Abstract: The transmission of messages among multiple processors is controlled by the use of token and message interrupts. A token interrupt must be received from the processor sought to perform message processing. Failure to receive such a token interrupt prohibits requesting processors from making processing demands, i.e. sending a message interrupt, to the processor. Message interrupts, which may only be transmitted following receipt of a token interrupt, identify commands and user messages to be processed by a receiving processor. This permits instructions and multiple messages to be handled by a processor based on receipt of a single message interrupt. This technique also allows a processor under a temporary heavy load to defer the handling of other processing requests by delaying the transmission of a token interrupt.

Abstract: A blind equalization cost function called the "constrained Hilbert cost function" (CHCF) provides for reliable blind convergence of a two-filter equalizer structure. In particular, the CHCF cost function is designed in such a way that the two filters are constrained to be a Hilbert pair. Advantageously, this technique can be used with any blind equalization algorithms, such as RCA, CMA, and MMA.

Abstract: A method for determining the operational status of base stations deployed in a cellular telecommunications system comprises continually sharing operational status data with adjacent base stations in accordance with a primary diagnostic protocol. Upon non-receipt of an operational status message, a supplemental diagnostic protocol is executed to identify a malfunctioning base station. The failed status of an identified malfunctioning base station is extended to a mobile switching center over an established data interface. In some circumstances, the mobile switching center extends radio allocation information to a functional base station so that the functional base station may perform temporary administrative services for the adjacent failed base station until permanent repairs can be made.

Abstract: The invention is a repeater for a telecommunications transmission system such as a CDMA wireless system. The repeater reduces leakage by using a feedback signal whose amplitude and phase are adjusted in response to the amplitude and phase of a sampled input signal when a switch turns off the normal output of the repeater for a short period of time. In one embodiment, a pilot signal is transmitted during this time period so that the sampled input is the leakage signal. In another embodiment, the sampled input is the normal transmission signal received during the time period.

Abstract: For certain high-speed applications, where high-precision is not required analog-to-digital conversion may be performed by employing several comparators, each having their own offset. Each such comparator with an offset may be constructed by employing a differential amplifier with an offset followed by a conventional comparator. Advantageously, the time to obtain a conversion to digital of an analog sample is reduced in comparison to prior art converters, thus enabling high-speed operation.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that fine patterns of metal or insulator can be formed on printed circuit board using conventional lithographic steppers with inverted projection lenses. The inverted projection lenses act as enlargement lenses rather than reducing lenses and exhibit a large depth of focus sufficient to accommodate the deviations of PC board from planarity. The inverted lens reduces the size of the image needed at the mask, permitting multiple mask levels to be combined on a single glass. This reduces the cost of the mask set and permits the use of smaller glass masks having greater accuracy and dimensional stability than the convention mylar masks used for PC board.By inverting the projection lenses on near-obsolete steppers, applicants were able to form metal patterns on PC board of finer dimension than heretofore reported. Inverting a 5.times. ZEISS lens on a GCA 6300A stepper, applicants were able to form vias of less than 25 .mu.

Abstract: A process for device fabrication in which polarized light is used to monitor film thickness. The polarized light is made incident on the surface of a substrate with a film thereon that has a different reflectivity than that of the underlying substrate. The surface of the film is non-planar, either by virtue of the fact that the film is formed over a substrate with a non-planar surface, or because there is a patterned layer formed over the film, or both. The substrate is subjected to conditions that change the thickness of the film on the substrate. The polarized light that is reflected from the substrate is detected at a selected wavelength or wavelengths and a trace of the intensity of the reflected light both parallel and perpendicular to the substrate surface over time is obtained. This trace is compared to a model trace which is obtained by approximating the film thickness, and the relative amount of the areas of different reflectivity on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering the time base of signals which change at periodic intervals is disclosed. The apparatus comprises gated voltage controlled oscillators (GVCO) that are alternated or exchanged, to reduce phase and frequency deviations in the recovered time base signal, such as the deviations induced by inherent GVCO differences. Each GVCO is stabilized by a respective phase locked loop. The respective GVCOs are gated only in response to a chosen polarity transition in the input signal, to make the circuit more tolerant of waveform distortions. More than two GVCOs may be used to provide improved frequency drift resistance. The circuit uses resynchronization control signals, such as the time slot signal in synchronous switching systems, to indicate resynchronization or reassignment of the GVCOs in gaps in the data transmission.

Abstract: A differential amplifier has (at least) four input-stage transistors that are switchably coupled to the inverting and noninverting input terminals and to the output terminal(s). In one embodiment, two of the transistors are permanently coupled between the input and output terminals, while the other two transistors are switchably coupled the input and output terminals, such that, during two-phased operations, each of the switchably coupled transistors is alternately connected in parallel to a different one of the two permanently coupled transistors. In this way, any charge (due to input capacitance) in one input-stage transistor from the previous clock phase will tend to negate similar charge in another input-stage transistor at the start of each clock phase. Such an amplifier can be efficiently used in time-sharing applications.

Abstract: A bi-directional digital signal processing system comprises: a memory including a memory buffer of a predetermined size; a CODEC unit; and a bi-directional digital signal interface. The interface is adapted to be coupled to the memory and the CODEC and is further adapted to at least bi-directionally transfer digital signal samples from and to one selected memory location in the memory buffer.

