Abstract: A system is provided for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure in a building (10) having a plurality of different localized areas (20). The system includes: a main fan or set of main fans (12) that is selectively controlled to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building (10); a plurality of interior sensors (22), each interior sensor (22) arranged to detect a localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building; a plurality of auxiliary fans (26), each auxiliary fan (26) being provisioned to selectively modify the localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building (10); and, a control unit (11) that is in operative communication with the plurality of sensors (22) to obtain air pressure readings therefrom, in operative communication with the plurality of auxiliary fans (26) to control operation thereof, and in operative communication with the main fan or set of main fans (12) to control operation thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing data wirelessly transmitted between a wireless peripheral (20) and a computer (10) to which the wireless peripheral (20) is wirelessly connected. The apparatus includes: a first device (30) that is operatively connected to a first component, the first component being the wireless peripheral (20); and, a second device (32) that is operatively connected to a second component, the second component being the computer (10). Suitably, at least one of the devices is operative to encrypt data from one of the components to which it is operatively connected prior to the data being wirelessly transmitted to the other one of the components, and at least the other one of the devices is operative to decrypt the data wirelessly received at the other one of the components.

Abstract: A method is provided in a wireless telecommunications network (10) for capturing data regarding mobile stations (40) served by the network (10). The method includes: monitoring a designated geographic area provided wireless service by the telecommunications network (10) to detect call failures occurring in the monitored area; counting a number of failures detected via the monitoring that occur within a designated timeframe; comparing the counted number of failures to a threshold value; and, in response to the counted number of failures exceeding the threshold value, recording data regarding mobile stations (40) served by the network (10) that are recognized by the network (10) as at least one of in or near the monitored area.

Abstract: A system that implements the display of the well-recognized MLPP keypad generated by a computer-based application adaptable for any authorized user. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a system is provided for emulating an MLPP telephone. The exemplary system comprises a data entry portion that accepts telephone call initiation information, including MLPP priority information, from a user, and an information display portion that displays information relating to the data entry portion. In one form of the invention, the data entry portion comprises a visual representation, on a display device, of an MLPP telephone keypad, and a data input device. The visual representation, on a display device, may be a visual representation on a video display terminal associated with a personal computer.

Abstract: An electrically powered device (10) is provided that is equipped to receive television transmissions. Suitably, the device (10) is operative in one of two states, including a first state in which the device (10) is powered up for normal operation and a second state in which the device (10) is powered down for operation in a standby mode.

Abstract: A method is provided in a telecommunications network for clandestinely providing a transmission relay service (TRS) to a called party (30). The method includes: receiving a first call from a calling party (10), the first call being received at a network node (40) serving a called party (30) for which the first call is intended; detecting the called party (30) answering the first call; and, determining whether or not to invoke a feature (44) supported by the network node (40).

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises an application server component that associates a data stream with a call through employment of an identifier within a message associated with the call.

Abstract: A method of throttling priority service traffic in a telecommunications network is disclosed. The method includes: monitoring a rate at which priority service requests are received at a node of the network; comparing the rate to a threshold; disabling a gapping function for priority service traffic when the rate is less than the threshold; enabling the gapping function for priority service traffic when the rate is not less than the threshold, and, dynamically regulating a parameter of the gapping function when the gapping function is enabled.

Abstract: A method is provided for regulating transmission power levels for wireless calls. The method includes: determining whether or not a mobile station (MS) (90) is outside a service area of a wireless telecommunications network (70); detecting whether or not a call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; setting a transmission power level of the MS (90) in response to the MS (90) being outside the service area of the wireless network (70) and detecting that the call placed by the MS (90) is a priority call; transmitting call set-up signaling from the MS (90) at the transmission power level set for the MS (90); determining whether or not a base station (BS) (82) of the wireless network (70) receives the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); setting a transmission power level of the BS (82) in response to the BS (82) receiving the call set-up signaling from the MS (90); and, transmitting a reply to the call set-up signaling from the BS (82) at the transmission power level set for the BS (82).

Abstract: A system is provided for selectively connecting a plurality of diverse power adapters (12) to a specific portable electronic device (10). The system including: a set of connector converters (30), each connector converter (30) having a first end (32) which is configured the same as the first end (32) of every other connector converter (30) in the set; and a second end (34) opposite the first end (32), wherein the second end (34) is configured differently from the second end (34) of every other connector converter (30) in the set.

