Abstract: In a multi-service network, layer 2 traffic such as IP traffic according to the invention is carried over ATM SVCs or SPVCs. Methods of setting up such connections using the PNNI protocol are also discussed. Using enhancements to the standard ATM SPVC/SVC signaling messages, layer 3 IP routing processes on multi-services switches on opposite ends of the network allow traffic to flow transparently through an underlying layer 2 virtual connection. This provides a simple and efficient way to transport IP packets across an ATM network.

Abstract: Sequences of items may be maintained using ordered locks. These items may correspond to anything, but using ordered locks to maintain sequences of packets, especially for maintaining requisite packet orderings when distributing packets to be processed to different packet processing engines, may be particularly useful. For example, in response to a particular packet processing engine completing processing of a particular packet, a gather instruction is attached to the particular identifier of a particular ordered lock associated with the particular packet. If no longer needed for further processing, the packet processing engine is immediately released to be able to process another packet or perform another function. The gather instruction is performed in response to the particular ordered lock being acquired by the particular identifier, with the gather instruction causing the processed particular packet to be sent.

Abstract: By transmitting information on a condition enabling execution of one service to a resource broker that manages an assignment state of a resource node used among services, a resource node enabling execution of one service out of resource nodes used among services is specified. And by receiving information on use state of the resource node out of the specified resource nodes and based on the information on the received use state, a resource node used for one service out of specified resource nodes is determined.

Abstract: System and method for integrating communications between two switches. The system includes a first switch, a second switch and a CPU. The first switch has a first plurality of ports, and the second switch has a second plurality of ports. The CPU is coupled to the first switch and the second switch, and is configured to control and program the first and second switch. A port of the first plurality of ports, as a first link port, is coupled to a port of the second plurality of ports, as a second link port. The first plurality of ports are designated by a first numbering scheme, the second plurality of ports are designated by a second numbering scheme, and the first and second link ports each have a tag insertion unit, a processing unit and a removing unit, for inserting an inter-stack tag, processing the packet, and removing the inter-stack tag.

Abstract: An ATM switch includes a first stage, a second stage and a third stage each of which stages includes at least one basic switch, wherein the first stage, the second stage and the third stage are connected. The basic switch includes a part which refers to time information written in a header of an input cell and switches cells to an output port in an ascending order of the time information. In addition, the ATM switch includes a cell distribution part in the basic switch of the first stage. The cell distribution part determines a routes of a cell to be transferred such that loads of routes within the ATM switch are balanced. The ATM switch further includes an adding part which adds arriving time information to an arriving cell as the time information.

Abstract: A real time communication device is provided for operation with a packet switched network interconnecting the real time communication device with a control unit and a plurality of remote real time communication devices. The device comprises a network interface for communicating over the packet switched network. The device further comprises means for establishing a logical channel to support a media session over the packet switched network with an endpoint. The endpoint is an endpoint selected from the group of endpoints consisting of the control unit and a one of the plurality of remote real time communication devices. The device further comprises means for sending a multicast status message on the packet switched network addressed to a multicast group. The multicast group comprises any of the remote real time communication devices that have joined the multicast group. The multicast status message announces a state of the real time communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a data signal for transmission to a remote device transmits at least two synchronized copies of the data signal, in optical form, in different directions. To that end, the data signal first is synchronized to a clock signal to produce a composite signal. The composite signal then is converted to an optical signal, which is referred to as an “outgoing signal.” A plurality of copies of the outgoing signal then are transmitted. At least two copies of the outgoing signal are transmitted in different directions.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method related to a computer network capable of detecting and breaking cycles are disclosed. First routing information usable to send messages to a first address may be created. The first address may be associated with multiple nodes in the network. When sending a message from a first node to the first address according to the first routing information, a cycle may be detected. The first routing information may be changed to break the cycle.

