Abstract: A decoder compares a spectral envelope value y8 on a frequency axis with a predetermined threshold f9 to identify a voiced region and an unvoiced region. An excitation signal is produced by using excitations suitable for respective frequency regions. An encoder applies the nonuniform quantization to the period of the aperiodic pitch in accordance with its frequency of occurrence. The result of the nonuniform quantization is transmitted together with the quantization result of the unvoiced state and the periodic pitch as one code. A decoder obtains spectral envelope amplitude l8′ from the spectral envelope information, and identifies a frequency band e10′ where the spectral envelope amplitude value is maximized in each of respective bands divided on the frequency axis.

Abstract: A cellular telephone (116) and a pager (118) having a common battery (256) are integrated into a single unit. The unit is maintained in a low-power receive page mode when not in use. An incoming call is processed first as a conventional pager message. The device receives the page and wakes from the low-power page mode. When the device has gone to full-power active mode, a cellular phone call is connected. A smart battery controller (254) for the unit is provided. The smart battery controller (254) monitors the power level left in the battery (256) and stops allowing telephone operations when power reaches a minimum level. For example, the level may be configurable by the user as the number of hours of paging that may be accommodated after cell phone operations are no longer permitted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting delay-sensitive data over a packet-based network involve converting the delay-sensitive data into two versions for transfer through the network with one version of the data being used to supplement the other version of the data in the event that packets are delayed or lost. In a preferred embodiment, real time voice conversation data is compressed using two different compression algorithms, where one version is more highly compressed and of a lower quality than the other. The highly compressed data is sent before corresponding packets from the less compressed data and the highly compressed packets are buffered at the receiving device to be utilized to regenerate any data segments from the less compressed packets that are lost or delayed during transmission. Sending dual versions of the same data allows the lower quality voice segment to be used as a backup in places where the high quality voice segments are lost.

Abstract: A signal processing system includes a control processor that has a bi-directional port, signal processors that each have a serial port, a bridge that has serial ports each operatively connected to a serial port of one of the signal processors, and a bi-directional port operatively connected to the bi-directional port of the control processor.

Abstract: A distribution system makes reports available to customers of call centers. The report may provide information regarding calls handled by the call center on behalf of the customer. For example, the report provide call statistics, including summary call statistic and individuals call statistic. The report may also include billing detail records. The reports are automatically generated and distributed for access by the customers via computing resources. The distribution may be accomplished in near real time. The reports may consolidate data gathered from multiple agent consoles and from multiple call centers, including geographically call centers. Separate reports may be provided for each of the customers served by the call centers.

Abstract: A mobile phone battery pack with a recording device for memorizing total recharged number of times is disclosed. The recording device includes a battery charging detecting circuit, a reference clock generating circuit, a central processing unit, a recharged times recording unit. When placing the mobile phone battery in the battery charger for recharging, the total recharged number of times recorded in the recharged times recording unit will be increased by one. Preferably, the mobile phone battery pack incorporates with a display type battery charger with a display. The battery pack is provided with a data output terminal and a series data output device. So, the total recharged number of times memorized in the battery are transmitted to the battery charger through the data output terminal and the recharged number of times is displayed on the display of the battery charger.

Abstract: An method, apparatus, and computer program product for restoring a failed system in an optical mesh network. A system includes a first light termination element (LTE) and a second LTE. A first node in the network includes an optical switching unit (OSU) coupled to the first (LTE) of the system. A second node in the network includes a second OSU coupled to the second (LTE) of the system. The first node is coupled to the second node by a path. Optical data traffic can be transmitted between the first node and the second node via the path. Upon detection of a failure of the system, the first OSU and second OSU are notified of the failure. A primary role is assigned to one of the first and second OSUs, and a secondary role is assigned to the other one of the first and second OSUs. A primary restoration plan is determined by the primary OSU. Information identifying the primary restoration plan is sent from the primary OSU for effecting the restoration path to restore the system.

Abstract: In a Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) based communications network comprising a plurality of Intermediate Systems (IS), the IS being divided between at least one IS—IS Area and at least one non-IS—IS Area, an IS—IS Area being an area with which a routeing protocol forming part of the Network Layer (Layer 3) of the Open Systems Interconnection including routeing (OSI), is provided for routeing messages between areas, whereby where a message is routed from an IS—IS Area to a destination IS within a non-IS—IS Area and the connection to the destination IS is broken, and as a result a message is returned from the non-IS—IS Area to the originating IS—IS Area connection to the destination IS is made by a second choice connection.

Abstract: There is disclosed an audio terminal (10) and a method for operating in uncontrolled audio environments, the audio terminal (10) having an echo suppression unit (20) for reducing acoustic feedback (18). The echo suppression unit (20) includes a learner (22) for learning an audio environment of the audio terminal (10) and a control unit (21) for controlling the acoustic feedback (18) in accordance with the audio environment of the audio terminal (10).

