Abstract: An ATM switching system 1 is provided with an ATM switch 11, a reserved connection memory 12 for storing reserved connection information, a call history memory 13 for maintaining call histories of requests for connection from subscriber's terminal units 2?1 to 2?n, and a call-signal processing section 15. The call-signal processing section 15 generates a request for connection with respect to a trunk ATM switching network 3 by the use of the call histories in the call history memory 13 in the case where no call was issued from the subscriber's terminal units, and stores response results thereof in the reserved connection memory 16. Thereafter, when there was a call from the subscriber's terminal units 2?1 to 2?n, and contents of the request for connection thereof are the same as the reserved connection information, which has been stored in the reserved connection memory 16, processing for connection is executed by the use of the reserved connection information.

Abstract: A switch fabric includes input links, output links, and at least one switching element. The input links are configured to receive data items that include destination addresses. At least some of the data items have different priority levels. The output links are configured to output the data items. Each of the output links is assigned multiple ones of the destination addresses. Each of the destination addresses corresponds to one of the priority levels. The switching element(s) is/are configured to receive the data items from the input links and send the data items to ones of the output links without regard to the priority levels of the data items.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for improving upstream communication in a DOCSIS-based cable network or other reservation-based TDMA system. In one example, the techniques may involve dynamically adjusting the size of a contention region in a MAP interval in which upstream time slot allocation is conveyed by a MAP message broadcasted by a cable modem transmission system (CMTS) to cable modems (CMs) sharing a common upstream DOCSIS channel. By adjusting the size of the contention region in the MAP intervals based on measured traffic parameters, the system can be dynamically responsive to different upstream traffic scenarios and thereby exploit maximal upstream data throughput continually.

Abstract: The invention performs frequency estimation over both the burst preamble, during which known symbols are transmitted, and also during the burst's data packet, which is subsequent to the preamble and extracted by the local detector. During the preamble, an initial frequency estimate is obtained. This estimate is based on a time average of either phase or correlation samples. Atypical phase or correlation samples, attributable to detector symbol errors during the data packet, are detected and filtered, so as to avoid including the atypical samples in a time-averages used to provide the frequency estimate. In a first embodiment correlation samples are time averaged, and atypical correlation samples are suppressed prior to correlation time averaging. In a second embodiment, phase slope values are time averaged, and atypical values of phase slope are suppressed prior to phase slope time averaging.

Abstract: A system manages a buffer having a group of entries. The system receives information relating to a read request for a memory. The system determines whether an entry in the buffer contains valid information. If the entry is determined to contain valid information, the system transmits the information in the entry in an error message. The system may then store the received information in the entry. In another implementation, the system stores data in one of the entries of the buffer, removes an address corresponding to the one entry from an address list, and starts a timer associated with the one entry. The system also determines whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined value, transferring the data from the one entry when the timer has exceeded the predetermined value, and adds the address back to the address list.

Abstract: Enhanced Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) functionality, including programmable digital domain modulators and demodulators for dynamic channel assignment, is incorporated into Fiber Nodes (FNs) or mini Fiber Nodes (mFNs), yielding enhanced Fiber Nodes (eFNs). These eFns distribute CMTS functionality deep into Hybrid-Fiber-Coax Networks (HFCN) rather than centralizing the CMTS functions within a single location. Moving the cable modem terminations closer to the subscribers shortens the analog RF paths required to support cable modems. Communication of both subscriber data and CMTS control data is performed over Ethernet-compatible packet networks between the field-based CMTSs and an upstream facility (e.g., the Head End), which includes an Internet gateway. Packet data for multiple subscriber cable modems is easily compressed and merged over common network paths, reducing cabling plant complexity and increasing bandwidth utilization.

Abstract: A router comprises a route resolution module to maintain routing information in accordance with a topology of a network, and an indirect next hop manager to maintain indirect next hop data that associates protocol next hops with forwarding next hops. The route resolution module invokes an application programming interface (API) of the indirect next hop manager for associating and disassociating protocol next hops and forwarding next hops. In response to a network event, the route resolution module can modify the indirect next hop data to reduce the time and resources necessary to perform route resolution.

Abstract: A network device provides services for multiple virtual private networks (VPNs) via one or more virtual hosts. For example, a router receives packets from multiple VPNs, and communicates the packets to a service card via a logical interface in accordance with a forwarding information base. A virtual host within the service card processes the packets and provides a service for the network device from which the packet was sent. The virtual host may, for example, provide print services for network devices within a corresponding VPN. The virtual host acts, in essence, as a print server within the corresponding VPN. In this manner, the router may eliminate the need for the customer associated with the VPN to maintain print servers within remote customer sites.

