Abstract: A bootstrap logic driver circuit operable from a low voltage power supply includes first and second bipolar transistors coupled between positive and negative voltage supplies and having a collector load comprising a first diode structure. A further transistor coupled between the voltage supplies has a collector load comprising a second diode structure. A bootstrap capacitor coupled between the diode structures stores charge when the circuit is in a first condition and is discharged when the circuit is in a second condition to provide an enhanced drive voltage for an output transistor.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna arrangement for selective operation at orthogonal polarizations of electromagnetic radiation. The antenna arrangement comprises at least one radiating element, such as one or more antenna patches, each having a vertical polarization feed point and a horizontal polarization feed point. The arrangement also includes a vertical feeder circuit for coupling a radio frequency modulated electromagnetic signal to the vertical polarization feed point of the or each radiating element, a horizontal feeder circuit for coupling a radio frequency modulated electromagnetic signal to the horizontal polarization feed point of the or each radiating element and a terminating resistive load. A switch mechanism is provided for selectively coupling the electromagnetic signal to one of the horizontal feeder circuit or the vertical feeder circuit and for selectively coupling the load to the other of the horizontal feeder circuit or the vertical feeder circuit.

Abstract: An optical logic device is provided by an interferometer in which an output optical signal is determined in accordance with an interference condition of the interferometer. The interference condition is reset by an optical setting signal which is counter-propagated through a semi-conductor optical amplifier forming one arm of the interferometer. Latching of the interference condition in the set state is achieved by a feedback signal taken from the output optical signal and combined with the setting signal. Resetting of the interference condition is achieved by nulling the output optical signal by counter-propagating a reset optical signal via second semiconductor optical amplifier constituting the second arm of the interferometer. Alternatively the input optical signal to the interferometer may be interrupted to null the output. A further alternative arrangement utilizes an electrical re-setting signal which actuates an electrical phase shifting device in the second arm of the interferometer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antennas and in particular relates to a multi-resonant antenna. The present invention addresses the requirement for dual frequency antennas operable in two distinct frequency bands. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-resonant antenna comprising first and second conductive elements which antenna elements extend relative to a ground plane; wherein the elements of the antenna structure are adapted to couple between themselves to provide a variable phase velocity for surface currents of the radio signals. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to telecommunications systems. In a subscriber loop carrying high speed data signals, noise cancellation is achieved by a data signal demodulator having first and second inputs 81,82, arranged to receive differential data signal and local field RFI input signals respectively. A feedback signal of the demodulator is sampled, processed, vector modulated and then combined with the local field RFI input signal of the demodulator. The combined signal is summed with the differential input signal to thereby reduce interference coupled with the first input.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing the ability of a subscriber to connect to a carrier network by enabling the service provider to indicate to the subscriber when a requested connection to the carrier network would utilize unguaranteed bandwidth and, absent objection by the subscriber, to complete the requested connection utilizing the unguaranteed bandwidth. Upon receipt of a request for set-up of a call of an indicated bandwidth, the service provider will acknowledge the call set-up request. The service provider will then issue a call proceeding message to indicate that the requested connection is being arranged. The call proceeding message will contain an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator if the carrier network cannot guarantee the requested bandwidth. If a cancellation of the call request is not received in response to the unguaranteed bandwidth indicator, the call will be completed.

Abstract: A partially coated optical fiber for laser transmission, is described, wherein the partially coated optical fiber comprises an optical fiber which comprises an optionally clad fiber core and an external coating. The external coating and the fiber core are longitudinally substantially coextensive but circumferentially non-coextensive whereby the coating defines a grating window extending longitudinally for at least the major part of the length of the fiber. The window is optionally interrupted by one or more coating continuities which partition said window. The coating has a thickness such that a plane bridging the circumferential displacement of the grating window is extra-peripheral of the optical fiber.

Abstract: In a video conference system, participants are provided with a greater sense of presence. A pair of monitors are positioned at each location and provide a presence view image and a shared space image of the other location. With this system, participants can overlap their finger pointing at a shared image while maintaining eye-to-eye contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to integral antenna assemblies and in particular relates to an integral antenna assembly for microcellular base stations and fixed wireless access base stations. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an integral antenna comprising a radome, a layered antenna and a reflector back plane, wherein the layered antenna has an outer surface and a rear surface; wherein the radome is attached directly to an outer surface of the antenna; and wherein the back plane provides a reflective cavity and encloses the feed network for the antenna and is attached to the rear surface of the antenna.

