Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting service interactions in intelligent networks. According to the invention, the detection method comprises a first stage in which services are formally specified and a second stage in which the thus specified services are checked for possible interactions. In the formal specification, use is made of conditions defining the execution of the services, such as pre conditions, post conditions and global conditions. The second stage is suitable for computer-assisted execution.

Abstract: Determining, in a transport network, a link between a source and a destination. The network is partitioned into subnetworks between which sublinks are determined. Each subnetwork has access points which indicate the transport capacity of the subnetwork between the access points. The sublinks, in each case, extend from a first access point to a second access point. In a network having a distributed control, the sublinks are determined successively between the link already determined and a remaining subnetwork. In this arrangement, the remaining subnetwork, in each case, includes an access point already associated with the destination and does not include an access point already associated with the link. Preferably, the access points, in each case, indicate the available capacity of a subnetwork.

Abstract: The methods and devices according to the invention supplement messages, which are to be exchanged between systems based on different protocol versions and which are provided with an information element of a second type, with an information element of a first type, and vice versa. As a result greater design freedom in the development of subsequent compatible protocol versions, as well as subsequent non-compatible protocol versions, is obtained. Further systems based on non-compatible protocol versions can even communicate directly with any type of receiving system. Furthermore, in this arrangement the drawback of needing to know, in advance, the protocol version on which the receiving system is based, does not apply.

Abstract: A known system having a transceiver device (such as a radiotelephone, or walkie-talkie) for the transmission and reception of speech information via a speech channel in a wireless manner is only able to transmit and receive short data messages via an organization channel, switching means present in the transceiver device determining the channel with which the transceiver device is coupled through. As a result of expanding the system with a modulator/demodulator device, it can transmit and receive large quantities of data via the speech channel, an increased efficiency of the system being obtained by triggering the switching means from the modulator/demodulator device.

Abstract: Known methods for determining base station locations are based on human choice of that location which has the lowest degree of coverage (i.e. locally too little or no field strength present of neighboring base stations). The method according to the invention involves automated determination of base station locations by calculating, for each location, a number which is a function of a parameter associated with that location (telephone traffic, field strength, motor traffic) and of parameters belonging to adjoining locations, and by assigning a base station to the location having the most extreme number. Then the parameter associated with that location, and the parameters associated with adjoining locations are each adjusted on the basis of an adjustment function associated with the base station, and new numbers are calculated which are a function of the new, adjusted parameters, etc.

Abstract: Clock recovery circuit for an ATM receive,r that automatically derives the frequency of the source signal which is transmitted by the ATM cells. A subcircuit (3, 4, 5) determines, on the basis of the cell rate, the nominal bit rate of the source signal and generates a clock signal having a frequency which is consistent therewith. A second subcircuit (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) corrects, in proportion to the difference between the nominal bit rate and a mean actual bit rate, the frequency of the clock signal generated by the first subcircuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of providing connections in a communications network, a connection being set up by a server in response to a service request from a client, the method comprising the steps of providing a representation of a connection corresponding to the respective service request, and of establishing the connection on the basis of the representation. According to the invention the method is characterized in that the representation comprises at least two levels of abstraction. This provides the possibility for the client to choose and manipulate a suitably detailed representation of the connection. Preferably, only the representation having the highest level of abstraction is initially offered to the client, the other representation or representations only being presented upon subsequent client request.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing an environment-dependent access number of a voice mail box, comprising interpreting the environment-dependent access number and converting it into an environment-independent access number, with the environment-dependent access number being capable of comprising an abbreviated access number related to a specific sub-environment, with interpreting taking place on the basis of properties of the access number, and with said properties comprising the presence of one or more prefixes. In accordance with the invention said properties, on the basis of which interpreting takes place, furthermore comprise the length of the environment-dependent access number. Preferably the environment-independent access number is composed of a first part and a second part, with one part corresponding with an abbreviated access number or an international access number and the other part comprising an additional code, which can be a code related to a sub-environment.

Abstract: An optical coupling device for a node in a self-healing optical network, wherein the number of switching elements is reduced by using a novel type of optical 2.times.2-switch. The switch has two switching states: (i) a bar state (ss1) in which a first and a second main port are optically coupled through to a first and a second secondary port, respectively; and (ii) a half-cross state (ss2) in which the main ports are coupled through to one another and in which the secondary ports are not involved in any through-coupling. An integrated design of the switch is based on two asymmetric Y-junctions coupled to one another via a common side branch in which electrodes are active in order to vary the propagation constant. Accordingly, a compact, integrated version of the optical coupling device with only two switching elements can be achieved.

