Abstract: Techniques for predicting times-to-failure of components of a PON include generating an optical profile of a PON segment that has components including a last mile termination unit and an optical fiber received by the last mile termination unit, determining a drift over time of the segment's optical profile, and predicting the time-to-failure of a component of the segment based on the drift over time. The segment's optical profile corresponds to one or more characteristics of optical signals delivered over the segment (e.g., attenuation, changes in frequencies, changes in power outputs, etc.). Predicting the time-to-failure of the component may be based on, for example, a comparison of the drift over time of the segment's optical profile with drifts over time of other segments' optical profiles, a distance between the segment's optical profile and a boundary of a designated operating range of the PON, characteristics of the segment, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example FDH includes: a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.

Abstract: Passive optical couplers having passive optical activity indicators and methods of operating the same are disclosed. An example passive optical coupler for passively coupling first and second optical fibers includes a housing including: a first port configured to receive an end of a first optical fiber, and a second port configured to receive an end of a second optical fiber; and a passive optical activity indicator positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein a first portion of the passive optical activity indicator is exposed through the housing, and wherein the passive optical activity indicator is configured to passively illuminate in response to (i) first light propagating in the first optical fiber when the end of the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) second light propagating in the second optical fiber when the end of the second optical fiber is received in the second port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example system includes an FDH and a computing device. The FDH includes a bulkhead having: a plurality of passive optical couplers each having a respective first port to receive a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port to receive a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber, and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the plurality of passive optical activity indicators. The computing device configured to, based on the one or more images, determine which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example FDH includes: a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.

Abstract: A drum muffle system for muffling a bass drum includes a bass drum that has a first head and a second head. Each of the first and second heads has an inwardly facing surface. A pair of muffles is provided and each of the muffles is positioned within the bass drum. Each of the muffles frictionally engages the inwardly facing surface corresponding to an associated one of the first and second heads. In this way each of the muffles reduces vibration of the associated first and second head to reduce overtones from each of the first and second heads. A plurality of members is provided and each of the members is removably positioned between the muffles such that the muffles are retained against the associated first and second heads.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a transport stream, the transport stream including a content identifier associated with an instance of media content. The method further includes receiving a monitoring request that specifies at least one instance of media content. The method further includes determining if the specified instance of media content is currently being experienced by a user. If the specified instance of media content is currently being experienced by a user, then the method includes developing a set of interaction data by analyzing the user's interaction with the specified instance of media content in part by monitoring commands received from a control device, and providing the set of interaction data to another device.

Abstract: A system includes a communications device configured to selectively allow communications in a plurality of communications protocols, and a router configured to receive a communications request from a user. The router may determine a preferred communications protocol from the plurality of communications protocols, based on at least a portion of the received communications request.

Abstract: An approach for providing custom call waiting with media messaging is disclosed. A request is received from a first voice station to establish a voice communication session with a called party station. A detection is made that the called party station is currently in communication with a second voice station. A content designated from a call-waiting condition for presentation to a caller is retrieved. The content to either the first voice station or the second voice station is retrieved in response to a user input from the called party device.

Abstract: A communications device is configured to receive an input from a user device when the communications device is positioned proximate the user device. The user device includes a data store having at least an identifier. The communications device is configured to adjust at least one operational setting within the communications device upon receiving the input.

Abstract: A method for event positioning includes categorizing events into event groups based on a priority level, buffering the events in each event group into a group event queue, and determining an optimized position for events within each queue based, at least in part, on a processing time and an expected response time for each event in the group event queue.

Abstract: A device is configured to detect a wireless device and determine if the wireless device is participating in a telephone call with a remote party. The device is further configured to establish a first voice communication link with the remote party, and establish a second voice communication link with the wireless device. In addition, the device is configured to bridge the first and second voice communication links together, thereby establishing voice communications between the wireless device and the remote party.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.

Abstract: An approach for providing custom call waiting with media messaging is disclosed. A request is received from a first voice station to establish a voice communication session with a called party station. A detection is made that the called party station is currently in communication with a second voice station. A content designated from a call-waiting condition for presentation to a caller is retrieved. The content to either the first voice station or the second voice station is retrieved in response to a user input from the called party device.

Abstract: A device is configured to detect a wireless device and determine if the wireless device is participating in a telephone call with a remote party. The device is further configured to establish a first voice communication link with the remote party, and establish a second voice communication link with the wireless device. In addition, the device is configured to bridge the first and second voice communication links together, thereby establishing voice communications between the wireless device and the remote party.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating integrated access to communication services in a communication device. The apparatus may include hardware components, a memory having a client application for providing a software interface with a user and an abstraction interface for interfacing the hardware components with the client application, and a processor for running the client application and the device interface, wherein the abstraction interface comprises an unmanaged layer and a managed layer.

Abstract: The air bellows device for use with automobiles has a bellows element as commonly understood for use in slidable engagement with for example the struts of an automobile to raise and lower the frame relative to the axles. The air pressure end plate and pressure end plate are attached to the end caps of the bellows element using five or more holes through which bolts pass to threadably engage five or more threaded holes in each end cap. In addition the gap between the strut shaft and the wall of the openings in each end plate to receive the strut shaft is sealed by the use of two O-rings.

Abstract: The air bellows device for use with automobiles has a bellows element as commonly understood for use in slidable engagement with for example the struts of an automobile to raise and lower the frame relative to the axles. The air pressure end plate and pressure end plate are attached to the end caps of the bellows element using five or more holes through which bolts pass to threadably engage five or more threaded holes in each end cap. In addition the gap between the strut shaft and the wall of the openings in each end plate to receive the strut shaft is sealed by the use of two O-rings.