Abstract: A method for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals is provided. The method includes applying a test signal at one point in the copper line. The test signal has a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme. A response of the copper line to the test signal is monitored, as influenced by the one or more user devices. The monitoring takes place at about the point where the test signal was applied. The suitability of the copper line for data transmission using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme is determined based on the monitored response of the copper line. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for impedance matching for an apparatus capable of supporting voice and data. The method includes receiving an input signal having at least one of a voice component, data component, and DC component, and filtering at least a portion of the data component and DC component of the input signal to provide a filtered signal. The method further includes adjusting an input impedance of the apparatus to a first preselected value for the voice band in response to the filtered signal and adjusting the input impedance of the first apparatus from the first preselected value to a second preselected value. The method includes adjusting at least one of a magnitude and phase of the filtered signal to adjust the input impedance to a third value.

Abstract: A near full duplex portable handset speakerphone comprises: a microprocessor; a hands-free receive register connected to the microprocessor; a hands-free transmit register connected to the microprocessor; a ROM having a speakerphone operation algorithm, the ROM connected to the microprocessor; a first analog-to-digital converter connected to the hands-free receive register; a second analog-to-digital converter connected to the hands-free transmit register; a first programmable digital attenuator connected to the microprocessor and to a speaker; and a second programmable digital attenuator connected to the microprocessor and to a microphone, wherein near full duplex communication is achieved without digital signal processing. In another feature of the invention, the hands-free registers provide a digital representation of the speech volume in each direction to the microprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is for providing a phantom battery feed to reduce power consumption in a differential amplifier circuit. A voltage signal is driven onto a telecommunications line using a first amplifier and a second amplifier. A phantom battery feed is performed during a negative cycle of the voltage signal. Performing the phantom battery feed comprises: supplying a negative supply terminal of the first amplifier with a supply voltage that is one-half of a full scale supply voltage; and supplying a positive supply terminal of the second amplifier with a supply voltage that is one-half of the full scale supply voltage.

Abstract: A capacitor cancellation method and apparatus for use in an interface circuit having a transformer blocking capacitor. The method includes sensing a voltage across the transformer blocking capacitor and generating a cancellation signal to compensate for the effect of the transformer blocking capacitor. The apparatus includes a sensor to sense a differential voltage across the transformer blocking capacitor to develop a capacitor signal and an amplifier to amplify the capacitor signal to obtain a cancellation signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided reducing false switch hook detection in a line card coupled to a subscriber loop. The method comprises operating in a first state of the line card, receiving a control signal, and disabling switch hook detection in the line card. The method further comprises determining an initial condition of a second state of the line card, operating in the second state of the line card in response to receiving the control signal, wherein the second state begins to operate from the determined initial condition. The switch hook detection in the line card is activated.

Abstract: A subscriber-line interface circuit (SLIC) has tip and ring amplifiers connected to the tip and ring lines, respectively, of customer premises equipment (CPE). The SLIC returns the ringing signal (provided to the CPE from a power supply connected to the CPE's ring line), to ground or to battery, through the SLIC's tip amplifier. In one embodiment, the SLIC has three switches: S1 connecting the power supply to the ring line, S2 connecting the ring amp to the ring line, and S3 connecting the tip amp to the tip line. During ringing, S1 and S3 are closed to return the ringing signal to ground through the tip amp, which is preferably driven to saturation during ringing to reduce power consumption. By eliminating the fourth switch that appears in prior-art SLICs (e.g., connecting the tip line to ground), SLICs of the present invention can be smaller and therefore less expensive to implement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for clamping of an electrostatic discharge using multiple time-constants. A rise in a voltage level is detected. A first time-constant is provided to determine whether the rise in the voltage level is caused by an electrostatic event. A clamping function is provided to clamp the voltage level in response to a determination that the rise in the voltage level is caused by the electrostatic event. A second time-constant is provided to provide a time period for maintaining the clamping function for a period of time to substantially extinguish the electrostatic event.

Abstract: A near full duplex portable handset speakerphone comprises: a microprocessor; a hands-free receive register connected to the microprocessor; a hands-free transmit register connected to the microprocessor; a ROM having a speakerphone operation algorithm, the ROM-connected to the microprocessor; a first analog-to-digital converter connected to the hands-free receive register; a second analog-to-digital converter connected to the hands-free transmit register; a first programmable digital attenuator connected to the microprocessor and to a speaker; and a second programmable digital attenuator connected to the microprocessor and to a microphone, wherein near full duplex communication is achieved without digital signal processing. In another feature of the invention, the hands-free registers provide a digital representation of the speech volume in each direction to the microprocessor.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided. The method includes detecting a synchronization signal within a plurality of channels. The method includes selecting a subset of the plurality of channels, wherein the subset includes more than one channel. The method further includes determining if the synchronization signal exists on at least one of the subset of channels and initiating communications in response to determining that the synchronization signal exists on at least one of the subset of channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving a signal over a connection from a telephonic device, determining if the signal is greater than a first preselected value, and adjusting a transient response time of a host transceiver configured to receive the signal in response to determining that the signal is greater than the first preselected value. The method further includes determining a switch hook state of the telephonic device based on a DC component of the signal. The apparatus includes first logic capable of receiving a signal over a connection from a telephonic device, second logic capable of determining if the signal is greater than a first preselected value, and third logic configured to receive the signal, the third logic being capable of adjusting a transient response of the apparatus configured to receive the signal in response to determining that the signal is greater than the first preselected value.

