Abstract: A system and method for providing a particular wireless communication signal appearing within an antenna beam to a cellular base station to the exclusion of other communication signals also appearing within the antenna beam is disclosed. Preferably multiple narrow antenna beams are utilized to target a communication unit sourcing the particular communication signal. Signals provided by these multiple narrow beams are filtered to exclude undesired communication signals appearing therein and then are provided to select inputs of the cellular base station. Preferably the system of the disclosed invention is adapted to substantially universally couple to various cellular base station configurations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus routes user information including confidential information and other information to a vendor in a secure manner without requiring the user to transmit information in a secure manner. The user provides a user identifier and information including confidential information to a response collector, who relates the user identifier to the user information. The response collector may verify the information to protect against fraud. An information provider provides an application identifier and vendor routing information to a response collector, who relates the vendor routing information to the application identifier. The application identifier corresponding to the vendor is broadcast to the user via an interactive information system application, and the interactive information system sends the application identifier, a user identifier and other response information to a response collector as directed by the user and the interactive information system application.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for enabling supplementary service functions, such as directed call pickup, to be implemented in a communications network having more than one server. The multi-server call pickup system is adapted to enable a user to pick up another user's call from a selected destination anywhere within the network, including outside the local server in a multi-server network. The directed call pickup system includes a pickup request unit that is used for initiating the call pickup feature from a specified location in the network. A remote determination unit and a local determination unit to determine whether to establish local or remote connections to a call pickup user may also be provided. A call establishing unit with a negotiation process for connection establishment is provided to establish a connection between the call and the call pickup user. A notification unit may be provided to notify the system of the completed connection.

Abstract: A method and system for automated silent call monitoring in an automatic call distributor (ACD) environment includes configuring a set of call performance profiles which include voice data patterns which are descriptive of voice data transmissions during an ACD call and which are associated with substandard agent performance. Each voice data pattern has a corresponding threshold which represents the maximum number of detections tolerated in an ACD call prior to execution of a notification routine. A digital signal processor (DSP) monitors a first call between an agent terminal and a customer terminal for the voice data patterns and stores detection data in memory upon detecting of one of the voice data patterns. A central processor unit (CPU) compares the number of detections of the voice patterns within predetermined time intervals to the threshold numbers of detections represented in the thresholds to determine if any threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: A multi-service, adaptable optical network unit (ONU) is disclosed for use in a fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) digital loop carrier system, including a multi-service common card and a plurality of multi-media service cards that are connected to the common card using a card-link interface. The card-link interface is preferably a high-speed LVDS serial-bus connection that is organized in a star configuration such that each service card is connected to the multi-service common card using a separate point-to-point card-link. By eliminating the traditional backplane structure found in present ONU designs, the present invention provides a scalable, adaptable, future-proof FTTC system that can transport present-day multi-media services as well as yet-to-be-defined future high-bandwidth applications.

Abstract: A system for individually controlling the power levels of a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals in a single optical guide comprising a first plurality of individually controllable optical attenuators. An example of a suitable optical attenuator is a tunable fiber Bragg grating filter whose reflectivity characteristic varies with wavelength over an active region thereof. By tuning the filter, it is possible to control the reflectivity at a particular wavelength in the active region. The system may, in addition, comprise a second plurality of optical attenuators arranged so as to compensate for any power level distortion introduced by the first plurality. Optical circulators may be used to route signals into and between the pluralities of optical attenuators.

Abstract: A method of forming a circuit includes forming a metallic circuit pattern on a base substrate. The circuit pattern has traces which are connected together by temporary bussing. A resist pattern for defining at least one terminal pad is formed over the circuit pattern. A layer of metal is formed on at least one area of the circuit pattern exposed by the resist pattern to a thickness suitable for serving as the at least one terminal pad for the circuit. A portion of the base substrate at the location of the temporary bussing is removed thereby causing the removal of the temporary bussing.

Abstract: A miniaturized directional antenna for use with system to provide data communication over wireless radio channels. The unit supports multiple antenna elements with a known orientation with respect to an earth ground plane reference. This greatly provides predictability in the steerability and other directional attributes of the antenna array using miniaturized chip multilayer or helical antenna elements, the unit may be constructed in a case or other form factor of approximately 3×3×1 inches for operation within the frequency bands around 1900 MHz.

