Abstract: A global location register having real-time location information about subscribers for contacting the subscribers in real-time even when the subscribers are not co-located with their customer premise equipment being called. In one embodiment, the global location register includes subscriber location information and service scripts for providing subscriber location estimates to be included in the subscriber location information, wherein subscriber location information includes subscriber information for identifying subscribers and current location information for indicating locations at which subscribers are Likely to be reached in real-time. In an embodiment, the current location information may indicate current access networks and/or current destination addresses associated with the current location. The global location register can be used to respond to queries regarding subscribers' current locations or to route calls to subscribers in real-time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a global location register having real-time location information about subscribers for contacting the subscribers in real-time even when the subscribers are not co-located with their customer premise equipment being called. In one embodiment, the global location register includes subscriber location information and service scripts for providing subscriber location estimates to be included in the subscriber location information, wherein subscriber location information includes subscriber information for identifying subscribers and current location information for indicating locations at which subscribers are likely to be reached in real-time. In an embodiment, the current location information may indicate current access networks and/or current destination addresses associated with the current location. The global location register can be used to respond to queries regarding subscribers' current locations or to route calls to subscribers in real-time.

Abstract: A telecommunication network without a network management layer meets operational objectives by providing at least one hot standby system which replaces a malfunctioning element of a service-providing node in the event of any disruption in services. Each service-providing node includes n primary processors and k spare processors. The telecommunications network implements all layers of the Telecommunication Management Network (TMN) standard except for the network management layer. The system therefore implements the business managemen, service management, and element management layers. An operation administration and maintenance server monitors the network to detect a malfunctioning element of a service-providing network node. Upon detecting a fault, the operation administration and maintenance server sends an out of service message to a central network planning and operations center and/or notifies an on site work force of the probable trouble.

Abstract: Access to a resource such as a telecommunications system is monitored and prevented adaptively on a real-time basis by establishing with the customer, a steady state low level of surveillance and arbitrary intermittent interruption during which the telecommunications company demands authentication, by personal identification number (PIN), of a given fraction of access demands (for example, telephone calls), and, in response to signals indicating that arrival of an alert condition, and preferably at least one prior invalid call, raising the level of authentication demands.

Abstract: A transparency such as an aircraft front window has an electrically conductive metal, e.g. gold, film vacuum deposited thereon for demisting and/or defrosting purposes. To increase the reliability of such metal film, a layer of an oxide of indium, e.g. indium tin oxide, is formed on the metal film by a sputtering operation to a typical thickness of 10 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A coupling between an optical fibre (1) and an opto-electronic device e.g. a semiconductor laser (2) is located within a hermetically sealed housing (3,6). The device is supported on a header (14) mounted on the front wall (3) of the housing, the lead (16) to the device passes through the housing wall via a glass-to-metal seal (17,19,20), and the fibre is soldered into a ferrule (10) which is inserted through a boss (4) on the front housing wall. After alignment of the fibre with the device, the ferrule is clamped in position by two parallel sets of screws (11(a), 11(b)) inserted through the boss, and is then soldered to the boss. The housing, header, ferrule and metal component(s) of the glass-to-metal seal are all formed of the same metal, preferably gold-plated copper, to avoid differential expansion.