Abstract: One or more nodes on a communication network are selected and set as one node group. In each of the nodes, group identification information representing the node group to which the node belongs is stored in advance. The group identification information is attached to the header of a data packet to be transmitted, so that nodes constituting a node group that should commonly receive data can be readily identified by comparing the group identification information imparted to the transmitted data packet and the group identification information stored in each receiving node. Given node can choose to become a node of a particular function, such as a clock master node, in which case control is performed to delete, from the node group, a node having so far played the role of the node of the particular function in such a manner that there exists only one node of the particular function per node group.

Abstract: Disclosed are a radio link control (RLC) entity and a data processing method for the RLC entity. The RLC entity includes a transmission data storing module that stores PDUs corresponding to SDUs transmitted from a first upper layer and outputs the stored PDUs by SDU units, a ciphering module that ciphers the PDUs stored in the transmission data storing module and transmitting the ciphered PDUs to a first RLC entity, a deciphering module that deciphers the ciphered PDUs transmitted from a second RLC entity, and a received data storing module that stores the deciphered PDUs and outputs the PDUs toward a second upper layer in the form of SDU units.

Abstract: A WAP-enabled device can request text-based and/or voice based content from a WAP Server. The WAP device communicates over a conventional wireless service provider network using a base station connected to a conventional Mobile Switching Center. The wireless service provider network provides a connection between the WAP device and a WAP Gateway. The WAP Gateway operates as a gateway between the wireless service provider network and the TCP/IP-based Internet. WAP data requests are sent from the WAP gateway through the Internet to the WAP Server. Requests for voice-based content can also be delivered to the WAP Server over this path. When a request for voice-based content delivery is received by the WAP Server, the WAP Server responds by sending a TCP/IP instruction to a Voice Portal Node. The Voice Portal Node is operative to establish a voice-based communication session with the WAP device. The WAP Server will transmit voice-based content to the Voice Portal Node for delivery to the WAP device.

Abstract: The present invention defines a method to optimize PPP negotiations during a data communication session between two peer network elements in a network. During the configuration cycle of a PPP negotiation, the responding network element uses the option values of the first configuration request packet sent by the sending network element to predict the option values of the next configuration request packet that the sending network element will send. The responding network element then generates a response packet based on the predicted option values. The responding network element forwards the response packet before the next request packet is received from the sending network element. Once the response packets are forwarded, the internal states of the responding network element are set appropriately to initiate communication for the next protocol level.

Abstract: An antenna 20 receives signals orthogonal to each other transmitted from different antennas of a base station, and a despreader 202 and a spreader 203 despread the respective received signals using the same spreading code used in the base station, a demodulator 204 and a demodulator 205 demodulate the despread signals, a reception power measuring section 207 and a reception power measuring section 208 measure reception power from the demodulation results, a reception power combiner 209 combines measured reception power, and a transmission power controller 212 controls transmission power based on combined reception power. This makes it possible to perform open loop transmission power control at high speed and with high accuracy even when a fading variation is small.

Abstract: In a method for improving the transmission efficiency in a communication system with a layered protocol stack, data packets are processed on an upper protocol layer. Data packets are forwarded to a lower protocol layer for transmission and the transmission is performed with variable channel access delays. The upper protocol layer is notified by the lower protocol layer when a transmission is started to allow a synchronization of timers in the upper protocol layer. If a layer performs a scheduling of data packets for the transmission, a rescheduling is performed alternatively or in addition during a channel access delay. Devices and software programs embodying the invention are also described.

Abstract: A cable modem communicates the timing of the arrival of certain packets (such as TCP ACK packets) to a cable modem termination system. This timing feature is useful in methods for increasing the throughput in the downstream direction by eliminating TCP ACKs backing up at a cable modem. In particular, a cable modem termination system implementing an unsolicited bandwidth grant service in which unsolicited grants of bandwidth are sent by the cable modem termination system to the cable modem. The grants of bandwidth are timed to arrive at the cable modem simultaneous with or shortly after the arrival of the TCP ACK from an end station connected to the cable modem. Several methods of calculating or predicting when the unsolicited grants should be sent to the cable modem are described. The method is also applicable to other types of packets, such as voice packets from a end station implementing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for managing data communications between hosts (9) of a switched Ethernet network (8). Hosts (9) are assigned to logical groups of hosts such that the hosts participating in a data communication are assigned to the same group. In a switch (1) of the network, each group is associated with a service class indicative of requirements for forwarding data across the switch (1) for data communications between hosts (9) in that group. Data received by the switch (1) is forwarded across the switch in a manner dependent on the service class of the group to which hosts (9) participating in the data communication are assigned. In the switch (1), data communications between hosts (9) in one or more of said groups are disabled when required to satisfy the forwarding requirements for at least one said service class.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer is provided that operates in a synchronous optical network (SONET). The multiplexer includes a plurality of inputs and a processor operationally coupled to the inputs. The multiplexer also includes a plurality of optical outputs coupled to the inputs via the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive data from at least two of the plurality of inputs. The processor is also configured to packetize the received data and route the packetized data to at least two of the plurality of optical outputs.