Abstract: A two dimensional semiconductor laser array comprises a heat conducting base plate. A plurality of laser bars, having laser diodes stacked adjacent each other, are disposed in between a plurality of heat spreader plates and over the heat conducting base plate. Two spaced apart sidewalls are disposed on the heat conducting base plate, such that the heat spreader plate is thermally connected to said two sidewalls. The laser bars and the heat spreader plates are stacked upon each other, such that each heat spreader plate is disposed in between two of the laser bars.

Abstract: A wireless telephone user obtains the telephone number of a vendor by activating the wireless telephone to receive to transmit a prompt signal to an active advertisement source and to receive from the advertisement source a response signal containing the telephone number of the advertising vendor. The telephone number can then be used to automatically place a call to that vendor. Advantageously this arrangement can be used to place a call to a vendor without having to either memorize the telephone number or to write it down.

Abstract: An article having an optical fiber integrally attached to a micro-device having spaced movable and nonmoving layers suitable for creating optical interference effects is disclosed. In one configuration, the micro-device is suitable for optical modulation, wherein the movable layer is electrostatically actuated to move towards the nonmoving layer. Such movement changes the size of the gap between the layers, resulting in a change in micro-device reflectivity. An optical signal is modulated by controlling micro-device reflectivity via a controlled voltage source. In a second configuration, the micro-device is suitable for measuring pressure. For pressure measurement, the movable membrane moves in response to pressure changes. The change in membrane position again results in a change in micro-device reflectivity. Reflectivity is correlatable to pressure. In a third configuration, the micro-device is suitable for measuring temperature.

Abstract: An intelligent network architecture is employed to handle calls placed to a network subscriber who has changed telephone numbers from an old telephone number to a new telephone number. In a preferred embodiment two call handling procedures are available: a call forwarding procedure, in which calls to the old number are automatically forwarded to the new number; and a messaging procedure, in which an announcement is played to the caller and the caller is invited to leave a message for the subscriber. Through a phone call the subscriber may switch call handling procedures, change the forwarding number, and/or change the messaging announcement.

Abstract: A dispersive optical waveguide tap comprises a blazed and chirped refractive index grating in the core of the waveguide, coupling means and utilization means. The grating is selected such that guided mode light of predetermined wavelength will, in the absence of the coupling means, be directed into one or more cladding modes of the waveguide. The presence of the coupling means in optical co-operation with the waveguide, changes the guiding conditions such that the cladding modes are substantially eliminated from a portion of the waveguide that includes the cladding, whereby the grating directs the guided mode light into one or more radiation modes. The blaze angle typically is .ltoreq.15.degree.. The chirp serves to bring the radiation mode light substantially to a focus in at least one dimension, the focal point (or line) depending on the wavelength of the light.

Abstract: A high capacity optical fiber network operative with wavelength division multiplexing. Contemplated systems can utilize span distances in excess of 100 km, signal amplification within spans, and provide plural multiplexed channels operative at multiple gigabits per second.

Abstract: A communication switching system has a plurality of switch nodes with each of the switch nodes responsive to a failure of the primary signaling channel that is providing the common signaling channel in a facility access service (FAS) group to immediately switch to the secondary signaling channel of the FAS group. This switching occurs quickly so that no calls are dropped within the FAS group. Any logical links being communicated on the primary signaling channel are transferred to the secondary signaling channel with no data packets being irreplaceable lost. A first physical object is established to control a physical protocol on the primary signaling channel, and a second physical object is established to control the physical protocol on the secondary signaling channel. Further, a single software object is established to always control the first layer of software protocol on the common signaling channel whether that is the primary signaling channel or secondary signaling channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out rapid, block-based SAD search operations for facial ellipses in a CIF videophone image frame are disclosed. A set of search templates, each having an ellipse pattern with two concentric, contiguous perimeters is defined and a set of parameter values are calculated off line for each template: a predetermined subfactor, index number, number of pixels in its dithered perimeter pattern, and first and second match thresholds. The pixels in the lower portion of each perimeter in the pattern are thinned by dithering so as to emphasize the upper contour of the ellipse. Values of +2k for interior perimeter pixels and -2k for exterior pixels in the template are then added to corresponding +k edge pixels and -k non-edge pixels in each search position of the template on a thresholded binary edge map of the image frame.

Abstract: The present invention extends the PNNI protocols to support hierarchical multicast routing and signaling for ATM networks. The invention utilizes an extension to a core-based tree algorithm. Instead of a single core node, core nodes are maintained in each peer-group and at each level of the hierarchy. The advantage of this is that one single core node is not overloaded. Additionally, this increases fault-tolerance because there are no single points of failure. As would be understood, the present invention is highly scaleable because of the hierarchical nature of PNNI. In addition, the scheme supports multiple senders and dynamic membership changes to the multicast group. Quality of service requirements can be negotiated during connection setup and are guaranteed during the course of the connection. Though some additional topological information has to be flooded in the peer-groups to compute efficient multicast routes, the overheads to the connection management are minimal.

Abstract: The outside distribution plant of the invention consists of a remote terminal such as a digital loop carrier, broadband distribution element or the like that receives telecommunications signals from a switching system or other network element. The signals are delivered to a variety of different types of line cards where each of the different types of line cards provide a different type of telecommunications service as is known in the prior art. Connection lines emanating from the line cards are connected to the inputs of a remotely controlled crossbar array where the inputs of the array can be selectively connected to the outputs of the crossbar array. The outputs of the crossbar array are connected to distribution lines that terminate at one of a plurality of feeder distribution interfaces that connect to customer lines that terminate at customer premise equipment. The crossbar array serves as the access point for competitive service providers.