Abstract: A system for scaling vectored DSLAM deployments has a DSLAM interfaced with a cross-connect apparatus. The DSLAM receives POTS signals from at least one bridge connection assembly. When a DSLAM is added at the cross-connect facility, at least one connector of the bridge connection assembly is disconnected from an existing DSLAM and is interfaced with the newly-added DSLAM. By moving the connector to the newly-added DSLAM, a batch of downstream distribution pairs (which are preferably bound by a single distribution cable) are effectively moved from the existing DSLAM to the new DSLAM without having to reconfigure the jumpers of the cross-connect apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to scale the cross-connect facility to any number of vectored DSLAMs while limiting vector group sizes, thereby reducing the complexity of vectoring operations, without having to perform complex reconfigurations of the cross-connect apparatus.

Abstract: In a distributed switching environment, a plurality of switches are clustered together to form a stack, and it is generally desirable for forwarding tables, such as MAC tables, to be synchronized so that their mappings are consistent. When a switch receives a packet having a source address (e.g., MAC address) that is unknown, the switch is configured to disseminate the source address to the other switches of the stack. Rather than using software protocols to disseminate the source address, the switch instead transmits a multicast packet that (1) includes the unknown source address and (2) spoofs the other switches into believing that the packet was received on the same port from which the unknown source address was received on ingress to the stack. Thus, the other switches learn the unknown source address in hardware without having to rely on software for updating their forwarding tables.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to optical communication apparatuses having field-tunable power characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, an optical communication apparatus has an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter is coupled to logic that receives a user input indicative of a desired transmit mode for the transmitter, and the logic then dynamically tunes the transmitter's output power according to the selected transmit mode. In addition, the optical communication apparatus may have an optical receiver for receiving optical signals. The sensitivity of the receiver is controlled by a bias voltage that is applied to the receiver by the logic. The logic is configured to receive a user input indicative of a desired receive mode and then to tune the receiver's sensitivity via the bias voltage according to the selected receive mode.

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. The controller is configured to schedule upstream and downstream data transmissions across the drop connections such that they do not overlap from one drop connection to another thereby avoiding the effects of crosstalk. A flexible frame structure is used to permit dynamic scheduling changes. Overhead for the flexible frame structure is permitted to overlap on the drop connections, and a reduced bit loading is used to communicate the overhead relative to the bit loading used for data transmissions.

Abstract: A system for handling address resolution protocol (ARP) messages has a plurality of communication modules for communicating via a network. Each such communication module has a separate link layer address (e.g., MAC address). Control logic in communication with each of the modules serves as an ARP proxy for the modules. Rather than using its own link layer address in the overhead of the ARP messages, the control logic uses the link layer addresses of the communication modules, thereby causing the network to learn these link layer addresses during ARP processing. Therefore, once ARP messaging between a communication module and a remote network device has been performed, the network has established a data path between the communication module and the remote network device, thereby helping to prevent or reduce message flooding when the two devices begin to communicate.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for Ethernet-based management of optical networks using ONT management interface (OMCI). In one exemplary embodiment, an Ethernet-based protocol, such as Active Ethernet, is used to implement an ONT management interface (OMCI) between an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of ONTs of a MON. Further, virtual local area networks (VLANs) are used to separate the traffic carried by the MON. Various techniques are described that permit ONT registration and creation of VLANs for the MON without requiring the use of gigabit PON (GPON) constructs, such as traffic containers (TCONTs) and dedicated GPON encapsulation method (GEM) ports.

Abstract: A system for scaling vectored DSLAM deployments has a DSLAM interfaced with a cross-connect apparatus. The DSLAM receives POTS signals from at least one bridge connection assembly. When a DSLAM is added at the cross-connect facility, at least one connector of the bridge connection assembly is disconnected from an existing DSLAM and is interfaced with the newly-added DSLAM. By moving the connector to the newly-added DSLAM, a batch of downstream distribution pairs (which are preferably bound by a single distribution cable) are effectively moved from the existing DSLAM to the new DSLAM without having to reconfigure the jumpers of the cross-connect apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to scale the cross-connect facility to any number of vectored DSLAMs while limiting vector group sizes, thereby reducing the complexity of vectoring operations, without having to perform complex reconfigurations of the cross-connect apparatus.

Abstract: A network element has at least one receiver, a software queue, and at least one transmitter. A data path thread moves data packets from a receive queue of the receiver to the software queue, and a transmit driver moves data packets from the software queue to a transmit queue of the transmitter. A flow indicator associated with the software queue is controlled to indicate when at least one data packet remains in the software queue. A queue management thread polls the flow indicator to determine when the software queue should be accessed for ensuring that data packets do not remain in the software queue for extended time periods between data bursts.

