Abstract: An optical device for routing a plurality of optical signals between a first port and a second port is disclosed. The optical device includes a mirror array having a plurality of reflective elements. Each optical input signal is directed by a reflective element in a direction designated by a control signal. The optical device further includes a curved mirror for receiving each directed optical signal from the respective reflective element, and for reflecting each directed optical signal to the first or second port.

Abstract: A base station in a communication network which has a number of receiver or transmitter circuits (TRX) and a number of splitters (SP1, . . . SP6) is provided with switchable divider circuitry, if the number of receiver or transmitter circuits (TRX) is other than 2n(n=2, 3, 4, . . . ). The divider circuit has at least an input, preferably two inputs (IN-A, IN-B), an attenuation member, preferably two members (AT1, AT2) and a divider element (DE), preferable three elements (DE1, DE2, DE3) and is connected parallel to a respective splitter (SP) so as to offer further splitter outputs for being connected to the inputs of remaining receivers or transmitter circuits (TRX) other than 2n.

Abstract: An improved plain old telephone service (POTS) line card that may be directly connected to a customer line that is also connected to a digital subscriber line access module. A second order filter is added to the front end of the POTS line card in order to attenuate XDSL signals and to lower its amplitude. A new digital signal processor (DSP) includes further low pass filtering functions, gain compensation, termination impedance compensation and balance network compensation to provide the proper balanced network as is known in current POTS cards but not provided in current XDSL services. This card may also be used alone, without a XDSL equipped line.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical coupling having a first array of individual waveguides optically communicating with a free space region at a first junction and each waveguide having a tapered region proximate the junction where a gap spacing between tapered regions of adjacent individual waveguides is substantially constant is proposed. The gap spacing is a minimum amount of space between adjacent individual waveguides. The first array of individual waveguides also has a horn region immediately proximate the tapered region and opposite the first junction with an increasing width whose maximum establishes the gap spacing.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication system receives information from a wireless mobile unit associated with a category of information (such as “shopping” for example); and determines that the wireless mobile unit has entered a region including a site associated with the category of information (such as a shopping mall, for example). Information specific to the site and category is then received at a centrally located location-based message server. As the traveler enters the region including the mall, for example, the wireless mobile unit then receives information specific to the site and category such as information relating to sales at the mall. Alternatively, information relating to a category and site received, and all wireless mobile units within a region including the site are then identified so that the received information relating to the category can be output thereto. As such, desired information specific to a region occupied to a traveler is received.

Abstract: Techniques for amplifying light produced by a quantum cascade laser are described. An assembly according to the present invention includes an optical amplifier having an optical input and an optical output. The optical output has an area significantly greater than that of the optical output and the geometry of the amplifier is such that the amplifier widens from the optical input to the optical output. The optical amplifier is formed of a layered waveguide structure which achieves quantum confinement of electrons and photons within the active region. A distributed feedback laser is suitably coupled to the optical amplifier at the optical input of the amplifier. The widening of the amplifier makes available a large number of electrons, so that the amplifier is able to produce many photons resulting from stimulated transitions caused by introduction of light to the optical input of the amplifier, even if the great majority of the transitions occur nonradiatively.

Abstract: An array of bottom-emitting VCSELs, with its substrate still intact, is tested by means of a probe that includes an optoelectronic array, which is aligned and coupled to the top surface of the VCSEL array. The probe is aligned to the VCSEL array just once. The optoelectronic array includes driver circuits for energizing the VCSELs and the photodetection circuits in a predetermined sequence for detecting the back emission that leaks through the top mirror of each VCSEL. In another embodiment, this probe and method are applied to testing bottom-emitting VCSELs one at a time. The VCSELs may discrete devices or part of an array. In accordance with another aspect of our invention, an array of bottom-emitting VCSELs, with its substrate still in intact, is tested by means of a probe that includes separate electronic and photodetection arrays. The probe is aligned to the VCSEL array just once.

Abstract: A reverse sandbox extends a private computing environment onto a standalone host in a public environment. The reverse sandbox includes a service director that receives service requests, classifies the service requests in accordance with security policies, selects a processing stack based on the classification and communicates the service request to the selected processing stack. A reverse sandbox embodiment may also include a compliance supervisor that constructs processing stacks with mediation modules based upon security policies. The mediation modules of the selected processing stack modify the service request and provide the modified service request to the resources of the standalone host.

Abstract: Efficient data communication in wireless communication system is provided by using centralized control of data communications, such as packet switched services, over the uplink channel (mobile station (MS) to base station (BS)). A multiple access protocol is used where packet data mobile stations make requests for uplink channel resources. The request messages transmitted by the MSs inform the BS of service parameters. Examples of such service parameters are available transmit power at the MS, the amount of data to transmit and Quality of Service (QoS). The BS then processes the received request messages and performs interference management calculations to determine the portion of the BS's receive power budget that can be allocated to the data user requesting service. These calculations are used to control the amount of interference seen at the base station, to assign a data rate to the user and to aid scheduling algorithms in computing service order priorities.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for receiving electromagnetic signals with an improved capability to trace free or occupied channels. The invention comprises an assembly having a first frequency filter for filtering frequencies in a reception channel, when the apparatus is in the reception mode, or for testing one or more transmission channels, when the apparatus is in the tracing mode. The invention furthermore comprises a second frequency filter and a first switch for optional selection of the transmission or reception band. The change from the reception mode to the tracing mode is carried out, for example, by means of switches, and the bandwidth of the tuning of the oscillator, which provides a reference frequency by means of which the received signals are converted to an intermediate frequency, is reduced. This allows a particularly fast changeover.

