Abstract: An antenna, a wireless communication system, and a method for enabling presence detection of antennae are provided. The antenna comprises a memory device that stores specifications of the antenna. These specifications are acquired by a wireless device in the wireless communication system. The wireless device is configured based on the specifications of the antenna.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices using location detection to enable MMMDs to activate and tune to appropriate radios and networks. Some preferred embodiments use radio frequency identification (“RFID”)—based location detection. Preferably, the location detection occurs at or near wireless domain boundaries. Some implementations employ proximity/boundary detection to enhance handoff triggers, which initiate handoff mechanisms between different networks, as an MMMD moves between wireless networks, via a wireless domain portal. Some implementations involve methods and devices for device validation and authorization. An MMMD is provided with local wireless network awareness, which may be used by the MMMD to have the appropriate radio turned on and properly tuned. Accordingly, the methods and devices of the present invention achieve power savings and improved handoff across networks.

Abstract: A service selection gateway (SSG) which allows a subscriber to access services operating using a changing set of access addresses. The SSG may be initially configured to forward packets related to a set of addresses associated with a service. The SSG may then accept a request to a change the set of addresses. In response to the request, the SSG may be configured to forward packets related to the changed set of addresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting digital content. A secure digital appliance is disclosed for receiving communications coupled over a communication network. A private key of a private key and public key pair is stored in the secure digital appliance in such a way that the stored private key cannot be obtained by tampering with the secure digital appliance. Upon receipt of a session initiation message that is encrypted using the public key (of the private key and public key pair) the secure digital appliance decrypts the session initiation message using the stored private key to obtain a session key. The session key is then used to decrypt communications that include encrypted digital content. The secure digital appliance includes a local output device (e.g., a TV screen and/or speakers) that is operable to provide protected output of the digital content. The secure digital appliance does not contain any provision for output other than the protected output of digital content.

Abstract: A method for shaping network traffic in a computer network is described for packet data networks. The method includes one or more packet queues for traffic having a plurality of different desired packet transfer rates, each queue being assigned to a connection having a predetermined desired packet transfer rate. Each incoming data packet is directed to the appropriate queue. Each of a plurality of timing circuits operate at a different frequency in a series of frequencies. The frequencies are selected so that the desired packet transfer rate for a connection can be established by summing outputs from more than one of the timing circuits.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing power to a device coupled to a communications switch through a data line is provided. The method includes determining that the device includes a diode. The method also includes providing power to the device in response to the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for distributing traffic to one or more selected cache systems or servers. In general terms, a content addressable memory (e.g., a TCAM) is utilized to distribute traffic among a plurality of cache systems or servers. The content addressable memory is populated with a plurality of entries. Each entry within the content addressable memory generally indicates an action to be performed on a packet, such as to redirect the packet or to forward the packet to its original destination. When the action indicated by the content addressable memory is to redirect the packet, the content addressable memory also indicates where (e.g., to which cache system) to redirect the packet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing information about characteristics associated with a network are described. A network node associated with a client for selecting a server that can best provide content to a client transmits a request for a response. A plurality of content servers or content routing agents receive requests corresponding to the request from the network node associated with the client. The content servers provide a response and fragment and/or pad datagrams associated with the response. The content servers transmit these fragmented and/or padded datagrams to the network node associated with the client. The network node associated with the client can reassemble and/or trim the received datagrams and identify as optimal the server that first completes transmission of the response.

Abstract: An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method in a node of a wireless network able to receive packets that exactly or substantially conform to a wireless network standard according to which each packet includes a header having bits that have respective correct values in the case that the packet exactly conforms to the standard. The method includes receiving a start-of-packet (SOP) trigger that indicates that a packet may have been received, checking one or more bits in the header to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and continuing to process the packet in the case that the checking indicates that the checked bits have their respective correct values. In one implementation, the header includes a first field modulated at a known rate that has one or more reserved bit locations, and a second field modulated at a data rate indicated in the first field.

