Abstract: The problem of tracking rapid changes in the echo signals associated with modems is eliminated by using an echo canceler consisting of cascaded adaptive filters. Each filter in the structure contributes to the modeling of the overall echo path impulse response, with a longer filter providing the ability to model long echo path impulse responses and a shorter filter providing the ability to track changes in the echo path impulse response over time.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for fabricating devices containing metallized magnetic ceramic material, such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates. In particular, the unique vias utilized in the process of the invention allow fabrication of devices from multiple unfired ferrite layers with only a single via-coating step, thereby avoiding the need numerous punching steps. Moreover, there is no need for expanding the dimensions of the vias and thus no need for internal metallization. The invention therefore provides for green tape-type fabrication of devices such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates in a manner faster, less complex, and more reliable than current methods. The invention also relates to use of an improved conductive material in such a process, the conductive material containing silver/palladium particles, ferrite particles, a cellulose-based or other organic binder, and a solvent.

Abstract: An Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is placed in a laser cavity to clamp the gain of the amplifier. The laser cavity is preferably formed to minimize the effects of relaxation oscillations and of spectral hole burning. In a preferred embodiment, the laser cavity supports a lasing wavelength which makes the saturation energy at the laser wavelength less than that at the signal wavelengths. In an erbium doped fiber implementation, the laser wavelength is shorter than that of the signal wavelengths and is separated from them by no more than approximately 75% of the width of the spectral hole. The compounding of relaxation oscillations may be substantially eliminated by varying the length of the fiber within each laser cavity within a system to change the photon round-trip time within each cavity.

Abstract: In a speech recognition system, tied-mixture hidden Markov models (HMMs) are used to match, in the maximum likelihood sense, the phonemes of spoken words given the acoustic input thereof. In a well known manner, such speech recognition requires computation of state observation likelihoods (SOLs). Because of the use of HMMs, each SOL computation involves a substantial number of Gaussian kernels and mixture component weights. In accordance with the invention, the number of Gaussian kernels is cut down to reduce the computational complexity and increase the efficiency of memory access to the kernels. For example, only the non-zero mixture component weights and the Gaussian kernels associated therewith are considered in the SOL computation. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, only a subset of the Gaussian kernels of significant values, regardless of the values of the associated mixture component weights, are considered in the SOL computation.

Abstract: The specification describes sputtering processes for the deposition of silicon dioxide films doped with high levels of oxides or other materials to alter the optical and/or electrical characteristics of the films. Sol gel methods are used to prepare composite sputtering targets of ultra fine mixtures of materials so the composition of the sputtered films replicate the composition of the target.

Abstract: Telephone terminals directly implement an automatic call back feature by establishing a logical channel between two telephone terminals when a calling telephone terminal is unable to complete a call to a called telephone terminal. Via the logical link, the called telephone terminal communicates to the calling telephone terminal any change in state that is related to its ability to receive a call. When both telephone terminals are idle, the calling telephone terminal recalls the called telephone terminal to set up a call. The logical link is established on user-user temporary signaling or D channel facilities of ISDN links. Since the interconnecting networks are not part of providing the automatic call back service, the telephone terminals can be interconnected by any combination of telephone networks that provide ISDN service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a flag simultaneously with production of an operation result by an operational unit. The flag is generated based on data input to the operational unit, and the flag indicates the presence or absence of a condition in the operation result produced by the operational unit.

Abstract: Transferring administration information from a switching system to a computer telephony integration (CTI) terminal via a standard telecommunication link by the CTI terminal executing a feature on the switching system. Advantageously, the information is transferred from the switching system to the CTI terminal utilizing standard display messages as would be displayed on a voice terminal having a display unit. Further, the user of the CTI terminal can request only subsets of the system administration information. Using a voice terminal having a display unit, the user can access individual segments of the administration information.

Abstract: A method for automatically billing multiple calling card accounts during a single call by an operator services system (OSS) is disclosed. Multiple calling card account numbers received in the OSS are validated and a maximum call duration is determined. Prior to balance depletion of all calling card accounts initially provided by the caller, the caller is notified of forthcoming balance depletion and subsequently given the option to bill the same call to other calling card accounts. While the caller is making alternate billing arrangements, network resources are held. After a predetermined amount of time, if no other billing arrangements have been made, the call is disconnected and the network resources are released.

Abstract: An improved battery compartment design for use with an outdoor equipment enclosure includes a raised floor area such that a significant portion of the bottom surface area of the battery is exposed to air flow through the cabinet. The enclosure is configured such that the outdoor air used by an included heat exchanger first passes through the battery compartment. When the outdoor air is cooler than the area in the battery compartment, the heat exchanger is turned "on" and this cooler area flows around all surfaces of the batteries, thereby reducing the battery temperature at a faster rate than conventional designs.

Abstract: A fuse for interfacing electrical current with electronic components and for shielding the electronic components from potentially damaging electrostatic discharge. The fuse includes a fuse body having an edge and first and second electrical contacts. A fuse indicator is connected to one electrical contact and a fuse element extends between the indicator and the other contact for providing a conduit for operating current to reach the interfaced electronic components. A window is disposed on the edge of the fuse body and positioned over the fuse indicator. Sealant is disposed between the window edge and the fuse body edge to prevent the accumulation of air therebetween and, thereby, preventing such accumulated air from functioning as a transmission medium through which an electrostatic discharge can travel and reach the electronic components.

