Abstract: A fast tunable optical filter with unique selection means, capable of being monolithically integrated on silica or semiconductive wafers, includes a frequency routing device (FRD) for receiving up to P input optical signals and responsively providing up to Q outputs, where P and Q are integers greater than or equal to one, at least one input selecting device for selectively coupling up to P optical signals to the FRD, and at least one output selecting device for selectively inhibiting up to Q outputs of said FRD.

Abstract: A UMTS type mobile radio telecommunications system with improved management of its radio resources is disclosed, the system comprising a core network communicating by means of a UTRAN network with a plurality of user equipment. The core network including a mobile switching center or MSC and at least one serving GPRS support node or SGSN. The interface between the MSC and at least one SGSN is designed to give the SGSN the identity of the user equipment in the connected mode with the MSC. Furthermore, to page one of the user equipment in the connected mode with the MSC, the SGSN communicates with this user equipment through the MSC. The effect of this is to eliminate the unnecessary sending of paging messages through the paging channels of the system.

Abstract: A communication system monitors the resources that are available for new users. When the availability of free resources becomes too small or falls below a threshold, the communication system initiates a reduction in the the class of service to selected users. The class of service can be reduced by reducing the quality of service provided to existing communications or by providing selected new users with only lower quality communications. The decision to alter the class of service is alerted to the end user and based on the profile of the end user, appropriate alteration of a specific resource parameter is undertaken.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for determining when and how to perform communications network congestion control tactics with respect to packet-based networks such as data compression.

Abstract: An optical cross connect switch includes a programmable demultiplexer placed on every input transmission port, a programmable multiplexer placed on every output transmission port, and a linking fiber between every programmable demultiplexer and multiplexer in the system. The programmable demultiplexers and multiplexers handle internally all the optical communication channels, and can route any specified optical channel from an input port to the desired output port. Advantageously, the arrangement can send several input channels to the same output port, and can efficiently handle a large optical communication channel count, offer a scalable cost-effective solution for expanding switching capacity, and reduce the fiber interconnection count between switch modules.

Abstract: A high-density, small fiber optic enclosure permits the cross-connection and interconnection of optical fibers, through the use of an open-faced compact layering technique. The optical fiber enters an aperture in the bottom of the enclosure which includes a first section attachable to a wall surface, and a second section connected to the first enclosure section by a hinge. The first enclosure section includes an optical fiber splice holder and a plurality of hooks and clips for holding the optical fibers. The second enclosure section includes a plurality of hooks and clips also. The fibers enter the first section, are connected to the hooks and clips, and cross over to the second section and return to the first section and ultimately pass through an exit aperture in such a fashion as to form a plurality of FIG. 8 layers. If the optical fibers are not shielded, it is possible to use two opposing S-shaped fiber tubes to protect them at the crossover between the first and second enclosure.

Abstract: Methods for locating a missing called mobile unit in a telecommunications network are disclosed. With various equipment manufacturers present in the telecommunications industry, methods for use with a variety of equipment made by those manufacturers are necessary. The equipment in the network would include mobile units, home location registers and mobile switching centers. Through alterations in the operation of the home location registers and/or the mobile switching centers, the responses to page requests and/or routing requests are varied from the typical responses. Through those variations, missing called mobile units may be located in an efficient manner, regardless of the equipment provider.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling power transients in amplified optical transmission system includes, in response to the detection of a power transient in an optical signal, varying a gain of at least one amplifier to correct for a time delay in a gain response associated with a gain change in an amplifier. Alternatively, the method, apparatus and system further include in response to the detection of the power transient, adjusting the gain of at least one amplifier to correct for a change in signal power.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling power transients in a Raman-amplified optical transmission system includes, in response to the detection of a power transient in an optical signal, varying the gain of at least one dispersion compensating module (DCM) in the Raman-amplified optical transmission system to correct for a change in signal power caused by the power transient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically adapting the play-out delay for voice packets transmitted over a local area network using the Ethernet standard as an access mechanism. It has been observed that the distribution of voice packet delays in a LAN (shared by voice and data traffic) follows a log-normal distribution. An adaptive algorithm is disclosed to estimate the parameters of the log-normal distribution and to apply a dynamic play-out delay to improve the quality of packetized voice conversations, quantified by minimum delay and packet loss. For example, the size, B, of the play-out buffer can be established to ensure that the packet loss does not exceed one percent (1%). The distribution parameters are continuously updated and the size of the play-out buffer, B, is modified at the beginning of every calibration interval according to the illustrative 99% percentile of the delay distribution.

Abstract: Overhead is reduced and packet transport efficiency is increased for a flow of switched packets from a router by identifying a plurality of packets having a common destination node within a network and transmitting at least one control message to establish the flow of switched packets; the at least one control message including: (i) a label mapping message corresponding to the flow of switched packets and (ii) a header removal field. Packet headers corresponding to packets of a switched packet flow are not parsed, therefore either the entire header, or a portion of the header, may be removed from each packet assigned a label. A header removal field is shared among routers while signaling to establish a labeled flow. The header removal field is used to provide header structure information to those routers which will be utilized for transport of the subsequent labeled flow.

