Abstract: The memory of the optical line terminal (OLT) of a broadband passive optical network (BPON) is increased to store, in addition to an active identity number, such as the serial number, of the current optical network terminal (ONT) connected to a network end point, a standby identity number, such as the serial number, of a replacement optical network terminal (ONT) when upgrades are requested by the end users, or partial or total failures are reported by the end users.

Abstract: An error in a passive optical network is identified by communicating to an optical network terminal on the passive optical network a request to transmit a response signal at a predetermined power level, receiving the response signal in response to the request, and measuring a power level of the response signal. A predetermined channel power level is compared to the power level of the response signal and a status of the optical network terminal is determined based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the insertion and extraction of a PC board into and from a card cage, comprising a mounting body, an engager, and an actuator. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus has a ring-shaped mounting body having a clearance hole therethrough. The apparatus is sliadably and rotatably mounted on a cylindrical rod through the clearance hole such that the apparatus is slidably rotatable along the length of the cylindrical rod. In operation, the engager is positioned in physical contact with the PC board in a notch in the board such that when a force is applied to the actuator, the engager is effected to urge the board to move in the direction of the force.

Abstract: The bus circuit of a master electronics card in a backplane-based communications system adaptively grants the upstream bus to the slave electronics cards by the early termination of a scheduled number of grants to a slave electronics card when the bus circuit on the master electronics card detects idle cells.

Abstract: A primary server and a backup server that both run a RADIUS client in a cold start configuration share a single IP address that includes a limited number of message identifiers (MIDs). The primary server and the backup server each have a small number of fixed message identifiers. In addition, a large number of shared message identifiers are used by the primary server, and then used by the backup server a predetermined time after the primary server fails.

Abstract: A cabinet which utilizes an air-to-air heat exchanger to remove heat generated from within the cabinet prevents water and dust from entering the air-to-air heat exchanger by forcing cooler external air up along a first side wall, through the air-to-air heat exchanger, and down along a second side wall.

Abstract: A next-generation network utilizes a three-tier, cascading fault approach to providing emergency stand-alone (ESA) switching in a circuit-to-packet (C2P) network. Calls that are placed to destination numbers which are connected to the same local network device are completed even when connectivity with a community network level has been interrupted, while calls that are placed to destination numbers which are connected to the same community are completed even when connectivity with a gateway media controller has been interrupted.

Abstract: A latch in a door is protected from an unauthorized entry by forming a first bracket that fits around the latch, and a second bracket that is rotatably connected to the first latch. The second bracket covers the latch when rotated to be in a first position, and exposes the latch when rotated to be in a second position.

Abstract: A scrambling operation is used to space apart the grants that a communication circuit receives during a period of time, such as 512 arbitration periods. An operator can enter the number of arbitration periods that a communication circuit is to receive in blocks of sequential logical address ranges. The logical addresses are then changed to physical addresses that are spaced apart, thereby significantly reducing the buffering required by the communication circuit.

Abstract: An electronics card, such as a backplane, is precisely aligned with a structure, such as a card cage, via alignment tabs by forming the electronics card to have alignment openings that extend through the electronics card and snuggly accept the tabs. The alignment opening has a width, while the tabs have a thickness that is greater than zero and less than the width. Further, the alignment openings have lengths that are the same size as the lengths of the alignment tabs.

Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by forming walls in an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.

Abstract: Access to a bus is granted to one of a number of requesting communication circuits that each submitted a bus control request during a request period of an arbitration period in response to the entries in a priority table. If a requesting communication circuit has an identity and priority that match the identity and priority of a communication circuit stored in a row of the priority table that corresponds with the arbitration period, access to the bus is granted to the requesting communication circuit.

Abstract: A low-cost, high-speed, bus-based communication system is provided that includes a master electronics card, a number of slave electronics cards, and a backplane that interconnects the master and the slave electronics cards via a serial bus, a parallel bus and some common signals for clocking and synchronization.

Abstract: When a first pair of power connectors are inserted into a second pair of power connectors, the connectors are prevented from electrically and physically separating by a retaining clip that fits into the locking opening between the first pair of power connectors, and the locking opening between the second pair of power connectors.

Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by connecting walls to an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.

Abstract: The power required to search a content addressable memory (CAM) is substantially reduced by forming the CAM to have a number of CAM banks with a corresponding number of power switches that control power to the CAM banks, and then controlling the power to search the CAM banks one at a time.

Abstract: Access to a bus is granted to one of a number of requesting communication circuits that each submitted a bus control request during a request period of an arbitration period in response to grant information which can be stored in a primary and a backup priority table. If a requesting communication circuit has an identity and priority that match the identity and priority of a communication circuit stored in a row of the primary or backup priority table that corresponds with the arbitration period, and the identities stored in the tables match only one requesting communication circuit, access to the bus is granted to the requesting communication circuit.