Abstract: Setting up a group of virtual circuits using a single set up message request. In an embodiment, fewer than all of the virtual circuits in the group are immediately provisioned, and the remaining virtual circuits are placed in an inactive status by appropriate configuration of all the devices in the path of the group of virtual circuits. Each of the inactive virtual circuits can be activated (complete provisioning) as and when required. The bandwidth overhead on the networks is reduced as fewer signaling messages would be used in provisioning several virtual circuits. The parsing overhead is reduced on the devices processing the signaling messages as a result.

Abstract: A switch may be configured to support a point-to-multi-point PVC which can be used to support a point to multi-point application. The signaling overhead is reduced due to the use of PVC, and the available bandwidth is used efficiently due to the use of the point-to-multi-point connection. Another aspect of the present invention minimizes the resources required while providing such point-to-multi-point virtual connections. A switch may minimize allocation of resources to branches that are not active. For example, a switch may determine that a branch is inactive based on the absence of reception of OAM cells in a specified duration and delete the forwarding information for the inactive branch. The switch may thus scale to support many point-to-multi-point virtual circuits having many branches.

Abstract: A service selection gateway (SSG) which enables a service provider to conveniently provide access of the same services to a group of hosts. The service provider may specify the specific services each group of hosts is permitted to access, and the SSG forwards packets from the hosts only to the corresponding specified services. In an embodiment implemented substantially in the form of software, the access information (specifying the server addresses which can be accessed from each group of hosts) is stored in the form of data structures in which the same copy of access information is shared by many (all) hosts in the corresponding group.

Abstract: An end system (“first end system”) concluding that a bi-directional virtual circuit is operational if the other end system (at the other end of the virtual circuit) has determined that the virtual circuit is operable based on the loopback cells. In other words, the first end system may not send loopback cells, and instead rely on the determination of the other end system. As a result, the total number of loopback cells may be reduced on a network backbone.

Abstract: A high resolution potentiometer implemented using at least two digital potentiometers connected in parallel. Each digital potentiometer is controlled to provide a corresponding resistance value, and a desired resistance value is attained by such control. The resolution is high in some range of desired resistance values and low in other ranges. A high resolution in a desired range can be attained by connecting another resistor in series with the digital potentiometers connected in parallel.

Abstract: Configuring a segment identifier in a customer premise equipment (CPE) connected to a network. Several OAM loopback cells containing possible segment identifiers in the headers may be transmitted. If an accurate segment identifier is used, the corresponding loopback cell may be received again in the CPE as an end system at the other end of the virtual circuit may loopback the cell. Thus, the CPE may be configured with the segment identifier corresponding to the received loopback cell. Once configured, new additional cells may be transmitted with the configured segment identifier.

Abstract: Data related to multiple point-to-point sessions is transmitted on a single virtual circuit of a ATM based network. In an embodiment implemented in accordance with ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2), the data related to each session is transported on a channel of the AAL2 virtual circuit. As the intermediate devices in the virtual circuit path merely need to maintain tables for one virtual circuit, the overhead on the devices may be minimized. By assigning data of a session to a channel provided by an adaptation layer, addition fields or higher level protocols may not be needed to transport the data related to the sessions.

Abstract: A MPLS device which receives configuration data identifying a group of multi-labeled packets and desired EXP (corresponding to the 3-bit experimental bit field specified by MPLS protocol) bits (even in the lower label entries of the label stack) for the group when forwarding the related packets. The MPLS device sets the EXP bits of even such lower label entries, and then forwards the multi-labeled packets. MPLS devices further down the path may provide different services for different multi-labeled packets depending on the EXP bit values. A service provider may configure a autonomous system border router (ASBR) to control service levels for while packets are forwarded further down the path (even in autonomous systems not related to the service provider) according to an aspect of the present invention.

Abstract: A precursor chemical compound is applied to a surface sought to be coated, and subjected to a rapid thermally activated chemical reaction process (RTACRP) in which the temperature is quickly raised and lowered. The desired coating is formed from the precursor chemical compound by a chemical reaction at the elevated temperature. The structural/chemical integrity of the surface is preserved due to the use of RTACRP. The approach may be used to manufacture a high-energy density lead-acid battery.