Abstract: A structure and method of enhancing optical emissions and optical energy comprising a metal layer having a first surface comprising a plurality of voids, said voids having a dimension less than the wavelength of optical energy being processed.

Abstract: A wireless network that broadcasts a message from a telecommunication system to mobile stations associated with the wireless network is provided. The wireless network includes one or more mobile switching centers, one or more base stations, and one or more mobile stations. In various embodiments, the telecommunication system may include an emergency alert system and/or a public switched telephone network along with the wireless network. The message may include a presidential message, a local area message, a state message, a national information center message, a weather news report, a headline news report, a traffic news reports, or a promotional advertisement. Several methods for broadcasting the message in a wireless network are provided.

Abstract: Geographic coordinates of user equipment of a calling party are determined either by communicating with a GPS receiver associated with the user equipment of the calling party or by cellular triangulation. The geographic coordinates may be converted into an associated common location description. For example the common location description is a city name, an address, or a distance and direction from a landmark. The common location description, or an abbreviation thereof, is transmitted to user equipment of a called party. Using this service, parents may verify the location of their children. Security agencies or delivery services may verify and/or log the location of their personnel.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for control of optical switching arrays are described. A switch array controller according to an aspect of the present invention operates so as to achieve reduced power consumption and maintain crosstalk within acceptable limits. Various rules are applied in order to insure that the desired criteria are met. In order to reduce transient effects, switching from one output to another is accomplished in a sequence chosen to maximize the number of transitions occurring in those portions of the array not carrying a signal, and to minimize the number of transitions that occur in portions of the array carrying the signal. Transitions are made in the portion of the array to which the signal will be directed, then a switch is transitioned between the old and new signal paths, and finally further transitions are made in the portion of the array within which the signal was previously directed.

Abstract: A universal remote control (10) is provided for wireless remote control of one or more devices (D1 . . . Dn) equipped for remote control by respective original remote controls having visual appearances different from one another. The universal remote control (10) includes: a memory (40) that stores one or more descriptions associated with one or more original remote controls that are selectively emulated by the universal remote control (10), the descriptions including information describing the visual appearances of the original remote controls that the descriptions are associated with; and, a graphical user interface (20) upon which is displayed a representation of one of the original remote controls selected for emulation by the universal remote control (10), the representation having a visual appearance substantially the same as the original remote control being emulated.

Abstract: Geographic coordinates of user equipment of a paged party are determined either by communicating with a GPS receiver associated with the user equipment of the paged party or by cellular triangulation. The geographic coordinates may be converted into an associated common location description. For example the common location description is a city name, an address, or a distance and direction from a landmark. The geographic coordinates, common location description, or an abbreviation thereof, is transmitted to user equipment of a paging party. Using this service, parents may verify the location of their children. Security agencies or delivery services may verify and/or log the location of their personnel.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for designing a network providing communication and location identification services are described. A solution point comprising parameters for each of a plurality of base stations is generated. A coverage and locatability performance value for the solution point is computed, as well as derivatives of the performance value. The coverage and locatability performance value and its derivatives are used to indicate favorable directions for searching for subsequent solution points, and subsequent solution points are generated and compared against previous solution points until an optimum solution point is found. The coverage and locatability performance value is a weighted sum of coverage and locatability values for each point in the service area of the network, with coverage values representing forward and reverse link quality and locatability values representing the probability that a point will experience an acceptable power level from at least four base stations.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for managing failure recovery in redundant systems are described. A pair of redundant system units includes a first unit and a second unit, one of which operates as a primary unit and one of which operates as a backup unit. Upon initiation of operation of a system unit, that unit enters an initial status as the backup unit, so that simultaneous initiation of both units causes a status conflict. Recognition of a status conflict causes status negotiation, so that one unit is designated the primary unit and the other the backup unit. Upon failure of a unit, the other unit checks its status and continues operation if it is the primary unit or transitions to become the primary unit if it is the backup unit. Upon replacement, the failed unit is initialized, being designated as the backup unit. The operating unit continues operation as the primary unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing virtual private network (VPN) connectivity between at least two customer sites. Each of a plurality of PE routers includes at least one access module adapted for connectivity to at least one customer site. The access modules are generated automatically for each PE router associated with a VPN, wherein customer sites, which are associated with said VPN and have an identical export route target (RT) value and import RT value, are connected to a common access module. Otherwise, customer sites associated with the PE router that do not have identical export and import RT values are coupled to their own respective access modules at the PE router. Each access module generates an ingress-forwarding table for routing packetized information between the at least two customer sites.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, determining a physical topology of a network having multiple subnets. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a skeleton path initializer that uses addressing information from elements in the network to develop a collection of skeleton paths of direct physical connections between labeled ones of the elements, the skeleton paths traversing multiple of the subnets and (2) a skeleton path refiner, coupled to the skeleton path initializer, that refines the collection by inferring, from the direct physical connections and path constraints derived therefrom, other physical connections in the skeleton paths involving unlabeled ones of the elements.