Abstract: A method for eliminating expired personal messages routed over a telecommunications network includes: receiving a message from a message originator for an intended recipient; at least temporarily storing the message; determining when the message expires based upon an expiration parameter included with the message; and, deleting the stored message automatically after the message expires.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a building (10) includes: one or more microphones (22) arranged outside the building (10) to detect external noise; one or more speakers (24) arranged inside the building (10), the speakers (24) selectively producing sound within the building (10); and, a noise cancellation processor (28) that receives an output from the microphones (22) and in response thereto controls the speakers (24) so as to substantially cancel sound propagated into the building (10) due to the external noise detected by the microphones (22).

Abstract: A system for processing emergency calls in a telecommunications network includes: receiving a first call at a node (30) of the telecommunications network from a calling party that originated the first call; detecting that the received first call is an emergency call; establishing a conference bridge in response to the detected emergency call; connecting the emergency call over the conference bridge to a designated facility (40) that handles emergency calls; and, automatically originating at least one second call from the node (30) to at least one predetermined third party that is different than the calling party and the facility (40).

Abstract: A security system is provided for a facility (10). The security system includes: a central monitoring station (20) that controls one or more security measures for the facility (10); and, a heart rate monitor (30) that detects a heart rate of an individual (50), the heart rate monitor (30) being in wireless communication with the central monitoring station (20). Suitably, the central monitoring station (20) selectively implements one or more of the security measures in response to a determination that an abnormal heart rate has been detected.

Abstract: A method of administering a priority service is provided in a telecommunications network (20). The priority service provides higher priority handling of calls employing the service as compared to calls not employing the service for purposes of call completion. The method includes: obtaining at least one authentication credential from a user placing a call over the network (20); verifying a validity of the obtained credential; designating the call for priority handling if the credential is valid, otherwise designating the call for non-priority handling if the credential is invalid; and, attempting to complete the call over the network (20) in accordance with the designated handling.

Abstract: A network is provided that includes: a central node (30) and a plurality of other nodes (32); a plurality of first communication links (34) interconnecting the central node (30) to the plurality of other nodes (32) to form a star network topology; and, a plurality of second communication links (36) interconnecting the plurality of other nodes (32) to form a mesh network topology.

Abstract: A piece of telecommunications equipment (A) includes: a plurality of circuit packs (20), each circuit pack (20) including a circuit arranged thereon and a first connector (24) in communication with the circuit; a rack (10) including a plurality of slots (12), each slot (12) including a second connector (14) and being arranged to have at least one of the circuit packs (20) selectively installed therein such that when a circuit pack (20) is installed in a slot (12) the first connector (24) of the circuit pack (20) operatively connects with the second connector (14) of the slot (12); a plurality of locking mechanisms, each of the locking mechanisms being associated with one of the slots (12); and, a controller (40) that selectively engages and disengages the locking mechanisms such that when a locking mechanism is engaged a circuit pack (20) installed in the corresponding slot (12) is secured therein and when a locking mechanism is disengaged a circuit pack (20) installed in the corresponding slot (12) is free t

Abstract: A therapeutic facemask (10) includes a main body (12). The main body (12) includes a hydrophilic core (20), and a moisture permeable membrane (22) in which the hydrophilic core (20) is enclosed.

Abstract: A method of logging call data for failed emergency calls includes: receiving from a calling party an emergency call that is to be routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) (40) over a telecommunications network (20); determining if the received emergency call is connected to the PSAP (40); and, if the received emergency call fails to be connected to the PSAP (40), then capturing selected call data regarding the failed emergency call and recording the captured call data.

Abstract: A method for routing emergency calls is provided for emergency calls placed over a packet-switched network (310) from a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) (110) at a remote location (100). The method includes: registering the CPE (110) with a home Internet Service Provider (ISP) (260) through a remote ISP (130) that is providing the CPE (110) access to the packet-switched network (310); determining that the CPE is at a remote location (100); obtaining a local Internet Protocol (IP) address that corresponds to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) (170) serving the remote location (100); routing non-emergency calls to the home ISP (260) for call processing; and, handling emergency calls locally at the remote ISP (130) in accordance with the obtained local IP address.