Abstract: A hybrid tunable Bragg laser including a double heterostructure gain section, a Bragg reflector section optically coupled to said gain section, and an optical extension constructed to yield a plurality of longitudinal modes. Preferably, the optical section has a predetermined length and effective reflectivity adapted to yield the plurality of longitudinal modes.

Abstract: A system and method for training a plurality of equalizers to recognize a plurality of symbols in a received signal, the plurality of equalizers deriving intermediate symbols from the received signal as a function of at least one filter coefficient, the system including 1) a phase detection circuit that determines a phase error between at least one intermediate symbol and at least one symbol in a predetermined constellation of symbols, and 2) a coefficient modification circuit that modifies at least one filter coefficient of the plurality of equalizers as a function of the phase error to cause the at least one intermediate symbol to converge toward a symbol in the predetermined constellation of symbols as the phase error approaches zero, the intermediate symbols being substantially equal to the predetermined constellation of symbols when the phase error is equal to zero.

Abstract: An in-line hermetic seal for an optical fiber which has an outer diameter and a stripped mid-section contains the stripped mid-section. A tube has an interior with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber and has an opening through a wall of the tube to the interior. The tube and the optical fiber having the stripped mid-section extending through the tube define an annular space therebetween. Soldering means fills the annular space. Sealing means holds the optical fiber approximately centered in ends of the tube. The stripped mid-section is contained by the tube, the sealing means and the soldering means. A method in accordance with the present invention is also described.

Abstract: A connector having improved dielectric strength that includes body having a first side and an opposing second side. A first terminal is disposed in the body, the first terminal having a first terminal strip portion with a center. A first wire-wrap tail is connected to the first terminal strip portion at a position that is offset from the center of the first terminal strip portion and toward the first side of the body. A second terminal is disposed in the body, the second terminal having a second terminal strip portion with a center. A second wire-wrap tail is connected to the second terminal strip portion at a position that is offset from the center of the second terminal strip portion and toward the second side of the body.

Abstract: Hardware-software co-synthesis is the process of partitioning an embedded system specification into hardware and software modules to meet performance, power, and cost goals. Embedded systems are generally specified in terms of a set of acyclic task graphs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a co-synthesis algorithm, called COSYN, starts with periodic task graphs with real-time constraints and produces a low-cost heterogeneous distributed embedded system architecture meeting these constraints. The algorithm has a pre-processing phase during which task graphs, system/task constraints, and a resource library for the embedded system are parsed, wherein the resource library has different PEs requiring different power supply voltages.

Abstract: A bridge connection is made between interfaces on physically distinct telecommunication servers such that the two ends of the bridge can be used to connect existing calls that are terminated on each of the servers. To provide the bridge connection, a call using a standard outgoing T1 trunk on one of the servers is made through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to an incoming T1 trunk on the other server. The servers reserve a special directory number for such calls. When a bridge connection is required one of the servers is queried for its special directory number. The other server is then instructed to make a call to that number. When the called server recognizes the incoming call as using its special number, it answers the call. The calling server then outpulses information needed by the called server to associate the bridge connection with the pending action. In this manner, calls terminating on distinct servers can be connected without the need for additional hardware.

Abstract: A code division multiple access system provides a way of allocating an increased data rate to a requesting mobile station. A mobile station requesting a data rate in excess of the basic data rate sends received pilot strength data for its base station and base stations in adjacent cells. The received pilot strength data is used to determine an increased data rate to be assigned to the requesting mobile station. One feature assigns an increased data rate based on the difference in the maximum received received pilot strength data from a non-active base station (one not in connection with the mobile station) and the maximum received pilot strength data from an active base station (one in connection with the mobile station). Yet another feature utilizes a series of threshold levels, each pair of levels associated with a different permitted data rate. Using the received pilot strength data, a data rate is determined which satisfies all adjacent cell interference concerns.

Abstract: A telephone instrument is disclosed which includes a swivel visual display module overcome by employing a telephone base having upper and lower housings. A swivel visual display module is pivotally mounted and supported by pivot points in both the upper and lower base housings. At least one cantilever snap member is molded into one of the base housings, for example, the upper base housing, and is employed to engage indents molded into an outer convex surface of the visual display module to hold the visual display module in several angular positions. Additionally, the at least one cantilever snap member is employed to engage a lower edge of the visual display module and in conjunction with stop members on the visual display module to secure the visual display module in a full upright position.

Abstract: A crosstalk compensating connector jack assembly has a dielectric spring block having a staggered configuration of lead frames. The conductors of one of the lead frames are maintained at a first level in the block and the conductors of a second one of the lead frames are maintained at a second level within the block. The two levels are spaced apart a distance that permits the formation of interacting inductive loops. For at least two pairs of conductors, one of the conductors is in the first lead frame and the other conductor is in the second lead frame, thereby forming two inductive loops which interact with each other to reduce crosstalk. The spring block is made of two substantially identical halves adapted to be latched together to hold the conductors in place.

Abstract: A switching network having a plurality of independent switching groups with each switching group capable of switching one bit of each group of data from external data links through a telecommunication switching system and port units interfacing the data links directly control which of the switching groups will be active. This allows extra switching groups to be utilized as replacement switching groups should a switching group actively switching a bit of the incoming data be disabled. This increases the overall reliability of the telecommunication switching system since a failure of a port unit will only effect the external data link that is connected to that unit. In addition, this eliminates complicated and centralized control for the switching units which would be needed to inform the switching units which units should be active and the bit a given switching unit should be communicating.

