Abstract: A network with nodes interconnected by optical fiber links carrying an optical communication channel having a single optical wavelength. In the network, at least two network nodes operate as transmitting nodes generating a first short pulse optical signal at different bit rates; at least one of the other network nodes operates as a receiving node and is designated to receive transmissions from at least one of the transmitting nodes via the optical channel in a form of a second short pulse optical signal. The receiving node is provided with a dispersion compensation module adapted to compensate dispersion created in the optical fiber along the optical channel between a specific transmitting node and the receiving node, thereby ensuring receipt, in a restored form, of data transmitted using the second optical signal and directed to the receiving node.

Abstract: A Home Gateway (HGW) interconnects a Home Network (HN) and an External Network (EN), and is adapted to communicate with the HN and EN at a Network layer. HGW is provided with a Service Application Programming Interface Layer (SAPI Layer) capable of performing, at an Application layer, mediator functions for supporting communication and services between the HN and EN. Devices of the HN are able to communicate with devices of EN via the HGW, and to actualize services via the HGW.

Abstract: Technology for rerouting a data stream in a communication circuit switched mesh network comprising one or more cross-connecting nodes, the data stream comprises a plurality of data frames each associated with at least one overhead byte, and the rerouting is performed by using a path identifier while switching the data stream at one or more cross-connecting nodes; the path identifier is carried by at least one overhead byte associated with at least one of the data frames.

Abstract: An access communication system is provided which comprises at least one aggregation device comprising at least one automated switching matrix for connecting a plurality of communication devices with a plurality of subscribers. When a new subscriber is to be connected through the at least one aggregation device, the at least one automated switching matrix is operative to enable the provisioning of a required service to the new subscriber either by using one of these communication devices or by communicating with a communication device installed at a different location and operative to enable the provisioning of the service required by the new subscriber. By a preferred embodiment the at least one aggregation device and automated switching matrix and the plurality of communication devices are managed by a single managing entity.

Abstract: Technology is proposed for estimating one or more characteristics of a main signal transmitted via a communication link, wherein the main signal is composed from a number of component signals possibly comprising respective data signals and transmitted via a number of respective communication channels. The technology comprises providing an analyzing circuit independent from the communication link, transmitting a probe data signal in the analyzing circuit, monitoring a bit error rate (BER) parameter associated with the probe data signal and introducing into the analyzing circuit at least a portion of energy of the main signal as an interference signal. The technology allows judging about characteristics of the main signal based on changes in the monitored BER parameter of the probe data signal.

Abstract: A technique for determining averaged Q-factor, Qavg, for an optical binary signal transmitted at a bit rate X, based on amplitude histogram evaluation and on asynchronous sampling. The technique is inexpensive since it uses sampling pulses, which have bit rate Y lower than X and are not synchronized with the optical signal. The technique proposes conducting N sampling sessions and constructing N respective amplitude histograms for the sessions, wherein an initial session is conducted at a randomly selected initial phase of the sampling pulses, and N?1 sessions are held at different phases shifted in respect of the initial phase. The technique then compares the obtained N amplitude histograms to select there-from the amplitude histogram having the minimal cumulative value of cross-point data. The averaged Q-factor is determined from the selected histogram, with accuracy comparable with that of synchronous methods.

Abstract: A technique is described for flooding data packets in a telecommunication switching device comprising a plurality of interface blades. The technique comprises arranging a logical ring by interconnecting a group of interface blades of the telecommunication switching device, wherein the interface blades of the group comprise all leaf ports of the telecommunication device. Upon receiving a packet with un known destination at a particular interface blade of the logical ring, the packet is forwarded along the logical ring using unicast transmission. At each of the interface blades holding at least one leaf port, the packet is fed to at least one leaf port of the interface blade. The technique both ensures that the packet will be received at its destination via any of the leaf ports, and prevents burst flooding in the telecommunication switching device.

Abstract: A technique is described for controlling and optical network composed of network elements (NEs), with the aid of a network controller (NC) being in communication with the network elements. The technique includes collecting, by the network controller NC, information on the NEs therefrom, and, whenever a change in the network is requested, simulating within the NC operation of the network with the requested change and based on the collected information. The NC makes a decision on acceptability of the requested change, and may then cause implementation of the requested change in the network.

Abstract: A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) is provided which comprises: a network side interface adapted to receive a plurality of communication signals conveyed along a broadband network: a storage means adapted to receive at least some of the communication signals, associate one or more corresponding priorities therewith, and store their content in accordance with at least one of the associated priorities: multiplexing means operative to retrieve content stored in the storage means and multiplex the content received with run time data received at the network side interface into a multiplexed product while ensuring at least a minimum pre-defined quality of service for the multiplexed product: a subscribers' output interface adapted to receive the multiplexed product from the multiplexing means and forward it along a communication line extending towards a subscriber; and a subscribers' input interface adapted to receive information generated by subscribers.

