Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a magnetic rotatable roller with a smooth even outer surface for aligning magnetic flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint vehicle to create optically variable images in a high-speed, linear printing operation. Images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes. Magnetic flakes in the ink are aligned using magnetic portions of the roller, that can be formed by permanent magnets embedded in a non-magnetic roller body, or selectively magnetized portions of a flexible magnetic cover of the roller. In some embodiments, the roller is assembled for a plurality of interchangeable sections, which can include spinning magnets. Selected orientation of the magnetic pigment flakes can achieve a variety of illusive optical effects that are useful for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: A scanning optical spectrometer with a detector array is disclosed, in which position of focused spot of light at the input of a dispersive element such as arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) with a slab input, is scanned using a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) tiltable micromirror so as to make the dispersed spectrum of light scan over the detector array coupled to the AWG. Sub-spectra recorded using individual detectors are concatenated by a processor unit to obtain the spectrum of input light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for identifying an origin of captured DOCSIS upstream bursts are disclosed. Upstream bursts are captured without knowing their allocated time slots in advance. Information from an upstream channel descriptor is used to generate RF waveforms of upstream burst preambles, which arc then correlated to the captured upstream waveforms to determine the type of captured upstream bursts without having to decode the latter. Once the type of the captured upstream bursts is determined, information from the upstream channel descriptor is further used to demodulate and decode the upstream burst, so that CPE MAC addresses can be extracted. From the extracted CPE MAC addresses, the origin of the captured upstream bursts can be identified. The identification of origins of captured upstream bursts assists in locating faults in the cable network.

Abstract: A method for determining the existence of calls in a VoIP system is disclosed. The present method enables calls that escape detection under known methods to be captured and analyzed, thereby improving the operation of a monitoring component that incorporates the principles disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an undetermined user datagram protocol (“UDP”) data packet is captured. Analysis of the UDP packet is conducted to determine whether the packet conforms to real-time transfer protocol (“RTP”) or real-time transfer control protocol (“RTCP”) protocols that are associated with VoIP calls. If the packet corresponds to RTP or RTCP protocols, further analysis is conducted to determine whether the packet corresponds to an already-identified call. If not, a new call record is created to track the packet and all other packets relating to the call. Analysis of various metrics and other properties of the packet can then be conducted as needed.

Abstract: A compact PD unidirectivity solution for an optical tap monitor, which reduces the overall size of optical tap module, is provided. The solution is to use lensing to separate the light from the input and output fibres, and then add a mask or spacer in front of the monitor PD to prevent any of the light from the output fiber from entering the photodetector package.

Abstract: A method for mounting a semiconductor device onto a composite substrate, including a submount and a heat sink, is described. According to one aspect of the invention, the materials for the submount and the heat sink are chosen so that the value of coefficient of thermal expansion of the semiconductor device is in between the values of coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the submount and the heat sink, the thickness of the submount being chosen so as to equalize thermal expansion of the semiconductor device to that of the surface of the submount the device is mounted on. According to another aspect of the invention, the semiconductor device, the submount, and the heat sink are soldered into a stack at a single step of heating, which facilitates reduction of residual post-soldering stresses.

Abstract: A replay analyzer is disclosed. The replay analyzer is able to capture traffic from a transmission medium such as a buss and store it in a trace buffer. The replay analyzer can replay that captured data repeatedly as desired and can trigger activity based on patterns found in the captured data. If desired, the captured data may be used for purposes of traffic generation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method comprises capturing, by an eavesdropping device, a packet communicated over a communication network. The eavesdropping device scans the packet's payload, and determines if an identifier is included in the packet's payload that identifies the packet as containing content of interest to the eavesdropping device. Based at least in part on determining that the packet's payload includes such identifier, the eavesdropping device uses the content of interest contained in the packet's payload. In one embodiment, a method comprises forming a packet containing content intended for an eavesdropping device, wherein the packet includes a header portion and a payload portion. The payload portion comprises a) a predefined identifier that identifies the packet as containing the content intended for the eavesdropping device, b) the content intended for the eavesdropping device, and c) an authentication token. The packet is directed via a communication network to a destination.

Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of a communications network supporting a plurality of communications devices comprises providing a number of the plurality of the communications terminals with respective software agents to make respective measurements in relation to an attribute of a communications service supported by the communications network. The number of the plurality of communications terminals is equipped with position determination capabilities so as to provide global position information with respect to a measurement made. The measurement made and the corresponding location is communicated to a performance processing application that supports a database and stored by the performance processing application in the database, thereby recording a representation of a variation of the attribute of the communications service with respect to location.

Abstract: A networking system may include one or more nodes communicating with each other. The nodes may communicate via one or more links, which a switch or other structure may provide. The networking system may include one or more pools of at least one network diagnostic module. A network diagnostic module may test one or more links and may be configured to rove among a plurality of links. The networking system may include an alarm module. The alarm module may configure one or more network diagnostic modules to test a link. Preferably, the alarm module may, at least partially in response to a first network diagnostic module detecting particular conditions on a link, configure one or more other network diagnostic modules to test a link. The alarm module may configure the one or more other network diagnostic modules according to priority.

