Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving operator assistance calls from a remote operator assistance system but using the data base of the normal serving operator assistance system to verify the capability of the caller to place the desired call. The call is routed to the remote system where, for example, a specialized operator team, such as a Spanish speaking team, serves calls from an entire region or nation. The remote system accesses the data base of the normal serving system to obtain the data, describing the attributes of the caller, necessary to minimize the number of calls that are fraudulently completed.

Abstract: A new technique for the determination of the masking effect of an audio signal is employed to provide transparent compression of an audio signal at greatly reduced bit rates. The new technique employs the results of recent research into the psycho-physics of noise masking in the human auditory system. This research suggests that noise masking is a function of the uncertainty in loudness as perceived by the brain. Measures of loudness uncertainty are employed to determine the degree to which audio signals are "tone-like" (or "noise-like"). The degree of tone-likeness, referred to as "tonality," is used to determine masking thresholds for use in the compression of audio signals. Tonality, computed in accordance with the present invention, is used in conventional and new arrangements to achieve compression of audio signals.

Abstract: Indium doping is used to make bases of bipolar transistors with superior operational characteristics.

Abstract: An image-processing system for perceptual coding of an image is disclosed. Coding is accomplished through an analysis of human visual sensitivity to noise in halftone images and an analysis of one or more signals representing the image to be coded. These analyses determine levels of noise. A first image is encoded so as to produce encoded values without introducing noise which exceeds a determined level of noise. Analysis of human visual sensitivity is carried out under a set of user determined conditions comprising viewing distance and lighting. The encoded image is communicated and decoded to produce representation of the first image for display. As part of displaying the representation of the first image, a halftoning process is carried out. The halftoning process may comprise the interpolation of data values of the representation of the first image as well as the addition of micro-dither to the representation.

Abstract: A method for superimposing an image of an optoelectric component on a substrate with the use of a single camera. Specifically, the camera looks through a transparent alignment tool that is holding the component, to the substrate below it, thus allowing both the component and the substrate to be seen together by the camera. The alignment tool and substrate are adjusted to precisely align the two and then are brought together while being seen by the camera. On laser chips, the chip is energized while on the glass alignment tool to produce a laser spot that is superimposed on the visible light image via a series of lenses and mirrors.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a field emission device is made by disposing emitter material on an insulating substrate, applying a sacrificial film to the emitter material and forming over the sacrificial layer a conductive gate layer having a random distribution of apertures therein. In the preferred process, the gate is formed by applying masking particles to the sacrificial film, applying a conductive film over the masking particles and the sacrificial film and then removing the masking particles to reveal a random distribution of apertures. The sacrificial film is then removed. The apertures then extend to the emitter material. In a preferred embodiment, the sacrificial film contains dielectric spacer particles which remain after the film is removed to separate the emitter from the gate. The result is a novel and economical field emission device having numerous randomly distributed emission apertures which can be used to make low cost flat panel displays.

Abstract: Codebook vectors may be considered critical if they give poor energy approximations and exhibit a particular shape with smaller components near the beginning and larger components toward the end of the vector. Standard deviation may be used to identify critical codevectors based on energy approximation error measured in decibels. A low-bit rate (typically 8 kbit/s or less), low-delay digital coder and decoder based on Code Excited Linear Prediction for speech and similar signals features backward adaptive adjustment for codebook gain and short-term synthesis filter parameters and forward adaptive adjustment of long-term (pitch) synthesis filter parameters. In addition, the coder makes use of an excitation codebook and the coding is based on a set of codebook vector energies for a set of codebook vectors in the codebook. The codebook energies are calculated by identifying a set of approximations for the non-critical codebook vector energies.

Abstract: Apparatus for constructing a complex artifact out of primitive artifacts and other complex artifacts. The apparatus has a permanent knowledge base of primitive artifacts, previously-made complex artifacts, and rules defining how complex artifacts are made from primitive artifacts. All artifacts in the permanent knowledge base have been checked for consistency. Artifacts from the permanent knowledge base are displayed in a search area as directed graphs in which the artifacts are represented by nodes. A user may search the permanent knowledge base, and the directed graphs in the search area show the results of the search. To construct a new complex artifact or to add to a complex artifact under construction, the user selects nodes of the directed graphs which represent desired component artifacts. Information about the desired artifacts is copied from the permanent knowledge base to a working knowledge base and a directed graph of the contents of the working knowledge base is displayed in a work area.

