Abstract: Subscriber line maintenance apparatus and methods are disclosed. A maintenance operation is performed on a subscriber line in a communication system by an embedded test unit. The test unit limits an effect of the maintenance operation on communication signals that are transferred on the subscriber line during the maintenance operation. In one embodiment, the communication signals are high-frequency signals, and the limiting is achieved by performing the maintenance operation through a low-pass filter, such as the low pass filter of a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) splitter. The test unit may be implemented as a daughter card carried by another electronic circuit card in a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), for example, so that the test unit does not occupy its own card slot in an equipment shelf. One, or more than one, test unit may be provided to serve multiple equipment shelves in a distributed communication equipment architecture.

Abstract: Communication link bonding apparatus and methods are disclosed. Multiple communication links are configured, at a communication link termination module which transfers communication traffic between a further communication link and the multiple communication links, as a group for providing an aggregate group communication traffic rate. The aggregate group communication traffic rate is allocated among the grouped communication links, and communication traffic is distributed for transmission on the communication links in accordance with the communication traffic rate allocation. Once communication links of a group have been initialized using respective initialization communication traffic rates, a communication traffic rate allocation for each of the communication links may be calculated based on an attainable communication traffic rate of the communication link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to permit testing of Layer 2 and higher services provisioned for a port on a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) line card. Each line card is provisioned with a virtual port, a virtual port cross-connect function, and a virtual port tunneling function. The virtual port can be linked to any physical port on the line card. A test host can link to the virtual port from anywhere in a network to perform verification of end-to-end service provisioning and functionality throughout a network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for establishing a data transmission rate in a communication network for data transmission from a first communication module to a second communication module. Generally, the method comprises: (a) reading at the first module a predetermined data reception rate limit of the second module; and (b) for the data at the first module to be transmitted to the second module, establishing a first module data transmission rate in dependence upon the predetermined data reception rate limit read in step (a).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a Report message processing load at an IGMPv3 proxy/router. A <max_records> variable governs a number of current-state Group Records that can be sent in an IGMPv3 Report message in response to a General Membership Query (GMQ). The <max_records> variable may be provisioned in IGMPv3 hosts, or dynamically provided by the IGMPv3 proxy/routers, which embed the <max_records> variable in the GMQs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a Report message processing load at an IGMPv3 proxy/router. A <max_records> variable governs a number of current-state Group Records that can be sent in an IGMPv3 Report message in response to a General Membership Query (GMQ). The <max_records> variable may be provisioned in IGMPv3 hosts, or dynamically provided by the IGMPv3 proxy/routers, which embed the <max_records> variable in the GMQs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to permit testing of Layer 2 and higher services provisioned for a port on a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) line card. Each line card is provisioned with a virtual port, a virtual port cross-connect function, and a virtual port tunneling function. The virtual port can be linked to any physical port on the line card. A test host can link to the virtual port from anywhere in a network to perform verification of end-to-end service provisioning and functionality throughout a network.

Abstract: Multicast communication resource management apparatus and methods are disclosed. Multicast communication modules receive respective multicast communication traffic streams and provide transmit streams for transmission toward multicast destinations, and have a limited aggregate capacity to support multicast communications with the destinations. The aggregate capacity includes respective amounts of capacity reserved for each of the destinations and a remaining unreserved amount of capacity. The reserved amounts of capacity are usable for communication with the respective destinations. The unreserved amount of capacity is made available as a pool for allocation to a destination for which the respective reserved amount of capacity is insufficient. The destinations may then fairly contend for usage of additional capacity from the unreserved pool. Data structures for tracking reserved and unreserved capacity are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is a disclosed communications network for the transmission of network traffic from a distribution network to an access network having at least one end user terminal. The distribution network and the access network each having a respective traffic transmission capacity with the traffic transmission capacity of the distribution network being greater than the traffic transmission capacity of the access network. The communications network has a first network device operatively connected to the distribution network. The first network apparatus is capable of receiving network traffic from the distribution network. The communications network also has a second network device operatively connected to the access network. The second network device is capable of transmitting network traffic to the access network. The communications network also has a transmission link operatively connected between the first network device and the second network device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for establishing a data transmission rate in a communication network for data transmission from a first communication module to a second communication module. Generally, the method comprises: (a) reading at the first module a predetermined data reception rate limit of the second module; and (b) for the data at the first module to be transmitted to the second module, establishing a first module data transmission rate in dependence upon the predetermined data reception rate limit read in step (a).

Abstract: There is a disclosed communications network for the transmission of network traffic from a distribution network to an access network having at least one end user terminal. The distribution network and the access network each having a respective traffic transmission capacity with the traffic transmission capacity of the distribution network being greater than the traffic transmission capacity of the access network. The communications network has a first network device operatively connected to the distribution network. The first network apparatus is capable of receiving network traffic from the distribution network. The communications network also has a second network device operatively connected to the access network. The second network device is capable of transmitting network traffic to the access network. The communications network also has a transmission link operatively connected between the first network device and the second network device.