Abstract: A method and apparatus to control call admission to a packet-based network and achieve load balancing over a packet-based network includes at selected times generating and sending a path status message along a defined path, such as an MPLS path, through the network. As the message travels along the path, a cost metric field within the message is updated. The cost metric may reflect available bandwidth, or percentage utilization of the aggregate bandwidth, on the most congested (bottleneck) link in the path that it tracks. The cost metric is determined for each link at a data measuring point, such as individual routers, along the path. The optimum path between two gateways is determined, and further packet streams are routed onto the optimum path.

Abstract: An optical network has an optical splitter connected to (1) a working optical subscriber unit (OSU) of a working circuit via a working optical fiber, (2) a protection OSU of a protection circuit via a protection optical fiber, and (3) one or more optical network terminals (ONTs), where the protection OSU has a protection burst mode receiver (BMR) configured to receive an upstream optical signal from the optical splitter. The algorithm determines whether the protection OSU is functioning improperly. A reset pulse is applied at the protection BMR at a particular timing position and an attempt is made to interpret the current upstream cell received at the protection BMR. This process is repeated using different timing positions for the BMR reset pulse until the current upstream cell is correctly interpreted, e.g., based on the correct identification of an ATM header error correction (HEC) byte in the upstream cell.

Abstract: A packet network of interconnected nodes employs a method of routing with service-level guarantees to determine a path through the network for a requested multicast, label-switched path Each of the nodes includes one or more routers that forward packets based on a forwarding table constructed from a directed tree determined in accordance with the method of multicast routing with service-level guarantees. For a first implementation, a heuristic algorithm uses a scaling phase that iteratively adjusts a maximum arc capacity, determines the resulting tree for the iteration, and selects the tree as the routing tree that provides the “maximum” flow. For a second implementation, the heuristic algorithm computes maximum multicast flows and determines links in the network that are “critical” to satisfy future multicast routing requests.

Abstract: Signals are developed for use in a wireless system with multiple transmit and multiple receive antennas so that even in the face of some correlation the most open-loop capacity that can be achieved using a substantially open-loop system with a channel of that level of correlation is obtained. In accordance with the principles of the invention, the signals transmitted from the various antennas are processed so as to improve their ability to convey the maximum amount of information. More specifically, the data to be transmitted is divided into M+1 substreams, where M is the number of transmit antennas. Each transmit antenna is supplied with a combination signal that is made up of a weighted version of a common one of the substreams and a weighted version of a respective one of the substreams that is supplied uniquely for that antenna, so that there are M transmit signals. A receiver having N antennas receives the M transmit signals as combined by the channel and reconstitutes the original data therefrom.

Abstract: In a power splitting passive optical network, TDM/TDMA communication is employed for downstream/upstream transmission over a fiber. A framed structure is used for the downstream transmission from an optical line card (OLC) at the network end to a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), which are each connected to end user equipment. A framed structure is also employed for upstream burst transmission from the plural ONUs to the OLC. In the upstream direction each ONU transmits at most one burst per frame that includes a header and a payload containing a variable number of bytes that is adjustable on a continuum. The length of each payload in a burst transmitted upstream by an ONU is determined as a function of the bandwidth requirements of the end user equipment connected to that ONU as well as the bandwidth requirements of the end user equipment at the other ONUs.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems of transferring correction information are described. In certain implementations, correction factors relate to stored or calculated values, and a correspondence between a correction factor and a value is indicated by a predetermined order of the correction factors. In one application, a method according to an embodiment of the invention is used to transmit correction factors relating to the positions of physical objects. For example, such a method may be used to transmit correction factors relating to the positions of space vehicles within a Global Positioning Satellite (‘GPS’) system.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for receiving, from a first communication channel utilizing a first protocol, a data structure adapted to the first protocol including condition indicative data, copying the condition indicative data to a non-transient position of a data structure adapted to a second protocol, and transmitting the second data structure via a second communication channel utilizing the second protocol.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) module for use in a communication device of a communication system includes integrated RF circuitry comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and an antenna element having at least one portion thereof arranged substantially adjacent to and operatively coupled to the integrated RF circuitry. For example, the antenna element may include at least first and second portions having opposing edges arranged immediately adjacent respective first and second sides of the integrated RF circuitry. A plurality of the modules can be used to implement a transceiver in a communication system base station or other communication device.

Abstract: A system and method for remote activation of customized telecommunication services are provided for data network telephony subscribers in a data network. In response to a call originator placing a call to a terminating telephony subscriber in the data network, a telephony server routes the call according to custom telecommunication service instructions provided in advance by the telephony subscriber and stored remotely from the telephony subscriber's point of presence on the data network. The call originator may be a data network telephony subscriber or a subscriber in the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The telephony server preferably performs the call routing based custom telecommunication service instructions (along with the subscriber's network address) retrieved from a subscriber profile server that maintains a subscriber profile database.

Abstract: The scheduling of data transmissions in a CDMA system or other type of wireless communication system is implemented using a rate processor sharing approach in which user Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for forward link data transmission are converted into a rate and a corresponding violation probability, and an available system resource such as power is then divided among the users in accordance with the rates. For example, the approach may determine for each user i a rate Ri to be provided for user i with a probability 1−e−&dgr;i, where the &dgr;i are determined independently for each of the users. The system resource may be divided among the users in a manner which satisfies a linear relationship involving the rates and corresponding cost factors of the users. The portion of the system resource allocated to a given user may be fixed for a designated scheduling interval.

