Abstract: A system for use by a computer to determine which network addresses are being used by other computers or other devices in a network includes an address inquiry message packet generator module configured to enable the computer to transmit address inquiry message packets over a network in one or more iterations. Each address inquiry message packet includes a network address. The address inquiry message packet generator module is configured to enable the computer to transmit address inquiry message packets for a selected number of network addresses during each iteration. An iteration control module is configured to control the timing of successive iterations of transmission of address inquiry message packets by the computer in relation to reception by the computer of response message packets responding to the address inquiry message packets.

Abstract: A packet data communication network includes a plurality of base stations for communicating with mobile stations of a user over packet data traffic channels. Radio transmission control nodes control the operation of the plurality of base stations and a scheduler associated with each of the base stations is configured to allocate a first logical control channel associated with a first user application on a first part of an available radio channel resource, and to allocate a second logical control channel associated with at least a second user application on a second part of the available radio channel resource.

Abstract: There is disclosed for use in a narrowband wireless messaging network, a subscriber communication unit that uses a miscellaneous ALOHA message to transmit predefined messages and/or formatted telemetry data to a base station. The subscriber communication unit comprises a transceiver for receiving messages from the base station in a forward channel and transmitting messages to the base station in a reverse channel. The reverse channel is divided into a plurality of scheduled transmission time slots and a plurality of unscheduled transmission time slots of the ALOHA type. A message controller receives input data generated by the subscriber communication unit and translates the input data into a reverse channel message capable of being transmitted in an available unscheduled time slot, such as a miscellaneous ALOHA message time slot.

Abstract: A variable delay circuit is formed by a fine delay circuit and a coarse delay circuit. The fine delay circuit adjusts the delay of a delayed clock signal in relatively small phase increments with respect to an input clock signal. The coarse delay circuit adjusts the timing of a digital signal in relatively large phase increments. The delayed clock signal is used to clock a register to which the digital signal is applied to control the timing a the digital signal clocked through the register responsive to adjusting the timing of the fine delay circuit and the coarse delay circuit. The timing relationship is initially adjusted by altering the delay of the fine delay circuit. Whenever the maximum or minimum delay of the fine delay circuit is reached, the coarse delay circuit is adjusted. The variable delay circuit may be used in a memory device to control the timing at which read data is applied to the data bus of the memory device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.

Abstract: A semi-transparent time division multiplexer/demultiplexer that transmits low rate tributaries from one location to another using a high rate aggregate connection, while preserving substantially all of the TOH and payload for each tributary signal. Transparency of the tributary TOH is accomplished by interleaving both the TOH and the Payload of each tributary into the high rate aggregate signal. Some TOH bytes may be tunneled or re-mapped into unused/undefined TOH locations in the aggregate signal to allow transparency of the TOH without corrupting the aggregate. Errors may be handled by tunneling BIP bytes into unused/undefined aggregate locations and updating the tunneled bytes with error masks calculated at each network elements. Alternatively errors may be forwarded by using an error mask generated from the tributary BIP locations and inserting the mask into the associated aggregate BIP locations. The mask in the aggregate BIP is updated with error masks calculated at each network elements.

Abstract: A method of identifying a segment and end-to-end OAM flow VPC context table for one of a plurality of VCCs corresponding to the VPC. Each VCC has a context table. Each VCC context table has a pointer. The pointer contains the address of the context table for the segment and end-to-end OAM flow VPC. Provisioned connections supported by the ATM switching system are repeatedly scanned. If a VCC has an active F4-to-F5 OAM process, the pointer is extracted from that VCC's context table, identifying the context table of the corresponding segment and end-to-end OAM flow VPC. If the VPC is in the VP-AIS alarm state, the current VCC outputs a VCC-AIS cell. A continuity check is repeatedly performed by updating the appropriate F4 OAM connection context table whenever a VCC cell is received on a corresponding F5 connection, preventing the F4 connection from raising a continuity check alarm.

Abstract: A network comprises routers, wherein at least some of the routers are configured to receive a number of datastreams and to output an aggregated datastream. Subject to the precondition that a limiting bit rate ri and a number of burst bits bi can be quoted for each datastream i supplied to a router from outside the network, such that the number Aiin(t1, t2) of data bits which are received at an input of the routers, between a time t1 and a later time t2, satisfies the relationship Aiin(t1, t2)?ri*(t2?t1)+bi, each router j controls the output of data packets in the aggregated datastream ia(j) such that, for a limiting bit rate Ria(j)ag and for a predeterminable burst bit number Bia(j), the number Aia(j)out(t1, t2) of data bits output in the aggregated datastream ia(j) satisfies the relationship Aia(j)out(t1, t2)?Ria(j)ag*(t2?t1)+Bia(j), wherein Ria(j)ag and Bia(j) are independent of the observation time period.

Abstract: The present invention is a communications protocol which provides for voice and data priority channels in order that both voice and data information have equal opportunity to transmit over a communications network. This is achieved by splitting the 25 millisecond FCC dwell time into two 12.5 millisecond halves, and dedicating one half to voice packets and the other half to data frames. In the voice priority channel, the frequency hopping interval is doubled. Additionally, both channels operate independently, each maintaining independent bidding, data transmission, acknowledgement and retransmission. Pad packets are used to insure voice channel connectivity.

