Abstract: A method of operating a packet network to provide selectable levels of service to different communications flows is disclosed. The method provides a network user with more flexibility in assigning a level of service to a given flow than conventional Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks. Furthermore, it provides a better differentiation between different qualities of service than is enabled by recent proposals for Internet Protocol networks. By identifying packets belonging to flows requiring a relatively high level of service, and, in response, allowing those packets access to capacity which is otherwise withheld, a relatively high level of service can be provided to streams of such packets. The invention is especially useful in relation to providing selected flows along residential high-speed Internet access lines (e.g. ADSL) with a higher level of capacity than other flows. The withheld capacity can comprise capacity which is normally hidden from the end-user by network configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of charging for a confederated network, such as the Internet, by the user terminals connected to the network. The network provide generates a tariff code, which is multicast to the user terminals. The user terminals then translate the tariff code to automatically generate a meter rule set that can be used to configure a network traffic meter.

Abstract: In a digital payment transactions system, a broker generates and stores a secret number. The broker then generates a chain of hash values by successive operations of a hash function, using the secret number as the starting value. The broker then issues to the user a digitally encoded value from some way down the chain of hash values. The user generates a coin stick which comprises a chain of hash values starting with the value communicated by the broker. Subsequently, the broker can transfer further value to the user, without generating a new coin stick, by communicating a digitally encoded value from the broker's hash chain which precedes the value originally communicated to the user.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaving an optical fiber comprises two hand-operated pivoted jaws (11 and 12). The optical fiber (15) is supported along the lower jaw (12) and held by resilient clamps (24 and 27) on the upper jaw (11) when the jaws are closed. A blade (18) is resiliently coupled to the upper jaw on a parallelogram linkage (20) and protrudes beyond a stop member (21) by an amount substantially equal to the intended depth of intrusion of the blade into the fiber. Closure of the jaws brings the blade against the fiber which it scores to a depth limited by the stop member (21) on the upper jaw (11) bearing against the upper surface of the fiber (15), and by yielding of the blade (18). The resilient mounting (20) of the blade (18) is such that the maximum force which can be applied to the blade is the amount required to produce a score of the desired depth. Further closure of the jaws then applies a longitudinal tension to the fiber to produce cleaving.

Abstract: A converter device which enables a computer terminal having text display capability only to be used for displaying either graphics or text and graphics simultaneously in addition to text is disclosed.