Abstract: A stored directory is searched from a display station set to obtain the telephone number of a sought-after name. The arrangement uses the station set keypad to generate signals corresponding to the spelling of the sought-after name. The arrangement adds each entry it receives to previously formed sequence of entries and, for each newly formed sequence, returns to the station set the name and telephone number contained in a directory record having a string of characters that compare to the newly formed sequence. The arrangement also provides means for scrolling through the directory.

Abstract: A multi-stage time division switch interconnects processors communicating over one or more channels on time division lines. One of the processors is designated as a common processor to provide the switching "mapping" information for the various stages of the switch sending the switching information to the memory and logic of each switched stage over dedicated channels which include channels on the time division line emanating from the common processor and time division channels which pass through several switches until the memory of the applicable switch is accessed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a communication system and operating method wherein the manner in which all telephone calls are displayed at a station set allows uniform user operations to originate and terminate those calls. This is accomplished by having all calls dynamically assigned to the same set of general call appearances (buttons on a multibutton station set). There are no call appearances that are dedicated to specific call types. This allows the station set user to perform the same set of operations on all calls by using the same sequence of physical operations independent of the type of call. Additionally, the system may reserve one call appearance button at a station set for special use.

Abstract: A distributed packet switching system in which a centralized switch is not used and, instead, each transmitting port contains the intelligence required to derive and then insert the destination port and station addresses into the header of each packet to be transmitted by the port. The port circuitry that derives the destination addresses operates under control of a central controller which, prior to the setup of each call, receives information identifying the transmitting port and calling station as well as the destination station number dialed at the calling station. The controller processes this data to derive the destination port and station addresses. The derived addresses are sent to and stored in a RAM in the transmitting port. The RAM outputs the destination port and station addresses for each packet subsequently transmitted by the port on the call.

Abstract: The present administration arrangement disables any idle system apparatus which would be affected by the administration changes being made. In the station administration mode once the selected station is idle it is held in a forced idle state until administration is completed. During the system administration mode all idle stations are held in the forced idle state and all idle central office lines are placed in a forced busy state until system administration is completed. Station visual and audible signals indicate the administration status to system users. At the conclusion of administration, any forced idle stations and forced busy central office lines are returned to the normal state.

Abstract: A store and forward facility for use in a multiprocessing, multinode environment is disclosed wherein two fundamental processes (transfer and delivery) perform the bulk of the activities required in this facility. A transfer process permits the creation of a message by an originating applications process and transfers this message to a similar transfer process in each of the nodes to which the message is to be delivered. This message is then in turn transferred to a delivery process which maintains a work item for each message to be delivered to a destination applications process and causes a notification to be sent to that destination application process when an earliest delivery time specified in the message has been reached. The delivery process causes the destination applications process to be created if that process is not currently executing.

Abstract: In order to cool heat generating components on an electronic assembly without contamination by particles carried in a cooling gas stream, a cold plate is disposed adjacent the assembly, defining a gap region therebetween. The cooling gas is directed in proximity to the cold plate, dissipating heat transferred from the components to the plate. To enhance overall heat dissipation of the apparatus, an aperture is defined between the gap region and the gas stream, so that a negative pressure is induced in the gap by virtue of the Bernoulli principle. This pressure difference induces convection within the gap, increasing heat flow between the components and the plate, and resulting in overall improvement in heat dissipation. Embodiments in which the gas stream flow is parallel and transverse to the cold plate are described.

Abstract: There is disclosed an arrangement for testing each portion of a system by stimulating at an interface of the system the expected responses. Software scripts are pregenerated and compiled into system message commands. Each script contains sequences of expected message responses as well as stimuli messages. The system is designed to use a single interface without regard to the type of simulated messages.

Abstract: Apparatus and a technique for equalizing non-linear distortion in a received modulated data signal by (1) forming tentative decisions as to the values of data symbols represented by the signal preferably using a receiver including a conventional linear equalizer, (2) constructing a replica of the non-linear distortion in response to the tentative decisions, and (3) forming a final decision as to the data symbol values in response to signals including the replica. If desired, the final decisions can also be stored and fed back to the processor which forms the replica, so that the replica is a joint function of past final decisions and future tentative decisions regarding the data symbols represented by the signal samples. The present invention provides increased accuracy by using tentative decisions rather than input samples to form the non-linear distortion replica.

Abstract: A light-transmissive device, illustratively a glass plate, is disposed adjacent to a plurality of light-emissive pixel locations, illustratively the pixel locations of a cathode ray tube (CRT). The glass plate entraps light originating from the CRT at least when an object, such as a document, is placed on one of the surfaces of the light-transmissive device, the amount of light that is entrapped being a function of the reflectivity characteristics of the document. The pixel locations are successively energized and a light detection signal indicative of the level of the entrapped light is generated by photodetection circuitry disposed adjacent to the edge of the glass plate. A pixel signal is stored for each energized pixel location, that signal being a function of the level of the light detection signal during the time that that pixel location was energized. The ensemble of stored pixel signals can then, for example, be displayed.

Abstract: A power adapter is disclosed for use in connecting electrical power to a telephone station via a cross-connect jack. The power adapter has a plug-end for mating with the cross-connect field and a jack-end for receiving a cross-connect patch cord. The power adapter includes a two-conductor permanently attached power cord. Bent wire technology is used to connect the contacts of the receiving jack with the contacts of the plug while blade insertion technology is used for making contact with the ends of the power conductors.

Abstract: This integrated message service system provides a user both with an indication of which of a plurality of message service systems contain unretrieved messages and access to these unretrieved messages. This is accomplished by the serving telephone switching system maintaining a translation memory that indicates both the type of message services assigned to each user and the location of unretrieved messages in the assigned message services. The translation memory is updated every time a user creates a new message or accesses a previously stored message. The serving telephone switching system forwards all unretrieved messages from all the message service systems to a user when the user has accessed any one of the message service systems. This eliminates the need for a user to access all assigned message service systems to retrieve messages.

Abstract: Voice signals are transmitted over a voiceband telephone channel with a high degree of security and good voice quality by applying to the transmission channel a first signal which includes digital information derived from the vocal tract response of the signal and a second signal which includes continuous information derived from the excitation component of the voice signal.