Abstract: A scaleable, broadband wireless system for providing radio access to a metropolitan area. The metropolitan area is sub-divided into overlapping cellular areas each having a base station for communication with network interface units at customer sites within each cell. ATM Radio Interface Cards (ARICs), both time division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA), in each base station implement protocols for bi-directionally linking the NIUs with the ATM backbone. FDMA ARICs provide point to point radio access between base stations over intercell links. The capacity of the system can be scaled by adding the appropriate ARICs as required to meet demand.

Abstract: A system for ciphering data for transmission by a communication device is provided. The system includes a memory device having a memory buffer a first access port connected to the memory buffer and a second access port connected to the memory buffer. The system also has a data processing processor connected to the first access port via a first bus and a ciphering processor connected to the second access port via a second bus. The first access port and the second access port each provide mutually independent access to the memory buffer. The second bus is not connected to the first bus. The data processing processor is adapted to receive the data and provide the data to the memory buffer over the first bus. The ciphering processor is adapted to retrieve the data from the memory buffer over the second bus, generate ciphered data from the data, generate integrity check information for the ciphered data using the data and provide the ciphered data to the memory buffer over the second bus.

Abstract: A method of signalling a message using a terminal address across multiple network entities is provided. At least two contiguous network entities are associated with addressing spaces for which message addresses are not routable by way of the terminal address and are not otherwise routable by way of a single address. The method stores a terminal address of either an originating or terminating network entity. At every network border between any two contiguous network entities wherein an immediately succeeding network entity does not provide an address through which the message is routable, it is determined whether the address is to be stored and replaced with another address. If so, the address is stored so as to permit its subsequent retrieval. Once the address has been stored, the another address is assigned to be the address and the message is routed in the succeeding network using the another address.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for synchronization of topology state information between two network nodes in a communications network. The communications network has a routing protocol for intermittent advertisement of local state information throughout the network. The two network nodes include a requesting node which initiates a request for topology state synchronization and a replying node which receives the request. The replying node communicates with the requesting node to provide topology state information to the requesting node which is not possessed by the requesting node when the requesting node initiates its request. The method includes the step of selecting, prior to the request being made by the requesting node to the replying node, between a first and a second mode of synchronization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing reliable interoperation of the plurality of independent software modules. Such processing begins by determining selection of an object by one of a plurality of independent software modules to produce a new object selection. The processing then continues by determining object selection status, which indicates a selected object and an associated one of the plurality of independent software modules. In other words, the object selection status indicates which independent software module is currently managing a particular object. The processing then continues by updating the object selection status when a difference occurs between at least one of the independent software modules identified currently in the object selection status and the independent software module selecting the object, and/or the newly selected object is different from the object identified in the object selection status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for network management support of OAM functionality in a communication network is presented. The network manager receives OAM configuration information for a segment that includes a plurality of path points. For each path point of the plurality of path points, the network manager determines, based on the configuration of the network, if the path point is to serve as an OAM source or sink for the desired OAM functional path. Based on this determination, the network manager generates OAM configuration commands for the selected path points that are to serve as OAM sources and sinks. These OAM configuration commands are then provided to the corresponding path points such that the appropriate OAM sources and sinks are established.

Abstract: A signalling system providing communications between a controller and a remote unit in a network element is provided. The signalling system comprises a first communication module associated with the controller, a second communication module associated with the remote unit and a communication link for the first and second communication modules. The first communication module generates a command signal and a downstream monitoring signal for the remote unit. The second communication module receives the command signal and the downstream monitoring signal and generates the status signal and the upstream monitoring signal. The communication link carries the signals. The first communication module monitors for receipt of the upstream monitoring signal and the status signal and determines status of the communication link and the remote unit utilizing results of monitoring for the receipt of the upstream monitoring signal, the status signal and the command signal.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing frequency re-use in a cellular, wireless communications system. In a geographic area, which can be serviced by a cluster of four cells in a two by two arrangement, 100% frequency can be achieved over the entire area by utilizing a slanted hub arrangement. In a larger geographic area requiring a greater number of cells, efficient frequency spectrum re-use is achievable by identifying narrow interference slivers in each cell and servicing these slivers in accordance with optional procedures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling multicast group subscriptions in a multicast distribution circuit is presented. When a router included in the multicast circuit receives notification to terminate support of a particular multicast group (group leave request), data flow with respect to that multicast group is initially maintained on the communication link coupling the router to the hosts. Queries are issued to hosts on the communication link to determine whether continued support of the particular group is desired by any hosts coupled to the communication link. If, while waiting for a positive response to the queries issued, a request to join an additional multicast group is received, bandwidth availability on the communication link is examined to determine if adequate bandwidth is available for supporting the newly requested group addition. If adequate bandwidth is available, the newly requested group is added to those groups supported on the communication link.