Abstract: A method of placing a first call to a designated number to retrieve a voice message over a packet switched network. The voice message is retrieved from a computer and a specific code is entered to prompt the computer to call an originator of the retrieved voice message. A second call is placed, via the computer, to the originator of the retrieved voice message. The call information of a packet carrying voice information of the first call is changed to correspond with call information of the second call when the packet is sent from the first call to the second call.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting a serial signal comprises a first circuit (400) coupled to receive the serial signal (200) during a predetermined plurality of time periods of substantially equal duration. The first circuit is coupled to receive a first code (414). The first circuit is arranged to compare a part of the serial signal corresponding to each time period of the plurality of time periods to the first code, thereby producing a match signal. The first circuit accumulates the match signal from each of the each time period of the plurality of time periods.

Abstract: A network communication device for directing data units over a communication network includes at least one input and/or output port arranged to receive and/or transmit data units, a plurality of buffer units divided into several sub-pools, and a buffer allocator for allocating buffer units between the sub-pools. The buffer allocator is arranged to determine a priority value for each sub-pool based on quality of service for each connection established at at least one port. The buffer allocator is also arranged to determine a utilization value of the port, and arranged to allocate buffer units for each sub-pool based on the priority value and based on the utilization value. The buffer allocator creates a precedence list to ensures that a minimal number of connections, which are established at a most utilized port, will suffer data unit loss while receiving the data units.

Abstract: A system for determining an order of service of temporarily stored objects, at least one priority flag being attached to certain objects, includes a set of storage units disposed in a matrix organized into C subsets of elements, where C is the number of objects stored temporarily. Each subset corresponds to an object and all the subsets include the same number P of elements corresponding to P time positions. Each element includes a memory which can receive at least one time priority flag. A first time position selector determines, within the matrix, and from all the subsets, the element(s) marked by a particular time priority flag and corresponding to the time position having the lowest value.

Abstract: A network switch and a method for data switching using a crossbar switch fabric with output port groups operating concurrently and independently that increases throughput and reduces scheduling complexity. The network switch includes a crossbar switch fabric, plurality of output port groups, and a plurality of input ports. The crossbar switch fabric includes a plurality of inputs and outputs. The plurality of output port groups operate concurrently and independently, and each output port group includes one or more output ports and is configured to receive a packet from one of the outputs of the crossbar switch and to send the packet to an output port. The plurality of input ports are coupled to an input of the crossbar switch fabric and configured to send packets to the crossbar switch fabric through the input of the crossbar switch fabric.

Abstract: A network architecture for use in a data traffic network that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of data links coupling the nodes. The network architecture includes a working data link(220) that forms a signal pathway between a first router (200) and a second router (210) within the network. A protection data link(255) is likewise provided and forms a second signal pathway. The routers (200, 210) include both working data ports (312) and protection data ports (314) with each port including associated transmit and receive terminals. A combination of line splitting devices (250), line selection devices (260) and switch arrays (430, 435) are used to switch the flow of traffic data from the working data link (220) to the protection data link (255) or a protection channel (450) as is appropriate.

Abstract: A node for use in a multi-source ring transmission system includes a controller and storage. Identifiers, such as ring addresses, for the relative first and relative last source nodes within the ring transmissions system are stored within the node's storage, in a squelch table for example. The node's relative first source node is the source node farthest upstream from the node and the node's relative last source node is the node that is farthest downstream from the node. The node blocks communications whenever both its relative first source node and its relative last source node fail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the receiver directed assignment of receive slots in a dynamic assignment communication system. The apparatus including a memory component storing communication assignment data for a plurality of time slots in a time multiplex structure and a processor component capable of identifying a set of available time slots from the plurality of time slots. The apparatus being capable of assigning itself a receive slot, which can be a broadcast receive slot, from the set of available time slots. The method involves establishing a network wherein network communication is accomplished via assignment of specific time slots of a time multiplex structure. The method further involves determining a set of available time slots suitable for reception, by a receiving node, of a communication from a neighboring node, the receiving node then assigning to itself a receive slot from the set of available time slots.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication link between an internet telephony device and a PSTN telephone during a user registration period comprises receiving data from a user indicating a plurality of frequently called countries, accessing a gateway provider table comprising data on a plurality of gateway providers that provide service to the plurality of frequently called countries, determining the lowest cost gateway provider for the plurality of frequently called countries, and displaying to the user information on the lowest cost gateway provider for the plurality of frequently called countries.

Abstract: An asymmetric network system manages bandwidth allocation and configuration of remote devices in a broadband network. A modular architecture of the system permits independent scalability of upstream and downstream capacity separately for each of the upstream and downstream physical paths. Allocation of downstream bandwidth to requesting devices is made according to bandwidth utilization by other devices, bandwidth demand by the requesting remote device, class or grade of service by the requesting remote device or bandwidth guaranteed to other remote devices.

Abstract: The present invention permits quality-of-service routing without using any flow pinning or per-flow state mechanisms. In accordance with the present invention, load insensitive routing techniques are utilized for QoS traffic while load sensitive routing techniques are utilized for best effort traffic. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, conventional static shortest path routing is utilized for flows that require QoS guarantees while known QoS routing techniques are utilized for best effort flows. Unlike the prior art, a single queue per class per link can be utilized at a network node. The present invention has numerous advantages over the prior art including reduced protocol overhead, lower cost, and reduced route instability.