Abstract: Systems, and apparatus for adding reflection based pre-emphasis to a laser driver. In one aspect, a device includes a load (e.g. a laser) having a load impedance, a first end of a transmission line connected to the load, and a reflective impedance element connected to a second end of the transmission line. The reflective impedance element has a given impedance value that differs from the transmission line's characteristic impedance, and the characteristic impedance differs from the load impedance. This mismatch causes reflections between the reflective impedance element and the load. The reflections between the reflective impedance element and the load combine with an incident signal at the load to create a target signal having a target spectral shape.

Abstract: A correlation optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) provides a correlation sequence that is continuously transmitted along a fiber for testing the fiber for anomalies. Such continuous transmission can result in beat noise that degrades the quality of the measured returns. In this regard, each sample is composed of backscatter returns from many points along the fiber that arrive at the OTDR at the same time. When a subset of these returns have frequency differences that appear in the passband of the OTDR receiver, the constructive and destructive interference of these returns at the OTDR receiver can cause significant low-frequency beat noise in the OTDR signal. An optical transmitter is configured to transmit the correlation sequence through the fiber using a wideband optical signal such that the beat noise is suppressed within the passband of the OTDR receiver, thereby improving the quality of the returns measured by the OTDR.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for crosstalk avoidance in a telecommunications network are disclosed. In one aspect a method includes determining, by a network element and for each vectoring group from multiple vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group based on transmission loads of links within the vectoring group; allocating, by the network element, a different transmission interval to each vectoring group from the multiple vectoring groups based on the transmission load of the vectoring group and transmission loads of other vectoring groups in the multiple vectoring groups; and transmitting, during each different transmission interval, at least a portion of the transmission load of the vectoring group that was allocated the different transmission interval.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing device firmware. In one aspect, a system includes a file server; a subtending device coupled to the file server, and a telecommunications node coupled to the subtending device. The subtending device can include one or more line cards that connect one or more telecommunications nodes to a network. The telecommunications node receives, from the subtending device, a group name and replaces a wildcard in a firmware filename to derive a first network path of firmware files. The telecommunications node installs the firmware files and subsequently receives an updated group name. The telecommunications node replaces the wildcard with the updated group name to derive an updated path, and obtains different firmware files from the updated path. The firmware installed on the telecommunications node is managed based on the first firmware and the different firmware.

Abstract: A communication system has a network access device (NAD) that is designed to deliver Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) along with high-speed data to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The NAD is backpowered by the CPE across a subscriber line. When backpower is provided from the CPE, circuitry (referred to as a “POTS signaling element”) within the network access device converts POTS control signaling to digital data for transmission to the CPE. The band vacated by the POTS control signaling is used for the power signal on the subscriber line. In the absence of backpower, components of the network access device are bypassed, thereby providing POTS in the event of a power failure. The NAD receives advance warning of the backpowering so that it can disable the bypassing in order to prevent the power signal from leaking through the NAD to the network.

Abstract: In a circuit card chassis, a backplane system includes card guides that are slideable on rails to provide any selected spacing between adjacent circuit cards. A backplane connector assembly extends between each pair of slideable top and bottom card guides. Signal cables can be configured to connect any two backplane connector assemblies to each other.

Abstract: A wireless network switch device includes wired-network switch circuitry and wireless local-area network (WLAN) radio devices integrated together within a common housing. WLAN antennas that are distributed about the WLAN coverage area can be coupled to antenna ports on the device housing. Channels are assigned to the WLAN radio devices and corresponding antennas in a manner that promotes minimization of signal interference between adjacent WLAN radio devices in the housing as well between adjacent antennas.

Abstract: For each traffic flow through a wireless mesh network, the most upstream wireless access point through which that traffic flow is communicated is determined. An indication of the traffic flow through the most upstream wireless mesh access point is output in a report or otherwise provided. The reported traffic flows can be summed to provide total traffic flow indications for the wireless mesh network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for selecting frame loss measures are disclosed. In one aspect, a Synthetic Loss Measurement (SLM) report for a given interval for a network managed entity that includes at least two network nodes is received. A Loss Measurement Message (LMM) report for a given interval for the network managed entity is received. For the given interval and from the SLM and LMM reports, a reporting measurement for the network managed entity is selected based, at least in part, on a frame rate of data transmitted over the network managed entity during the given interval or an occurrence of a specified network event during the given interval. Frame loss information for the given interval for the network managed entity based on the selected reporting measurement is reported.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing biased bonding. In one aspect, a method includes estimating an offered load. Data are transmitted over a first communications link of two or more different types of communications links while the estimated offered load is less than or equal to a specified amount. A determination is made that the estimated offered load has exceeded the specified amount. In response to the determination data are transmitted over both of the first communications link and a second communications link of the two or more different types of communications links in response to determining that the estimated offered load has exceeded the specified amount.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for protecting electrical components are disclosed. In one aspect a system includes a first gas discharge tube connected to a first conductor of a first twisted wire pair; and a second gas discharge tube connected to a second conductor of the first twisted wire pair. The first gas discharge tube can also be connected to a third conductor of a second twisted wire pair, and the second gas discharge tube can be connected to a fourth conductor of the second twisted wire pair.

