Abstract: A coaxial cable covering apparatus includes a plate that has a first side, a second side and a peripheral edge. The plate has at least one mounting opening extending therethrough. A flange is attached to and is coextensive with the peripheral edge. The flange is angled with respect to a plane of the plate. The flange has an outer edge has a notch therein. The notch extends toward the peripheral edge of the plate. The first side of the plate has a trough therein aligned with the notch. The trough is elongated and a coaxial cable is positionable in the notch and extended along a portion of the trough. At least one fastener may be extending through the at least one mounting opening to secure the plate to a dwelling wall. The plate is positioned over an outlet to hold the coaxial cable flush with the dwelling wall.

Abstract: A communication system (10) supports the provision of a plurality of dedicated communication resources (50–64), such as copper drops, RF links and optical fibers, to dedicated home-gateway devices (44–48) or distribution points (124). The communication resources (50–64) support broadband interconnection (104) between the dedicated home-gateway devices (44–48) or distribution points (124) and an access multiplexor (30) in a network (12). Each gateway device (44–48) or distribution point (124) generally includes a local RF transceiver (84) and associated control logic (80–82) that allows local communication (86) between gateway devices (44–48) and hence statistically multiplexed access (60–64, 89) to multiple communication resources, thereby providing increased bandwidth in uplink and/or downlink directions.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line (DSL) arrangement provides data and voice over IP (VoIP) services over a subscriber loop. Instead of conventional multiplexing at the IP layer, two separate IP packet streams are provided, one stream carrying delay insensitive data traffic and the other transporting delay sensitive traffic, in particular, packetised voice. The system segments each IP stream (i.e. those carrying voice and data) separately to produce two ATM streams which are then multiplexed using an ATM multiplexer. This reduces the delays to voice traffic resulting from queuing behind long data packets.

Abstract: Typically it is expensive to add cable within an existing multiple dwelling units (MDUs) such as blocks of flats to provide additional services such as broadband internet access, video on demand and video telephony. The present invention provides a broadband wireless access system especially suited to MDUs. A base station modulates radio frequency carrier signals with data to be transmitted in the system, and these signals are directed along a distribution network to a plurality of antennas which provide WLANs for subscriber equipment within the MDU.

Abstract: An optical array amplifier has a first light beam shaper, a first waveguide to guide an input optical signal consisting of a plurality of wavelengths to the first beam shaper, a diffracter illuminated by light from the first beam shaper to diffract the optical signal into individual wavelengths or groups of wavelengths, a second waveguide connected to a source of optical pump energy, a second beam shaper combining optical pump energy from the second waveguide with the diffracted signal wavelengths or groups of wavelengths without the pump energy impinging on the diffracter, so that a proportion of the optical pump energy is mixed with each of the wavelengths or groups of wavelengths, and to focus the mixed optical signals onto a third waveguide connected to an optical amplifier utilizing the pump energy to cause amplification of the individual wavelengths or groups of wavelengths mixed with the corresponding proportion of pump energy. The amplifier may be implemented as a planar waveguide device.

Abstract: A Digital Access Systems (DAS) Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) comprising: a DAS modem connected to an internal packet switched network having a switch and arranged such that the internal network is coupled to an external packet switched network by a DAS link over an access network; a network-telephony interface connected to the internal network and coupled to a customer premises telephony appliance; a network-data interface connected to the internal network and coupled to a customer premises data appliance; a controller to control the switch for establishing packet transfer paths between the modem and the interfaces to complete calls between the appliances and entities on the external network; and transferring of control and information signals between the controller and a computing function to adapt the controller to provide alternative packet transfer paths dependent on predetermined conditions in order to provide one or more additional CPE services.

Abstract: A modem (34, 40) at a customer premises (14, 38) and a switch at an exchange (12, 50) are modified to allow a data session (102, 202) supported on a dedicated wireline communication resource (16) to be optionally terminated (110), but preferably suspended (114, 218), upon detection of a subsequently placed voice call (104, 204) on the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Before termination of a data session, a user either selects a termination option or is provided with an in-call option to terminate the data session, with the voice call then switched (122) to the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). The data session is therefore cleared down rather than lost through connection corruption. Alternatively, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (50) interact to silence modem transmissions therebetween, whilst retaining a data connection (20) between the exchange (12, 50) and an end-point data service provider (ISP, 18).

Abstract: A communications access network comprising a combination of fibre and co-axial cable to the home having co-axial cable deployed in the home comprises a head end, to which outstations are coupled via an optical fibre medium incorporating a star coupler or splitter. The head end is arranged to transmit downstream to the outstations a sequence of frames comprising data frames and command frames. The command frames comprise first and second frames and provide marshalling control of upstream transmissions from the outstations. The first command frame incorporates a global command to all outstations to pause upstream transmission for a pre-set time period. The second command frame is transmitted within the pre-set period and incorporates a further pause command having an associated zero time period and addressed to a selected outstation overriding said global command thus allowing that one selected outstation to transmit to the head end.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and software for providing lifeline service during power failure affecting Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) in a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) arranged to carry voice traffic in band rather than on a separate analogue POTS band. The arrangement provides a reduced service, capable of supporting at least one voice call, to operate during such power failure and, where a single call is in progress during power failure, that call may be maintained during the transition from DSL to analogue POTS lifeline service. Where a call is in progress upon power restoration, the lifeline POTS service may be maintained until completion of the call so as not to interrupt a potential lifeline call.

Abstract: Optical fiber elements, such as narrow pass-band filters, dispersion equalizers, and channel dropping filters, are constructed from 2.times.2 single mode optical fiber fused tapered couplers having formed on one side of coupling regions Bragg distributed gratings in the two fibers from which the coupler is constructed. By making the gratings at a point where the fibers remain fused together in side-by-side contact it is ensured that they lie equidistant from the coupling region.

Abstract: An arrangement for coupling an optical fiber (1) to a waveguide (8) which forms part of an integrated optical device (4) uses a block (3) with a narrow slot (2) to receive the bared fiber end. On top of this block is a retaining block (6), of transparent material such as glass. These are held together by epoxy, and the front face rendered smooth. A polishing block (10) is glued to the edge of the IO device (4), and the end of the block is polished. Then the fiber and the guide on the IO device are brought together in proper alignment and secured together.