Abstract: An enhanced IP telephone taking advantage of the many call-related functions provided by existing PBX systems. The enhanced IP telephone includes a thin computer telephony integration (CTI) client transmitting to a CTI server a command associated with a particular call-related function provided by a PBX unit. The CTI server translates the command to a PBX command, and transmits the PBX command to the PBX unit for providing the particular call-related function to the enhanced IP telephone. Instead of the thin CTI client, the enhanced IP telephone may include an enhanced IP signaling protocol stack for accessing the PBX functionality using its signaling protocol. A CTI translator translates the enhanced signaling command to a CTI command for transmitting to the CTI server.

Abstract: Disclosed is a utility seat that attaches directly to a receiver hitch or indirectly by way of a sport utility rack, such as a bike or ski rack, thereby providing a stable means for sitting such that a sporting enthusiast may quickly and conveniently change sporting apparel and then collapse or fold up the seat toward the rear of the vehicle for storage and safe traveling.

Abstract: A data communication switch receives packets having first priorities, generates second priorities as a function of the first priorities, prioritizes selected ones of the plurality of packets as a function of the second priorities and transmits the plurality of packets having the second priorities. The first priorities may be inbound Std. 802.1Q tag priorities and the second priorities may be regenerated Std. 802.1Q tag priorities. Priority selection may be communicated in the switch through the expedient of packet marking. Marks may be instantiated in the packets prior to subjecting the packets to prioritization on the switch and removed from the packets prior to transmitting the packets from the switch. The switch may be arranged to prioritize selected ones of 802.1Q-complaint tagged packets based on a tag priority while preserving tag priority signaling for all such tagged packets.

Abstract: Reservation, request, allocation, assignment and application protocols for conserving addresses requiring unique allocation from a finite address domain. In accordance with the protocols, a set of addresses within the domain are reserved for “intra-switch only” applications so as to be to allocable to a plurality of organizations for assignment and application in a plurality of switches without introducing addressing ambiguities into networks. Other addresses within the domain not having the “intra-switch only” restriction are reserved for a single organization so as to be assigned and applied in a single device to avoid introducing addressing ambiguities into networks. The addresses may be MAC addresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accomplishing source learning in a data switch of the type having a plurality of switching modules where each supports one or more external network devices and a backplane interconnecting the switching modules. Each switching module has logic resident thereon for performing distributed source learning, including configuring unknown source addresses “seen” in inbound packets and for notifying the other switching modules that such source addresses were “seen” on a port thereof. Address-port associations are thereby configured on the switch using distributed logic, i.e. without intervention by a centralized management entity. In regard to configuring destination addresses—when a destination address is unknown, packets are delivered over a multicast queue until the destination address is found. Once the destination address is found, a method of flow integrity is used to avoid out of order packet delivery when the device transitions from using a multicast flood queue to a unicast queue.

Abstract: Priority processing for a data communication switch, such as a LAN switch supporting source-learned bridging, in which a priority value for application to an outbound tagged packet is determined based on an inbound tag priority and a plurality of other values, such as an inbound tag VLAN and receiving port identifier. The plurality of other values may be initially resolved to a virtual trunk identifier, which virtual trunk identifier may be applied with the inbound tag priority to determine the outbound tag priority. The virtual trunk identifier may be resolved by reducing the plurality of other values to a smaller-bit value and using the smaller-bit value in a table look-up.

Abstract: A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own set of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based on a domain name, a telephone number, and the like.

Abstract: An autocorrelator apparatus and method for economically measuring physical properties of an object where the measurement path is at least semi-translucent to light, such as thicknesses in multilayered optical structures, group index of refraction, and distance to a surface. The apparatus includes a non-coherent light fiber interferometer and an optional coherent light fiber interferometer in association so as to share PZT fiber modulators. Thickness and boundary extent measurements can be made, for example, of solids, liquids, liquids moving along a horizontal plane, or liquids flowing down a plane.

