Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, gratings are written on an optical fiber while the fiber is under a controlled amount of strain provided by two-point bending. When the strain is relaxed, the regions of perturbation become narrower as the fiber contracts and the spacing becomes smaller. The advantage of two-point bending as compared with tension is that the strain is precisely controllable and reproducible.

Abstract: For use with a telecommunications network, circuit for, and method of, detecting telephone line status and a telephone instrument embodying the same. The circuit includes: (1) a high-impedance amplifier, couplable to the telecommunications network, for providing DC voltage representing a differential line voltage between tip and ring conductors of the telecommunications network and (2) a pulse-generation circuit, coupled to an output of the amplifier, for generating a signal having first and second states, the signal assuming the second state for a period of time inversely proportional to the differential line voltage between the tip and ring conductors.

Abstract: A finite symbolic representation of the states of an unbounded FIFO queue. Because the representation is protocol verification tools of the type which explore the state space of a protocol may be used to verify protocols which involve unbounded FIFO queues and consequently have an infinite state space. In a preferred embodiment, the finite symbolic representation is used together with a finite state automaton whose states are the global states of the protocol. A symbolic representation of the queue states is associated with each of the global states. State space exploration continues until all new queue states reached are already contained in the states of the finite symbolic representation. Increased processing speed is achieved by employing meta-transitions in the finite state automaton and exploring the meta-transitions from a global state before exploring the ordinary transitions.

Abstract: A communication system including a CLOS switching network, and a method for characterizing network capacity, usage, congestion, and blocking and/or near blocking states. The CLOS switching network includes input, center and output stages each comprised of at least one switch, a plurality of first links connecting each input stage switch to each of the center stage switches, and a plurality of second links connecting each center stage switch to each of the output stage switches. The system also comprises a controller for determining the idle/busy status of each of the first and second links, and for calculating a measurement of available paths between each of the input stage switches to each of the output stage switches based on the status of the first and second links.

Abstract: A call-center ACD switch and queuing method are modified either to respond to an arriving call by determining, for those splits that could handle the call, the present values of a parameter that defines what is a best split for handling the call, determining from those present values which split is the best split for handling the call, and then enqueuing the call in the call queue of the best split, or to respond to a call that overflows the call queue of its primary agent split by determining which backup split in which call center is the best backup split for the call, and enqueuing the call in the call queue of the best backup split. Any desirable criteria may be used to determine the best split. A preferred criterion is queue waiting time: the best split is the one whose call queue offers the shortest in-queue waiting time.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system where bandwidth of an access facility is limited, the bandwidth is partitioned into three bands dedicated to audio, video and data traffic, respectively, in accordance with blocking probabilities associated with the respective media types. The value of each blocking probability is selected pursuant to the relative importance of the associated media type in a multimedia service. With the blocking probabilities in place, the dominance of traffic of a particular media type, which may be relatively unimportant in the service, would not cause blocking of traffic of other media types, which may be relatively important.

Abstract: A highly efficient, low delay pitch parameter derivation and quantization permits overall delay which is a fraction of prior coding delays for equivalent speech quality at low bitrates. In distinguishing between pitch period information for voiced and non-voiced frames of input signals, non-voiced frames are assigned a non-zero "bias" value, while voiced frames have associated with them generated pitch information based on an analysis of signals in a present frame and comparison with signals relating to the pitch in a prior frame. Transitions from non-voiced to voiced input frames are efficiently accomplished using a non-uniform quantization method based on an analysis of a sequence of frames. Typical uses include low delay, low-bitrate coders such as Code Excited Linear Prediction (CELP).

Abstract: A private base station supports the registering of multiple mobile stations and provides a personalized call delivery feature for each registered mobile station. Each mobile station registers separately with the base station when within communication range of the base station. When registration of a mobile station with a private base station is performed, the private base station communicates mobile station information to a base station location register along with assignment of a local unique address for each one of the multiple mobile stations registering with the private base station. When the private base station receives an incoming call for a particular one of the mobile stations, this local unique address associated with the particular station is provided by the base station location register as part of the incoming call information also received by the base station thereby allowing the base station to distinctively alert the particular mobile station.

Abstract: Four stages of digital cellular architecture are presented which reuse much of the existing voice infrastructure while allowing graceful introduction of data and integrated voice/data services over industry standard, low cost platforms. First, a separate ATM-based infrastructure is introduced that supports data services. A new data call control is introduced on industry standard hardware platforms using object oriented and modular programming. Second, ATM is introduced at radio ports and call control functions are migrated to the new ATM-based call control platforms. Third, vocoders are introduced at the DCS. Fourth, the cellular functions of the legacy cellular switch are phased out and replaced by the ATM-based target architecture.

Abstract: An initial phase-loading circuit (IPLC) for a fractionally-spaced linear equalizer (FSLE) includes a signal coupling component adapted to be coupled to the FSLE in a configuration so as to selectively introduce time-shifted discrete signals. The FSLE includes a set of initial filter tap coefficients that provide a discrete signal to the FSLE, perform discrete signal equalization using the FSLE at least until substantial convergence of the filter tap coefficients, and provide to the FSLE a time-shifted discrete signal to replace the previously provided discrete signal.

Abstract: A cross-talk compensaring circuit member for use with communications systems connector arrays. The circuit member comprises a wiring board on which are printed conductive paths for each of the leads of the several (usually four) pairs in a connector jack, and the board may accommodate several such jacks. The conductive paths are routed in a manner to create facing inductive loop portions which are substantially mirror images of each other to produce inductive interaction among the different pair combinations. Capacitive coupling is also used in one embodiment.

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: The disclosed method of making a semiconductor device comprises a screening procedure that facilitates identification of devices having relatively low flicker noise. The devices are typically semiconductor diodes. The procedure utilizes our discovery of a correlation between the reverse bias current I.sub.r of a semiconductor device and the flicker noise power, and comprises measurement of the reverse bias current and comparison of the measured value with a predetermined comparison value I.sub.rc. Devices having I.sub.r .ltoreq.I.sub.rc are those that have relatively low flicker noise. The screening procedure is simple and quick, and can be readily performed in a manufacturing environment.

Abstract: A wireless Local Area Network (LAN) includes a repeater which a) synchronizes interface adapters for portable end-user devices and b) retransmits data signals received which retimes and retransmits data signals received from these end-user devices that gain, one at a time, the exclusive right to transmit those signals during a given transmission time subframe by contending for access to the LAN resources that are auctioned off to permit LAN resource utilization that is independent of traffic load and that is implemented in a near collision-free environment.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sensor arrangement for sensing at least one physical parameter is provided. This arrangement comprises an optical waveguide having guided modes, lossy non-guided modes, and a long period grating coupling the guided modes to the lossy non-guided modes wherein the long period grating produces a wavelength transmission spectrum functionally dependent on the physical parameter sensed. A source means provides light to the optical waveguide sensor and an optoelectronic detector, which is positioned in an operable relationship to the optical waveguide sensor, detects light transmitted through the optical waveguide sensor. Lastly, a processing means is attached to the optoelectronic detector for correlating the wavelength transmission spectrum with a numerical value for the physical parameter sensed. The physical parameters sensed by the optical waveguide sensor include: temperature, strain, shape, refractive index and corrosion.