Abstract: A method and apparatus for queue selection is described below as Prioritized Continuous-Deficit Round Robin (PC-DRR) Scheduling. In PC-DRR scheduling a queue is selected as a source for the shared datapath using a modified round-robin approach, where queues are cyclically, sequentially evaluated to determine whether or not there is data stored in the queue. In PC-DRR scheduling, each queue is assigned a weight, wherein the weight corresponds to a predefined bandwidth that is allocated to the queue. Thus, the weight defines a fixed allotment of transmit opportunities that are to be allowed for the associated queue during its transmit tenure. In a preferred embodiment, a minimum permissible weight that is assigned to a queue is equal to a Maximum Packet Size. As data are drained from the queue, the weight is decreased incrementally by the amount of data sent, providing a balance.

Abstract: A passive optical star coupler, and associated method of operation arranged to transmit signals received at any input port to all output ports other than an output port associated with the input port. In this way all received signals are broadcast to all connected network equipment with the exception of the transmitting equipment.

Abstract: Location update messages for a mobile node can be made interceptible by routers which form tunnels for communication with the mobile node. A correspondent agent intercepts a Binding Update with a Router Alert and binds the address of the mobile node with a care of address for the mobile node provided in the Binding Update. The correspondent agent will thereafter intercept messages from its correspondent host destined for the mobile node and redirect them to the care of address thereby bypassing the home agent of the mobile node. A border router intercepts a Registration Request with Router Alert and binds the address of the mobile node with a care of address for the mobile node. If a binding existed previously, then the border router terminates the Request. Otherwise, the Request is forwarded to the home agent of the mobile node after substituting its own address for the care of address.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of establishing communication between a first application added to a platform, and a second application executing on the platform, controls the first and second applications to establish a path for interapplication communication. To that end, a notify message is forwarded to the second application when the first application is added to the system. Receipt of the notify message by the second application causes the second application to ascertain path data for establishing a path between the two applications. The first application also ascertains path data for establishing a path between the applications. The first and second applications then are controlled to establish a single path between the first application and the second application after the path data is ascertained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting a supercarrier signal over a network span is described. The apparatus includes a network for transporting the supercarrier signal, which includes messaging information, using a first protocol. The apparatus further includes a network span comprising a plurality of low bit rate network sections for transporting a plurality of trib signals using a second protocol, and a transparent demultiplexer connected to the network and the network span for demultiplexing the supercarrier signal into the trib signals. The demultiplexer is arranged to insert into the plurality of trib signals the messaging information required to maintain said first protocol. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer, connected between the network span and the network, for transparently multiplexing the trib signals into the supercarrier signals. Also described is a transparent multiplexer and a transparent demultiplexer.

Abstract: A protection arrangement for a telephone subscriber line interface circuit is disclosed. The arrangement is particularly useful for protecting an electronic telephone set from over-voltage and over-current fault conditions. The arrangement provides a FET that operates in saturation mode to connect an office battery to the subscriber line under normal operation. The FET also provides isolation capabilities for protecting the line circuit from an over-current condition on the subscriber line. Over-voltage protection is provided by way of an isolation relay between the line circuit and the subscriber line. Both the FET and isolation relay are operated by a controller that uses timers in the methods of over-voltage and over-current protection that it performs. A further capability of the arrangement is that it resets itself after the fault condition has ended. This feature is particularly useful in the case of fault conditions of short duration.

Abstract: A switching system includes a switch fabric that includes groups of buffers for each port interface device that communicates with external communication devices through an Ethernet plane. The port interface device is formed to receive congestion ratings reflecting buffer usage within the switch fabric for each device coupled to transmit and receive packets through the switching fabric and to determine whether to route to the switching fabric or drop the packet based upon the congestion rating of the destination device and upon a quality of service rating for the packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a supplemental channel in an IS-2000 CDMA network includes a system that determines when to initiate a supplemental channel transmission, when to terminate a supplemental channel transmission, the period or duration of a supplemental channel, and, finally, the data rate of the supplemental channel. In short, an implementation for a supplemental channel is provided that considers the power capacity of the BTS, the desire to minimize interference, the desire to maximize revenue and the number of users, and the desire to minimize the probability of blocking (a user being denied access).

Abstract: Apparatus for use in tuning a tunable optical device to a target wavelength, the apparatus comprising: a light source for generating light at a wavelength which is a higher order mode of the operational wavelength of the tunable device; and a wavelength detector and control unit for monitoring the wavelength of light emerging from the tunable device and controlling the tuning voltage applied to the tunable device according to the wavelength of the light emerging from the tunable device.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a collimated light beam within an optical switch, the apparatus comprising: a supporting structure having a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator being selectively adjustable along a first plane, and the second actuator being selectively adjustable along a second plane; a fiber optic line having a terminal end to emit a light beam therefrom, the terminal end of the fiber optic line being supported by the first actuator, whereby adjustment of the first actuator repositions the terminal end of the fiber optic line; and a collimator lens being supported by the second actuator, whereby adjustment of the second actuator repositions the collimator lens; wherein at least one of the terminal end of the fiber optic line and collimator lens is repositioned relative to the other one so as to position the light beam emitted by the terminal end of the fiber optic line through a given location of through the collimator lens, which in turn produces the collimated light beam within

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring a selected optical behavior of a tunable opto-electric device by using the electrical characteristics of the opto-electronic device. The benefit of the present invention is the elimination or reduction in complexity of optical wavelength reference hardware that is currently required for wavelength referencing and locking. Accordingly, the present invention reduces the cost and complexity of the optical packaging of tunable opto-electronic telecommunication components. Furthermore, the present invention also significantly simplifies optical and electronic design of system level products with tunable opto-electronic devices.

