Abstract: An Ethernet network comprises nodes which support a plurality of different forwarding modes. A range of VLAN Identifiers (VIDs) are allocated to each of the forwarding modes. Connections are configured between a source node and a destination node of the network using different forwarding modes. Packets carrying data traffic are sent to the destination node by selectively setting a VID in a packet to a first value, to transfer a packet via a first connection and a first forwarding mode, and a second value to transfer a packet via the second connection and the second forwarding mode. Packets received from both of the connections and sent on to an end user. VLAN Identifiers can be allocated to different releases of functionality at nodes (e.g. software releases) such that packets are forwarded via a set of nodes supporting a first release, or via a set of nodes supporting a second release.

Abstract: A method of brokering a network resource 10 includes providing a service broker processor 12 and a service broker registry 13. On receiving a request at the service broker processor to register a network resource to provide a network service, the service broker processor authenticates the request and authorises registration in the service broker registry. A network client 14 is updated with the availability of the registered network resource so that on receiving a third party request for the network service, the network client requests allocation of the registered network resource. A bearer path 54 is set up between the third party 21 and the network resource 10 to provide the requested network service.

Abstract: A technique for recovering MPLS or IP-based pseudo-wires or layer-2 VPNs to a backup site using a backup pseudo-wire is provided. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized by a mechanism that allows one end of the original pseudo-wire to dynamically and automatically establish a backup pseudo-wire to an alternate destination without requiring an operator intervention or manual configuration of alternate destinations. This mechanism is triggered when one end of an emulated service experiences a failure such as a node failure, a link failure, and the like, or an intentional shut-down. A VPN auto-discovery mechanism is employed to inform all of the potential attachment circuits of the existence of the backup destinations that can be used in case of failure situations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for facilitating emergency services via packet networks. Emergency service providers will implement emergency proxies to ensure that proper call setup requests for emergency services are forwarded to the appropriate entities, even if those entities are in overload conditions. The emergency proxies may authenticate and filter call setup requests to ensure that only proper call setup requests are forwarded to help prevent such overload conditions. The emergency proxies may operate solely in a packet network, as well as at the interface between a packet network and a circuit-switched network to assist in call setup requests originating from either the packet network or the circuit-switched network.

Abstract: A source conference function is provided for each source device, and a destination conference function is provided for each destination device. Any given user terminal may act as both a destination device when receiving media content and a source device when sending media content to facilitate bidirectional conferencing. The source device generates media content, which is sent to the associated source conference function. In general, the source conference function identifies destination conference functions to which the media content should be delivered, and delivers the media content to the identified destination conference functions. Any given destination conference function receives the media content from this and other source conference functions. The media content received from all or select of the source conference functions may be processed by the destination conference function as desired, and then mixed together to form destination media content, which is delivered to the destination device.

Abstract: A consistent tie-breaking decision between equal-cost shortest (lowest cost) paths is achieved by comparing an ordered set of node identifiers for each of a plurality of end-to-end paths. Alternatively, the same results can be achieved, on-the-fly, as a shortest path tree is constructed, by making a selection of an equal-cost path using the node identifiers of the diverging branches of the tree. Both variants allow a consistent selection to be made of equal-cost paths, regardless of where in the network the shortest paths are calculated. This ensures that traffic flow between any two nodes, in both the forward and reverse directions, will always follow the same path through the network.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio source selection process for a conference bridge. The conference bridge receives multiple audio sources and selects at least one of the audio sources based on the relative signal levels associated with the audio signal at each of the audio sources. The audio signals associated with the selected source are delivered to conference participants via one or more audio outputs. The conference bridge will repeatedly employ a selection process to select an audio source based on signal level measurements for the audio signals of the audio sources. During the selection process, the influence of a selected audio source relative to the other unselected audio sources is reduced, after the selected audio source has remained selected for more than a first time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in provided which enables fast layer 2 reconfiguration in a network that includes Routing Bridges. Each Routing Bridge stores, for each forwarding target, identifiers of a primary next Rbridge and an alternate next Rbridge. The forwarding target may be a network end node, or an Egress Rbridge associated with the network end node. In response to a trigger condition, layer 2 communications are selectively switched from a path that includes the primary next Rbridge device to a path that includes the alternate next Rbridge device.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cellular telecommunications network. Each cell has at least one base station for sending messages on a downlink of a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) to end user equipments within the cell. Other end user equipment located within the cell which have no or only poor communication directly with the base station over the FDD communicate with the base station indirectly via an intermediate end user equipment, such as a mobile telephone. The intermediate end user equipment includes an FDD transceiver and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) transceiver and an FDD/TDD interface. The intermediate end user equipment receives and sends signals to/from the base station over the FDD using the FDD transceiver and relays them via the FDD/TDD interface and the TDD transceiver towards a relevant one of the other end user equipments over a TDD.

Abstract: A radio frequency amplification unit is provided. The radio frequency amplification unit comprises a main amplifier, wherein the main amplifier is operable to amplify a first portion of an input signal, an auxiliary amplifier, wherein the auxiliary amplifier is operable to turn on and to amplify a second portion of the input signal when the amplitude of the second portion of the input signal fourth signal exceeds a threshold amplitude, and a broadband impedance transformer that is coupled between an output of the main amplifier and an output of the auxiliary amplifier. The broadband impedance transformer produces an transformed output of the main amplifier based on an output of the main amplifier. The broadband impedance transformer comprises a quarter wavelength matching line coupled to a directional coupler, wherein the directional coupler has the same electrical length as the quarter wavelength matching line.

