Abstract: An optical spectrometer comprises at least two coupling apertures with different mode field diameters, a means for dispersing the light beams exiting each of the coupling apertures along a dispersion axis and at least two decoupling apertures on which the dispersed light beams are imaged and whose mode field diameters each correspond to the mode field diameters of the associated coupling apertures. Due the enlarged mode field diameter, a larger spectral fraction of dispersed light beams, i.e., light of a larger spectral bandwidth, can be coupled into the decoupling aperture than into the decoupling aperture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for launching applications on a computer. A launcher allows a user to quickly determine which applications are installed and to start one or more selected applications. The launcher accesses an operating system registry to determine which applications are installed and where each application is installed. The launcher presents information in a file formatted using a scripted language such as hypertext markup language (HTML), so that the file can be read by a standard web browser application, such as the well-known Netscape Navigator™ or Microsoft Internet Explorer™. Thus, a user is presented with a standard graphical user interface that he or she most likely knows. The user makes the selection by clicking with his or her mouse. The display may simply list the installed applications, or it may list all known applications, showing unavailable applications with a different visual attribute than installed applications, for example, dimmed or grayed out text.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method, for determining the total frequency response of a communication system, include one or more testers each having a tuner, digital demodulation circuitry, and a controller that measures an absolute power level at the tester location for a particular channel and that measures a relative frequency response for the channel based on the tap weight coefficients from the digital demodulation circuitry. The absolute and relative measurements are combined and then recorded by each tester. The combined values of two or more testers are compared to determine the total frequency response of the communication system. The relative response measurements are converted from time domain to frequency domain by fast Fourier transformation. The controllers maintain a channel plan for sequencing the sweeping of consecutive channels.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for Reporting Total Call Quality. The present invention provides the capability to report the quality of an entire call to an operator. In one embodiment, the invention works by receiving message associated with the call, the messages including a set of call quality metrics. The invention then compares at least one of the call quality metrics to at least one of a set of associated thresholds, at intervals of time, for determining whether call quality is one of a set of call qualities for the designated time interval. Next, the invention determines at least one percentage of at least one call quality from the set of call qualities received for all of the time intervals for the call.

Abstract: In a system and method for testing and displaying the abnormalities, includes opens, shorts, bridged-taps and wet sections, of a copper pair line for xDSL service use, the abnormalities are amplified and normalized so as to be displayed within a predetermined observation range. The normalization steps include piecewise gaining and biasing the reflected pulse of various gains to create a first normalized reflected trace which match the reflected traces within a predetermined observation range and thereby constitute a total smooth curve; and amplifying the first normalized reflected trace according to a function of time to create a second normalized reflected trace so as to eliminate an exponential gain decay curve of a no-fault copper pair line with the same predetermined characteristic parameters from the first normalized reflected trace to thereby obtain a second normalized reflected trace showing any amplified abnormalities.

Abstract: Determination of the location of an error condition or a failure includes receiving at a network interface a first framed digital signal from customer premises equipment, and determining whether the first framed digital signal indicates a failure. Overhead bits are modified in the first framed digital signal to generate a second framed digital signal, such that the modification is equivalent to insertion of errors into the first framed digital signal at a bit error ratio (BER) of not greater than a predetermined ratio, if the first framed digital signal indicates a failure. The second framed digital signal is then sent from the network interface in place of the first framed digital signal to indicate that the failure reported by the first framed digital signal is located in the customer premises equipment. Otherwise, if no failure is indicated, the first framed digital signal is transmitted without any modifications.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable light source equipment provided with an external resonator light source having a wavelength selection structure inside it and lasing by a wavelength selected by this and a light path changer introducing at least part of the light emitted from the external resonator light source and including a spontaneous emitted light ingredient to the wavelength selection structure so that a wavelength of the light emitted from the external resonator light source and a wavelength selected by the wavelength selection structure become synchronized. Of the light emitted from the external resonator light source, the light introduced to the wavelength selection structure through the light path changer and emitted from it is made the output light.

Abstract: A modular test instrument comprises a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions.

