Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a network element in an optical communications network. The network element includes a data collection application program interface (API) for receiving a request from a client for network topology information along with a topology gatherer module, a topology change module and a gateway node module, each in communication with the data collection API. One of the topology gatherer module, topology change module and gateway node module provides the network topology information requested by the client to the data collection API. The data collection API then provides the network topology information to the client. Alternate embodiments include a method of collecting optical communications network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for internal network device dynamic health monitoring. To increase network device availability, internal network device evaluations of resource attributes are conducted against threshold expressions and network managers are notified of any threshold events to allow them to address issues before failures occur. Flexibility is added by allowing users to select between various predefined threshold expressions, and flexibility is further increased by allowing users to input new threshold expressions. The user provided threshold expressions are dynamically incorporated into the network device's threshold evaluations while the network device is running. Thus, network managers may change threshold expressions at any time in accordance with their needs. The types of threshold expressions that may be used are practically limitless and may include any operand and multiple variables, including the time of day.

Abstract: Service path protection is provided for packet-based data services (e.g. GbE or FC) by making available to a protected service, as and when needed, preemptable (i.e. sharable) transport bandwidth (e.g. STS-1s for a SONET network) used, under normal conditions, to transport other data services. Each client-based service path is defined by a selectable working path when service protection has not been initiated for that service path and each working path comprises a selectable bandwidth, selectable portions of which are designated as unpreemptable and/or preemptable, whereby the preemptable bandwidth portions are made available for protection preemption by different service paths. A protection path is assigned to each protected service path, whereby each protection path comprises a selectable bandwidth having preemptable bandwidth portion(s) of working path(s) defining different service path(s) and/or unused network bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for upgrading embedded configuration databases while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation. While a network device is operating and using an embedded primary configuration database, an embedded backup configuration database stops performing as a backup database and is upgraded. The upgraded configuration database is then switched over to become the primary configuration database. The original primary configuration database may immediately become the backup configuration database, or the original primary configuration database may remain unchanged until the upgrade is committed. If the upgrade is not committed, for example, due to errors, then the original primary configuration database may be quickly switched over to again become the primary configuration database. As a result, embedded configuration databases may be upgraded while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation.

Abstract: In order to apply solder material (20) to a workpiece (1), compressed gas is guided through a bore hole (5) of a capillary (3). A pressure sensor (13) situated in the bore hole (5) measures the dynamic pressure of the compressed gas. As soon as the tip (12) of the capillary approaches the workpiece (1), the dynamic pressure increases and is used as a measure for the distance between the tip (12) of the capillary (3) and the workpiece (1), enabling the feed motion of the capillary to be controlled.

Abstract: A channel map display module, at least one user interface template and storage for holding information about band and channel assignments, subrate information, provisioned circuit and subrate circuits are used to create a unique channel map that presents the network provisioning information in graphical form that is easy to understand. The channel map display module is coupled to and polls the administrative complex of each node in the network to retrieve and gather the data about the network. The channel map display module combines the with the novel user interface for presentation to the user. The channel map user interface displays all the circuits formed on a sub-network, the band and channel assignments, whether a node perform regeneration, and if the circuit is coupled to multiplexers for other subrate circuit in a single display window.

Abstract: The present invention is a housing retrofit assembly for a milling machine or the like, including a quick adjusting stop nut for selective sliding coarse adjustment and rotational precision fine adjustment for rotatable engagement with a threaded rod or shaft in close tolerances, which provides stable precision engagement with the shaft, and which provides a positive locking mechanism. A unique lighting assembly is also disclosed which moves with the machine head for illuminating the milling cutter or the workpiece.

Abstract: A musical percussion instrument foot pedal uses a pair of high gauss rated magnets, one under the foot pedal and one on the base below the foot pedal the magnets aligned for magnetic repulsion. The magnetic repulsion between the magnets return the pedal to its original position after having been depressed. An inclined magnet support on the base may allow stacking magnets, raising and lowering the height of the base magnet, or sliding the base magnet into greater and lesser alignment with the pedal magnet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent packet forwarding utilizing virtual ports defined by a grouping of one or more STS-1s allocated to source and destination I/O devices (client) connected to an NxSTS-1 SONET network. A data flow path for transporting the client data is established from one virtual port at the source port to another virtual port at the destination port. The data flow path is established by notifying each of the ports of the data flow path and providing to the source port an address identifying the destination port and providing to the destination port an address identifying the source port.

Abstract: A rolling lawn trimmer carriage incorporates a remote trimmer motor control. The carriage may include adjustable mounting bracket means for attaching a lawn trimmer in various positions on the carriage base. A means for parking the carriage in a stationary position is desirably provided to facilitate servicing of a trimmer attached to the carriage.