Abstract: An optical communication system comprises a network interface device (NID) having a media converter coupled to an optical fiber of a passive optical network (PON). The media converter converts optical signals from the PON into electrical signals for communication across at least one non-optical channel, such as a conductive or wireless connection, to customer premises equipment (CPE), such as a residential gateway or other customer premises (CP) device. Rather than implementing an optical media access control (optical MAC) layer in the NID, an optical MAC layer for handling PON protocols and management is implemented by the CPE, thereby effectively extending the customer end of the PON across at least one non-optical connection to the CPE. By implementing the optical MAC layer at the CPE, the complexity of the NID is reduced thereby lowering the cost of the NID.

Abstract: A controller at a distribution point (DP) of a communication system is coupled to a plurality of customer premises (CP) transceivers via drop connections in a point-to-multipoint architecture. Each drop connection is coupled to at least one switch that operates under the control of the controller for selectively isolating the drop connection from the controller, as well as the CP transceivers of other drop connections. In this regard, by controlling the states of the switches, the DP controller can control to which of the CP transceivers it is communicatively connected, and during operation the DP controller controls the switches such that it is communicatively connected only to the CP transceivers for which communication is desired or needed during a particular time interval.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for crosstalk avoidance in a telecommunications network are disclosed. In one aspect a method includes determining, by a network element and for each vectoring group from multiple vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group based on transmission loads of links within the vectoring group; identifying, by the network element, a resource allocation interval (RAI) that is shared by the multiple vectoring groups; determining, based on the transmission load of each vectoring group and by the network element, a first portion of the RAI that will be a normal operation interval (NOI) and a second portion of the RAI that will be a discontinuous operation interval (DOI); transmitting, by the network element, data over all of the multiple vectoring groups during at least a portion of the NOI; and transmitting, by the network element, data over fewer than all of the vectoring groups during the entire DOI.

Abstract: A combination of algorithms and circuits can control the connectivity of a drop connection to either a telephone service or a high-speed data service at a distribution point. The algorithms and circuits can operate in the absence of a conventional power supply at the distribution point. The circuits can connect the drop connection to the high-speed data service in response to the receipt of an activation signal sent by equipment at the customer premises. After the connection to the high-speed data service is complete, the customer premises equipment can be used to apply back power to the components of the distribution point. If the customer premises equipment stops providing back power to the components of the distribution point, the circuits can connect the drop connection to the telephone service.

Abstract: A server responds to a DHCP request for an IP address by setting a subnet in accordance with whether the client's MAC address is recognized as previously having been authenticated or otherwise associated with a policy. If the client has not been authenticated, the server provides a captive portal to enforce authentication. A routing device positioned in the network between clients and the server controls access to network resources by routing communications from clients in accordance with subnet addressing, where each subnet is associated with a policy.

Abstract: A rogue access point in a wireless local-area network can be disabled by an authorized access point wirelessly transmitting a layer-2 broadcast packet. If a rogue access point receives this broadcast packet, it will forward a copy to the switch to which it is connected. The switch then determines whether the port on which the copy of the broadcast packet is received is associated an authorized access point port. If the switch determines the port is not an authorized access point port, the switch shuts down the port.

Abstract: A convection-cooled electronic system includes an electronic device and a stand. The electronic device has air intake openings in a lower housing portion and air exhaust openings in an upper housing portion. The stand has air intake openings. The stand has a periphery, a flat base, and a slot extending across the widest portion of the stand. The slot has a shape configured to receive the lower portion of the device housing. Heat emitted by electronic components within the device housing creates airflow by convection, which causes air to be drawn into the stand through the stand air intake openings and communicated into the device air intake openings. The air is heated as it passes through the device housing, and the heated air exits the device housing through the air exhaust openings.

Abstract: Power dissipation within a network service unit, such as digital-subscriber-line access multiplexer (DSLAM), is treated as a resource that is to be shared among subscribers. In this regard, the total amount of available power dissipation is quantified, and the framing for the data streams communicated across the subscriber lines are controlled to ensure that specified power dissipation limits are not exceeded, accounting for one or more factors, such as traffic load, service level agreement (SLA) specifications, available power, and temperature.

Abstract: An Internet protocol (IP) phone is installed in a private branch exchange (PBX) system without a user having to manually correlate the phone's media access control (MAC) address with the phone's extension identifier. In this regard, the PBX is configured to automatically learn the phone's MAC address and correlate such address with an extension identifier entered by the user. Thus, the phone can be installed for use with the PBX system with reduced complexity and burdens for the user.