Abstract: A freeze device for an elongated element includes a pressure vessel disposed about at least a part of the element and a freeze seal between the part of the elongated element and the pressure vessel. The freeze seal includes a frozen material exerting a force inwardly against the part of the element and outwardly against the pressure vessel by virtue of having been frozen in situ such that the frozen material thereby seals the elongated element to the pressure vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of providing information for display at a calling party telecommunications station or at an idle station. Two signaling arrangements are described, the D-channel of an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) channel, and an in-band frequency shift key signal. The information that is displayed is related to the called party (such as information identifying that party), the carrier of the conversation, or represents general information (an emergency announcement).

Abstract: A process for removing both the silicon nitride layer and polysilicon layer in a poly-buffered LOCOS process which utilizes hot phosphoric acid and nitric acid is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cabinet for housing electronic equipment. The cabinet includes a sealed first portion enclosing circuit packs such as those used for broadband and narrowband telecommunications transmission. The second portion is ventilated and encloses electrical components such as coaxial cable hardware.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling a process which is performed at least in part by a device such as a computer operating system. The techniques involve a process server which controls the process in response to indications that steps of the process have taken place, an envelope which encloses the device and generates event messages when the device performs operations, and a translator which translates steps of the process into sequences of events and monitors the event messages. When the translator determines that a sequence of events which constitute a process step has occurred, it provides an indication that the step has occurred to the process server. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an operating system, the envelope is a dynamically-linked library of file system commands, the translator includes the Yeast event-action system, and the process server is a process control system which models entities involved in the process as objects and makes state transitions by firing rules which modify the objects.

Abstract: Data communications apparatus and methods employing a bidirectional low bandwidth channel and a unidirectional high bandwidth channel. A PC is coupled to an information source by a communications system which provides both a bidirectional low bandwidth channel between the PC and the information source and a high bandwidth channel in which the information source is the source and the PC is the sink. A component of the communications system termed the director responds to a message received in the low bandwidth channel by switching the information being sent from the information source to the PC to the high or low bandwidth channel as specified in the message. The message may come either from the PC or the information source. A graphical user interface at the PC provides the user with "buttons" to specify the bandwidth. The apparatus and methods may be advantageously employed to provide telecommuting services.

Abstract: An arrangement to provide credit to customers via cellular telephones. In one embodiment, a customer seeking credit for the purchase of goods and services from a merchant activates his or her cellular telephone, authenticates the cellular telephone with his cellular service provider's base station, and proceeds to establish a connection to obtain credit. Credit is obtained by sending unique sequence to the cellular service provider that is different from the normal sequence of numbers that correspond to a telephone number of the called party. That sequence may include a merchant ID code and the amount of credit desired.

Abstract: An encoder segments frames in a sequence of digital images into multiple regions of arbitrary shape each of which has a corresponding motion vector relative to a previous decoded frame. A hierarchical multi-resolution motion estimation and segmentation technique, which segments the frame into multiple blocks and which assigns a best motion vector to each block is used. Blocks having the same or similar motion vector are then merged to form the arbitrarily-shaped regions. The shape of each region is coded, and a decision is made to code additional image data of each region in one of three modes. In a first inter-frame mode, a motion vector associated with a region is encoded. In a second inter-frame mode, a prediction error for the region is also encoded. In an intra-frame mode, the intensity of each picture element in the region is encoded.

Abstract: A stream of unsynchronized audio signal, representing speech and video signal of a speaker, is processed by decoding the signal, memorizing a plurality of visemes corresponding to phonemes in the audio signal, fetching from the plurality visemes corresponding to phonemes in the audio signal, and imparting a synchronism to the video signal and audio signal by applying the fetched visemes to the unsynchronized video signal of the stream in synchronism with corresponding phonemes in the audio signal of the stream. According to an embodiment, the fetching step includes fetching visemes of the lip movement. The system is suitable for use in a videophone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus generates a channel codeword based on codewords with arbitrary block digital sums. Respective portions of the channel codeword are generated based on respective sets of input symbols, and the channel codeword is generated from the portions in accordance with another set of input symbols. The potions are advantageously codewords, comprising symbols, generated by selecting, for each set of input symbols, a codeword from a codebook and by adapting, as for example by ordering or by inverting symbols in, the codewords to form the channel codeword.

Abstract: A three-level digital-to-analog (D/A) converter receives digital signals, derives three-level control signals and generates analog signals. The three-level D/A converter comprises a control device for converting incoming digital signals to control signals having three levels, switches for switching responsive to these three levels to control a network of switches, and a load responsive to these switches to generate corresponding analog signals. The control device comprises a feedback control loop and a quantizer to produce the control signals having High, Medium and Low levels. The switches are preferably four switches that open and close cooperatively in response to the High, Medium and Low levels. The load generates a positive, zero or negative voltage reference in the analog signals in response to the operation of the four switches.

