Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing transmission penalties associated with ghost pulses in an optical signal in a transmission system includes providing phase modulation to the optical signal in the transmission system with a period of phase modulation greater than a bit period of the transmission system, wherein the phase modulation is applied to the optical signal such that the phases of at least some logical “ones” within a sequence of logical “ones” of the optical signal are modified such that the phases of the individual ghost-pulse fields from each triplet of “ones” are different, either pseudo-randomized or substantially shifted by &pgr;, thereby resulting in a reduction of the total ghost pulse. Advantageously, there is no need to synchronize the timing of the phase modulation with the timing of the power profile of the optical signal.

Abstract: A smart card is adapted to partially include and employ a triply-secure algorithm for data exchange. The algorithm verifies a user's identity and his simultaneous membership in any groups that he has joined. For this purpose, the algorithm requires only a single insertion of the smart card and only a single input of the user's personal identification number. The algorithm can be used in smart cards or in computer networks for identity verification and membership proof. A combination of three different hard problems is used. The first one is based on integer factorization, such as the RSA authenticating technique, and the second one is based on a discrete logarithm, and the third one is based on the coefficients of a polynomial function. In a typical application using smart cards, a certification authority (CA) establishes requirements for preparation and issuance of a multi-purpose card.

Abstract: A jumper cable module for use, e.g., with optical and/or electrical equipment. The module provides proper tensioning for jumper cables and retains them in a protected manner. In one embodiment, the module includes a pulley and an eccentric cam pivotally connected to a base plate. A jumper cable is wrapped around grooves in the pulley and cam such that the connectorized ends of the cable extend out and attach to the specified connection points. The cam is turned about its axle to produce the desired tension of the cable. For maintaining the tension, the cam may incorporate a tensioning mechanism, e.g., a spring-loaded ball mechanism or serrated edge ratchet. When the cable needs to be removed from the module, the tensioning mechanism is disengaged and the cam is turned to create slack in the cable for ease of cable removal. A module that includes stacks of pulleys and cams may handle multiple jumper cables.

Abstract: A timing acquisition algorithm for locating the sync timing position of a sync word embedded in a received signal for achieving synchronization between the received signal and a base station, e.g., a base station receiving the received signal, within a wireless telecommunications system. The timing acquisition algorithm is preferably a set of programmable instructions incorporated within a software package and processed by a processor at the within the wireless telecommunications system, such as at the base station. The timing acquisition algorithm gets rid of the unlikely sync timing position for each branch of an adaptive antenna array in the first step; gets rid of the unlikely sync timing position for all branches in the second step; and uses optimal diversity combining for the remaining timing position and uses the conventional correlation or mean-square-error (MSE) approach on the combined data in the third step to finally locate the timing position of the sync word.

Abstract: An electro-optical modulator includes an optical waveguide for carrying an optical carrier wave and a control waveguide for carrying a control wave. The optical waveguide includes a cladding layer and a core. The two waveguides are collinear and overlap in an interaction region so that the refractive index of the optical waveguide responds to electric fields generated by the control wave in the interaction region. The refractive index of the cladding layer at the control wave's wavelength is higher than the refractive index of the core at the optical carrier wave's wavelength.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a MEMs device comprises a component layer, an actuator layer and an intervening spacer. The component layer, the spacer and the actuator layer are assembled at ambient temperature and held together in lateral alignment by resilient spring members. The spacer provides the walls of a cavity between a component and an actuator to permit movement of the component. The walls are advantageously conductive and cover the bulk of the peripheral boundary of the cavity to provide electrostatic isolation and aerodynamic isolation.

Abstract: Interleaving methods and apparatus are disclosed for an in-band on-channel digital audio broadcasting system. The guard periods that separate any two adjacent symbols in a conventional OFDM system can provide a mechanism for OFDM frame synchronization. The guard period of successive OFDM frames is utilized to establish one or more unique positive or negative patterns and thereby provide a mechanism for interleaver synchronization. By proper positioning of the guard period patterns, one or more particular portions of each interleaver block are identified, such as the beginning and midpoint of each interleaver block. The present invention identifies the beginning of each interleaver block, for example, by positioning the fourth negative cyclic prefix with OFDM frame zero (0). The present invention can optionally identify the midpoint of each interleaver block, for example, by positioning the fourth negative cyclic prefix with OFDM frame 206.

Abstract: Techniques for transmission control in a wireless communication system are described. In a system comprising a plurality of voice and data users, a threshold is set reflecting a minimum gain at which a data user will be allowed to transmit. At each of a plurality of time slots, the circumstances, including the instantaneous gains, of all data users are evaluated and the data user having the highest priority is selected as a candidate for transmission. If the candidate for transmission experiences a gain meeting the gain threshold, the candidate is directed to transmit at a power level inversely proportional to the gain. If the candidate for transmission does not experience a gain meeting the threshold, the candidate is inhibited from transmission.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a formatter, a method of formatting encoded symbols and a wireless communication system employing the same. In one embodiment, the formatter includes a symbol generator that provides a plurality of encoded symbols from a bit stream. The formatter also includes a symbol mapping organizer that maps the plurality of encoded symbols into information cells, each having a unique space coordinate, time coordinate and degree of freedom within a frequency band. The information cells are arranged in a parallelopiped communication resource volume.

