Abstract: Disclosed is a software generation system (SGS) based memory error detection system which may be utilized to detect various memory access errors, such as array dimension violations, dereferencing of invalid pointers, accessing freed memory, reading uninitialized memory, and automated detection of memory leaks. Error checking commands and additional information are inserted into a parse tree associated with a source code file being tested at read-time which serve to initiate and facilitate run-time error detection processes. Wrapper functions may be provided for initiating error checking processes for associated library functions. A pointer check table maintains pointer information, including valid range information, for each pointer that is utilized to monitor the use and modification of the respective pointers.

Abstract: A power converter with a self synchronized synchronous rectifier includes one or two drive windings to provide positive drive to the control electrodes of the controlled switches (FETs) of a self synchronized synchronous rectifier. The polarities of these windings are selected so that the switched devices are driven appropriately to rectify the periodic signal output of the secondary winding of the power transformer of the converter. In some arrangements one or two drive windings are included as extra windings in the power transformer and connected to provide the proper polarity drive signals. The turn ratios of the drive windings to the other windings are selected to provide the proper gate drive signal levels. In an alternative arrangement a separate drive transformer may be provided to supply the gate drive signals.

Abstract: A method for testing a sequential circuit by applying a number of test vectors to the primary inputs of the sequential circuit between each application of a clock circuit. Once the sequential circuit enters a state and that state is a necessary condition for detecting various faults, test vectors are applied to the primary inputs of the sequential circuit, which vectors are designed to propagate all fault effects that can be propagated at that state of the circuit. Once those vectors have been applied, a state-advancing vector is applied immediately before the application of the clock. The state-advancing vector is designed to condition the circuit to allow more fault effects to be propagated to the primary outputs, and to propagate fault effects into the storage elements of the circuit.

Abstract: A method for making data objects having hidden pointers persistent is disclosed. A pre-existing process for creating data objects is modified so as to selectively inhibit both the allocation of memory space for the data object and the initialization of data within the data object. A data object with hidden pointers created by a previous program invocation is retrieved into memory by a subsequent program invocation. The modified object creation process is then advantageously applied to the data object. As a result, the hidden pointers within the data object are initialized without allocating new memory or disturbing the data within the data object. Where the object creation process includes the execution of a user supplied initialization function, the initialization function is modified so as to inhibit the initialization of data within the data object. A global flag is set by the object creation process and tested within the initialization function.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing a digital logic network through the iterative addition and removal of redundant connections. Redundancy testing is performed on connections absolutely dominated by the node of the network being optimized to find redundant connections and connections that can be added to the network which would create more redundant connections elsewhere in the network which may under appropriate conditions be removed to simplify the network. Application of the redundancy addition and removal network optimization technique to selected connections in a network improves the cost efficiency of network optimization because a network is optimized by the consideration of a reduced number of candidate connections for addition.

Abstract: A method of making a silicate optical waveguide structure for transforming an optical beam of a first modal spot size to a beam of a second modal spot size includes the step of selecting an irradiation energy which is at least partially absorbed by the cladding of the structure. A variable dosage of radiation is then provided along the length of the structure. The radiation has an energy equal to the selected irradiation energy so that a refractive index change of the cladding is greater than a refractive index change of the core.

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: An operations facility is provided for administering unsubscribed telephone lines and conserving the use of the phone numbers associated with such lines by associating a plurality of unsubscribed lines with the same telephone number and same switch line termination point. Advantageously, then, a plurality of unsubscribed lines may be inexpensively provisioned with soft dial tone, thereby allowing a potential telephone subscriber to interactively subscribe to and activate telephone service from an unsubscribed line. Moreover, the application of soft dial tone may be used to identify a network access endpoint that is being used by a customer, and thus improve the accuracy of the contents of databases used by the operations facility in the provisioning of telephone service by identifying incorrect data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a differential microphone with a desired frequency response are disclosed. The desired frequency response is provided by operation of a filter, having an adjustable frequency response, coupled to the microphone. The frequency response of the filter is set by operation of a controller, also coupled to the microphone, based on signals received from the microphone. The desired frequency response may be determined based upon the distance between the microphone and a source of sound, and may comprise both a relative frequency response and absolute output level. The frequency response of the filter may comprise the substantial inverse of the frequency response of the microphone to provide a flat response. Furthermore, the filter may comprise a Butterworth filter.

Abstract: A compact telephone handset, when not in use, is shorter in length than the distance between a user's ear and mouth and has an extendable boom for lengthening the telephone to a length equal to the distance between the user's ear and mouth. The handset has a receiver device and a microphone device with one of the devices being located on the main body of the handset and the other device being located on a slidable boom which is extendable and retractable relative to the main body.

