Abstract: The self-adaptive processor overload control system provides real time overload control and is fast to respond to processing overload conditions. The self-adaptive processor overload control system can detect surges and also has a dynamic range that can address overloads of significant size. It matches software operation to the CPU instruction cache operation to thereby increase the processor efficiency by reducing the average real time needed to process call activity. The self-adaptive processor overload control system maintains a counter for each queue, and sets a threshold value for each queue. The self-adaptive processor overload control system completely empties each queue to obtain a higher cache hit ratio, since code to serve each request is queued in cache memory and when successive requests on the same nature save on code retrieval time.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the quality of hard gold is determined by Raman vibrational spectroscopy. A sample of the hard gold is provided, a monochromatic light beam is directed onto the sample, and the frequency and intensity of the light scattered by the sample is analyzed for the vibrational frequencies of polymer molecules. Scattering frequencies offset from the initial beam frequency by about 2132 cm−1 and about 2182 cm−1, for example, are indicative of high quality nickel-hardened gold.

Abstract: A GRIN fiber lens has a silica-glass core whose refractive index has a radial profile. The profile has a radial second derivative whose average magnitude in the core is less than about 1.7×10−6 microns−2 times the value of the refractive index on the axis of the GRIN fiber lens.

Abstract: An N×N crossconnect switch, for large N, is implemented using an arrangement of smaller wavelength routers combined with space switches. An N×N crossconnect switch is constructed in three stages, using a plurality of input space switches, a plurality of (N/m)×(N/m) router (whose reduced size N/m allows efficient realization in integrated form), and a plurality of output space switches. In the router, the number of wavelengths is reduced by a factor m. The input and output space switches can be implemented using crossbar or Clos type construction. In one arrangement each modulator is combined with a small space switch consisting of 2×2 elements. Each space switch can be realized with negligible crosstalk by using a dilated arrangement.

Abstract: In order to effectively terminate a burst transmission in a wireless system, a method and apparatus determines whether or not a burst transmission from a wireless unit to a base station should be terminated by evaluating at least one criterion related to the operation of the wireless system. Once it is determined that a burst transmission should be terminated, the transmission is terminated by lowering a target signal-to-noise ratio (SIR) by a predetermined amount. By lowering this target SIR, power control bits transmitted from the base station to the wireless unit instruct an extreme decrease in power of the burst transmission and quickly act to terminate the burst transmission.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for overload control in a hybrid switching system that separately transports each monomedia stream, such as video, voice and data, of a composite multimedia signal. The overload control is based on the time delay for completion of call establishment of each multimedia session. When the average time delay for completion of call establishment of each multimedia session is below a predefined threshold, the system has sufficient capacity and overload corrective measures are not required. When the average time delay for completion of call establishment of each multimedia session, or a connection for any individual monomedia component within the multimedia session, exceeds a predefined threshold, the switching system is approaching an overload condition, and overload control must be implemented to reduce the number of calls accepted in the next time interval.

Abstract: A DPRAM is placed in the RF path before the digital to analog converter, to provide dynamic path gain compensation to the digital signal prior to conversion to an analog signal. The DPRAM stores corrections to the signal to compensate for amplitude losses in the signal arising from heat and non-linearities. The DPRAM has two sets of identical addresses. A logic switch, alternately directs an input signal to one of the two sets of addresses. Pre-calculated signal values which compensate for path gain are stored in one of the two sets of addresses in the DPRAM. The signal input to the DPRAM is directed to the other block. The value of the signal input to the DPRAM will determine the address to which the new value can be found. It is this new value which is actually input to the DAC and from which an analog signal is created.

Abstract: A tunable liquid microlens includes an insulating layer, a droplet of a transparent conducting liquid disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer and a plurality of electrodes insulated from the droplet by the insulating layer. The plurality of electrodes are disposed such that they may be selectively biased to create a respective voltage potential between the droplet and each of the plurality of electrodes, whereby a contact angle between the droplet and the first surface is variable and the droplet may be repositioned along the first surface.

Abstract: A reservation is created within a network by sending a stateless probe from a source node toward a destination node. The stateless probe determines a reservation path between the source node and the destination node via intermediate routers in the network. A determination is made if the destination node agrees to create the reservation path to the source node. If the destination node agrees to create the reservation path to the source node, the reservation path is established by returning a corresponding response message to the source node. Links included in more than one established reservation path to the same destination node are identified. The multiple reservations on such links are aggregated. This aggregation creates a tree of reservations rooted at the destination node.

Abstract: An antenna structure including at least one planar antenna element. In place of a balun, the antenna structure further includes a slotline for coupling the planar antenna element with an unbalanced load.

