Abstract: A system and method for reducing or eliminating degradation in voice transmission quality resulting from repeated or sequential compression and decompression of voice packets over one or more packet networks. When a voice connection is established between two parties on separate packet networks, the signal is often passed through a PBX and/or over PSTN lines, with the occurrence of two tandem low-bit-rate codecs used to transfer the signal and introducing degradation of voice quality. This situation arises frequently in voice-over-packet applications. The situation can also arise when a call is forwarded from one place to another. The present invention reduces the degradation associated with the transport of voice data and thereby improving the voice quality by removing one of the tandem codecs.

Abstract: In a system in which user equipment is connected to a packet network and a speech recognition application server is also connected to the packet network for performing speech recognition on speech data from the user equipment, a speech recognition system selectively performs feature extraction at a user end before transmitting speech data to be recognized. The feature extraction is performed only for speech which is to be recognized.

Abstract: The arrangement is of the kind in which at least one water turbine (11) is located in the path of a water source for power generation, comprising a barrage structure (10) which extends across and above the level of the water source (12). The invention is characterized in that the structure is of a cross-sectional width sufficient to absorb static and dynamic loading from said water source and defines only a draught tube (15) for the turbine, in that the turbine is mounted within an inlet casing (19) to form a separate assembly, in that the outlet end of said inlet casing is adapted to be releasably connected to the inlet end of said draught tube, in that locating and locking means (24, 25) are provided for effecting said releasable connection, and in that means (20 to 22) are provided for supporting the weight of the turbine/inlet casing assembly when connected to the draught tube.

Abstract: The arrangement enables power generation on both ebb and flow tides, and is characterized in that one or more turbines (8) is used of a type designed for unidirectional flow, in that the or each turbine is mounted in a wall (7) which divides an enclosed space into a first area (4a) which can be brought into communication with the tidal water source (3) and a second area which can be brought into communication with a basin (2) separated from said source, and in that adjustable sluices (9a, 9b, 10a, 10b) are associated with each area and arranged so that, irrespective of the tide direction, the sluices can be adjusted to cause water to flow only in said uni-direction through the turbine.The enclosed space may be provided by a walled enclosure which includes a part (1a) of the length of a barrage wall (1) extending across the water source.

Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of inserting circuit switch information and packetized data into different time slots of a time division multiplexed bus. A memory having a location individual to each time slot is written with information specifying whether the time slot individual to each location is to serve circuit switch information or packet data. The readout of each memory location during the occurrence of it's associated time slot controllably effects the application of either the circuit switch information or the packet data to the bus. Packet data can be inserted into each time slot not currently being used by the circuit switch. A special information bit is inserted into each time slot to specify whether the remainder of the bits of the time slot represents circuit switch or packet information. The information bit is used by receiving apparatus to steer the bits of each time slot to either a receiving circuit switch or a receiving packet switch.