Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a resilient network database. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The invention is directed to an interface for a database node comprising: a port for receiving a request for information from a network node; a processor for determining if the database node can respond to said request; and a transmitter for forwarding the request to another database node if the particular database node cannot respond. The invention is also directed to a distributed database comprising a number of database nodes, wherein a request received by one node is forwarded to other nodes in the distributed database if the particular node cannot handle the request.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication environment where calls are established with a single mobile terminal through either a wireless network or the public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a terminal adaptor, which is capable of wirelessly communicating with the mobile terminal. As such, the mobile terminal may facilitate traditional cellular calls via the wireless network, or traditional PSTN calls via the terminal adaptor. A temporary directory number for the mobile terminal is provided by the wireless network and used for facilitating calls via the wireless network. The terminal adaptor, supporting telephony switch, and wireless network will cooperate to transfer calls to the wireless network as necessary or desired.

Abstract: A first network element forwards a set of packets associated with first configuration information along a path to a second network element. Logic in the first network element generates a first knowledge digest encoding the first configuration information into a fixed length bit array. Logic in the second network element generates a second knowledge digest encoding second configuration information into a fixed length bit array. Logic in the second network element compares the first knowledge digest to the second knowledge digest, and generates an indication if the comparison indicates that the first configuration information is not a subset of the second configuration information.

Abstract: A device for use in a system with multiple receiving units, and multiple intermediate units each configured to communicate with the device and at least some of the multiple receiving units, includes a communication module configured to send information toward and receive information from the receiving units and the intermediate units, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention provide for releasing resources dedicated to a dormant mobile station in a region served by a first network access server that has migrated to in a region in an IP network served by a second network access server to allow those released resources to be allocated more efficiently. Generally the invention includes defining logic with a Authentication, Authorization and Accounting facility (AAA) and within a network access server for triggering a release of network access server (NAS) resources allocated for a given Mobile Station (MS) when the MS moves to a physical location requiring service by a different NAS.

Abstract: A linearized power amplifier including a predistorter and a feedforward circuit is described. By using both a predistorter and a feedforward cancellation system the linearization of the amplifier is increased. The accuracy of the amplified signal may be further improved by training the predistorter using the error signal produced by the feedforward cancellation system. Improved accuracy in the linearizer results in a reduction in the power requirement of the error amplifier and a relaxation in the phase, amplitude and delay accuracy of the feedforward loop.

Abstract: Coefficients of a pre-distorter are determined for correction of distortion of a signal amplified by a radio frequency amplifier by sampling the signal at the input to the pre-distorter to generate a plurality of input samples and sampling the signal at the output of the amplifier to generate a plurality of output samples, each of the plurality of output samples corresponding to one of the plurality of input samples, calculating a figure of merit for one or more of said plurality of input samples on the basis of the one or more of said plurality of input samples, selectively updating a previously selected set of input samples with said one or more of said plurality of input samples on the basis of the calculated figure of merit, whereby to generate an updated selected set and determining the coefficients of the pre-distorter on the basis of the input samples in the updated selected set and the corresponding output samples.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring channel quality over which has been transmitted a sequence of symbols produced by encoding and constellation mapping a source data element sequence. The method includes receiving a sequence of received symbols over the channel whose quality is to be measured. The sequence of received symbols is de-mapped based on a first channel quality indicator previously transmitted to a transmitter of the sequence of symbols. The method also includes decoding the de-mapped symbols to produce a decoded output sequence. In some embodiments, the decoding may be based on the first channel quality indicator. The method also includes re-encoding the decoded output sequence to produce a re-encoded output sequence. The method also includes correlating the de-mapped symbols with the re-encoded output sequence to produce a second channel quality indicator.

Abstract: An LDPC encoder with a complexity that increases linearly as a function of block size is provided. They are implementable with simple logic consisting of a repeater with an irregular repeat pattern, an interleaver, and an accumulator that performs irregular accumulations.

