Abstract: Enabling validation of data stored on a server system. According to an aspect of the invention, a portion of the data is received at a client system and processed based on a rule to generate a result. The generated result is used to determine the compliance of the received portion of data with a requirement and thus validate the portion of data. According to another aspect, a user is provided a convenient interface to generate rules (including the requirement) for validating data stored on a server system.

Abstract: Test cases to test control strategies of a control process are specified in input files. The instructions in the input files are automatically read by a block tester, which interfaces with the control system to issue the instructions. As a test designer can create the instructions in the input files a priori, the tests may be carefully designed to avoid errors, in addition to performing exhaustive tests.

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 gateway may enable an end system to determine a translated address corresponding to an original address (of the end system). The end system may embed such determined translated address into a data portion of packets sent according to a signaling protocol. Another end system may eventually receive the data portion and determine the translated address corresponding to the original address. Using the translated address, the another end system may communicate back to the end system to set up a data path.

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: A client connected to a field device management station (FDMS) by a wireless path. An operator can issue commands to any field devices from the client. As a result, the operator can manage the field devices from any remote location. In addition, the FDMS may be connected to other clients by wire-based paths as well. As a result, commands from both wire-based and wireless clients may be channeled through the FDMS, thereby simplifying tracking of various of configuration changes and status of the field devices. According to another aspect of the present invention, the wireless client is connected to a field device by a wire-line medium. Connectivity between FDMS and field devices is established through wireless client, thereby providing path redundancy (in addition to control network).

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, an intelligent badge having the ability of collecting the identifiers of each of the badges located within the zone of the intelligent badge may be employed to identify the location of each badge. The central processing system determines the relative location of an asset by processing the sets of identifiers received from multiple intelligent badges. The relative location of an asset is determined by identifying at least one common badge identifier of a badge attached to a corresponding one of assets. The relative location of each asset may be determined with reference to known location of some badges by employing reference badges.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling one or more properties of a sheet of material to be manufactured on a sheet-making machine is disclosed. Actuators to control the sheet properties are arrayed in the cross-direction of the machine. Properties data about one or more properties of the sheet of material are measured and both the magnitude of an actuator control action and the cross-direction shape of an actuator control action are controlled to minimize the variation of the measured properties data from a desired target for each of the one or more properties.

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 network device (e.g., network access server or home gateway) providing different QOS (quality of services) to different layer-3 datagrams when transporting on tunnels. A tunnel may be implemented to provide different QOS to different packets depending on the packet header. The network device examines the header of each datagram to determine the specific QOS to be provided. At least the data portion in the datagram is encapsulated for transportation on the tunnel. The encapsulated data portion in turn is encapsulated in the form of one or more packets, with the packet format to reflect the QOS determined for the datagram. When the tunnel is implemented on UDP/IP and the datagram is an IP (Internet protocol) datagram, the TOS/Precedence bits of the IP datagram may be copied into the precedence/TOS bits of the UDP/IP packet(s).

Abstract: A service selection gateway (SSG) which allows a subscriber to access services operating using a changing set of access addresses. The SSG may be initially configured to forward packets related to a set of addresses associated with a service. The SSG may then accept a request to a change the set of addresses. In response to the request, the SSG may be configured to forward packets related to the changed set of addresses.

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: An aggregation device providing different QOS to different point-to-point sessions. Multiple virtual circuits, each to provide different QOS, may be provisioned. The aggregation device may be configured to indicate the desired QOS for each point-to-point session and the data related to each point-to-point session may be assigned to a virtual circuit providing the closest matching QOS. Alternatively, a service provider may statically specify the specific virtual circuit on which the data related to a specific point-to-point session is to be transmitted. Each point-to-point session receives a QOS provided by the assigned virtual circuit. As the content of each datagram received on a point-to-point session may not need to be examined for the purpose of assignment to a virtual circuit, an aggregation device may forward datagrams quickly.

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.