Abstract: A Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS) node includes a first DOCSIS port and a second DOCSIS port. The node also includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) ports. A plurality of client devices can be coupled to the RF ports. A RF switching network is coupled between the first DOCSIS port and the second DOCSIS port, and the plurality of RF ports. One or more control circuits can switch the RF switching network between at least a first state and a second state. The switching of the RF switching network allows the one or more control circuits to identify which client devices are coupled to which RF ports of the node.

Abstract: Using timing delays and values associated with plant information between a CMTS, R-PHY device or a remote MACPHY device and user devices on a network to determine the distance between a head end device, for example a CMTS, R-PHY device or a remote MACPHY device and an end-user device such as cable modem in order to alert to a stolen, outdated, misplaced or otherwise at-risk end-user device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods that reduce funneling noise in upstream data transmissions from modems providing the transmissions through respective RF legs connected to the node. Preferred devices and systems may include a node that is configured to selectively isolate respectively scheduled upstream data signals from noise present on any RF leg not propagating a scheduled upstream data signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for permitting DOCSIS 3.1 equipment to operate at higher frequencies than specified in the DOCSIS 3.1 standard. Exemplary systems may be capable of alternating between a first mode of operation that provides DOCSIS 3.1 compatible services and a second mode of operation providing a higher level of service than DOCSIS 3.1.

Abstract: A Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS) node includes a first DOCSIS port and a second DOCSIS port. The node also includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) ports. A plurality of client devices can be coupled to the RF ports. A RF switching network is coupled between the first DOCSIS port and the second DOCSIS port, and the plurality of RF ports. One or more control circuits can switch the RF switching network between at least a first state and a second state. The switching of the RF switching network allows the one or more control circuits to identify which client devices are coupled to which RF ports of the node.

Abstract: To perform protection switching between tunnels in a network, Y.1731-based APS messages are often sent from a management system to nodes at the tunnels' end-points. If the management system is located near one node (local node) and far away from the other node (remote node), the APS message, which operates at the Ethernet service layer, travels to the remote node slower than traffic over the tunnels. This slower transmission time may prevent the remote node from performing a switch within a desired timeframe. The disclosed embodiments include a 1:1 bidirectional VLAN-based protection arrangement that accomplishes a 50 millisecond switching time without using Y.1731-based APS messages. The embodiments accomplish this by sending a switching command from the management system to the local node and modifying a message already traveling from the local node to the remote node to include a switching message that causes the remote node to perform the switch.

Abstract: An architecture for a fiber optic communication system that uses only two levels of switches, Tier 1 and Tier 3, is described. The architecture allows one to omit the conventional Top of Rack switch level and the conventional Tier 2 switch level while maintaining performance and throughput. The cost to construct and install the improved switch architecture is lower than the cost of the conventional architecture. There are also described a number of transceivers that are suitable for use in the architecture disclosed. The transceivers employ silicon PIC chips that include high contrast silicon waveguides ion the chip and that connect to various configurations of optical fibers. The transceivers provide enhanced switching capacity with fewer devices.

Abstract: To perform protection switching between tunnels in a network, Y.1731-based APS messages are often sent from a management system to nodes at the tunnels' end-points. If the management system is located near one node (local node) and far away from the other node (remote node), the APS message, which operates at the Ethernet service layer, travels to the remote node slower than traffic over the tunnels. This slower transmission time may prevent the remote node from performing a switch within a desired timeframe. The disclosed embodiments include a 1:1 bidirectional VLAN-based protection arrangement that accomplishes a 50 millisecond switching time without using Y.1731-based APS messages. The embodiments accomplish this by sending a switching command from the management system to the local node and modifying a message already traveling from the local node to the remote node to include a switching message that causes the remote node to perform the switch.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards.

Abstract: To perform protection switching between tunnels in a network, Y.1731-based APS messages are often sent from a management system to nodes at the tunnels' end-points. If the management system is located near one node (local node) and far away from the other node (remote node), the APS message, which operates at the Ethernet service layer, travels to the remote node slower than traffic over the tunnels. This slower transmission time may prevent the remote node from performing a switch within a desired timeframe. The disclosed embodiments include a 1:1 bidirectional VLAN-based protection arrangement that accomplishes a 50 millisecond switching time without using Y.1731-based APS messages. The embodiments accomplish this by sending a switching command from the management system to the local node and modifying a message already traveling from the local node to the remote node to include a switching message that causes the remote node to perform the switch.

Abstract: Erroneous data due to faults are prevented from propagating through a distributed network node having diversely routed communications links by using a fault masking technique that eliminates the 60 ms of error propagation time associated with SONET networks. The fault masking technique can also prevent random bit errors from propagating through the distributed network node. A frame alignment technique used in the network node is scalable for very wide words (e.g., 128 bits) for use with high speed optical communications protocols, such as OC-192.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards.

