Abstract: The state of a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes is monitored. Each node is at a time in one of a number of node states dependent upon a predetermined set of rules and local conditions at that node. The value of a parameter is determined where the value of the parameter is dependent upon the entropy of the node states in the network.

Abstract: A 90 degree Alternate-Phase (AP) on-off keying (OOK) transmission format for high bit rate, long-haul optical transmission systems employing a chirped or a chirp-free pulse stream generated by a pulse generator (e.g., Mach Zehnder modulator) driven by mixing two electrical signals—one for intensity modulation and another for pulse modulation. These electrical signals may be two properly skewed sinusoidal electrical signals at half the desired data rate thereby generating a pulse stream in which the maximum optical phase modulation occurs at the intensity peak of each pulse and is 90 degrees out of phase with its nearest neighbors.

Abstract: A cross connect switch has a plurality of stages. Each stage has a plurality of packers, a plurality of memory portions and a plurality of multiplexers. Each packer receives input data and provides the input data as a set of contiguous valid data. The multiplexers divide the valid data from one of the packers into a plurality of data subsets and route each data subset to a respective memory portion of that stage. Each stage except the final stage provides the data in the memory portions of that stage as a respective set of inputs to a next one of the stages. The final stage includes a plurality of multiplexers for selecting a respective subset of the data from each of the memory portions of the final stage and provides the selected data at a plurality of respective selected output ports.

Abstract: Minimum shift keying (MSK) is used as the coding scheme in a high bit rate optical transmission system, and the signal format is either RZ (return-to-zero) or NRZ (non-return-to-zero). The system can combine multiple individual channels with different wavelengths in a WDM or dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) arrangement. Dispersion management can be provided using several techniques, such as quasi-linear transmissions or conventional RZ transmissions. At the transmitter, an optical MSK transmitter is used to modulate the phase of a stream of high bit rate (e.g., 40 Gbit/s) optical signals. Many such data streams can be combined in a wavelength division multiplexer and transmitted to a remote receiver, where the signal is wavelength division demultiplexed. The encoded data in each wavelength channel is then recovered by an MSK receiver, which may consist of a delay demodulator and a balanced detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) that may be employed to remotely manage a plurality of network elements. One feature of the GUI is a graphical representation of a series of state transition diagrams (STDs). The GUI displays each STD upon receiving a command from a technician. The STDs provide a unique window into the present state and possible future states of a specific network element. Furthermore, the GUI is configured to be fool-proof in that the technician may select from only relevant actions. That is, the GUI prevents accidental engagement of an action by having the technician select a command from a pull-down menu where the only commands the user may choose from are those that are relevant to the current state of the selected network element. For example, a network element that is currently in service would not have a restore command included in its pull-down menu.

Abstract: In a packet data communications system (100) where a customer premises (120) has only a packet-based connection, a proxy modem (200) is provided at the customer premises to connect to devices that send and receive modulated transmissions, e.g., facsimile, modem, and TDD/TTY. The proxy modem demodulates the modulated transmissions (208), organizes the resulting digital signal into a packet (210) and forwards the packet over a packet network (104, 106). Another proxy modem (200) that connects to the packet network and to a telephony network (110) receives the packets from the packet network. The packets are re-organized into a digital signal that is then modulated and forwarded over the telephony network to a destination. Use of the proxy modems in the network prevents unnecessary digitizing of modulated transmissions, which slows transmission and introduces errors.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the reliability of a system, such as a software system, is disclosed. “Service measurements” that are routinely measured and monitored in connection with the operation of systems (e.g., QOS (Quality Of Service) measurements) are utilized in the reliability architecture of the system. Service measurements include a number of alternative data types, such as transactions completed, messages received, messages sent, calls completed, bytes transmitted, jobs processed, etc. Any operations of the system that are typically monitored for other purposes can be utilized in the reliability architecture of the present invention. Most systems track these types of statistics as, for example, part of their billing procedures or part of their performance bench-marking or QOS processes.

Abstract: In the method provided, test transmissions between the mobile user terminal and base station antennas are made, and the received test transmissions processed to determine respective signal path quality for each of the base station antennas. Upon the determined signal path quality exceeding a first predetermined threshold, but being less than a second predetermined threshold higher than the first predetermined threshold, the mobile user terminal is connected to the corresponding base station antenna by control channels but not data channels so as to be time synchronised. Upon the determined signal path quality exceeding the second predetermined threshold, the mobile user terminal is connected to the corresponding base station antenna by both control channels and data channels so as to be call connected.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for trapping uncharged multi-pole particles comprises a bound cavity for receiving the particles, and a multiplicity of electrodes coupled to the cavity for producing an electric field in the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes are configured to produce in the electric field potential both a multi-pole (e.g., dipole) component that aligns the particles predominantly along an axis of the cavity and a higher order multi-pole (e.g., hexapole) component that forms a trapping region along the axis. In one embodiment, the electrodes and/or the particles are cooled to a cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A technique for managing cost reduction projects which reduces costs of an assembled product is described. The assembled product includes a plurality of subcomponents. The technique includes determining a best of the best (BOB) assembled product containing least cost subcomponents and ensuring that the total cost of the BOB assembled product is less than or equal to a market based target cost of the assembled product. The market based target cost is a cost at a point in time in the future which takes into account a profit margin of the assembled product. The technique also includes receiving forecast data for the plurality of subcomponents composing the assembled product and calculating cost savings for each of the least cost components introduced into the assembled product utilizing the forecast data. Each least cost component introduced into the assembled product defines a cost reduction project.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for providing custom ring back tones to parties calling a wireline subscriber, in which an end office selectively connects the incoming call to a ring back tone server to hear a custom ring back tone until the wireline phone is answered, after which the incoming call is connected to the called wireline device.

