Abstract: An improved enclosure for housing communications and electronics equipment comprises a heating element fabricated with a positive temperature coefficient material. The enclosure is particularly useful for housing communications equipment and cell site base stations for cellular telephone systems in the outdoors; it has self-regulating heating capabilities that are not dependent upon voltage parameters, thereby enabling its use in diverse geographic locations. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of PTC heating elements are used and selectively located adjacent a plurality of circuitry regions. DC power may be used to energize the PTC heaters, and the enclosure may be used for telephone equipment operating with AC or DC power.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for outputting larger bit size pseudo-random number zi that is cryptographically secure. Since larger bit size pseudo-random numbers are being outputted, larger bit size segments of messages may be encrypted resulting in a speedier encryption process than encryption processes of the prior art. In one embodiment, the present invention is a pseudo-random number generator defined by a modular exponential function xi=gxi−1 mod p. The output of the pseudo-random number generator being a pseudo-random number zi comprising a j−1 bit size segment of xi. The value of j being less than or equal to m−2c (i.e., j≦m−2c). In an embodiment of the present invention, the pseudo-random number zi includes the j least significant bits of xi excluding the least significant bit of xi.

Abstract: An optical beam switch is designed for improved serviceability by mounting two fiber optic beam deflection arrays to face the front of a rack assembly. Inside the optical beam switch, a reflecting device is located behind each of the two fiber optic beam deflection arrays and used to reflect the light beams between the two fiber optic beam deflection arrays. Front access to the two fiber optic beam deflection arrays is then readily available whether the optical beam switch is mounted horizontally or vertically in the rack assembly.

Abstract: A U-shaped metal member for securing a circuit component to a circuit board in place of conventional screws and nuts. The element is inserted through aligned holes of the component and the board and is wave soldered to the board for permanent securement.

Abstract: A magnetic clamp device which allows the grounding of a conductive flange of test equipment to a metallic ground plane in a quick and efficient manner. The device includes a top plate and a spring-loaded bar secured to the top plate. The bar is straddled by a pair of magnet assemblies so that when the bar is placed over the conductive flange of the test equipment, the magnet assemblies straddle the flange and are magnetically secured to the ground plane, with the spring-loaded bar pressing the flange into conductive engagement with the ground plane.

Abstract: An integrated optoelectronic circuit chip for optical data communication systems includes a silicon substrate, at least one MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) formed on a portion of the silicon substrate, and an avalanche photodetector operatively responsive to an incident optical signal and formed on another portion of the substrate. The avalanche photodetector includes a light absorbing region extending from a top surface of the silicon substrate to a depth h and doped to a first conductivity type. The light absorbing region is ionizable by the incident optical signal to form freed charge carriers in the light absorbing region. A light responsive region is formed in the light absorbing region and extends from the top surface of the silicon substrate to a depth of less than h. The light responsive region is doped to a second conductivity type of opposite polarity to the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A method of making an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of copper interconnect layers adjacent a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of copper interconnect layers are then annealed, in a deuterium ambient, prior to chemical mechanical polishing of such layers. The microstructure of each of the copper interconnect layers is thereby stabilized.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver that responds to broadcast stations having a listener-preferred program style. The receiver has a processor and a database memory arranged to be coupled with the processor. The memory is configured to store information concerning a number of broadcast stations that serve at least a portion of a user-designated geographic area, and which stations have a designated program style. The information corresponds to an operating frequency for each broadcast station and an associated service coverage. A geographic position determining unit (e.g., a GPS receiver) is coupled to the processor and produces information corresponding to a current position of the receiver within the designated area. The processor is configured to produce a tuning signal operative to set a tuner unit to respond to a broadcast station that can be received at the receiver's position with the designated program style.

Abstract: A method for storing caller identification information as a log of answered and unanswered telephone calls at a central server. This call log server is accessible by the internet, so if a subscriber is traveling, he or she is still able to access and read a list of answered and unanswered calls to the subscriber's home station. Internet devices such as browsers that are internet telephony capable may return a call from the call log list using a point and click sequence. The call log may be processed from natural chronological order into a personal priority order such as: family, professional and everything else. This call log may also be forwarded via e-mail to the subscriber. Such e-mail forwarding may be either contemporaneously with call logging or periodically.

Abstract: In a packet voice system, a dynamic build-out delay approach in a receiver during the duration of a call. In particular, the build-out delay is applied at least twice during the duration of the call. In one embodiment, a packet voice system includes an ATM Adaptation Layer Type 2 (AAL-2) and Service Specific Convergence Sublayer (SSCS) System. The receiver portion of the SSCS System recovers AAL-2 packets and plays back the compressed audio to a voice decoding element. In providing playback, the receiver applies the build-out delay at the start of each talk-spurt. The voice decoding element provides an uncompressed audio stream. In another embodiment, the receiver portion of the SSCS System applies the build-out delay at the start of the each talk-spurt as a function of the length of the previous silence interval.