Abstract: In testing a system, coverage of the testing is obtained by maintaining a store of information that is populated as the testing progresses. The store maintains information about the ranges of system variables that are employed during the testing. At the conclusion of the testing, the coverage of the testing is reported out, to permit the designer to assess whether other queries ought to be formulated, or whether portions of the system are superfluous. The testing can employ simulations, formal verifications, or some other techniques.

Abstract: An elapsed time reminder system for a telecommunication network provides elapsed time reminder service to a party participating in a call in the network. A call state processing component processes requests for elapsed time reminder service from the requesting party. An elapsed time reminder interval may be specified by a requesting party, or a default interval may be used. When the service is invoked, a timer is reset to monitor call duration. When the reminder interval is reached, an elapsed time reminder announcement is played to the requesting party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing existing caching systems to better support streaming media over the Internet and other public network system are disclosed herein. By using helpers inside the network, which operate as caching and streaming agents, existing caching techniques are enhanced to better support streaming media over the Internet. The helpers serve to implement several methods specifically designed to support streaming media, including proxy caching, client request aggregation which describes the use of memory and disk resources at the helpers, and data transfer rate control to reduce start-up latency. The method and apparatus advantageously reduces server and network loads by employing the above methods to overcome arrival time and range heterogeneity in client requests thereby improving the quality perceived by end users.

Abstract: A first system for analysis of a portion of a partial state space includes a representation component and an analysis component. The portion of the partial state space is related to a part of a second system. The representation component of the first system employs a value in the portion of the partial state space to represent that information for the part of the second system is unknown. The analysis component of the first system employs the value in the portion of the partial state space to analyze, in response to an analysis question that is related to the part of the second system, the portion of the partial state space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simulating planar waveguides having a rectangular cross-section using a beam propagation method and design tool based on the FFT-BPM. Constraining the beam propagation method to planar waveguides having rectangular cross-sections significantly reduces the computational complexity and increases accuracy. The beam propagation method can be performed entirely in the angular spectrum domain. The constrained shape of the waveguide allows the structure to be accurately specified by its width and center-to-center arm spacing, thereby avoiding transverse spatial quantization.

Abstract: The data visualization systems and methods of this invention provide a powerful tool for visualizing multi-dimensional databases. In one exemplary embodiment, the data visualization systems and methods of this invention visualize pivot tables using two novel visual metaphors: a single measure perspective consisting of linked bar charts and a multiscape landscape visualization; and a anchored measures perspective for displaying several measures simultaneously. The data visualization systems and methods of this invention usefully display much larger pivot tables than is possible using conventional interfaces and provide the ability to navigate through complex cubes to identify important structures. In various exemplary embodiments, the data visualization systems and methods of this invention attach to MS Excel™ as an add-on, access pivot tables directly from SQL Server 7.0, and integrate with MS Office.

Abstract: For use with a database that accommodates distinct value queries having predicates, a distinct sampling system and a method of distinct sampling. In one embodiment, the distinct sampling system includes a scanning subsystem that is configured to scan each row in the database for a distinct target attribute, employ a hash function to map the distinct target attribute to an attribute priority level, maintain random samples of each row based on a sample priority level and a sample size, and produce a distinct sample therefrom. The distinct sampling system further includes a distinct query estimator that is configured to receive the distinct value queries, cause the distinct value queries to be executed on the distinct sample to retrieve a result, and adjust the result to produce a distinct estimate therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, a method of manufacture therefore, and an optical communications system including the same. The device includes an electrode located over a substrate and a charge dissipation layer located proximate and electrically coupled to the substrate. The device may further include a moveable element located over the electrode.

Abstract: A cooling system of the invention can be used, for example, for cooling of electrical circuit boards housed in an equipment cabinet. The cooling system includes a flow-rate-amplifying pump configured to introduce ambient air into the cabinet. The pump is a passive device, which has a primary intake and a secondary intake and is designed to convert a small volume of compressed air applied to the secondary intake into a large flow of relatively cool ambient air into the cabinet through the primary intake. In one embodiment, the cooling system is designed to use the heat generated within the cabinet to produce compressed air. The air circulating around the circuit boards heats up and rises to the top of the cabinet, where it, is channeled toward an air vent. When the air exits through the vent, it rotates an appropriately placed propeller. The torque generated by the propeller is then used to drive an air compressor, the output of which is coupled to the secondary intake of the air amplifying pump.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol (IP)-based network incorporates an application level switching server and a number of packet endpoints. A packet endpoint multiplexes application sessions destined for different packet endpoints into one multiplexed session that is terminated with the application level switching server. The latter extracts each application session (or packets associated therewith) and repackages, or switches, them into other multiplexed sessions such that at least two switched packets are transmitted to different packet endpoints. The multiplexed sessions utilize either RTP/UDP/IP or UDP/IP encapsulation.

Abstract: A calling and called telecommunications station are each connected to a packet access network. The packet access network under the control of a server system, determines whether an originating call should be routed via a core packet network, such as the Internet, or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). If the expected delay of packets through the core packet network is excessive, then the call will be connected through the Public Switched Telephone Network. If, during the course of a call, the packet delay becomes excessive, and causes the quality of voice transmission to be below acceptable standards, the call is switched from the packet network to the Public Switched Telephone Network. Advantageously, as many calls as can be handled by the packet network are switched through that network, thus resulting in substantial savings to the customer. Advantageously, the embedded PSTN can be used productively to handle overflows from the core packet network.