Abstract: A converged network adapter in sleep mode can allow a management entity to access and alter configuration of the network adapter over the network. Configuration data such as configuration parameters, firmware, and other data related to the network adapter can be stored in a memory, which can be coupled to a portion of the adapter that receives power during sleep mode. The management entity can send configuration messages to the adapter, which messages can include commands or instructions to read or write contents of the memory. The messages can include values of the configuration parameters to be altered, firmware code, etc. The management entity can also send configuration messages to a baseboard management controller (BMC) coupled to the adapter for message validation. The adapter and the BMC can send results of memory operations back to the management entity in response messages.

Abstract: A converged network adapter in sleep mode can allow a management entity to access and alter configuration of the network adapter over the network. Configuration data such as configuration parameters, firmware, and other data related to the network adapter can be stored in a memory, which can be coupled to a portion of the adapter that receives power during sleep mode. The management entity can send configuration messages to the adapter, which messages can include commands or instructions to read or write contents of the memory. The messages can include values of the configuration parameters to be altered, firmware code, etc. The management entity can also send configuration messages to a baseboard management controller (BMC) coupled to the adapter for message validation. The adapter and the BMC can send results of memory operations back to the management entity in response messages.

Abstract: An exemplary point-to-multipoint network including an upstream headend facility and a plurality of downstream network terminals ("NTs") employs a contention-based multi-slot MAC permit protocol for upstream request transmission, wherein each NT compiles a congestion rank for each upstream slot position based on feedback information supplied by the headend. At such time as an NT wishes to attempt an upstream response to an multi-slot permit, it excludes the slot position having the highest rank for purposes of selecting an upstream response slot, and chooses among the others at random. If there are two or more slots having an equally high rank, the NT still excludes only one of the slots, based on a predetermined order of priority calculated at random from the NT's unique physical ID. If an NT is not successful with its initial response in the selected slot position, it will randomly select a waiting period of zero, one or two multi-slot permit cycles before attempting another upstream transmission.

Abstract: In a point-to-multipoint network having a headend in communication with a plurality a network terminals over a shared network, a network terminal is equipped with a cell permit sequencer, which operates in conjunction with a AAL1 segmentation and reassembly processor, whereby the packing of ATM cells carrying continuous bit rate telephony traffic is initially delayed such that the first cell of a new communication sequence will be "just ready" for upstream transmission to the headend with the arrival of an ensuing scheduled transmission permit from the headend, including accounting for internal processing and transmission overhead. In this manner, the ensuing ATM cells for the respective communication sequence will thereby be synchronized with the ensuing permits, and delay time at the NT thus minimized.