Orange S.A.

About: Orange S.A. is a company organization based out in Paris, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Terminal (electronics) & Signal. The organization has 6735 authors who have published 9190 publications receiving 156440 citations. The organization is also known as: Orange SA & France Télécom.

Zener Interminiband Resonant Breakdown in Superlattices

Abstract: Semiconductor superlattices are ideal systems to test theories involving band structure properties. We investigate here the ``Zener'' breakdown in the miniband structure of GaAs/GaAlAs superlattices, which, in contrast to interband tunneling in bulk semiconductors, exhibits resonant tunneling properties. The results of dc and microwave transport experiments are explained by a quantum sequential ladder descent model, incorporated in an effective medium description of the transport processes.

Understanding compressed sentences: the role of rhythm and meaning.

Abstract: The language user can recognize words uttered by different speakers, even when they vary their intonation and speaking rate. In this paper we focus on the user’s ability to recognize word forms regardless of whether they are spoken fast or slow. Indeed, speech rate is highly variable in natural context. For example, a word uttered in isolation may be twice as long as the same word uttered in the middle of a sentence. However, regardless of the mode in which a word is pronounced, the two resulting acoustic signals activate the same lexical representation. That people have this ability suggests that speech must be coded in a time-invariant fashion. Psychologists are quite familiar with the study of perceptual invariance for the visual When it comes to speech, however, the study of perceptual invariance, in particular that of time, has generated less interest, and we are thus still unable to explain how the acoustic/phonetic processors solve this problem. Cognitive scientists who work in the area of speech recognition generally assume that subjects use their lexical knowledge to normalize the signal. Undeniably, lexical processing does intervene at some level, but we believe that normalization of the signal is a necessary part of prelexical processing, that is, it has to take place prior to the intervention of lexical lookup routines.

Encoding of multichannel digital audio signals

Abstract: A method for coding a multi-channel audio signal representing a sound scene comprising a plurality of sound sources is provided. This method comprises decomposing the multi-channel signal into frequency bands and, per frequency band, obtaining directivity information per sound source of the sound scene, the information being representative of the spatial distribution of the sound source in the sound scene, of selecting a set of sound sources of the sound scene constituting principal sources, of matrixing the selected principal sources to obtain a sum signal with a reduced number of channels and, of coding the directivity information and of forming a binary stream comprising the coded directivity information, the binary stream being transmittable in parallel with the sum signal. A decoding method is also provided that is able to decode the sum signal and the directivity information to obtain a multi-channel signal, to an adapted coder and an adapted decoder.

The Design of a Resource-Aware Reflective Middleware Architecture

Abstract: Middleware has emerged as an important architectural component in supporting distributed applications. With the expanding role of middleware, however, a number of problems are emerging. Most significantly, it is becoming difficult for a single solution to meet the requirements of a range of application domains. Hence, the paper argues that the next generation of middleware platforms should be both configurable and re-configurable. Furthermore, it is claimed that reflection offers a principled means of achieving these goals. The paper then presents an architecture for reflective middleware based on a multi-model approach. The main emphasis of the paper is on resource management within this architecture (accessible through one of the meta-models). Through a number of worked examples, we demonstrate that the approach can support introspection, and fine- and coarse- grained adaptation of the resource management framework. We also illustrate how we can achieve multi-faceted adaptation, spanning multiple meta-models.

Method and system for real-time allocation of a resource among several entities

Abstract: A technique for the allocation and pricing of a resource among n buying agents during an auction bid. A bid sent by each buying agent in the form of a resource demand function si(p) is received, and a datum corresponding to the equilibrium price p* is calculated from the sum S of the n demand functions si(p), by means of the relation: S(p*)=Q. All of the bids received during a predetermined period corresponding to a round of bidding are processed in order to determine the quantity of a resource to be allocated to each buying agent. This is followed by the calculation of the data corresponding to the quantity ai to be allocated for this equilibrium price p* to each buying agent i based on its demand function si such that ai=si(p*). The management system utilizes the calculated data to allocate the corresponding quantities of the resource, and this data is stored in order to calculate the price to be billed to each buying agent.