Abstract: A harmonic frequency conversion module is disclosed including a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber optical link for providing an output stabilized from power fluctuation by the inclusion of one or more polarizers in the PM fiber optical link. Removing polarization distortions removes noise which has a significant negative effect on the output of harmonic frequency conversion elements. It has been found that the noise in frequency converted light has additional components, caused by mode interaction during conversion. In accordance with the present invention, we are able to remove the spikes in this noise, making it more stable and less dependent on external conditions. If the PM optical fiber route consists of multiple elements creating polarization distortions, a polarizer should be inserted between the most distorting element and the output of the fiber system. If many elements contribute to polarization distortions, several polarizers can be inserted into the system.

Abstract: Diffractive patterns are disposed on a MEMS substrate in the gaps between the MEMS micromirrors to reduce backreflection of light leaking through the gaps and reflected by the MEMS substrate. The diffractive patterns are silicon surface-relief diffraction gratings or silicon oxide gratings on silicon substrate. Sub-wavelength gratings are used to suppress higher orders of diffraction; 50% duty cycle surface relief gratings on a substrate having index of refraction close to 3 are used to suppress both reflected and transmitted zero orders of diffraction simultaneously. The gratings have lines running parallel or at a slight angle to the gaps, to prevent the diffracted light from re-entering the gaps.

Abstract: An electrical termination circuit for a traveling wave optoelectronic device is disclosed. The electrical termination circuit is constructed to reflect a portion of a radio-frequency signal back into the optoelectronic device. The reflected signal is out of phase with the applied radio-frequency signal at a frequency of a detrimental spectral feature or a bump in an electro-optical transfer characteristic of the optoelectronic device. The amplitude and the phase of the reflected signal are selected so as to suppress the detrimental spectral feature without a significant reduction in the efficiency of electro-optical or optical-electrical transformation of the optoelectronic device.

Abstract: Measurement sensors are designed to provide metadata to data recording devices in an opportunistic manner to conserve bandwidth and/or power. In one embodiment, the metadata is communicated to the recording device during opportunistic periods, such as, for example, when actual data transmission can be skipped, or when battery level is high, or when there is enough bandwidth, i.e., other sensors are not using the full allocated bandwidth. In one embodiment, a plurality of sensors each only send a portion of their data such that all the portions taken together form the complete metadata. In another embodiment, each sensor only sends an identification of its type and the receiving device “looks up” the full metadata from a database.

Abstract: An optical modulator for fiberoptic telecommunications is disclosed in which the optical signal velocity in the modulator waveguide and the electrical signal velocity in the traveling wave signal electrode are purposely mismatched by a factor of up to about 4. On-chip integrated inductors and capacitors are implemented to achieve the velocity mismatch. Improved electro-optic characteristics, such as return loss and sharper cut-off bandwidth are obtained.

Abstract: Systems for ordering network packets. In one example embodiment, a networking system includes a processor and memory. The memory has stored thereon a routing data structure, a transaction data structure, and first packet-route-to data. The processor is configured to receive a packet; to copy second route-to data from an entry in the routing data structure to the first packet-route-to data, the entry being associated with an identifier associated with the packet, the second route-to data comprising a value indicating that the packet should be routed back to the processor; to determine whether the packet is in order; to, when the packet is in order, copy third route-to data to the first packet-route-to data, the third route-to data comprising a value indicating that the packet should be routed to a destination; and to route the packet according to the first packet-route-to data.

Abstract: A modulation system and a method for generating a return-to-zero (RZ) optical data signal are provided. The modulation system comprises a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator and a drive circuit, which includes a logic XOR gate and a differential amplifier. The logic XOR gate applies a logic XOR operation to a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) electrical data signal and an inverse of an electrical clock signal to generate an electrical intermediate signal. The differential amplifier differentially amplifies the electrical intermediate signal and an inverse of the NRZ electrical data signal to generate an RZ electrical drive signal. The drive circuit drives the MZ modulator with the RZ electrical drive signal to generate the RZ optical data signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for framing mobile communication signals for analysis are disclosed herein. In one example, a framing module of a mobile communication system comprises a channel extractor, a framing path, and a feedback path. The channel extractor enables a user to assign voice and data channels in a number of timeslots. The framing path is configured to monitor parameters of the channels and assemble pieces of channel information to create a frame. The feedback path is configured to analyze a signaling channel from the frame and to analyze one or more parameters of the signaling channel to determine a list of appropriate framing protocols. The framing path is further configured to determine whether a framing protocol for a frame is included in the framing protocol list.

Abstract: A user operable component is displayed on a display device and receives user input to assign weight factors for optimization criteria for a communications event from a structured collection of data. Another user operable component is displayed on the display device and receives user input to assign weight factors for optimization criteria for the communication event from another structured collection of data. A network utilization/quality score is obtained from said network utilization/quality criteria and the assigned weight factors, and is displayed on the display device. An optimization score is obtained from said optimization criteria and the assigned weight factors and is also displayed on the display device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method monitor RTP streams between first and second endpoints within a network. A network analyzer is connected at an intermediate point between the first and second endpoints within the network, to extract and process data from RTCP packets to select and monitor the RTP streams accumulated therein having a worst-case jitter and packet loss within the network.