Abstract: Patient disease is diagnosed and/or treated using electronic data communications between not only the physician and his/her patient, but via the use of electronic data communications between the physician and one or more entities which can contribute to the patient's diagnosis and/or treatment, such electronic data communications including information that was priorly received electronically from the patient and/or was developed as a consequence of an electronic messaging interaction that occurred between the patient and the physician. Such other entities illustratively include a medical diagnostic center and an epidemiological database computer facility which collects epidemiological transaction records from physicians, hospitals and other institutions which have medical facilities, such as schools and large businesses.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of a prior application, in a telecommunications network, a local database stores destination telephone number information derived from a more global database, shared by a plurality of switching systems usually remote from all or most of the systems. One or more bit maps are used to store key indicators for each telephone number for which information may be required. This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically updating the local database, by recognizing that a switch identified as serving a directory number does not have access to the line corresponding to that number; when this condition is discovered, the global database is increased and the local database updated.

Abstract: A multi-band phase locked loop employing multiple, switchable voltage controlled oscillators. A single PLL is provided having a different voltage controlled oscillator for each desired frequency band of operation. The transfer function of the phase detector in the phase locked loop is switched responsive to the particular band selected so as to maintain the loop natural frequency at the same point regardless of other changes in the loop transfer function that are associated with operating at alternate frequencies, such as, but not limited to, changes in the frequency slope of the voltage controlled oscillators and changes in the division ratio of the loop divider circuit.

Abstract: Techniques for obtaining information about dynamic properties of a first program. The techniques involve making a static analysis of the first program to determine what instrumentation is needed to produce the desired information and then producing a second program which causes a programmable instrumentation apparatus to produce an instrumented version of the first program. The programmable instrumentation apparatus may be a programmable binary editor or a a debugger. Execution of the instrumented program provides the information about the dynamic properties. The program for the instrumentation apparatus is produced by a source code analyzer which statically analyzes the source code. The source code analyzer is in turn produced by a code analyzer generator. Output from the instrumentation may be provided to a graphical display system.

Abstract: A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) transceiver includes a Wavelength Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (WM/D) having a plurality of inputs (N) and N Amplified Light Emitting (ALED) devices, each ALED device transmitting a wideband optical signal to and receiving an optical signal from a different one of the N inputs of the WM/D transceiver. During transmission, the WM/D selects different wavelengths from ALED signals at each of the N inputs and multiplexes them together into a combined signal at its output. During receiving, the WM/D demultiplexes different wavelengths from a signal received at its output and sends the different wavelengths to each of the N inputs. A WDM system is formed using two WDM transceivers which are connected over an optical link and which alternately transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: A phase lock detector circuit is disclosed that generates delayed versions of both a reference clock signal and a synthesized clock signal. From the delayed signals, first and second control signals that are pulses are generated. The pulses are passed through respective delays of predetermined durations and then clocked into respective shift registers by the latched signal of the opposite input. The shift register outputs are logically combined and shifted into a third shift register. Outputs from the third shift register are logically combined to ascertain whether a phase-lock loop is phase lock. The lock detector circuit may include a lock-out circuit to disable the phase lock detector circuit upon detecting phase lock.

Abstract: Alternators employing magnetic commutation, methods of manufacturing the alternators and wireless communications infrastructures employing the alternators. In one embodiment, an alternator includes: (1) a stator having 4n alternating field and armature poles extending axially along and projecting from an inner surface thereof, n being a positive integer, the field poles having field windings disposed thereabout to form alternating North-South magnetic polar regions and the armature poles having armature windings disposed thereabout to allow conduction of electric power from the armature poles, (2) a rotor, disposed within and journalled for rotation relative to the stator, having 2n axial magnetic passive regions, each of the passive regions being of a circumferential width magnetically to bridge one of the armature poles and only one of the field poles and (3) an exciter, coupled to the stator, that provides a controlled level of DC excitation to the field poles to regulate an output of the alternator.

Abstract: A hand-held device such as a mouse is provided for inputting into a computer relative positional information during movement of the device over a generally planar surface and for inputting an optical image of an object located thereunder. The device includes a housing adapted to be grasped by a user and moved along the surface. A positional transducer is mounted in the housing for generating first signals representative of the amount of movement of the device over the surface. An area imager is located within the housing for recording an image of an object and for generating second signals representative of the image.

Abstract: Measurement of the delamination resistance of polymer coated optical fiber can provide valuable information for quality control and/or coating development, and a method of making polymer coated optical fiber that includes determination of the delamination resistance is disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus that facilitates determination of the delamination resistance.

Abstract: In a modular system having a plurality of modules therein, an identification system for, and method of, identifying individual ones of the plurality of modules. The identification system includes: (1) a request generator, associated with a controller of the modular system, that requests each of the ones of the modules to select a polling number, the controller polling the ones of the modules as a function of a value of the polling number to obtain an identification code associated therewith and (2) a polling generator within the controller that assigns a logical identification number to the each of the ones of the modules as a function of the value of the polling number.

