Abstract: A telephonic handset comprises an active noise reduction (ANR) system. The ANR system comprises a reference microphone and an IIR filter. The IIR filter is receivingly coupled to the reference microphone with respect to noise reference signals, and it is transmittingly coupled to the receiver transducing element of the handset. The ANR system is configured as a fixed feed-forward noise cancellation system. Preferably, the IIR filter has a transfer function derived, in part, from the open-loop gain of a feedback noise cancellation system. In specific embodiments of the invention, the noise reference microphone is situated so as to sample the ambient noise field near the front face of the receiver, but without directly sampling the noise field on the front face.

Abstract: A rate control system is provided for a link between a first node, such as an RNC and a second node, such as a Node B, within a wireless communications system where at least one user is provided a rate over the link as a function of link load. For example, the rate control system sets at least one user to a reduced rate on the link as a function of the rates of a plurality of users on the link. In certain embodiments, the rate control system controls the rate by selecting the size of a transport format block used to transport data for a user over the link during a transmission interval. The size of the transport format block can be selected by changing the number of transport blocks used to form the transport format block as a function of the total user data to be transported over the link at that time. The rate of data offered to the link can be controlled by the way user data is mapped into the transport format blocks used to send user data over the link.

Abstract: A method of processing nested message layers which allows for encoding all the message layers into one formatted message buffer without incurring a copy at each message layer. A generalized approach for representing the context of each message layer and linking them to facilitate the encoding and decoding of message layers.

Abstract: A radio link protocol (RLP)/point-to-point protocol (PPP) design is disclosed for wireless multimedia packet networks that passes corrupted packet data and error location information among OSI layers. The RLP layer provides erasure data frames and optionally error location indicators to the PPP layer. When the PPP layer has access to the erasure data frames, the data frames can be padded with a predefined value, such as all zeroes “0” to prevent error propagation from one data frame (or octet) to the following data frames (or octets). When the PPP layer has access to the error location information, the PPP layer can detect if the PPP packet header is corrupted. When a valid header is detected, the PPP layer forwards the packet payload to the higher layers (TCP, UDP) whether or not the payload is properly received. Thus, the application has access to all the usable information, so the application can determine whether and how to utilize the information.

Abstract: A flexible and efficient apparatus and method of scanning switch matrix usable in user interface devices, e.g., a keypad or the like, having a number of switching elements, e.g., push buttons and/or switches, up to a twice the product of the number of rows and the number of columns. Each row and columns of the switch matrix are capable of being driven and being monitored during a scanning of the switch matrix for a presence of a closure of a switching element. The switch matrix device and the scanning method also allows integration of one or more switches in the switch matrix without the need for additional detection mechanisms dedicated to the switches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking an object using one or more video cameras together with a plurality of microphones and/or geophones, whereby accurate tracking of the object can be obtained even when the object changes directions as a result of an impact. A tennis ball may be tracked during a tennis match. Prior to and after an impact, the ball is tracked with the use of video cameras, illustratively in accordance with the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,007. Then, the position of the ball at racket or ground impact is accurately determined by measuring the acoustical waves generated by the ball hitting the racket and/or either the acoustic waves or the elastic (Rayleigh) waves generated by the ball hitting the ground, respectively. Tracking then advantageously continues with use of the video cameras.

Abstract: Call data associated with one call is correlated from separate call records associated with the calling and called parties in which at least one of the parties is a wireless user. Statistical information is gathered based on whether one of the parties to the call subscribes to one call feature/service and the other party to the call subscribes to a predetermined call feature/service. This information is typically utilized by telecommunication service providers.

Abstract: A method may include determining a power level of a signal and a temperature level of a transmitter originating the signal. At least one of the power and temperature levels may be compared to a lookup table containing predistortion coefficients. The method is capable of predistorting a signal based on the comparison. An apparatus is disclosed in relation to the method.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a serving mobile switching center feature server and one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components. The serving mobile switching center feature server translates between a call control message originated by or terminated to a mobile telephone and an internet protocol based procedure message. The one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components serve to propagate the internet protocol based procedure message. The one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components provide packet-switched switching functions to the serving mobile switching center feature server based on the internet protocol based procedure message.

