Abstract: Systems and methods for applying a service level to a user's packets of data are provided. Packets of data for multiple users may be transferred through a single connection. Where data for multiple users is transferred through a single connection, a specific service level may be applied for each users' packets of data. Methods is provided that includes the steps of associating a service level with a plurality of sessions; receiving a data packet from a connection; determining a session associated with the data packet; determining a session identifier of a session associated with the data packet; determining a service level associated with the session identifier; and transferring the data packet at the determined the service level. Systems for associating a service level with a session and applying the service level to data packets associated with session is provided.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a device in an unreliable messaging environment is provided. The method comprises: repeatedly sending an invite signal to the device, wherein the invite signal is sent until a ringing response is received from the device; receiving a ringing response from the device in response to the device receiving the invite signal; and ceasing to send the invite signal to the device when the ringing response is received from the device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented for detecting hostile software in a computer system involving storing a representation of configuration data associated with an operating system for the computer system obtained at a first time, comparing the stored representation of the configuration data obtained at the first time with a representation of the configuration data associated with the operating system for the computer system obtained at a second time, and if deviation is detected between the stored representation of the configuration data obtained at the first time and the representation of the configuration data obtained at the second time, automatically performing at least one remedial measure in response to the deviation detected. In one embodiment of the invention, the configuration data relates to identification of executable code installed in the computer system. The configuration data may be obtained from a registry key in a registry maintained by the operating system.

Abstract: A method for managing packets in a network is presented comprising the steps of receiving a packet, assigning the packet to a selected one of a plurality of classes, checking a counter associated with the selected class, advancing the counter toward the target value and forwarding the packet if the counter is not equal to a target value, dropping the packet if the counter is equal to the target value, and from time to time, resetting the counter to a reset value not equal to the target value to allow more packets from the selected class to be forwarded. In one embodiment, the counter is scheduled to be repeatedly reset according to a period, which may be implemented by use of a timer. The period, the reset value, and/or the target value can be changed to effectuate a different rate of packet forwarding for the selected class.

Abstract: A method is presented for managing packets in a network comprising receiving a packet associated with a request for a protocol-based connection, assigning the packet to a selected one of a plurality of classes, forwarding the packet if number of packets forwarded from the selected class in a predetermined time interval has not reached a first maximum count, and dropping the packet if number of packets forwarded from the class in the predetermined time interval has reached the first maximum count. In one embodiment, the packet is forwarded only if a count of active connection requests has not reached a second maximum limit. The method may further comprise steps of, after forwarding the packet, receiving an additional packet associated with the requested protocol-based connection, assigning the additional packet to a pass-through class, and forwarding the additional packet even if the first maximum count or the second maximum count has been reached.

Abstract: An electronic device in the form of a network communications module that includes a housing that defines an envelope and a vertical, substantially T-shaped routing channel within the envelope. The housing further defines a horizontal routing channel within the envelope that is in communication with the T-shaped routing channel. A plurality of boards is arranged vertically within the housing and at least one board includes input-output ports. At least one communication conduit is coupled to an input-output port. Boards that include input-output ports are recessed with respect to the envelope and are arranged such that the input-output ports are adjacent the T-shaped routing channel. Communication conduits are routed through at least a portion of at least one of the routing channels. Support walls are provide within the housing that help prevent cross-talk and redundancy is provided in some of the device's components and functions.

Abstract: A system having an encoder and a decoder for transmitting ordered data blocks therebetween and for maintaining a minimum pulse density without increasing the bit error rate (BER). The encoder detects critical word having zeros in all bit positions except the least significant bit (LSB) position, constrains the LSB in a critical word having a zero in the LSB position from zero to one to maintain the minimum pulse density, generates an LSB word with each bit in LSB word representing non-constrained LSBs of the critical words in the data block and with the positions of bits in the LSB word corresponding to the order of transmission of the critical words in the data block. The decoder receives the LBS word and data block and converts the constrained LSB according to the indication of the respective bit in LSB word to reduce the BER.