Abstract: A method for identifying faulty modules within telecommunication devices, such as ATM switches, involves generating and attaching verification codes, such as a CRC or checksum codes, to data packets at an upstream location determining the integrity of the verification codes at each of multiple downstream location within a telecommunication device; and signaling an error condition where a corrupted data packet has been detected. A verification code may be written to a field of a data packet which is not used while the packet is in transit through the telecommunication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for statistical compilation is presented. The statistical compilation circuit includes a multi-bank memory that stores a plurality of statistics, where a statistic component portion for each statistic is stored in each of the plurality of banks in the multi-bank memory. An arbitration block is operably coupled to receive at least one statistical update stream. Each statistical update stream includes a plurality of statistical updates, where each statistical update includes a statistic identifier and an update operand. The arbitration block schedules received statistical updates to produce a scheduled update stream. A control block operably coupled to the arbitration block and the multi-bank memory executes the updates included in the scheduled update stream. The control block retrieves the current value of one of the statistic component portions from one of the memory banks and combines the current value with the update operand of a corresponding statistical update.

Abstract: A radio system having a hub transceiver and a plurality of customer premise transceivers at different distances from the hub transceiver. Each of the customer premise transceivers includes an antenna for transmitting an upstream radio signal to the hub transceiver and receiving a downstream radio signal from the hub transceiver. A selected exchangeable attenuator pad is mounted on the customer premise antenna in the path of the radiated signals for attenuating the upstream and downstream radio signals. The attenuator pad is selected in order to compensate for the different transmission path losses in order to provide a fixed predetermined signal strength in the downstream radio signals to each of the customer premise transceivers and a fixed predetermined signal strength to the hub transceiver from each of the customer premise transceivers.

Abstract: A communication switch is provided for customer premise equipment. The switch comprises a communication module which processes communications between elements in the communication switch, a shelf module which has an interface point for the customer premise equipment to the communication module, and a chassis. The shelf module comprises an I/O card providing the interface point, a line processing card, a midplane providing a connections to the I/O card and the line processing card and connections for the midplane to the communication module. The shelf module communicates with the communication module via a communication link. The link may be connected and disconnected without disrupting operation of other shelf modules connected to said communication module.

Abstract: A system and method for the management of communication services from a service provider by a customer of the provider. The management system employs an Internet-based architecture that provides access to user's virtual private networks via an end user browser. The customer service management (CSM) system service director (SD) maintains a relational database for storing user specific information retrieved from the network manager.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for implementing virtual path aggregation (VPA) of underlying virtual connections at a switching node of a connection based communications network. A multi-service traffic shaping module (MTSM) at the switch implements algorithms to aggregate the VC and VP connections onto the aggregate VP by representing an aggregate VP as a plurality of circular linked lists or loops and assigning each VC connection to a link or element in the circular linked lists according to traffic descriptors. Weighting factors are used as between loops to dynamically select the next loop to service. Once this loop is chosen, the next VC to be serviced is identified by examining the circular linked list structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning time slots in a TDMA transmission maintains a list of available time slots and at least one list of subsequently available time slots with respect to a current frame of a TDMA transmission. The available list and subsequently available list or lists are maintained for each connection supported by the TDMA transmission. The procedure continues by receiving at least one data transport request, which identifies a quantity of data to transmit. It is then determined whether at least one time slot is available for allocation in response to the data transport request. Such a determination is based on the quantity of data to transmit and information in the list of available time slots and information in the list of subsequently available time slots. The procedure continues by allocating at least one time slot for at least one frame when the at least one time slot is available for allocation.

Abstract: A communications network which enables service providers to optionally place limitations on the switched connection requests that subscribers may place through the network. This is accomplished by enabling node administrators to configure, on a per subscriber basis. throughput and other connection limits for all incoming and outgoing switched connections a subscriber may attempt to establish or receive. The limits are checked by an edge network node when the call is requested and the call is accordingly established or refused.

Abstract: An apparatus for scheduling multi-service category ATM cell traffic through contention points in an ATM network is provided. The service categories have predefined delivery priorities according to quality of service guarantees. To satisfy these priorities while maintaining fair treatment to low priority connections, aging markers are incrementally assigned to queued cells and these markers in combination with priority data are used to determine which connection is serviced next. A method of scheduling traffic through the network is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bulk Soft Permanent Virtual Circuit (SPVC) trace processor is provided. The bulk SPVC trace processor receives notifications of newly established SPVCs and SPVC re-routing instances. The bulk SPVC trace processor submits SPVC connection trace commands to corresponding trace source network nodes, and retrieves trace transit list information therefrom. The aggregate SPVC transport path information derived from trace transit list information is stored and provided to higher network management and service provisioning functions. The bulk SPVC trace processor may also be employed to trace SPVC portions of Hybrid SPVCs. As SPVC connection tracing is necessary subsequent to a failure, load balancing techniques are used to spread SPVC connection tracing over time, network resources, and network partitions to prevent weighting down the network. Network planning and design functions previously built for Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) provisioning may be seamlessly upgraded in migrating to (H)SPVC connectivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for buffering data units in a communication switch that allows for configurable monitoring of the buffer contents is presented. Such an apparatus includes a context table that stores a plurality of independent group identifiers for each connection. Although the group identifiers may include a partition group identifier and a loss group identifier that is dependent on the partition group identifier, additional group identifiers are included in the context table for each connection that are independent of other group identifiers in the context table. Such a context table may be dynamically reconfigured in order to group connections for buffer monitoring operations related to congestion detection, traffic shaping, and data admission with respect to buffering. When a data unit is received corresponding to a particular connection, the context table is referenced to retrieve the set of group identifiers corresponding to that connection.