Abstract: Techniques for determining cost targets for cost reduction projects which reduce costs of an assembled product are described. The assembled product includes a plurality of subcomponents for which cost reduction projects may be pursued. The technique includes receiving first cost data for subcomponents of a business enterprise's assembled product and receiving second cost data for subcomponents of one or more competitive assembled products. The least cost subcomponents between first and second cost data are then selected to compose a best of the best assembled product. The selected least cost subcomponents are the cost targets for their respective cost reduction projects.

Abstract: The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations includes two components: a first component that authenticates an authorized party who logs into the Mobile Switching Center, and a second component that is responsive to the entry of a system activation command by the authorized party for locating selected mobile stations and providing mobile station location information to the authorized party. The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations enables a service provider to track a mobile station through the use of Autonomous Registrations or the polling of a selected mobile station or a set of mobile stations. Once communication with the selected mobile station is established, the GPS coordinates of the selected mobile station are retrieved and provided to an authorized party to enable them to locate the subscriber and their mobile station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for multiple leg call processing, in which the timing of a plurality of outgoing call legs is determined according to a plurality of parameters in order to achieve near simultaneous notification of a group of member directory numbers. The parameters can include static information obtained from a network database such as end user device technology type, call forwarding disposition, answering machine or voicemail service, geographic distance to the member directory number, and/or signaling type and carrier or other local information. Actual setup times may be measured for use in determining the timing of the outgoing call leg processing, which may be used alone or in combination with the local and static information parameters to determine the outgoing call schedule for routing the call to multiple member directory numbers.

Abstract: Superlyophobic Surface Structure, including a substrate having a surface; a plurality of nanoscale raised features on the substrate surface, each nanoscale raised feature having a length measured in a direction approximately perpendicular to the substrate surface, each nanoscale raised feature having a raised feature diameter along the length and measured in a direction approximately parallel to the substrate surface; a nanoscale top feature on each of a plurality of the nanoscale raised features, each nanoscale top feature having a top feature diameter measured in a direction approximately parallel to the substrate surface; in which an average top feature diameter is greater than an average raised feature diameter. Method of fabricating a Superlyophobic Surface Structure.

Abstract: An adapter for interconnecting a Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver into a receptacle configured to receive a Small Form Factor (SFF) transceiver. The innovative adapter provides an interface for connecting an SFP transceiver to an SFF receptacle (e.g. footprint) on a printed circuit board. This enables manufacturers and customers with printed circuit boards originally designed to receive and interoperate only with SFF transceivers, to replace SFF transceivers with newer SFP transceiver models through the use of the innovative interface described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for powering an electronic circuit use comparators of supply voltages and voltage regulators to facilitate powering the electronic circuit utilizing more than one supply voltage. In one embodiment, power supplies of step-up power units are controlled using comparators of step-down power units and the step-up power units temporarily provide power to accidentally disabled of step-down power units.

Abstract: A quantum cryptographic receiver, a method of achieving unambiguous state discrimination measurement of a coherent light state and a quantum cryptographic system incorporating the quantum cryptographic receiver or the method. In one embodiment, the quantum cryptographic receiver includes: (1) a beamsplitter that receives an incoming coherent state from a sender and splits the incoming coherent state into at least first and second separate coherent states and (2) at least one photodetector, associated with the beamsplitter, that is positionable with respect to the first and second separate coherent states to detect a presence of a photon therein at a particular phase, the presence revealing information originated by the sender.

Abstract: Determining a particular product mix of old and new products to either minimize stranded inventory of old unique sub-components composing the old product or to minimize cost savings by phasing out the old unique sub-components of the old product is described. When a new product costs the same or more than the old product, a product mix which minimizes stranded inventory is determined. To this end, a liability on inventory of old unique sub-components at a number of build out quantities including the total number of product units to produce is determined. Additionally, a number of old products to produce is selected to correspond to a point where the liability on inventory of old unique sub-components is constant between consecutive build out quantities in order to reduce stranded inventory. When a new product costs less than the old product, a product mix which maximizes cost savings is determined.

Abstract: Techniques for determining how to translate forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product into a forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is described. To this end, forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product is received. Usage factors of a plurality of subcomponents composing the assembled product are also received. Each usage factor corresponds to the at least one configuration of assembled product. The forecast schedule of subcomponents composing the assembled product is then composed by applying the usage factors of the plurality of subcomponents to the forecast sales data of at least one configuration of assembled product wherein the forecast schedule includes demand for the subcomponents over time.