Abstract: A method of reconfiguring a multi-wavelength communication network. The transition includes determining the union of the old and new topologies. During at least the start of the transition, the network supports the union topology. New connections are connected according to the new topology, and the old topology, as its connections expire, is gradually removed. In allocating wavelengths to a new topology, two algorithms are developed which assign wavelengths which do not color clash with the wavelength assignments of the old topology.

Abstract: A queuing system and method to provide efficient and effective message communication between computers, processing devices, or network elements. The queue includes three tables. A message data table includes the message data. A message state table identifies several parameters about a message including a message time-stamp, state, and partition. The partition associates the message with a predetermined one of several message processors used to send and receive messages. Each message processor selects and sends only messages having a corresponding partition. The queue further includes a queued message table that lists all messages destined for a computer or other processing device that cannot receive messages. In this manner, failed messages in the queued table are taken out of a processing queue until the off-line computer or other processing device comes back on line.

Abstract: A novel video object extraction has a first object 12, such as a foreground object, illuminated with visible light 16 and a second object 14, such as a background object, illuminated with a combination of infrared 18 and visible light 16. A novel camera system observes the scene. The novel camera system includes an infrared light camera 24 and a visible light camera 20. The infrared light camera output 24 contains bright images of the second object 14, with relatively little brightness of the first object 12. The signal from this infrared light camera 20, once thresholded, serves as a key to remove the second object 14 from the video image captured by the visible light camera 20.

Abstract: A system and method that allow a subscriber to have incoming telephone calls automatically screened and directed is described. The system allows a subscriber to automatically manage his incoming communications in a way that is easy to control and which requires a minimum of unnecessary interruptions. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) which is accessible through the subscriber's personal digital assistant (200), a Network Interface (304), a service control module (306), and a database (308). The system and method allow a subscriber to have all of his incoming telephone calls screened in order to identify those that are of the high importance to the subscriber. The subscriber controls this system by user-friendly interfaces to a name and telephone number database and an appointment calendar database.

Abstract: A wide area information system includes a client and at least one server on which audio data is stored. Audio data is selectively transferred to the client from the server by at least occasionally establishing a transfer connection between the server and the client. The transfer of audio data is controlled by user-selected commands and inputs that are entered via an input interface provided on the client. These commands and inputs are also transferred to the server via the at least occasionally established transfer connection between the client and the server. The audio data on the server is organized in page units that are cross-linked by way of hyperaudio links. The page units are characteristically searchable with the use of cyclically repeating directory pages of audible directory information. Finally, a data protocol is defined for enabling such an audio-based system.

Abstract: A system for connecting fiber optic telecommunications and video services to individual homes using a single twisted pair or coaxial cable line between the optical network unit and each service location. The single twisted pair or coaxial cable line connects to a broadband gateway located at the home, from which both telephone lines and other services may be delivered. Under this invention, the optical network units serve solely as connection and routing points for the drop lines, with telephone, video, and other services derived through the broadband gateway.

Abstract: Method and system for preventing copying of textual images during display on a screen. The method includes randomly adding bits to the bitmapped background of the textual image to produce two random bitmapped textual images. The random bitmapped images are then alternately displayed on the screen so that the instantaneous display of the on screen textual images is unreadable. By a second method, the bits that form the bitmapped image of the text bits are randomly modified to produce a pair of random bitmapped texts. The random bit mapped text pairs are then alternately flickered on the display screen. Again, by this second method, the instantaneous display of the on screen textual images is unreadable. Although in both cases the instantaneous display is unreadable, the human eye averages the two different bitmapped images as they alternate on screen so that the text is human readable.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for providing wireless access to a network, such as the internet. The disclosed technique takes into account the inherent asymmetric and bursty characteristics of internet communication to obtain more efficiency in the communication between a user and an access provider. In doing so, the invention provides a technique that can be used to economically provide wireless access to the internet at data rates that are comparable to what a user would receive over ISDN lines.

Abstract: A video conferencing system and method that uses a central multimedia bridge to combine multimedia signals from a plurality of conference participants into a single composite signal for each participant. The system gives each conference participant the ability to customize their individual display of other participants, including keying in and out selected portions of the display and overlapping displayed images, and the ability to identify individual images in a composed video stream by click and drag operations or the like. The system uses a chain of video composing modules that can be extended as necessary to combine video signal streams from any number of conference participants in real time. Multimedia association software is provided for associating different media types to enhance display and manipulation capabilities for multimedia uses. The system also allows each user to dynamically change who can receive the information they provide to the conference.

