Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided for controlling secondary treatment of multiple leg telecommunication sessions, such as for providing secondary treatment of outgoing call legs for a flexible alerting service, by an originating switch rather than a distant or terminating switch. The preferred system includes a home location register coupled to a mobile switching center. The home location register has, stored in a memory, a plurality of secondary directory numbers associated with a primary directory number, such as an ANSI compatible pilot directory number, and for each secondary directory number of the plurality of secondary directory numbers, further stored in the memory a corresponding originating no answer time parameter.

Abstract: A flip-chip bonded VCSEL CMOS circuit for preventing rearwardly emitted photons from the VCSEL from interfering with CMOS operation. The CMOS has bonding pads affixed thereto and spaced apart to define a region. The VCSEL is mounted to the bonding pads so that a lower mirror of the VCSEL is positioned between the bonding pads and in close proximity to an upper, major surface of the CMOS. A blocking layer is provided and is positioned within the region defined by the bonding pads to absorb or reflect rearwardly emitted photons from the VCSEL. In another embodiment, the blocking layer is removed and a photon detector is formed in the CMOS for collecting the rearwardly emitted photons for use in determining, inter alia, VCSEL laser power.

Abstract: Custom user help information distinctive of a customer's computing environment is made available to users of a software system through the system's help facility. Creators of the software system (110) include an uncompressed modifiable and user-accessible "custom information" user help file (113) in the software system, but leave the user help file empty, devoid of any custom information. For installation of the software system at a particular customer's site (101), a user or an administrator (115) of the site populates the user help file with the custom information distinctive of that site, and thereby makes the information a part of the software system. Users of the software executing at the site can then access the custom information in the user help file by selecting a pointer (114) to that user help file from a help menu (112) of the executing software system, just like any other user help information.

Abstract: Synchronizing a local timing unit to a central timing unit in a first switching system to determine the difference in timing between a connected external link and the local timing unit. This timing difference is then transmitted to the central timing unit which utilizes this information to adjust a frequency synthesizer that outputs the frequency of the external link to a second switching system. The local timing units are synchronized to the central timing unit via multiple timing paths set up through switching units within a switching network of the first switching system. The timing difference transmitted from the local timing unit is transmitted over a plurality of control paths through the switching units. Each switching unit switches one bit of data for each group of data being received on each of the external links connected to the first switching system. Any of the external links connected to the first switching system can be utilized to provide timing information for the second switching system.

Abstract: The specification describes of multilevel printed circuit boards and a process for their manufacture in which capacitors and other passive components are buried between levels of the multilevel board. The capacitor in the multilevel structure is designed so that access is conveniently provided to connect from the parallel plate electrodes of the interlevel capacitor to the board surface or to another board level using plated through hole interconnects.

Abstract: The generation of electronic identifiers for network interface units connected to a data network for use in detecting unauthorized decryption of encrypted data transmitted over the data network. A random number is generated for use as a private key decryption code and is stored in memory in each network interface unit. A public key is calculated from the stored private key using a non-invertible mathematical formula. If the calculated public key is unique, then a portion of the public key (e.g. a subset of its bits) is stored in a data provider database as an electronic identifier for use in detecting unauthorized decryption of data by the interface unit.

Abstract: A time-division radio is disclosed that can use a lower-power energy source than radios in the prior art. An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a time-division transmitter that has a transmit mode and an idle mode, a primary energy storage device and a secondary energy storage device. The radio uses the secondary energy storage device as a kind of "power cache" in which to store power when it is in abundance and from which to draw power when it is scarce. When the transmitter is in idle mode, the primary energy storage device charges the secondary energy storage device and powers the transmitter. But when the transmitter is briefly in transmit mode, and, therefore, requires more power than the primary energy storage device alone can supply, the secondary energy storage device discharges to supplement the power from the primary energy storage device and satisfy the transmitter's power requirements.

Abstract: A logical data architecture for fetch-intensive database applications includes a first and a second logical database. The second database includes materialized views over the first database. Updates are propagated from the first database to the second database using so-called view maintenance techniques. In preferred embodiments, the first database may be optimized for update transactions and the second database may be optimized for read transactions. At least one of the materialized views included in the second database is based on a pre-defined application read transaction. The update processing overhead associated with view maintenance is substantially performed at the first database.

Abstract: The combined complementary encoder and modulation system for an OFDM transmitter system combines complementary coding and modulation and exploits the similarity of their mathematical structure to reduce implementation complexity. In doing so, the improved OFDM transmitter system uses complementary codes to reduce the power-to-average power (PAP) ratio of the transmitted signal. Additionally, the combined complementary encoder and modulation system can be modified to provide scaleablity, which allows a transmitter to operate in various transmission environments. More precisely, scaleability refers to the transmitter's capability to adapt the bit rate of the data, so as to satisfy varying signal bandwidth, delay spreads, tolerance and signal-to-noise ratio requirements.

Abstract: Optical modulators and switches for use in telecommunications systems are disclosed having solid-state crystalline optical material comprised of III-V, II-VI, and IV semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in a polymer matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the crystalline material comprises CdSe crystals sized at less than 5.8 nm in diameter and more preferably at less than about 4 nm in diameter and advantageously embedded in poly(vinyl pyridine). The crystalline material sandwiched between two electrodes defines an optical modulator. In one preferred embodiment, the crystalline material with ten-percent crystal embedded in a polymer will exhibit with an applied voltage of 100V, a differential absorbance spectra (.DELTA.A) of about 50 cm.sup.-1 at wavelengths of about 610 nm and a differential refractive index (.DELTA.n) of about 10.sup.-4 at wavelengths of about 625 nm.