Abstract: A method and system for assembly and attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems (TPS) for applications such as re-entry or hypersonic vehicles are disclosed. The attachment system comprises a fastener that passes through an aperture of and a fitting attached to a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) TPS panel. The flexure fitting allows thermal growth in the panel while providing a structurally stiff interface to support the panel through structural and acoustic loading. The flexure fitting is detachably attached to the substructure, or fuel tank of a vehicle. The fastened connection is accessed through an aperture via an access cover plate conformal to the surface of the CMC TPS panel. It is by way of the access cover that the fastened connection is externally serviced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical box extension that includes an extending member for switch and/or plug mounting having one or more fastening brackets, one or more base fastening brackets and one or more fasteners that together with optional contact points provide for mechanical and electrical connectivity between the extending member and its associated electrical box and provide sufficient mechanical resistance to support the adjustable elevation of the elevating member thereby supporting a flush surface for surface mounted sockets, switches and their associated plates.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing synchronization support in a multiprocessor environment using a memory interface that supports an atomic read-modify-write operation as well as conventional read and write access to memory. Selection of the operation is made dependent on which ever address of a plurality of addresses is used to reference a single physical memory location in which there is stored a lock variable used to restrict access to a shared resource. When the particular access corresponds to a read-modify-write operation, the lock variable is read out and a modified version written back into memory on the condition that the shared resource is available to the requesting processor. The method and apparatus executes read-modify-write operations by interface logic circuitry in response to a single processor read operation. Through these atomic or otherwise indivisible operations, the method and apparatus precludes multiprocessor conflict.

Abstract: A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own wet of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based on a domain name, a telephone number, and the like.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing object instances and making efficient use of memory. A WeakHashMap class provided by the Java programming language is utilized to maintain a map of unique objects in memory. When a new candidate object is presented, the map is searched for an equivalent object instance and returned for use if found. If an equivalent object instance is not found, the new candidate object is unique, and is therefore added to the map. Each entry of the map stores key and value pairs. In adding the new candidate object to the map, the key portion of the entry is set to the new candidate object. The value portion of the entry is set to a weak reference which also refers to the new candidate object. Once an object in the map is no longer in use, the object is automatically purged from the memory by making use of automatic garbage collection capabilities provided by Java.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented presented to provide wide dynamic range measurements of the input phase to a time domain multiplex interferometer array using a dual slope modulation method for interrogation. Features of the present invention include a topology capable of using only single mode fiber components and self-correcting processing approaches that reduce measurement errors providing high accuracy measurements and significantly reducing the cost of interrogation.

Abstract: In order to avoid mechanical assembly problems and transmission of undesired electrical currents among circuit cards or boards in a telecommunications switch or similar digital device, a conventional hard-wired midplane bus is replaced by a wireless bus. The wireless bus includes a radio frequency or light wave transceiver on each card. Antennas on respective cards can either be oriented within direct line-of-sight of each other, or can project into a waveguide which directs the transmitted signals past all the other antennas. For example, the waveguide may be a metal enclosure which surrounds all the cards. Alternatively, respective aligned apertures in the cards can define a continuous transmission path. A data rate exceeding 1 megabit per second and a transmission power on the order of 1 milliWatt are preferred, since the bus is intended for use within a single switch housing.

Abstract: RSVP host proxy services for extending RSVP-signaled QoS provisioning to flows involving one or more RSVP-unaware hosts. In an RSVP sender host proxy service, a switch through which an RSVP-unaware source host accesses a network acts as an RSVP sender host proxy for the source host. In an RSVP receiver host proxy service, a switch through which an RSVP-unaware destination host accesses a network acts as an RSVP receiver host proxy for the destination host.

Abstract: Methods for configuring, maintaining connectivity in and utilizing an ATM network. Neighboring switches share topology information and enable links to neighboring switches for tag switching. Point-to-point tagged virtual connections are established between switches on the best and next-best paths learned from topology information. Point-to-multipoint tagged virtual connections are established on the spanning tree path. Multiple tag allocation requests are included in a single message to preserve bandwidth. Next-best paths are established to reduce latency in event of link failure. Forwarding operations may be performed in hardware to reduce latency during message forwarding.