Abstract: A method of automatically detecting the baud rate of an input signal and an apparatus using the method. A counter is started upon detecting a first transition of the input signal. The counter is stopped upon detecting a second transition of the input signal. After the counter is stopped, the measured count in the counter represents the duration between the first and second transitions of the input signal. The measured count is compared to a plurality of expected counts to determine which of the plurality of expected counts has a value closest to the measured count. The input signal is sampled using a baud rate based on the expected count having a value closest to the measured count.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the wear on a wire traversing a pivot or hinge and extending from first wiring layer to a second wiring layer that is pivotably attached to the first wiring layer by the hinge for pivotable angular movement from a closed position, in which the second wiring layer is in overlying relationship with the first wiring layer, to an opened position, in which the second wiring layer is pivoted away from the first wiring layer. A first wire guide is disposed on the first wiring layer and the second wire guide is disposed on the second wiring layer. The wire guides channel the wire so that should the second wiring layer be in the closed position, the wire would be subjected to both rotational and bending forces.

Abstract: Computer network firewalls which include one or more features for increased processing efficiency are provided. A firewall in accordance with the invention can support multiple security policies, multiple users or both, by applying any one of several distinct sets of access rules. The firewall can also be configured to utilize "stateful" packet filtering which involves caching rule processing results for one or more packets, and then utilizing the cached results to bypass rule processing for subsequent similar packets. To facilitate passage to a user, by a firewall, of a separate later transmission which is properly in response to an original transmission, a dependency mask can be set based on session data items such as source host address, destination host address, and type of service. The mask can be used to query a cache of active sessions being processed by the firewall, such that a rule can be selected based on the number of sessions that satisfy the query.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reception device for microwave signals, in which it is possible to extract information (V2) linearly dependent on the power level received at the input of the said device. According to the invention, the profile of the control voltage of the variable power attenuators (6, 7, 8) of the device is modified in order to obtain a curve of the control voltage which is of hyperbolic shape, and this voltage is linearized by a polynomial unit (11).Application for the production of point-to-point links in the field of directional millimeter radio.

Abstract: Method for computing a shortest path tree structure for nodes in an interconnected network comprising the steps of maintaining a data structure T consisting of a set of edges e interconnecting the plurality of nodes in the network, each node having an associated parent node and distance value attributes; determining a weight change .DELTA. of an edge; obtaining a set of candidate nodes having associated parent and distance attributes that are affected by the weight change; selecting a node of the set of candidate nodes; identifying one or more descendents of the selected node and calculating a new distance attribute for each of the one or more descendents; searching for other nodes connected to the one or more identified descendent nodes and determining whether they should be included in the data structure T; and, repeating the selecting, identifying, calculating, searching and determining steps until all nodes of the set of candidate nodes are selected to update the data structure T.

Abstract: A network for multi-bit word parallel communication between optoelectronic chips on a two dimensional array of optical input and output channels carried on a single dimension of optical fibers. Each bit of a word is carried on a different wavelength and the multiple wavelengths carrying a word are wavelength multiplexed onto a single optical fiber. Multiple fibers can be joined into a one dimensional array of fibers. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving along the optical data channels comprises an array of modulators powered by individual wavelength light beams, either from individual monochromatic light sources and a light beam from a single broadband light source made to pass through a diffraction grating. The modulators are positioned so that each modulator reflects a different wavelength light beam, thereby providing multiple optical channels. Alternatively, multiple wavelengths are generated from CMOS integrated light sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining consistency in databases among data processors of a computer network involves an improved epidemic protocol involving the generation of database version vectors for database replicas. Overhead of the protocol grows linearly with the number of data items being copied during an update propagation, not with the number of data items as in typical epidemic protocols. Since this number is less than the total number of data items in the database, the present protocol promises significant reduction in overhead. A log record is generated including at least the name of the updated data item. The log record has an associated time stamp for the updated data item name in one embodiment or an associated version vector value in another. In the event of out-of-bound copying, an auxiliary log record is maintained.

