Abstract: A telecommunication device for receiving and transmitting DS1 level signals that includes a 1/0 digital cross-connect switch, a GR-303 concentrator, and a frame relay aggregator switch in a single integrated device in one housing that fills less than two standard rack units. The device includes both active and standby/backup controller cards that communicate with eight quad framer cards through a bus located in the backplane. The communication through the backplane is via a 8.192 Mbps signal to and from each quad framer card, passed along a bus. The 8.192 Mbps signal is generated by multiplexing the four DS1 (E-1) signals on the quad framer card. The controller card that is active monitors the status of the DS1 channel associated with each framer and stores historical data about the status in spare buffer registers on each framer. Whenever a transition occurs to the standby/backup controller card, that card can obtain the historical status information from the framers to make the transition more seamless.

Abstract: A multiplexer for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals between a low-speed network and a higher speed network includes 7 quad DSX-1 cards and 1 spare card. The spare card is connected to the DSX-1 cards to allow the spare card to automatically be switched in for one of the DSX-1 cards or to allow interface electronics on the spare card to replace selected ones of interface electronics on different DSX-1 cards simultaneously. A pair of controller cards, a primary card and a secondary card, perform M1-3 multiplexing and demultiplexing and the DS-3 framing and transceiving. The controller cards can be selected or deselected in a short time period alarms are not set off and so that the transition is hitless by electronically enabling and disabling the transceiver. The multiplexer is connectable to 2 different T-3 links to provide network redundancy. An array of relays connected either controller card to either of the T-3 links.

Abstract: A technique for powering telephone lines using an unbalance current source and current sink; and a technique for improving attenuation/frequency distribution and return loss (impedance matching) of transformer-coupled wire-line communications circuits by using secondary series capacitance and an AC current pump signal source; and a generation of ringing voltage as positive voltage pulses with respect to a negative power supply voltage; and a technique for removal of AC power ripple by using an active linear floating filter for the purpose of powering telephone line circuits, and a technique for injection of real time tone samples into T1 transmissions circuits by use of a T1 framer idle code register.

Abstract: A technique for performing a time slot interchange in a processor. The TSI process is surrounded by a multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit for converting a plurality of PCM highways into a single input serial data stream. The mux/demux circuit includes elastic stores to align frames and shift resisters to mux/demux with a minimum of delay. The TSI processor includes an input and an output buffered serial port, a pair of input buffers, one to receive even-numbered frames from the PCM highways and one to receive odd-numbered frames, and an output buffer. Data is read from the appropriate input buffer in a non-sequential fashion as commanded by the processor in accordance with information stored in connection arrays (address buffers). The data is then written to the output buffer sequentially. The timing of the reading and writing steps is optimized relative to free running buffered serial port pointers for each BSP to reduce the frame delay.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting an elevator to an existing multistory building includes providing a preassembled elevator unit comprising an enclosure containing an elevator car and a drive mechanism for moving the car within the enclosure; forming a plurality of vertically aligned elevator access openings though the exterior of the building; positioning the preassembled elevator unit against the exterior of the building, in alignment with the plurality of vertically aligned elevator access openings; and securing the preassembled elevator unit against the exterior of the building, in alignment with the plurality of vertically aligned elevator access openings. The preassembled elevator unit preferably includes a self-supporting elevator shaftway enclosed on the sides and back, and having at least one access opening in the front of the shaftway; an elevator car mounted in the elevator shaftway for movement therein; and a driver inside the shaftway for moving the elevator car in the shaftway.

Abstract: A multiplexer device for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals between a low-speed network including 28 DSX-1 signals and a relatively higher speed network including a DS-3 signal. The multiplexer device includes 7 quad DSX-1 cards and 1 spare card. The spare card is connected to the other 7 DSX-1 cards in a fashion that allows the spare card to automatically be switched in for one of the DSX-1 cards or to allow interface electronics on the spare card to replace selected ones of the interface electronics on various different DSX-1 cards simultaneously. A pair of controller cards, a primary card and a secondary card, perform the M1-3 multiplexing and demultiplexing and the DS-3 framing and transceiving. The controller cards can be selected or deselected by distributed logic in a sufficiently short time period so that alarms are not set off and so that the transition is hitless. This is accomplished by electronically enabling and disabling the transceiver.