Abstract: A system for hair pinning-time division multiplexing (TDM) calls has a gateway positioned between a non-TDM network and communication equipment coupled to the gateway via a plurality of TDM lines. The gateway has a plurality of signal processing elements configured to encapsulate the TDM call data into a plurality of packets utilizing a protocol suitable for transmission through the network, and each signal processing element has its own time domain such that the signal processing elements operate asynchronously. The gateway also has a central processing element configured to forward the packets to the network via the network protocol. The central processing element is further configured to identify packets which are mapped to channels of TDM lines coupled to the gateway and to forward the packets to the appropriate signal processing element for transmission through the appropriate TDM channel. Accordingly, hair pinning across asynchronous time domains is achieved within the gateway.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for compensating for impulse noise. A system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a receiver coupled to a subscriber line. The receiver is configured to receive an encoded data signal via the subscriber line and separate the signal into a common mode (CM) signal and a differential mode (DM) signal. The receiver is further configured to detect impulse noise on the CM signal and mark corresponding sub-words of the DM signal affected by the detected impulse noise as erasures. The receiver then decodes the DM signal based on whether the sub-words are marked as erasures.

Abstract: A telecommunication system is described that allocates backup power to telephones based on telephone usage. When power to the telecommunication system from a primary source, such as from an electrical utility company, is lost, a backup power source is used to keep the telecommunication system functioning. Because the backup power source has a limited amount of energy, only telephones with a high priority are fully powered. Other telephones are provided with reduced power or receive no power. As the energy level of the backup power source is reduced, the telephone priorities are adjusted.

Abstract: Telecommunications enclosures are described in this document. In one aspect, a telecommunications enclosure includes side panels having seals and an enclosure top connected, independent of a frame, to top ends of the side panels. The enclosure top has an enclosure top outer end that extends between the side panels and includes a seal. An interior panel is connected, independent of a frame, to side panels and has an interior panel outer end that extends between the side panels. The interior panel is separated from the enclosure top by a first distance and separated by a second distance from bottom ends of the side panels. A removable door is formed to engage the seals when the removable door is secured to the frameless telecommunications enclosure.

Abstract: Telecommunications enclosures are described in this document. In one aspect, a telecommunications enclosure includes side panels having seals and an enclosure top connected, independent of a frame, to top ends of the side panels. The enclosure top has an enclosure top outer end that extends between the side panels and includes a seal. An interior panel is connected, independent of a frame, to side panels and has an interior panel outer end that extends between the side panels. The interior panel is separated from the enclosure top by a first distance and separated by a second distance from bottom ends of the side panels. A removable door is formed to engage the seals when the removable door is secured to the frameless telecommunications enclosure.

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: Systems and methods for locating faults in a digital subscriber line (DSL) system in accordance with the disclosure include a handshake messaging procedure that is used to rapidly obtain interconnectivity information of various subscriber loops that are present in a DSL repeater chain. The interconnectivity information is used to provide an identification of one or more faulty loops when such faulty loops are present in the DSL repeater chain. The identification may be provided in the form of a topological representation that can be used to execute targeted line testing procedures on the faulty loops without wasting time on testing loops that are not faulty.

Abstract: An optical communication system has a power dissipating element that is thermally coupled to an optical transmitter. The currents supplied to the transmitter and the power dissipating element are controlled such that the sum of such currents is constant. Accordingly, temperature fluctuations in the transmitter due to patterns in the transmitted data are prevented or at least reduced, thereby reducing thermal tails on measurements. In one exemplary embodiment, a light source is used as the power dissipating element, and the output of such light source is beneficially used to probe another optical fiber or to enhance the OTDR performance or analysis.

Abstract: A system and method detects within an IP network an offending network device that has been adversely affecting the IP network performance. A discovery protocol frame is propagated to successive network switches and is formed as a field having a query for inquiring within each network switch to which the frame is propagated whether the network switch has a database entry regarding the MAC address and switch port for the offending network device to locate the offending network device. This discovery protocol frame includes a command for any network switch that has the offending network device connected thereto to disable the switch port to which the offending network device is connected or block all data traffic from the MAC address of the offending network device.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a plurality of line cards having transceivers coupled to a plurality of subscriber lines. Each line card has at least one active transceiver within the same vectoring group, and each line card also has vector logic capable of cancelling crosstalk induced by an active transceiver that is a member of the vectoring group. Further, the line cards are coupled to one another via a ring connection across which vectoring information is passed from one line card to the next. In the event of a failure of one of the line cards, the failed card is bypassed by the vectoring stream so that the operational line cards can continue crosstalk vectoring operations despite such failure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for diagnosing and optimizing an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) network are disclosed. In one aspect a method includes receiving a network address of a device; detecting a network topology associated with the device based on the network address of the device; identifying a configuration parameter setting associated with the network topology that is outside of a range of acceptable configuration parameter settings for the network topology; and providing output specifying the configuration parameter setting that is outside of the range of acceptable configuration parameter settings.

Abstract: A device is suggested comprising a first DSL system operating in a first frequency band, a second DSL system operating in a second frequency band and a filter unit connected to a line and to each of the first DSL system and the second DSL system.