Abstract: A telephone handset interface reduces or eliminates feedback induced singing in a telephone handset/hybrid loop. The interface provides for user selectable volume control settings, each setting representing an amount of gain or loss to be applied to the transmit and receive signals within the telephone set. The gain settings are selected to limit overall loop gain so as to reduce or eliminate any tendency of the handset to sing at high receive gain levels. Loss inserted into the transmit circuit is removed when user speech is detected in the transmit circuit.

Abstract: A telecommunications network comprises a virtual transport server (VTS) for making network routing decisions and establishing call connections. Each VTS is interconnected to each signal transfer point in a common channel signaling (CCS) system associated with the network. Each VTS is also interconnected to at least one switch in a transmission network, such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch. The VTS maintains routing tables identifying trunk groups associated with each central office switch in the network. During operation, an initial address message received from a signal transfer point in the VTS is processed and subsequently extended to an ATM switch so that a call connection can be established. Upon completion of the established call, the VTS releases resources associated with the ATM switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing frequency domain analysis using compressed matrix storage to reduce the computation and storage requirements associated with processing a system of harmonic balance equations. A nonlinear circuit, system or other device to be analyzed includes n unknown node spectra, each characterized by N spectral coefficients in the system of harmonic balance equations. A compressed version of a Jacobian matrix J representing the system of harmonic balance equations is generated by forming m sequences of length N using one or more block-diagonal matrices associated with the Jacobian matrix J, converting each of the m sequences to the frequency domain using a discrete Fourier transform, such that a set of Fourier coefficients are generated for each of the m sequences, and storing only those Fourier coefficients which exceed a threshold as the compressed version of the Jacobian matrix J.

Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the functions of the telecommunications network, including a method of measuring delay between the time a customer dials a phone number of a called party and the time the customer hears a ringback tone indicating that the called party was alerted to the call, a method of synchronizing clocks located at individual network elements with a centralized time source, and a method of time-of-day clock surveillance.

Abstract: In a partitioned power converter system having a central uninterruptible power supply ("UPS") stage couplable between a commercial power source and a peripheral stage, the central UPS stage including a primary converter that converts commercial power from the commercial power source to a distribution voltage; a battery boost converter, coupled to a battery reserve system, that boosts a battery voltage produced thereby to the distribution voltage; and mode switching circuitry that alternatively couples one of the primary converter and the battery boost converter to the peripheral stage, selective bypass circuitry and a method of increasing the efficiency of the power converter system.

Abstract: A transceiver system having a base unit and a handset for communicating over a number of communication channels that are automatically switched during talk-time. A received-signal-strength-indicator (RSSI) circuit connects to the receiver for measuring the average energy received by the receiver over a baseband frequency bandwidth. The average energy includes the information, interference and noise portions of the received energy. The RSSI circuit transmits an RSSI output when the average energy exceeds a predetermined RSSI threshold. A discriminator-interference-and-noise-energy (DINE) circuit connects to the receiver for measuring out-of-band energy received by the receiver which is above the baseband frequency bandwidth. The out-of-band energy primarily comprises interference and noise energy. The DINE threshold detector provides a DINE output when the out-of-band energy exceeds a predetermined DINE threshold.

Abstract: Novel rate-based flow control methods operate in conjunction with a data communications network. Such networks include a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein each node is adapted for connection to any of a plurality of sources. The sources send data to, and receive data from, the nodes. The path that data follows in traveling from a first source, through one or more nodes, to a second source, is referred to as a virtual circuit path. Each node includes a processor and an associated memory for storing a data queue of data received from sources. According to one embodiment, referred to as first-order rate-based flow control, a node allocates a data transfer rate to a source based upon the difference between the current queue length at that node and the queue threshold of that node multiplied by a gain.

Abstract: For use with an active database stored in volatile memory for direct revision thereof, the active database having multiple checkpoints and a stable log, having a tail stored in the volatile memory, for tracking revisions to the active database to allow corresponding revisions to be made to the multiple checkpoints, the active database subject to corruption, a system for, and method of, restoring the active database and a computer system containing the same. The system includes: (1) a checkpoint determination controller that determines which of the multiple checkpoints is a most recently completed checkpoint and copies the most recently completed checkpoint to the volatile memory to serve as an unrevised database for reconstructing the active database and (2) a revision application controller that retrieves selected ones of the revisions from the stable log and the tail and applies the revisions to the unrevised database thereby to restore the active database.

Abstract: A wafer holder for maintaining a semiconductor wafer at a constant temperature during film deposition is disclosed. The wafer holder is configured to have one or more quartz arms. Affixed to each arm is at least one quartz support, whose top end is adapted for holding the semiconductor wafer. The top end of each support is tapered to have a diameter smaller than that of the quartz support and is optionally tapered to a point. A thermal mass element is optionally supported on the arms of the wafer holder, to keep uniform, the temperature at the perimeter of the wafer with respect to the rest of the semiconductor wafer during a material layer deposition. Also, a quartz backstop is optionally attached to each support arm to keep the semiconductor wafer positioned on top of the quartz supports when the wafer holder is rotated.

Abstract: Method and system for managing transactions operating on replicated data items at multiple physical sites in a distributed database system. The transactions include local transactions each being processed at one of the physical sites and global transactions each being processed at multiple physical sites. Each transaction originates at one of the physical sites, and is permitted to read data items only at that physical site. In addition, only transactions originating at a physical site at which a primary copy of a data item is located are permitted to update that data item. A number of virtual sites are defined such that a given virtual site VS.sub.i.sup.j at a particular point in time includes a set S.sub.i.sup.j of all data items at a physical site s.sub.j that a given transaction T.sub.i has accessed from an initial operation up to that point in time. A replication graph is maintained to represent the relationships between the transactions and the virtual sites.

