Abstract: Performance parameters of a switch may be ascertained by observing its behavior during a brief interval of high call volume. This may be achieved by accumulating call messages on a queue before allowing them to be processed together as a group. Without increasing the rate of incident calls, an accumulation of messages is accomplished by altering the amount of time that elapses between transferring the accumulation to a processing queue. In one implementation, test calls are accumulated in call input queue. Ordinarily, these calls are transferred to a second queue for processing every few milliseconds (the transfer period). By increasing the transfer period, an increased number of calls are stored in the call input queue before being transferred to the second queue. This allows a larger number of calls to be processed by the telephone switch in a given cycle and, hence, allows the switch's operation under increased call volumes to be observed.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for time-domain equalizer training uses a two-pass auto-regressive moving average model. A communication channel is first modeled using p1 poles and q1 zeros to form a first shortened channel impulse response having a first approximation H1(z)=B1(z)/1+A1(z), wherein q1, is greater than a predetermined cyclic prefix length. A time-mirrored image of the first shortened channel impulse response is then formed, and the resulting time-mirrored image of the first shortened channel impulse response is modeled using p2 poles and q2 zeros to form a second shortened channel impulse response having a second approximation H2(z)=B2(z)/1+A2(z), wherein q2 is less than or equal to the predetermined cyclic prefix length. The time-domain equalizer coefficients are determined by combining A1(z) and A2(1/z) with an appropriate amount of delay.

Abstract: The present invention enables fast reconfiguration of paths associated with bufferless core nodes in a network where any two edge nodes may interconnect through a core node. In order to enhance network agility and performance, edge nodes associated with a core node are separated into a plurality of groups based on, for example, round-trip delay from the core node. This separates the short-haul paths from the long haul paths, thereby enabling the short-haul paths to be configured more frequently than the long-haul paths. It is preferable that the periods be set such that each additional period is an integer multiple of the previous one. This allows for simultaneous configuration of groups of paths. Although the methods and apparatus of the present invention are most effective for bufferless optical switches, they are still effective for electronic switches which may be bufferless or equipped with input data buffers.

Abstract: A label switched path may traverse multiple network domains of a communication network, namely, a first MPLS domain and a second MPLS domain interconnected by a non-MPLS domain. The label stack information of a packet sent over the LSP is preserved by establishing an tunnel across the non-MPLS domain of the LSP. The tunnel connects the first MPLS domain and the second MPLS domain of the LSP. The packet and label stack information are encapsulated and sent over the tunnel. An MPLS identifier is included in the header of the encapsulated packet so that the packet and label stack information may be identified at the second MPLS domain.

Abstract: Deployment of a hub-and-spoke (HaSP) topology virtual private network (VPN) may be facilitated by implementing a bi-directional VRF on a hub PE and using the hub PE as a hub-reflector. Route distinguishers and route targets may be used to differentiate traffic originating on the spokes from traffic originating on the hub. Using a bi-directional VRF allows a HaSP VPN to be created using a single link between the hub CE and hub PE. Allowing the hub CE to control spoke route distribution, and differentiating the direction of the flow by route target and route designator, enables the hub to control traffic between the spokes. Configuring the hub PE as a route reflector allows communication between the spokes to take place without having the CE hub inspect every piece of traffic. Optionally, other services may be provided by the hub PE as well, such as NAT, firewall, and AAA services.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for alignment of an input mirror and an output mirror in a photonic cross-connect.

Abstract: A data communication network for DiffServ communications has a software library added to clients connected to a data communication network having a DiffServ-enabled edge router. When an application running on a client system wishes to make a remote procedure call to a remote server system on another network, it makes its usual call for RPC invocation using the software library. This RPC call is intercepted by a protocol layer interposed between the application layer and the underlying RPC transport code. The protocol layer detects when an RPC call is being made and can determine the identity of the calling procedure as well. The library makes a side channel communication to the edge router to provide this information to the edge router or alternative service decider, which then makes use of this data when performing DiffServ classification for packets transmitted during the course of the call.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for distributing routing information in an optical virtual private network establishes an initial bootstrap topology and distributes the routing information over the initial bootstrap topology. Each node establishes a communication connection to one and only one lower priority peer node if such a lower priority peer node exists. If more than one lower priority peer nodes exist, then one of the lower priority peer nodes is selected and the communication connection is established to the selected lower priority peer node.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a preferred disposition for a moveable first mirror of an optical switch core of a photonic crossconnect device relative to a second mirror thereof, the method comprising the steps of determining approximate geometric coordinates of the first mirror relative to the second mirror, effecting a laser light crossconnection between the first and second mirrors to produce data from which to provide first order corrections to refine the geometric coordinates, and effecting a further laser light crossconnection between the first mirror and a third mirror, to produce data from which to provide second order corrections to further refine the geometric coordinates, whereby to calibrate the first mirror such that upon initiation of a laser light crossconnection involving the first mirror, a switching element detects deviation of the first mirror from the preferred disposition thereof and effects corrective changes.