Abstract: A networked controlled telephone system and method for the visually impaired. The system and method provides a visually impaired caller with a calling card and calling card account. The system and method stores a predetermined list of authorized telephone numbers for the calling card. Calls made to the telephone numbers on the predetermined list are the only calls that can be charged to the calling card without adding a further personal identification number. If the user desires to call a telephone number not on the list, the personal identification number is entered prior to entering the telephone number. Thus, the financial risk attributable to calling card theft greatly reduced for both the owner and service provider. Moreover, simplified codes are associated and stored with each predetermined telephone number. When a visually impaired caller uses the card to place calls, the caller need only enter the simplified code to place the call.

Abstract: An electrical cable is disclosed in which at least two pairs of insulated conductors are bound by a substantially circular jacket. The conductors in one of the pairs are twisted or rotated about one another in a spiral pattern at a frequency corresponding to a first twist lay or length. The conductors in a second pair are also twisted about one another at a frequency corresponding to a second twist lay. Finally, the two pairs of conductors are stranded about one another at a frequency corresponding to a strand lay. The substantially circular jacket resists the tendency to jam cable processing machines (e.g., a connectorization machine) when being dispensed from a pay-off reel, which is a common problem in prior art patch cord designs. As a result, the cable reduces manufacturing costs. In addition, the cable provides improved electrical performance, as measured by several performance standards, over prior art cable designs.

Abstract: An A/D system provides an expanded SFDR when compared to the SFDR of individual A/D(s) that make up the A/D system. In response to an analog input signal whose amplitude would result in an narrower SFDR for a first A/D, the A/D system uses an amplitude adjuster which receives the analog input signal and produces an amplitude-limited signal with resulting signal distortion to the first A/D. By amplitude-limiting the analog input signal, the A/D system produces the resulting signal distortion but reduces or "clips" the amplitude of the analog input signal, thereby improving the SFDR performance of the first A/D by reducing the spurious distortion produced by the first A/D. The signal distortion resulting from the amplitude adjustment is routed to a second A/D. The first A/D converts the amplitude-limited analog signal to a digital signal with an expanded SFDR due to the lower amplitude of the adjusted analog signal.

Abstract: The present invention increases the success rate of soft handoffs by enhancing the ability of a mobile-telephone to receive a handoff direction message that identifies the traffic channel being assigned to enable a candidate base station to communicate with the mobile-telephone. Specifically, the aforementioned ability of the mobile-telephone is enhanced by using the candidate base station to transmit the handoff direction message on a communication channel belonging to the candidate base station and being listened to by the mobile-telephone. In situations where signals transmitted from active set base stations have a low signal-to-noise ratio at the mobile-telephone, signals transmitted from the candidate base station may have a higher signal-to-noise ratio at the mobile-telephone.

Abstract: A shield region of metallization is formed in a first metallization layer of an integrated circuit so as to increase the metal density of the first metallization layer to at least a minimum density required for proper fabrication. The shield region is coupled via an amplifier or other suitable coupling mechanism to at least a portion of another metallization layer overlying or underlying the first metallization layer in the integrated circuit, such that the shield region acts to reduce parasitic capacitance associated with a circuit node in the other metallization layer. In an illustrative fingerprint sensor cell implementation, the shield region is in the form of a shield plate underlying a sensor plate in the sensor cell and serves to increase the metal density of a lower-level metallization layer in the cell.

Abstract: An improved optical fiber connection system comprises an attenuator element fabricated with an inherently elastomeric material, preferably a silicone elastomer. Silicone elastomers are particularly preferred for fabricating attenuator elements as they may be index-matched to optical transmission fibers, have a high creep modulus, exhibit relatively constant mechanical properties over a broad range of temperatures, and are reliable upon exposure to varied environmental conditions. Preferably, a disc-like attenuator element is punch-cut from a sheet of a silicone elastomer and inserted into the sleeve of an optical connector apparatus adjacent the end portion of an optical fiber to provide a simplified method of fabrication. Alternatively, the silicone attenuator element may be fabricated by liquid injection molding technology. The approximate reflectance of the inventive silicone attenuators at wavelengths of about 1310 nm measured at 23.degree. C. is less than -50 dB.

