Abstract: A cache management scheme is disclosed for buffering one or more continuous media files being simultaneously accessed from a continuous media server by a plurality of media clients. The continuous media server stores pages of data that will likely be accessed in a cache or buffer. The continuous media server implements a cache management strategy that exploits the sequential page access patterns for continuous media data, in order to determine the buffer pages to be replaced from the cache. The cache management strategy initially identifies unpinned pages as potential victims for replacement. Each unpinned page is evaluated by the continuous media server and assigned a weight. Generally, the assigned weight ensures that a buffer with a larger weight will be accessed by a client later in time than a buffer with a smaller weight. A page associated with a larger weight will be accessed later and hence, is replaced earlier.

Abstract: The specification describes processes for the manufacture of glass ferrules for optical fiber connectors wherein the glass ferrules have a composition comprising silicon oxide, alkali metal oxide, and aluminum oxide to which is added 1-35% of lead oxide.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device. One method includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate over which is to be deposited a metal silicide layer having a stoichiometric ratio within a desired range, (2) providing a target composed of a metal silicide, the target subject to degradation by reason of use, (3) sputtering atoms from the target to form the metal silicide layer over the substrate, the stoichiometric ratio subject to being without the desired range by reason of the degradation of the target and (4) depositing a predetermined amount of silicon on the metal silicide layer to return the stoichiometric ratio to within the desired range, a useful life of the target thereby increased.

Abstract: The specification describes a recessed chip IC package in which the cavity in the printed wiring board into which the IC chip is recessed is used as a through hole interconnection, thus increasing the interconnection density. If the through cavity interconnections are used as power and ground the signal I/O pads and the signal runners are effectively isolated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a carbon-containing region with an advantageous concentration profile is disclosed. The carbon is introduced into a region of the substrate and at a depth below the space-charge layer of the device and at a concentration such that the carbon atoms absorb point defects created in the substrate during device fabrication but do not adversely affect the leakage characteristics of the device.

Abstract: Highly oriented thin films exhibiting good piezoelectric effects are formed in a reaction chamber. This is done by bombarding a target comprising a piezoelectric material. Dislodged particles from the target are ionized and then electrostatically attracted to the surface of a substrate where they are neutralized and deposited in an ordered way.

Abstract: A network interface includes a network view portion developed using a low-level, high-performance programming language such as C++, and a user interface portion developed using a higher level scripted programming language such as Tcl/Tk. Variables in the C++ network view portion are linked to corresponding variables in the Tcl/Tk user interface portion. The network view and user interface portions are developed in accordance with a general framework, which in an illustrative embodiment includes: (1) a set of network structures stored in a database; (2) a C++ component including a network base class to generate functions common to multiple views, and a display class derived from the network base class to generate operations specific to a particular view; and (3) a Tcl/Tk component including a standard user interface corresponding to the network base class associated with a given view, and a special interface corresponding to the display class derived from that network base class.

Abstract: A wideband multiple channel frequency converter includes a mixer, a frequency generator for generating a local oscillator signal, a power divider for receiving the local oscillator signal and providing a portion of the signal to the mixer and a portion of the signal to a feed forward path which phase and amplitude adjusts the signal and a power combiner for receiving and combining a signal from the mixer and the phase and amplitude adjusted signal from the feed forward path. In addition, an attenuator may be implemented to reduce a power level of a signal to be converted and a band-pass filter may receive the signal from the power combiner. The converter compensates for local oscillator signal leakage and can reduce inter-modulation components.

Abstract: The invention provides a device with an improved tunable laser structure, the structure useful with surface emitting lasers and capable of exhibiting desirable latchability. The tunable laser of the invention contains a laser structure having a lower reflector, an active laser region, and an upper reflector. The upper reflector contains a non-moveable reflector portion located adjacent the active laser region and a moveable reflector portion located a spaced distance from the non-moveable reflector portion. A magnetic material is located either on a surface of the moveable reflector portion or on a surface in contact with the moveable reflector portion, and a programmable magnet is located near the magnetic material, the magnet capable of inducing controlled movement of the magnetic material. This movement in turn induces movement of the moveable reflector portion such that the spaced distance between the moveable reflector portion and the non-moveable reflector portion is capable of being adjusted.

Abstract: A lockable piano-type hinge assembly including a locking hinge piece in addition to two hinge pieces which include the hinge pin barrels. The hinge pin is secured to the locking hinge piece which has an opening aligned with a locking loop secured to one of the hinge pieces. When the hinge assembly is assembled, the locking loop extends through the opening of the locking hinge piece and a locking device is insertable through the locking loop to prevent relative movement of the locking hinge piece and removal of the hinge pin from the barrels.

