Abstract: A method for transmitting digital data includes splitting a coherent optical carrier having a subcarrier into mutually coherent optical carriers, producing corresponding sequences of phase shifts in each of the mutually coherent optical carriers, and then, interfering the mutually coherent optical carriers. The interfering produces an output optical carrier whose subcarrier has modulated inphase and quadrature components with a corresponding sequence of pairs of values. The pairs of values of the modulated inphase and quadrature phase components produced by the interfering correspond to a sequence of coordinate pairs for the signal points the 4-PSK 2D, 16-QAM 2D, or 16-PSK 2D constellation.

Abstract: In a unique paging time slot format, each of the allocated paging time slots occurs periodically and is split into several prescribed paging time slots including at least one first type paging time slot having a relatively short duration and at least one second type paging time slot having a longer duration. The at least one first type paging time slots is of relatively short duration and transports an indication whether a particular associated wireless terminal was paged. The second type paging time slot is of longer duration than the first type time slot and transports the entire paging message. The paging time slots are periodically transmitted and intended for at least one particular wireless terminal.

Abstract: A method and user interface which allow users to make decisions about how to pronounce words and parts of words based on audio cues and common words with well known pronunciations. Users input or select words for which they want to set or modify pronunciations. To set the pronunciation of a given letter or letter combination in the word, the user selects the letters and is presented with a list of common words whose pronunciations, or portions thereof, are substantially identical to possible pronunciations of the selected letters. The list of sample, common words is ordered based on frequency of correlation in common usage, the most common being designated as the default sample word, and the user is first presented with a subset of the words in the list which are most likely to be selected. In addition, the present invention allows for storage in the dictionary of several different pronunciations for the same word, to allow for contextual differences and individual preferences.

Abstract: A permanent virtual circuit (PVC) over an ATM network is provisioned by using a deterministic PVC addressing scheme for computing a unique combination of VPI and VCI values based on certain input parameters associated with the network to which the PVC is logically connected. Specifically, the VPI and VCI of a PVC are deterministically computed as a known function of numerical values of particular network elements associated with the network and the particular PVC being provisioned using a function that enables the values of these network elements to be uniquely determined from the VPI and VCI of the PVC. Thus, once the VPI and VCI are determined for a PVC, the particular network elements associated with that PVC can be unambiguously identified from their values.

Abstract: A method for transmitting control information in a wireless communication network is provided in which one or more prescribed fields in an existing control channel structure are modified to enable express signaling directly between a base station and at least one mobile station without the need to traverse a backhaul path between the base station and the base station controller. More specifically, prescribed fields in the control channel are modified to carry one or more prescribed message identifiers that convey different types of information, e.g., an identifier for indicating which mobile station is the intended recipient, an identifier for indicating the type of message being transmitted (e.g., broadcast, multicast, etc.), a message identifier indicating the available Walsh space for data transmission, and so on. In this manner, existing control channel structures and formats can accommodate many different signaling functions directed to either single or multiple mobile stations.

Abstract: Techniques for aligning timing intervals across channels of a communication system, where each of the channels includes a number of cyclically-recurring time slots, each of the timing intervals includes one or more of the time slots, and each of the channels has one or more of the timing intervals associated therewith. A first one of the timing intervals, associated with a first one of the channels, is scheduled starting at a particular time slot of the first channel. One or more other timing intervals associated with the first channel are then scheduled by providing a specified inter-interval gap between timing intervals of each of one or more pairs of the timing intervals associated with the first channel. The scheduled timing intervals for the first channel are then copied to one or more of the other channels to provide alignment of the timing intervals across the channels.

Abstract: An optical pulse shaper without polarization dependencies includes, a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) having an arrayed waveguide and free space optics, combined with a lens and micromirror array characterized by piston-motion. The micromirror array is coupled to a controller that provides signals to the array for adjusting the positions of the micromirrors, which are used as a spatial light modulator to provide at least phase modulation to one or more of the separated frequency components of an input optical signal. The frequency separated components, including modified components, are recombined and directed back to the PLC to form a synthesized optical pulse. Information regarding the characteristics of the synthesized optical pulse is extracted from a spectrogram of that pulse. Extracted information is provided to the controller and responsive thereto the controller may generate signals for adjusting the position of one or more micromirrors.

Abstract: A method for establishing a communications path between a source node and destination node. The method includes defining a first group of network elements (NEs) suitable for use in the communications path, contemporaneously determining available resources within each of the NEs of the first group of NEs, and contemporaneously reserving those available resources appropriate to establish the communications path. The reserved resources sufficient to establish the communications path are selected, while those reserved resources not selected are released. In the absence of available resources sufficient to establish the communications path, the method is repeated using a second group of NEs suitable for establishing the communications path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new feature for e-mail services which provides a telephone call alert to a particular e-mail user when their e-mail server, web page e-mail server, or other e-mail receiving server receives new e-mail addressed to them. One or more designated telephone number (or numbers) are automatically called by an auto dialer at the e-mail server in response to the receipt of particularly identified high priority e-mail senders (e.g., from clients, from family, etc.). The particular designated telephone number(s) to call for a particular user are configured in a priority alert profile for that particular user, as are the possibility to limit the activation of the telephone call alert system to electronic messages received only from a select list of senders, and/or after a predetermined number of electronic messages have been received, and/or if a current time corresponds to a predetermined time to alert a recipient.

