Abstract: In a method of fair queue servicing at a queuing point in a multi-service class packet switched network, incoming packets are received in buffers and outgoing packets are scheduled by a weighted fair queue scheduler. Real-time information of buffer usage along with the minimum bandwidth requirement is used to dynamically modify the weights of the weighted fair queue scheduler.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of synchronizing data transmission through optical links between first and second communications components. Each of the first and second communications components include an optical laser for transmitting and receiving laser signals to and from each other through the optical links. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) initializing each of the first and second communications components; (b) enabling the optical lasers and optical sensors; (c) exchanging idle packets between the first and second communications components to establish a datapath across the optical links; (d) exchanging test data packets across the datapath established in step (c) to verify connection of the optical links; and (e) upon verification of connection of said optical links in step (d), enabling data flow between said first and second communications components.

Abstract: Data packets are selected for simultaneous transmission to multiple users using a transmitter with limited transmission power by first establishing transmission power requirements for each user, receiving in a queue a plurality of data packets for transmission to one or more users, and selecting one or more data packets for transmission in a composite burst with cumulative power for the selective packets not exceeding the limited transmission power. Data packets are selected for sequential composite bursts until all data packets in the queue have been transmitted, at which time transmission ceases until more incoming packets arrive at the queue. In selecting data packets for transmission, data packets which have previously been delayed in transmission can be given priority as well as priority based on quality of service subscribed by each user. Additionally a predetermined priority weight can be assigned to data packets and used for selection.

Abstract: Advertising available resource information for a link in a communication network is provided. The network uses a source routing protocol. The source routing protocol uses the available resource advertisements for identifying a path for a call routed through the node in the network. The method advertises the available resource information for the node to adjacent nodes linked to the node in the network when the node receives a request for a connection to be routed over the link, the request seeking resources exceeding available resources for the link, but not exceeding the last advertised resources for the link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating and utilizing link connection type characteristics in a communications network begins by determining the connection type characteristics for a link within the network. The connection type characteristics preferably include the partitioning of the available bandwidth of the link. The connection type characteristics for the link are advertised to at least one node in the network. The connection type characteristics are then used to perform network functions such as selecting routing paths for new connections. When a change occurs in the link that results in altered connection type characteristics for the link, the altered connection type characteristics are determined and advertised in a similar manner.

Abstract: This patent concerns a system and method for detecting a mass calling event in a telephone system and to regulate telephone calls to a call destination for which a mass calling event has been detected where a packet transport network and Call Server is integrated into the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A packet transport network and a central Call Server implement switching functionality traditionally provided by numerous Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) switches within the PSTN. A credit bucket mechanism is used for call regulation in a mass calling event. The packet network may be based on (but is not limited to) ATM, Frame Relay, or IP packet protocols.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively assigning queue service weights to an ATM traffic management controller in order to reduce service weight update calculations. The implementation of a fair weighted queuing scheme on a network is divided into two functions: queue arbitration; and queue weight configuration. Queue arbitration is performed via a virtual time-stamped fair queuing algorithm. The queue weight configuration is performed via a reconfigurable weighted fair queuing controller wherein bandwidth requirements are calculated in response to connection setup and release values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing distributed communication routing that begins by obtaining registration information from a plurality of forwarding engines. The processing continues by identifying the plurality of forwarding engines based on the registration information. Having done this, the process proceeds to generate at least one specific forwarding table for at least one corresponding forwarding engine of the plurality of forwarding engines. The processing then continues by forwarding the specific forwarding table to the corresponding forwarding engine. In an alternate embodiment, the processing determines internal routing connections and external routing connections for the plurality of forwarding engines after identifying the forwarding engines. The alternate processing continues by generating at least one external forwarding table, which provides forwarding information to routers external to a distributed router, for at least some of the plurality of forwarding engines.

Abstract: A bridge for interconnecting a processor to a peripheral device by way of a PCI bus may have a read buffer. The bridge autonomously requests data from the peripheral device and places received data in the read buffer. The processor reads the data from the receive buffer. The bridge may have a write buffer. The bridge accumulates data in the write buffer until a triggering event occurs. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event the bridge sends the data in the receive buffer to the peripheral device in a burst.

Abstract: In a time division multiplex access asynchronous transfer mode wireless network wherein network interface units (NIUs) are connected to a base transceiver station (BTS) by way of a radio frequency (RF) wireless link comprising time slots which are grouped into frames, there is presently no method or apparatus to allow dynamic bandwidth allocation while maintaining a minimum bandwidth allocation to NIUs. Using a combined Guaranteed Bandwidth Allocation (GBA) scheme with a Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) scheme, a configurable number of time slots can be permanently assigned to an NIU using GBA while the NIU can request additional timeslots using DBA. Using a queue occupancy threshold and a queuing delay threshold, the DBA scheme takes into account the GBA time slots which have been allocated, so that time slots are not unnecessarily requested by an NIU. At the BTS level, a time slot manager utilizes a frame look ahead procedure to allocate time slots based on the queue occupancy forwarded from the NIU.

