Abstract: A method and a system of network capacity planning for use in a high speed packet switching network. The network comprises a plurality of switching nodes interconnected through a plurality of communication links, each of the switching nodes comprises means for switching packets from at least one input link to at least one output link. Each of the output links is coupled to at least one buffer in the switching node for queuing packets before they are transmitted over the output link. In each of the switching nodes and for each of the output links, a time distribution of the occupancy of each buffer during a predetermined monitoring time period is measured, and stored in a centralized memory location. Then, the buffer occupancy time distribution data are retrieved from the centralized memory location in all the switching nodes, gathered and stored in a network dedicated server.

Abstract: The specification relates to a device and method utilized for packaging voice data (and other delay critical ‘connection’ or ‘flow’ type application data) for point-to-point transport from one Packet Circuit Gateway (PCG) to a second PCG over Label Switching Routers (LSRs) within an Internet Protocol (IP) network; the beneficial aspects of the packaging format being: (i) a reduced overhead requirement when compared to conventional IP telephony due to inclusion of a switching label in lieu of an appended IP header, thereby increasing network bandwidth efficiency, and (ii) the increased transport speed associated with layer two label switching when compared to layer three forwarding.

Abstract: A reference load model generator for testing ATM communication devices. The generator comprises an interface for specifying a frame size (FS), an inter-frame gap (IFG) and an inter-cell gap (ICG) for modelling frame sources, and generates source ATM cell streams having the specified FS, IFG and ICG of the corresponding frame source. The generator also includes a multiplexer which receives the source cell streams and generates a single output cell stream.

Abstract: In an ATM cell multiplexing apparatus for assembling data, which arrives from multiple terminal lines, into cells, time-division multiplexing the cells and transmitting them to a network, traffic management is performed in each cell assembler, based upon service category and traffic, for every channel accommodated by the terminal lines, and traffic management on a per-cell-assembler basis is performed in an ATM bus scheduler taking into consideration service categories and traffic of all channels accommodated by the cell assemblers. Further, the ATM bus scheduler creates a main schedule table and a subschedule table, which is referred to after the main schedule table, for allocating more transmission privileges to a cell assembler that accommodates a CBR channel, and grants transmission privileges to the cell assemblers upon referring to the main schedule table and subschedule table.

Abstract: A backup CRF VLAN arrangement provides an alternate, redundant path for traffic between undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) located on separate switches interconnected by trunk links of a distributed token ring bridge. The backup CRF virtual local area network (VLAN) arrangement defines a backup network path which may be utilized if a primary active path is not a valid path to a backup network. Notably, the backup network comprises a special type of CRF that is distributed among the switches, but that has only one port active at any given time.

Abstract: A data communication system that provides different types of service (e.g., telephone services and high-speed data transmission services) to a remote site even when the remote site lacks a splitter is disclosed. A central site (e.g., central office) is able to communicate with at least two different types of remote sites. One type of remote site includes a full splitter (i.e., both low-pass and high-pass filters), and the other type of remote site has only a partial splitter (i.e., includes high-pass filter but lacks a low-pass filter). Although conventionally the transceivers (e.g., ADSL transceivers) at these remote sites would be of the same design and use the same modulation technique for upstream as for downstream transmissions, here the remote site that lacks a low-pass filter (i.e., partial splitter type remote site) uses a different modulation technique for upstream transmissions.

Abstract: A primary communications interface card for receiving a signal is equipped with a bypass or shunting relay, the control of which is managed by a backup or protection interface card. The cable interconnect from far-end equipment to the primary interface card is provided with a make-before-break connector to the primary interface card, and a pig tail cable to the protection card. Upon command, the protection card may command the relay to shunt the signal from the far end equipment around the primary interface card to the protection card. Then, the cable may be disconnected from the primary interface card, with the make-before-break connector providing a signal path from the far-end equipment to the protection card before continuity through the shunting relay is lost. The primary interface card can then be removed and replaced, and the process reversed to redirect traffic to the primary interface card.

Abstract: A method and system for configurable and scalable line interface card protection or redundance useful for a range of low speed digital to high speed digital and optical signal types such as STS-1, STS-3, VT1.5, DS-1/T1, DS-3/T3, ATM, ADSL, HDSL, OC-1, OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, OC-192, OC-768, STM-1, STM-4, STM-16, STM-64, E1, E3, J1, J2, and EtherNet and Token Ring LAN signals. A daisy-chain alternate signal path, signal selectors, and alternate front panel entry points are provided to a front-access telecommunications shelf system. Signal interface cards can be designated as primary cards to handle traffic under normal conditions, or as protection cards, without hardware constrained or slot-specific card requirements. Variations of 1:N protection, and multiple groups of 1:N configurations and partitions can be defined without changes to cabling or backplane design variations through setting of relays and signal selectors on each card.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a method for flexibly switching telecommunication signals. A plurality of input bit streams are connected to a telecommunications switching network fabric element comprising a microprocessor system including memory. The microprocessor system, under program control, performs switching and protocol conversion functions on the input streams in order to generate output streams. Advantageously, a single element is able to concurrently switch input signals in a variety of protocols, including circuit switching protocols, such as Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), and packet switching protocols, such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols and Internet Protocol, (IP). Where desirable, the microprocessor system can also control the protocol conversion of input signals in one protocol to output signals in another protocol.

