Abstract: A flexible optical circuit includes a plurality of optical fibers mounted to a flexible porous substrate. The optical fibers and flexible porous substrate are thereafter encapsulated with a protective encapsulating material. The encapsulating material can be a liquid which surrounds the optical fibers and flows through pores in the porous substrate to achieve a structurally sound and protected flexible optical circuit. Because the encapsulating material surrounds and protects the optical fibers, heat and pressure are not required in forming the optical circuit, resulting in minimal optical fiber breakage. Additionally, optical fibers may be positioned between two porous substrates, and the fibers and both of the porous substrates then encapsulated by an encapsulating material.

Abstract: A method for automatic frequency control in a wireless communication network having public frequency channels comprises the steps of: scanning the public frequency channels; locking the cellular base station to a signal on one of the public frequency channels; and returning the cellular base station to normal operation.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a hermetic optical fiber array comprises a substrate having a planar surface including an array of perforations for receiving optical fibers, a plurality of fibers having cores disposed in the perforations, the fibers bonded to the substrate with a set of fiber ends substantially coplanar with the surface, and a sealing coating disposed on the planar surface and co-planar ends, the sealing coating covering the substrate/fiber joints but having openings to the cores of fibers in the array. The fiber array can be bonded within a hollow tubular fiber array housing, and the fiber array housing, in turn, can be adapted to support a microlens in spaced relation to the coplanar arrayed fiber ends and to hermetically attach to an apertured system housing.

Abstract: A one-piece optical fiber adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector is disclosed. The adapter is comprised of an elongate tubular one-piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, and has a first end and a spaced second end. The first end of the body is sized and shaped to receive any one of the several different types of optical fiber connectors therein, and the second end of the body is sized and shaped to also receive any one of the several differing types of optical fiber connectors therein. An elongate tubular alignment sleeve is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the body, and is received therein in a snap fit. In a first embodiment, an alignment sleeve holder is provided which is snap fit into the tubular body along the longitudinal axis thereof, the alignment sleeve being snap fit within the alignment sleeve holder. In a second embodiment, a stepped alignment sleeve used for coupling a 2.5 millimeter diameter ferrule to a 1.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical structure which controls the movement of an optical device coupled thereto is disclosed. Both the electro-mechanical structure and the optical device are disposed on a substrate surface. The electro-mechanical structure controls the movement of the optical device by first lifting the optical device a predetermined distance above the plane of the substrate surface. Thereafter, the lifted optical device is moveable relative to the plane of the substrate surface in response to an electrostatic field generated between the electro-mechanical structure and the substrate.

Abstract: A CDMA communication system is disclosed offering a near continuum of data rates up to a maximum rate. The disclosed CDMA communication system increases the data rate variability, without disturbing the orthogonality between users. An increased number of data rates is obtained by time multiplexing the data rates achievable with conventional CDMA systems to provide additional data rates for various multimedia applications. If a user is assigned a specific orthogonal code sequence, such as a Walsh sequence, which permits a maximum data rate, nR, with conventional systems, the user can obtain additional desired data rates up to the maximum rate nR, by time multiplexing the specific orthogonal code set. Desired bit rates are achievable for applications requiring bit rates that are not an integer multiple of the rates provided by conventional techniques. A fundamental rate of R or “fat pipe” rates of powers-of-two multiples of the fundamental rate can be achieved in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A recessed handle for a support member, e.g., a rear plate of an electrical equipment cabinet, includes a depression in one surface of the member and a rod extending across the depression inwardly of the surface but above the bottom surface of the depression.

Abstract: A method of encoding a video sequence including a sequence of video images includes comparing elements of a portion of a first video image with elements of a portion of a second video image to generate respective intensity difference values for the element comparisons. Then, a first value is assigned to the intensity difference values that are at least above a visually perceptible threshold value and a second value is assigned to the intensity difference values that are not at least above the visually perceptible threshold value. Next, the method includes dividing the portion of the first video image into sub-portions and summing the first and second values associated with each corresponding sub-portion to generate respective sums. If a respective sum is at least greater than a decision value, a variable associated with that sub-portion is set to a first value. If a respective sum is not at least greater than the decision value, the variable associated with that sub-portion is set to a second value.

Abstract: A panel mounting assembly for use with optical fiber connectors is disclosed. The panel mounting assembly includes at least one receptacle, and a clip constructed and arranged to be mated to the receptacle. The receptacle is provided with a body portion having a first end and a spaced second end, a pair of spaced sides extending between the ends, and at least one optical fiber connector opening defined within the body. The clip is provided with at least one elongate tongue, the tongue having a spaced series of teeth extending at least partially along the length thereof. The tongue of the clip is intended to be received in at least one elongate slot defined within the body of the receptacle, and a tooth is formed within the elongate slot of the body for being engaged with the teeth of the at least one tongue of the clip.

Abstract: The invention provides compiler loop optimization techniques to take advantage of a zero overhead loop mechanism (ZOLM) in a processor, e.g., a ZOLM in the form of a zero overhead loop buffer (ZOLB). In an illustrative embodiment, a compiler generates a first set of code, and then applies optimizations to the first set of code so as to generate a second set of code configured to operate efficiently with the ZOLB. The optimizations are designed to increase the number of loops of the first set of code that can be accommodated in the ZOLB, to further reduce the overhead of the loops placed in the ZOLB, and to eliminate redundant loading of the ZOLB. Optimizations for increasing the number of loops that can be accommodated in the ZOLB include, e.g., conditional instructions, loop splitting and function inlining. Optimizations for further reductions in loop overhead include, e.g., loop collapsing and loop interchange. Data flow analysis and loop peeling may be used to avoid redundant loading of the ZOLB.