Abstract: A secure hash function according to the present invention uses a stretch function 202 and a compression function 202 to provide a secure hash value. A stretch function is a function which increases an input string (pre-image). In one version of the invention, a stretch function .function. maps l-bit inputs into 2m bit, where 2m>l. Preferably, the stretch function .function. is one-way. The stretch function randomizes the input string. The output of the stretch function is fed into a compression function c, which compresses the stretch function output from 2m bits to 2n bits, where m>n. The compression function is preferably a cryptographic primitive selected from a family of compression functions. In a preferred embodiment, a standard key scheduling algorithm of the cryptographic compression function (such as DES) is replaced and an output of the stretch function is used as the key.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing interference between an uplink transmitter of a space-based wireless communication system and an uplink or downlink receiver of a terrestrial wireless communication system are described. The space-based system may be a Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) system and the terrestrial system may be a Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) system. An ordered list of preferred uplink transmission frequencies is assigned to all FSS uplinks located in a particular cell of the LMDS system. Different ordered lists are used in different cells of the LMDS system, while uplinks located in the same cell can utilize the same ordered list. A given potentially-interfering uplink transmitter selects an uplink transmission frequency from the appropriate ordered list if the uplink is unable to operate outside the LMDS frequency band and there are no gaps in the LMDS spectrum which can accommodate the uplink transmission.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual display (300) which provides a wide field-of-view that is lightweight and may be as thin as ordinary eyeglasses. One version of the invention includes a display (302), such as an LCD, a microlens array (304), and an aperture array (306) disposed between the LCD and the microlens array. The virtual display provides a pin-point of light for each pixel (306) of a display (302). Each pin-point of light in collaboration with an associated microlens (308) generates a directed ray of light. The ensemble of these rays forms a coherent image on a viewer's retina. Using high "f" number microlenses permits a very short focal length between the pin-points and the microlenses and thus provides a very thin virtual display. The aperture array may be provided by a plate disposed between the display and the lens, or it may be apertures configured on the back side (away from the viewer) of the microlenses or on the front (towards the viewer) of the display.

Abstract: A system for interfacing a service activation controller and a service management system allows a remote system to generate, update and delete call processing records and to create, update and delete tables. A provisioning message with one or more requests is sent to the service management system to process each request in the message, which identifies a unique logic template and one or more data templates and includes customized call variables data for inserting into a service record created from the template or updating an already created record. The resulting service record is activated by inputting the request to an integrated service point.

Abstract: An InP-based opto-electronic integrated circuit including an active layer having one or more quantum wells (36, 38). According to the invention, a barrier layer (34) of AlGaInAs is formed, preferably between the quantum wells and the substrate (30) to prevent the migration of species from the substrate and lower InP layers that tend to shift the emission wavelengths of the quantum wells to shorter wavelengths, i.e., a blue shift. The barrier layer can be patterned so that some areas of the quantum wells exhibit blue shifting to a shorter wavelength while other areas retain their longer wavelength during annealing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing overload of a network server by messages received from a source initiating network server transactions. The method and apparatus use available network traffic measurements to estimate target transaction rates and admission factors. The method includes the steps, executed by a processor, of establishing a target incoming transaction workload per measurement interval (602), estimating from measurements obtained during the measurement interval the transaction workload offered by a source (604), and reducing a rate at which new transactions are initiated by the source to match the incoming transaction workload to the target workload when the offered transaction workload exceeds a threshold (606).

Abstract: In the proposed Local Number Portability (LNP) telecommunications network, the traditional link between the first six digits of a ten-digit dialed number and the geographic link of a switch is broken. Some pre-LNP telephone services, however, have been implemented based on this geographic link. For the services to continue to work in an LNP environment, network databases must be simultaneously updated with information reflecting the fact that subscribers have switched from one local service provider to another. If these databases are not simultaneously updated, the possibility for looping messages between network elements arises. The present invention provides a method and system for controlling looping messages between network elements wherein a unique code for each incoming message is generated and stored along with the time the message was received.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a call processing record that receives a provisioning request including call data, a logic template identifier, and one or more data template identifiers. The logic template and the data templates are identified based on the logic template identifier and the data template identifiers. The templates are accessed and the call data is inserted into call variables in the templates to create a call processing record with multiple blocks.

Abstract: A technique for delivering analog video over fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks addresses a fundamental problem of the standard signal format, i.e., power budget constraint, by increasing the usable optical signal efficiency. In particular, a technique is provided for transmitting an efficient modified analog video which is compatible with existing receivers. More specifically, the synchronization portion of a standard NTSC video signal is reduced in amplitude during transmission, producing an appreciable increase in the allowable optical modulation index (OMI).

Abstract: A periodic wireless data transmission has improved access latency obtaining information regarding users' interest in the information and by arranging the information on an transmission in order of descending popularity. In one embodiment, each adjacent pair of topics on the transmission. The topics' positions on the transmission are exchanged if the exchange decreases the average latency for all users. This may be repeated for all of the topics on the transmission. The transmission structure may also be arranged so that the transmission combines a number of transmission channels to obtain greater aggregate capacity. This may be done using, for example, an FDMA transmission structured to be theoretically comparable to a plurality of "striped" disks known as a RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks).

Abstract: A coating of a vinylidene fluoride polymer on a metal foil is heated at about 350.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere of inert gas to provide a rechargeable battery current collector having an exceptional bonding surface which maintains a long-lasting and highly-conductive laminate interface with an associated polymeric battery electrode composition.