Abstract: A public health threat surveillance system. Remote sensing devices, each including a sensor collect information related to the presence of hazardous agents, e.g., for detecting a bio-toxin. The sensing devices format collected information in a wireless message protocol, e.g., short message service (SMS) and send formatted information. The remote sensing devices may include any adapted (i.e., with a sensor) typical wireless communications device, e.g., a cell phone, a wireless enabled PDA, notebook computer or tablet computer. A health alert processing center (HAPC) receives wireless protocol messages with the hazardous agent information. The HAPC aggregates data from collected SMS messages and selectively distributes response information, e.g., to a higher level HAPC and/or selected connected wireless devices.

Abstract: A distributed communication system that is capable of providing emergency call diversion during an event such as a power outage, network or sub-network failure, site closure, or the like, allows devices within the system affected by the event to rapidly inform one another that it is necessary to enter a call diversion state or mode during the duration of the outage. In this manner, calls may be diverted from different points within the network, or with different diversion behaviors as necessary.

Abstract: A power control system and method for a wireless telephone employs an open loop technique for relatively low power levels and a closed loop technique at higher power levels. In the open loop technique, a wireless telephone (104, 106, 108) stores a phasing table of automatic power control (APC) values for the power levels (which are used to control upconverter gain levels measured at different channels. In operation, a power controller (322) reads the power level and reads the APC value in the table. Another table stores the APC value for one power level as the channel and temperature are varied. This value is interpolated, as needed, during operation. The APC value for the open loop approach is determined by reading the input channel; finding the closest higher and closest lower channels in the temperature-channel table; interpolating between APC values for the temperature column of the closest lower temperature, to get the actual value.

Abstract: A communications network connected to a plurality of communications lines and method of managing connections to the network. The presence of an interface connection to a communications line is detected and initialized for signaling. First, the interface connection is initialized for a first signaling protocol, e.g., CCS. If initialization is successful, the connection uses that first signaling protocol. If not, the interface connection is initialized using a second signaling protocol, e.g., CAS. If initialization to the second protocol is successful, the connection uses that second signaling protocol. Otherwise an error message is returned.

Abstract: A mono-band planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure comprises a planar radiating element having a first area, and a ground plane having a second area that is substantially parallel to the radiating element first area. An electrically conductive first line is coupled to the radiating element at a first contact located at an edge on a side of the radiating element. The first line is also coupled to the ground plane. An electrically conductive second line is coupled to the radiating element at second and third contacts located along the same side as the first line, but at different locations on the edge than the first contact. Useable bandwidth of the PIFA is increased by using multiple contact locations to couple the conductive second line to the radiating element. The first and second lines are adapted to couple to a desired impedance, e.g., 50 ohms, at frequencies of operation of the PIFA.

Abstract: It is described a broadband radio transmitter for a digital signal consisting of a plurality of not necessarily equispaced, digitally modulated carriers. The transmitter selects the second replica of the spectrum of the signal coming out from a digital-to-analogue converter DAC to increase the space of the useful signal from the continuous in comparison of the direct use of the base band spectrum would involve. The object of the invention is in fact to obtain a wider transition band and consequently a less stringent local oscillator residue and image filter at radio frequency. To eliminate or reduce the effect of the sin(&pgr;fT)/(&pgr;fT) function that envelopes the signal coming out from the DAC, the invention foresees the use of an equalization of the analogue type, or the adoption of a zero insertion technique (of the digital or analogue type) or in general a digital x/sin x equalizer.

Abstract: To compensate for polarization mode dispersion (PMD) induced distortion in an optical signal, an optical pulse is split into two orthogonally polarized pulses. A polarization controller selectively aligns the arbitrarily oriented first and second principal states of polarization of the PMD pulses to match fixed orientations of predetermined first and second principal states of polarization of a beam splitter. The PMD pulses are then coupled to a Mach-Zender interferometer that measures the differential delay between them and selectively compensates for the measured differential delay. An optical combiner combines output the compensator PMP pulses to generate a combined output optical signal.

Abstract: A method and system allows two or more different coordinates for a geographic location to be expressed as a single string of characters. The single string of characters may include numerical digits or numbers, alphabetic characters or letters, punctuation or other typographical marks, other symbols, or a combination of two or more of these. A geographic location may refer to a physical place, the location of an object, or some other location.