Abstract: A management system for supporting management functions of managed network devices is formed by a backend management network providing processing capability to handle management transactions. In one embodiment, the management system is coupled to a first and a second network element connected to a data communication network and being managed by a network manager also connected to the data communication network. The management system includes a management network coupled to the first and second network elements and a processor element coupled to the management network and communicating with the first and second network elements through the management network. In operation, management transactions are transmitted to the managed network elements from the network manager through the data communication network. The management transactions are transmitted through the management network to the processor element where the management transactions are processed on behalf of the respective network elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing packets, for example, using a high performance massively parallel packet processing architecture, distributing packets or subsets thereof to individual packet processors and gathering the processed packet or subsets and forwarding the resultant modified or otherwise processed packets, accessing packet processing resources across a shared resource network, accessing packet processing resources using direct memory access techniques, and/or storing one overlapping portion of a packet in a global packet memory while providing a second overlapping portion to a packet processor. In one implementation, a packet of multiple streams of packets is received. A subset of bytes of the packet are distributed to the next packet processor determined based on a distribution pattern. The subset of the packet is processed to generate a modified subset, which is gathered in turn based on the distribution pattern; and a modified packet including the modified subset is forwarded.

Abstract: A modular reconfigurable multi-server system for use in a wavelength-division-multiplexed based photonic burst switched (PBS) network with variable time slot provisioning. An optical high-speed I/O module within the multi-server system enables it to serve as an edge node in the PBS network. The optical I/O module statistically multiplexes the incoming packets (e.g., IP packets or Ethernet frames) received from a legacy network, generates control and data bursts, which are then scheduled for transmission over the PBS network. The optical I/O module then optically transmits and receives the scheduled optical bursts according to traffic priority and available network resources.

Abstract: A network gateway processor architecture including a scalable array of compute processors that function to convert inbound data packets to outbound data packets, an ingress processor coupleable to a first network to receive the inbound data packets and coupled to provide the inbound data packets to the compute processors, and an egress processor coupleable to a second network and coupled to the compute processors to collect and forward the outbound data packets to the second network. The ingress processor distributes inbound data packets to the compute processors based on a least load value selected from current load values determined for the respective compute processors of the scalable array. The current load values represent estimated processing completion times for the respective compute processors of the scalable array of compute processors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic binding of network services is described. A network device comprises at least one processor, memory, I/O, and at least one virtual network machine in the memory, said at least one virtual network machine including a first network interface, a first sub-interface data structure in the memory, and a first binding data structure in the memory which binds the first network interface to the first sub-interface data structure.

Abstract: An ATM communication system has a connection setting section for controlling a plurality of ATM switches to set an n:n bidirectional ATM connection having n terminals of a plurality of constituent terminals as terminal points and using the VPI/VCI for identifying the n terminal points, and a process ID allocating section for allocating an MID as a process ID to a plurality of processes, executed by the n terminals for sending a message to the bidirectional ATM connection. The ATM communication system migrates a process executed on an arbitrary terminal to another terminal while keeping the process ID allocated to the processes. Where a dead-lock occurs due to that a process becomes a sleep state for the reason of that the bandwidth of a physical link is insufficient for executing in parallel the processes on the ATM communication system, the bandwidth of the physical link that a sleeping process occupies is intercepted to avoid a CAC dead-lock.

Abstract: When a network apparatus of this invention receives an IEEE 802.3ad link application control packet from a subscriber line with a VPWS function, it processes the packet in a control unit without relaying the packet by VPWS. More specifically, the network apparatus receives an IEEE802.3ad link aggregation control packet along with receiving an IEEE802.3x flow control packet. The network apparatus transmits a link aggregation control packet. The network apparatus also relays other layer 2 control protocol packets without receiving them, and does not transmit the other layer 2 control protocol packets.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a first interface, a power extractor, a transceiver, and a second interface. The first interface receives a signal that includes both power and packetized information. The power extractor extracts the power from the signal and powers the transceiver. The transceiver extracts the packetized information from the signal and communicates the information to a user device using the second interface.

Abstract: A computing apparatus comprises a plurality of hardware modules (102,104,106) and a shared communication infrastructure (110) by which the modules can communicate with each other in the usual way. In order to increase the level of trust and security in the apparatus, a trusted hardware module (120) is also provided and is connected to the other modules by respective communication paths (122a;122b;122c), distinct from the communication infrastructure, by which each of those modules can communicate directly with the trusted module but cannot communicate directly with any other of the modules. The trusted module can therefore have secure communications, for example of “unsafe” data, with each of the other modules without any of the remaining modules eavesdropping, and the trusted module can route unsafe data between any pair of the other modules, or decline to provide such routing, for example in dependence on policy stored in the trusted module.

Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching method and apparatus for performing a switching operation in a telecommunication network, wherein a side information and a service information generated based on a received call is converted into a switching technology independent identification information for identifying a start point and an end point of a connection to be switched in the switching apparatus. Thus, the physical resources of the switch are abstracted to a logical model which provides a clear interface for call control and signaling applications. Logical resources are controlled by resource managers, such that the physical resources are hidden by the switching technology independent identification information of the start point and end point of the connection. Thereby, problems with different switching technologies can be solved, and the complexity and maintenance of call control applications can be reduced, since they handle logical resources independent of the switching techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing telephony devices in a distributed network environment is disclosed. The present invention provides for checking data packets to ensure that non-voice data packets are properly tagged to be transmitted on a native virtual local area network (“VLAN”). Voice data packets transmitted on a separate VLAN with a higher priority.

Abstract: A router device and a cut-through path control method capable of carrying out the load balancing at an intermediate router device which actually has a multi-path information, without requiring a special processing at the edge router are disclosed. At a router device at which multi-path exists, one router among a plurality of routers that can possibly be a next hop router is selected so as to contribute to a load balancing, according to a whole or a prescribed part of information regarding a state of cut-through path set up in which the router device is involved, at a time of setting up a cut-through path in the multi-path, and a prescribed control for setting up the cut-through path with that one router as the next hop router is carried out.

Abstract: A network that maximizes interconnect utilization between integrated processing elements, including ports, an interconnect, port interfaces, and an arbiter. Each port includes arbitration and data interfaces. The interconnect includes selectable data paths between the ports for packet datum transfer. Each port interface includes processing, source and destination interfaces. The source interface submits transaction requests and provides packet datums upon receiving an acknowledgement. The destination interface receives packet datums via a number of available input buffers. Each transaction request includes a transaction size, a packet priority, and a destination port address. The arbiter includes a request queue and a buffer counter for each port and a datum counter for each acknowledged transaction.

Abstract: An end-to-end monitoring mechanism whereby edge nodes are notified that a particular path flows through a local protection tunnel along the way. The notification mechanism utilizes OAM packets which include a link protection indication that are transmitted on the Ethernet service layer. The link protection indication may be represented by one or more flags to indicate that local protection is in place along the path. The mechanism enables fast local protection to be used with slower end-to-end protection by informing the latter when local protection is activated. In an implementation in which local-protection does not preserve the CIR of the protected traffic, the invention provides minimal interruption of Committed Information Rate (CIR) connections by minimizing the time traffic is diverted through local protection tunnels. Notification of the edge node that local protection is in use occurs very quickly, thus allowing the edge node to rapidly switch to a backup path.

Abstract: A clock synchronization backup mechanism is disclosed for maintaining clock synchronization during periods of degraded synchronization. The clock synchronization backup mechanism includes a jitter buffer having a fill value at a given sample time which is compared with a threshold. When the jitter buffer fill value exceeds the threshold, a non-normal condition is registered and the local clock frequency is set to a combination of a long-term frequency setting plus a threshold sensitive frequency adjustment. The clock synchronization backup mechanism is particularly useful for overcoming residual errors accumulated due to temperature change, oscillator degradation, and a variety of other system perturbations problematical for clock synchronization mechanisms known in the art.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for balancing loads in a switching fabric. The switching fabric comprises a plurality of data ports through which data frames enter or exit the switching fabric. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a buffer and a routing data generation circuit. The buffer receives a data frame to be transmitted to a destination device via the switching fabric. The routing data generation circuit is coupled to the buffer. The routing data generation circuit generates and adds routing data to the data frame received by the buffer. The routing data identifies one of the plurality of data ports through which the data frame will exit the switching fabric to reach the destination device. After the routing data is added to the data frame, the buffer transmits the data frame to the switching system.