Abstract: A frame based data communications network is interfaced to a synchronous digital hierarchy network via a plurality of frame based data port cards incorporated into a plurality of synchronous multiplexers. Each port card comprises a conventional frame based data port, a frame switch, a rate adapter means and a mapping means for mapping data frames into a plurality of SDH virtual containers. Frame based data is incorporated directly into a synchronous virtual container without encapsulation in an intermediate protocol. A number of topologies of a frame based data channel network are possible, overlaid on the underlying synchronous transport network, including an open loop topology, a ring mode topology, and a backhaul topology.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying one or more characteristics of an optical signal, in which a transmitter is operable to transmit an optical signal and a receiving unit is operable to receive the optical signal. The transmitter has a laser for generating the optical signal and an encoding unit adapted to control the laser to activate and deactivate the optical signal during a laser shutdown state based on a predetermined code. The receiving unit has an optical receiver optically coupled to the transmitter by a light transmission medium and is operable to receive the optical signal from the transmitter. The receiving unit also has a decoder measuring at least one of an active time of the optical signal and the inactive time between active times of the optical signal. The decoder determines at least one of the one or more characteristics of the optical system based on at least one of the active time or the inactive time.

Abstract: Audible calling line identification. Network resources are used to provide text-to-speech translation based audio “caller-ID” services to a telephone subscriber. In a plain old telephone system (POTS), audio calling line identification is played to the subscriber after the subscriber answers the phone in response to a ringing signal. The subscriber is then given the opportunity to supply a response, directing the disposition of the call. In a telephone system which supports on-hook signaling between the switch and the customer premises equipment (CPE), a setup message is sent to the CPE to go off-hook and play the audible calling line identification through a built-in speaker. An intelligent peripheral (IP) or service node within the network provides the required text-to-speech translation services.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting media objects for such bandwidth-intensive applications as Media on Demand (MoD) or Video on Demand (VoD) employ a novel StairCase Broadcast (SCB) scheme. A media server in accordance with one example of the invention includes a fragmenter that fragments media objects into multiple segments, with each segment provided to a corresponding streamer. Each streamer periodically and continuously streams data associated with its corresponding media segment on a connection between the server and a media client. A download controller in the media client selectively causes the proper streams to be received for downloading from the server in accordance with the fragmentation of the selected media object and the number of streams that the client can simultaneously receive for downloading.

Abstract: A network device includes optical modules with both electrical and optical connections facing an end of the optical module configured to be plugged into the network device. The optical modules may extend through a faceplate of the network device or may be retained behind the faceplate. Utilizing optical modules with both electrical and optical connections facing one end of the optical module enables optical fiber management may take place within the network device and independent of the electrical connections. This facilitates replacement of non-functional or obsolete optical modules. The optical modules may be parallel to or approximately parallel to the connector plane when connected to the connector plane.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for reducing the number of multicast routes maintained in a multicast routing information base aggregates a group of multicast routes and installs a single policy route for the group of multicast routes. The policy route is utilized as a default multicast route when no more-specific multicast route is available for one of the aggregated multicast routes. The policy routes are collected and distributed by a bootstrap device, preferably using a special bootstrap message.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus has been developed for testing optical circuit modules. More particularly, with the present invention, a given test pack is adapted to “simultaneously” test a plurality of DUT's, by simultaneously apply a given optical signal to each of the plurality of DUT's and allowing each of the DUT's to simultaneously undergo its own testing; the test pack then serially queries each of the DUT's to obtain test results and, if desired, can provide feedback to one or more of the DUT's, whereby the DUT's can be calibrated with the assistance of the test pack. In one preferred form of the invention, all of the plurality of DUT's simultaneously undergoing testing on a given test pack are housed in a single environmental enclosure, permitting all of the DUT's to be simultaneously brought “up to temperature” so as to increase testing throughput.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for integrating a VCSEL with a SOA, comprising positioning a collimating lens adjacent to the output of the VCSEL, positioning a focusing lens adjacent to the input of the SOA, and positioning a movable lens between the collimating lens and the focusing lens, where the movable lens has a focal length significantly longer than the focal length of the focusing lens; and moving the movable lens relative to the focusing lens so as to adjust the focusing spot on the input of the SOA.

Abstract: A memory access processor and memory access interface for transferring data information to and from a plurality of SSRAM locations. The processor has a lookup controller for identifying a data request and locating the data requested from the SSRAM locations. The bus allows a data request and retrieval throughput from a routing processor to the memory access processor at a maximum rate, about 10 gigabits per second without substantial pipeline stalls or overflows.