Abstract: Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Abstract: Signaling messages are exchanged for a call between a calling party to a called party. A setup message for the call is exchanged through at least one gate controller. Network resources are reserved for the call based on the exchanged setup messages. An end-to-end message for the call is exchanged without the end-to-end message being routed through the at least one gate controller.

Abstract: Gates for a call between a calling party and a called party are coordinated. A timer associated with a first gate opened at an originating network edge device is initiated. A first gate open message is sent from the originating network edge device to the terminating network edge device. The first gate at the originating network edge device is released if the timer expires before at least one from the group of: (1) an acknowledgment based on the sent first gate open message is received from the terminating network edge device, and (2) a second gate open message is received at the originating network edge device from the terminating network edge device after the terminating network edge device has opened a second gate associated with the called party.

Abstract: Client software may be used in conjunction with services offered by several entities such as network service providers. A user interface of the client software presents brand indicia relating to the network service provider that is currently being used by the software. The software is configured by selecting entities with which the software will be used. Once the entities are selected, an instruction server is queried to determine the location of branding data to be presented to the user, and a branding data server is queried to retrieve the branding data. The brand indicia are presented to the user according to the branding data each time the corresponding entity is accessed.

Abstract: Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an efficient architecture for routing in a very large autonomous system where many of the layer 3 routers are attached to a common connection-oriented layer 2 subnetwork, such as an ATM network. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a permanent topology of routers coupled to the subnetwork is connected by permanent virtual circuits. The routers can further take advantage of both intra-area and inter-area shortcuts through the layer 2 network to improve network performance. The routers pre-calculate shortcuts using information from link state packets broadcast by other routers and store the shortcuts to a given destination in a forwarding table, along with corresponding entries for a next hop along the permanent topology. The present invention allows the network to continue to operate correctly if layer 2 resource limitations preclude the setup of additional shortcuts.

Abstract: Providing transport protocol within a communication network having a lossy link. The receiver distinguishes between packets received with non-congestion bit errors and packets having been not at all received due to congestion. When packets are received with non-congestion bit errors, the receiver sends selective acknowledgments indicating that the packets were received with bit errors while suppressing duplicate acknowledgments to prevent the invocation of a congestion mechanism.

Abstract: Method and device provide for the encapsulation of control information in a real-time data stream. In one embodiment a method of encapsulating data in an information frame is provided. This information frame has a payload portion and a trailer portion wherein the trailer portion is designated for control data and the payload portion is designated for real-time data. In use control data is inserted into the payload portion of the information frame and an extension bit is used to signify the presence of control data in the payload portion of the information frame. The information frame is then transmited over a virtual circuit.

Abstract: State information for a call between a calling party and a called party is established without maintaining the state information at a gate controller. A setup request for the call is received at an originating gate controller. The originating gate controller is connected to a trusted network. The calling party is associated with an originating interface unit coupled to an untrusted network. The setup request for the call is authorized. The authorized setup request is sent to the called party. State information for the call is formatted based on a setup acknowledgment message received from the calling party. The state information for the call is sent from the originating gate controller to the originating interface unit without maintaining the state information at the originating gate controller.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telephony and high speed data access over a broadband access network, comprising a network interface unit (NIU) coupled to a backup local exchange carrier (LEC) line, the broadband access network coupled to the NIU, an intermediate point-of-presence (IPOP) coupled to the broadband access network, and at least one external access network coupled to the IPOP. The system also provides for a fail-safe mode in which the NIU supports the LEC line for lifeline services.

Abstract: A rate based, end to end flow control system is disclosed for a communications network. The disclosed rate based flow control system includes each source end station selecting its transmission rate from a set of permitted discrete transmission rates. The set of permitted discrete transmission rates is based on a logarithmic encoding. The disclosed rate based traffic control system further requires each source end station to send one end to end control cell every time period T. The time period T is also known by switches in the communications network and is used to periodically calculate an available allocation (“fair share”) of bandwidth at a switch for a given virtual circuit.

Abstract: A call is forwarded by connecting the call between an originating location and a forwarding location without connecting the call through a terminating location. The originating location is associated with a calling party. The terminating location is associated with a dialed number. The terminating location and the forwarding location is associated with the called party. A bill for the call is apportioned between the calling party and the called party. The bill portion for the calling party is a function of the originating location and the terminating location. The bill portion for the called party is a function of the terminating location and the forwarding location.

Abstract: A ring back signal for a call between a calling party and a called party can be simulated. A ring back message associated with the call is received. The calling party is associated with a first network. The called party is associated with a second network. A prestored ring back signal is selected from a set of prestored ring back signals based on the ring back message and/or a called number for the call. The selected prestored ring back signal is associated with the second network and is different from a second prestored ring back signal associated with the first network. The prestored ring back signal is sent to the calling party.

Abstract: A method and system provide for a network using lightweight signaling for establishing connections. The method and system establish a best efforts connection between at least two terminals, on a hop-by-hop basis. Data can flow before and quality of service is established. The system enhances processing time for quality of service requirements and provides flexibility in establishing multicast connections.

Abstract: Multicasting within a switch is utilized to promiscuously monitor switched communication networks. The switch routes data packets from input ports to data output ports and routes copies of the data packets to a monitor output port. A monitor processor is connected to the switch to receive copies of all data packets received at the switch, and thereby monitor the communication network.

Abstract: Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Abstract: Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Abstract: A method for performing communications over a network comprises receiving a user record for a first user, receiving a query from a second user with regard to the first user, and sending, to the second user, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile.

Abstract: Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.

Abstract: Congestion is controlled in an internetwork having at least two segments coupled by a router where at least one connection between communication devices passes through the router. Each connection is assumed to use a window-based flow control protocol between its source and destination. On receiving an acknowledgment from a connection in the router, where the acknowledgment contains a window size set by the destination, the router adaptively determines a second window size for the connection based on the router's average buffer occupancy and its instantaneous buffer occupancy. If the window size in the acknowledgment exceeds this second window size, the window size in the acknowledgment is overwritten to select the second window size. The router then forwards the acknowledgment to the source, thereby controlling the window size available to the source as a function of the congestion in the router.