Abstract: A technique for powering telephone lines using an unbalance current source and current sink; and a technique for improving attenuation/frequency distribution and return loss (impedance matching) of transformer-coupled wire-line communications circuits by using secondary series capacitance and an AC current pump signal source; and a generation of ringing voltage as positive voltage pulses with respect to a negative power supply voltage; and a technique for removal of AC power ripple by using an active linear floating filter for the purpose of powering telephone line circuits, and a technique for injection of real time tone samples into T1 transmissions circuits by use of a T1 framer idle code register.

Abstract: A technique for powering telephone lines using an unbalanced current source and current sink; and a technique for improving attenuation/frequency distribution and return loss (impedance matching) of transformer-coupled wire-line communications circuits by using secondary series capacitance and an AC current pump signal source; and a generation of ringing voltage as positive voltage pulses with respect to a negative power supply voltage; and a technique for removal of AC power ripple by using an active linear floating filter for the purpose of powering telephone line circuits, and a technique for injection of real time tone samples into T1 transmissions circuits by use of a T1 framer idle code register.

Abstract: A technique for powering telephone lines using an unbalance current source and current sink; and a technique for improving attenuation/frequency distribution and return loss (impedance matching) of transformer-coupled wire-line communications circuits by using secondary series capacitance and an AC current pump signal source; and a generation of ringing voltage as positive voltage pulses with respect to a negative power supply voltage; and a technique for removal of AC power ripple by using an active linear floating filter for the purpose of powering telephone line circuits, and a technique for injection of real time tone samples into T1 transmissions circuits by use of a T1 framer idle code register.

Abstract: A technique for powering telephone lines using an unbalance current source and current sink; and a technique for improving attenuation/frequency distribution and return loss (impedance matching) of transformer-coupled wire-line communications circuits by using secondary series capacitance and an AC current pump signal source; and a generation of ringing voltage as positive voltage pulses with respect to a negative power supply voltage; and a technique for removal of AC power ripple by using an active linear floating filter for the purpose of powering telephone line circuits, and a technique for injection of real time tone samples into T1 transmissions circuits by use of a T1 framer idle code register.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a sufficiently clear digital path exists from a first end user to a second end user when connecting a call over a switched telephone network. Once the determination is made, the type of connection that is possible (high speed digital or analog compatible rates) can be determined. The present invention determines the characteristics of a path between two subscribers on a telephone network by transmitting a digital probe along the path. In cases in which an answering subscriber or the intermediate path are incapable of supporting a digital call, communication in accordance with a standard analog modulation scheme can proceed without having to redial the call.

Abstract: A high bandwidth data loop employs a plurality of individual circuits of a telephone network using a dialing inverse multiplexer communications device. The dialing inverse multiplexer is capable of selectively accessing ones of the plurality of circuits so as to provide any selected bandwidth or bit rate up to the total number of circuits which can be handled by the dialing inverse multiplexer communications device, between any number of locations, for any selected period of time or for any indeterminate period of time.

Abstract: A location independent personal telecommunications system is presented that utilizes an out-of-band bi-directional burst data communications network to assist in the routing of personal communications via an in-band voice and data communications network. Access to the out-of-band network for communication is regulated by a multiple access communications protocol. Each user is synchronized with the other users of the network to the protocol and will access the network only during certain time periods that are reserved by the protocol for message traffic between network users. A collision avoidance scheme is included in the protocol to resolve instances of simultaneous transmission of message traffic by multiple users during the same time period.