Abstract: An impedance warping circuit (IWC) and technique for compensating the effect of a blocking capacitor within a transformer of an interface circuit for passing plain old telephone service (POTS) band and asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) band signals on signals having frequencies in the POTS band. The IWC does not significantly affect the performance of the interface circuit in the ADSL band. The IWC synthesizes impedance to compensate the frequency-dependent deviation in the termination impedance across the tip/ring lines. The resulting termination impedance may be designed to conform to the Telcordia Standard of 900 ?+2.16 ?F or other telecommunication standards throughout the entire POTS band.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and a method for testing and evaluating a transmission line. A set of command and data signals is received through an input/output interface. The command and data signals from the input/output interface are processed for controlling at least one relay. At least one switch is activated for testing a transmission signal line using the relay. The transmission signal line is tested based upon the activated switch.

Abstract: A cordless communication device is provided in which a processor used to code and decode signals for the wireless communication is further used to process messages for an integral answering machine. An existing digital signal processor (DSP) within the cordless phone is used to code and decode signal for wireless communication between the base station and the handset. The coding scheme used for the wireless communication, for example, adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM), is also used for compressing, storing and retrieving messages used in the answering machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting at least one tone having a known frequency and duration in an input signal. The input signal is input over a period of time which is divided into frame portions including at least an initial frame portion and a last frame portion. An energy signal indicative of the energy of the input signal during each frame portion is generated. A signal filter receives the energy signal and generates a noise indicator for each frame portion based on whether noise is detected in the energy signal. A dynamic threshold determiner generates an energy threshold for each frame portion. The energy threshold for the initial frame portion is generated based on a minimum expected value of the energy signal for a subsequent frame portion. The energy thresholds for frame portions subsequent to the initial frame portion are generated based on values of the energy signals during previous frame portions and the noise indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a data controller, a subscriber line audio-processing circuit, and a controller. The data controller includes an input terminal and an output terminal capable of providing packet data. The subscriber line audio-processing circuit is capable of providing signals in a voice band. The controller is capable of transmitting at least one of signals in the voice band from the subscriber line audio-processing circuit and the packet data from the output terminal of the data controller.

Abstract: Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms resident in the alimentary tract of humans and animals can be prevented and treated by administering to the alimentary tract of the human or animal an effective amount of a composition containing at least one lectin capable of binding to an infective microorganism and diminishing its infective capability of the microorganism. The lectin is administered dispensed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic vehicle. Peptic ulcer disease caused by infection with H. pylori can be treated by oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen. A beneficial ecology of H. pylori! can be maintained in infected patients by chronic oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sensing current in a subscriber line. The method includes receiving a current signal from a driver capable of driving the current signal on the subscriber line, and generating a second signal in response to receiving the current signal, wherein the second signal is proportional to the current signal. The method includes receiving at least a portion of the current signal from a driver capable of sinking the portion of the current signal from the subscriber line, and generating a third signal in response to receiving at least the portion of the current signal, wherein the third signal is proportional to the portion of the current signal. The method further includes adding the second signal and the third signal to generate an output signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for encrypting a stream of data transmitted within a frame. The method includes determining a first initialization state in a first preselected interval, and determining the first initialization state in a second preselected interval, wherein the second preselected interval is less than the first preselected interval. The method includes generating a key stream in response to determining the first initialization state in the second preselected interval, and encrypting at least one bit of the stream of data with at least one bit of the key stream.

Abstract: A signal detector includes a transform unit and a post processing test unit. The transform unit is adapted to a transform unit adapted to receive at least first and second frames of input samples, determine a first plurality of energy values for the first frame based on a first set of transform coefficients, and determine a second plurality of energy values for the second frame based on a second set of transform coefficients. The post processing test unit is adapted to identify at least one target frequency based on the first plurality of energy values. The second set of transform coefficients is based on the target frequency, and the post processing unit is adapted to determine the presence of a first signal in the input samples based on the second plurality of energy values. A method for detecting a signal is provided. A first frame of input samples is received. A first set of transform coefficients is determined based on a first plurality of frequencies.