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: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a scalable and efficient multipoint-to-multipoint multicast in packet and sub-packet based communications networks. The methodology of the invention incorporates an additional switching feature called cut-through forwarding, which enables the mapping of several incoming virtual channels into one or several outgoing virtual channels. The inventive methodology further provides a shared tree spanning all senders and receivers of the multicast group. Centrally initiated group setup as well as dynamic group membership changes are incorporated into the invention. An additional feature of the invention, designated “short-cutting”, allows for the transmission of a packet to follow the shortest path along the shared tree.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to enable multiple services or service providers to share the facilities of an access network infrastructure providing physical connectivity to subscribers. A network access device advantageously may be used in communication network services with a service or service provider that is separate from the operator of the access network infrastructure.

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: A method of configuring a network access device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a first service provider provided by a first service network, with a new network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a second service provider provided by a second service network, wherein the network access device is connected to an access network connected to a plurality of service networks. The method comprises the steps of: sending a request from the network access device to the access network requesting a change to a second service provider; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol. In this manner, a second network address allocated to the subscriber of services of the second service provider is assigned to the network access device to enable the network access device to communicate data packets to the service network providing the selected service.

Abstract: A method of configuring a network access device connected to an access network connected to a plurality of service networks, the network device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a first service provider provided by a first service network, with a new network address allocated to a second subscriber of services of either the first service provider, or a second service provider provided by a second service network. The method comprises the steps of: displaying a plurality of service providers on a graphical user interface; in response to a subscriber selection on the graphical user interface, sending a request from the network access device to the access network requesting a change to a second service provider; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol.

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: A method and apparatus provide a smoothing and rate adaptation algorithm to facilitate the flow of video data, maintaining video quality while avoiding potentially harmful buffering delays. The invention uses a smoothing interval to determine a rate to request for allocation. The invention also adapts the encoding rate in relation to a target delay for a source buffer.

Abstract: A method of configuring a network access device connected to an access network connected to a plurality of service networks, the network device having a first network address allocated to a subscriber of services of a first service provider provided by a first service network, with a new network address allocated to a second subscriber of services of either the first service provider, or a second service provider provided by a second service network. The method comprises the steps of: sending a request from the network access device to the access network with user credentials for the second subscriber requesting access to the first service provider or a change to the second service provider; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change request using a configuration protocol.

Abstract: A method and system provide for adaptive coding for transporting of compressed video data. The method and system include techniques for predicting the rate which an encoder needs to be able to supply video to a network. The method and system also include the network receiving the demand rate and calculating an allocation rate which is ultimately fed back to the video source setting an explicit rate for the transporting of compressed video. Furthermore, it includes the adaptation of the encoding rate at the video source in accordance with the explicit rate allocated by the network in response to the demand.

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: A startup management system and method, particularly adapted for use in computer and other communication networks, is presented. Rate-based flow and congestion control mechanisms have been considered desirable, including to deal with the needs of emerging multimedia applications. Explicit rate control mechanisms achieve low loss because of a smooth flow of data from sources, while adjusting source rates through feedback. However, large feedback delays, presence of higher priority traffic and varying network conditions make it difficult to ensure feasibility (i.e., the aggregate arrival rate is below the bottleneck resource's capacity) while also maintaining very high resource utilization. The invention applies entry and early warning techniques which increase the initial connect rate of newly connecting sources.

Abstract: In accordance with principles of the invention, there is provided an arbitration system for multiple requesters of a shared data transfer resource, such as a system bus or a peripheral bus. The disclosed system arbitrates among multiple classes of requesters which are divided into multiple levels of a request hierarchy. In the example embodiment, the multiple requesters include logic for processing received data from the network, logic for processing data to be transmitted onto the network, logic for moving transmit and receive descriptors between the host memory and the adapter, logic for reporting status from the adapter to the host, and logic for generating an error and maintenance status update from the adapter to the host. The new system ensures fairness between transmit and receive processes, that FIFOs associated with transmit queues are not underrun, and further than notification of non-error and maintenance status changes are processed with minimal latency.

Abstract: A startup management system and method, particularly adapted for use in computer and other communication networks, is presented. Rate-based flow and congestion control mechanisms have been considered desirable, including to deal with the needs of emerging multimedia applications. Explicit rate control mechanisms achieve low loss because of a smooth flow of data from sources, while adjusting source rates through feedback. However, large feedback delays, presence of higher priority traffic and varying network conditions make it difficult to ensure feasibility (i.e., the aggregate arrival rate is below the bottleneck resource's capacity) while also maintaining very high resource utilization. The invention applies entry and early warning techniques which increase the initial connect rate of newly connecting sources.