Abstract: Intelligent call forwarding is implemented through an intelligent network. The intelligent network includes a Service Switching Point (SSP), a Service Control Point (SCP), and a Service Management System (SMS). A call to a network subscriber is routed to the SSP which is used to detect Call Forwarding "triggers"--conditions which require the SSP to initiate selective Call Forwarding service. When a Call Forwarding trigger is detected the SSP passes the calling party's number to the SCP and requests call handling instructions from the SCP. The SCP provides the call handling instructions, as provisioned by the subscriber, to the SSP, and the SSP then forwards the call in accordance with the instructions. The SMS formulates and sends commands to the SCP for such purposes as changing the stored subscriber instructions or updating service features.

Abstract: A multi-layer structure for shielding electromagnetic energy in a data processing equipment enclosure. The multi-layer structure includes a first layer formed of a first material having a first set of electromagnetic properties and a textured surface and at least one further layer stacked behind the first layer and formed of at least one further material having a second set of electromagnetic properties, the second set of electromagnetic properties being different than the first set. The first and further layer are configured to absorb the electromagnetic energy and dissipate the energy as heat within the multi-layer structure.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating optical fibers (26, FIG. 2) comprises the steps of bonding optical fiber to a first surface of a rigid flat member (17) and placing the flat member in a substantially air-tight chamber (10, FIG. 1). An encapsulating sheet (13) is located in the air-tight chamber, such that it faces the flat member. The air pressure on the flat member is then made to be significantly lower than the air pressure on the encapsulating sheet, thereby to cause the encapsulating sheet (13) to press against the flat member (17, FIG. 3). The encapsulating sheet is made of a flexible flame-resistant material that maintains its structural integrity and does not melt or ignite at temperatures of at least two hundred degrees Centigrade. For example, the encapsulating sheet may be of Kapton (a trademark), doped Mylar (a trademark) or aluminum foil. The encapsulating sheet (13) is bonded to the flat member by an adhesive (31, FIG.

Abstract: Re-entrant angles in doped dielectrics produced from the decomposition of organo-silicon compounds are reduced or eliminated by the addition of a polar molecule to the dielectric deposition process.

Abstract: A facility is disposed in a telecommunications network which, advantageously, establishes a conference (N-way) call more efficiently than was done priorly. Specifically, a caller may establish a N-way call by dialing a code representing a sequence of speed dial codes respectively associated with the telephone numbers of the conferees that will be involved in the N-way call, rather than dialing each such telephone number. The facility, responsive to receipt of the dialed code, identifies the associated sequence of speed dial codes and places a call to each of the telephone numbers associated with those codes. In this sense, one code represents a plurality of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A telephone signaling system is operative outside of the traditional calling and data transmission paths to provide originating to termination signaling. Routing of the signaling is in response to a locator system which includes a data base of terminations and a system for keeping up to date information of current termination locations of the intended recipient. In one illustrative embodiment the termination equipment includes locator devices such as GPS locating devices. The information supplied by the GPS locating device is provided to a central data base which routes the signaling system to the intended recipient termination device. The central routing system then selects a voice and data transmission path that optimizes some preselected criteria of transmission. A typical criteria could be cost, or bandwidth or some combination of criteria to be optimized.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for interconnecting a plurality of stand-alone switches by data and communication channels (the latter typically used for communicating voice signals) in such a way as to make the plurality of switches act as if they were one switch. The invention further relates to arrangements for permitting groups of lines, the groups connected to different stand-alone switches, to be treated essentially as if they were connected to a single switch. Each switch of a symbiotic network (a group of stand-alone switches) or a virtual symbiotic network (the grouping of the groups of lines) accesses pertinent data in its own data base or the data base of one of the other switches of the symbiotic or virtual symbiotic network and treats the results of such data base accesses as if they were made internally in the switch.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a coating material, particularly an organic solderability preservative, such as imidazole, on a copper substrate includes placing a test droplet on the surface of the substrate, forming an image of the droplet and measuring the contact angle between the wall of the droplet and the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A bridging apparatus facilitates communication between processors across networks having incompatible protocols and linking the processors. The bridging apparatus interfaces each processor to a respective incompatible network, and processes data in two-way communication across the interfaces for conversion from one incompatible protocol to another.

Abstract: An interactive method and apparatus for displaying structure, statistics, and characteristics of large software systems, i.e. of more than one million lines of code. This method and apparatus displays important structure and statistics in a manner where the entire software system can be visualized as an entity. The visualization technique is to present similar subdivisions of the code in similar geometric shapes of having a substantially equal reference frames, such as a substantially constant row heights, so relative sizes of the subdivisions can be understood. In addition to the sizes, different shading and coloring modes can be used to display changes, software errors and software fixes. Further, if data of the various releases of a software system are available, the evolution of the system through its releases can be animated to provide a greater understanding of the history of a large software system.