Abstract: A cross-bar switch includes a set of input ports for receiving data packets and a set of sink ports coupled to the input ports to accept and forward the data packets. Each sink port includes a multiple entry point FIFO with multiple data inputs for receiving data packets. In one implementation, the multiple entry point FIFO includes a FIFO storage buffer and request logic coupling the multiple entry point FIFO's data inputs to the FIFO storage buffer. The multiple entry point FIFO concurrently maintains separate pointers into the FIFO storage buffer for each data packet being received on the multiple entry point FIFO's data inputs.

Abstract: Network analysis techniques are described for generating and outputting traffic flow packets which include traffic flow information indicative of network traffic flows. More specifically, the traffic flow packets may be generated and output in a rate-controlled fashion, which can avoid data loss of traffic flow information in the traffic flow packets. For example, rate-controlled transmission can be extremely useful in ensuring that transmitted traffic flow packets will be received by a packet flow collector without overloading input buffers of the packet flow collector.

Abstract: A packet header processing engine includes a level 2 (L2) header generation unit and a level 3 (L3) header generation unit. The L2 and L3 header generation units are implemented in parallel with one another. The L2 generation unit writes L2 header information to a first buffer and the L3 generation unit writes L3 header information to a second buffer. When both the L2 and L3 generation units complete their operations for a particular packet, a build component combines the generated L2 and L3 header information from the buffers to form a complete packet header.

Abstract: A packet switching equipment and a switch control system employing the same performs operation of the switch core portion independent of content of decision of an arbiter portion and overall equipment can be constructed with simple control structure. The packet switching equipment includes input buffer portions temporarily storing packets arriving to the input ports and outputting packets with adding labels indicative of destination port numbers, a switch core portion for switching the packets on the basis of labels added to the input buffer portions, and an arbiter portion adjusting input buffer portions to provide output permissions for outputting to the output ports. A sorting network autonomously sorting and concentrating the packets on the basis of the labels added to the packets is employed in the switch core portion.

Abstract: A communication device for use in connecting a mobile station to a terminal includes a first group of frame memories that correspond to radio links used to transmit data to the mobile station. The first group of frame memories is configured to store point-to-point (PPP) frames. The communication device also includes one or more radio converters that convert the PPP frames stored in the first group of frame memories into radio frames. The communication device may further include a second group of frame memories configured to store radio frames received from the mobile station via radio links. The communication device may also include a PPP converter configured to convert the radio frames stored in the second group of frame memories into PPP frames.

Abstract: Processing of numeric addresses is facilitated by using a user interface, rather than system modules, to handle name resolution. Processing the addresses at the user interface level avoids delays and packet blocking problems associated with using system modules to perform the task. Relieving the system modules from the responsibility of processing numeric addresses allows them to process other requests, improving overall system efficiency.

Abstract: A system maintains a first counter value that indicates a number of times memory addresses in a memory address pool have been replenished. The system further maintains a second counter value that indicates a number of times a circular buffer has been filled with memory addresses retrieved from the memory address pool. The system ages memory addresses allocated to memory write requests based on the first and second counter values.

Abstract: A cross-bar switch includes a set of input ports to accept data packets and a set of sink ports in communication with the input ports to forward the data packets. Each sink port includes a communications link interface with a Retry input. When a signal is asserted on the Retry input, the sink port aborts transmission of a data packet and waits a predetermined period of time to retransmit the data packet.

Abstract: A system detects an error in a network device that receives data via a group of data streams. The system receives a data unit, where the data unit is associated with at least one of the streams and a sequence number for each of the associated streams. The system determines whether each sequence number associated with the data unit is a next sequence number for the corresponding stream, and detects an error for a particular stream when the sequence number for that stream is not a next sequence number.

Abstract: A data compression system and method for that is capable of detecting and eliminating repeated phrases of variable length within a window of virtually unlimited size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling virtual upstream channels within one physical upstream channel is disclosed. A different MAP message is received by a receiver for each virtual upstream channel from that sent downstream. Where multiple upstream receivers are used, separate MAP messages can be sent for each receiver and consequently, each virtual upstream channel. The use of multiple upstream receivers is not necessary if the upstream receiver can change the upstream channel descriptors it is using per burst.

Abstract: Systems and methods, consistent with the present invention, provide a high-speed line interface for networking devices. Such an interface may be used in networking devices, such as routers and switches, for receiving data from, and transmitting data to, high-speed links, such as those lines carrying data at rates of 2.5 Gbit/sec, 10 Gbit/sec, and 40 Gbit/sec and more. In a preferred embodiment, the interface deserializes data from an incoming data stream onto a multi-line bus so that the data may be processed at a lower clock speed. Packets are extracted from the data on the multi-line bus and distributed among a plurality of switching/forwarding modules for processing.