Abstract: A method of dispatching documents, wherein the basic idea is to first convert the documents from a customer-specific data format to a standardization data format, and only then to decide by means of a decision logic using the document in the standardized data format, whether the document is further transmitted to the recipient as an electronic document, or whether it is converted from the standardized to a postal data format in a converter station. The converter station then dispatches the document to a postal service printing center in the area where the recipient is located. There the document is printed out and directed for delivery by postal service personnel.

Abstract: An electric and/or optical submarine cable arrangement which bridges the weight/strength gap that exists between armoured and unarmoured cable. A stranded armour layer (6) comprises alternate strands of steel wire (7) and polymeric filler (8). Such a cable has sufficient strength to support a section of heavy armoured cable joined to it during laying in water of a depth exceeding 2 km, but light enough that an unarmoured cable can support it in deep water.

Abstract: A remote facilitation network (10) includes a base computing equipment environment (12) having a computer (14) and a control and activation device (16). A remote user (18) requests communications with the base computing equipment environment (12) through a wireless paging service (20). The remote user (18) generates a paging message that is transmitted by the wireless paging service (20) and received at the control and activation device (16). The control and activation device (16) processes and interprets the paging message in order to activate the computer (14). The paging message includes a callback number that is transferred from the control and activation device (16) to the computer (14). The computer (14) dials the callback number in order to establish a communication link with the remote user (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and means for transferring a construction--consisting of an elongated article (2,21) provided with at least one termination (3,20,40)--between a vertical position and a horizontal position and vice versa. Handling means (10,22,31,44) are attached to the termination housing (3,20,40) so as to balance and handle the termination substantially at a combined center of gravity (14,26,34,45) and thereby prevent undue bending of the elongated article (2,21) during the transfer.

Abstract: A distributed object messaging system and method (10) are provided for a plurality of nodes (15-21, 25-32) distributed in multiple physically separate sites (12, 13). There are a plurality of processes (40-44) executing in each node. The processes register a plurality of objects in each node. The objects include client objects and server objects. The server objects may be registered for global service for service availability to client objects in a local node, local site and/or site global service for service availability for client object in remote sites. a server object database (46) is used in each node to store a server object description for each server object registered in the node and objects registered in remote nodes that are registered for global or site global service. a client-server interface (50) is accessible by client objects and receives requests for services therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber comprising an optical core (6) based on silica for guiding the majority of lightwaves and containing at least one fluorescent dopant, surrounded by optical cladding (5) likewise based on silica, and having a refractive index lower than that of said core, said core comprising: a central zone (2) of radius a.sub.0, containing said fluorescent dopant; and a peripheral zone (4) of radius a, surrounding said central zone, having a refractive index greater than that of said cladding, and not containing fluorescent dopant; the fiber being characterized in that said core (6) further comprises an intermediate zone (3) of radius a.sub.1 and having a softening temperature greater than that of central zone (2), said intermediate zone (3) being such that a.sub.0 <a.sub.1 <a and not containing any fluorescent dopant.

Abstract: An optical cable has a core containing optical fibers, non-metallic peripheral reinforcements to armor the cable and a thermoplastics material outer sheath. It is fabricated by a method including successive steps of applying reinforcements to the core, extruding the sheath over the reinforcements and cooling the cable. The reinforcements are extruded onto the core as it moves through a first extruder. The combination of the core and the reinforcements is then cooled in a first cooling tank. The sheath is extruded in a second extruder downstream of the first, after which the cable is cooled in a second cooling tank downstream of the first.

Abstract: A method (100) for preventing message looping in a telecommunications network (70) includes the steps of receiving a UDT/S query message, determining a next destination for processing the query message and a route for delivering the query message to the next destination (102). A determination is then made as to whether the route to the next destination is XUDT/S capable (104). The UDT/S query message is converted to an XUDT/S format by inserting a hop counter (38) therein if the route is XUDT/S capable (108). The query message is then delivered to the next destination via the route (110). The hop counter (38) in the query message is then decremented at the next destination in response to receiving a message of the XUDT/S format (112). A message loop error is recognized and processed when the hop counter (38) reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A host digital terminal (118) receives telephony traffic from a time division multiplexed (TDM) switch (122) and packet data asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells containing packet data information from an ATM switch 116. The host digital terminal (118) converts the telephony traffic into telephony ATM cells (34) and multiplexes the telephony ATM cells with the packet data ATM cells for placement into a synchronous optical network (SONET) frame (38). The host digital terminal (118) transports the SONET frame (38) to an optical network unit (124). The optical network unit (124) demultiplexes the telephony ATM cells (34) from the packet data ATM cells in the SONET frame (38). Packet data information within the packet data ATM cells is extracted and provided to a monitor (132) through a network terminator (126) and a computer or set top unit (130). Telephony traffic is extracted from the telephony ATM cells (34) and provided to telecommunications equipment (128) through the network terminator (126).

Abstract: An integrated optoelectronic semiconductor component is presented, which can equally process light signals of any polarization direction. Such semiconductor components are used for digital optical telecommunications. The semiconductor component has active (A) and passive (B) waveguide sections, which comprise a number of semiconductor layers (SP) with so-called multiple quantum well structures. The semiconductor layers (SP) are deposited by a process known as selective area growth (SAG). A portion of the semiconductor layers has a lattice constant which is smaller than the lattice constant of a substrate (SUB). This creates a biaxial tensile strain in these layers. The tensile strain is optimized in the active waveguide sections (A) to attain polarization independence. Furthermore a process is described whereby such a semiconductor component can be manufactured.