Abstract: Improvements are made to an electronic circuit simulator. The circuit is represented by a set of nodes to which devices and components are connected. In a computer simulator of circuit behavior using the Harmonic Balancing methodology it is desirable to precondition the Jacobian matrix associated with the circuit equations. Proper preconditioning of the Jacobian matrix may increase the computational efficiency of the simulator. A preconditioning matrix for the Jacobian matrix may be obtained by generating an inverse matrix for dissimilar diagonal blocks.

Abstract: A system and method for multicast conferencing and online discussion groups using a periodically determined a close-to-optimal Steiner spanning tree. Both the system and method are suitable for stationary and/or mobile group members.

Abstract: An integrated circuit capacitor includes a substrate with an interconnection line adjacent the substrate, and a first dielectric layer on the interconnection line. The first dielectric layer includes a trench therein. The metal plug includes a body portion extending upwardly into the trench, and an anchor portion is connected to the body portion and extends into the interconnection line. The anchor portion has an enlarged width portion to anchor the metal plug adjacent lower portions of the first dielectric layer. Because the metal plug is anchored, a depth of the trench can be greater without the metal plug becoming loose and separating from the underlying interconnection line.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a tunable optical grating device comprises a grating, which is fixed at both ends to a support frame and is flexed so that a tensile strain induced in the grating reconfigures the resonant wavelength. Typical embodiments include mechanical or magnetic latching arrangements capable of inducing a latchable change in grating periodicity. In typical embodiments programmable and latchable magnets accurately produce a predetermined amount of fiber deflection and tensile strain, thereby producing a latchable wavelength shift with minimal power. The device is especially useful in WDM communication systems for adding or dropping channels, for dynamically gain-equalizing optical amplifiers, for tuning lasers, and for dispersion compensation.

Abstract: An input signal preconditioning circuit receives at least first and second digital input signals. The input signals are modified to provide first and second preconditioned input signals which cannot simultaneously transition in opposite directions.

Abstract: The dual feed hot swap battery plant controller for power supplies provides true isolation between buses, both power and return, and enables the use of a single power converter, which may be powered from two totally isolated independent battery plant feeds. The dual feed hot swap battery plant controller is connected to the power and return buses of both a primary and a secondary battery plant. The dual feed hot swap battery plant controller uses a pair of hot swap devices to monitor the power and return buses of both the primary and the secondary battery plants to determine the state of each of these battery plants. The pair of hot swap devices are interconnected to control the operation of a power switching relay device which switches and provides true isolation between buses, both power and return in response to the present state of the battery plants. The switched power and return buses are used to power a single power converter, thereby sharing the power converter between two battery plants.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing voice dialing service to wireless subscribers when they are not being served by their home mobile switch, and service node. When a voice dialing request from a roamer is detected, the voice dialing data file of the roamer is requested by a broadcast message from the home service node of the roamer. The home service node responds to the broadcast request by transmitting the voice dialing data file to the requesting service node. The requesting service node retains the voice dialing data file as long as there are sufficiently frequent requests (e.g., once per day), for voice dialing service from the roamer. Advantageously, this arrangement allows voice dialing service to be provided to roamers as well as to mobile stations in their home area.

Abstract: A non-blocking optical switch has a non-dilated architecture wherein dual mode input waveguides are connected to first and second inputs of mode selective couplers through mode conversion devices. Switching is effected by signals from a processing unit applied to a mode converter to convert the signal to be switched from a fundamental mode to a higher order mode. The mode selective coupler then couples the signal to one of the outputs thereof, whereas fundamental mode signals pass through to the other output thereof. An array of rows (layers) and columns of such elements make it possible to switch any incoming signal to be switched to any of a plurality of outputs after reconversion to the fundamental mode.

Abstract: In a telephone answering system, announcements are pre-recorded to elicit from a caller one or more attributes and details of a message. Such attributes may include the identity of the caller, the purpose of the call, etc. Information concerning each attribute of the message is stored in the system separate from the message details. By reviewing at least one attribute of each message saved on the system, the called party is able to identify any messages of interest before listening to any message details. The called party may then retrieve the message details of each identified message.

Abstract: A two-wavelength WDM analog CATV transmission system which utilizes wavelength channel spacing of about 2.2 nm and laser-dithering. The system includes a pair of optical transmitters (DBF lasers), a pair of modulators, a dithering device, a polarization controller, a 3-dB combiner, an optical amplifier (EDFA), an attenuator, a length of optical fiber, a filter and a CATV receiver. The two lasers have wavelengths of .lambda.1 and .lambda.2, where the difference between .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 is approximately 2.2 nm. The modulators are driven with analog signals comprising 77 NTSC channels between 55.25 and 535.25 MHz A 2-GHz dithering tone is applied to the .lambda.1 laser and the output of the .lambda.2 laser is passed through the polarization controller to align the polarization of the two transmitters.