Abstract: A distributed teleconferencing bridge system is provided that allows an attendant to control multiple conferences on multiple bridges through a network interface unit. The attendant can add or delete conferees with a minimum of inconvenience to the conferees while maximizing the use of the bridges by setting up multiple conferences on multiple bridges from a single operating console. Multiple consoles allow multiple operators to control any number of conferences. The interface unit uses a Local Operating Network (LON) to reduce the number of physical wires to the network interface unit without sacrificing control or flexibility.

Abstract: A facility in a communication system associates a unique identification signal with each currently active communications channel and then transmits the unique identification signal and associated information signals within the respective channel. In this way, apparatus that receives the transmitted signals may determine the number of channels that are active based on the number of the identification signals it receives and then output the received signals at a power level determined as a function of that number.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a high density z-direction interconnection medium is made by the steps of providing a non-conductive membrane having z-direction channels, filling the channels with liquid precursor of conductive material, converting the trapped precursor into conductive material within the channels, and, advantageously, forming solder bumps in contact with the conductive material in the channels. The method is particularly useful for forming hollow tubular or porous conductive pathways having enhanced resistance to thermal and mechanical stress.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided for identifying risks associated with abnormal conditions of network elements in a communications network. A data collection and processing module collects alarm message signals from a communications network and processes the alarm messages to general abnormal condition signals. An interface module also receives external condition signals indicative of external conditions affecting network elements in the communications network. The system provides an electronic risk processing module that generates direct and indirect risk signals based upon the abnormal condition signals, the external condition signals, and stored reference data. A display means displays a network element risk signal which is the sum of said direct and indirect risk signals. The displayed risk signal aids in assessing risks associated with network elements experiencing abnormal conditions. The system also generates and displays a sub-network risk signal.

Abstract: Carbonaceous materials based on the fullerene molecules have been developed which allow for superconductivity. The fullerene materials are soluble in common solvents.

Abstract: A method of recognizing speech input selectively creates and maintains grammar representations of the speech input in essentially real time. Speech input frames received by a speech recognition system. Grammar representations are created for each speech frame and a probability score is derived for the representations indicating the probability of the accuracy of the representations to the speech input. Representations having a probability score below a predetermined threshold are not maintained. Those grammar representations having probability scores above predetermined threshold are maintained. As more speech frames are received by the system, additional grammar representations are created and the probability scores are updated. When the entire speech input has been received, the chain of grammar representations having the highest probability score is identified as the speech input.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an article of manufacture is provided having at least one region which includes a lead-free solder composition. The lead-free solder composition comprises an alloy of at least 50 wt. % tin and 7-30 wt. % zinc. An effective amount of silver is added to increase the ductility of the resultant alloy at least 25% over the ductility of the binary eutectic tin-zinc alloy. In a further embodiment, the present invention provides alloys useful in articles comprising lead-free solder compositions. The alloys include at least (8.0+y) wt. % zinc, 0.25 y to 0.5 y wt. % silver and at least 50 wt. % tin where y is from 0.2 to 22.

Abstract: The invention concerns digital synthesis of multiple frequencies a telephone, which are combined, in order to produce a replica of a bell sound. The invention also concerns detection of a power failure, and actuation of a low-power annunciator, which rings when a ring signal is received on a telephone line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes a resistor string comprised of a plurality of serially coupled resistors coupled between a high voltage reference and a low voltage reference. Intermediate taps are defined at the junctions of the resistors in the resistor string. At least one comparator has first and second inputs and an output. The first input of the comparator is capable of being selectively coupled to preselected ones of the intermediate taps. The second input is capable of being switched between an unknown analog input in conversion mode and a predetermined tap that provides a nominal voltage at the second input in calibration mode. A selection circuit for sequencing through the preselected ones of the intermediate taps selects one of the preselected ones of the intermediate taps as a selected tap for compensating for the offset of the at least one comparator. The selection circuit stores the selected tap for subsequent use during operation of the circuit.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system which can be utilized with laptop PCs employs a loudspeaker enclosure having a unique shape which can easily be mounted to the back of a display of the laptop PC and also be easily removed for storing and/or transporting. Additionally, the enclosures of the loudspeaker system have been designed to allow the physical coupling of them together into a compact package so that they can be easily stored and/or transported, for example, in a briefcase for use during transit or at a remote location. This coupling of the loudspeaker enclosures is realized by employing a loudspeaker enclosure which is in the form of an "L-shape". Consequently, the loudspeaker enclosures can be placed upon each other and locked into place forming a relatively small compact package.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for generating a Huffman Code for use in compressing a received digital signal. The digital signal includes a plurality of digital sets wherein ones of the digital sets are non-unique. Ones of the digital sets are stored. Each stored digital set has associated therewith a codeword and an indicator. The indicator represents a probability of occurrence, or frequency, of the stored digital set within the digital signal. While more than one associated indicator remains stored, pairs of associated indicators are selectively combined and a first digital set associated with a first indicator and a second digital set associated with a second indicator are both associated with the selectively combined indicator. A first binary value is appended to the codeword associated with the first digital set and a second binary value is appended to the codeword associated with the second digital set.