Abstract: An active current limiter controls the flow of current between a power source and a load. The active current limiter includes a power switch coupled between the power source an the load, a current sensor coupled between the power source and the load to sense the level of current flow through the power switch, and one or more fault detection circuits coupled to the current sensor for sensing one or more current fault conditions between the power source and the load and configured to switch of the power switch when a current fault condition is detected.

Abstract: A wall mount unit is provided. Such a wall mount unit comprises three supports. At least one guide slot is formed on one of the supports. Another support comprises a link that moves in the guide slot. An angle between two supports is adjusted by moving the link.

Abstract: A method and associated hardware for managing communications in a cellular network. Network usage is monitored by signaling mediation probes, either by monitoring signaling links or by receiving usage information from network elements. Based on the monitored network usage, an activity server predicts a forthcoming time interval during which sufficient network resources will be available to allow a predetermined message to be sent to one or more users of the network. When the time interval arrives, the activity server initiates the sending of the message, either by itself sending the message or by triggering another device to send the message.

Abstract: A pickup roller is movable in a vertical direction and pulls out papers to the paper feed rollers, is provided. The pickup roller moves down towards the papers stacked on the paper tray. A front edge alignment member that aligns the front edge of the papers and a stopper that controls rotation of the front edge alignment member engages the front edge alignment member. A stopper release member pivots the stopper to release it from the front edge alignment member in synchronization to the up and down movement of the pickup roller.

Abstract: A telecommunications power distribution circuit board carries a fuse holder for a plurality of GMT fuses through which power is supplied to connectors on a terminal block. Power is supplied to the fuses through a distribution circuit on the board by way of bullet connectors that are attached to the circuit board and plug into holes in a power supply bus bar.

Abstract: A multi-stage optical amplifier includes an optical fiber with at least a first Raman amplifier fiber and a second Raman amplifier fiber. The optical fiber is configured to be coupled to at least one signal source that produces at least a signal wavelength &lgr;s and at least two pump sources that collectively produce a pump beam of wavelength &lgr;p. Pump wavelength &lgr;p is less than signal wavelength &lgr;s. Signal input, signal output and a first pump input port are each coupled to the optical fiber. The first Raman amplifier fiber is positioned between the signal input port and the pump input port. The second Raman amplifier fiber is positioned between the pump input port and signal output port. A second pump input port is coupled to the optical fiber and positioned between the second Raman amplifier fiber and the signal output port. A first lossy member is positioned between the pump input port and the signal output port.

Abstract: A telecommunications power distribution panel has a one-piece cast metal bus bar for distributing power from a power supply to a plurality of power distribution blocks through a circuit interrupter.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operating temperature within a card shelf having a plurality of discrete electronic cards includes receiving a first temperature indicative of an operating temperature of an item on one of the electronic cards. A second temperature indicative of an ambient temperature in which the electronic card is operating is also received. Based on the first and second temperatures, a temperature controller determines whether the item is operating within specified limits.

Abstract: A system is provided for transmitting data over a high latency communication link. The system transmits a data packet from a first device to a second device over a low latency communication link. The second device acknowledges receipt of the data packet to the first device over the low latency communication link. The second device then transmits the data packet over the high latency communication link. The high latency communication link may be a satellite communication link. The low latency communication link may be a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication link. The system may also acknowledge receipt of the data packet before completing transmission of the data packet over the high latency communication link. The system is also capable of transmitting data over a high bandwidth communication link or an asymmetrical communication link.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for switching redundancy control which provides fast switching from a malfunctioning component to a redundant component with minimum data flow interruption for both transmitted and received data. The redundancy control system having an APS (Automatic Switching Protection) Hub, at least a working and a redundant tributary card, a bridge to provide identical traffic to the working and redundant tributary cards, a working and a redundant STM switching fabric, selectors within the working and redundant STM switching fabrics for selecting the traffic from the working tributary card to further process, a working and a redundant ATM switching fabric, a working and a redundant ATM processor and ATM selectors for selecting traffic needing cell switching from the working STM switching fabric to process further.

Abstract: A wireless interface system comprising a set of input ports for keyboard, pointing device, and joystick signals, a data encoding circuit, a transmission unit, a receiving unit, a data decoding circuit, a keyboard data multiplexer unit, a pointing device data multiplexer unit, a joystick signal multiplexer unit, and a set of output interfaces for connecting to the corresponding computer ports. This system allows for the user to have a keyboard, pointing device, and joystick remotely located from the computer, and each input device shares a single wireless communication link to send its data to the computer.