Abstract: In a communications system, multi-rate coding in accordance with the invention is implemented to generate multiple representations of an audio signal at different rates. These representations contain equivalent and/or various amounts of audio information. In an illustrative embodiment, at least one of the representations is a core representation containing core audio information. The remaining representations are enhancement representations containing enhancement audio information. The core representation is necessary for recovering the audio signal with minimal acceptable quality. Such quality is enhanced when the core representation, together with one or more of the enhancement representations, is used to recover the audio signal.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are disclosed which provide variable alerting patterns for multiple leg telecommunication sessions, such as for providing concurrent alerting, sequential alerting, pyramid alerting or cascade alerting, of outgoing call legs for a flexible alerting service. The preferred system includes a home location register coupled to a mobile switching center. The home location register has, stored in a memory, a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with a primary directory number, such as an ANSI compatible pilot directory number, and for each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers, further stored in the memory a corresponding timing delay parameter, a corresponding no answer time parameter, and a corresponding no answer termination trigger. Variation of the various corresponding timing delay parameters and no answer time parameters produces the variable alerting patterns.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing virtual rings in SONET networks. By using an unused byte in the SONET path overhead, in conjunction with multiframe operation, restoration is performed at the sub-network connection layer or path layer to provide a finer granularity of protection which provides more efficient use of bandwidth. By restoring the operation of the SONET path overhead before exiting a virtual ring created using the present invention, the present virtual ring can be applied to the existing SONET network. Since a virtual ring provides restoration at a path level, a virtual ring can be comprised of various SONET rate interfaces. Further, restoration circuits are not dedicated, but are shared to create virtual rings as needed, which increases bandwidth efficiency and which are automatically and quickly created without the need for a centralized controller.

Abstract: The present invention is a module for use in an optical fiber administration system, or a dedicated system. The module contains both an optical transmitter and an optical monitor, wherein the module transmits a test signal over a fiber optic network and receives back that same signal through a different fiber in the fiber optic network. By both sending and receiving the test signal, the integrity of different paths in the optical fiber network can be determined in a space efficient manner. The module contains a microprocessor. The microprocessor reads data regarding the test signal as it is transmitted and that same test signal as it is received. This data may be read to an external shelf controller. The shelf controller utilizes the data from the microprocessor in the analysis of fiber optic loop conditions as well as the laser itself.

Abstract: The specification describes thermo-optically controlled waveguides where the thermo-optic control is a heater strip precisely aligned to the waveguide core by using the heater strip as an etch mask to define at least part of the core/upper cladding structure. In one embodiment the heater strip mask is larger than the underlying waveguide core so as to produce, on etching, a core surrounded with a minimum of cladding material on the sidewalls of the core, and a confined heat channel between the waveguide core and the heater strip. In a second embodiment the heater strip is used as an etch mask to define a core cladding stack, and a third cladding layer is deposited to clad the sidewalls of the core. In this embodiment, the cladding material in the stack can be optimized for thermal conductivity, and the third cladding material can be optimized for thermo-optic sensitivity.

Abstract: In an optically amplified wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system having a WDM signal comprising a plurality of optical channels, the per-channel gain of the optical channels is kept relatively constant despite changes in input power at the optical amplifier, such as when individual optical channels of the WDM signal are added and dropped. More specifically, gain of an optical amplifier is controlled by controlling the amount of pump power supplied to the optical amplifier as a function of changes in input power which are measured in a feed-forward monitoring path. The amount of pump power for effecting gain control is adjusted according to a scaled relationship to the measured input power of the optical amplifier. By controlling the pump power directly in response to changes in input power, gain of the optical amplifier can be controlled within a sub-microsecond time scale from the time that a change in input power is detected.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for authenticating a unique article utilizing a generated unique data signature. The unique data signature is generated by encrypting a received data set representative of a unique identification number fixed to a substantially unforgeable document. The unique data signature is fixed to the unique article or to an optionally generated ownership certificate or the like. The unforgeable document is retained, possibly as the ownership certificate, or the like, or as a part thereof, to thereby authenticate the unique article.

Abstract: A system for automatically locating a personal electronic object is described. The system comprises: a communicator; a location sensor; and a security controller. The security controller activates the location sensor to determine a location of the personal electronic object. When security of the system is compromised and access to a computer network or a wireless network is available, the location is transmitted through the communicator.

Abstract: In an Internet protocol (IP)-based multimedia system having a voice over packet infrastructure call handling involves the execution of a call processing program that controls state transitions in a finite state machine termed the “call model.” These transitions are representative of the events that occur during the lifetime of the call and result in the execution of pre-defined actions. In order to provide high level Intelligent Network (IN) capabilities to IP end-point subscribers, a call model layer implements the IN call model, but is closely integrated with the IP-based, multimedia call model that runs within the base platform. The integration employs a precisely defined state-level map between states in the IN call model and the corresponding states in the base call model. The IN call model layer is thus able to support access to IN components to permit the existing base of IN services to be easily accessed and to permit the base layer to support client-level interaction and event handling.

Abstract: A method of securing a mounting bracket on a wall of a structural member comprises inserting lugs of the mounting bracket through slots through a wall of the member and securing the lugs to an inside surface of the wall. The mounting bracket is used for mounting the structural member within a cabinet by sliding the member in snug fit within a cabinet, the internal securing of the lugs avoiding interference with the snug fitting relationship.