Abstract: A microelectronics package has improved device cooling. The package includes a lead frame defining an upper and lower surface. An active electronic device, such as an integrated circuit, is positioned above the upper surface of the lead frame. An encapsulating package is molded around both the lead frame and the active electronic device to form the microelectronic package. A cooling tube is integrally molded within the encapsulating package and typically formed of a thermally conductive material such as copper. A cooling fluid, such as air or a liquid, can be moved through the cooling tube for discharging the heat generated by the active electronic device.

Abstract: A battery pack provides ease of assembly and disassembly from a portable transceiver yet retains its new-like latching properties for an extended period of time. The battery pack is generally rectangular in shape and includes alignment slots and a projecting rib section on one edge surface for aligning both with counterpart projecting ribs and an alignment slot located on the housing of the portable transceiver. The battery pack also includes a latch mechanism attached to a generally planar surface on the battery housing for securing the battery housing to the housing of the portable transceiver. The latch mechanism includes both an outwardly projecting guide member for guiding the battery pack into a cradle on the portable transceiver and a latch member within the perimeter of the outwardly projecting guide member for securing the battery pack to the portable transceiver.

Abstract: A method for use in a cellular communication system is disclosed which dynamically assigns a communication device to a cell site and which dynamically assigns transmit power levels to the communication device. The method is based on measurements of interference levels at cell sites and on the path gain between the communication device and the cell site.

Abstract: A memory device for digital storage of pre-recorded audio. Contained within a housing adapted for insertion into a solid state audio player is an array of memory cells for storage of digitally recorded audio. Each of the memory cells is individually addressable over a parallel address bus and data is read and/or written over a parallel data bus. Data is transmitted to and from the device by means of a serial interface with the solid state audio player. Shift registers within the memory device are coupled to the serial interface for transmitting serial data to and receiving serial data from the audio player. Data buffers are interposed between the address bus, data bus and respective shift registers for storing data to be placed on the address bus and receiving data from the data bus. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a series of capacitive plates is included to provide a contact-less interface between the memory device and the associated solid state audio player.

Abstract: A high speed time multiplexed switch (TMS) fabric unit for use in a telecommunications system having relatively low speed TMS access links. To receive signals from the low speed access links, the TMS fabric unit of the invention consists of a plurality of programmable multiplexers where each programmable multiplexer is connected to a predetermined number, J, of the access links. Each access link carries M time slots where M is a relatively large number, i.e. 100. The programmable multiplexers put the content of the access links onto two high speed links. The speed of the high speed links is at least J times the speed of the access links such that for each time slot on the access links there is a fixed group of at least J time slots on each high speed link. Each of the two high speed links deliver the signals to at least one high speed TMS fabric where the speed of the high speed links is matched to the reconfiguration rate of the high speed TMS fabric.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively controlling database access by providing a system and method that allows a network administrator or manager to restrict specific system users from accessing information from certain public or otherwise uncontrolled databases (i.e., the WWW and the Internet). The invention employs a relational database to determine access rights, and this database may be readily updated and modified by an administrator. Within this relational database specific resource identifiers (i.e., URLs) are classified as being in a particular access group. The relational database is arranged so that for each user of the system a request for a particular resource will only be passed on from the local network to a server providing a link to the public/uncontrolled database if the resource identifier is in an access group for which the user has been assigned specific permissions by an administrator. The invention is implemented as part of a proxy server within the user's local network.

Abstract: A cryptographic system enables a secure, but low-bandwidth, cryptographic module, such as a smartcard or PCMCIA device, to serve as a high-bandwidth secret-key encryption decryption engine which uses the processing power of an untrusted, but fast, host processor without revealing the secret key to that host processor.

Abstract: Integrated circuit fabrication includes the formation of tungsten contacts in windows. Between the tungsten and the contact region are Ti and TiN layers. Defects are prevented or reduced by sealing grain boundaries in the TiN layer prior to tungsten deposition. Grain boundaries are sealed by rinsing the TiN layer in water at ambient temperature or above.

Abstract: A non-tilting positioner for a micropositioning device constructed of piezoelectric plate actuators each arranged with a pair of opposed parallel edges respectively coupled to first and second elements. A first surface of each plate is divided into quadrants, with first electrodes in each of the quadrants. At least one second electrode is provided on the opposed surface. Electric voltages are applied to the first and second electrodes with appropriate polarities so as to generate an electric field through the thickness of the plate which is of a first polarity in a first pair of diagonally opposite quadrants and is of the opposite polarity in the second pair of diagonally opposite quadrants. Movement along a line parallel to the plane of the plate is thereby effected. Movement in a third orthogonal direction can also be attained by selecting an appropriate electrode pattern.