Abstract: A storage, retrieval, and transmission system is configured to provide fast, efficient telecommunication access to digitized images (e.g., medical diagnostic X-ray images) to multiple requesting subscribers. Image data are downloaded, via the telephone lines, to a remote display terminal in an optimal fashion that employs a two-dimensional patterned data compression scheme. The data compression methods include a "Hex-Pac" compression in which one first generates regions comprising a plurality of two dimensional, non-overlapping, symmetrically disposed super pixels that are collectively representative of an image. Each of these regions is subsequently compared with a plurality of fictitious patterns, each of which has a dark region, a light region and a predetermined point of origin, in order to determine which of the patterns most closely correlates with the selected region.

Abstract: An automated high definition/resolution image storage, retrieval and transmission system for use with medical X-ray film or other documents to provide simultaneous automated access to a common data base by a plurality of remote subscribers upon request, the automated high definition/resolution image storage, retrieval and transmission system comprising an image scanning and digitizing subsystem to scan and digitize visual image information from an image film or the like; an image data storage and retrieval subsystem to receive and store the digitized information and to selectively provide the digitized information upon request from a remote site, a telecommunication subsystem to selectively transmit the requested digitized information from the image data storage and retrieval subsystem to the requesting remote visual display terminal for conversion to a visual image at the remote site to visually display the requested information from the image data storage and retrieval subsystem.

Abstract: The location independent personal telecommunications system of the present invention enables a subscriber to have a single personal telephone directory number. When that personal telephone number is dialed, the system uses the existing public and cellular communication systems and a service node all comprising parts of the personal telecommunications system to route the call to the present, or last known location of the subscriber. The location of the subscriber is determined by the personal telecommunications system through a radio tracking system comprised of a number of radio base stations that monitor the subscriber's location by communicating with a personal communicator carried by the subscriber. The subscriber location information is transmitted from the base stations to the service node for storage and subsequent access when a call is placed to the subscriber's personal telephone number.

Abstract: A unique combination of frequency and time division multiplexed communications is presented to enable bi-directional burst communications between a substantial number of users over a single radio frequency communications channel. A service area for communications is divided into a number of cells, with the cells arranged into clusters. Cells in each cluster are similarly numbered with no two adjacent cells across the service area having the same number. The clusters are also numbered in the same manner. A cellular time division multiplexed waveform is used by the network to carry communications with each cell number and cluster number assigned a time slot. During the time slot corresponding to the cell or cluster number, all cells or clusters having that number will be simultaneously transmitting. This networking technique enables time slots to be reused across the service area.

Abstract: The invention relates to upgrading existing telephone central offices having 1ESS or 1AESS switching equipment to utilize the SS7 protocol. In particular, the 1ESS and 1AESS switching equipment is provided with the capability of controlling the connection, management, and disconnection of telephone circuits using Signaling System Number 7 (SS7), a national and international standard set of protocols for providing such circuit control and providing and receiving information via the SS7 protocol for enabling enhanced service in the switching equipment.

Abstract: A general purpose communications processor for communicating data between an asynchronous data terminal and a synchronous data communication facility, includes (I) a transmit module, having (a) a transmit processor, (b) an input serial communication controller, for receiving a serial asynchronous data input from the data terminal, and stripping start and stop bits from each received byte, (c) a transmit buffer, operatively connected to the controller, for temporarily storing the data, (d) an adder for adding at least a control byte to the data, and (e) an output serial communications controller for outputting the data and control byte to the synchronous data communication facility; and (II) a receive module, having (a) a receive processor, (b) a second input serial communications controller for receiving a synchronous input from the synchronous data communication facility, (c) a receive buffer, operatively connected to the second input controller, for temporarily storing the incoming synchronous data bytes, (

Abstract: An exercise device, of the rowing machine type, that is usable by individuals confined to a wheel chair and which does not require the individual to leave the wheel chair at any time before, during or after the exercise period. A U-shaped base member borders the area occupied by the wheel chair during the exercise; inwardly directed, thin flange members are formed on the base member and underlie the wheels of the wheel chair during the exercise period to prevent the base member from moving. The resistance offered by the rowing machine-type handles is variable by adjusting the angle relative to the horizontal of plunger members connected between the base member and the handles.