Abstract: Techniques for determining how to translate forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product into a forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is described. To this end, forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product is received. Usage factors of a plurality of subcomponents composing the assembled product are also received. Each usage factor corresponds to the at least one configuration of assembled product. The forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is then composed by applying the usage factors of the plurality of subcomponents to the forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product wherein the forecast schedule includes demand for the subcomponents over time.

Abstract: Determining a particular product mix of old and new products to either minimize stranded inventory of old unique sub-components composing the old product or to minimize cost savings by phasing out the old unique sub-components of the old product is described. When a new product costs the same or more than the old product, a product mix which minimizes stranded inventory is determined. To this end, a liability on inventory of old unique sub-components at a number of build out quantities including the total number of product units to produce is determined. Additionally, a number of old products to produce is selected to correspond to a point where the liability on inventory of old unique sub-components is constant between consecutive build out quantities in order to reduce stranded inventory. When a new product costs less than the old product, a product mix which maximizes cost savings is determined.

Abstract: Determining how to prioritize cost reduction projects for replacing subcomponents composing an assembled product with new subcomponents is described. To this end, forecast sales data for subcomponents composing the assembled product is received. Utilizing the forecast sales data, a cost savings schedule for subcomponents of costs saved by introducing the new subcomponents is then determined. The total cost savings for each cost reduction project is then calculated. The cost reduction projects are then ordered according to their respective total cost savings to determine which cost reduction projects should be pursued.

Abstract: A system and method for processing of audio and speech signals is disclosed, which provide compatibility over a range of communication devices operating at different sampling frequencies and/or bit rates. The analyzer of the system divides the input signal in different portions, at least one of which carries information sufficient to provide intelligible reconstruction of the input signal. The analyzer also encodes separate information about other portions of the signal in an embedded manner, so that a smooth transition can be achieved from low bit-rate to high bit-rate applications. Accordingly, communication devices operating at different sampling rates and/or bit-rates can extract corresponding information from the output bit stream of the analyzer. In the present invention embedded information generally relates to separate parameters of the input signal, or to additional resolution in the transmission of original signal parameters.

Abstract: An exemplary electronic apparatus monitors whether a security badge remains within an area proximate to the electronic apparatus in order to protect against loss or theft of the badge especially when the user is away from the secure environment for which the badge facilitates access. A transmitter periodically transmits a poll signal intended for reception by an RFID module attached to the badge, the poll signal having a predetermined magnitude to limit the effective reception range of the poll signal to the proximate area. A receiver can receive a reply signal generated by the RFID module in response to receipt of the poll signal where the reply signal includes identification information that is unique to the electronic device. The received identification information is compared with first identification information stored in memory of the electronic apparatus to determine if the received identification information matches the first identification information.

Abstract: A method of optical communication having improved security is described. The data content of an initially provided data signal is apportioned among two or more distinct optical wavelength channels. A transmitted signal spans these two or more channels. A respective portion of the data content of the transmitted signal is allocated to each of the optical wavelength channels. In certain embodiments of the invention, each such portion comprises data placed in the pertinent wavelength channel during assigned time windows.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a gateway component that provides an identifier of a service provider to a sender of a message through employment of a user address associated with the recipient of the message.

Abstract: A process transmits digital data to an A/D converter via an analog channel. The process includes generating a sequence of output signals by precoding a sequence of input signal points to precompensate for ISI in the analog channel. In the precoding is matched to the ISI, at least one of the output signals would be distorted by the ISI to a signal representative of a signal point lying between quantization levels of the A/D converter. If the precoding is matched to the ISI, others of the output signals would be distorted by the ISI to signals representative of signal points that are quantization levels of the A/D converter. A majority of the input signal points are quantization levels of the A/D converter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test vector manager for use with a unit under test (UUT). In one embodiment, the test vector manager includes a gateway device, coupled to the UUT, configured to provide a testing pathway for the UUT to coordinate test requests and responses for a backplane multi-drop test bus. The test vector manager also includes a test memory, coupled to the gateway device, configured to retrieve version-specific test vectors, which are resident on the UUT and correspond to the test requests. The test vector manager further includes a chain configuration logic unit, coupled to the test memory, configured to return the version-specific test vectors to the backplane multi-drop test bus employing the testing pathway. Alternatively, the test vector manager is further configured to connect the backplane multi-drop test bus to local UUT test bus and scan chain interfaces for tests using the version-specific test vectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for detecting at least one repeater between a base station and a mobile unit. The method includes determining a first estimate of a distance traveled by a signal on a wireless communication link between the base station and the mobile unit, determining a second estimate of the distance traveled by the signal on the wireless communication link between the base station and the mobile unit, and comparing the first and second estimates. The method also includes determining whether the signal was processed by the at least one repeater based upon comparing the first and second estimates.

