Abstract: A method for locating a mobile device in a wireless communications system comprised of a plurality of base stations is provided. The method comprises associating the mobile device with a first base station of the plurality of base stations. Thereafter, a paging signal is delivered from a subset of base stations associated with the first base station to the mobile device. The subset of base stations may correspond to a network active set of base stations associated with the mobile device. Thereafter, when a signal from one of the base stations in the subset of base stations is received, indicating that the mobile device responded to the paging signal from the one base station, then the mobile device is located and may be associated with the one base station for future paging attempts.

Abstract: In a method of tracking a user in a communication network supporting a broadcast-multicast service, the network classifies groups of users into tracking areas. Movement of a user may be tracked as the user crosses a boundary between two tracking areas in the network. The method may enable a balance to be achieved between use of uplink overhead and the level or granularity of tracking desired, so as to conserve radio resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for network routing in packet-based networks which advantageously takes traffic conditions into account dynamically in determining the “best route” for routing a packet to its intended destination. Illustratively, a potential function is employed whereby hypothetical electrostatic potential values are calculated at each node or link of a network, and the packets are routed in accordance with these potential function values (e.g., in the direction of the lowest neighboring value). The potential function values may be advantageously calculated based on queue lengths at the various nodes (or links) in combination with a minimum-cost distance calculated to the packet's intended destination.

Abstract: Data is distributed over multiple connections through a network in successive groups of containers such that respective containers of each group are transmitted via respective ones of the connections. Each container contains an identifier of the group to which the container belongs. The output of the network data from containers that have been received is buffered to compensate differences in the delays of transport via different connections. An oldest identifier value received via the connections during a time frame is detected by determining a plurality of respective minimum values of the identifiers received in the time frame. Each minimum value is determined among received identifiers from a respective sub-range of possible identifier values. A “sequentially first” sub-range of successive sub-ranges, for which at least one of the minimum values has been determined, is then determined. The minimum value of the “sequentially first” sub-range is then selected as the oldest identifier.

Abstract: A system is implemented on a wireless network for adjusting a forward link power control parameter based on forward link feedback. A wireless unit is in communication with several base stations during soft handoff, and provides feedback relating to forward link quality, e.g., forward link pilot signal strength or traffic channel frame error rate. The feedback is compared to a comparison or reference point (such as target frame error rate, or a maximum pilot signal strength in the active set) chosen for gauging the quality or nature of the feedback for power control purposes. Based on this comparison, a power control parameter of one or more of the base stations may be adjusted upwards or downward. The power control parameter may be a forward link reference transmit power level “Pref” used to control base station power transmission levels in the presence of power control bit errors.

Abstract: A status notification system is implemented on a wireless network. In a standard manner, a network user initiates a communication to a “recipient” unit at the user's “source” wireless unit. If the call is unanswered, information relating to the status of the recipient unit is obtained and transmitted for display on the source unit. The displayed status might be “busy”, “in a meeting,” or the like, as determined by the system and/or as designated by the user of the recipient unit. The status information may be obtained from the recipient unit, by referencing a database record, or by determining the operational condition of the recipient unit. In another embodiment, when the status of a wireless unit changes, or when the user of the wireless unit changes a designated status, the change in status is transmitted to each wireless unit listed on a “buddy list” for the user.

Abstract: A proxy telephone system and method is implemented on or as part of a communication network. Proxy telephone numbers are assigned to network users or subscribers. The phone numbers for a user's various communication terminals (e.g., GSM wireless unit, PHS wireless unit, home telephone, work telephone) are associated with the user's proxy number in a database. When a caller initiates a call over the network, the system determines if the dialed phone number is a proxy number. If so, the system accesses the list of phone numbers associated with the proxy number. The system automatically sequentially routes the call to the phone numbers associated with the proxy number in a pre-determined order until a connection is established. For example, the system might first route the call to the GSM wireless unit, and then to the PHS unit, and so on, until the user answers.

Abstract: A device for controlling a power level received by a feature of a mobile terminal includes a control unit for setting the power level to a first power level as a function of time. The control unit may also be configured to set the power level to a second power level as a function of time. The control unit may accept one or more user-defined values, such as a user-defined value for the first power level and user-defined values for a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time. The function of time may be a function of the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time. The mobile terminal may be an electronic device that is optionally battery-powered and may include a cell phone. The feature whose power lever is controlled by the device may include a light of a backlit viewing screen.