Abstract: Weighted random scheduling is preformed, which may be particularly applicable to packet switching systems. For each particular input of multiple switch inputs, a request to send a packet to one of the outputs of the switch is generated by weighted randomly selecting one of the outputs to which the particular input has one or more packets to send. One of the requests is granted for each different one of the outputs for which one or more requests were generated. Packets are sent between the inputs and the output corresponding to the granted requests. The weighted random selection is typically weighted based on the number of packets or bytes to send to each of the outputs by a corresponding input of the inputs, the last times packets were sent from a corresponding input of the inputs to each of the outputs, and/ classes of service associated with packets to send to each of the outputs by a corresponding input of the inputs.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a core packet network coupled to multiple base transceiver stations, each station providing wireless services to mobile units. The system supports simultaneous, parallel, wireless communications links between a mobile unit and multiple base transceiver stations by selecting between copies of packets received by each base transceiver station. Thus, the system includes devices for selecting between multiple copies of each packet received from a mobile unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows for continued operation of one or more applications running at a network device with reduced delay despite crashes or failures at that device. The network device includes two or more supervisor cards for running the applications and a plurality of line cards. According to the invention, one supervisor card is designated the active supervisor card and one supervisor card is designated the standby supervisor card. As changes in state and other operating conditions take place on the active supervisor events are generating for passing at least some of this information to the standby supervisor where it is stored. Following a crash or failure of the active supervisor card, the standby becomes the newly active supervisor card. The standby supervisor performs a consistency check with the line cards and resets those that fail the check.

Abstract: Provided is a synchronous stack bus repeater system for a computer network. The system includes a plurality of stacked repeaters, a stack bus linking the repeaters, and a single clock to which the plurality of repeaters is synchronized. The synchronization of the stack bus eliminates several time-consuming communications required between devices operating with different clocks on an asynchronous bus and makes it possible to satisfy the 46 bit time repeater maximum latency required of a Class II repeater according to the IEEE 802.3 standard.

Abstract: Unified exception handling may be provided by processing a data packet through at least two pipelined processing stages in a data packet processor such as a switch, router, bridge, or similar network device, each of the data packets having associated with it (while it is being processed) an exception map disposed in a memory of the network device. The bits in the exception map are set, modified, or reset in response to exception conditions detected at the various processing stages. After the packet has been fully processed, an exception handler takes as an input the exception map and further processes the packet in response to the state of the exception map.

Abstract: A device has a first echo canceller having a first bank of coefficients to be applied to a reference signal to produce a first echo prediction signal, and a first arithmetic unit to combine the first echo prediction signal with the echo-bearing signal to produce a first echo-cancelled signal. A second echo canceller receives the reference signal and the first echo-canceled signal, and has a second bank of coefficients to be applied to the reference signal to produce a second echo prediction signal. The second bank of coefficients is adapted to improve echo cancellation in the second echo canceller. A second arithmetic unit combines the first echo-cancelled signal with the second echo-prediction signal to produce a second echo-cancelled signal.

Abstract: Techniques for forming electronic documents include storing a plurality of information types for describing how information is used. Also, a plurality of document types is stored. Each document type includes a unique set of information types. A plurality of units of information is also stored. Each unit of information is associated with an information type. A document is produced based on a particular document type having a particular set of information types, and based on a first set of units of information. Each unit of information of the first set is associated with a corresponding information type in the particular set of information types. This invention allows content to be associated with a particular use, through the information type, so that the content can be incorporated in all documents where such usage is desired. This invention also allows the enterprise to control the method of generating and presenting a particular content or information object based on its use and its temporal data, e.g.

Abstract: More effective load balancing by a Server Load Balancer may be achieved by implementing extended Server Load Balancing information in a server. The extended Server Load Balancing information includes a special listing of “hot” objects, or objects that have been designated for special handling by the Server Load Balancer. In order to determine which objects on a server are “hot” at any particular point in time, the available throughput for the server is determined. This is then multiplied by a “hotness” percentage, resulting in an Object Threshold Value (OTV). Each of N objects is then assigned an Object Request Value (ORV), the N objects determined by taking the N objects utilizing the most bandwidth. The ORVs are then compared with the OTV, and any of the objects whose ORV exceeds the OTV are labeled as “hot”. Finally, information on the “hot” objects is communicated to the Server Load Balancer (SLB) for special handling.

Abstract: A transfer type selector selects a transfer type used for maintaining cache coherency according to address values used for accessing memory and is programmable so that different transfer types can be selected for different applications. In one embodiment, a table has different address ranges each having associated transfer types. Transfer type selection logic selects one of the transfer types associated with the address range containing the address in a memory transaction request.

Abstract: A system and method prevents the formation of loops that are not detected by the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). An intermediate network device preferably includes a plurality of ports for receiving and forwarding network messages and a STP engine in communicating relationship with the ports. The STP engine transitions the ports among a plurality of spanning tree port states, including a discarding state, a learning state and a forwarding state. The device further includes a loop guard engine that is in communicating relationship with the STP engine and the ports. The loop guard engine monitors the receipt of configuration bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) messages by the ports. If a given port stops receiving BPDU messages, the loop guard engine prevents the STP engine from transitioning the given port to the forwarding state. Instead, the loop guard engine preferably causes the port to transition to a new state in which networks messages are explicitly blocked from being forwarded or received.