Abstract: A method of forwarding an encrypted message sent to a primary recipient having a secret key to at least one secondary recipient comprising the steps of sharing portions of the secret key among a predetermined threshold number of proxy servers greater than one, upon receipt of an encrypted message by the predetermined threshold number of proxy servers, each of the predetermined threshold number of proxy servers modifying the message by applying the key portion to the encrypted message, the result of the modification comprising a message secret to the predetermined threshold number of proxy servers but decryptable by at least one secondary recipient, and forwarding the resultant message to at least one secondary recipient. This method and system for quorum controlled asymmetric proxy encryption has uses ranging from efficient key distribution for pay-tv, to methods for distributively maintaining databases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for use in a UMTS receiver of detecting a signal transmitted by a UMTS transmitter which includes determining whether the signal is greater than or equal to at least a first power threshold value when the signal is below an initial detection threshold value, and informing the transmitter when the signal is greater than or equal to the first power threshold value such that the transmitter can increase a signal strength of the signal by a first predetermined amount and re-transmit. In another aspect of the invention, a method for use in a UMTS transmitter of power ramping a signal transmitted by the transmitter and received by a UMTS receiver includes increasing a signal strength of the signal by a first predetermined amount when informed by the receiver that the signal is greater than or equal to a first power threshold value but below an initial detection threshold value, and re-transmitting the signal.

Abstract: A system and method for managing time and expense when communicating between a host and multiple network connections. A server program, inserted between an information requesting device and the network connections, reconfigures the information requesting device forcing the information requesting device to pass all requests through the server program. The server program then determines what type of network is being connected. Additionally, the server program makes costs visible to the user, warns the user when pre-specified budgets are exceeded, postpones actions to a later time when conditions are met, and automatically adapts user customization and system configuration values to the changing conditions of use. This allows asynchronous style browsing in which users can work disconnected from a cache of documents or trade off communication cost against information needs.

Abstract: In a method for characterizing particles in a colloidal suspension, during a period in which the particles undergo sedimentation, changes are measured in the intensity among interference patterns generated by combining first and second partially coherent radiation portions. Each radiation portion is generated from the same source. The first portion includes a component transmitted through a fraction of the suspension, and the second portion is transmitted through a reference path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing a firewall. The disclosed firewall manager facilitates the generation of a security policy for a particular network environment, and automatically generates the firewall-specific configuration files from the security policy simultaneously for multiple gateways. The security policy is separated from the vendor-specific rule syntax and semantics and from the actual network topology. Thus, the security administrator can focus on designing an appropriate policy without worrying about firewall rule complexity, rule ordering, and other low-level configuration issues. In addition, the administrator can maintain a consistent policy in the presence of intranet topology changes. The disclosed firewall manager utilizes a model definition language (MDL) and an associated parser to produce an entity relationship model. A model compiler translates the entity-relationship model into the appropriate firewall configuration files.

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 label-switched path (LSP). Each of the nodes includes one or more routers that forward packets based on a forwarding table constructed from paths determined in accordance with the method of routing with service level guarantees. The method of routing with service level guarantees determines the path of the requested LSP based on the effect that routing those packets of the requested LSP may have on current and/or future demands on the capacity of network nodes for currently provisioned LSPs. Such method of routing with service level guarantees may not necessarily route packets of a requested LSP along the shortest path, or minimum number of hops, through the network. Given the packet network and LSP request, a linear programming system may be defined by a set of linear programming equations for a non-split demand case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permitting global roaming between two communication networks which utilize different authentication schemes. The authentication interoperability function (AIF) and method translate between the authentication schemes of each network, for example, a triplet-based network and a shared secret data (SSD) network. When a user from a network that natively uses SSD authentication roams into a triplet-based network, the authentication interoperability function produces triplets from the current SSD. When a triplet user roams into an SSD network, the AIF produces SSD from the triplet.

Abstract: In a switch in accordance with the principles of the present invention, switch modules that include a disassembly block, a switching core, and an assembly block are combined to implement an N×M multi-port switch that effectively connects N input ports to M output ports, provides broadcast capability, and may be non-blocking. The switch operates on data channels that all have their respective data blocks organized in the same number of bit-packs. Disassemblers within each module slice incoming data blocks into bit-packs and route the bit-packs to switching cores. A switching core within each module connects each input channel with each output channel at the bit-pack level. Assemblers within each module receive the switched bit-packs from each switching core and assemble the bit-packs into data blocks for each of the output channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to poly(phenylene vinylene) polymers substituted with dendritic sidechains to enhance main-chain separation in the solid state. The polymers are synthesized by the Heck polymerization and have a weight-average molecular weight of 20,000 to 60,000 Daltons. The polymers are self-ordering in the solid state and have thermotropic liquid crystalline phases. The polymers show enhanced photoconductivity, better charge transport capability and improved polarized light emission.

Abstract: In a system and method for communicating between a special number call answering agency and a mobile action asset the answering agency answers a special number call placed by a caller. The mobile asset participates in responding to the call. The answering agency and the mobile asset communicate wirelessly. The answering agency recognizes and interprets special number information, including at least one of caller identification and location information. The system comprises: (a) a special number receiving terminal located with the mobile asset and configured to receive and display selected information of the special number information; the receiving terminal being configured to dial back the caller based upon the selected information and (b) a call bridge configured for actuation at the call answering agency to connect the caller with the mobile asset and provide the selected information to the mobile asset when the call bridge is in an actuated orientation.