Abstract: An optical communication system uses adjustable dispersion compensating fibers to compensate for dispersion in system fibers. The amount of dispersion introduced by the dispersion compensating fibers is varied depending upon the amount of compensation required. The amount of compensation may be determined automatically and the amount of compensation introduced by the fibers may be adjusted automatically by a controller.

Abstract: Garnet material according to the invention exhibits a substantially rectangular magnetization loop, with .vertline.H.sub.S .vertline.>.vertline.4.pi.M.sub.S .vertline.Oe, where H.sub.S is the switching magnetic field of the loop, and 4.pi.M.sub.S is the saturation magnetization. The material exhibits "latching" behavior, and can advantageously be used in magneto-optic isolators and other magneto-optic devices. For instance, the material enables manufacture of isolators that do not contain a permanent magnet. An exemplary garnet according to the invention has nominal composition Bi.sub.0.75 Eu.sub.1.5 Ho.sub.0.75 Fe.sub.4.1 Ga.sub.0.9 O.sub.12.

Abstract: A method for designing an integrated circuit having optical inputs and outputs includes the step of selecting an integrated circuit design which includes at least one circuit cell design for processing electric signals. The circuit cell design has a predetermined number of electric inputs and electric outputs. The integrated circuit design also includes a plurality of layers of metalization for providing electric coupling. After the electronic integrated circuit design is selected, a predetermined number of optical input devices are located on the circuit cell design in a first prearranged orientation. The predetermined number of optical input devices is no greater than the predetermined number of electric inputs to the circuit cell. Also after the electronic circuit design is selected, a predetermined number of optical output devices are located on the circuit cell design in a second prearranged orientation.

Abstract: An optical image correlator includes a photorefractive medium for recording an interference pattern that corresponds to the Fourier transform of an input image or the multiplicative product of the Fourier transforms of two respective input images. In contrast to correlators of the prior art, the correlator described here includes a semi-insulating, multiple quantum well device as the photorefractive medium.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing fraudulent calling activities of computer data systems such as a Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) accessed through dial-up telephone lines via a remote maintenance or administration port. The system is readily adaptable to existing PBX systems without the need to alter PBX hardware or software configurations. The system includes a device to passively monitor calling activity conducted through the remote port of the PBX without alerting the caller in order to detect a condition of activity indicative of fraud. The monitoring device may include rule based expert system software to analyze call transmission data for activities outside the norm that are indicative of fraud. Alternatively, the monitoring device may include software or hardware for comparing call digit origination data to a database of authorized call activity contained within the monitoring device.

Abstract: A solid state circuit breaker which provides high voltage isolation between a control circuit and a power source is described. The circuit breaker comprises a receiver for providing a control signal in response to a transmitter that is electrically isolated from the receiver, a solid state switch that closes in response to the control signal thereby allowing a load current to flow through the switch, a current sensor for measuring the load current, and an inhibit circuit responsive to the current sensor for inhibiting the control signal when the load current exceeds a predetermined magnitude thereby opening the switch without adjusting the transmitter. After opening the switch, the inhibit circuit is responsive to the transmitter for allowing the control signal thereby closing the switch.

Abstract: A communication network called a bidirectional mesh network (MSN), also called bi-MSN, is described. The bi-MSN includes a plurality of first communication loops (horizontal loops) each comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected to one another by bidirectional communication links. The bi-MSN also includes a plurality of second communication loops (vertical loops) each comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected to one another by bidirectional communication links. Each second communication loop is connected to each first communication loop at a node which is common to both the second communication loop and the first communication loop. This common node (and, in fact, each node in the bi-MSN) includes a switch to transfer packets from the first communication loop to the second communication loop, and vice versa, as a function of destination addresses contained in the packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding m-bit groups of digital data, where m is at least eight, into serial n bit groups such that each encoded serial n-bit group has sufficient data transitions therein to maintain the synchronization of a phase locked loop clock recovery circuit in a high speed serial link of a communication path. Further, this method and apparatus provides a duty cycle that is within an operational range of the ideal 50 percent, which reduces voltage drift of a.c. coupled high speed serial data links, or reduces thermal drift of optically coupled high speed serial data links.

Abstract: An apparatus that after a time period settable by the user automatically returns an off-hook telephone to an on-hook condition. This apparatus thus electrically hangs up a telephone handset that is inadvertently left off-hook and allows normal handling of outgoing and incoming calls at other telephone extensions and in some embodiments, even allows calls to ring-in to the telephone having the inadvertently off-hook handset. The apparatus also senses when the inadvertently off-hook handset is returned on-hook and rapidly restores the automatic-return-to-an-on-hook condition switch to normal operation.