Abstract: An intelligent optical burst switching module for use in an optical switching network includes an optical receiver array, optical transmitter array, a core switch unit and a control unit. The core switch unit routes optical control and data signals received via a plurality of optical input lines to the optical receiver array and a plurality of output lines, respectively. The optical output lines provide propagation paths for a plurality of TDM channels. The optical receiver array converts the optical control signal to an electrical signal. The control unit processes the converted control signal and, responsive thereto, causes the core switch unit to route at least a portion of the data signal to one of the TDM channels. The control unit also causes the optical transmitter to generate a new optical control signal and cause the switch unit to route the new control signal to another of the TDM channels.

Abstract: A method and communications arrangement for transmitting multiple destination data and/or retrievable data in a communications network is provided in which several connections for transmitting multiple destination data are linked up with a decentralized distribution device having several subscriber connections. Accordingly, at least one of the connections can be selected using the distribution device, individually per subscriber connection, and multiple destination data transmitted by way of the selected connection is sent to the respective subscriber connection. Several additional connections to a retrieval device, which makes the retrievable data available, are linked up to the distribution device. Accordingly, transmission resources available on the subscriber side can be assigned as needed, regardless of the type of service currently being requested, and can subsequently be released again.

Abstract: An access point for a wireless local area data communications network is designed to derive power from a lighting fixture. In one arrangement, the access point includes a housing configured to be received in one or more sockets of a lighting fixture and to replace a lamp which would be inserted therein. In another arrangement, the housing includes a socket for receiving a lamp whereby both the access point and a lighting fixture can be serviced by the socket of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for communicating information between functional blocks of a system across a communications fabric. A first functional block communicates a single request fully describing attributes of a two-dimensional data block across the communication fabric to a second functional block capable of decoding the single request to obtain the attributes of the two-dimensional data block. At least one of the functional blocks transmits data associated with the single request across the communication fabric.

Abstract: Methods are described that enable host devices of a multicast IP network to reliably join multicast group address(es) in talkgroup or point-to-point calls. For a talkgroup call, a sourcing host sends “hello” packets or payload to one or more network devices, addressed to a multicast group address. The receiving host issues a join command to the one or more network devices in an attempt to reliably join the multicast group address. If any packets are received by the receiving host within a designated time period associated with the attempt, the receiving host is reliably joined to the multicast group address. For a point-to-point call, a controller sends a pair of multicast group addresses, one designated for sourcing packets and the other designated for receiving packets, to a first and second host participating in the point-to-point call. The designated “source” and “receive” multicast group address are complementary for the first and second hosts.

Abstract: A redundant multistage network can be expanded by width in a non-stop manner, involving an insertion, a reconfiguring and an activation section. The insertion section involves adding a router to each row of routers in a position dictated by the specific upgrade procedure. The reconfiguring section involves the selection of a port and disconnecting any connections necessary to connect that port with its proper corresponding port as derived from the final desired topology. This section can further include the optional permutation of port address to minimize traffic disruption. The activation section involves attaching any new external ports desired to external sources and putting those new connections into service.

