Abstract: The present invention concerns a device forming an optical multiplexer and/or demultiplexer of the type including two plane optical surfaces separated by an array of waveguides having controlled differences in length, wherein each waveguide comprises at least two spans placed in series and having respective lengths and refractive indices that are suitable for controlling the influence of temperature variations on the device.

Abstract: A resonant helix antenna comprising at least one helix formed by at least two radiating strands (111 to 114) printed on a substrate. This antenna comprises a miniaturised structure for the wideband supply of the radiating strands that is printed on the substrate and comprises at least one hybrid coupler made out of semi-localised elements so as to reduce the dimensions thereof. In the case of a quadrifilar helix, formed by four radiating strands, the supply structure comprises three hybrid couplers, for example in the form of a first 180° hybrid coupler (12) associating a supply input and/or output (17) of the antenna with two intermediate outputs and/or inputs (18, 19) phase-shifted by 180° and two 90° hybrid couplers (13, 14) each associating one of the intermediate outputs and/or inputs of the hybrid coupler with one of the ends of two of the radiating strands.

Abstract: When the frame rate changes from eighth rate to full rate, the power control process increases the Eb/No target by &Dgr;1. If the frame rate changes from full rate to eighth rate, the power control process decreases the Eb/No target by &Dgr;2. In both cases, a decision threshold for a Frame Quality Metric is determined. If the Frame Quality Metric is less than the threshold, normal power control is resumed. If the Frame Quality Metric is greater than or equal to the threshold, the newly set target Eb/No is decreased by A3. The target Eb/No is continually decreased by A until the frame rate changes or the target reaches the required Eb/No, indicated by a bad frame or lower frame quality metric (i.e., lower than the frame quality threshold).

Abstract: In a LEO satellite system with the implementation of a virtual network, a method and a system are proposed for arranging an optimal route for data packets to travel. The method and system will diversify the traffic between satellites, and accordingly enhance the efficient use of the entire satellite system. An intermediary satellite is first selected between a source satellite and a destination satellite. Further, an optimal route is found among a plurality of shortest paths between the source satellite and the intermediary satellite, and subsequently another optimal route is found between the intermediary satellite and the destination satellite. Once an optimal route is determined, the route information can be encoded in the header segment of data packets.

Abstract: A new ANSI-41 networking message, designated “MessageWaitingNotificationDirective” or “MWNDIR,” for communicating message waiting notification information to an HLR is described. In a preferred embodiment, the MWNDIR message comprises several existing ANSI-41 parameters, including MobileStationIdentity (“MSID”), MobileDirectoryNumber (“MDN”), and MessageWaitingNotificationCount (“MWNCOUNT”). In operation, when the HLR receives an MWNDIR INVOKE message from a node, if the received message can be processed, the target Mobile Station (“MS”) can be identified, and the target MS subscribes to a Message Waiting Notification (“MWN”) service, the HLR stores the message waiting information received in the MWNCOUNT parameter and returns an empty parameter list (referred to as MWNDIR RETURN RESULT) to the node. Otherwise, the HLR sends a TCAP RETURN ERROR or TCAP REJECT with a proper Error or Problem Code to the node.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a bridge tap and other types of fault in a transmission line. Initially, test signals of predetermined frequencies are transmitted into a transmitting end of the transmission line. The test signals are received at a receiving end of the transmission line and the amplitudes of the received signal are measured. A frequency response of the transmission line is computed based on the measured amplitudes. The frequency response is then analyzed for the presence of a frequency-domain signature that corresponds to one of the detectable types of fault. The presence of a bridge tap or another type of fault is identified based on the detected frequency-domain signature. The frequency-domain signature associated with a bridge tap can comprise a set of one or more attenuation dips in the frequency response, with each attenuation dip corresponding to a local minima in the frequency response.

Abstract: A method and system provide enhanced caller identification information to a called party. The system determines whether or not standard caller identification information associated with a calling party can be provided to the called party. The system preferably determines whether the standard caller identification information is unavailable, incomplete or has been blocked. When the system determines that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided, the system transmits a request for audible caller identification information to the calling party. If the calling party provides the requested audible caller identification information, the audible caller identification information is transmitted to the called party. The called party is thus provided with information about the calling party that can assist the called party in deciding whether or not to answer the call.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved photolithography process particularly suitable for high-resolution optical lithography techniques using the g, h and i lines of the spectrum of mercury and short-wavelength UV, comprising, prior to deposition of the photosensitive resin on the layer of material to be lithographically patterned, the formation of an antireflective porous layer within the said layer to be lithographically patterned and on the surface of the latter.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a wireline or wireless carrier or service provider to transparently provide a virtual private network to wireless callers of the network. The method works in a telecommunications network including a service switch point, a service control point, and a first and second telephone. The method provides a virtual private network for the first and second telephone by performing a series of steps. First, an identifier for the first telephone is stored in a memory accessible by the service control point. Next, a first dialed number is received from the first telephone by the service switch point. The service switch point notifies the service control point to determine if the identifier for the first telephone is in the memory. If so, the service control point converts the number dialed by the first telephone to a second dialed number. The service control point then provides the second dialed number, being assigned to the second telephone, to the service switch point.