Abstract: A master-slave flip-flop has two switches that control the flow of data into and through the master and slave stages. The switches are controlled by a three-phase clock signal that is designed to address the problem of data shoot-through. Implementations of the flip-flop rely on weak feedback techniques that allow the flip-flops to be implemented using weak keeper devices in the feedback paths of the master and slave stages and without switches in those feedback paths. The flip-flop enables fast and reliable flip-flops to be implemented with minimal layout area and power consumption.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling and controlling delivery of advertising in a communications network and a communications network and remote computer program employing the system or the method. The system includes: (1) a time allocation controller that allocates time available in a particular advertising region in a display device of a remote computer between at least two advertisements as a function of one of a desired user frequency, a desired time frequency, or a desired geometry, for each of the at least two advertisements and (2) data communication controller, coupled to the time allocation controller, that delivers the at least two advertisements to said remote computer for display in the advertising region according to the allocating of the time.

Abstract: A security override system for a lockable enclosure comprising a hasp portion mounted to the enclosure and extending through an opening in an outer door of enclosure; a bracket mounted to the outer door, the bracket being movable between an open position and a closed position, the bracket having a fastening portion attached at one end thereof; the bracket mating with the hasp portion when in the closed position for forming a padlock receiving portion; the fastening portion being constructed and positioned to releasably engage a corresponding retention member mounted within the enclosure when the bracket is in the closed position; the bracket being immovable when the fastening portion is engaged with the retention member, the bracket being movable when the fastening portion is not engaged with the retention member.

Abstract: A methodology is disclosed for processing image data to extract image information of interest from aggregate image information containing other interfering information. Application of the methodology also leads to significant compression in the data, which reduces storage requirements. With the methodology of the invention, an augmented linear decomposition of the image data is performed. Thereafter, components of the image data corresponding to a baseline image, image information introduced by non-regular extraneous factors, and image information related to random noise are removed from the data by suppression of appropriate terms of the linear decomposition. The image data so reduced may contain both image information of interest and image data related to regularly occurring extraneous factors. The image data of interest is removed from such reduced aggregate image data by frequency domain filtering of the reduced aggregate data.

Abstract: The subject matter is directed to a parallel array of optical amplifiers and is also directed to equally sharing the optical power supplied by a plurality of optical pumps among the array of optical amplifiers such that if one of the pumps fails the power outputted by the remaining pumps is still equally shared among the array of optical amplifiers.

Abstract: In a decision-forest classifier in accordance with the invention, a decision forest including multiple decision trees is used to classify "seen" training data and "unseen" data. Each individual tree performs an initial classification based on randomly selected subsets of the data. The classification outcomes by the individual trees are combined using a discriminant process in the decision-forest classier to render the ultimate classification decision.

Abstract: A technique for programming operating parameters in an electronic device, such as programmable configuration settings, uses an interactive response configuration server accessible through the telephone network. The configuration server provides voice prompts to an electronic device operator over a telephone connection. The voice prompts concern a desired manner of operation achievable with particular operating parameter settings. Desired operating parameter settings are determined based on the operator's responses. A programming signal including representations of the desired operating parameter settings is then generated and transmitted to the electronic device. The electronic device then sets the values of its programmable operating parameters in accordance with the received programming signal.

Abstract: It has been found that in sol-gel processes utilizing TMAH, it is possible to treat a trimethylamine (TRIMA)-containing solution with hydrogen peroxide to form trimethylamine oxide--(CH.sub.3).sub.3 N.sup.+ --O.sup.- (TRIMAO), a water soluble compound which is less volatile and less odorous than TRIMA, and which is capable of being sent to a standard wastewater treatment plant. The hydrogen peroxide is generally added to the TRIMA-containing solution in a H.sub.2 O.sub.2 :TRIMA ratio of at least 3:1, advantageously at least 10:1. Because of the resultant TRIMAO solution's ability to be sent to a standard wastewater treatment facility, improved productivity and lowered expense of the overall fiber fabrication process are obtained. The invention is also suitable for treatment of triethylamine.

Abstract: A system and method, associated with a wireless base station system ("BSS") coupled to a mobile service center ("MSC") via a plurality of trunk lines, that allow the BSS to hunt the plurality of trunk lines for available channels to carry calls from the BSS to the MSC and a Groupe Speciale Mobile ("GSM") wireless infrastructure employing the system or the method. The system includes: (1) a signaling controller, associated with the BSS, that sends a command signal to the MSC to cause the MSC to bypass hunting for the available channels, the MSC acknowledging bypassing of the hunting to the signaling controller and (2) a trunk hunting controller, associated with the BSS, that is enabled when the MSC acknowledges the bypassing of the hunting to allow the BSS to hunt the plurality of trunk lines for the available channels to carry the calls from the BSS to the MSC, the trunk hunting controller capable of utilizing the trunk lines more efficiently than the MSC.