Abstract: The present invention provides a Diversity Coding—Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DC-OFDM) system and method that applies diversity coding to OFDM-based systems and provides improved probability of successful reception at the receiver and transparent self-healing and fault-tolerance. Diversity coding is well suited for OFDM-based systems because of its spatial diversity nature (parallel links). DC-OFDM provides the best performance when the probability of link error is high or when a link (sub-channel) fails. Also, by implementing diversity coding in OFDM-based systems, a reliable communication can be provided that is quite tolerant of link failures, since data and protection lines are transmitted via multiple sub-channels.

Abstract: A system for performing non-invasive networked medical procedures including a number of in vivo medical devices, a communication path between at least two of the devices, an ex vivo control unit to control the behavior of the devices, and a wireless communication path between the control unit and at least one of the devices. An associated method for performing non-invasive networked medical procedures is also provided. Further included is a simulation method that utilizes accurate electromagnetic field simulations, using a software based test bench, to determine the maximum allowable transmitted power levels from in vivo devices to achieve a required bit error rates (BER) at an in vivo or ex vivo node (receiver) while maintaining the specific absorption rate (SAR) under a required threshold.

Abstract: Transferring data in a network is disclosed. Transferring includes receiving a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) frame, identifying a plurality of location specific identifiers in the PBT frame, mapping the PBT frame to a service based at least in part on the plurality of location specific identifiers, formatting the PBT frame according to the service to obtain a service frame, and transferring the service frame to a network associated with the service.

Abstract: Transferring data over a network includes identifying an application flow and mapping the application flow to a network bound connection.

Abstract: Transferring data in a network is disclosed. Transferring includes receiving a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) frame, identifying a plurality of location specific identifiers in the PBT frame, mapping the PBT frame to a service based at least in part on the plurality of location specific identifiers, formatting the PBT frame according to the service to obtain a service frame, and transferring the service frame to a network associated with the service.

Abstract: This invention is in the domain of minimally invasive surgery and is a method and apparatus that transforms and displays images of internal organs and tissues taken from internally located imaging devices on external skin. The image displayed on the skin aligns with the actual physical location, orientation, and size of the internal organs and tissues in a way that viewers have the perception that the skin is transparent. This method and apparatus enables surgeons to have the same hand-eye coordination as in an open surgery during a minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: An E-Tree is disclosed which includes a root node associated with a Metro Ethernet network. The E-Tree includes a first Virtual Bridge (VB), associated with the root node, which is configured to process Ethernet traffic, and a second node associated with the Metro Ethernet network. The E-Tree includes a second VB, associated with the second node, configured to process Ethernet traffic and having a first connection between the first VB and the second VB. The second VB is configured to be able to send Ethernet traffic to the first VB via the first connection, if appropriate. In the event there is a second connection between the second VB and a third VB and the second connection has been assigned a down direction from the point of view of the second VB, the second VB is not permitted to send traffic received from the second connection to another connection which from the point of view of the second VB has been assigned a down direction.

Abstract: A Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) system is provided. A Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) network is provided which comprises a plurality of sites to be connected via a L2VPN. The plurality of sites in the PBB network is connected using a plurality of provider backbone trunks that includes a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) trunk or a Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) trunk, such that the L2VPN includes the plurality of sites.

Abstract: A Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) system is provided. A Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) network is provided which comprises a plurality of sites to be connected via a L2VPN. The plurality of sites in the PBB network is connected using a plurality of provider backbone trunks that includes a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) trunk or a Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) trunk, such that the L2VPN includes the plurality of sites.

Abstract: Transferring data in a network is disclosed. Transferring includes receiving a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) frame, identifying a plurality of location specific identifiers in the PBT frame, mapping the PBT frame to a service based at least in part on the plurality of location specific identifiers, formatting the PBT frame according to the service to obtain a service frame, and transferring the service frame to a network associated with the service.

Abstract: Security mechanisms are disclosed that protect the integrity of the candidate access node discovery procedures in a mobile communication network. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, an access node stores information on candidate access nodes in the mobile communication network and updates the information only after verifying information provided by a mobile terminal after a handoff from one access node to another access node. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the information on candidate access nodes in the mobile communication network are associated with a particular mobile terminal and stored at the mobile terminal in a candidate access node list.