Abstract: A method of applying a silica having fluorine therein by spraying silica simultaneously with a fluorine-containing gas by a POD method plasma torch.

Abstract: A distributed redundant database architecture (10) primarily for storing a plurality of wireless service subscriber files (84, 86) is provided. The database architecture (10) include a first set of processors (44 46, 48) each having a shared memory (72, 74, 76), where the processors (44, 46, 48) are divided into processor groups (38, 40, 42). A memory storage device (80, 82) is coupled to each processor group (38, 40, 42) in a multi-initiator mode so that each memory storage device (80, 82) is accessible by the processors (44, 46, 48) in its respective processor group (38, 40, 42). The plurality of subscriber files (84, 86) are assigned to the processor groups (38, 40, 42) and further assigned to the processors (44, 46, 48) in each processor group (38, 40, 42) to achieve a substantially even distribution.

Abstract: A resonator (1) for electromagnetic waves with a stabilizer can, for example, be part of a mode-coupled fiber laser. The stabilizer (2) is provided to stabilize the effective length of the resonator (1). Stabilization is accomplished in a first embodiment via two temperature controllers (3, 4) controlling the temperature of a first portion (L1) and the temperature of a second portion (L2) of the resonator (1). The temperature of the second portion (L2) is controlled as a function of an error signal generated by deviations of the resonator (1) from a nominal length. The second portion (L2) is significantly shorter than the first portion (L1).

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided which map E1 signals into a logical space of a predetermined number of DS1 signals. 24 selected DS0 signals that are part of each E1 signal are mapped into the space of one DS1 signal in the logical space. The remaining eight DS0 signals of every three E1 signal are then interleavingly mapped into the space of one DS1 signal in the logical space. Depending on the defined logical space, additional E1 signals are mapped into the logical space in the same manner until the predetermined number of DS1 signal spaces in the defined logical space are filled.

Abstract: A band-pass filter written into an optical waveguide includes at least one Bragg grating creating coupling between two propagation modes. In one version the pitch of the grating is equal to the length of beating of these two modes, to create codirectional coupling for the LP01 and LP0i modes. In another version the grating couples the LP01 mode to any contradirectional radiation mode. The filter includes, at one point at least of the grating, an area in which one half-period of the grating is omitted to create a phase-shift of .pi. between the two coupled modes.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a finite impulse response digital filter includes a phase of calculating the impulse response g(t) of an analog filter the transfer function of which is defined by a predetermined bandwidth B, shape factor SF and out-band attenuation level A. The coefficients of the digital filter are extracted by sampling the resulting impulse response. The calculation phase consists in expanding the impulse response into an integer number M of Hermite functions predetermined in accordance with the shape factor SF. The coefficient extraction phase includes sampling of the expanded impulse response after the calculation phase in a time window the duration of which is dependent on the out-band attenuation level A using a sampling period At that is dependent on the bandwidth B.

Abstract: A coupling is presented for coupling two electromagnetic hollow conductors (waveguides) with different cross-sectional shapes. The coupling includes steps (S1-S3) arranged sequentially in the axial direction, having an essentially rectangular cross section and rounded corners as well as different clearances. The dimensions of all steps (S1-S3) are purposely designed so that other modes in addition to the basic mode are able to propagate therein. Because of the dimensions of coupling (3), only modes intended to conduct signals propagate in the joined waveguides, while those which are not intended to conduct signals are essentially cancelled by superposition.

Abstract: A telecommunications switch (12) includes a dial plan database (300) used for creating, identifying, and verifying dial plan codes and dialing sequences of a desire dial plan (100). The dial plan (100) is created through a craft terminal (201) that communicates with a craft interface (200) of the telecommunications switch (12). The telecommunications switch (12) uses dial plans created and stored within the dial plan database (300) in performing a digit parsing routine. The digit parsing routine identifies dial plan codes and dialing sequences through digit collection by systematically eliminating possible dial plan codes until one is identified. The identified dial plan code is processed by performing valid or error actions associated with the identified dial plan code. The digit parsing routine continues with an incoming call until it has been appropriately handled and awaits for the next incoming call digits to be received.

Abstract: In synchronous digital communication systems using a synchronization quality marker (SSM), timing loops can be created. To avoid such timing loops, a synchronous digital communication system is provided having network elements (NE11, . . . , NE33) in which two classes (top, bottom) are defined for interface units (S.sub.1, . . . , S.sub.x, . . . , S.sub.X+i).

Abstract: The invention comprises a time slot interchanger and method for multiplexing ISDN D-channel signals into multiplexed signals in a digital communications terminal. One method comprises receiving a frame of communication signals wherein some of the communication signals represent ISDN D-channel signals wherein each ISDN D-channel signal is represented by a first number of data bits and a second number of other bits. A copy of the frame of communication signals is stored in each of a first, second, third and fourth memory during a first frame period. At least some of the stored communication signals are retrieved from the first, second, third, and fourth memories during a second frame period. Multiplexed signals are then assembled wherein at least one multiplexed signal comprises a multiplexed combination of the data bits of ISDN D-channel signals retrieved from at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth memories.