Abstract: A node device and a label switched path loop detection method which are capable of detecting a label switched path loop efficiently and quickly are disclosed. In a node device for carrying out the label switching, an ingress node information is included in a message that is to be successively transmitted from the upstream side in order to set up a label switched path, and the fact that the message with the same ingress node information for the same packet flow will be received from a previous hop node that is different from before if the label switched path has a loop formed thereon is utilized. Also, at a time of transmitting a message for the purpose of setting up a label switched path, if a node at which the label switched path for that packet flow already exists on the upstream or downstream side is encountered, this already existing label switched path is traced along the same or opposite direction as the flow, and the label switched path is set up if no loop is detected after tracing to the end.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining inter-region and intra-region traffic in one or more networks. To determine the network traffic flowing between a first region and a second region, one or more routers in the first and second regions are identified along with their respective links connecting the routers in the first region to those in second region. A processor located remotely from the routers in the first and second regions then determines discrete used bandwidth samples of the identified links over a period of time. Based on the used bandwidth samples, the processor determines the network traffic flowing between the first and second regions. To determine the network traffic within a region, a sample of hosts each including one or more web servers in the region are selected. The processor identifies the last pairs of identifiable routers on respective routes from the processor to the sample hosts and the respective links connecting the identified last pairs of routers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for processing a data packet. An input port receives a data packet, a switching board classifies the data packet, determines whether the data packet should be accepted, and switches the data packet to a management board if the data packet is a first data packet in a session, and to a processing board if the data packet is not a first data packet in a session. A management board receives a data packet from the switching board, examines the data packet and forwards the data packet to one of the processing boards. One or more processing boards receives non-first data packets from the switching board and data packets from the management board and processes the data packets. A firewall and a secure gateway with firewall and virtual private network functionality for processing a data packet are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for scheduling arriving data packets for input to a switch having a plurality of input channels, and a plurality of output channels, the scheduling method is performed in successive scheduling phases where each scheduling phase further comprises at least log N scheduling iterations. The method is a parallelized weight-driven input queued switch scheduling algorithm which possesses good bandwidth and delay properties, is stable, and can be configured to offer various delay and quality of service (QoS) guarantees. The scheduling method utilizes envelope scheduling techniques and considers partially filled envelopes for scheduling.

Abstract: A resource management system for an intelligent communications network having one or more distributed service nodes, each service node for providing services relating to an event received at a network resource associated with a service node. The system comprising a first processing tier comprising one or more local execution environments located at a node, each execution environment including a mechanism for instantiating one or more service objects capable of performing event services at a first local execution environment, and, for generating status information relating to executing service objects; and, a second processing tier associated with a service node and including a system processor for tracking status and availability of service objects and local execution environments.

Abstract: A system and method for providing field upgradeable switches built from ASIC-based routing components is disclosed. A network switch contains intermediate routing components and an interface that allows the switching component to couple with a module. The module contains additional routing components and may be coupled to the network switch as a simple field operation. When the module is coupled with the network switch, the routing components of the module are communicatively coupled with the intermediate routing components of the network switch. Thus, the network switch now contains additional routing components. As a result, the addition of the module enhances the internal topology of network switch and increases its effective bisectional bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a network switch that determines when specific content is hot and directs flow to one or more cache servers. The architecture can include a tag generator to generate unique tags corresponding to a server in a plurality of servers, a content pre-fetching algorithm to retrieve information before the information is requested by determining the hotness of the information, and a cache server in which stored information is configured based upon the relative degrees of hotness of the stored information.

Abstract: A method and system for managing broadband IP servers in a layer two broadcast network includes an intermediate system, an end system, and a control system. The service information is advertised by each end system (server) on the layer two network. The same service is provided by multiple end systems. The intermediate system forwards a service request packet to one of the available end systems, and the intermediate system learns the service advertisements from the end system. If the available end system decides to instruct an intermediate system to forward certain traffic from a certain source to the end system, the end system can advertise the flow information to intermediate systems. This flow could be an established TCP connection or any packets that are specified by pattern matching rules. The intermediate system always forwards the packet based on the flow that is advertised by the end system.

Abstract: A network device includes a first switch, a second switch, address resolution logic (ARL), and a CPU. The first and second switch having a groups of ports which are a subset of the plurality of ports and are numbered by a different numbering schemes. The CPU coupled to the first switch and the second switch and configured to control the first switch, the second switch, and the ARL. A first link port of the first group of ports is coupled to a second link port of the second group of ports. The ARL is configured to perform address resolution based on the first and second numbering schemes such that when the first network port a data packet received at the first network port destined for the second network port is directly routed from the first network port to the second network port.

Abstract: A musical tone data communications system having a unit for generating MIDI data of a musical performance by a player, a unit for transmitting the generated MIDI data over a communications network and a unit for receiving the transmitted MIDI data and reproducing musical tones corresponding to the MIDI data in real time.

Abstract: A communications system comprising device (e.g. an ATM physical layer (PHY)) and higher layer devices (e.g. an ATM layer and an AAL2 layer) are connected via a bus for communication of traffic therebetween, the bus comprising lines for carrying data and control signals. The bus supports data in ATM and AAL2 form and the devices discriminate between the two forms of data traffic. The data in AAL2 form typically comprises AAL2 mini-cells associated with identification of the source of destination of the mini-cells.

