Abstract: One example embodiment includes a testing device. The testing device comprises a signal reception element, an out-of-band detector and testing logic. The signal reception element is configured to receive a physical layer signal from a communication module via a physical link and to produce an incoming double modulated signal, the incoming double modulated signal including a high-speed data signal and an out-of-band data signal. The out-of-band data signal comprises diagnostic data of the communication module. The out-of-band detector is coupled to the signal reception element and is configured to extract the out-of-band data signal from the incoming double modulated signal. The testing logic is coupled to the out-of-band detector and is configured to extract and analyze the diagnostic data from the out-of-band data signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus to transfer specific data files from a disc drive storage system to an output device such as a printer. In one aspect, the disc drive uses a transfer protocol that determines the files stored from a peripheral device and sent to the output device. In another aspect, the transfer program compares the files sent to the output device to a file structure stored on the disc drive and presents the unsent files to the output device for processing.

Abstract: Methods for managing an optical network through out-of-band communication between optical transceiver modules in a heterogeneous network fabric are disclosed. The disclosed methods include methods for performing fabric discovery, communicating error messages, detecting intrusion. Methods are also disclosed for communicating between transceivers of differing protocol versions and memory capacity.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to write and read copy protected data on a disc drive storage system by encoding and decoding data to be copy protected using servo wedge data as the encoding element. In one aspect, the drive is marked by a number generated from the servo wedge data.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to computing resources including an authentication device operatively associated with a computing device, the authentication device being configured to transmit an interrogation signal to a predetermined area. A computing device has at least one software application resides thereon. A wireless license device is configured to transmit license information to the authentication device in response to the interrogation signal and to allow the software application to run while the wireless license device is within the predetermined area and to prevent the software application from running when the wireless license device is not within the predetermined area.

Abstract: A system for tracking network devices includes a host computing device, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to at least one of the network devices, and a reader configured to communicate with the RFID tag to receive device parameters from the RFID tag, the reader being configured to transmit the device parameters to the host computing device.

Abstract: A tunable element of a tuning module is receptive to optical data channels of a multiplexed optical data signal, each optical data channel having a different respective wavelength. The tunable element is responsive to different stimuli such that multiple passbands of the tunable element are defined, each passband corresponding to a respective stimulus and including no more than one wavelength of the optical data channels. An optical detector communicates with the tunable element and is receptive to no more than one optical data channel from the tunable element at any given time, an output of the optical detector is an electrical data signal that corresponds to the optical data channel received by the optical detector from the tunable element. A controller communicates with the tunable element and tunes the tunable element from one optical data channel to the other by causing application of a corresponding stimulus to the tunable element.

Abstract: A mode-mixer is used to introduce mode-mixing to an input in an optical coupler. As a result, modal noise effects are minimized in an output of the optical coupler. An example of a mode-mixer implemented includes a step index optical fiber which may or may not be coupled to a graded index optical fiber via a splice within an optical coupler. The splice may be a mechanical splice using connectors or a fused splice in some embodiments. The optical coupler may be included in a system for monitoring and/or analyzing a network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing an entire network transaction to a network analysis device are disclosed. The apparatus can include an input port configured to receive network data from an inter-switch-link (ISL). The apparatus can further include a first probe port configured to transmit network data a second network analysis probe. The apparatus can further include a second probe port configured to transmit network data to a second network analysis probe. The apparatus can include one or more processors having access to instructions that cause the at least one processor to identify a field in the network data received by the at least one input port, the field associating the network data with a particular network transaction, assign the particular transaction to one of the first or second probes, and cause the network data to be transmitted to the assigned first or second probe.