Abstract: To avoid spurious energy radiation from a wireline communication resource (42-44) supporting data over voice, such as in xDSL, modems (40, 46) supporting a multi-carrier transmission scheme undertake a line balance assessment (136-138) for each sub-channel carrier within the system. Specifically, an addressed modem (40) measures, for example, the signal to noise ratio of a differential transmission mode and a common transmission mode to provide the balance assessment (138). More particularly, a receive chain in the addressed modem is selectively switched (84) to receive the differential mode as appearing across the terminals of an isolation transformer (66) or the common mode (as seen with respect to ground) from a center tap (88) in a line-side winding (70) of the isolation transformer (66). Any sub-channel carrier that fails to provide a predetermined level of balance (140) is de-selected (141) by the modem and not used for traffic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a telephone operating company with the ability to rapidly deploy advanced services into a public switched telephone network includes a programmable switch matrix, a service control unit (SCU), and a media resource unit (MRU). The call processing of a call (associated with one or more ports on the programmable switch matrix) is controlled externally by the SCU when particular triggering criteria is met (i.e., the call requires or desires control by the SCU). Call control processing is achieved through a high-speed communications link between the programmable switch matrix and the SCU using a communications protocol defining a comprehensive set of primitives (instructions) for call manipulation and control at the programmable switch matrix. The SCU executes different service application software programs that operate within the SCU for different types of service calls that are under the control of the SCU.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communications system for facilitating a financial transaction between two parties within the communications system. The method of the present invention is implemented in a data processing system. A request for a financial transaction is received from the first party. A call is initiated by the data processing system to the second party associated with the request. The call is established between the first party and the second party wherein the financial transaction is established between the two parties through the call. Data is acquired from the two parties in response to the establishment of the financial transaction through the call. First party information and second party information is verified, wherein the financial transaction is securely completed.

Abstract: A TDMA basestation transmitter has a monolithic concentric arrangement of two monitor photodiodes (14a, 14b) for use in power output regulation both in marshalling procedure and in normal data traffic situations where there are two distinct speed and sensitivity requirements to be satisfied at different times.

Abstract: A call servicing system facilitates the servicing of customer calls by service agents. The call servicing system includes local customer switches, local agents switches, a network switch, and an Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) server. The local customer switches direct calls to and from the customers and the local agent switches direct calls to and from the service agents. Remote service agents connect to the local agent switches using a single standard telephone line. The network receives a call from one of the customers, detects information from the customer call, and routes the customer call to a remote service agent over the single standard telephone line. The ACD server receives the detected information from the network switch, determines that the remote service agent can service the customer call, and controls the network switch to route the customer call to the remote service agent over the single standard telephone line.

Abstract: A phone service for preventing missed connections and "phone tag" that commonly happens and, in particular, helps people contact people who are traveling is disclosed. A user registers the phone number at which he or she is currently located with a service controller which maintains a database of such user registrations. The user may also prioritize the identities of other users with whom he or she wishes to contact. When the service controller determines that a first user wishes to get in contact with a second user and that both users have current locations registered in the database, then the service controller will call both users and connect them to each other.

Abstract: A messaging center, connected to a communications network, processes messages intended for a subscriber. A caller sends a message to the message center in a first caller format. The message center stores the message in the first caller format, notifies the subscriber, and awaits a request for the stored message from the subscriber. In response to the message request, the message center sends the stored message to the subscriber in a first subscriber format independent of the first caller format. If the subscriber desires, the subscriber constructs a response to the message and sends it to the message center in a second subscriber format independent of the first caller format and the first subscriber format. The message center stores the response in the second subscriber format and sends the stored response to the caller in a second caller format independent of the first caller format and the first and second subscriber formats.

Abstract: A call servicing system allows service agents to service calls from customers. The system includes local customer switches, local agent switches, and a customer database connected to a network call center. The local customer switches direct calls to and from the customers and the local agent switches direct calls to and from the service agents. The customer database stores information regarding the customers sending the calls. The network call center receives a call from a first one of the customers, queries the customer database to retrieve customer information corresponding to the first customer, and concurrently routes the customer call and the corresponding customer information to one of the service agents.

Abstract: A telecommunications switch has a matrix architecture of n.times.m bus-interconnected, or space-switch interconnected, switch nodes together with additional switch nodes and n.times.m switch peripherals connected to the switch nodes externally of the bus (space-switch) interconnected switch node matrix. Fault protection redundancy is provided by providing each one of the peripherals with connections to two different switch nodes only one of which is enabled at any one time.

Abstract: A synchronous transmission system is adapted to carry both synchronous and asynchronous traffic and has a number of nodes providing ingress and egress of the traffic. Each node includes first and second ATM/SDH identifiers whereby the switch can separate the synchronous and asynchronous traffic Separate processing of synchronous and asynchronous traffic is performed at each node.

Abstract: To minimise the risk of adhesive resin (20, 21) securing an optical fibre (11) in a silicon V-groove (13, 14) from filling the space under the fibre, which can lead to delamination effects resulting from thermal expansion mismatch, a controlled amount of the resin is dispensed into each of two reservoirs (31) located on either side of the groove from which the resin flows into the groove along feeder channels (32) linking the reservoirs to the groove.