Abstract: A network element for use in a heterogeneous telecommunications system employs “out of band” signalling to automatically discover the identity of the two ports connecting two network elements through a specific link. Either of the connected network elements may be a circuit switching network element or a packet switching network element. One network element initiates the port discovery process and transmits a SONET/SDH overhead signal to the network element attached at the other end of the link. The other network element monitors the status of its ports and, when it detects a change in state at one of the ports, resulting from the first network element's transmissions, the receiving, or passive, network element recognizes the port as the port which forms a part of the link of interest.

Abstract: A method for encrypting programming in which a controlled number of unintended recipients of a broadcast are allowed to view a program so that a set of encryption keys can be found which enables a broadcaster to more quickly broadcast the program to its intended paying recipients than conventional encryption methods which only allow programs to be viewed by its intended recipients. To find the set of keys, a broadcaster first determines an acceptable f-ratio of a total number of viewers of the broadcast program to a number of intended viewers in an identified target set who paid to receive the program. The target set of viewers is included in the total number of viewers. The broadcaster then constructs an f-redundant establishment key allocation set from which the establishment keys for encrypting the program are selected.

Abstract: Telephone lines are moved from one or more switching modules (105 and 107) to one or more new switching modules (201) with minimal outage for customers whose lines are affected. Pseudo-lines are created (303) and the new switching module (201) and line data that supports customer features and routing of calls is programmed into the new switching module(s) (201). Connections are moved from the old module(s) (105 and 107) to the new module(s) (201), and the telephone numbers, i.e., routing information, is exchanged (309) between the modules in a single transaction.

Abstract: In a mobility management aspect of the invention, several unique mobility management control messages are defined for use in performing various mobility management functions in the communications system with respect to the mobile user stations and network nodes. These messages may comprise: (i) a Location Update Message (LUM); (ii) a Location Confirm Message (LCM); (iii) a Location Query Message (LQM); (vi) a Location Reply Message (LRM); (v) a Registration Message (RM); and (vi) a Registration Reply Message. One or more of these messages are used in the IP-based system to perform mobility management functions such as location management, mobile access and in-call mobility management.

Abstract: An ejector handle mounted to an electronic circuit card provides leverage to assist in engaging and disengaging the electronic circuit card from engagement with an electronic shelf. The ejector handle transmits light, such as by using light pipes, from an end of the handle adjacent to the faceplate of the electronic circuit card to a distal end of the handle where the transmitted light exits for viewing by maintenance personnel. A visual indicator assembly on the electronic circuit card supplies the sources of light that are coupled to and transmitted through the ejector handle. Indicia on the surface of the ejector handle identifies the corresponding function of the lights.

Abstract: In the method and apparatus for providing an optical fiber interconnect, a transmitter transmits an optical signal through an optical fiber. The transmitter does not transmit to a controller, information about the power of the transmitted optical signal near the input end of the fiber. The controller receives an indication of the power of a returned portion of the transmitted optical signal. The controller causes the lowering of the power of the transmitted optical signal to a predetermined level based the received indication.

Abstract: A system for restricting access to transmitted programming content is disclosed, which transmits a program identifier with the encrypted programming content. A set-top terminal or similar mechanism restricts access to the transmitted multimedia information using stored decryption keys. The set-top terminal receives entitlement information periodically from the head-end, corresponding to one or more packages of programs that the customer is entitled to for a given period. Each program is encrypted by the head-end server prior to transmission, using a program key, Kp, which may be unique to the program. The set-top terminal uses the received program identifier, p, together with the stored entitlement information, to derive the decryption key necessary to decrypt the program. Each of the k-bit program keys, Kp, used to encrypt transmitted programs is obtained by applying one or more pseudo-random hash functions, H, such as a length-doubling hash function, H, to a master key, m.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for terminating optical links in an opticalnetwork based on performance requirements. The present invention forces the termination of the received optical signals at each node only on the protection ring and does not force termination on the working ring, unless necessary to satisfy performance requirements. A signal on an end-to-end light path on the working ring is terminated only when required by engineering rules, such as signal-to-noise requirements. Specifically, the present invention does not force terminate an end-to-end light path on the working ring at a given node (or on a link between two nodes) unless the signal will fail to meet certain criteria, such as a minimum optical signal-to-noise ratio, at the next node.

Abstract: An alarming apparatus and methods for use with an air filter are disclosed herein. A filament can be stretched across a portion or section of an air filter frame, wherein the portion or section comprises a first locus and a second locus located diagonally opposite the first locus. The filament can be attached at a first end of the filament to the air filter frame at the first locus. A micro-switch can be attached to a second end of the filament at the second locus. Additionally, an alarm can communicate through a communications device (wired and/or wireless) with the micro-switch, such that when the air filter becomes loaded with debris, the air filter deflects thereby causing a force to be exerted on the filament, which in turn triggers the micro-switch to transmit a signal to the alarm indicating that the air filter requires proper attention thereof. The filament can be stretched facing either an upstream or a downstream side of airflow thereof.