Abstract: A system of controlling and managing voice and data services in a telecommunications network includes a media gateway interface coupled to a plurality of diverse voice and data media gateways operating under diverse protocols in the telecommunications network, the media gateway interface being operable to communicate service logic with the media gateways. A media gateway controller is in communications with the media gateway interface and media gateways and carries out service logic for a voice or data service according to input received from the media gateways. The system also includes a service management subsystem in communications with the media gateway controller and being operable to provision services with customers and provide service management tools for managing the services, and a service creation subsystem in communications with the service management subsystem and being operable to provide service creation tools for creating the service logic of the services.

Abstract: A repetitive burst-mode input signal that has a dark time portion, a preamble portion, and a payload portion is converted into a limited output signal in accordance with a decision threshold level, which is controlled by selectively coupling an averaged value of the burst-mode data amplitude to the decision threshold level. The timing sequence for selectively coupling the averaged signal value is controlled such that the average value of the burst-mode signal acquired during the preamble portion of the burst-mode signal is applied to the decision threshold level during substantially all of the payload portion. The control circuit may incorporate a phase-locked loop, which locks onto the repetitive dark time frequency and in response synthesizes a switchable track enable signal that controls the timing sequence of the decision threshold level. The phase-locked loop can employ all-digital, analog, and/or hybrid digital/analog circuitry.

Abstract: In a fiber-optic communications system, a shut-down apparatus in the event of a fiber-optic cable disruption includes a first optical fiber cable for propagating signals in a first direction and having a plurality of adjacent amplifiers disposed along the first cable. A second optical fiber cable for propagating signals in a second direction, opposite the first direction, includes a plurality of adjacent amplifiers disposed along the second cable. Each of the amplifiers in the second optical fiber cable are interconnected to one of the amplifiers of the first optical fiber cable to form a plurality of amplifier pairs. Circuitry is provided for terminating operation or reducing the output power level of an amplifier within the first or second optical fiber cables in the event of a cable disruption between adjacent amplifier pairs, such that an amplifier within an amplifier pair adjacent to the cable disruption terminates generation or reduces its power level to a safe level at its output.

Abstract: Monitoring or error checking equipment for use with multiplexing circuitry at the transmission end of a communication line is disclosed which accomplishes a large reduction in circuitry by using transmitter generated low speed timing signals and clock signals to demultiplex the output data into nonsymmetrical or timing irregular data. The plurality of channels of nonsymmetrical data are then each checked for parity and framing pulses as well as clock activity by time multiplexed switching equipment on a cyclical basis.