Abstract: A method for determining a talk/listen state using a dynamic threshold is provided that can be implemented in a multipoint control unit (12). An audio sample is received and represents sound measured during a sample time interval. An audio level is generated from the audio sample The audio level represents an average power level of the audio sample. A dynamic threshold is set by processing the audio level. The audio level is compared to the dynamic threshold. A talk/listen state is determined to be a talking state if the audio level is above the dynamic threshold and to be a listening state if the audio level is below the dynamic threshold. The previous steps are repeated for each audio sample in a sequential stream of received audio samples such that the dynamic threshold is maintained and used to determine the talk/listen state.

Abstract: A method of transmitting digital signals which allows transmission of signals at a different transmission speed from that of composite serial digital signals, without any changes in the internal configurations of transmitting systems based on time division multiplexing, and a transmitter and a receiver used therefor. Dummy data is added to component serial digital signals inputted through an input terminal 10, with a decoder 21, a dummy data add circuit 22 and a 35/33 multiply circuit 23, to convert them into redundant component parallel digital signals of a sampling frequency twice the frequency of the composite parallel digital signals. The signals are converted into two series of pseudo composite serial signals with an encoder 24, a ten-fold multiply circuit 25 and a switching circuit 26, and then sent to a time division multiplexer for a plurality of composite serial digital signals.

Abstract: A complexity scalable device (100), method (300, 400) and digital video encoder (200) estimate a frame-to-frame motion vector of an image block of pixels to be encoded with adaptive threshold termination utilizing a novel dynamic threshold value determination. A dynamic threshold selector dynamically determines a threshold value in accordance with a predetermined scheme based on the quantization stepsize QP, and an adaptive motion vector determiner utilizes an original block, a reference frame, and the threshold value for adaptively estimating the frame-to-frame motion vector.

Abstract: To provide a multiplex communication system where nodes can reliably shift to a sleep state even though the system has a very simple structure and even if abnormal conditions occur in any node, multiple nodes communicate with each other through a communication network, and when the individual nodes are in a state of being unable to shift to a sleep state, they set a sleep disable bit in signals to be transmitted and transmit them. When they become able to shift to the sleep state, the individual nodes confirm that they have not yet received an active sleep disable bit sent from other nodes continuously over a predetermined period of time or more. Thereafter, each individual node proceeds to the sleep state. According to the system, the individual nodes can proceed to the sleep state by simply determining non-transmission of the sleep disable bit from other nodes even in the presence of nodes deactivated due to failures.

Abstract: This invention provides a path establishment device and method for establishing a path for a telecommunications call. In a preferred embodiment, the path establishment device of this invention includes an originating call processor in communication with an originating telecommunications network and a packet-based telecommunications network, a terminating call processor in communication with the packet-based telecommunications network and a public telecommunications network, and means for establishing a communication path from the originating telecommunications network through the packet-based telecommunications network to a destination served by the public telecommunications network. The path establishment device and method of the present invention thus provides, among other advantages, for the use of a potentially less expensive packet-switched telecommunications network as a long distance carrier between two public switched telecommunications networks.

Abstract: In an ATM cell processing device having a data transfer LSI capable of transferring ATM cells, and receiver LSIs capable of receiving the ATM cells having a same content, each data receiver LSI has a data input buffer, a data output buffer connected to the output side of the data input buffer and the input side of the data input buffer is connected to the output side of the data output buffer in the preceding data receiver LSI, and the output side of the data output buffer is connected to the input side of the data input buffer in the following data receiver LSI to form a data transfer path having a cascade connection so that the data of a same content transferred from the data transfer LSI is received in each of the data receiver LSIs in order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling two way communication via disparate physical media. A computer comprises a central processor, a forward channel interface, a return channel interface, and a main memory, each being coupled to a bus. The forward channel interface is further coupled to interrupt the central processor and coupled to receive a packet from a forward channel. The main memory contains an interrupt service routine comprising a first set of code for passing the packet to a routine for decapsulating the packet and a second set of code for passing a second packet to the return channel interface. The method comprises a computer transferring a packet from a forward channel interface to a main memory. The central processor analyzes the packet to determine if the packet is a data packet or a network management packet. If the packet is a network management packet, the central processor creates a response packet and passes the response packet to a return channel interface.

Abstract: A process for detecting link status in a computer network where the link and the load at the end of the link have a matched characteristic impedance. The data to be transmitted over the link is converted into a substantially continuous, random signal with a substantially known spectrum. This signal is transmitted over a link from a first end to the second or receiving end of the link. The first end of the link is analyzed for a reflection signal caused by a mismatch of the characteristic impedance of the link and the termination of the link. The link is identified as satisfactory if the reflection signal represents a substantial match between the characteristic impedance of the link and the characteristic impedance of the termination of the link. The link is identified as defective if the reflection signal represents a mismatch between the characteristic impedance of the link and the termination.

Abstract: A congestion-monitor control apparatus monitors a congestion condition of each output highway in an asynchronous transfer mode switching system transferring cells to output highways by using a cell-storage buffer. The apparatus includes a monitor circuit monitoring the number of cells stored in the cell-storage buffer for each output highway at a plurality of timings during a given monitor time interval. The apparatus further includes a first determination circuit comparing the number of times when the number of cells from the monitor circuit is equal to or more than a first threshold value during the given monitor time interval with a second threshold value and determining whether the congestion has occurred in a corresponding output highway based on a comparison result.

