Abstract: A latching device is provided for a circuit pack having a cable retainer carried upon the front of the operating lever of the device. The cable retainer is oriented for positional and directional control of cable by directing cable longitudinally of the faceplate of the circuit pack and away from the fronts of other circuit packs within a shelf. Also provided is a combination of a latching device and two groups of covers. The combination enables a single latching device to be used upon circuit packs requiring security and non security conditions within a shelf. It also enables removal of a faceplate held to a faceplate mounting with the circuit pack in the shelf. An orifice in an operating lever of the device is accessible with a cover of the first group mounted upon the operating lever, as orifices in these covers align themselves with the orifice in the operating lever.

Abstract: The ATM apparatus for transmitting messages associated with a plurality of variable bit rate connections comprises ATM layer transmission equipment for receiving multiple messages, segmenting each received message into a plurality of smaller data units, such as 48 byte ATM adaption layer segmentation and reassembly protocol data units, and multiplexing such data units into a single stream for transport over a physical interface. A scheduler receives messages from each of the variable bit rate connections and transfers the messages to the transmission equipment in an order corresponding to the level of a leaky bucket associated with each connection.

Abstract: A method and system for providing routing information for use in virtual private networks is disclosed. The method supports a variety of different secure network topologies. According to the method a static map is generated including information on each static gateway and resources accessible therethrough. The map also contains security information for accessing and authenticating a gateway.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for measuring a rate of message element traffic over a message path in a communications network. The path includes at least one connection and is associated with a maximum rate of transmission. The path is periodically polled for transmission of a message element, the polling being performed at a polling rate associated with polling intervals which are at least as frequent as the maximum rate of transmission. If transmission of a message element is detected during a polling interval, a running count of such detection is incremented, the running count of detection being associated with the connection over which the message element was detected. If transmission of a message element is not detected, a running count of such non-detection is incremented, the running count of non-detection being associated with inactivity of the message path.

Abstract: A method of re-establishing a communications connection in a network element, a network element and a switched connection communications network are provided. The communications connection is re-established after a failure occurs affecting the communications connection. The network element is a network element in a switched connection communications network over which the communications connection is provisioned in a source-to-destination bearer path. The bearer path includes a cross-connection in the first-mentioned network element. The cross-connection is associated with the communications connection prior to the failure at a time when the communications connection is provisioned.

Abstract: A clip for holding a heat sink in heat conductive engagement with an integrated circuit mounted upon a substrate. The clip has a resilient beam for extending across the heat sink and two arms to extend down opposite edges of the heat sink and the substrate. The arms have free end extensions. When assembled, the heat sink and substrate sandwich between them the integrated circuit and a compression spring forming part of the clip, compresses the heat sink, integrated circuit and substrate together between the spring and the free end extensions. The compression spring is compressed in turn between the heat sink and the beam which is resiliently flexed away from the heat sink. The clip is devoid of screwthreaded attachments together with their disadvantages and the spring is the sole means of holding the assembly together. The beam of the clip may be spaced from a base of the heat sink so as not to extend across cooling air passages between heat transfer projections of the heat sink.

Abstract: A scheduling device for use in a packet-switched network, belonging to the class of non-work conserving or idling weighted round robin (WRR) arbiters, assigns a packet stream slots in a fixed-length time division multiple access (TDMA) frame by selecting free slots which are closest to ideal slot positions that would, if assigned, eliminate jitter or cell delay variation. The scheduler is able to simultaneously determine if a new constant bit rate connection requiring a predetermined bandwidth conforms to a leaky bucket or GCRA algorithm characterized by a peak packet or cell emission interval T=1/PCR and a packet or cell delay variation time, CDVT, i.e., whether the new connection is GCRA (T, CDVT) conformant.

Abstract: The method of potentially recovering from a short term signalling failure in a switched connection data transmission network comprises the steps of: (a) establishing a unique, network-wide, identifier for each call; (b) incorporating the unique identifier in a call setup message transmitted to each network element in the path of the call; (c) linking the unique call identifier with each bearer channel cross-connect associated with the call; and (d) upon detection of a failure in a signalling network which affects the call, (i) actuating a timed release of the cross-connects, (ii) re-transmitting the call setup message, including the unique call identifier, to each network element involved in placing the call, (iii) re-linking the unique call identifier with the surviving cross-connects thereby reclaiming the cross-connects, and (iv) aborting the release of the cross-connects provided they have all been timely reclaimed.

Abstract: A device and method for self-timed, temporary disabling or latching of an electric circuit. A first portion of the circuit has sensing means for sensing a change in the value of an output signal of a second circuit portion corresponding to a change between logic states. The first circuit portion also includes immobilizing means responsive to the sensing means for temporarily disabling or latching the second circuit portion. The immobilizing means functions after such a change in logic state has occurred and, in addition, when the output signal of the second circuit portion has acquired a value corresponding to a predetermined logic state. Disabling occurs when the immobilizing means turns off a switch of the second portion. Latching occurs when the immobilizing means activates latch means of the second portion, thereby fixing voltage level(s) and corresponding logic state(s).