Abstract: A gimbaled mounting bracket apparatus for aligning an actuator with a receptacle is disclosed, having a mounting ring rotatable around a pair of gudgeons. A concentric rotation ring attached to the pair of gudgeons. The concentric ring is mounted to a base along a rotational axis orthogonal to the gudgeons. The mounting ring retains a shower actuator that is to be aligned with a piping apparatus. The shower actuator can be angularly adjusted relative to piping apparatus to produce a collinear relationship, but is free of any translational movement relative to said receptacle, so as to minimize stresses exerted on said actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing Galois field multiplication with reduced redundancy. Generally, multiplication by a Galois field multiplier involves the multiplication of two polynomials modulo another polynomial. The Galois field multiplier has two Galois Field elements in a field of GF(2n) that correspond to the binary polynomials A[X] and B[X]: A[X]=an-1Xn-1+an-2Xn-2+an-3Xn-3+ . . . a1X+a0, B[X]=bn-1Xn-1+bn-2Xn-2+bn-3Xn-3+ . . . b1X+b0, where n corresponds to a number of terms in a Galois extension field of the Galois multiplier, and n-1 is an order of the polynomial A[X]. Premultiplier logic translates the binary polynomial A[X] into a binary vector cr, where r is the number of terms of the vector. The premultiplier logic is configured to modulo-2 add together various coefficients of the a0 through an-1, coefficients to produce various terms c0 through cr-1 of the cr binary vector.

Abstract: A system for detecting faults in an optical network having switching nodes and amplifier nodes is provided. According to one aspect of the system, one or more amplifier nodes are coupled between two switching nodes. Each amplifier node is capable of detecting a fault condition, such as a loss-of-signal (LOS) condition, on an incoming line. Upon detecting the LOS condition, the amplifier node generates a fault report which is then forwarded to a switching node. The switching node uses information from the fault report to initiate switching actions, if any, to restore traffic. According to another aspect of the system, each amplifier node is configured to receive a fault report received from another amplifier node and forward such fault report to a switching node. Each amplifier node is further configured to prioritize a fault condition identified in a fault report received from another amplifier node and the fault condition detected on its incoming line.

Abstract: A system and method for forwarding fault information in an optical network is disclosed. Responsive to a fault being detected at a node, the fault information is forwarded to the destination node in the form of a loss-of-signal condition by turning off laser transmitters used to propagate the signal towards its destination. Thus, a node or other network element not capable of generating an alarm signal consistent with an established alarm signaling protocol, such as a SONET alarm indication signal (AIS) or an SDH multiplexer section alarm indication signal MS-AIS, may still forward the fault condition to a downstream element.

Abstract: A golf training device that assists a golfer in sighting the direction to hit, and in the proper alignment of his body with respect to the golf ball. The device has a housing for mounting at least two lasers having a vertical element that provides vertical support for the lasers, a base element that enables at least a portion of the housing to be oriented to a desired sighting, and a spike for stabilizing the housing. Each of the lasers has a diffraction optical element that converts a laser beam into a planar arc of light which when projected onto a surface, such as the ground, produces a laser line. The diffraction optical elements are oriented orthogonal to each other and the resulting lines produced by the lasers are orthogonal. One of the laser lines provides feet alignment and the other provides a feet to ball laser reference line.

Abstract: A camera system and automated translation system allows automatic image capture of a recoat of a fiber which has undergone a number of processes. These images may be used to automatically inspect the recoat of the fiber in accordance with objective criteria. A stability index may be determined based on the thickness of the recoat on the fiber, a uniformity of the recoat on the fiber, a depth of any surface cracks on the recoat, and a depth of any bubbles in the recoat. A desired stability index may be determined in accordance with a desired lifetime of the fiber and an intended use of the fiber.

Abstract: An architecture is proposed for an optical node in a wavelength division multiplexed network. The optical node may be an optical add/drop node. Conventional add/drop nodes utilize a broadcast or blocking architecture. In a broadcast architecture, a copy of an optical signal is dropped to a drop path of a node while another copy continues on a through path. Thus, channels that occupy a specific portion of wavelengths (or spectrum) prior to the node are not available for use subsequent to the add/drop connectivity. In a blocking architecture, at least the through path (and often the drop path) is spectrally filtered. This permits wavelength reuse for add/drops in subsequent portions of the network. Disclosed is an optical node architecture that enables starting with a low cost approach, such as broadcast, but includes connections to permit ‘in-service’ upgrade to more capable architecture. Increasing spectral reuse is enabled through the architecture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of managing telecommunications networks through an Operations Support Services (OSS) client and templates. Using an OSS client and various provisioning templates a network manager may interactively provision network services in one or more network devices, in one or more networks, through one or more network management systems. A network manager may interactively establish connections between an OSS client and an NMS server and network device, or the network manager may employ a control template to non-interactively establish these connections. The client/server architecture allows network managers to access multiple different network management servers through multiple OSS clients, and an OSS client may be downloaded from a web accessible server to provide “manage anywhere” flexibility.

Abstract: An improved inter-module communication facilitation mechanism (CFM) is disclosed, which provides improved scalability, improved efficiency, and enhanced functionality and performance. In one aspect, the CFM enables a subscriber to subscribe to multiple events using a single namespace specification and a single subscription request. In another aspect, the CFM enables publishers to broadcast, rather than unicast, events to multiple subscribers concurrently. In yet another aspect, the CFM enables message exchange between senders and recipients to be conducted reliably, while at the same time ensuring that a message will be delivered to a recipient at most once. These and other aspects give rise to the many benefits offered by the CFM.

Abstract: System for transporting a sub-rate data stream over a communication network using a selected network protocol. The sub-rate data stream has an associated sub-rate protocol. The system includes a rate adapter to receive the sub-rate data stream and adapt a rate characteristic asso=iated with the sub-rate protocol to a rate characteristic associated with the selected network protocol to generate a rate-adapted data stream. The system also includes a payload framer to receive the rate-adapted data stream and frame the rate-adapted data stream into a payload for transmission over the communication network using the selected network protocol.