Abstract: A method of preventing diffusion penetration of the dopant used to dope polysilicon gate material in a MOSFET is disclosed. Atomic nitrogen is introduced into the substrate prior to gate oxide growth. The nitrogen later diffuses upward into the gate oxide and blocks subsequent ion implanted gate dopants from penetrating to the substrate. Low dosages of atomic nitrogen implantation, while not significantly affecting gate oxide growth rate, produce significant improvements in the damage immunity of thin gate oxides.

Abstract: For use in a direct sequence spread spectrum ("DSSS") receiver adapted to receive a differential phase shift keyed ("DPSK") packet on a channel, the DPSK packet having a training preamble and a data portion, a system to improve detection of the packet under degraded channel conditions, comprising: (1) a detection circuit that derives phase information from symbols in the packet and a weight that is a function of an estimated power profile for the channel and (2) a computation circuit that computes a weighted average for the phase information using the weight, the weighted average being power profile-based to allow the receiver to detect the data contained in the packet more reliably under the degraded channel conditions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for a multi-port node having a shared buffer memory to provide enhanced data packet buffering capacity for established virtual circuits (VC's) through the node and one of its output ports while maintaining grades of service commitments. The method admits incoming data packets to a node for an established VC based on a determination of combination of factors including the effective memory requirements for each output port as VC's are created or terminated, the portions of buffer memory in use for conveying packets through the intended output port for the incoming packet, and the total amount of available shared memory in the node. Such determinations enable the node to better decide whether admitting the incoming packet would cause a disproportionate allocation of the shared memory for the intended output port. As a consequence, a relatively high packet buffering capacity can be achieved substantially without violating grades of service commitments.

Abstract: A technique for configuring a processor allows the processor to interface with external buses of different types; for example, busses having different data widths. Configuration data is stored in a memory, typically a read-only memory, and transferred to the processor during a system configuration period. An initial configuration fetch may be accomplished to retrieve the configuration information prior to executing an actual processor instruction. Alternatively, the configuration information may be included in an actual instruction word. The system configuration period typically occurs during the initial power-on sequence, but may occur at other times.

Abstract: Improved radio receiver designs can be used in the operational environment of wireless telephone communications. The radio receiver includes a variable attenuator, an RF signal amplifier, and a controller. The controller controls the amount of attenuation provided by the variable attenuator in response to signals received by the RF signal amplifier. The controller adjusts the variable attenuator to achieve a minimum symbol error rate and/or to maximize the signal-to-noise and interference ratio for a desired signal, irrespective of the levels of any interfering signals received by the RF signal amplifier. In this manner, the variable attenuator is adjusted to obtain just the right amount of intermodulation performance for a given set of receiving conditions. This technique saves operating current and minimizes noise figure because, in practice, interference conditions do not persist all of the time, and are usually of temporary duration.

Abstract: During a reconfiguration of a software-based system, an addition process for loading software components onto the system is performed, followed by a removal process for purging therefrom those components which are no longer required in the new configuration. In accordance with the invention, the dependencies of the software components currently in the system and those to be added thereto are identified. Using the knowledge of such dependencies, the addition process ensures the minimal addition of software components to the system, and the removal process ensures the maximal removal of software components therefrom in realizing the new configuration.

Abstract: The cable bracket of the present invention generally comprises at least two matingly engageable bracket portions, each having a region for receiving a cable and an arm extending from the distal end of the region. Each arm has a retaining portion and is capable of being moved between a first position and a second position. At the second position, the arms permit the cable to be secured between the retaining portions when the bracket portions are matingly engaged.

Abstract: An improved waveguide grating router enhances the transmissivity of a dominant passband selected from a plurality of passbands. The router includes a first waveguide coupler, a second waveguide coupler, and a plurality of M waveguides coupled between the first and second waveguide couplers. Each waveguide m has a length L(m). The difference in length (.DELTA.L) between any two adjacent waveguides, m and (m-1), is equal to an arbitrary constant plus (A*m) for each of the waveguides. Mathematically, this may be expressed as .DELTA.L={L(m)-L(m-1)}=k+A*(m), where k is an arbitrary constant, m denotes a given waveguide out of a total M waveguides, and A is a positive or negative real number. In this manner, the difference in length .DELTA.L between adjacent waveguide arms is a monotonically increasing or decreasing function of m; i.e., a parabolic function of m.

Abstract: For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, the first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a circuit for, and method of, distributing current between the first and second switches. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with the first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of the first switch, that senses a temperature of the first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to the gate based on the temperature and thereby redistributes the current.

Abstract: In certain wireless communication systems, including at least some CDMA cellular systems, short messages can be delivered to mobile stations in a broadcast fashion using a common forward (downlink) channel sometimes referred to as the Paging Channel. Economy in the use of the Paging Channel can be achieved by using so-called slotted mode reception. In accordance with this mode, the infrastructure directs messages to a given mobile station only during time slots allocated to the particular group of mobile stations to which the given station belongs. These time slots recur according to a paging slot cycle having a specified length (expressed as a number of slots), or slot cycle index. Disclosed here is a further cycle, referred to as the Broadcast Paging Cycle, for use in implementing a service for broadcasting short messages (to many mobile stations). The Broadcast Paging Cycle has an index that is larger than, and incommensurable with, the paging slot cycle index.