Abstract: Test transceivers are disclosed for testing optical networks. The test transceivers generate one or more errors on a network in a specific, reproducible way, thereby enabling a tester to easily and readily identify whether network devices are operating properly, or prone to failure. A corrective transceiver is also disclosed. The corrective transceiver is configured to continually detect operating parameters of one or more network devices in a network. The corrective transceiver can identify the operating parameters through out-of-band communication with the one or more network devices. The corrective transceiver is further configured with one or more instructions to adjust its own operating parameters to re-sync with another network device as necessary to continue network communications during a failure of the network device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving copy-protected data within storage devices such as, for example, disc drives. Data that is to be copy protected is written on the storage device. A first data list, such as a manufacturer's storage device defect list, is copied and used to make a second data list. Then, the first data list is modified such that the area where the copy protected data is stored is identified as defective. Unless a request to read the copy protected data is received, the first data list is used and the copy protected data area is considered defective. However, if a request to read the copy protected data is received, the second data list is used and the copy protected data is read from its storage location.

Abstract: A network diagnostic system may include a statistics module. The statistics module may include a plurality of stages and may include stage-transition code. The stage-transition code may be used to help maintain one or more network diagnostic statistics. The statistics module may be implemented using a network processor unit, and the network processor unit may include a plurality of stages and may include stage-transition code. To help maintain one or more network diagnostic statistics, the statistics module may add and remove entries to a data structure.

Abstract: A data storage device having capabilities for alternate storage of repeated data and methods for alternate storage of repeated data within a data storage device. In one example embodiment, a method is disclosed for a data storage device to alternately store data within the data storage device. First, the data storage device identifies a data pattern that is present at a plurality of physical addresses on the data storage device. Next, the data storage device writes the data pattern to a single physical address. Then, the data storage device remaps the logical address of each of the plurality of physical addresses to the single physical address. Finally, the data storage device allocates a new logical address for each of the plurality of physical addresses. In this example method, the identifying, writing, remapping, and allocating are performed by the data storage device without regard to data file boundaries.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a traffic generator for use in a network. A computer program product such as a plug in for a browser captures data that is sent over a network. The plug in does not need to understand or capture keyboard or mouse input. Rather, the plug in captures low level network data that is generated in response to high level user input. The captured data can be used to reflect real network usage during the testing of networks and network equipment. The traffic can also be modified to reflect multiple virtual users and test the network or network equipment accordingly.

Abstract: Generating traffic in a network environment. A traffic generator can be used to record the low level network data that is generated in response to high level user input. The low level network data can be processed to simulate multiple virtual users. Once the network data is processed, the virtual data can be sent over a network as if multiple users were using the network. The response and functionality of the network and of network components can then be monitored and evaluated based on the response to the virtual data.

Abstract: Generating traffic in a network environment. A traffic generator can be used to record the low level network data that is generated in response to high level user input. The traffic generator can receive instructions that identify when to start and stop recording network instructions. Once started, the high level user input is converted into low level network data and recorded. The recorded low level data thus reflects real usage and can be used to generate virtual traffic. The virtual traffic can be processed such that it represents multiple users. The response of the network or of network components to the virtual traffic can then be monitored and analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention include systems, equipment, software, and protocols that enable a sender to select an audible sound, such as an audio security feature or ringtone to be played by a target recipient for the purpose of identifying and/or authenticating the sender, or to enable access to a secured network, or to play a user selected audible sound on a target device. The target recipient can identify the sender by listening to the audible sound, or by analyzing the audible sound with software. This can either allow the target recipient for authenticating access to a controlled area such as a secured network controlled by the target recipient.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving copy-protected data within storage devices such as, for example, disc drives. Data that is to be copy protected is written on the storage device. A first data list, such as a manufacturer's storage device defect list, is copied and used to make a second data list. Then, the first data list is modified such that the area where the copy protected data is stored is identified as defective. Unless a request to read the copy protected data is received, the first data list is used and the copy protected data area is considered defective. However, if a request to read the copy protected data is received, the second data list is used and the copy protected data is read from its storage location.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to write and read copy protected data on a disc drive storage system by encoding and decoding data to be copy protected using servo wedge data as the encoding element. In one aspect, the drive is marked by a number generated from the servo wedge data.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus to transfer specific data files from a disc drive storage system to an output device such as a printer. In one aspect, the disc drive uses a transfer protocol that determines the files stored from a peripheral device and sent to the output device. In another aspect, the transfer program compares the files sent to the output device to a file structure stored on the disc drive and presents the unsent files to the output device for processing.