Abstract: A comb splitting system demultiplexes and/or multiplexes a plurality of optical signal channels at various wavelengths. The comb splitting system has at least two interconnected successive stages of wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs). A WDM of a first stage communicates bands of channels to respective WDMs of the second stage via suitable optical paths. Each of the bands has a plurality of the individual channels that are separated by at least one other of the channels. Each second stage WDM, which is allocated to a particular band, is interconnected to optical paths, each for carrying one or more individual channels. Furthermore, in accordance with a significant feature of the present invention, the bandpasses and bandpass periodicity (free spectral range) associated with the first stage WDM are smaller than the bandpasses and bandpass periodicity associated with the second stage WDMs. The foregoing feature has numerous advantages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for drawing a self-aligned core fiber free of surface contamination and inserting the core fiber into a cladding material to make an optical fiber preform. Single or multi-mode optical fibers having high quality core-clad interfaces can be directly drawn from the preforms described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of analyzing speech signals in order to reduce the computational power required to perform both speech compression and voice recognition operations. Digital speech signals are provided to a speech analyzer which generates a linear predictive coded (LPC) speech analysis signal that is compatible for use in both the voice recognition circuit and the speech compression circuit. The speech analysis signal is then provided to the compression circuit, which further processes the signal into a form used by an encoder and then the encoder encodes the processed signal. The same speech analysis signal is also provided to a voice recognition circuit, which further processes the signal into a form used by a recognizer and then the recognizer performs recognition on the processed signal.

Abstract: Built-In Self-Testing of multiple scan chains (12.sub.1 -12.sub.n)can be accomplished by providing separate clock signals (CK.sub.1 -CK.sub.n) that are scheduled by a control circuit (22) so that each chain is clocked at its rated frequency.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit structure and method of fabrication is disclosed. The structure includes a FET gate with adjacent double or triple layered gate spacers. The spacers permit precise tailoring of lightly doped drain junction profiles having deep and shallow junction portions. In addition, a self-aligned silicide may be formed solely over the deep junction portion thus producing a reliable low contact resistance connection to source and drain.

Abstract: A voice system and method in which messages are stored as data files. One or more tags are associated with each file, which identify the mailboxes intended to receive the message contained in the file. An owner of a mailbox can transfer a message to another mailbox by changing the tag to designate a transferee-mailbox. This tag manipulation saves memory space because the message file is not copied into the transferee-mailbox, only a tag is changed. Time is also saved because no delay is imposed by a copying process.

Abstract: A gateway system for connecting first and second communication networks has first and second network end nodes and a protocol converter. The gateway system operates to provide input-output services of both network protocols to users of both networks in communicating through the gateway system. The gateway system employs associated complement protocol circuits in the end nodes and the protocol converter to provide these services. An efficient technique for generating the complement protocol of a first network is to prune finite state machines representing the operation of the second network protocol to provide the services of the second protocol that are not provided by the first protocol. The complement protocol circuits for the second network are then constructed based on the pruned finite state machines representing the operation of the first protocol.

Abstract: A passive optical network is provided that spectrally slices optical signals transmitted in both upstream and downstream directions utilizing wavelength division multiplexing routing. The passive optical network preferably includes a broadband optical signal source at both ends to provide signals that are spectrally sliced according to optical frequency. The downstream information may be transmitted in a conventional data format. The upstream transmissions may be segregated by subcarrier multiplexing, time scheduling or wavelength division multiplexing. At the subscriber end of the network there is an optical network unit which includes a device coupling the downstream fiber to the upstream fiber. Such coupling allows the passive optical network to perform enhanced diagnostic tests.

Abstract: A personal computer's microprocessor is time-shared to provide the functions formerly provided by a microprocessor dedicated to a modem. This technique is transparent to software applications programs which interact with a modem. The personal computer utilizes an operating system, such as the Microsoft Windows operating system, in which a portion of the operating system, known as the communications driver, provides the interface between the operating system and the personal computer's serial and parallel communication ports. All communications between the communications driver and the rest of the operating system are examined. Those communications destined for a particular port associated with a modem not having a dedicated microprocessor are redirected while other communications destined for other ports are passed to the Microsoft Windows communications driver.

Abstract: A grip block assembly for gripping cables or other elongated members has a substantially hollow frame member having openings in the walls thereof to allow an elongated member to pass therethrough. First and second lever arms pivotal on the same axis are adapted to be pivoted in a scissoring action to grip a portion of the elongated member and to force it into contact with a gripping surface on an actuator block which is reciprocally movable within the hollow frame member. The actuator block has depending members which contact the lever arms for causing them to pivot with respect to each other, and a captive bolt held in place by a cap on the frame functions to move the actuator block.