Abstract: Different arrangements are provided for two-way RSVP reservations. The network resources needed for a two-way communication involving a first party and a second party are reserved via either a 3-way RSVP handshake or a 4-way handshake.

Abstract: A flexible global distributed switch adapted for wide geographical coverage with an end-to-end capacity that scales to several Petabits per second (Pb/s), while providing grade-of-service and quality-of-service control, is constructed from packet-switching edge modules and channel-switching core modules. The global distributed switch may be used to form a global Internet. The global distributed switch enables simple controls, resulting in scalability and performance advantages due to a significant reduction in the mean number of hops in a path between two edge modules. Traffic is sorted at each ingress edge module according to egress edge module. At least one packet queue is dedicated to each egress edge module. Harmonious reconfiguration of edge modules and core modules is realized by time counter co-ordination. The global distributed switch can be enlarged from an initial capacity of a few Terabits per second to a capacity of several Petabits per second, and from regional to global coverage.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and program products for storing data address a first cache and a second cache. The second cache is capable of operating in a first mode wherein data read for storage in the first cache is also stored in the second cache, and is capable of operating in a second mode wherein the data stored in the second cache does not include at least some of the data read for storage in the first cache. The data stored in the second cache includes data that has been removed from the first cache. Thus the contents of the second cache are at least partially exclusive of the contents of the first cache. The described apparatus, methods, and program products are advantageously employed in multi-level caching systems wherein the caches may be approximately the same size.

Abstract: A self-configuring distributed packet switch which operates in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) and time division multiplexed (TDM) modes is described. The switch comprises a distributed channel switching core, the core modules being respectively connected by a plurality of channels to a plurality of high-capacity packet switch edge modules. Each core module operates independently to schedule paths between edge modules, and reconfigures the paths in response to dynamic changes in data traffic loads reported by the edge modules. Reconfiguration timing between the packet switch modules and the channel switch core modules is performed to keep reconfiguration guard time minimized. The advantage is a high-capacity, load-adaptive, self-configuring switch that can be distributed to serve a large geographical area and can be scaled to hundreds of Tera bits per second to support applications that require, very high bandwidth and a guaranteed quality of service.

Abstract: A link state advertisement protocol message received from an originating device over an inbound interface is forwarded over the fast path according to a reverse path forwarding determination. Specifically, a reverse path forwarding check is performed in order to determine the reverse path forwarding interface for the originating device. A forwarding state that indicates the reverse path forwarding interface may be installed, in which case the forwarding state may be used to determine the reverse path forwarding interface. If the inbound interface is determined to be the reverse path forwarding interface for the originating device, then the link state advertisement protocol message is forwarded over the fast path. Otherwise, the link state advertisement protocol message is not forwarded over the fast path. The link state advertisement protocol message continues to be processed and forwarded by the control plane as usual for robustness.

Abstract: A device for dissipating heat produced by circuitry such as the circuitry associated with an optical transponder includes a plurality of heat dissipating regions. Each heat dissipating region includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled with at least one component. Each heat sink is at least partially thermally isolated from other heat sinks to mitigate heat flow from high-power components to heat sensitive components. Further, all of the heat sinks associated with the circuit package are electrically coupled to provide electromagnetic shielding. A thermally insulative and electrically conductive gasket is employed to couple adjacent heat sinks.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and apparatus for managing aggregate flows of data in a differentiated services (DS) network, fairness issues are improved by enforcing congestion control at the edges of the DS in a TCP-friendly manner network, rather than relying on congestion to accumulate at the core. This is done by establishing a credit system for each aggregate flow through the edge. Only if credit is available for the flow, will data from an edge node be forwarded to the edge node's DS traffic conditioner where the data packets can be marked using DiffServ labels. When credit is not available, the data will be queued at the edge node. Each time data belonging to an aggregate flow is forwarded to the traffic conditioner, the amount of credit for the flow is decremented. Credit for the flow is incremented only when control packets can be inserted into the flow. Specifically, the present invention establishes control flows associated with each aggregate flow. A control packet (i.e.

Abstract: A method of processing a multicast packet that includes determining whether a first forwarding cache that stores forwarding information for ranges of addresses includes a cache entry covering the source address, and, if the first forwarding cache includes the such an entry, adding an entry to a second forwarding cache for the specific source address and group of the packet using the forwarding information associated with the first cache entry.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for determining the sampling time for a time-domain equalizer divides an over-sampled sequence into a plurality of individual Nyquist rate sequences, determines time-domain equalizer coefficients using one of the individual Nyquist rate sequences, and measures the performance for all individual Nyquist rate sequences using the time-domain equalizer coefficients. The Nyquist rate sequence having the best performance is selected, and the sampling time (delay) is configured so that the selected Nyquist rate sequence is provided to the time-domain equalizer.