Abstract: A system supports 50 ms protection switching times independent of network architecture. The system includes multiple protection switch fabrics to perform facility protection switching for the signals and a central switch fabric to switch a subset of the signals in a non-facility protection switching manner among the protection switch fabrics. Linear and ring network configurations are supported by the system. The system has flexibility to perform Linear Automatic Protection Switching (LAPS), Unidirection Path Switched Ring (UPSR) protection switching, and Bidirectional Line Switched Ring (BLSR) protection switching without burdening the central switch fabric with unnecessary or redundant traffic.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first ingress content processor that receives information associated with a first traffic type. The first ingress content processor places the information associated with the first traffic type into a system cell having a common system cell format. A second ingress content processor receives information associated with a second traffic type. The second ingress content processor places the information associated with the second traffic type into a system cell having the common system cell format. A switch fabric receives system cells from the first and second ingress content processors. System cells from the first ingress content processor are automatically sent to the switch fabric while system cells from the second ingress content processor are required to be scheduled before being sent to the switch fabric.

Abstract: To perform protection switching between tunnels in a network, Y.1731-based APS messages are often sent from a management system to nodes at the tunnels' end-points. If the management system is located near one node (local node) and far away from the other node (remote node), the APS message, which operates at the Ethernet service layer, travels to the remote node slower than traffic over the tunnels. This slower transmission time may prevent the remote node from performing a switch within a desired timeframe. The disclosed embodiments include a 1:1 bidirectional VLAN-based protection arrangement that accomplishes a 50 millisecond switching time without using Y.1731-based APS messages. The embodiments accomplish this by sending a switching command from the management system to the local node and modifying a message already traveling from the local node to the remote node to include a switching message that causes the remote node to perform the switch.

Abstract: Packets used for distributing timing information over a Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) are generated by encoding Synchronization Status Messaging (SSM) messages into IEEE 802.3ah OAM packets (or any other OAM packets, such as those defined in ITU Y.1731). Information indicating the direction that each message is to be transmitted around the RPR ring is also encoded in the packets in either the spare bits of the SSM messages or in the Type-Length-Value (TLV) bytes of the IEEE 802.3ah OAM packets or Y.1731 OAM packets. RPR protection is disabled for the packets carrying the SSM messages and the packets are transmitted to adjacent network nodes in the directions specified by the information encoded in the messages. Information encoded in received packets specifying timing quality and direction of the received messages is observed and compared to determine which timing information included in the messages to use for clock timing.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus allows unknown packet traffic, such as Ethernet traffic, to be carried on a Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) network without flooding the traffic on the RPR network. Modules in a station of the ring network compare a destination address in a packet traffic signal with known addresses and associate an identifier of a tunnel in the ring network with the packet traffic signal based on the comparison. The modules then associate with the packet traffic signal an identifier of a destination station in the ring network that corresponds to the identifier of the tunnel and forward the packet traffic signal to the destination station via the tunnel. By transmitting the packet traffic via tunnels instead of flooding the RPR network, spatial reuse may be implemented allowing the network to support a higher volume of traffic.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus allows multiple virtual switches in a physical switch to share one physical Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) in an RPR network. Modules in the multiple virtual switches add multicast information to traffic to direct the traffic along a common path to other physical switches on the ring, and modules in the virtual switches inspect traffic to determine whether the traffic is directed to the respective virtual switch. Multiple virtual RPR subrings are made available in a single physical ring, increasing usefulness of virtual switches formerly only able to support multiple tributary connections to other networks but not able to share a single ring network communications path. Sharing a single communications path increases overall network bandwidth, and at least one implementation allows for spatial reuse.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first ingress content processor that receives information associated with a first traffic type. The first ingress content processor places the information associated with the first traffic type into a system cell having a common system cell format. A second ingress content processor receives information associated with a second traffic type. The second ingress content processor places the information associated with the second traffic type into a system cell having the common system cell format. A switch fabric receives system cells from the first and second ingress content processors. System cells from the first ingress content processor are automatically sent to the switch fabric while system cells from the second ingress content processor are required to be scheduled before being sent to the switch fabric.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first ingress content processor that receives information associated with a first traffic type. The first ingress content processor places the information associated with the first traffic type into a system cell having a common system cell format. A second ingress content processor receives information associated with a second traffic type. The second ingress content processor places the information associated with the second traffic type into a system cell having the common system cell format. A switch fabric receives system cells from the first and second ingress content processors. System cells from the first ingress content processor are automatically sent to the switch fabric while system cells from the second ingress content processor are required to be scheduled before being sent to the switch fabric.