Abstract: A method and a system monitor communication connections from a calling communication terminal to a target communication terminal during predetermined time periods, so as to prevent calls placed at undesirable times from being automatically connected to the target communication terminal. The method includes selecting predetermined time periods, preferably utilizing a web-based interface, in which the system monitors the incoming calls to selectively connect the target communication terminal with the calling communication terminal and further includes determining the types of calls which the system will monitor. Preferably, the system is set to monitor all incoming calls during the predetermined time period, regardless of the calls' originating time zones, utilizing a TOL application.

Abstract: A hybrid system and method are provided for determining the geographic location of a wireless device. A first base station subsystem is connected to the wireless device for transferring location information to and from the wireless device. A network subsystem is connected to the first base station subsystem and to a location computation entity for transferring location information between the first base station subsystem and the location computation entity. A second base station subsystem is connected to a location measurement entity and to the location computation entity for transferring location information between the location measurement entity and the location computation entity. The location computation entity generates and sends location information to the wireless device and/or location measurement entity and processes location information received from the wireless device and/or location measurement entity to obtain the geographic location of the wireless device.

Abstract: A headset/headphone sensing jack (203, 208, 210). A two-channel sensing circuit (210) is provided which detects whether a headphone (101) or headset (103) is installed. By employing an impedance sensing circuit (210), it is possible to use a single common 2.5 mm jack (120) for both radio and telephony operation. Formerly, two separate jacks would be required for both functions. An electronic device (50) according to the present invention is further capable of switching between AM/FM radio and telephone modes depending on whether a particular headpiece (101, 103) is installed.

Abstract: A method for testing a plurality of cordless telephones (12,14) includes assigning a temporary ID to each of the plurality of cordless telephones (12,14). Each temporary ID identifies a first activation frequency for each corresponding cordless telephone (12,14). The method also includes activating each cordless telephone (12,14) at the first activation frequency identified by the corresponding temporary ID and simultaneously testing each cordless telephone (12,14) at the corresponding first activation frequency. The method further includes assigning a permanent ID to each cordless telephone (12,14) after completion of the testing. The permanent ID identifies a second activation frequency for a subsequent activation of the cordless telephones (12,14).

Abstract: A system and method allow a user of a parallel cordless handset to join in an ongoing communication. A conference circuit is placed on the ongoing conversation and the parallel handset is bridged into the conversation. The system and method can also bridge in data transmissions. An alert can provide notification to the handset already in the conversation, the handset attempting to join the conversation, or both. The system can be set up to allow access to the conversation upon election of either handset user or, alternatively, upon election of both handset users. Alternatively, the access can be granted without requiring election (automatically) or can be mandatory. More than one handset can be joined into the ongoing communication.

Abstract: A method and a system for handling calls includes utilizing a delay calculation module to calculate a transmission delay between first and second terminals over a voice-over-data-network, such as the Internet. A local call processor determines if the transmission delay exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, voice transmission quality over the Internet is not sufficient to support high quality transmissions for the call and a call router places the call over an alternate network, such as a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). In a preferred embodiment, the transmission delay calculation is a two-tiered process in which a preliminary round trip delay is first calculated to screen for large transmission delays which do not include a delay component introduced by a remote call processor. If the preliminary round trip delay exceeds a round trip delay threshold, the call is routed over the PSTN.

Abstract: Methods for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include detecting at the teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. The apparatus of the invention resides in software that is installed in off the shelf hardware. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for protecting call privacy allow a calling party to control the privacy of a telephone call by selecting among a group of privacy options that represent varying degrees of privacy and enforcing the selected privacy options during the call. The privacy options selected for the call limit the ability of a called party to manipulate the call. For example, the privacy options may prevent the called party from forwarding the call, transferring the call, conferencing the call, and/or listening to the call via a hands-free speakerphone. In an additional aspect of the invention, the selected privacy options are transferred to any voicemail messages that are generated as a result of the call made by the calling party. The preferred call privacy system is implemented in a packet-based network that carries voice and data.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting communications among multiple interconnected networks include assigning multiple dynamic telephony addresses to each wireless communication device that registers in more than one network. The networks assign the addresses independently of each other. When an incoming call is directed to a particular wireless device via a first network, if the wireless device is beyond the transmission range of the first network, a locate-wireless-communication-device message may be single-cast, multicast or broadcast to remote networks, with instructions to return dynamic telephony addresses assigned to the device. While the telephony addresses are different in each network, each wireless device is associated with a device identifier that is universally applied in the internetwork. Upon receiving a telephony address from a remote network, the address is stored in local memory at the first network, thereby allowing access for subsequent incoming calls.

Abstract: A system and method for organizing and accessing multi-media messages from a displayless interface. According to one embodiment, voice recognition techniques are used to allow the user to identify and create a hierarchical organization for stored messages.