Abstract: A faceplate for network switching apparatus is formed of a multi-layered structure having a first material layer and a second material layer. An outer portion of the faceplate is formed of the first material layer. The first material layer is an anti static material. An inner portion of the faceplate is formed of the second material layer. The second material layer is formed of an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material. The first material layer and the second material layer are formed of polymeric materials which are rigid after extrusion. In an alternative embodiment, a gasket is coextruded with the first material layer and the second material layer. The gasket protrudes laterally from the inner portion of the faceplate along the length thereof. The gasket is formed of a third material layer. The third material layer is an EMI shielding material. The third material layer is formed of a polymeric material which is flexible after extrusion.

Abstract: A dynamic process for improving the performance of a tape-based storage system is disclosed which takes a global view with regard to scheduling and tape selection. All requested data blocks located on multiple tapes within the storage system are analyzed and, taking advantage of the existing replication of some of the requested data blocks on multiple tapes and the location of the data blocks on the tapes, a schedule is formed that results in the reading/downloading of requested data blocks in an efficient manner.

Abstract: We have recognized that the design and programming complexity associated with conventional frequency divider configurations can be significantly reduced by a configuration of functionally identical, modular division blocks which are each able to swallow at least one input cycle of a input signal by switching to a phase-lagging output once per output cycle. The number of input pulses swallowed when a division block switches to a lagging waveform is a direct function of the division block's location in the chain, such that the number of input cycles swallowed per phase switch increases moving down the chain of division blocks. Therefore, the chain of division blocks has discrete elements for achieving most-significant to least-significant division factor increments. The total number of input cycles swallowed by the chain of division blocks equals the sum of cycles swallowed by each division block.

Abstract: A technique for detecting similarities in large sets of binary code files, e.g., bytecode files, without requiring access or knowledge of the actual source code itself. In accordance with the technique, bytecode files are disassembled and preprocessed using positional encoding to prepare the disassembled bytecode files for use in conjunction with similarity detection tools.

Abstract: An assembly for improving the shielding of an electronic system from electromagnetic interference radiation and electrostatic discharge includes a U-shaped conductive bracket as part of the face plate assembly secured to an edge of a circuit card. A conductive latch member is pivotably mounted on the bracket and extends through open slots in the bracket. A conductive gasket is provided on one side of each bracket to engage the opposite side of the bracket of an adjacent face plate assembly. Other conductive gaskets slidingly engage the latch member and seal the slots in the bracket.

Abstract: A tool for extracting a press fit pin from a pin field in a backplane of an electronic system. The tool includes a shaft having first and second ends, with a chuck mounted to the first end and an abutment mounted to the second end. The chuck has a plurality of jaws adapted to grip the pin therebetween and a weight is slidably mounted on the shaft between the chuck and the abutment. After a pin is held by the chuck, the weight is slid along the shaft to contact the abutment and the kinetic energy imparted by the weight to the shaft acts to pull the pin out of the backplane.

Abstract: The system for providing prioritized wireless communication service to wireless communication subscribers provides the capability to restrict access to wireless communications services to a selected set of subscribers, such that their access to wireless communication services is given preferential treatment. This is accomplished by provisioning the cell sites of a wireless communications system into a plurality of service priority groupings, with wireless subscribers being assigned a one of the plurality of service priorities. The wireless service provider can then differentially provide wireless communication services to the wireless subscribers, based upon the service priority assigned to a particular subscriber. The wireless subscribers who have been assigned a predetermined service priority are provided with access to wireless communication capacity in the wireless communication system via the dialing of a predetermined feature code to ensure their preferential access to wireless communication services.

Abstract: I/O-efficient methods and apparatus are provided for the d-dimensional join problem in one, two, and three dimensions, and are also generalized for arbitrary higher dimensions. Let N be the total number of rectangles in the two sets to be joined, M the total amount of memory available, B the disk block size, and T the total number of pairs in the output of the join. Define n=N/B, m=M/B, and t=T/B. For one and two dimensions, I/O-optimal join methods are provided that run in O(nlogmn+t) I/O operations and have utility to temporal and spatial database systems. For dimensions d≧3, methods are provided that run in O(nlogm(d−1) n+t) I/O operations, which is within a logm(d−2)n factor of the currently known lower bounds.

Abstract: A ferrule used in an optical connector includes a cavity at one end that contains a malleable disk insert. A cylindrical bore extends through the insert and supports an optical fiber. The insert is deformed after the fiber is installed in the bore so that the insert firmly grips the fiber and the walls of the cavity without adhesives. As a result, relative movement between the fiber and the ferrule is prevented despite the expansion and contraction that occur due to temperature variations.

Abstract: A wireless terminal and auxiliary system are disclosed that enable the wireless terminal to determine its location based on signals transmitted from navigation satellites. In particular, the tasks of signal acquisition and signal processing required of a wireless terminal in the prior art are divided between the wireless terminal and the auxiliary system in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. The auxiliary system assists the wireless terminal by acquiring information about the satellites' ephemerides, by partially processing it and by transmitting the partially processed information to the wireless terminal in a form that is useful to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal then uses the partially processed information from the auxiliary system to assist the wireless terminal in acquiring the ranging signals from the navigation satellites quickly and when they are weak.