Abstract: A system is provided for logging digital messages and forwarding them outside a proprietary telecommunications network. The system includes a service logic program (“SLP”) which determines whether the message is to be forwarded outside the proprietary system. If the message is to be forwarded outside the system, the SLP sends it to the main relay, which logs the message to a log file, and forwards it to a discriminator. The discriminator forwards the message to a sub-relay, which is connected to a vendor application. The sub-relay forwards the message outside the proprietary telecommunications system, to the vendor application.

Abstract: A telephone service using a server designated by a telephone number and connected to a telephone network is made compatible with the telephone network and a calling line identification presentation service. The server joins a first call between a calling user terminal and the server to a second call between the server and a called user terminal. A user of the called terminal has previously subscribed to the calling line identification presentation service. Compatibility is achieved by transmitting the telephone number of the calling terminal in a request to set up the first call between the calling user terminal and the server through the telephone network. The request succeeds a call from the called terminal to the server. During the call from the called terminal to the server, the server stored in memory the telephone number of the called terminal as the terminal that most recently called the calling terminal.

Abstract: A process for etching a gate conductor material in the fabrication of MOS transistors is presented. A hard mask layer composed of silicon oxynitride is formed upon a gate conductor layer. The hard mask layer is preferably patterned using a resin layer. The patterned hard mask layer is preferably used to form a patterned gate conductor. The gate conductor is preferably composed of polycrystalline silicon or a silicon-germanium alloy.

Abstract: A method of authenticating and charging a client using a web infoshop service system comprising the steps of: transmitting protocol address information from the service system to the client when the client accesses the service system and selects a protocol access; when a user request to the service system is for a charged content provider, adding an authentication value to the user request, transmitting the user request including the authentication value from the service system to the charged content provider, and transmitting information corresponding to the user request from the content provider to the client; and when the client cancels the protocol access and notifies cancellation information to the service system, transmitting charging information using the service system.

Abstract: A combined air filter and EMI shield including an air filter formed of a conducting metal thread mesh. Preferably, a mesh size of the air filter is selected in accordance with electromagnetic interference and air flow requirements.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates an inter-mobile switching center (MSC) soft hand-off by creating a communication link between the MSCs through the base station controllers (BSCs). The routers in the BSCs are linked to form a virtual router. This faster link between the BSCs enables the same protocol to be used for intra-MSC soft hand-off used for inter-MSC soft hand-off.

Abstract: A robust method for determining the boundaries of cells and the associated reliability of the RF coverage within these boundaries is presented. The invention accurately determines the average range from the base station to the cell edge from RF signal strength measurements with a linear regression approach. The accuracy of this estimate is quantified both as a range uncertainty (e.g. ±100 meters) and as a cell coverage reliability (i.e. area/edge) through 1) simulation, 2) analysis of real data, and 3) theoretical analysis. It is shown that if the estimate of the cell radius meets the desired accuracy, then the corresponding estimates of coverage reliability (both area and edge) are more than sufficiently accurate. It is recommended that radio survey analyses incorporate this test as part of the coverage validation process.

Abstract: High definition TV motion picture distribution network via satellite comprising a service center (5) for the management and the commercial/administrative planning, a network control center (3) which controls the network both as regards the transmission via satellite (2) and the monitoring of the receiver terminals (4′, 41, . . . 4″n) through the terrestrial network (6), the receiver terminals being provided with data recording device (22), a high resolution decoder (23), and a control unit (24) which stores and processes again information related to the operation of the terminal (4). Transportable units (1) directly linked to the satellite (2) allow to transmit live pictures through the network.

Abstract: A mobile handset is able to receive and transmit to base stations operating in compliance with different standards, for example CDMA, TDMA or AMPS. The mobile handset converts the received signal down to baseband and digitizes only a single channel at a time rather than the whole band. The channel chosen is the biggest of the various transmission systems used. For example, the channel widths for CDMA, TDMA and AMPS are, respectively 1.25 MHz, 30 KHz and 30 KHz. Accordingly to deal with these three systems a 1.25 MHz channel is digitized. Thereafter a digital signal processor determines which of the three systems is being used and appropriate processing and demodulation is carried out.

Abstract: A method of requesting authentication triplets as a function of CPU processing time at a MSC. The MSC requests a new set of authentication triplets from an HLR as a function of how busy the MSC CPU is. During the least busy periods of time, the MSC requests a new set of triplets often and discards some triplets, while during medium busy periods of time the MSC requests a new set of triplets when only, for instance, 2 triplets remain. During the busy periods of time, the MSC only requests a new set of 5 triplets from the HLR when no triplets remain. The present invention, in effect, postpones non-critical work to non busy periods of time when the MSC has more spare processing power, thereby increasing the capacity of the MSC to support traffic during busy periods.

Abstract: Non-linear optical device for processing an optical signal, comprising an interferometer with multiple arms. This device comprises an optical interferometer comprising N arms (B1 . . . BN) where N≧3n, N semiconductor optical amplifiers (A1 . . . AN) each being inserted in the N arms, a first optical coupling means (28) that receives a control signal and distributes this control signal into the N arms and a second optical coupling means (32) that receives an input signal and distributes it in at least N-1 of the N arms and collects the light resulting from the distribution of the control signal in the N arms and supplies an output signal which is the resultant of interference of these two light sources. Application to optical telecommunications.