Abstract: A method of installing forwarding state in a link state protocol controlled network node having a topology database representing a known topology of the network, and at least two ports for communication with corresponding peers of the network node. A unicast path is computed from the node to a second node in the network, using the topology database, and unicast forwarding state associated with the computed unicast path installed in a filtering database (FDB) of the node. Multicast forwarding state is removed for multicast trees originating at the second node if an unsafe condition is detected. Subsequently, a “safe” indication signal is advertised to each of the peers of the network node. The “safe” indication signal comprises a digest of the topology database. A multicast path is then computed from the network node to at least one destination node of a multicast tree originating at the second node.

Abstract: An amplification unit is provided. The amplification unit, comprises a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a first sensor, a first predistortion component, and a signal combiner. The first amplifier amplifies a first signal to produce a second signal. The first sensor produces a third signal based on the second signal. The second amplifier turns on and to amplifies a fourth signal to produce a fifth signal when the amplitude of the fourth signal exceeds a threshold amplitude and turns off when the amplitude of the fourth signal is less than the threshold amplitude. The first predistortion component produces the first signal based on a first input signal, based on the third signal, and based on an on-off state of the second amplifier. The signal combiner produces an output of the amplification unit based on the second signal and the fifth signal.

Abstract: A pseudo-wire merge is disclosed. Communicating with a first communication server enables registration of a first endpoint with the first communication server thereby enabling the first endpoint to establish a communication session under control of the first communication server with a second endpoint coupled to the communication network. Communicating with a second communication server enables registration of the first endpoint with the second communication server while the first endpoint is registered with the first communication server thereby enabling the first endpoint to establish a communication session over the communication network selectively either under the control of the second communication server or under the control of the first communication server.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and communication network system that allows an endpoint to be simultaneously registered with more than one communications server is described. In one embodiment, the communication network system includes a network, a plurality of communications servers that are coupled to the network, and a plurality of endpoints coupled to the network. Each endpoint is capable of being simultaneously registered with more than one communications server. A communication method for an endpoint involves registering a first logical line of the endpoint with a first communications server, and registering a second logical line of the endpoint with a second communications server. Consequently, flexibility is obtained by allowing an endpoint to choose the registering communications server for each logical line of the endpoint.

Abstract: When a damaged packet has been forwarded to or towards a destination terminal, a forwarding device or a destination terminal will determine if the packet is damaged, and if it is damaged, determine whether the content of the packet is time-sensitive. If the content is time-sensitive, the damage to the packet is assessed, and if possible, an attempt to repair the damage is made. Repair may include correcting the damaged data or packet, deciding to use the damaged data because the damage is minimal, or replacing all or a part of the damaged data with a normalized set of data. If repair is not possible and replacement of the damaged portion is not available or desirable, the packet is discarded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism for providing state information, which bears on the presence of a telephone user, to a presence system. The state information is derived by monitoring events relating to telephony use. Once derived, the state information is directly or indirectly sent to a presence service, which provides presence information to applications requiring such information about the telephone user. The state information preferably bears on the presence, absence, or availability of the telephone user based on their interaction with a telephony device or function. In one embodiment, a telephony switching system is configured to monitor events associated with a telephony device or function and send messages to a presence service over a packet-switched network when the state of the telephony device or function changes. In another embodiment, an IP telephone system is configured to provide state information to the presence service.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for providing a forced hold service such as is used for an emergency services call, which is supported at least in part over a packet network. The forced hold service acts to effectively hold a connection for the call with a called party, even when the caller takes an action that would normally end a call, such as going on hook, pressing end, or the like. When the caller takes an action that would normally end the call, the forced hold service allows the caller to automatically reconnect to the emergency services provider over the held connection upon going offhook, pressing send, or the like. Alternatively, the emergency services provider can effectively re-engage the call wherein the caller is reconnected over the held connection upon going offhook, pressing send, or the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to an advertisement machine which provides advertisements to a user searching for desired information within a data network. The machine receives, from a user, a search request including a search argument corresponding to the desired information and searches, based upon the received search argument, a first database having data network related information to generate search results. It also correlates the received search argument to a particular advertisement in a second database having advertisement related information. The search results together with the particular advertisement are provided by the machine to the user.

Abstract: A technique for enabling a plurality of software components to communicate in a software component matrix environment is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized by a method for enabling a plurality of software components to communicate in a software component matrix environment comprising the steps of encoding a request at a client side; communicating the request to a server at a server side via a communication interface; comparing the request to a plurality of operations supported at the server side; determining whether a function match exists at the server side; and returning a response comprising the function match to the client side in response to the request via the communication interface wherein the response is mapped to a data model of a client.

Abstract: Link identifiers such as VIDs, selected from a defined range of values, are locally assigned by each node on a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network to each of its links or adjacencies. The link identifiers are assigned by the nodes such that each link or adjacency at the node is uniquely identified by a different link identifier. A link state protocol adjacency notification mechanism or other flooding mechanism is used to disseminate the locally assigned link identifiers to other nodes on the link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. The link identifiers are added by the nodes to their topology databases to enable detour routes to be locally calculated by the nodes on the network in a distributed manner. Upon occurrence of a failure, the link identifiers are used to source route traffic around the failure so that traffic may continue to traverse the link state protocol controlled Ethernet network.