Abstract: A decoding method is carried out in a receiver configured to accept format information relating to sequences of input data, to use format information in the decoding of each input sequence, and to issue an acknowledgement signal in the event that an input sequence is successfully decoded. The method involves receiving a format message pertaining to a new input sequence, searching a candidate set of format indices an index best satisfying a criterion for matching to the format message, and selecting the index giving the best match. Before searching, the receiver reads the acknowledgement signals issued in response to the decoding or attempted decoding of recent input sequences. If the acknowledgement signals satisfy an appropriate condition, the search is limited to fewer than all the indices in the candidate set. The format information that corresponds to the selected index is used in decoding the new input sequence.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving output signals from each receiver of multiple receivers, the output signals generated based on receipt of a same transmission; incrementing a count value associated with each receiver based on the output signals; and determining whether a fault in a receiver exists based on the associated count values of the receivers.

Abstract: A method, software, and computer system for defending against virus attacks is described. Assume that a computer system receives an instruction to run an executable file. Before the computer system runs the executable file, the computer system determines if the executable file is certified to run on the computer system. If the executable file is not certified, then the computer system prevents the executable file from running. If the executable file is certified, then the computer system determines if the executable file has been modified since being certified. If the executable file has been modified, then the computer system prevents the executable file from running. If the executable file has been certified and has not been modified, then the computer system runs the executable file. Because many viruses are included in executable files, virus attacks may be prevented by requiring executable files to be certified before they can run.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an optical data transmission system of enhanced flexibility is provided by sub-band multiplexing of a WDM channel. Specifically, an exemplary optical data transmission system comprises an optical source for generating a plurality of frequency spaced optical tones within at least one WDM channel, a plurality of modulators for modulating the tones, and an optical transmission fiber for receiving and transmitting the modulated tones. An advantage of this system is that the tones are coherent. As a consequence, the need for guard bands is substantially reduced, and more flexible coding systems can be used to achieve a higher level of integration. For example, both amplitude and phase coding can be applied to the sub-band signals.

Abstract: An optical pulse monitor (OPM) that determines an optical phase profile for a pulse train by (i) modulating the optical phase of pulses in the pulse train using a periodic waveform and (ii) generating a derivative of a spectrum of the resulting modulated signal with respect to the waveform's amplitude. In one embodiment, an OPM has a phase modulator that modulates the optical phase of pulses in a received pulse train using a periodic waveform supplied by a configurable drive circuit. The drive circuit temporally aligns the waveform with the pulse train to serially produce each of four selected temporal alignments. An optical signal analyzer measures a spectrum of the modulated signal generated by the modulator for each of these four temporal alignments and provides the four measured spectra to a processor. The processor uses the measured spectra to determine two spectrum derivatives with respect to the waveform's amplitude.

Abstract: Rather than transmitting a large full Broadcast-Multicast Services (BCMC) Parameters Message (BSPM) containing a full set of BSPM parameters pertaining to all active BCMC flows within a sector on an infrequent basis, smaller-sized differential or partial BSPMs are instead transmitted. Differential BSPMs contain updated information for existing flows or information for new flows, and because of their smaller size, can be transmitted more frequently than full BSPMs. A mobile terminal receiving a differential BSPM updates the flows with the information contained within the differential BSPM or adds the information contained within the differential BSPM for a new flow. Partial BSPMs divide the flow information contained in a large full BSPM over a plurality of smaller-sized partial BSPMs, which are separately and sequentially transmitted at different times. A mobile terminal receiving these partial BSPMs then reconstructs the full BSPM from a collection of received partial BSPMs.

Abstract: A low-ripple optical device comprising an optical demultiplexer structure and an optical multiplexer structure cascaded together wherein one of the structures exhibits n passband maxima and the other device exhibits n+1 passband maxima.

Abstract: The inventors propose herein a switch fabric architecture that allows broadcasting and fast channel access in the ns-range. In various embodiments of the present invention, 10 Gb/s receiver modules are based on a novel heterodyne receiver and detection technique, which is tolerant to moderate wavelength drifts of a local oscillator. A gain clipped electrical amplifier is used in the novel receiver as a rectifier for bandpass signal recovery.

Abstract: A method for reducing the problem space associated with determining intra-network circuit provisioning paths within a large communications network by selecting only a sub-set of the total network nodes, including the start-node and end-node of a communication path by bounding, using one of a plurality of predefined shapes having an appropriate size, and calculating the best path using only the network elements included within the sub-set of total nodes.

Abstract: Techniques for synchronizing the clock of a local telecommunications network connected to a remote clock source through an asynchronous transport network such as an Ethernet metropolitan area transport network. A basic holdover loop for retaining the current reconstructed clock frequency signal receives weighted corrections from an open loop and a network time protocol filter loop. The open loop measures data packet interarrival times on the local network and calculates a first reconstructed clock frequency signal. The network time protocol loop applies network time protocol to generate timestamps over the asynchronous transport network which are used to generate a second reconstructed clock frequency signal. The first and second reconstructed clock frequency signals are combined using dynamically adjusted weight factors and compared with the current reconstructed clock frequency signal to correct the latter which then synchronizes the clock of the local telecommunications network.