Abstract: A communications quality measurement system for use with packet and other networks comprises a test signal transmitter, a test signal receiver, and a test signal analyzer. A test transmitter is used to produce a series of test signals selected or engineered for measuring one or more desired Quality of Service or other performance parameters of a network path to be tested. A first copy of the test signal is transmitted via a reference path of known characteristics and with minimal impairments. A second copy of the test signal is transmitted via the network path to be tested. A test receiver receives and records the signals which were carried via the reference and test paths. A test signal analyzer compares the signals received over the reference and test paths and analyzes differences to determine Quality of Service or other parameters, such as Bearer Delay, Cell or Packet Loss, Echo Delay, and Echo Amplitude, some of which are directed to the particular impairments that are characteristic of packet networks.

Abstract: A highly reliable power supply comprises two independent input power train units each connected to a separate primary winding of a common transformer, and an output power train unit connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. A control unit controls how much energy each of the input power train units supplies. Each of the input power train units is connected to a different source of battery power or a different power distribution bus. Advantageously the advantages of full duplication of a power supply are obtained while duplicating only the input power train units. The input power train units are effectively isolated from each other through being connected to separate windings of the transformer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for reducing gain ripple in a Raman-amplified WDM system includes determining a gain profile of an optical signal transported via a first Raman amplification span in a Raman-amplified WDM system, comparing the determined gain profile to a gain profile of an optical signal transported via a second Raman amplification span, determining, from the comparison, an amount of wavelength adjustment required for a plurality of Raman pumps comprising at least one Raman pump block of the second Raman amplification span to alter the gain profile of an optical signal transported via the second Raman amplification span, such that a cumulative gain profile of an optical signal transported via the first and the second Raman amplification spans approaches a desired gain profile, and generating a control signal suitable for adjusting the wavelengths of the plurality of Raman pumps of the at least one Raman pump block an amount consistent with the determined amount.

Abstract: A terrestrial repeater is disclosed for use in a satellite transmission system that may also include a plurality of satellites. The terrestrial repeaters are implemented as OFDM transmitters to minimize the channel impairments caused by multi-path propagation. The OFDM terrestrial repeaters differentially encode the transmitted signal over frequency, as opposed to time, in order to avoid channel phase distortion. The OFDM receiver allocates two unmodulated sub-carriers as pilot bins and thereby provides two sub-carriers as a reference within each OFDM symbol. At the OFDM receiver, the two unmodulated pilot bins contain no phase information and provide a reference for the differential demodulation performed by the OFDM receiver. The OFDM transmitter operates in two modes, namely, a normal mode and a transmitter identifier information (TII) mode.

Abstract: An optical network has an optical splitter connected to (1) a working optical subscriber unit (OSU) of a working circuit, (2) a protection OSU of a protection circuit, and (3) one or more optical network terminals (ONTs), where an ONT has (i) a working line termination (LT) unit of the working circuit and connected to the optical splitter via a working optical fiber and (ii) a protection LT unit of the protection circuit and connected to the optical splitter via a protection optical fiber. The present invention enables fast protection switching from the working circuit to the protection circuit. The arrival times of corresponding downstream cells are measured at both the working and protection LT units of the ONT, and information related to the arrival times is transmitted from the ONT to the protection OSU.

Abstract: The specification describes a pattern transfer technique for forming patterns of thin films of high resolution over large areas. It involves forming a pattern layer on a transfer substrate, patterning the pattern layer while on the transfer substrate, then contacting the transfer substrate with the receiving substrate. The surface of the receiving substrate is treated to activate the surface thereby improving adhesion of the transfer pattern to the receiving substrate. The activation treatment involves forming a layer of metal particles on the surface of the receiving substrate. The pattern layer is preferably of the same metal, or a similar metal or alloy, and is transferred from the transfer substrate to the receiving substrate by metallurgical bonding. The method of the invention is particularly useful for printing metal conductor patterns (metalization), and device features, on flexible polymer substrates in, for example, thin film transistor (TFT) technology.

Abstract: Disclosed is a location management method for a communication network. In a first embodiment, a procedure for finding an optimal path between a calling switch and a visiting switch node is integrated in the call set up procedure. The connection set up procedure starts by setting up a connection path between the calling switch and the home switch. Then, an “optimal crossover node” is determined along the connection path and then the connection path is cranked back starting from the home switch and moving towards the optimal crossover node. Once the optimal crossover node is reached, the a connection set-up proceeds to set up a connection between the optimal crossover node and the visiting switch. In an alternative embodiment, first a connection is set up between the calling switch and the home switch. Then the connection is extended to the visiting switch either by the call-forwarding or by two-phase crankback method. This results in a quickly routed, but sub-optimal connection.

Abstract: A network element, such as a service control point, in a telecommunication network controls the playing of promotional announcements to subscribers and provides for the collection of input from subscribers, such as a DTMF tone, in response to the announcements and action based on subscriber input. Stored subscriber records allow the selection and periodicity of announcements to be customized.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting and recovering from missed control words that signify a transition to or from a speech mode to a data mode in a communication channel. When in a speech mode, speech information is checked for errors. If an error is detected, the next frame or segment of information is assumed to be data information. The data information is examined for valid information such as a valid header. If a valid header is detected, data mode is assumed and if a valid header is not detected, speech mode is assumed.

Abstract: Program insertion in real time IP multicast enables the seamless insertion of a secondary program within an IP multicast session of a primary program. A primary content provider transmits its multimedia stream to a first proxy that transmits the data to a destination multicast session. A secondary content provider interested in inserting a program into that destination multicast session sends a request through a second proxy to the first proxy requesting a time slot to insert secondary program. The request includes the duration of the secondary program. The first proxy responds with a time slot or a denial of the request depending if a time slot is available. Assuming an available time slot, at the appropriate time the first proxy transfers control of the destination multicast session to the second proxy which transmits the secondary program. Upon completion of the secondary program the second proxy returns control of the session to the first proxy.