts to obtain a routing number from the determined destination. If an error message is returned, the O-MSC attempts to obtain a routing number from the alternate destination. Upon receipt of a routing number, the O-MSC routes the call.

Abstract: A system and method for interactively selecting call treatment in real time for an incoming call in a radio telecommunications network. A modified mobile station includes a display, a browser application that presents call information regarding the incoming call and call-treatment options on a pop-up menu the display, a keypad for a user to select a call-treatment option, and a Client Access Function Teleservice (CATS) handler that packages the selected call-treatment option in an IS-136 R-DATA message and sends the R-DATA message to a modified mobile switching center (MSC). The MSC determines that the R-DATA message is a CATS message from the value of the Higher Layer Protocol Identifier (HLPI) in the R-DATA message, and sends the call-treatment option to a modified service node in a short message service (SMS) message.

Abstract: A system and method in a radio telecommunications network for interactively providing a calling party with a choice of call handling options when a called mobile station (MS) is either busy or inactive. When a call is received for the called MS in the network, a home location register (HLR) determines the status of the called MS (i.e., whether the called MS is available, inactive, or busy). If the called MS is inactive or busy, the status is sent to a service control point (SCP) which generates a plurality of call handling options based upon the determined status of the called MS. The call handling options are provided to the calling party in an interactive prompting process which may be in the form of a menu display or voice prompting. The calling party then selects a call handling option which is forwarded to the SCP. The calling party may instruct the network to automatically set up a call with the called MS if the called MS is reactivated within a specified period of time.

Abstract: A system and method in a radio telecommunications network for reconnecting a disconnected emergency call between a mobile station having an emergency (emergency MS) and a public safety answering point (PSAP). The method reduces the probability that a second MS such as a cloned MS will respond to a reconnection attempt. If a second MS responds to a first reconnection attempt, procedures are implemented to locate and connect the emergency MS. The network includes a serving mobile switching center (MSC) serving the emergency MS that includes a re-paging mechanism and a reconnection timer. The PSAP includes an alarm generator that notifies the serving MSC when a second MS is connected to the PSAP rather than the emergency MS. Upon receiving an alarm from the PSAP, the serving MSC reattempts to page the emergency MS.

Abstract: A method and system for confidential transmissions of documents over existing telephone communications lines is disclosed that generates encrypted documents suitable for reception by a facsimile machine. The encrypted document can be received by a facsimile device (60) at a distant location and decrypted by its intended recipient with the use of a unique encryptogram (38). The encrypted document can be recognized by existing optical character recognition systems and then modified to minimize the number of characters errors. The original text document is processed to create a unique character set prior to transmission and processed again at the receiving end to convert it into its original plain language format.

Abstract: A method in a radio telecommunications network of automatically providing a roamer port number to a calling party when a called roaming mobile station (MS) is in the calling party's exchange. A Roamer Port Notification (RPN) subscriber class is set in the roaming MS's home location register (HLR), and is used to activate a RPN feature. When the RPN feature is activated, the roamer port number for the visited mobile switching center (MSC) is sent to the HLR in either a Feature Request (FEATREQ) Invoke message or a Registration Notification (REGNOT) Invoke message. Thereafter, when the calling party initiates a call directed to the roaming mobile station, it is determined whether the RPN service is activated for the roaming MS, and whether the roaming mobile station is in the calling party's exchange.

Abstract: In a radio telecommunications network, a system and method of informing a called mobile station operating in a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) that an incoming call is a collect call prior to delivering the incoming call to the mobile station. The system obtains in an originating mobile switching center (O-MSC), a collect call prefix from a calling party and determines from the collect call prefix that the incoming call is a collect call. A collect call indication (CCI) is generated and sent along with the calling number to the V-MSC in a Location Request (LocReq) Invoke message and a Routing Request (RoutReq) Invoke message, thereby notifying the V-MSC that there is an incoming call for the mobile station and the incoming call is a collect call. The V-MSC sets a collect call flag to ON, stores the calling number in a subscriber record in the V-MSC, and determines whether the mobile station is a digital mobile station.

Abstract: A method of providing a list of digital control channel (DCCH) frequencies that are in use in a radio telecommunications network to a mobile station operating in the network. Each DCCH includes a superframe having an extended broadcast control channel (E-BCCH) time slot which is broadcast in an E-BCCH cycle. The method begins by dividing the list of DCCH frequencies into a plurality of DCCH subsets, and sequentially or randomly broadcasting the DCCH subsets to the mobile station in the E-BCCH time slot of the DCCH. The next DCCH subset is broadcast when the current E-BCCH cycle is completed. Alternatively, the next DCCH subset may be broadcast when a timer expires. In this case, a broadcast control channel (BCCH) change notification (BCN) indicator is changed whenever a new subset is broadcast.

Abstract: A coherent illuminator system and method wherein an incident energy beam is directed at an end of image conduit rotating around its axis. The incident energy beam may be generated by a laser, maser, or similar radiation source. A substantially cylindrically uniform radiation spot is obtained from the other end of the image conduit, which may be guided by waveguide means to an application element such as, for example, an emission microscope or a medical instrument.

Abstract: In a radio telecommunications network, a system and method of providing service differentiation for call forwarding based upon the type of call. The system provides network support that allows the forwarding of calls of different types to appropriate devices for each type of call, as identified by the call's service code. The system determines whether a call to a mobile station is a data call, and if it is a data call, provides the network support for forwarding the call to a different number than voice calls. A Service Type parameter is added to ANSI-41 signaling messages to inform various nodes in the network of the type of call. The network includes a home location register/service control point (HLR/SCP) with a database of call forwarding (transfer) numbers for its served mobile stations. The database records at least one transfer number for each type of service. Service logic in the HLR/SCP associates the type of call with the appropriate transfer number.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding and feeding a preterm infant comprising a neonatal bassinet that holds the infant in a position for feeding, a gavage syringe for holding and dispensing nutritional liquid through a catheter, and a Gavage Syringe Restraining Device (GSRD) attached to the bassinet. The GSRD is an L-shaped bracket which holds the gavage syringe in an elevated position above the infant. The GSRD comprises a vertical arm which holds the gavage syringe and a horizontal arm which is mounted to the inside bottom surface of the bassinet under a removable mattress. The vertical arm includes a plurality of vertical slits arranged in pairs. An adjustable strap is positioned through a selected pair of slits and is wrapped around the gavage syringe to hold the syringe in a selected position. The bassinet may be mounted on a mobile cart and moved without interrupting the feeding of the infant, and without having to remove the syringe from a fixed mounting location.