Abstract: A system and method for maximum utilization of bandwidth of a resource incrementally adjusts in real time the allocated bandwidth per source queue per class of service based at least in part on the current status of a destination virtual output queue fill level. By varying the permissible bandwidth incrementally not only is the available bandwidth utilized optimally but also a desired class of service is maintained.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation system includes a dispersion compensation module and a dispersion enhancement module. The dispersion compensation module receives optical input and provides optical output having a negative dispersion relative to the optical input. The dispersion enhancement module receives optical signals from a transport fiber and may increase positive dispersion in the optical signals by a configured amount such that the positive dispersion provided by the transport fiber and the dispersion enhancement module substantially equals the magnitude of the negative dispersion provided by the dispersion compensation module.

Abstract: An optical modulator provides for preceding of a high data rate phase modulated optical signal. According to one embodiment, the modulator includes a first phase modulator and a second phase modulator. The first phase modulator modulates an optical carrier signal according to a first data signal to generate a modulated optical signal. The second phase modulator modulates the modulated optical signal according to a time delayed version of its optical output signal. According to another embodiment, the modulator electrically precodes multiple data streams and modulates the precoded data streams using a series of phase modulators to generate a precoded optical data signal.

Abstract: A communications device and method for effectively managing bandwidth within a telecommunications network carrying both time division multiplexed signals as well as data signals. The communications device having dialable TDM/cell and/or packet-based bandwidth management capability so that a network operator can select to manage bandwidth for any particular signal on in STS, VT, or cell or packet basis.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of communicating across a serial line 26. In this method, n parallel streams of data 30 are to be received at a destination 20. In a first embodiment, the n parallel streams of data 30 characterized in that one of streams of data includes a unique characteristic that can be used to distinguish that one from each of the other streams of data. In a second embodiment, each of the n streams of data 30 are in a particular pattern that includes a detectable characteristic. At the destination 20, the unique characteristic and/or detectable characteristic can be detected to correct space and/or time errors in the streams of data. For example, the destination 20 might be a receiver that includes a serial-to-parallel converter 28 and calibration circuitry 34.

Abstract: A method of determining end points for an optical channel in an optical network to off-load traffic from a target optical link is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link, and determining an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes. Thereafter, the method includes the steps of identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link, and determining an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes. The optical channel start point candidates are identified to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth, and the optical channel end point candidates are identified to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth.

Abstract: A system for integrated testing of one or more multi-service communications switches including a script execution environment for executing a test script. The script execution environment includes a hardware definition file storing a number of logical hardware device names corresponding to hardware devices used by the test script, including a system under test (SUT) and a number of hardware testing devices. The system further employs a network definition file including a plurality of logical connection names corresponding to connections between the hardware devices in the test environment. These connections in the network definition file are specified in terms of the logical hardware device names defined in the hardware definition file.

Abstract: A system and method of reserving node resources along a desired path through a communications network that can be used to reserve resources across a fault such as an unconnected node interface or a disconnected link. The resource reservation technique is performed on a communications system including a plurality of nodes interconnected by at least one path to form a ring communications network. A communications link is identified within the path such that at least one node is disposed on a first side of the link and at least one node is disposed on a second side of the link. The identified link may have a fault. Resources are then reserved on the nodes disposed on the first side of the link by accessing the nodes over the path in a first direction around the ring network.

Abstract: A network router generates node state advertisements identifying network links about which the router node desires to receive link state information. The node state advertisements are flooded to other routers, each of which determines whether it lies along the shortest path between the link and the originating router. Each router that lies along the shortest path maintains an association between the link and the originating router, the association indicating that link state advertisements concerning the link are to be forwarded along the path toward the originating router. Upon a change of the state of the link, each router forwards a corresponding link state advertisement to an adjacent node along the path, whereby the originating router ultimately receives the link-state advertisement.

Abstract: A system and method of protection switching in a communications network that makes more efficient use of resources in the network and reduces the loss of data traffic carried by the network. The communications network includes an established working path and an established protect path interconnecting a source node and a sink node. The source node and the sink node are configured to perform label switching on the network. The source node receives primary data traffic and secondary data traffic over one or more communications paths. In a fault-free condition, the source node sends the primary data traffic over the working path to the sink node, and sends the secondary data traffic over the protect path to the sink node. In the event of a fault or switchover condition in the working path, the source node performs traffic trunk and label merging on the primary and secondary traffic, and sends the merged traffic over the protect path to the sink node.

Abstract: A communication system includes multiple network interfaces interconnected using synchronous transport resources, such as a SONET ring. These interfaces couple to various communications networks and provide access for these networks to the synchronous transport resources. In response to relatively simple commands, these interfaces may couple attached asynchronous networks to the synchronous transport resources. With appropriate messages communicated to two of these interfaces, this system provides for the provisioning of synchronous transport resources between two asynchronous networks to support network-to-network communications.