Abstract: In order to have the functional modules of a local unit communicate with one another and with an external bus, the device embodying the invention comprises: at least one internal bus of the same type as the external bus per functional module, the latter being coupled to the internal busses so that each module is the sole transmitter on at least one of the internal busses and is a receiver on the other internal busses; an additional internal bus for each external bus of the same type as said internal busses, ensuring the dissemination to the functional modules of data transiting on the external bus; and a coupling module ensuring transfer towards the external bus of the data circulating on the internal busses and destined for another local unit connected to the external bus.

Abstract: The present invention comprises addition/subtraction means 101 to 107 and exclusive OR circuits 111 to 125. The addition/subtraction means performs addition (A+B: sub/add=0) or subtraction (A-B: sub/add=1) according to a logic value of the control terminal sub/add. The transmission amplitude signals amp0 to amp7 with a plural bits width are input to the addition/subtraction means 101 to 104 at each two channels. The exclusive OR 10 circuits 111 to 118 calculates an exclusive OR of the transmission data d0 to d7 and the spread code sequence signals c0 to c7. The resultant code sequence signals s0 to s7 are input to the control terminals sub/add's of the addition/subtraction means. The addition/subtraction means 108 at the last step inverts the code and outputs the spread synthesis signal sum spread with spread code sequence signal c0 to c7.

Abstract: A system for voice distribution amongst a plurality of telephone subscriber locations operating on a broadband cable network wherein RF transmitting and RF receiving channels for carrying voice and signalling information are established at the subscriber locations and coupled with the broad band network and a central switch is also coupled with the broadband network and enables each RF transmitting channel to be selectively coupled to any of the RF receiving channels. Phase correction pilot tones having a known phase relationship are generated at the telephone subscriber locations and transmitted in one or more phase correction pilot tone channels separate from the RF transmitting channels to the central switch. At the switch, the phase correction pilot tones are recovered and the phases of the pilot tones are used to correct the phases of the transmitting channels.

Abstract: A method, and associated apparatus, for providing a wireless communication station with a dynamically-assigned address which provides a temporary address to route data to the wireless communication station. A temporary address is assigned to the wireless communication station to permit data, such as packet data, to be communicated between the wireless communication station and a correspondent host. Once communication with the wireless communication station is terminated, the temporary address can be reassigned and reused pursuant to subsequent communications with another wireless communication station.

Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting a plurality of digital signals through a plurality of channels, the channels having a predetermined total allocated bitrate, includes a plurality of encoders each associated with one channel, a multiplexer for receiving the encoded digital signals and for transmitting the encoded signals as a stream of data, and operable for adjusting the distribution of the bitrate allocation between and among the encoded signals, and a processing device for providing an indication of a target quality and an actual quality for each channel and for causing the multiplexer to repeatedly adjust the distribution of the bitrate allocation in response to differences between the indicated actual quality and the indicated target quality for each channel so as to equalize differences between the actual and target quality across at least some of the channels.

Abstract: A method for connecting a system utilizing message-based synchronization with an external system. The message-based system includes a plurality of nodes interchanging signals containing synchronization messages with information about the priority of the respective signal in the internal synchronization hierarchy of the system. For the external system to be able to utilize the message-based system as well as possible with respect to timing, synchronization status data in the internal format of the external system is transmitted from the interface node of the system utilizing message-based synchronization to the external system.

Abstract: A system and method for restoring communication between at least one pair of nodes in a network. Distributed intelligence is provided by messaging between adjacent nodes in the network. The messages in combination with user-configurable timers and rules provide fault isolation, forward flooding, reverse linking and connection.

Abstract: An ATM network includes a plurality of ATM-LANs which are connected through an ATM-WAN, when a source terminal and a destination terminal belong tb separate ATM-LANs connected through the ATM-WAN, the congestion control is performed as follows. When congestion occurs in an ATM-LAN in which the source terminal exists, the congestion control is performed by the BECN mechanism and when congestion occurs in an ATM-LAN other than the ATM-LAN in which the source terminal exists, the congestion control is performed by the FRP mechanism. When the source terminal and the destination terminal exist in the same ATM-LAN, the congestion control is performed by the FECN mechanism. Thus, in the ATM-LAN, cell loss can be suppressed upon occurrence of congestion.

Abstract: A spread spectrum CDMA communication system in which a station transmits a short synchronization signal to allow a second station to (1) recognize that a signal is present, (2) resolve frequency uncertainty, (3) acquire the spreading code timing, (4) acquire frame and symbol synchronization, and (5) demodulate data which may contain user identification and other data. The rapid acquisition channel (RAC) includes a burst signal comprising of an Acquisition Field during which the carrier is biphase modulated with a pseudo-noise (PN) sequence, a Sync Field during which a synchronization sequence is mod-2 added to the PN sequence with one chip of the sync sequence equal to one or more periods of the PN sequence, and a data field with m-ary orthogonal code words mod-2 added to the PN sequence with one chip of the code word equal to one or more periods of the PN sequence.

Abstract: This is a method of quickly computing the power dissipated by a digital circuit using information available at the gate library level. It estimates the short-circuit power by modeling the energy dissipated by the cell per input transition as a function of the transition time or edge rate, and multiplying that value by the number of transitions per second for that input.

Abstract: A device for addressing a cache memory of a motion picture compression circuit, executing series of comparisons to estimate the motion of a current window of pixels of a current picture with respect to a reference window of a preceding picture, includes a first cache memory partitioned into four physical segments of equal size. Each physical segment is adapted to contain one half-macroblock of the reference window, and a circuit for addressing the first cache memory, the addressing being different for a motion estimation related to a current window of even rank and for a motion estimation related to a current window of odd rank.