Abstract: A technique for exchanging LCAS control information between a first network element and a second network element interconnected by a bi-directional optical communication line, while conveying substantially unidirectional data traffic in the form of a virtual concatenated group (VCG) binary stream transmitted in a first direction via the bi-directional optical communication line, the technique comprising: —in the first direction, transmitting the LCAS control information via the bi-directional optical communication line in the VCG binary stream, by placing the information in one or more overhead bytes conventionally specified for the VCG binary stream, —in a second (opposite) direction, transmitting the LCAS control information in an existing binary stream non-related to the above-mentioned unidirectional data traffic; the existing binary stream should pass via a communication trail connecting the first network element and the second network element but not obligatory coinciding with the above-mentioned line;

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing interferences in communications exchanged along a plurality of communication channels extending between a DSLAM and subscribers' terminals. The method comprises i) storing a mathematical representation of the plurality of communication channels; ii) measuring at least one parameter characterizing a first communication channel; iii) applying the measured parameter(s) to update the mathematical representation of the first communication channel if required and replacing the mathematical representation of the first communication channel with the updated mathematical representation thereof.

Abstract: A method is described for downloading a plurality of files to a group of clients from an outside source via an intermediate memory IM having a limited capacity. The method comprises monitoring a current condition of each of the clients to determine there-among a starving client SC being the client maximally close to a starving condition, i.e. having the largest difference between the client's remaining download volume V and the queued download volume Q currently available in the IM for that client. The method further comprises adding, to the Q of the SC in the IM, file(s) still required for the SC.

Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a twisted pair conductor to a modem device selected from among a first plurality of modem devices. At least one criterion for selecting that modem device is that the selected modem should allow the reduction of cross-talk interferences that would otherwise be induced upon traffic conveyed along the twisted pair conductor by the transmission and/or reception of traffic conveyed along other twisted pair conductors that are connected to other modem devices, and/or to traffic conveyed along other twisted pair conductors connected to other modem devices, by the transmission and/or reception of traffic conveyed along that twisted pair conductor.

Abstract: A method of multicast transmission in a communication network by using IGMP protocol, to a plurality of IGMP-equipped hosts serving end customers of the network, the method comprises: —using IGMP protocol to request receipt of information along a multicast channel, by a particular end customer; —adding the end customer to a multicast group including, upon adding said particular end customer, at least one of the end customers; —delivering information along the multicast channel to the end customers belonging to the multicast group, and in response to the request, ensuring for the particular end customer access to information delivered along the multicast channel by transmitting to that end customer access data, which includes: churning information indicative of a multicast churning key and/or service information, and/or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method is described for fast rerouting, in case of a fault, packets of MPLS traffic in a ring-like network configuration, where the MPLS traffic is formed by one or more Label Switched Paths (LSPs) entitled to protection. The method comprises rerouting the MPLS packets to a protection path in the ring, providing the rerouted MPLS packets with additional labels to their respective label stacks, and then detecting the additional labels at network nodes included in the protection path. Detection of the additional labels further allows determining egress nodes of the rerouted MPLS packets and outputting the rerouted MPLS packets at their corresponding egress points from the protection path.

Abstract: A method for high speed dissemination of information about faults in spans that interconnect nodes in a telecommunication mesh-type network, the method comprises creating a Failure Updating channel (FU channel) in the network and circulating Failure updating messages (FU messages) via the FU channel between the network nodes, wherein each of the FU messages issued by a particular node is disseminated to its adjacent node(s) and carries information about all spans in the network currently available to the particular node, by presenting status indications of the spans in respective information slots of the FU message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting packetized data received from a broadband network to a multi-channel payload network having a narrower bandwidth is disclosed. The method includes converting a packet received from the broadband network to a serial stream having first and second pluralities of bytes, the second plurality of bytes being idle; removing the idle bytes from the serial stream thereby providing a reduced data; demultiplexing sequentially occurring reduced data across plural channels of a narrower bandwidth payload network and converting each channels reduced data to corresponding second packets of the payload network.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a signaling channel for performing one or more signaling functions at the Ethernet level. The telecommunication of interest is organized by information packets forming an information flow, and the method comprises utilizing a combined flow composed of the information flow and one or more service flows formed from service packets being multiplexable with the information packets at the Ethernet level. The service packets belonging to a particular service flow carry an indication of a signaling function to be performed, while the one or more service flows form the signaling channel at the Ethernet level.

Abstract: A method for fast and economic handling of overhead bytes of an incoming high order data stream to form a corresponding outgoing high order data stream, the method comprising a) presenting the incoming high order data stream as a plurality of N component data streams transmitted in parallel, b) providing a common overhead processing unit (COHPU) capable of handling overhead bytes of a single one of the component data streams, c) forwarding overhead bytes of the component data streams to the COHPU in a circular order, while keeping docketing (ID) information for each particular overhead byte; d) processing each of the overhead bytes in the COHPU, and e) modifying the N component data streams to obtain an outgoing high order data stream based on results of the processing and the ID information with respect to each of the processed overhead bytes.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adding a new channel to a group of virtually concatenated channels carrying traffic to a network element (NE) of a synchronous network. By this method if a delay associated with the new channel is longer than a delay associated with the group of virtually concatenated channels then traffic received along the group of virtually concatenated channels is delayed until the group of virtually concatenated channels and the new channel are time-aligned, and then the new channel is added to the group. If the delay associated with the new channel is shorter than the delay associated with the group of virtually concatenated channels then traffic in the new channel is delayed until the new channel and the group of virtually concatenated channels are time-aligned, and then the new channel will be added to the group.