Abstract: A universal interface apparatus having a processor for receiving one or more Network Interface signals having a transport mechanism associated therewith. The transport mechanism may include Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Internet Protocol, Frame Relay, Integrated Services Digital Network, High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, Very High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line, Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, 10 base T, 100 Base T, Gigabit Ethernet and E1/T1. The processor may recognize the transport mechanism associated with each Network Interface signal. In the event Asynchronous Transfer Mode is recognized as the transport mechanism, the processor may also segment perform Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) adaptation layer processing on each Network Interface signal.

Abstract: A technique for classifying traffic at a network node involves programming a content addressable memory (CAM) array with multiple class-specific entries, where each of the class-specific entries has an associated traffic class, obtaining a protocol-independent key field from an incoming packet, and searching the programmed CAM array with the protocol-independent key field to identify an associated traffic class of the incoming packet. In another embodiment, each of the class-specific entries has an associated traffic distribution policy, which may be applied to an incoming packet.

Abstract: An efficient Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) check mechanism is disclosed. In one embodiment, when a network node receives a multicast packet on an incoming interface, the network node obtains an expected incoming interface identifier from either a unicast routing table or a multicast forwarding information table. A RPF Flag stored in association with multicast flow information determines from which table the interface identifier is obtained. If the expected incoming interface does not match the actual incoming interface, the multicast packet is discarded.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the delivery of short text messages or other messages in a wireless network, a source terminal transmits a message to a recipient wireless unit over the network's short messaging service (“SMS”). The message includes a message identifier, a communication identifier of the recipient wireless unit, and message content. Initially, it is determined whether the message satisfies a criterion for blocking the message. If so, the message is blocked. For example, transmission of the message may be blocked if the message identifier is not an authorized identifier. Alternatively, the message may be blocked if the message identifier is an unauthorized identifier. This may be determined by cross-referencing the message identifier to an identifier record of the wireless unit. The identifier record is a data entry, list, or other record associated with the wireless unit for purposes of screening/blocking messages.

Abstract: The resource release system minimizes the time that the Mobile Switching Centers in a call initiation process commit resources after the call is terminated. This is accomplished by propagating a Call Release message through the cellular network from the Originating Mobile Switching Center to the Serving Mobile Switching Center as soon as the termination of the call initiation process is determined by the Originating Mobile Switching Center. As the Call Release message is propagated through the cellular network, each Mobile Switching Center that receives the message immediately propagates the message along the path through the cellular network toward the Serving Mobile Switching Center and releases the network resources that have been reserved for this call initiation process, thereby minimizing the amount of time network resources are maintained in a held state for this call initiation.

Abstract: A toilet tank flush valve (100) includes: a valve seat (120); a stopper (110) movable between an open position wherein the stopper (110) is displaced from the seat (120) and a closed position wherein the stopper (110) is in contact with the seat (120); and, a magnet arranged to urge the stopper (110) toward the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to aggregate or bundle packets to optimize the resource utilization and improve the transport efficiency of packets which are transferred between various protocol layers in a communications network. One embodiment of the invention sets forth a method of aggregating packets of a first size to packets of a second size for transmission in a wireless communications network between, for example, a base station controller and base transmitting station. The method includes the steps of calculating a maximum bundling factor represented by (an IP packet MTU size at a first location minus protocol overhead) divided by an application layer packet size and determining a most efficient bundling factor in terms of packet fragments, where the most efficient bundling factor is determined by a largest packet per fragment ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing on-demand datacasting. A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a rate generator for controlling the rate at which data signals are combined with audio/video signals. The system may also include a system controller for controlling the rate of the rate generator. The system controller may also monitor the complexity of the audio/video signals, calculate an average complexity of the audio/video signals, calculate an average complexity of the audio/video signals and determine whether the average complexity is greater than the typical complexity of audio/video signals. The system controller may adjust the rate of the rate generator based on the determination of whether the average complexity of the audio/video signals is greater than the typical complexity of audio/video signals.

Abstract: A lossless optical coupler includes at least one input waveguide, at least two output waveguides and an intermediate optical splitter. The optical splitter of the present invention further comprises an active section adapted to provide contemporaneous splitting and amplification of an input optical signal. The arrangement of the present invention provides an inexpensive and compact integrateable coupling device.

Abstract: In a CDMA network, each mobile is arranged to combined pilot symbols from its dedicated pilot channel with pilot symbols from at least one common channel as an input to its channel impulse response sensing means. The common channel may be a BCH, a FACH or a PCH, and the pilot symbols on all such channels may be combined. The pilot energy required on each dedicated pilot channel can thereby be reduced. By communicating the quality of the received pilot symbols to a base station, the base station can reduce the energy on the dedicated pilot channel, providing a yet further saving of energy.

Abstract: This relates to a method and system for channel element allocation for wireless systems. More particularly, the method and system are directed to channel element allocation based on voice call equivalence, bit load, and call quantum weight for multimedia wireless systems (e.g. 3g UMTS systems).