Abstract: A digital synthesizer includes a memory containing values representing amplitudes of a signal such as a sinewave, a digital/analog converter for converting outputs from the memory into an analog signal, and a counter for counting by a predetermined fixed increment, which operates at a high frequency to enable the generation of very precise frequency waveforms. The digital synthesizer has many practical applications including the generation of precise signals to extract information from input radio frequency signals, the obtaining of a precise frequency from a low-cost clock, and the use as a component of a FSK modulator to permit selection between signals of multiple frequencies without any phase discontinuity. Finally, the digital synthesizer can be used in combination with an 8-bit memory, to generate a 10-bit input to a digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: A technique for achieving receive diversity without multiple antennas per cell is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first antenna for receiving a first information-bearing signal at a first radio frequency; a first downconverter for downconverting the first information-bearing signal to a first intermediate frequency; a first transmitter for transmitting the first information-bearing signal at the first intermediate frequency over a first wireline; means for receiving the first information-bearing signal at the first intermediate frequency from the first wireline and for demodulating the first information-bearing signal.

Abstract: A wireless terminal dynamically maintains location dependent operating parameters while operating in low power-consuming sleep mode. The wireless terminal wakes up periodically to determine its current location. If the current location is within a predetermined distance from a previously stored location, then the wireless terminal stores the previously stored location, along with its associated location dependent operating parameter, in a predetermined memory location within the wireless terminal. If the current location is not within a predetermined distance from a previously stored location, then the wireless terminal generates a new location dependent operating parameter for its current location and stores the current location and new location dependent operating parameter in the predetermined memory location. In various embodiments, the location dependent operating parameter may be, for example, a digital control channel or a mobile switching center identification.

Abstract: A protection switch architecture is disclosed for a digital cross-connect system having a main controller, a command interface, and at least one digital signal processing unit. The digital signal processing unit includes one or more signal processing service devices and one or more signal processing protection devices that correspond to the service devices. A unit controller includes the protection switch for switching signal processing responsibilities between the service devices and the protection devices. Advantageously, the protection switch is adapted to act independently of the main controller in reponse to autonomous switching requests from the service devices by completing all protection switching related to such protection requests without main controller involvement. The protection switch also acts in response to manual switching requests from the main controller.

Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion (PMD) emulator may include one or more modular “cells” that emulate PMD. Each of the cells may include optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to account for differences in PMD and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD of the apparatus. Similarly, a PMD compensator may include one or more modular “cells” that compensate for PMD, with each of the cells including optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to compensate for various PMD values and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD compensation of the apparatus. The PMD compensator apparatus may be used to compensate for PMD in wideband applications, such as wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems.

Abstract: A system and method provide seamless data network telecommunication service to a mobile wireless node during mobile wireless call handoff from a first base station to a second base station. Prior to call handoff, communication content addressed to the mobile wireless node is routed to a first address for delivery to the mobile wireless node via the first base station. Upon initiation of the call handoff, the communication content is routed to a second address for delivery to the mobile wireless node via the second base station. At the same time, routing of the same communication content is continued to the first address. Upon completion of the call handoff, communication content routing to the first address is terminated.

Abstract: In a distributed computer program, active software probes in the form of small functions built into an application are invoked by another application. When invoked, an active probe provides a positive response if the service being requested is available from the probed package. If the service is not available, the probe will fail alerting the software package installer that there is a problem. The active probes thus perform a functionality check for the software package, not a check merely based on the package's release number. Because the probe is active, it is capable of checking for subtending capabilities that the calling application may not realize are necessary for this service. This ensures full coverage of the test while hiding some implementation details from the calling application.

Abstract: A method of estimating channel impulse response in a signal transmitted over a channel in a communication system is described. The channel estimator obtains a priori knowledge about the transmitted signal, and then uses the transmitted signal and the a priori knowledge to choose an estimate of channel impulse response which minimizes the expected distance between the transmitted signal and a reconstructed signal. The expected distance that is minimized is a cost function, represented by E{∥r−Bh∥2r}. By using soft decision feedback, the invention minimizes erroneous decision feedback which can cause error propagation. The decisions are usually in the form of log likelihood ratios (LLR).

Abstract: One or more impingement plates, each of which includes one or more apertures, is located within an card cage running from top to bottom and from back to front of the card cage. Each impingement plate is located adjacent to one or more electronic components to be cooled. Channels formed on either side of the impingement plate allow for the ingress of a cooling fluid, the forcing of the cooling fluid through the one or more apertures within the impingement plate toward the electronics to be cooled, and the egress of the cooling fluid after it's contact with the electronics.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting packets from a source of such packets to one or more radio station sites so that the radio station sites can transmit the packets at the correct real time. Each radio site has an independent source of exact time based on the reception of signals derived from satellite inputs. Using the real time calculated by a base station, the base station calculates an offset between the time of arrival of a signal with a specified time marker, and the time that a signal with that specified time marker should have arrived in order to be transmitted in a timely fashion. The offset is sent back to the source of packets, and used by the source of packets to advance, or retard, the transmission of future packets. Advantageously, packets can be transmitted from each base station at the correct time, and if packets are being transmitted for a given call from several base stations, can be transmitted simultaneously, by these base stations.