Abstract: In a receiver, a received sync-word is fed into two or more filters, where each filter further comprises a matching filter and a sidelobe reduction filter. Each matching filter is matched to a particular subset of k samples of the known sync-word, e.g., k=3, and generates an m-tap estimate, where m.gtoreq.2. The output signal of each matching filter is applied to a respective sidelobe filter, which reduces sidelobes resulting from the imperfections of matching the received sync-word in the matching filters. As a result, from each received sync-word, each filter forms a channel impulse response estimate of the communications channel at more than one symbol time. Each channel impulse response estimate comprises the amplitude as well as the phase of the channel impulse response.

Abstract: A punctured maximum transition run (PMTR) code includes transition-allowed bit slots and transition-disallowed bit slots. Each of the transition-allowed bit slots is a bit slot in which a bit representing a third consecutive transition of a logic signal can occur whereas each of the transition-disallowed bit slots is a bit slot in which a bit representing a third consecutive transition of a logic signal cannot occur. There are at least two transition-allowed bit slots which are adjacent to each other. The transition occurs from a high logic level to a low logic level, or from a low logic level to a high logic level.

Abstract: The Shannon limit governs the ultimate bit rate at which a digital wireless communications system may communicate data. A digital wireless receiver may be enhanced such that it approaches the Shannon limit by decomposing a n-dimensional system into n-one dimensional systems of equal capacity.

Abstract: A structure on which various equipment, particularly outdoor electronic cabinets, can be mounted comprises a shallow, box-like frame including rigid sides, bottom plates secured to the sides, and cross braces extending between and secured to opposite sides. For rigidity and strength, the cross braces comprise U-beams having upper and lower laterally extending flanges, the upper flanges serving as horizontal surfaces for the mounting of equipment on the support. In a preferred use, the support structure is placed on the ground at a cleared outdoor site and locally available ballast is loaded into the structure for firmly anchoring it in place.

Abstract: A tool-less insulation displacement connector comprising a housing having an upper portion in which a wire insertion hole having a longitudinal axis is formed, the upper portion having a front face through which the axis extends; and an entrance aperture formed in the front face, the entrance aperture being in fluid communication with the hole, the front face having a generally flat planar surface, the surface plane of the front face intersecting the axis at a non-perpendicular angle.

Abstract: A Trellis decoder allows for real time decoding of high rate input data more than 10 MHz, with a compact layout and without the need to generate very high speed clocks, by use of a branch metric generator feeding multiple parallel Add/Compare/Select modules, which in turn feed a traceback processor using pre-traceback shift registers and traceback memory. The decoder performs n-state Trellis decoding in real time while simultaneously de-interleaving a multiplexed data stream. The architecture can be expanded to provide programmable length traceback in a fixed number of clock cycles. The invention performs de-interleaving in parallel with the Trellis decoding, and symbols coming out of the decoder need no further processing for de-interleaving. Moreover, the invention allows complete traceback in one symbol period at video rates without the need for very high speed clocks or multi-read port memories. Programmability allows for flexible tradeoff of output error rate and traceback memory space.

Abstract: A gate drive circuit for an isolated gate device, a method of driving the same and a switch-mode power supply employing the circuit or the method. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a capacitor, having a first terminal coupled to a source of drive voltage and a second terminal coupled to a gate of the isolated gate device, that stores a charge therein when the drive voltage maintains the isolated gate device in an "on" state and (2) a conductive path, leading from the first terminal to an output terminal of the isolated gate device and enabled when the isolated gate device is to be transitioned from the "on" state to an "off" state, that provides a negative off-bias voltage to the gate thereby to avoid spurious turn-on of the isolated gate device.