Abstract: An improved single-channel (SC) or Wavelength-Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber optic system has post-transmission dispersion compensation using positive and negative compensation selected according to the residual dispersion slope of the fiber link on a per channel basis. A transmitter (TX) is coupled to a receiver (RX) through transmission fibers including standard unshifted fibers (STD) or any other transmission fiber types, compensated by a dispersion-compensating fibers (DCFs). Amplifier units are installed at defined intervals referred to as amplifier spacing. Dispersion-compensating fibers (DCFs) are typically installed between the first and second stage amplifiers. By using dispersion compensation at the end of the line, system performance improves significantly without changing the length of DCF in all amplifiers.

Abstract: An automatic remote control device and method which compensates for ambient, environmental noise changes and sudden changes in program material volume. The microphones and circuitry associated with the volume control apparatus are located in an autonomous, preferably portable, remote control unit that will work with any existing audio/video device that is configured to respond to a remote control input. In one embodiment, the remote control device comprises a microprocessor, at least one directional microphone for receiving a sound level emitted from a sound-emitting device, and at least one omni-directional microphone for receiving the total noise level in the vicinity of the remote control device. The microprocessor located in the remote control device utilizes the received sound level and the total received noise level to calculate a reference sound-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for replacing a lost packet in a sequence of packets, where each packet including samples of a signal, preferably a voice signal. The method includes the steps of generating a fill packet, selecting from a packet that is adjacent to the lost packet a portion that is adjacent to the lost packet, selecting from the fill packet a portion that is adjacent to the adjacent packet, and replacing the selected portion of the fill packet with a weighted average of the selected portion of the fill packet and a reflection of the selected portion of the adjacent packet.

Abstract: A JTAG port-sharing device that reduces the required number of hardware pins on an integrated circuit without limiting the integrated circuit testing to a particular debugging platform is provided. The JTAG port-sharing device eliminates the need to have individual hardware pins for each functional block that requires JTAG test interface and allows one set of hardware pins to be shared by a plurality of functional blocks. The JTAG port-sharing device is not limited by a particular debugging platform and allows the use of pre-owned and/or off-the-shelf testing software and/or JTAG debugger devices thereby leading to shorter development cycles and lower development costs.

Abstract: A conference bridge is selected for a conference call so as to reduce the overall cost of the conference call, and the conference bride selected may be changed dynamically, e.g., as parties are added or dropped from the conference call, so as to continuously maintain the low cost of the conference call. User telephones are connected via device servers, which may include a packet circuit gateway (PCG), to a packet network which provides both transport and service. Accordingly, in response to a request for a conference call, the packet network determines the parties to be on the conference call and selects a conference bridge that results in the lowest cost for the conference call, e.g., a bridge located more closely to two of the parties on the conference call. In the event the parties on the conference call change, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against network damage in next generation communications networks. More particularly, network safety is achieved using semantic restriction of higher level call processing protocol primitives coupled with dynamically programming the various network routing elements to enforce both connection control and rate control.

Abstract: Telephone calls are handed off from a wireless network to a wireline network under the control of a subscriber. When at a given location, the subscriber enters the directory number of the wireline terminal (typically the closest) to which a future wireless call is to be transferred. The entered directory number is then stored in memory in the subscriber's wireless terminal with the current location of the subscriber as determined by a satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) for future use. If the subscriber wants to transfer a call to a wireline terminal, the subscriber selects a transfer handoff key on the subscriber's wireless terminal. After the subscriber's location is determined using the GPS, it is then determined if a directory number (DN) of a designated wireline terminal has previously been entered and stored in memory for the subscriber's present location.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided for use in conjunction with attribute evaluation utilizing computation rules and a combining policy. The graphical user interface displays a visual representation of the evaluation of attributes. The GUI displays a representation of the evaluation status of attributes and their associated computation rules during execution. The display may be updated dynamically to provide a user with a visual representation of the progression of attribute evaluation. The representation of evaluation status may include representations of the values assigned to, as well as the state of, data items and associated computation rules. States may be visually represented in the display in various ways, such as using various colors or labels associated with the data items and associated computation rules. Further, the particular data items and computation rules for which evaluation status is represented may be user selectable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving file system response time. File system response time is improved by reading an entire cluster each time a read request is received. When a request to read the first one or more bytes of a file arrives at the file system, the file system assumes the file is being read sequentially and reads the entire first cluster of the file into the file system cache. File system response time is also improved by modifying the number of disk cache segments. The number of disk cache segments restricts the number of sequential workloads for which the disk cache can perform readahead. The disclosed file system dynamically modifies the number of disk cache segments to be at least the number of files being concurrently accessed from a given disk. In one implementation, the number of disk cache segments is set to one more than the number of sequential files being concurrently accessed from that disk, so that the additional cache segment can service the randomly-accessed files.

Abstract: In a replicated component system, changing the condition of a component can deleteriously affect the system as a whole unless the result of making such a change may have on other components is considered. In response to a request to change the condition of a subject component to a specified condition, the request is first validated using a particular validation algorithm associated with the request type. Prior to effecting a change to any component in the system, the configuration controller is provided with information that includes the type of component that each component in the system is and the relationships that exist between components. This information is provided through a graphical user interface in which the attributes of each component type and the relationships between components are specified using dialog windows and a canvas window which visually displays representations of each component in the system and the relationships that exist between these components.