Abstract: Protocols for ad-hoc wireless networks (200) that use mediation devices (202–210) to facilitate communication between low power, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) are provided. In order to avoid premature battery exhaustion in particular devices, devices operating as mediation devices (202–210) report their communication load to low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) that are positioned to be able to use the mediation devices (202–210). Based on the information as to communication load received from multiple mediation devices (202–210), and optionally on a virtual hop count that is a predictor of how rapidly the use of a route through a particular mediation device will lead to battery exhaustion, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) choose a mediation device (202–210) to use or proportion use of mediation devices (202–210) in order to delay battery exhaustion in the network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an advanced multiplexing technique to allow a single host to support multiple Internet Protocol (IP) queue pairs with little or no overhead are provided. With the apparatus and method, after a queue pair is created, Internet Protocol filter attributes and values are set up for the queue pair through value added features to the standard InfiniBand “QP Modify” method. The IP filters are used during normal operations to determine which queue pair is associated with an incoming packet. During normal operations, when a channel adapter receives an Internet Protocol (IP) over InfiniBand (IB) packet, it uses one or more of several fields in the packet's transport and/or network header to determine which queue pair shall receive the packet. Thus, the host channel adapter uses the IP filters to route incoming packets to the appropriate queue pair and thereby allow more than one queue pair to be used to support IP.

Abstract: A network switch that has a plurality of input ports that receive data packets. An external interface is connected to the plurality of input ports. The external interface externally transmits the data packets for processing, and receives the data packets after processing. A memory management unit is connected to the external interface and a plurality of output ports are connected to the memory management unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the transfer of voice traffic in a Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) gateway are disclosed, which are capable of transferring the voice traffic without use of a central processing unit (CPU). The gateway provides an interface between an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The gateway includes a first ATM interface that communicates an ATM cell signal with the ATM network, a vocoder that communicates a voice signal with the PSTN by a channel, and a time division multiplex (TDM) bus that communicates a voice traffic signal between the first ATM interface and the vocoder.

Abstract: A communication system that provides link sharing between communication devices within the system. A first communication device communicates with the service provider over a first link and a second communication device communicates with the service provider over a second link. The second communication device determines a need for additional bandwidth and transmits a request for the additional bandwidth. The second communication device receives an instruction message responsive to the request that grants the second communication device access to available bandwidth on the first link. The second communication device then communicates with the service provider over a third link and the first link at the available bandwidth wherein the third link connects the second communication device and the first communication device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for managing database servers and services is disclosed, which expands the capabilities of existing systems by providing better scalability and security. A database management system includes databases consisting of database clients and servers that handle the storing of information, a multi-database client that manages database servers, service modules which allow other systems to access the database servers, and a database access manager that manages requests from the service modules. A database access manager facilitates and coordinates interaction between the service modules and the multi-database client. Service modules provide interfaces from which other external or internal systems can access the managed databases. Requests can be sent between systems and the database access manager via the service modules. Two present and representative implementations of service modules are: user management and call detail record (CDR) collection.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for limiting tunnel traffic in a network. Traffic engineering tunnels are used to direct traffic along a predefined path, which may differ from the path that internet protocol (IP) routing would determine. Interior gateway protocol (IGP) cut through will allow the forwarding of all destinations downstream of a tunnel through the tunnel, without the operator needing to specify a forwarding equivalence class (FEC). But congestion in the tunnel and network instability may result from this approach. A solution to these problems is disclosed which limits the traffic in the tunnel to only that with destination addresses of the tunnel's egress router or nodes directly supported thereby. Other solutions are disclosed which allow tunnel traffic to nodes having destination addresses other than those being directly supported by the tunnel's egress router. All of these solutions are achieved in both pre-determined forwarding entry and dynamic packet-by packet embodiments.

Abstract: Every time a packet is received from a server, a communication performance measuring equipment transmits/receives a predetermined control packet to/from a client and a branching node, respectively, thereby collecting information about communication environment. Based on the information and a predetermined delay model, a delay time in delivering the same packet from the server to the client is estimated, and, according to the delay time, transmission timing of an acknowledge packet in response to the received packet is controlled. Thus, it is possible to accurately measure communication performance between an arbitrary client and an arbitrary server, no matter where the communication performance measuring equipment is physically arranged.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a bi-directional switching operation for a synchronous transfer mode (STM-1) signal transmission line of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch is disclosed. The system and method provide a rapid bi-directional switching operation through a 1+1 structure, being compatible with a 1+N structure, using MSP (Multiplex Section Protection) protocol. The process includes determining whether a signal fail has occurred, determining whether a priority of the signal fail is higher than that of a current signal fail determining whether a target station uses the same protocol as a source station if the priority of the signal fail is higher and performing a switching operation and transmitting a switching notification signal to the target station if the same protocol is used by the target station.

Abstract: A fanning route generation technique is provided for multi-path networks having a shared communications fabric. The technique includes selecting a source node—destination node (S-D) group having common starting and ending sets of links from the network of interconnected nodes. Within this group, selecting the shortest routes between the S-D nodes of the group so that: selected routes substantially uniformly fan out from the source node to a center of the network and fan in from the center of the network to the destination node, thereby achieving local balance; and global balance of routes passing through links that are at a same level of the network is achieved.

Abstract: A digital signal processor. The digital signal processor includes a content addressable memory (CAM) array for storing entries. The digital signal processor includes a partitioned priority index table having a plurality of rows and columns of priority blocks. Each row of the plurality of rows of priority blocks is capable of storing a priority number associated with an entry in the CAM array. Each column of the plurality of columns of priority blocks has compare logic coupled to each of the priority blocks in its respective column. The digital signal processor includes an encoder coupled to the partitioned priority index table.