Abstract: A wide-bandwidth aperture antenna is constructed of two parallel metal plates 51, 52, each having a resonant aperture 53, 54. The apertured plates are arranged parallel to one another, with the apertures aligned. A third plate 57 is arranged parallel to the apertured plates to act as a reflector. The resonant apertures are in the form of squares with rounded corners. Feed stubs 55 and 56 are arranged between the apertured plates and project into the region between the apertures to excite orthogonally polarized modes. The feed stubs are in the form of strips which are aligned in planes perpendicular to the planes of the apertured plates. An exemplary embodiment has a bandwidth of 1700 MHz to 3300 MHz, containing the bands used for GSM 1800, UMTS, UMTS+, Bluetooth and WLAN systems. The feed is high-impedance and the decoupling better than ?11 dB over the whole bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing optical routing includes a metal layer having first and second sides, a regular array of structures positioned along the first side, and an input optical waveguide positioned to illuminate a portion of the first side. The illuminated portion of the side is adjacent to ones of the structures. The apparatus also includes a plurality of output optical waveguides positioned to receive light radiated from portions of the metal layer not illuminated by the input optical waveguide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is proposed for use in a communication system in which an optical communications path including a plurality of optical spans, each of the optical spans contributing nonlinear distortions to an optical signal passing there-through includes, providing a dispersion pre-compensation to the optical signal in the optical communications path, such that the limiting nonlinear effect that produces signal distortions for long-haul transmission is suppressed, prior to transmission through a plurality of optical spans, and providing a dispersion post-compensation to the optical signal in the optical communications path after transmission through the plurality of optical spans.

Abstract: Telephone numbers are omitted from a communications device (200) or line (110b), thereby inhibiting incoming calls. Outgoing calls are permitted on the line or communications device and are facilitated in part by an equipment identifier (122b, 222) used in a telecommunications network. A surrogate telephone number, which may already be assigned to a customer, is used for billing, caller identification and other functions. The equipment identifier is used for maintenance, administration and other functions associated with the communications device or line. A telephone number is temporarily made available to the communications device or line for a predetermined period of time upon request by a user. This advantageously reduces the number of telephone numbers required in a telecommunications network.

Abstract: A coupler includes a first set of ports coupled to a first ring, a second set of ports coupled to a second ring, and a plurality of connecting elements coupled between the first and second rings. The coupler provides low loss insertion and high port isolation and may be used as a standalone coupler or as an elementary device for building Butler matrices of varying configurations.

Abstract: A system and method of replicating changed data between an active process and a standby process is provided. The active and standby processes each include an application and a processor having memory. The method includes organizing active and standby processor memories into regions, with each region including one or more tuples, datamarking the tuples having changed data in the active processor corresponding to the active application, and transferring copies of the changed data from the active process to the standby process to replicate data between the active and standby processors. The system includes means for datamarking changed data and transferring copies of the changed data between active and standby processes having active and standby processors configured as mated pairs.

Abstract: An omnidirectional video camera captures images of the environment while moving along several intersecting paths forming an irregular grid. These paths define the boundaries of a set of image loops within the environment. For arbitrary viewpoints within each image loop, a 4D plenoptic function may be reconstructed from the group of images captured at the loop boundary. For an observer viewpoint, a strip of pixels is extracted from an image in the loop in front of the observer and paired with a strip of pixels extracted from another image on the opposite side of the image loop. A new image is generated for an observer viewpoint by warping pairs of such strips of pixels according to the 4D plenoptic function, blending each pair, and then stitching the resulting strips of pixels together.

Abstract: Overhead voltage is allocated in a telecommunication system among different AC signals, such as POTS, on-hook transmission POTS, PPM and XDSL signals, communicated between a telephonic switch and a user device. The allocation is based on the available overhead voltage, the condition, such as impedance, of the line carrying communications to the user, and which of the signals are to be communicated.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for generating optical pulses exhibiting a progressive phase shift, and the use of those pulses to transmit data, are described. One embodiment of the invention employs a Mach-Zehnder modulator using electrical signals chosen to introduce a predetermined frequency shift at the center of each pulse generated by the pulse generator. This frequency shift is achieved by introducing a timing difference between the electrical input signals. Another embodiment of the invention employs a chirp free pulse generator and a separate phase modulator to induce the desired frequency or phase shift. These progressively phase shifted pulses may be further modulated to transmit data by introducing phase or amplitude modulation on the optical pulses, depending on the data to be transmitted.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for serving VoIP emergency calls. In one embodiment, a call control entity is placed between PSAPs of an emergency services network and the IP network transporting VoIP calls. When the call control entity receives a VoIP emergency call and its associated user ID, the call control entity assigns a TDN to the emergency call and associates the assigned TDN to the user ID. The emergency call and the TDN are then extended to a PSAP to handle the emergency call. If the emergency call is disconnected from the PSAP, the PSAP operator is able to dial the TDN to provide a call-back function. The call control entity receives the call-back attempt to the TDN from the PSAP, identifies the user ID associated with the TDN, and routes the call-back attempt to the user ID to reestablish a call between the PSAP and the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantizing audio signals is disclosed which advantageously produces a quantized audio signal which can be encoded within an acceptable range. Advantageously, the quantizer uses a scale factor which is interpolated between a threshold based on the calculated threshold of hearing at a given frequency and the absolute threshold of hearing at the same frequency.