Abstract: A device, a Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-Switch (MEMS) safety and arming (S&A) device and a method of manufacturing the MEMS S&A. In one embodiment, the device includes a body and a MEMS shuttle movably coupled to the body. In this embodiment, the shuttle is configured to close a switch in response to being accelerated in two directions that are substantially orthogonal.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for modulating an optical signal. The apparatus includes a spatial dispersion mechanism and a modulating mechanism. The spatial dispersion mechanism spatially disperses the optical signal. The spatially dispersed optical signal has a plurality of frequency components where each frequency component has an associated beam size. The modulating mechanism includes an array of modulating components where each modulating component has a pitch. The pitch of each modulating component is substantially equal to or less than the beam size of each frequency component.

Abstract: Improved cryptographic techniques are provided by which a device that performs private key operations (e.g., signatures and/or decryptions), and whose private key operations are protected by a password, is immunized against offline dictionary attacks in case of capture by forcing the device to confirm a password guess with a designated entity or party in order to perform a private key operation, and by which the initiating device may dynamically delegate the password-checking function (i.e., confirmation of the password guess) from the originally designated entity or party to another designated entity or party.

Abstract: In a network architecture, selective grooming is performed. In selective grooming, a low traffic node is coupled (a) directly to an other low traffic node via a high capacity trunk, and (b) to a high traffic node via a high capacity trunk such that only a portion of the client signals destined for the other low traffic node are groomed into the high capacity trunk to the high traffic node.

Abstract: One embodiment of a shock apparatus comprises a plurality of impact objects spatially ordered according to decreasing mass along a substantially linear path; a guide to guide movement of the impact objects along the path; and a plurality of spacers, one spacer between each adjacent pair of impact objects in the spatial order. The guide and spacers enable a plurality of temporally ordered impacts involving the plurality of impact objects. In one embodiment, at least one of the impact objects comprises an impact portion positioned at a point where the impact object impacts at least one other impact object; and the properties of the impact portion are selectable to affect the magnitude and duration of a shock acceleration pulse experienced by the at least one impact object.

Abstract: Techniques for disposing an organic semiconductor film on a receiver substrate, comprising the steps of: depositing an organic semiconductor film onto a donor substrate, the semiconductor film having a first surface facing the donor substrate and having an exposed second surface; bringing the exposed second surface adjacent a receiver substrate such that the semiconductor film is in contact with both substrates; and then, moving the donor and receiver substrates apart; and wherein a surface portion of the receiver substrate is maintained above its glass transition during the moving step. Active organic semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A distributed dynamic channel allocation algorithm for a multi-carrier CDMA cellular system having at least one mobile base station. The distributed dynamic channel allocation algorithm uses channel power measurements from both the requesting mobile station and the mobile base station attempting to allocate an available resource to the mobile station. The distributed dynamic channel allocation algorithm attempts to allocate the best available resource for the requesting mobile station, in terms of interference, while minimizing the amount of interruption that the allocated resource may cause to existing connections in neighboring cells. Thus, the distributed dynamic channel allocation algorithm follows a “least-interference, least-interruption” strategy. The distributed dynamic channel allocation algorithm is load balancing, since it tends to assign new resources to mobile base station with lighter loads.

Abstract: A method of determining the latency of a route in a packet-switched network, a packet switch for use in such a method and network and a packet-switched network are disclosed. Preferably, each switch maintains a routing table that records the latency of the routes accessible by that switch. Each switch also preferably has a GPS-based universal time clock which it employs to time the transmission and arrival of identifiable timing packets, these times being used to compute route latency and to up-date the routing tables. In one example (FIG. 1) a packet-switched network has a plurality of switches (S1-S6) interconnected by links or trunks (T1-T7). A local GPS-base clock (GPS CLK) is connected to each switch (S1-S6) to enable the accurate timing of transmission and reception of identifiable timing packets in accordance with a system-wide universal timing standard.

Abstract: The intonation of speech is modified by an appropriate combination of resampling and time-domain harmonic scaling. Resampling increases (upsampling) or decreases (downsampling) the number of data points in a signal. Harmonic scaling adds or removes pitch cycles to or from a signal. The pitch of a speech signal can be increased by combining downsampling with harmonic scaling that adds an appropriate number of pitch cycles. Alternatively, pitch can be decreased by combining upsampling with harmonic scaling that removes an appropriate number of pitch cycles. The present invention can be implemented in an automated speech-therapy tool that is able to modify the intonation of prerecorded reference speech signals for playback to a user to emphasize the correct pronunciation by increasing the pitch of selected portions of words or phrases that the user had previously mispronounced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for maintaining compact descriptions of the behavior of customers in a database of information relating to customer transactions. Of all possible variables that might be used to characterize customer transactions, a limited number are selected on the basis of discriminating power to define customer profiles. Customers are classified according to distinguishing features of their profiles. A new customer can be initially assigned to a particular class based on data characterizing his first few transactions.