Abstract: Panels are positioned relative to a pattern by moving the pattern onto a registration mechanism having contact elements, engaging contact areas on the pattern with contact elements by moving the contact elements synchronously and equidistantly while allowing the registration mechanism to move as the elements engage the contact areas, locking the position of the registration mechanism, and engaging contact areas on sequential panels by moving the contact elements of the locked registration mechanism synchronously and equidistantly to contact areas on one panel after the other.

Abstract: The specification describes photonic integrated circuit structures, and methods for making structures in which the active and passive waveguides are coplanar, and further in which all the layers of both the active and passive device regions are essentially coplanar, resulting in a planar surface and design flexibility for contact pad and metallization placement. The fabrication strategy eliminates the deep etch used in conventional processing to form laser devices, and thereby eliminates the step between the laser mesa and the passive waveguide sections.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, light is coupled from a plurality of semiconductor emitters to a cladding-pumped fiber via tapered fiber bundles fusion spliced to the cladding-pumped fiber. Individual semiconductor broad stripe emitters can be coupled to individual multimode fibers. The individual fibers can be bundled together in a close-packed formation, heated to melting temperature, drawn into a taper and then fusion spliced to the cladding-pumped fiber. Advantageously, the taper is then overcoated with cladding material such as low index polymer. In addition, a fiber containing a single-mode core can be included in the fiber bundle. This single-mode core can be used to couple light into or out of the single-mode core of the cladding-pumped fiber.

Abstract: A passive optical network for the downstream dense wavelength division multiplexing communication of data between a host terminal complex (HTC) and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), and for the upstream communication of data from the ONUs to the HTC. The network includes a routing device for distributing downstream data signals contained in a common frequency band among a plurality of fiber drop lines for providing a corresponding wavelength to a corresponding ONU. The routing device also combines upstream data signals contained in a frequency band other than the downstream common frequency band, which are input to the routing device on the plurality of fiber drop lines, to a multi-wavelength signal which is provided to the HTC. In a preferred embodiment, the upstream data signals are output by the routing device to a broadcast port.

Abstract: A modular electrical connector assembly to which an electrical telecommunication cable is connectable for communicating electrical signals between the connector assembly and cable. The connector assembly includes an electrically nonconductive body and a crosstalk energy emitting electrical interference source on the body and/or on or proximate the connector assembly. Electrically conductive first and second leads on the body define an electrical signal circuit for carrying electrical signals communicatable with the cable. The first lead is located more closely proximate to the interference source than is the second lead such that a greater amount of crosstalk energy from the interference source is electromagnetically impressed on the first lead than on the second lead to thereby define a difference in crosstalk energy on the first and second leads.

Abstract: A rearrangeable non-blocking three stage network and method for routing one or more requests between an input stage and an output stage, comprising between 3N and substantially the next largest integer of (41N-E.sub.N)/16 center stage interconnection units, where N is the greater of the inlet links to the input stage and outlet links from the output stage. Received requests are grouped by load size into a first group, a second group, and a third group with the second ground divided into a first half and a second half. The requests in the first group and first half of the second group are routed by a first set of center interconnection units, and the requests of the second half of the second group are routed by a second set of center interconnection units. The requests of the third group are routed through the first and second set of interconnection units so long as their load capacity is not exceeded, while any remaining small requests are routed through a third set of interconnection units.

Abstract: Minute quantities of water in a terpene cleaning solvent cause a reaction with certain metals, particularly lead, tin and copper, which reactions are responsible for corrosion of the metal. Such reactions can be reduced or substantially eliminated by exposing the cleaning solvent to a molecular sieve prior to the cleaning operation. The molecular sieve typically includes a plurality of beads of zeolite to which the cleaning solvent is exposed. The molecular sieve traps the water molecules from the solvent so that, after treatment, the solvent contains substantially no water molecules.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention an electronic device is provided with a thin film dielectric layer of enhanced reliability. The dielectric comprises a thin film of silicon oxide having maximum concentrations of nitrogen near its major interfaces. In a field effect device, the maximum adjacent the gate enhances resistance to penetration of dopants from the gate. The secondary maximum near the channel enhances resistance to current stress. The maximum near the channel is preferably displaced slightly inward from the channel to minimize effects on carrier mobility.

Abstract: A port circuit (108) for a time-division multiplexed (TDM) switching system (100) is designed to effect sub-time-slot operation without external support, as well as to effect conventional, time-slot operation. A clock-frequency multiplier, such as a frequency-multiplexed phase-lock loop (PLL 202), and a multiplier-driven sub-time-slot operation circuit, such as a PLL-driven finite state machine (203), are incorporated into the port circuit. The clock-frequency multiplier and the sub-time-slot operation circuit generate all the additional control signals that are necessary to define sub-time slots and to effect multiple information transfers in a single time slot. The port circuit engages in conventional time-slot transfers with conventional port circuits, whereby it is compatible therewith, and engages in sub-time-slot transfers with other sub-time-slot enabled port circuits, whereby it increases the transfer throughput of the TDM switching fabric.

Abstract: Computer users may utilize different web browsers to access a server system on the World Wide Web (WWW) to create or join a collaborative browsing session. The users or collaborators in a session are connected by one or more controllers in the server system. When a collaborator creates or joins a session, mobile code is transmitted from the system to the collaborator's computer to create a surrogate thereon, which monitors the collaborator's interaction with a web browser on the computer. The controllers communicate with all the surrogates of the collaborators to coordinate the collaborative browsing effort. When one of the surrogates detects a change by a collaborator of a uniform resource locator (URL), the new URL is communicated through the controllers to the surrogates of all other collaborators in the session. As such, the collaborators are able to move from one URL to another to browse information in a synchronous manner.