Abstract: An integrated circuit monitors the most active traffic flow rates on a communications network by using a leaky bucket model having a variable fill rate. As a switch receives packets, the packet identifications are sampled. A sampled packet identification is compared to record identifications in a table of identifications. If the sampled and record identifications match, an activity value for the packet identification is increased by an amount inversely proportional to an activity value associated with the record identification. If the sampled and record identifications do not match, the activity value is decreased. Record identifications are removed from the table when the activity value decreases to a specified level. New sampled identifications are added to the table if empty records exist.

Abstract: A distributed network access system in accordance with the present invention includes at least an external processor and a programmable access device. The programmable access device has a message interface coupled to the external processor and first and second network interfaces through which packets are communicated with a network. The programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table that is utilized to route packets communicated between the first and second network interfaces. In response to receipt of a series of packets, the packet header filter in the programmable access device identifies messages in the series of messages upon which policy-based services are to be implemented and passes identified messages via the message interface to the external processor for processing. In response to receipt of a message, the external processor invokes service control on the message and may also invoke policy control on the message.

Abstract: A network switch includes an input layer to receive a data stream with a set of cells. Each cell includes data and a header to designate a destination device. The input layer includes a set of input layer circuits. A selected input layer circuit of the set of input layer circuits receives the data stream. The selected input layer circuit includes a set of queues corresponding to a set of destination devices. The selected input layer circuit is configured to assign a selected cell from the data stream to a selected queue of the set of queues. The selected queue corresponds to a selected destination device specified by the header of the selected cell. An intermediate layer includes a set of intermediate layer circuits, each intermediate layer circuit has a set of buffers corresponding to the set of destination devices.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring components of a distributed routing platform using switchtags. The distributed routing platform includes transport service modules that are configured to perform a service on packets. Each of the transport service modules is further configured to perform the service on certain types of packets and to encapsulate other types of packets with a switchtag and forward them to another transport service module in the distributed routing platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching method and apparatus for performing a switching operation in a telecommunication network, wherein a side information and a service information generated based on a received call is converted into a switching technology independent identification information for identifying a start point and an end point of a connection to be switched in said switching apparatus. Thus, the physical resources of the switch are abstracted to a logical model which provides a clear interface for call control and signaling applications. Logical resources are controlled by resource managers, such that the physical resources are hidden by the switching technology independent identification information of the start point and end point of the connection. Thereby, problems with different switching technologies can be solved, and the complexity and maintenance of call control applications can be reduced, since they handle logical resources independent of the switching techniques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing ATM formatted MPEG SI data in a television set-top box. A virtual channel indicator (VCI) is used to associate a segment of SI data with a virtual channel. An ATM processor receives a stream of ATM packets containing SI data from an out-of-band tuner. The ATM packets include the VCI in a header thereof. The ATM processor stores the SI data in a buffer memory associated with the VCI for retrieval by the ATM processor at the request of the STB system processor.

Abstract: A data transmission system, which includes multiple local area networks (LANs) coupled by a hub via multiple LAN adapters and an ATM crossbar switch coupling all LAN adapters. At least a requesting LAN transmits LAN data frames to at least a destination LAN. The LAN data frames are converted into concatenated slots of the same size and transmitted through the ATM crossbar switch by the requesting LAN. The requesting LAN adapter includes a control logic for transmitting a plurality of request signals (REQ) to the ATM crossbar switch, each of them being associated with a destination LAN, and the ATM crossbar switch comprises a scheduler for transmitting grant signals (GNT) associated with the requests enabling the requesting LAN adapter to transmit LAN data frames to the destination LANs. The grant signals are transmitted by the destination LAN in an order depending upon a predetermined algorithm that controls the scheduler regardless of the order the requests are transmitted by the requesting LAN adapter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting and diagnosing faults in a network. The network has a plurality of nodes through which switched virtual connections can be established. First, all attempts at establishing routes through the network are recorded. Then, the location of a failure is determined by analyzing the attempted routes.