Abstract: The invention generates a random bit string from a sequence of readings taken from a potentially biased source of randomness, such as a random stationary source which can be represented as a biased die. A simulated unbiased source is generated from the potentially biased source, and a reading is taken from the simulated unbiased source. The reading is then converted to a bit string. Taking a reading from the simulated unbiased source may involve generating an integer pair (R,S), which depends on the sequence of readings from the random source, and represents a roll of value R on a simulated unbiased die U with S sides. The pair (R,S) is then converted into an output bit string bkbk−1 . . . b1 which is unbiased over sequences of readings from the random source.

Abstract: Disclosed is a common transmitter architecture having incorporated both open loop transmit diversity schemes using a plurality of binary switches. Employment of binary switches allows for the sharing of certain components whether the transmitter is utilizing a orthogonal transmit diversity (OTD) scheme or a space time spreading (STS) scheme. Accordingly, the number of components in the transmitter is minimized and the complexity of the transmitter is simple enough to be implemented into a single application specific integrated chip.

Abstract: Feedback instabilities arising from interactions between automatic control loops at the amplifier nodes of an optical network are eliminated by restricting operation to a single amplifier node at a time. Amplifier node activation is accomplished using a global control signal which is sequentially passed from an upstream node through all of the nodes of the system. By controlling the state of the global control signal, an upstream node has operational priority over downstream nodes.

Abstract: A multi-layer backplane for processing radio frequency (RF) and other signals has alternating layers of conductive traces for RF signals and other types of signals, and ground plane layers of conductive material electrically insulated from each other. The backplane upper layer has a plurality of coaxial connectors for connection of cables and other devices which supply RF energy signals to and convey them from the backplane, with each connector having a center pin extending into the backplane to make electrical contact with a trace of a selected trace layer. A ground plane cap layer of electrically conductive material is provided below the last ground plane layer associated with a trace layer and beneath the coaxial connector center pins for preventing leakage of radio frequency energy between the center pins. A row of conductive vias can be provided along one or more sides of a trace carrying RF energy.

Abstract: A method of evaluating an effect of a run-time scheduling policy on a performance of an end-system, having associated resources, running one or more applications, each application having one or more tasks and the tasks being mapped to the associated resources of the end-system, includes generating a state process having a state space representative of an evolution of computation associated with the end-system, the evolution being representative of task transitions with respect to the applications, available resources and the run-time scheduling policy. Then, given the state space generated with respect to, inter alia, the specified run-time scheduling policy, the method includes computing performance metrics from the state process, the performance metrics being representative of the effect of the run-time scheduling policy on the performance of the one or more applications running on the end-system.

Abstract: An arrangement for enhancing the capabilities of emergency service provisions for telephone stations served by a cable system. In accordance with the prior art, telephone stations served by cable systems are frequently provided with access to an emergency telephone line for making emergency calls when the cable system lacks power, or is otherwise inoperative. In accordance with this invention, the emergency service line is used for making incoming calls directed to all telephones connected to the emergency line, using a different telephone number for the emergency call. Outgoing service is also provided to the telephones connected to the emergency line. Advantageously, the value of the emergency line service is substantially enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided which, for a wireless telecommunication session handled by a mobile switching center, allow an adjunct network entity, such as an intelligent peripheral, a service node, a service control point, or another switching center, to maintain control over the telecommunication session and, in the preferred embodiment, provide intelligent network services. Such control is provided without the adjunct network entity monitoring or maintaining a direct connection the telecommunication session, such as a voice path or other circuit-based connection.

Abstract: An inter-working function selection system in a coupled data network is disclosed. The coupled data network includes a foreign network and a home network. The foreign network includes a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server. The home network includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions. A first end system is a subscriber to the home network and operates within the foreign network. The first end system includes an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether the state of a telecommunications switch (110) is adequate for a software upgrade or retrofit. A report stream of text messages relating to the state of, and events occurring on, the telecommunications switch is stored (200) by a server (102). Predetermined messages are detected in the report stream, including messages indicating hardware errors, alarms and other errors (202). The predetermined messages have a numerical value associated therewith (204). The numerical value reflects a probability of failure of a retrofit if the message is detected. As the predetermined messages are detected, their numerical values are accumulated into an accumulated value (206). The time period the report stream covers is determined and compared against an expected time (216). If the time period covered by the report stream does not exceed an expected time, then a determination regarding suitability for upgrade may not be reliable (222).

Abstract: A telecommunication system routes wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device across a data-oriented network, without vocoding, for information delivery to a second communication device while implementing multi-party conferencing and tone/announcement generating functionality. Tone and announcement generation services are provided while the call path retains the wireless-specific digital frame format between the first wireless communication device and the terminating gateway. When tones are generated by the first wireless communication device, signaling messages are sent directly to the terminating gateway vocoder to initiate the generation of full rate DTMF tones at the terminating network. When tones and announcements are sent to the first wireless communication device, a resource server, working together with a feature server, generates a wireless-encoded version of the tone or announcement.