Abstract: A method of configuring a SONET network element to support a test head test session comprises dedicating an otherwise assignable output port of a SONET network element as a test access port, receiving a request to connect a connection switched by a switch fabric of the SONET network element to the test access port, determining whether the request is associated with a test head; and, if the request is associated with the test head, provisioning the switch fabric to connect the connection to the test access port.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer Mode switch and method which facilitate priority arbitration of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint transmission are disclosed. To execute point-to-multipoint operation a bandwidth arbiter maintains a first list of connections and bit vectors indicating designated destination ports. The list maintained by the bandwidth arbiter is then compared to an unassigned output port bit vector to determine matches therebetween at which point-to-multipoint transmission may be made by utilizing instantaneously unused bandwidth within the switch. To execute point-to-point operation each input port maintains a list of connections associated with each output port, and those lists are used in conjunction with output port request information per input port in the bandwidth arbiter to match requests to the unassigned output port bit vector. The bandwidth arbiter may also assign priority to connections in the list.

Abstract: A water resistant enclosure providing protection to electrical or electronic equipment contained therein includes a three-sided removable cover pivotally coupled to a wall mounting bracket that includes a back panel-base plate combination. The three-sided removable cover further includes an enclosure door that covers the front opening. The three-sided removable cover also includes features to provide for water resistance. These features include an overhang extension from the top side wall of the three-sided removable cover extending to partially cover the front opening and in particular to cover the seam created between the enclosure door and the removable cover, and a gutter surrounding the front opening to divert water therefrom. In addition, the three-sided removable cover and the wall mounting bracket include elements to provide for the proper alignment and orientation thereof when being mated together.

Abstract: In a usage parameter control device for an asynchronous transfer mode communications system, a determination is made as to whether either of the respective storage elements maintaining values for (1) the time of arrival of a cell (TTA and (2) the time value at which the “bucket” will have drained to an empty condition (TTAT) has wrapped relative to the other. The wrap determination is made prior to the comparison between the TTA and TTAT values which is made in order to determine whether the user is complying with his or her contracted parameters. If one of the storage elements has wrapped relative to the other, the comparison between the TTA and TTAT values is modified accordingly.

Abstract: A method of facilitating traffic engineering services by communicating application objects over soft state process messages includes receiving an external soft state process initiating message at an ingress node to a core cloud, the core cloud comprising a plurality of nodes associated with a central processor, and generating an internal soft state process initiating message including an appended first application object. The method further includes communicating the internal soft state process initiating message to an egress node of the core cloud, receiving at the ingress node an internal soft state process confirming message including an appended second application object, and providing a traffic engineering service based, at least in part, on the first or second application data.

Abstract: An electronic chassis providing front access for printed circuit board insertion and removal and for cable connectors. The electronic chassis includes a backplane assembly and a shelf assembly. The backplane assembly includes a motherboard having a first plurality of connectors for receiving respective daughter cards and/or modules and a second plurality of connectors for receiving signal and/or power cables. Both the first and second pluralities of connectors are mounted on the same side of the motherboard. The shelf assembly includes a housing with opposing sidewalls, a top cover, a bottom support section, and a front cover. The backplane assembly is coupled to the shelf assembly such that the first plurality of connectors is disposed in the housing of the shelf assembly opposite the front cover, and the second plurality of connectors is external to the shelf housing.

Abstract: A system for automatic program generation which receives a number of input format descriptors and a number of output format descriptors. The system generates a program for converting an input data sequence having a format described by input format descriptors to an output data sequence having a format described by the output format descriptors. The program may then be executed responsive to an input data stream, wherein a portion of the input data stream corresponds to the input data sequence. The input data sequence and output data sequence consist of a number of data type indicators. In an exemplary embodiment, the input data type indicators correspond to fields of data units received by a forwarding device, and the output data type indicators correspond to fields of corresponding data units forwarded by the forwarding device.

Abstract: A method of transporting asynchronous transfer mode cells and time-division multiplexed information over a common fiber ring includes receiving a plurality of incoming signals comprising asynchronous transfer mode cells, legacy data, or time-division multiplexed information, formatting the plurality of incoming signals into a first plurality of incoming transport signals comprising asynchronous transfer mode cells and a second plurality of incoming transport signals comprising time-division multiplexed information, constructing from the first plurality of incoming transport signals a first outgoing synchronous transfer mode signal comprising at least one asynchronous transfer mode cell, constructing from the second plurality of incoming transport signals a second outgoing synchronous transfer mode signal comprising time-division multiplexed information, and transmitting the first and second outgoing synchronous transfer mode signals over a common fiber ring.

Abstract: A telecommunications switching apparatus (10) includes optical paths (16-19) coupled to interface cards (26-29), which in turn are coupled to a switching circuit (41-42). The switching circuit is coupled to a plurality of universal connectors (71-74), each of which is coupled to an auxiliary connector (77-78). The universal connectors can each removably receive any one of several types of switching circuit cards (101-104), which each utilize a respective one of several different communication protocols. An auxiliary circuit card (107-108) may be provided in the associated auxiliary connector, in order to support switching circuit cards that use certain communication protocols. The optically transmitted information includes segments formatted according to respective communication protocols, and is converted from optical to electrical form by the interface cards.