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 technique for bypassing a local exchange carrier ("LEC") so as to reduce or eliminate the access charges typically payable by an interexchange carrier ("IXC") to a LEC, and, in turn, payable by the subscriber to the IXC, for originating long distance calls. A hardwire connection is provided between the IXC and/or a Central Office operated independent of the LEC and the customer premises by purchasing analog facilities from the LEC which originate at the Central Office and connecting these facilities directly to a multiplexer. The terminating end of the analog facilities are installed at the subscriber premises. The voice interface modules typically used in the multiplexer are replaced by Foreign Exchange Subscriber (FXS) modules which perform A/D conversion of the analog voice data provided over the analog facilities from the customer premises.

Abstract: A process for treating a semiconductor substrate, comprising a prior surface-treatment step using a plasma at medium or low pressure, preferably having an electron concentration N.sub.e .gtoreq.10.sup.11 cm.sup.-3 and preferably producing a small potential difference V.sub.p -V.sub.f <20 V, wherein the surface energy of the treated surface is determined so as optionally to have fast feedback on the control of the process in order to optimize the plasma treatment, and the prior surface treatment step may be followed by a deposition step with a view to filling or planarizing the treated surface or to improving morphological, physical, or electrical characteristics of materials deposited on the treated surface.

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: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a vertical channel transistor comprising the steps of: selectively implanting a dopant of high concentration into a semiconductor substrate to form a source region; firstly etching the semiconductor substrate using an insulator and a first photoresist pattern as a mask; secondly etching the substrate using a second photoresist pattern having a shape corresponding to said source region as a mask; implanting a dopant of low concentration into the exposed substrate using said second photoresist pattern as a mask to form a vertical channel layer; implanting a dopant of high concentration into the exposed substrate using same mask to form a drain region; activating said dopants, and forming an ohmic contact layer on said drain region; thirdly etching using a third photoresist pattern for exposing the firstly etched portion of the substrate as a mask; depositing a gate metal on the substrate exposed by the thirdly etching; and wiring a metal, respectively.

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: 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: This antenna array for base station for radiocommunication with mobiles comprises N first sensors, N being an integer greater than 2, arranged in such a way that the array exhibits substantially no ambiguity; an (N+1).sup.th sensor placed or contrived in such a way as to receive signals which are decorrelated from the previous ones; and a module for processing the signals received, making it possible to locate, in an explicit or implicit manner, a transmitting mobile from the signals received by the N sensors alone, and to combine these signals and the signals received by the (N+1).sup.th sensor so as to improve reception by effecting spatial or spatio-temporal diversity.

Abstract: In a method for dynamically updating a cellular-phone-unique-encryption key previously stored in, and common to, each of a cellular phone and an associated home location register (HLR) for providing security in a cellular-phone-network operation, a random number and shared secret random data generated at least partly based on the random number are transmitted and verified between the cellular phone and the associated HLR. A previously stored version of the cellular-phone-unique-encryption key is then dynamically updated in both the cellular phone and in the HLR by independent calculations based on an algorithm using the shared secret random data and the previously stored version of the cellular-phone-unique-encryption key. In this manner, the cellular-phone-unique-encryption key is dynamically updated as desired, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for accepting a request for use of a virtual prepaid card involving the following stages:a user of a virtual prepaid card is connected to a server containing a data base, particularly version numbers, which are incremented when the corresponding cards are empty or obsolete,said user is authenticated with the server by communicating thereto an authentication sequence and a version number,said server supplies these numbers to a security processor having the capacity to recalculate the authentication sequence and check the validity thereof,in the case of the validity thereof, the processor transmits to the server a consumption authorization,after receiving said authorization the server gives agreement to the use request, within the limits of the credit remaining on the card and the validity date of the latter.

Abstract: A digital cordless telephone (CT-2) system, having a multiple number of subscriber cordless handsets (HS's) and a subscriber manager which performs authentication for the HS's, comprises a plurality of base stations (BS's), each of the BS's being coupled with one or more HS's by radio channels for controlling radio link; and a system connector coupled with each of the BS's, coupled with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) for switching and concentrating channels between each of the BS's and the PSTN, and coupled with a public switched data network (PSDN) for communicating with the subscriber manager.

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: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention enroll a candidate phrase uttered by a user in a dictionary having at least one previously enrolled phrase. The system receives utterances of the candidate phrase and determines whether the first utterance is confusingly similar to a previously enrolled phrase and whether they are consistent with each other. The system then enrolls the candidate phrase in the dictionary according to these determinations.

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: According to the invention, the secret key of the claimant is constituted by k numbers s.sub.1, s.sub.2, . . . , s.sub.k with a low public exponent. The verifier draws k numbers a.sub.1, a.sub.2, . . . , a.sub.k in which the number of non-zero a.sub.i is below a given number p. The claimant or signatory calculates an answer involving an exponential product of form s.sub.i.sup.a.sbsp.1 with i between 1 and k. The verifier calculates another exponential product of form v.sub.i.sup.a.sbsp.1, where the v.sub.i are numbers corresponding to the public key of the claimant or signatory. The verifier then verifies that the result obtained is correct. The choice of the public exponent and the limitation on p make it possible to reduce the number of secrets for equal security and an approximately equal number of multiplications.

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 planar printed-circuited antenna for the transmission and/or reception of microwave signals has a first conductive element or patch substantially parallel to a ground plane, a first dielectric substrate separating the first patch from the ground plane, supply structure for the antenna, and at least one second patch which substantially identical to the first patch. The second patch is superimposed on the first patch and is substantially parallel to the ground plane. A second dielectric substrate separates the first and second patches, and at least one first short-circuit connects the first and second patches to each other. According to the invention, at least one of the first and second patches includes at least one slot.

Abstract: A multiplexing system for ISDN circuits. Multiplexers in the system include data terminals, voice interfaces having voice trunks, high speed digital circuits and ISDN circuits, together with a control channel interface which connects trunking circuits by controlling calls on the control channel. When an outgoing voice call originates, data information from data terminals voice is multiplexed with compressed information from a voice interface and transmitted to trunking circuits. When calls originate, the control channel controls calls and connects them with trunking circuits. When using ISDN circuits, after setting up a communication channel for the circuits, a CPU controls calls to multiplex ISDN circuits on the control channel. By this structure decreasing the multiplexing ratio due to voice multiplexing call control on ISDN circuits can be eliminated when linking multiplexers with communication channels having high speed digital circuits and ISDN circuits.

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.

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.