Abstract: A cost modeling technique derives node, link, and end-to-end costs for a communication network design as a function of radio frequency, demographic, traffic, system, and marketing variables, thereby enabling a comprehensive characterization of network cost in terms of these factors. A cost-sensitivity analysis tool allows a user to vary network parameters, track the impact of such variables on network node, link, and end-to-end cost; and recognize the variation of cost as a function of different input variables, thus facilitating design. One implementation models a fixed wireless access network, providing a cost estimate for provisioning service bandwidth to buildings of a service area which is divided into a number of cells.

Abstract: An ATM switch is adapted so that it quickly and efficiently converts a time-sensitive packet received from a source of packets via an incoming trunk into one or more ATM cells. The switch, more particularly, indexes a translation table using the identity of the incoming trunk identity to obtain an assigned AAL2 channel within a virtual channel. The switch then converts the received packet to a particular data unit containing at least the assigned AAL2 channel, determines, as a function of the virtual channel index; a virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual circuit identifier (VCI); and processes the particular data unit to form the payload for an ATM cell. The switch then forms an ATM cell header containing at least the VPI and VCI, appends the header to each such payload and outputs each cell, in turn, to an output carrying the identified channel.

Abstract: A double-pass birefringent filter apparatus comprises an external-interface apparatus (illustratively including of a beam-displacer element and a waveplate element); a birefringent filter comprised of a series of several birefringent waveplates; and a wrap-around unit (illustratively comprised of a beam-displacer element and a retro-reflector). In response to an input beam received at the external-interface apparatus, the double-pass birefringent filter forms two output beams having complimentary intensities which vary periodically with frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes to provide a telephone answering device for receiving and recording a voice message from a caller to a user over a telephone line. The voice message is retrievable from the telephone answering device by the user from a remote location. After the user retrieves the message, but while the remote user is still on the telephone line, a calling module in the telephone answering device directs, at the remote user's request, a call back to the caller. The remote user is then connected to the call to the third party using the same telephone line without disconnecting the user from the original phone call.

Abstract: The system for improved voice print identification divides the user identification validation process into multiple steps: presorting the prestored user identity validation data based upon a user provided voice input to produce a subset of user identity validation data, and processing the identified subset of the user identity validation data using a voice print identification system. This system implements the multiple step user identification validation process by converting a user provided voice input into a text stream, which is used to sort through the stored user identity validation data to create a subset of stored user identity validation data that comprises one or more of the data entries that likely correspond to the user provided voice input. The voice print identification system is then activated to compare a user provided voice input to the selected subset of stored user identity validation data to validate the identity of the user who is requesting access.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in a telephone communications system that provide for redirecting a call by an adjunct processor, utilizing a control message. The control message contains various directives for current or subsequent execution by a telephone switching center, which can assume a function of a mobile switching center in a wireless communications system or a landline switching center in a landline telephone system. Directives in the control message instruct the telephone switching center to redirect a call contingent upon subsequent call events that can occur.

Abstract: A system and a method for code division multiple access (CDMA) communication. The system includes fixed terminals communicating with a central base station. The terminals in protection sectors of each sector are configured to employ codes from different sets of codes to overcome potential mutual interference between sectors on account of antenna radiation pattern roll-off. The remaining codes, preferably the majority of the available codes, are used in any one of a plurality of basic sectors, each of which separates the protection sectors of a respective sector. For an even number of sectors in a cell, the available codes are partitioned into three groups, two for the protection sectors and one for the basic sectors. For an odd number of sectors in a cell, the available codes are partitioned into four groups, three for the protection sectors and one for the basic sectors. Protection sectors are relatively narrow but broad enough to counteract the potential mutual interference between sectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing packets that enables inter-packet compression thereby achieving greater robustness and increased compression ratios without the deleterious effects, e.g., the effect of packet loss multiplying, of prior compression schemes. More particularly, a so-called acknowledgment scheme is employed in conjunction with the specific compression algorithm such that the transmitter, i.e., sender, can limit the history used by the compression algorithm to those packets that are correctly received. In particular, a vector identifying the packets used as the history is included in the compressed packet thereby enabling the receiver to reconstruct the packet history state necessary to decompress the packet. Advantageously, increased robustness and greater compression ratios are achieved independent of any particular one compression scheme.

Abstract: A solution to a problem of false positives in frame synchronization in telecommunication systems involves generating a separate channel estimate based only on the non-SW (all −1) bits of a pilot sequence. This non-SW channel estimate is used to correct received pilot SW symbols. These specially corrected symbols are rake combined separately from other symbols. The result is used exclusively for the frame synchronization detector. Normal channel estimate calculations and rake combining proceeds as usual. This method of frame synchronization only refers to SW bit matches. False positives are decreased using the invention.

Abstract: A frequency offset estimation is generated without explicitly generating a channel estimation for a frequency selective fading communication channel. This is realized by recognizing that, in the absence of additive noise, the channel output at a time n depends only on the last previous predetermined number, L, of data symbols, and that a “state” is a sequence of the last L symbols. Specifically, in a receiver, a received signal is mixed with a locally generated frequency corresponding to a frequency offset to generate a mixed signal. A calculation is made on the mixed signal in which channel outputs of the same state are combined and accumulated. Then, a summation is made over all possible states of the combined and accumulated channel outputs to yield a so-called metric calculation value for that mixed signal. The metric calculation is then repeated for a plurality of different locally generated frequencies corresponding on a one-to-one basis with a plurality of frequency offsets.