Abstract: A feed-forward bit-rate control system that selects and formats DQUANT values in real time for optimal semantically-encoded image transmission by video-compression codecs complying with the ITU-T standards H.263 or H.263E. The system uses a prequantization process to reduce the computational load imposed by the quantizer optimization calculations required for feed-forward semantic coding bit-rate control. The H.263 CBPY and MCBPC coding tables are reordered so as to be indexed using an orthogonal flag-based index values and the RLA coding table is block-indexed using clipped amplitude values, for faster access into these tables. The system also uses a rate-assist process to assure that DQUANT values are provided in each edge macroblock that follows a transition to and from each semantically-defined region when the edge macroblocks have four motion vectors by reducing the number of motion vectors in the macroblock to one.

Abstract: A system and associated method for use in a fiber administration system that establishes optical communication links. The system includes an optical tap that is disposed in each optical fiber pathway contained within the optical communication links. The optical taps are contained within modules that can be selectively added or removed from a shelf casing that is sized to fit within the framework of the fiber administration system. An optical switch is present in each shelf casing that holds the tap modules. The optical switch is connected to each of the optical taps on its shelf and receives the tapped optical signal provided by the optical taps. An optical signal analyzer is provided within the framework of the fiber administration system. The optical signal analyzer is interconnected with the optical switches on each shelf that contains a tap module. The optical switches selectively interconnect the optical signal analyzer to any of the optical taps.

Abstract: In a message communication system having electronic mailboxes, a method for self-cleaning of the electronic mailboxes comprises the steps of: identifying that a message is tagged for expiration; determining if the message has expired; and acting upon the message if said message has expired.

Abstract: Improved layouts for sorting networks having O[N log.sup.2 N] comparison circuits, a method therefor, and improved switches incorporating such layouts, are disclosed. An improved layout reduces grid-area requirements for Batcher's bitonic sorting network to an area of 4N.sup.2 grid units. The improved layout results from (i) slanting a substantial portion of each link between comparison circuits 45.degree. with respect to a conventional layout of the network, (ii) incorporating "flip-links," and (iii) not restricting all comparison circuits having the same network depth to placement in a single grid column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing a query involving aggregation. Aggregation predicates are represented by a constraint language through which relationships involving aggregation predicates can be shown. As a result, new predicates can be inferred from an initial set of aggregation predicates and optimization techniques which involve inferring new predicates can be applied. It is also shown how to restrict the inferences involving aggregation predicates to only those predicates which will lead to new predicates which are relevant to query optimization. In general, the technique is not limited to query optimization, but may be applied to various applications involving the manipulation of aggregation predicates.

Abstract: An extended frequency lock range is achieved in a PLL circuit based on sampled phase detectors by modifying a conventional PLL circuit to utilize a biased phase detector to achieve frequency acquisition of the oscillator output signal, without the need for a lock detector. A biased phase detector applies more phase error correction in one direction than in the other direction. For example, a positive biased phase detector applies more positive current, I.sub.UP, over time than negative current, I.sub.DOWN. For a positive biased phase detector, the VCO control voltage is initialized to a value below the lock-in voltage, and the positive biased phase detector will cause a steady increase in the VCO control voltage until the PLL locks, thereby causing the phase error to be approximately zero.

Abstract: An optical amplifier is adapted to cancel the Raman gain of an optical transmission path that degrades those optical signals occupying the low end of the bandwidth such that the power is transferred from the latter signals to the optical signals occupying the high end of the bandwidth. More specifically, the optical amplifier adjusts the gain that it applies to the optical signals so that it favors the signal components at the low end of the bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple-component clamp for use with multiple, heat-generating components and a heatsink. In one embodiment, the multiple-component clamp comprises a clamp body having first and second regions, and a deformable region positioned between the first and second regions. The deformable region allows the clamp body to adjust to a thickness of at least one of the heat-generating components to thereby provide substantially even clamping forces against each of the heat-generating components when the multiple-component clamp is affixed to the heatsink.

Abstract: CMOS technology is used to create a controlled output impedance output buffer circuit. An output buffer driver uses buffer circuits having impedance elements with linear characteristics. A control circuit uses a known impedance load to control the impedance of the buffer circuits. The control circuit monitors a known current flowing through the known impedance load to determine whether the output buffer circuit's output impedance needs to be adjusted to match a transmission line's impedance. Adjustments occur when the control circuit generates control signals to turn on or off various buffer circuits (and their impedance elements) contained within the output driver. In doing so, the output buffer circuit ensures that its output impedance will match the impedance of a transmission line over the entire range of output voltages regardless of the variations caused by the manufacturing process, operation temperature and power supply voltage.

Abstract: A mesh clock distribution system for reducing errors in synchronous systems caused by clock skew. The mesh clock distribution apparatus includes a mesh and a set of delivery conductors coupling a clock source to the mesh. Tile mesh is formed of a set of signal paths that interconnect at a set of nodes, wherein at least three of the interconnecting signal paths form the sides of a closed equilateral polygon. The set of delivery conductors transmit the clock signal to the nodes and the nodes distribute the clock signal along the length of the signal paths. Clocked elements in the synchronous system are connected to the signal paths and receive the clock signal from the signal paths.