Abstract: A base station controller (BSC) of a radio or wireless telecommunications network base station includes a director. A BSC includes multiple central processing units (CPUs), with each CPU running a call-processing application for one or more connections. The director is a logical entity that intercepts wireless call-setup signaling and assigns each corresponding connection to a CPU according to a centralized load-balancing algorithm. The centralized load-balancing algorithm distributes connections to less loaded CPUs to i) prevent individual CPUs from overloading, ii) utilize otherwise unused system resources, and iii) increase overall system performance. The director hosts cell components that manage code division multiple access (CDMA) downlink spreading codes for a base station, providing centralized allocation of spreading codes by the base station.

Abstract: A method for fabricating thick film alumina structures used in high frequency, low loss applications is provided. More particularly, the invention is directed to a co-fire process for fabricating, or laminating, thick film structures to one another by printing a conductor layer between two thick film circuits, drying the layer, and co-firing the combined structure. This process is particularly useful in fabricating high frequency (e.g. 10 gigabit) fiber optic transmitters.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing audio and speech signals using a pitch and voicing dependent spectral estimation algorithm (voicing algorithm) to accurately represent voiced speech, unvoiced speech, and mixed speech in the presence of background noise, and background noise with a single model. The present invention also modifies the synthesis model based on an estimate of the current input signal to improve the perceptual quality of the speech and background noise under a variety of input conditions. The present invention also improves the voicing dependent spectral estimation algorithm robustness by introducing the use of a Multi-Layer Neural Network in the estimation process. The voicing dependent spectral estimation algorithm provides an accurate and robust estimate of the voicing probability under a variety of background noise conditions. This is essential to providing high quality intelligible speech in the presence of background noise.

Abstract: A passband filter exhibiting ultra-narrow characteristics comprising a cascaded pair of Mach-Zehnder (MZ) structures each including a plurality of resonators optically coupled to each of the arms of the MZ structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deinterlacing video images is described. In one exemplary implementation, the apparatus receives a video stream in an interlaced format. The apparatus includes a processing system configured to determine whether or not the video stream originated from a progressive format. Based on that determination, the processing system selects one of two modes of operation to deinterlace the video stream: an interpolation mode of operation or a non-interpolation mode of operation.

Abstract: A new algorithm for clock offset estimation for resources distributed across a network (such as the Internet). By exchanging a sequence of time-stamped messages between pairs of network nodes and separately estimating variable delays for each message direction, present inventive embodiments provide more accurate estimates for clock offset between node pairs. Present inventive algorithms operate in a variety of peer and server network configurations while providing significant improvement in convergence speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A network node maintains an inactive config file of unsuccessfully executed configuration commands. The network node maintains an active config file of active executed configuration commands. In response to a change of conditions that invalidates an active configuration command, the network node moves data from the active config file to the inactive config file. In response to a change of conditions, the network node re-executes inactive commands and moves data from the inactive config file to the active config file if an inactive configuration command is successfully re-executed.

Abstract: Wavelength-selective switches (WSSs) having embedded multiplexer or demultiplexer functionality include a stack of planar waveguide circuits (PLCs) in which all but one of the PLCs have identical features consisting of a single waveguide connected to a free space region, further connected to a waveguide array that terminates at the PLC edge facet, which are placed at the front focal plane of a lens, generating a spectrally resolved optical signal at the back focal plane of the lens. Due to the use of a single lens, the spectrally resolved optical signal of all the PLCs are superimposed, differing only by propagation direction. A tilting micro-mirror array at the back focal plane reflects the spectral components, implementing a wavelength-selective switch. The reflected light can couple to any of the remaining PLCs, for multiplexing, or to the different PLC in the stack, which implements the multiplexer/demultiplexer.

Abstract: An efficient parallel event simulation method is implemented by simulating blocks of M edge events, where M is approximately equal to e logeN, and N being the number of interconnected processing elements. Following a simulation iteration, each processing element shares information with adjacent processing elements that relates to events that the processing elements simulated which may affect the simulation of events at the neighbor processing elements. When the communication reveals that the information that is shared by a neighbor processing elements is different from the information that the processing element assumed, then the arriving information is kept and the simulation process is repeated. In executing the repeated simulations of a block, the same random variable values are employed. When all of the processing elements find that the arriving shared information is the same as the information already known to the receiving processing element, simulation of the block ends.

Abstract: A method of processing toll payments for a motorist having a wireless communications device and a billing account, via a wireless communications network.

Abstract: A mobile switching component of an apparatus in one example requests a mobile station to change to a common mode of communication upon entry of the mobile station into a zone, wherein every mobile station supported by the mobile switching component in the zone employs the common mode of communication.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a substrate and a MEM device. The MEM includes a comb capacitor and a magnetic element physically connected to one electrode of the comb capacitor. The magnetic element is capable of moving the one electrode in a manner that alters a capacitance of the comb capacitor. The apparatus also includes at least one spring physically connecting the magnetic element to the substrate.