Abstract: An add-side laser in an optical device, such as an add/drop multiplexer OADM, provides not only a source for an add-side wavelength to be added to an output of the device, but also a reference for a receive-side coherent receiver that is included in the optical device.

Abstract: A signal is predistorted by producing a set of sample values, each of at least a subset of which is dependent on (i) at least one of a plurality of past time spaced input samples and (ii) a current time spaced input sample, and independent of any other time spaced input sample, and combining the sample values to produce the predistorted signal. Predistortion circuitry for generating the predistorted signal may be implemented using multiple predistortion core circuits, with each of the predistortion core circuits receiving a data input and an index input associated with a particular input sample and generating a corresponding data output. The data outputs of the predistortion core circuits correspond generally to sample values. The predistortion circuitry may also include at least one memory finite impulse response (FIR) filter which processes one or more input samples in conjunction with the production of the sample values.

Abstract: One or more video server components of an apparatus that play one or more videos at one or more mobile phones while one or more phone calls associated with the one or more mobile phones are on hold.

Abstract: A method for connecting a call between virtual media gateways within a media gateway, the media gateway including switching facilities and at least two virtual media gateways, wherein each of the virtual media gateways has a corresponding media gateway controller, the method including the steps of receiving a call set-up request in an originating virtual media gateway from its corresponding media gateway controller, creating a shortcut token in the originating virtual media gateway to identify a shortcut in the media gateway, transporting the shortcut token and the call set-up request from the originating virtual media gateway to the terminating virtual media gateway, determining in the terminating virtual media gateway whether the shortcut can be supported, and where the shortcut can be supported by the media gateway, appending call identification information to the shortcut token, returning the shortcut token and the call set-up request to the originating virtual media gateway, and setting up the call using

Abstract: A logical star architecture imposed on an underlying non-star network, for example a Virtual Path Ring (VPR), enhances a mesh protocol with an automatic method for Virtual Path ID (VPI) generation. The VPIs are used by the mesh protocol's inherent routing function to effect automatic configuration at installation, automatic reconfiguration at node updates, and automatic reconfiguration for protection switching. The imposition of the logical star architecture on a VPR reduces node-to-node switching costs (e.g., delay, as well as memory and processing costs) since all nodes in a logical star topology are at most two logical hops away. The logical star also conserves virtual path address space relative to a fully configured ring. Additionally, the imposition of the logical star architecture allows existing star functions to be deployed on the underlying network. Finally, when the underlying architecture is a ring, the protection advantages of ring networks can be preserved.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a field emission device is made by providing the device electrodes, forming a plurality of corrugated insulating rods with discontinuous coatings of conductive or semiconductive material with low secondary electron emission coefficient, adhering the rods to an electrode, cutting the rods to define corrugated pillars, and finishing the device. The result is low cost production of a field emission device having superior resistance to breakdown in high field operation.

Abstract: In the method of rate-matching, software is used to calculate at least one rate-matching parameter for data, and dedicated hardware is used to perform at least one of a puncturing and repetition process on data based on the calculated rate-matching parameter. In rate de-matching, software is again used to calculate at least one rate de-matching parameter for received data, and dedicated hardware is used to compensate for puncturing and repetition based on the calculated rate de-matching parameter.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling power consumption within a network node is disclosed. The method and system include dynamically controlling the power consumption of network processing engines based on predetermined thresholds. By dynamically controlling the power consumption of network processing engines based on predetermined thresholds, energy consumption of the overall network processing system is minimized, thereby reducing the operational costs of the system as well as increasing the overall efficiency of network operations. The method and system comprise allowing a queue to receive a plurality of data packets and dynamically controlling the power consumption of at least one of a plurality of processing engines based on a threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical beamforming RF transmitter. In one embodiment, the optical beamforming RF transmitter includes an optical WDM splitter having an input and a plurality of outputs. The optical beamforming RF transmitter also includes an array of antennas, where each antenna has an optical input configured to drive the corresponding antenna, and an array of optical modulators, such that each modulator has an output connected to a corresponding one of the antennas and an input connected to one of the outputs of the optical WDM splitter. The optical beamforming RF transmitter further includes a mode-locked laser having an output optically coupled to the input of the optical WDM splitter.

Abstract: An antenna array includes four closely spaced, linearly arranged antenna columns. At least two of the columns, e.g., the center two columns, are dual-polarized. Spacing between neighboring columns is about ½?, where ? is the free space wavelength at the network carrier frequency. Each column includes a first vertical linear array of radiating elements or groups of elements (sub-arrays) connected to a port. The dual-polarized columns each further include a second linear array of radiating elements oriented at a different polarization than the first array. (For example, horizontal/vertical or slant 45°.) Array ports are connected with four RF feed cables using duplexers in such a way so as to provide two different antenna configurations for forward link and reverse link frequencies, namely, a four-column closely spaced beam-forming array at the forward link and a two-column dual-polarized array at the reverse link for 4-branch diversity reception.