Abstract: Security mechanisms are disclosed that protect the integrity of the candidate access node discovery procedures in a mobile communication network. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, an access node stores information on candidate access nodes in the mobile communication network and updates the information only after verifying information provided by a mobile terminal after a handoff from one access node to another access node. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the information on candidate access nodes in the mobile communication network are associated with a particular mobile terminal and stored at the mobile terminal in a candidate access node list.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for automated position location using RF signposting. The present invention comprises a plurality of transmitting units placed throughout a service area. Each transmitting unit repeatedly transmits a signal including position information related to a position associated with the transmitting unit. The position information may be an absolute position or an encoded position based on the structure of a building in which the transmitting unit is located. A receiving unit receives the signal transmitted from a transmitting unit and determines the position of the receiving unit, based on the received indication. The transmitting units are placed to provide uniform coverage of the service area, thus providing position location indoors and in urban areas where GPS does not function properly.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing usage of a communications transmission medium. The transmission medium may be sliced into time and frequency domains so as to create time-frequency slices for assignment to users having varying access rates and user-application requirements. Through scheduling of the various speed users within the frequency and time domains, the system and method can efficiently allocate and make use of the available spectrum, thereby accommodating higher rate users requiring greater bandwidths and time slot assignments while still preserving cost-efficient access for lower speed users. Depending on the signal modulation scheme, the time-frequency slices may be allocated on non-contiguous frequency bands. The system and method is also applicable to code-division multiple access (CDMA) techniques by slicing the available code space along time-code domains, frequency-code domains or, in three dimensions, along time-frequency-code domains.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing usage of a communications transmission medium. The transmission medium may be sliced into time and frequency domains so as to create time-frequency slices for assignment to users having varying access rates and user-application requirements. Through scheduling of the various speed users within the frequency and time domains, the system and method can efficiently allocate and make use of the available spectrum, thereby accommodating higher rate users requiring greater bandwidths and time slot assignments while still preserving cost-efficient access for lower speed users. Depending on the signal modulation scheme, the time-frequency slices may be allocated on non-contiguous frequency bands. The system and method is also applicable to code-division multiple access (CDMA) techniques by slicing the available code space along time-code domains, frequency-code domains or, in three dimensions, along time-frequency-code domains.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transmitting messages in a two-way paging system are disclosed. Reply codes corresponding to portions of a message to be transmitted by a base station and received by a mobile pager device are computed either at the base station or at the pager according to various embodiments. The reply codes, which are typically shorter and require less bandwidth than the full text to which they correspond, are incorporated by the pager into reply messages when the user of the pager device wishes to refer to portions of the text of the received message in his reply. The present invention advantageously allows the user of a pager device to respond to a received message by transmitting a reply message that incorporates part of the text of the original received message without significantly increasing the bandwidth required to transmit the response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing communications between mobile units and other communications devices, is disclosed wherein, in response to a request to call a mobile unit from an originating communications device, a paging signal is sent via a global communications network and received by a mobile unit. The paging signal contains caller and callee identification codes, which are decoded by the mobile unit. A paging response signal, in the form of a reverse call setup signal, is then transmitted from the mobile unit to the originating communications device. Transmission of the paging signal is preferably stopped when a correspondence condition exists such that the caller and callee identification codes of the paging signal correspond to the caller and caller identification codes of the paging response signal.

Abstract: A forward error correction system adaptively changes the number of parity bits, bytes or packets transmitted to a receiver, based on previous error patterns experienced recently in the reception of original and parity bits, bytes or packets by that receiver.

Abstract: A wireless communications system is arranged to provide data communications services, including error recovery, between at least one wireless end-user device and at least one one base station. The wireless end user device(s) receives(s) from the base station(s) unsolicited messages indicative of the status of data packets received by the base station(s). The wireless end-user device(s) transmit acknowledgement and request for retransmission messages only upon request, or when all the packets within a block of such packets have been received.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for memory and channel sharing in a communication switching network which uses packet switching. In one form of the invention memory and channel sharing is provided within a packet switch. The packet switch includes a memory for storing a plurality data packets and a router that routes data packets from the memory to a particular output port. The router is operable to route data packets to either a dedicated output port, in other words, an output port defined by the virtual circuit path of the data packet, or a shared output port. In another form of the invention memory and channel sharing is provided by a packet switch in conjunction with a terminal. Protection lines which are provided in transmission systems can be used as the shared channels.