Abstract: Known methods for being capable of carrying out, with the same data carrier, various authentication processes are based on non-standardized data carriers (smart cards) on which there are stored two different access codes. Per first authentication process, a first user generates a first user code which is compared to a version, transformed by way of a transformation, of a first access code stored on the data carrier. Per second authentication process, a second user generates a second user code which is compared to a version, transformed by way of the transformation, of a second access code stored on the data carrier. By now having the transformation in this case take place, per other authentication process, by way of another transformation, there may be used, for different authentication processes, the same worldwide standardized data carrier on which there is stored only one access code.

Abstract: Known processor systems comprising a processor and memory fields for implementing human-computer interfaces each having a number of elements each element representing a function are rather inflexible systems. The processor system according to the invention is a very flexible system, in that it receives a user code and generates an adjustable code which is allocated to an element and which depends upon the user code. This adjustable code can be a transmission code representing transmission information or can be a display code like an element code representing a display element being enabled or disabled or an element parameter representing a number of times a display element has been activated.

Abstract: An admission device for admitting data cells having VC codes, to a transmission medium, includes a device for reading out the VC code of an arriving data cell, a device for comparing a count value, which is a measure of the load of the data cell with the read out VC code, with a threshold value selected by a sort code which is either derived from the arriving data cell, or has an external origin, such as a network-control system or network monitoring system located outside the admission device, and a device for thereafter issuing an admission code having a value which depends on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: Acoustic information which is generated via telecommunications terminals such as ordinary telephone sets may reach a videotelephone located at the other end of a telecommunications connection in an insufficiently clear degree, if at all, while the videotelephone is conducting an investigation into the kind of telecommunications terminal which is located at one end of the telecommunications connection. By providing the telecommunications terminal with a detection circuit for the detection of a first signal of a previously established type, and providing it with an activating circuit coupled to the detection circuit for generating, in response to the detected first signal of the previously established type, an activating signal for the prevention of the premature transmission of second signals, the above-mentioned possibility is strongly reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protected payment with electronic payment device, such as "intelligent" payment cards ("smart cards"), in a variable number of steps. In this connection, use is made of a non-reversible function, of which successive function values are provided by the payment device to the payment station in question by way of proof of payment. On the basis of these function values, there may take place both a verification and a determination of the number of steps. Such method finds application, e.g., in public telephones and in copiers. The invention further relates to a payment device and a payment system for applying the method.

Abstract: A transmission system for sub-networks having different transmission protocols. Control codes which are assigned to a message in a source sub-network are converted at the transition with a first intermediate sub-network, into reference codes which are compatible with a reference protocol ("meta protocol"). Subsequently, control codes are assigned both to the message and to its reference codes, which control codes are compatible with the protocol in the first intermediate sub-network. At each subsequent sub-network transition, control codes are always assigned to both the message and to the reference codes, which control codes are compatible with the local protocol of the subsequent intermediate sub-network ("tunnelling"). At the interface of the last intermediate sub-network and the destination sub-network, after removing the local control codes, the reference codes are converted into control codes which are compatible with the local protocol of the destination sub-network.

Abstract: Known interface arrangements for coupling a first arrangement based on a first protocol and a second arrangement based on a second protocol are not flexible. By providing a memory of the interface arrangement with at least a first memory field for storing second information elements and a second memory field for storing third information elements, and by comparing a first information element received from the first arrangement with the stored second information element and in case of equality supplying either the received first information element or the stored second information element to the second arrangement and in case of inequality further comparing the received first information element with the stored third information element and selecting a stored second information element which corresponds to the stored third information element and supplying the selected stored second information element to the second arrangement, an interface arrangement is created which is very flexible.

Abstract: A device for establishing boundaries in a bit stream is disclosed, which converts a first number of bits of the bit stream into a second number of bits (that is, the CRC is determined) and compares the second number of bits with a third number of bits of the bit stream. The converting means comprises discounting means for discounting the effect on the conversion process of at least one bit situated outside the first number of bits. The device establishes the boundary of the bit stream after a minimal time span, even for very high bit rates per bit shift.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a processed manner on a communication channel, in which a first series (1) of data is converted into a second series (2) of data by means of a first operation (P), the second series (2) of data is transmitted on the communication channel and the second series of data is then converted into a third series (3) of data by means of a second operation (P.sup.-1). Check data (4) are formed on the basis of the first series (1) and are added to the second series (2). Subsequently, the integrity of the third series (3) is checked using the check data (4). The operations may comprise, respectively, data compression and data decompression. The check data are subjected to a protection operation (S) before they are added to the second series. Preferably, the method takes place at layer 3 of the so-called OSI model. The invention furthermore provides devices for using the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a device (1) for providing a transparent exchange of commands and data between an IC card (11) and a remote terminal (42) via a communication network (41). The device (1) acoustically couples the IC card (11) with a telephone set (43). In order to speed up the exchange of data and commands, the device (1) preferably utilizes high level commands which represent several low level card commands. However, low level commands may also be transparently passed as a special high level command. The device (1) is inexpensive but allows an efficient use of IC cards for, e.g., payment and identification purposes.