Abstract: A full service channel access protocol that supports the integrated transport of voice, video and data communications is provided by dividing a communication channel into a plurality of frames, dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots, and dividing some of the plurality of slots into a plurality of mini-slots. The mini-slots are provided for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of slots is divided into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel.

Abstract: In pause time based flow control systems having station-level granularity, a station or switch may detect congestion or incipient congestion and send a flow control frame to an upstream station, commanding that upstream station to temporarily stop (pause) sending data for a period of time specified in the flow control frame. The traffic pause gives the downstream station time to empty its buffers of at least some of the excess traffic it has been receiving. Since each downstream station operates independently in generating flow control frames, it is possible for the same upstream station to receive multiple, overlapping pause commands. If an upstream station which is already paused receives subsequent flow control frames from the same downstream station that triggered the pause, the upstream station's pause timer is rewritten using the pause times in the successive flow control frames.

Abstract: A system is provided for carrying synchronous voice payloads of variable size across a packet-based network while eliminating network jitter losses. According to the preferred embodiment, two concurrent tasks are implemented. A Voice Packet Processing task receives packetized voice from a packet oriented interface, processes headers of the packet, and builds a receive payload buffer that is managed by means of copying packets to the synchronous interface according to the contents of the payload buffer. The Voice Packet Forwarding task builds a transmit payload buffer for voice samples received from the synchronous interface, builds the necessary protocol headers and forwards the packet to the packet oriented interface.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting multimedia-related information between a first device and a second device coupled to a packet-switched data transmission network. A first protocol stack (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207) is defined for the first device and a second protocol stack (251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256) is defined for the second device. The protocol stacks consist of layers and serve the arranging of the mutual exchange of information between the first device and the second device. An octet stream protocol layer (206, 255) is defined for the transmission of unstructured octet streams as a certain layer in the first protocol stack and a certain layer in the second protocol stack. A multimedia messaging transport protocol layer (207, 256) is also defined as a certain layer above the octet stream protocol layer (206, 255) in the first and second protocol stacks.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a method for switching digital signals of different protocols in a large switching network. Signals and different protocols are encapsulated in a common protocol by a set of input modules. The signals in the common protocol are then switched by a large central stage to a plurality of output modules, which then generate signals in the correct protocol. Narrow-band signals are converted into broadband signals, so that the central stage switches only broadband signals. This simplifies the design of the central stage, while still making it possible to have a very large and economical central stage switch. Advantageously, this arrangement allows a single large switch to switch large quantities of traffic in a plurality of protocols.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for regulating network traffic levels. The present invention utilizes a token distribution method for allocating traffic rates to network traffic sources that allows the message rate and token balance to be expressed as fractional numbers resulting in improved flexibility and smoother performance.

Abstract: The invention provides a time-division switch and a time-division switching method by which a multi-frame signal of an arbitrary bit length can be outputted to or inputted from an arbitrary time slot. The time-division switching method is applied to weitchably connect time slots between different highways in time-division multiplex communication. The switch includes an external memory to which data from input time slots may be dropped, and from which data may be inserted into output time slots. Fixed data such as tone data may also be inserted into time slots. Dropping and insertion may be performed to replace existing time slot data or to fill new time slots.

Abstract: When an external terminal is signed on to a communications system, a voice link is set up between the external terminal and a teleworking subscriber line module of the communications system. Control information which is transferred in the form of DTMF signals from the external terminal via the voice link is converted at the teleworking subscriber line module into signaling information such as is usually available within the scope of a signaling protocol between internal terminals and the communications system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method by which users may be moved between time slots or between base stations in order to better utilize the MCPA output power resources. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the power of all transceivers served by a certain MCPA is compared to a threshold value X. The value X is at least related to the capability of the MCPA in terms of output power. If at no times (i.e., at all time slots), the sum of the output power exceeds the threshold value X, it is assumed that the MCPA can handle all simultaneous transmissions. If, during at least one time slot it is found that the required output power exceeds the capability of the serving MCPA, then a reallocation or load sharing algorithm is invoked. The reallocation algorithm searches for time slots to which a reallocation could be performed within the same base station or number of transceivers served by the MCPA.

Abstract: A bridge device (4) for connecting a plurality of communication networks (1-3) around which data is transmitted in frames which include control information defining at least the identity of a destination for data in the frame, each network having at least one end station (8-12). The bridge device comprises a corresponding plurality of data coupling units (13,14) for connection to respective ones of the networks (1-3), each data coupling unit including receive (13) and transmit (14) interfaces for respectively receiving data from and transmitting data onto the connected network. A common store (17) is connected to all the data coupling units for receiving data being transmitted from one network to another.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method route information to a mobile unit in a data communications system having a home network and a remote network. Each of the home and remote networks supports one or more mobile units and one or more stationary access points. The mobile unit has a unique address and may roam from the home network to the remote network. The mobile unit associates with one access point which serves as a home agent. When the mobile unit roams and is away from its home network, the apparatus discovers a physical location of the mobile unit by sending an agent advertisement packet from the access point. If the location of the mobile unit is not at the home network, the apparatus associates the mobile unit with one of the access points on the foreign network which serves as a foreign agent.