Abstract: A mode-locked laser apparatus includes a mode-locked laser oscillator, a detection device for detecting changes in the optical path length of the mode-locked laser oscillator by utilizing the chromatic dispersion characteristics of the optical path, an optical path length controller that controls the optical path length of the laser oscillator, and a feedback circuit that controls the optical path length controller by means of the signal detected by the detection device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring network bandwidth are disclosed. These methods involve estimating present network bandwidth, transmitting test packets for measuring the available bandwidth, and adjusting the bandwidth, based on said measurement, by changing packet transmission bitrate.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-media half-duplex conferencing in a computer network comprising a plurality of stations and a control server.

Abstract: A Digital-Subscriber Line (DSL) modem dynamically allocates its bandwidth to voice calls or data traffic as needed. Low-level frames are divided into several 64-Kbit/sec timeslots, each able to carry one voice call. These low-level frames are repeated several times in a 1-KHz frame that is synchronized to network timing references such as an 8-KHz clock used by the telephone network's pulse-code-modulated (PCM) highway. The 1-KHz frames are grouped into superframes. The low-level timeslots are allocated to either voice channels or to unchannelized data, depending on the number of voice calls currently being made. Allocations are made once for each superframe. The allocations or assignment of each of the timeslots to either voice or data is determined and sent to the remote modem or line card before the next superframe begins. When a good CRC occurs, the allocation sent is used to format the next superframe. Allocation bits for each of the timeslots indicate that the timeslot is for voice or for data.

Abstract: The mechanism for inserting, extracting, sensing and locking a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) in an electronic system provides both easier use and a longer service life for the PCBA as compared to a mechanism having two locking handles. Insertion, extraction, sensing and locking are simplified because a single handle can be used rather than two handles. The service life of the associated PCBA is extended because the forces applied to the PCBA are synchronous and applied more evenly than a PCBA having two handles, which reduces bending and other forces that can cause component failure.

Abstract: A liquid crystal variable retarder (LCVR) with automatic gain control for use with an imager-based target tracking application such as a free-space laser communication system. An LCVR is made of two optical windows separated by a gap, typically of a few microns. The gap is filled with nematic liquid crystal material. Electrodes are situated to enable an electric field to be applied between the optical windows and thus across the liquid crystal material. With no voltage applied to the electrodes the liquid crystals lie parallel to the optical windows. In this state of operation, the LCVR exhibits maximum retardation. As voltage is applied to the electrodes the liquid crystal molecules rotate away from the optical windows, becoming perpendicular to the optical windows. In this state of operation, the LCVR exhibits minimum retardation.

Abstract: An optical switch for switching a light beam in an optical fiber communication line. The switch includes a hollow body, an optical system supported by a first part of the body for movement to act upon a light beam, and an actuator supported by a second part of the body for moving the optical system between first and second positions, in at least one of which positions the optical system acts upon a light beam. An elastic element is included, which has a first part connected to the actuator and a second part connected to the optical system for movement of the optical system by the actuator.

Abstract: To transmit encoded information such as for example voice messages between remote transceivers, a transmitter digitizes and encodes an audio signal and then transmits the resulting digital coded signal to the receiver. The receiver decodes the signal and converts it back to an audio signal. The received encoded digital signal is used to reset the timing clock in the receiver so that the timing is synchronized in the receiver and transmitter by the transmitted encoded information. The encoder transmits digital information to a shift register. Encoding switches select certain stages of the shift register and the transmitter transmits the exclusive-OR of the digitized message and the output of the selected stages. This signal is also the input to the shift register. The information transmitted to the receiver is a scrambled digital signal.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a caller may provide certain information during a call to an interactive voice response unit, prior known information about the caller may be stored in a computerized database, and an agent terminal may access the information in the database and collected at the interactive voice response unit, during the call, such that information collected from the caller before arriving at the agent does not have to be recollected from the caller by the agent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a back light in a mobile terminal is provided, in which a first back light of a liquid crystal display and a second back light of a key pad are independently controlled. The first and second back lights are driven if a flip cover is opened, while the first back light is only driven if the function selection key is input. Since the second back is not driven when the function selection key is input, unnecessary power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a reconfigurable FIR filter has an input port for receiving digital input signals and an output coupled to a coherent signal processor and a coherent memory. The FIR filter programmably provides filtered signals to the coherent signal processor for storage in the coherent memory. The integrated circuit further includes a sequential weight processor having an input coupled to an output of the coherent memory. The sequential weight processor includes a weight memory and operates to output symbol soft decision data resulting from processing the digital input signals. The integrated circuit is programmable into one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least one of a received signal acquisition mode, a channel estimator mode, an adaptive equalizer mode, and a channel-wise differential mode.