Abstract: An electrically operated equipment with a sealed enclosure containing circuitry with an exterior visual indicator to show a state of operation of the equipment. The visual indicator is illuminated by a magnetic flux sensor also exterior to the equipment, the sensor inducing an electrical current from a sensed magnetic flux passing through a permeable wall of the enclosure. The magnetic flux is provided by a magnetic field generator within the enclosure. The generator is connected to the equipment to generate the field when the circuitry is operating correctly whereby the indicator shows a correct state of operation. The invention avoids the use of sealed orifices in the enclosure for conductors to pass to exterior LEDs or LEDs sealed within the enclosure and possible resultant leakage. The invention is useful for optical network units. The invention also includes a visual indicating device of multi-layer configuration and a method of visually indicating the operational state of circuitry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for segmenting and forwarding data packets received in a communication switch is presented. The method begins by receiving a packet that includes a destination that determines forwarding parameters. As the packet is being received, segmentation cells are created from portions of the packet received where each segmentation cell is provided to a switching fabric as soon as creation of the segmentation cell is completed. When an end portion of the packet is received, verification of proper receipt of the packet is performed. When it is determined that the packet has been received successfully, a verification data set is generated based on segmentation cells that have been utilized to forward the packet. The verification data set is then included in a final segmentation cell that is provided to the switching fabric. Such a verification data set can then be used by an egress line card that receives the segmentation cells to verify proper receipt of the segmentation cells.

Abstract: A system and method for managing data traffic through a path that includes a transmission link having a transport rate that is subject to change with time. In one embodiment the data traffic is shaped to ATM Forum's available bit rate (ABR) category of service. ABR traffic has an integrated resource management (RM) cell that returns congestion related information to the source over a feedback path. With this congestion information the source end point is able to tailor its traffic send or transmission rate in order to accommodate or take advantage of any change in transport rate encountered by the traffic due to dynamically changing rate over the transmission link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive service interworking include processing that begins by obtaining connection information of a receiving end-point network switch in response to receiving a setup message from a sending party. The setup message identifies a receiving party, which is operably coupled to the receiving end-point switch. Such connection information may be obtained by sending an enhanced traffic descriptor appended to the setup message and receiving an enhanced traffic descriptor that was appended to a connection message from the receiving end-point switch. The connection information is then interpreted to determine whether the receiving end-point switch is capable of supporting a transparent link. If the end-point network switch is capable of supporting the transparent link, the transparent link is established and utilized to transport data between the sending and receiving parties.

Abstract: A system for implementing time stamp related features in a real time stamp distribution system is discussed. The distribution system derives a real time stamp (RTS) at a master timekeeping network element and distributes the RTS to associated network elements by way of a number of distribution techniques. Under certain network conditions, the real time stamp may not reach one or more of the network elements at the valid real time. In the present system, the network elements are able to derive a local time based on timing information recorded at the network element. Thus the system can detect an error in the time stamp delivered to a network element and can correct the time stamp utilizing a local time stamp feature.

Abstract: A system for implementing time stamp related features in a real time stamp distribution system is discussed. The distribution system derives a real time stamp (RTS) at a master timekeeping network element and distributes the RTS to associated network elements by way of a number of distribution techniques. Under certain network conditions, the real time stamp may not reach one or more of the network elements at the valid real time. In the present system, the network elements are able to derive a local time based on timing information recorded at the network element. Thus the system can detect an error in the time stamp delivered to a network element and can correct the time stamp utilizing a local time stamp feature.

Abstract: A framework is presented to provide support for dynamically configuring a human-machine interface in a network management and service provisioning environment. The framework implements a file parser, methods of accessing a managed object server to interact with instances of managed data network entity objects, a multitude of view panel components and a command interpreter. A multitude of run-time loadable descriptor files are provided to specify the functionality, of view panel instances used by an analyst manipulate information in interacting with the network management and service provisioning environment. The parser is used to load descriptor files and instantiate view panels on demand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the transmission of data organized as cells comprising a header and a payload. In particular, the following steps are taken in the system and method; reducing of the size of at least certain of the headers; for transmission between two communications devices of a network, to form headers that are reduced in size by the elimination of predetermined data elements; and at one of the communications devices, reconstructing the headers to their original size from the reduced headers.

Abstract: A framework is presented to provide support for dynamically configuring a human-machine interface in a network management and service provisioning environment. The framework implements a file parser, methods of accessing a managed object server to interact with instances of managed data network entity objects, a multitude of view panel components and a command interpreter. A multitude of run-time loadable descriptor files are provided to specify the functionality of view panel instances used by an analyst manipulate information in interacting with the network management and service provisioning environment. The parser is used to load descriptor files and instantiate view panels on demand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing multi-cast transmissions within a data network begins by determining, for a source virtual network, a list of downstream virtual sub-networks for multi-cast traffic based on a multi-cast routing protocol. The processing then continues by determining multi-cast group membership on as per downstream virtual sub-network, edge device, and port basis. The process continues when a data packet is received via the source virtual network. The processing then continues by generating a multi-cast session table entry based on the list of downstream virtual sub-networks and the multi-cast group membership. The process continues by establishing virtual connections between the source virtual network and edge devices coupled to virtual sub-networks identified in the list of downstream virtual sub-networks. Having generated the virtual connections, the processing continues by downloading the multi-cast session table to the edge devices.