Abstract: A network device is able to selectively preserving or over-writing user-defined state information during a reboot event using intelligent scripts. In one embodiment, the network device is configured to run a script containing intelligence during a reboot event. The intelligence is able to ascertain the cause of the reboot event and use a script appropriate for the particular reboot event. Additionally, the network device, running the script, is able to ascertain whether any user-defined state information exists, whether that user-defined state information conflicts with any scripted state information, and how any conflict between the user-defined state information and the scripted state information should be resolved.

Abstract: A personal directory system 10 has a translation server 40 for verifying the identity of a subscriber and recognizing the name of one or more subscribers that are stored on a personal directory of another subscriber. A caller is connected by a public telephone switch to the server 40 that accesses a personal directory computer 60 located on the World Wide Web 50. The requested number and/or speed dial number are converted from text to speech and the public telephone switch automatically dials the requested number.

Abstract: An user may define failover events in a network device by customizing the network device's response to a failure on the network. Specifically, an user may instruct the network device to activate or deactivate one or more interfaces, or undergo any number of additional communications, upon a perceived network failure or critical interface failure. This enables the network device to initiate or terminate connectivity with one or more network devices, as well as optionally performing failover to a standby network device, to enable the network device to more smoothly handle failover procedures and transition traffic to the network device that will be responsible for communication after failover has been effected.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for stabilizing the wavelength of a tunable laser to a target wavelength, by correspondingly adjusting the electrooptical performance of the laser's gain medium, whereby to eliminate the frequency shift due to vibrational factors. The electrooptical performance of the laser's gain medium is adjusted, in the case of an electrically pumped laser, by changing the injection current used to pump the laser; and the electrical performance of the laser's gain medium is adjusted, in the case of an optically pumped laser, by changing the intensity of the pump laser used to energize the laser. The system is implemented with a feedback mechanism.

Abstract: In a technique for priority forwarding, an upper layer protocol that requires priority forwarding includes a priority function that is invoked by a lower layer protocol in order to obtain the priority for a message. The upper layer protocol provides the priority function to the lower layer protocol when the upper layer protocol is installed in the protocol stack. The lower layer protocol invokes the priority function before passing a message to the upper layer protocol in order to determine a priority for the message. The lower layer protocol places the message in the appropriate queue based upon the priority indicator obtained from the upper layer protocol's priority function.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (“RF-ID”) device is affixed to a cable to identify the cable, i.e., distinguish the cable from other cables. A handheld RF-ID reader is used to identify particular cables by detecting the RF-ID associated with the cable. Short range RF-ID readers are embedded in a network device proximate to ports to determine which cable is connected with which port. A configurable cross-connect between the port and internal circuitry is configured based on the detected RF-ID to make predetermined interconnections. Consequently, proper interconnections may be achieved by connecting the cabling with any of a plurality of ports.

Abstract: A server provides media and telephony services in a telecommunications network. The server has a distributed, object-oriented software architecture, allowing client applications to access resources located anywhere in the network. The server provides interfaces to media and telephony resources so that client applications, which may access the server through an IP data network, can access the resources. The software architecture framework is provided by Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA).

Abstract: A management system for telecommunication switch is described. The management system is useful for providing operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) functions in a terabit switch. The management system is a scalable management system, whereby processing of large amounts of network management traffic from carrier operators and virtual private network (VPN) customers in a terabit switch is enabled. The management system is efficiently implemented by utilizing surplus processing resources in the network interface cards of the switch. The management system includes a protocol unit residing on a first processor card of the switch for receiving a management request, a first request unit residing on the first processor card for creating a request object in response to the received management request, and a first action unit residing on a first network interface card of the switch for executing the received management request in response to an instruction from the request object.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a substrate assembly and a receptacle. The substrate assembly includes a first substrate layer having a conductive trace that is accessible for direct electrical interconnection with a first conductor associated with another device. A second substrate layer on the assembly includes an electrical contact for electrical interconnection with a second conductor associated with the other device. The electrical contact on the second substrate layer is disposed such that when the substrate assembly is inserted into the receptacle, the electrical contact is electrically connected with the second conductor, a direct electrical interconnection between the conductive trace and the first conductor is maintained. The arrangement is advantageous in that the connector assembly is capable of transmitting low frequency signals through electrical connections that also serve to maintain a high frequency direct electrical interconnection.

Abstract: A flexible global distributed switch adapted for wide geographical coverage with an end-to-end capacity that scales to several Petabits per second (Pb/s), while providing grade-of-service and quality-of-service control, is constructed from packet-switching edge modules and channel-switching core modules. The global distributed switch may be used to form a global Internet. The global distributed switch enables simple controls, resulting in scalability and performance advantages due to a significant reduction in the mean number of hops in a path between two edge modules. Traffic is sorted at each ingress edge module according to egress edge module. At least one packet queue is dedicated to each egress edge module. Harmonious reconfiguration of edge modules and core modules is realized by time counter co-ordination. The global distributed switch can be enlarged from an initial capacity of a few Terabits per second to a capacity of several Petabits per second, and from regional to global coverage.

Abstract: A method of multicast routing includes receiving link state advertisements from routers in a network, constructing a short path tree multicast routing table from the received link state packets.