Abstract: A method for testing various types of devices or systems employs a modular test instrument comprising a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions. The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can be employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for Network Problem Segment Isolation. The present invention provides a method for characterizing network segment quality for a segment transmitting messages from a first endpoint to a second endpoint on a network. The method includes the step of receiving messages transmitted between the first and second endpoints. The messages include a first set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first to second endpoint for both the first and second segments and a second set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first endpoint to the juncture. Furthermore, the method includes subtracting the second set of quality metrics from the corresponding quality metrics of the first set of quality metrics to calculate a third set of quality metrics representing the quality metrics of the second segment. Additionally, the method includes comparing the third set of quality metrics to a first set of segment qualities.

Abstract: In a system and method for testing and displaying the abnormalities, includes opens, shorts, bridged-taps and wet sections, of a copper pair line for xDSL service use, the abnormalities are amplified and normalized so as to be displayed within a predetermined observation range. The normalization steps include piecewise gaining and biasing the reflected pulse of various gains to create a first normalized reflected trace which match the reflected traces within a predetermined observation range and thereby constitute a total smooth curve; and amplifying the first normalized reflected trace according to a function of time to create a second normalized reflected trace so as to eliminate an exponential gain decay curve of a no-fault copper pair line with the same predetermined characteristic parameters from the first normalized reflected trace to thereby obtain a second normalized reflected trace showing any amplified abnormalities.

Abstract: In a method for measuring the chromatic dispersion of a light waveguide an amplitude modulated broadband optical signal is fed into the optical transmission link to be measured, the transmitted signal is separated into a reference path, in which the modulation frequency is demodulated out of the transmitted signal, and a measuring path, in which the transmitted signal is demodulated at several optical frequencies respectively, and the chromatic dispersion of the optical transmission link is determined from the phase differences between the several demodulated signals of the measuring path and the demodulated signal of the reference path.

Abstract: In an optical spectrum analyzer, the respective wavelength bandwidths of the optical spectrum analyzer are determined at the wavelengths of the reference lines and used as calibration data for determining measurement tolerances by means of reference lines of known wavelength and known wavelength bandwidths from the known wavelength bandwidths of the reference lines and from the wavelength bandwidths of the reference lines measured with the optical spectrum analyzer

Abstract: A wavelength tunable light source equipment provided with an external resonator light source having a wavelength selection structure inside it and lasing by a wavelength selected by this and a light path changer introducing at least part of the light emitted from the external resonator light source and including a spontaneous emitted light ingredient to the wavelength selection structure so that a wavelength of the light emitted from the external resonator light source and a wavelength selected by the wavelength selection structure become synchronized. Of the light emitted from the external resonator light source, the light introduced to the wavelength selection structure through the light path changer and emitted from it is made the output light.

Abstract: A modular test instrument comprises a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions. The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can he employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing telephone equipment for longitudinal balance. A signal generating circuit places a test signal at a certain frequency on the tip and ring wires of a telephone line. The telephone line is monitored and the signals on the tip and ring wires are measured and compared against each other. The frequency is gradually increased in set increments until the test frequency is in the megahertz range.

Abstract: A system for centrally and remotely testing switches of cellular and conventional telecommunications network wherein a controller located at a remote location provides instructions to Remote Call Processor (RCP) to thereby prompt the RCPs to establish a communication link from the RCP through a switch to a destination device whereby audio from said destination device is communicated, by way of the switch and the RCP, to the controller in order to verify that the switch properly routed and billed of the call. The destination device may be a service provided by such network or it may be another RCP.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing mobile telephones includes an antenna coupler, a holder and a testing device. The antenna coupler includes a printed circuit board upon one side of which is formed a slot antenna operative in a first frequency range and a dipole antenna operative in a second frequency range. The holder secures a mobile telephone under test in proximity to the antenna coupler. A coupler formed on a second side of the printed circuit board selectively supplies signals received by one of the antenna elements to the testing device. The testing device measures transmission and reception characteristics of the mobile telephone under test, including transmission phase error, frequency error, power and spectrum, and bit error rate.

Abstract: A modular test instrument comprises a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions. The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can be employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.

Abstract: A system for centrally and remotely testing switches of cellular and conventional telecommunications network wherein a controller located at a remote location provides instructions to Remote Call Processor (RCP) to thereby prompt the RCPs to establish a communication link from the RCP through a switch to a destination device whereby audio from said destination device is communicated, by way of the switch and the RCP, to the controller in order to verify that the switch properly routed and billed of the call. The destination device may be a service provided by such network or it may be another RCP.