Abstract: A transmit chain comprises a transmit path with a quadrature up-converter which up-converts quadrature signal components to RF. An observation path samples a portion of the RF signal and a quadrature down-converter down-converts the RF signal to baseband quadrature signal components. A local oscillator signal source provides the up-converter and the down-converter with a local oscillator signal and is operable in two states. In a second of the states the local oscillator signal is applied to the up-converter and the down-converter and a phase shift is made to the signal applied to up-converter or the down-converter compared to the first of the states. A processor monitors properties of the down-converted signal while the local oscillator signal source is operating in the first state and the second state. The processor calculates a correction to apply to the baseband observation signal to correct for errors introduced by the observation path.

Abstract: A contact center receives an image and processes the image to identify useful information. From this information, a routing parameter is obtained for use in routing a contact relating to that image to an agent or other resource of the contact center. In this way a received image can be employed to route a contact.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for calibrating transmitter and receiver circuits in a device having multiple antennas. The method involves transmitting pilot signals from the device to a second device and from the second device to the device. Each device determines the relative differences between the signals received by a first antenna and by each of the other antennas. The relative differences can then be used to calculate calibration factors that can be applied to the transmitter and receiver circuits.

Abstract: A consistent tie-breaking decision between equal-cost shortest (lowest cost) paths is achieved by comparing an ordered set of node identifiers for each of a plurality of end-to-end paths. Alternatively, the same results can be achieved, on-the-fly, as a shortest path tree is constructed, by making a selection of an equal-cost path using the node identifiers of the diverging branches of the tree. Both variants allow a consistent selection to be made of equal-cost paths, regardless of where in the network the shortest paths are calculated. This ensures that traffic flow between any two nodes, in both the forward and reverse directions, will always follow the same path through the network.

Abstract: OAM data is automatically configured by each node of an Ethernet network. The OAM data is required to support an OAM signalling session associated with a connection for carrying data traffic between nodes. The OAM data can be derived from data already associated with all endpoints of the connection. The node can derive the OAM data autonomously. A node which is an endpoint of an OAM signalling session automatically derives an identifier for the first endpoint. The first identifier can be autonomously derived by the node and other signalling content, such as source MAC address, is used to differentiate OAM signalling messages. Alternatively, a node can automatically configure the first identifier on the basis of information stored locally at the node and signalling with a second endpoint. The OAM data can be IEEE 802.1ag or ITU Y.1731 data.

Abstract: Increasing use is being made of XML procedure calls to control and integrate telecommunications networks with other IT equipment. XML messages are verbose and include information which is not required merely to monitor activity in the network for purposes such as billing and authentication. The use of XPath or XQuery operations allow the XML messages to be dynamically and quickly analysed and filtered for relevant information.

Abstract: An Ethernet network comprises nodes which support a plurality of different forwarding modes. A range of VLAN Identifiers (VIDs) are allocated to each of the forwarding modes. Connections are configured between a source node and a destination node of the network using different forwarding modes. Packets carrying data traffic are sent to the destination node by selectively setting a VID in a packet to a first value, to transfer a packet via a first connection and a first forwarding mode, and a second value to transfer a packet via the second connection and the second forwarding mode. Packets received from both of the connections and sent on to an end-user. VLAN Identifiers can be allocated to different releases of functionality at nodes (e.g. software releases) such that packets are forwarded via a set of nodes supporting a first release, or via a set of nodes supporting a second release. It is possible to provide a controlled and disruption-free network evolution.