Abstract: A variety of test structures may be fabricated with aluminum runners and overlying dielectrics. The dielectrics are removed and bumps are observed upon the aluminum runners. Unevenness in the bump distribution is a predictor of long term reliability problems. A test structure may be utilized to design integrated mass production fabrication processes.

Abstract: A power supply module package suitable for both high packaged power density and cost effective manufacture. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply module includes: (1) at least one printed circuit board containing conductors for interconnecting components of the power supply, (2) a thermally conductive baseplate or case operable for transferring heat generated inside the module to the outside environment, wherein the external package dimensions are of a sufficiently small size to allow the user the greatest flexibility in the design of the overall circuit assembly, (3) at least one power magnetic device operable for providing electrical isolation between the input and the output of the power module, and (4) a set of electrical leads to facilitate communication and power flow between the module and circuitry being powered.

Abstract: A method for integrated audio-visual localizing and tracking of at least one object. The method includes the steps of capturing and transmitting an image of a video scene using a camera at an instant of time, identifying an object contained in the image having a preselected visual feature, and estimating a location of the object by determining an angular orientation relative to the image plane of the camera of an imaginary line extending from an optical center of the camera to a point on the image plane of the camera representing a portion of the object. The method further includes the steps of converting acoustic waves from an audio source into audio signals using at least two microphones at substantially the same time, identifying the audio source by determining a locus of points representing an estimate of the location of the audio source on the basis of the audio signals.

Abstract: Shelves for removably receiving circuit board packages including telecommunications equipment are made according to existing design standards thus allowing interchangeability of various shelves among various housing structures, e.g., electrical equipment cabinets. Components of such shelves, consistent with the design standards, but providing certain improvements include two kinds of clips for rigidly but removably securing various cables to the shelves; a recessed handle for a cover plate of the shelves; and two types of brackets for improved and interchangeable mounting of various shelves in various supporting frame assemblies.

Abstract: A programmable controller for switch-mode power converters that operates in a digital domain without reliance on operation software and the ability to vastly reduce or eliminate analog circuitry. The digital controller is re-programmable. In one embodiment, the substantially digital portion of the controller is a Field Programmable Gate Array that controls operation of the converter by generally converting an analog reference signal(s) (e.g. the voltage output) into the digital domain. The controller then can perform distributed arithmetic to generate a square wave signal capable of controlling at least a main switch of the converter. The present invention can, if desired, essentially eliminate analog controllers in power conversion systems such as switch-mode converters.

Abstract: A wireless base station has a transmitter and receiver. Transmission signals are applied to an antenna through a transmit bandpass filter that is tuned for a transmit band of frequencies. Received signals from the antenna are applied to the receiver through a receive bandpass filter that is tuned for a receive band of frequencies. An RF switching array consisting of four RF switches interconnects the output of the transmitter and the input of the receiver such that normal, loopback (self-test), and scanning modes can be performed. In the normal mode, the antenna is connected to the transmitter and receiver through the transmit and receive bandpass filters, respectively. The transmit and signal paths are effectively isolated from each other by three serially-connected open switches. In the loopback mode, the transmitter output is connected to the receiver input. In the scanning mode, the antenna is connected to the receiver through the transmit bandpass filter.

Abstract: A triggered optical receiver includes a single-ended or double-ended detector for detecting the optical signal and responsively transmitting a corresponding electrical signal to a first stage amplifier. The first stage amplifier output is transmitted to a triggered circuit having an input/output voltage hysteresis characteristic for identifying whether the amplified signal is a logic low or high. The hysteresis characteristic minimizes the effect of input noise and supply noise on the output. The width of the hysteresis loop may be selectively controlled to balance the sensitivity of the circuit against its noise tolerance characteristics.

Abstract: A continuous speech decoder that is built up of multiple layers. Each of the layers uses independent knowledge sources and rules, but all the layers cooperate to quickly decode the speech input into words. A first layer is concerned with acoustic data, a second layer with phone data of speech and a third layer concerns word data and word sequences. By separating these layers, the higher layers can be made time independent and asynchronous. Thus the asynchronous layers can process data quickly and give fast support to the first layer which keeps a dynamic record called a dynamic network of the most likely continuous speech results. The speed and separation of this decoder allows better memory efficiency and better decoder results compared to previously known continuous speech decoders.

Abstract: A scalable, non-blocking fiber optic matrix switch has two arrays of light beam collimators arranged to face one another in free space, and a number of optical fibers coupled to each of the arrays. Each collimator has a tubular body with a fiber receiving part at one end, and a lens mounting part at an opposite end of the body. A lens fixed in the mounting part produces a collimated light beam from light emitted from an end of an optical fiber inserted in the fiber receiving part. First and second motor assemblies with corresponding positioning elements displace the collimator body so that its light beam is steered to a desired position along "X" and "Y" axes in response to operation of the motor assemblies. A signal carried on a fiber entering a first collimator in one array can be switched into a fiber of a second collimator in the opposite array, by displacing the collimators so as to direct the beam of the first collimator to align with a lens axis of the second. For an N.times.

Abstract: A device for selectably passing a wire through a cap of an insulation displacement connector to a point beyond the connector. A wire is inserted into a passage in the cap and exits the passage through an exit aperture in the cap. A stop wall is positioned in spaced confronting relationship with the exit aperture. The stop wall is dimensioned and shaped so that when the wire exits the exit aperture, the wire contacts the stop wall and is inhibited from passing beyond the stop wall, yet when the wire is selectively guided around the stop, the wire is passed beyond the connector.