Abstract: A technique for delivering and enforcing network quality of service from a head-end to a plurality of outstations is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by assigning a transmit duration for each one of the plurality of outstations by the head-end; and assigning a transmit frequency for each one of the plurality of outstations by the head-end; wherein bandwidth for each one of the plurality of outstations is adjusted dynamically at the head-end. In addition, a control message may be received from an outstation indicating extra capacity at the outstation where the extra capacity may be allocated for one or more of burst capacity and best effort traffic.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a virtual private network. The system and method include a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is configured to display at least one link for accessing, via the interne, a web-page associated with a switch offering virtual private network functions.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for providing emergency service location of an IP telephony client. A request for an emergency call is received from the IP telephony client. Subsequently, it is determined whether an actual location of the IP telephony client is encompassed by a first location data stored at a corresponding Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database that associates a unique identifier of the IP telephony client with the first location data. The unique identifier is sent for receipt by a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) associated with the ALI database, if the actual location is encompassed by the first location data. An Emergency Location Information Number (ELIN) is sent for receipt by the PSAP if the actual location is not encompassed by the first location data, wherein the ELIN is associated with the actual location at the ALI database.

Abstract: A cellular communication system comprising a plurality of geographically spaced base stations (2) each of which comprises an antenna arrangement (4, 6, 8) per base station sector, each of which antenna arrangements has an antenna element for generating an array of narrow beams (10, 12, 14) covering the sector. Timeslots are simultaneously transmitted over each of the beams so as to generate successive sets of simultaneously transmitted timeslots per sector. The timeslots are each split into multiple orthogonal codes, for example Walsh codes. The communication system additionally comprising a scheduling device (31) for allocating for successive sets of timeslots common overhead channels, including a common pilot channel, which are allocated to the same sub-set of codes of each timeslot in the set. For successive sets of timeslots different data traffic is allocated to the same sub-set of codes of each timeslot in the set.

Abstract: A method and system to provide push-to-talk from one user to another in a wireless packet data telecommunications network is described. The system may include: a wireless communication network including push-to-talk (PTT) functionality, with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy Server; a SIP Registrar and Location Server operable to store contact addresses of active mobile devices; a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) Media Gateway (PTT Server) operable to function as a call endpoint for each of a plurality of mobile devices wherein the plurality of mobile devices are segmented into membership groups, the PTT Server further operable to multicast a communication from one member of the group to the other members of the group; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interconnecting the SIP Proxy server, the SIP Registrar and Location Server, and the PTT Server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for negotiating bearer control parameters using property sets. A property set is a specific set of default parameters or “properties” to be used for a given bearer channel type in an integrated node. Property set information can be passed between integrated nodes (301, 302) in a multimedia packet network (305). In many cases, a parameter negotiation can be completed quickly after the originating node sends a setup message including a list of one or more property sets and one or more requested parameters. In all cases, the bearer type and bearer parameters are determined based on capabilities of the originating and terminating nodes. The invention provides a way for existing signaling links using bearer independent call control (BICC), or session initiation protocol (SIP), or H.245, or similar protocols with a way to negotiate more bearer types and parameters without significantly increasing the bandwidth needed for the negotiation, or requiring nodes to be provisioned.

Abstract: A set of critical nodes or links is identified on the network and alternate forwarding state is pre-computed and disseminated within a node such that, upon failure of one of the critical nodes/links, a minimal trigger will cause the alternate forwarding state to be used to forward traffic on the routed Ethernet mesh network. In one embodiment rather than storing full tables of alternate forwarding state, only the changes to the forwarding state required by an identified failure is stored by the network nodes. Upon occurrence of a failure on the network, the identified failure is used to select the alternate forwarding state.

Abstract: Each access node is associated with one or more IP subnets with a preferred default subnet. Each subnet is instantiated as a unique virtual Ethernet broadcast domain. As client nodes register on the communication network, they will dynamically try to obtain an IP address for use on the communication network. As part of this process, the MAC address of the client node will be checked to ensure that it is not a duplicate of another MAC address associated with another client node that has already been assigned an IP address from the default subnet. When duplicate MAC addresses are detected, the device with the duplicate MAC address will be assigned an IP address from a different subnet so that more than one client device with the same MAC address are not associated with the same subnet. In one embodiment, a DHCP server may implement the process of checking for duplicate MAC addresses.

Abstract: The present invention solves these problems with a new proxy binding update request and proxy binding acknowledgment messages having new indicators and identification information. Namely, the home agent/local mobility anchor will exchange proxy binding update messages and proxy binding acknowledge messages that include information such as mobile node identification (MN-ID), home network prefix (HNP), but can also include selective information fields such as, access type, handover indicator (HO), and interface identification (interface ID) By including new access type, indicator, and identification information, the local mobility anchor can respond to a binding update request message with a better understanding of the new connectivity request from the mobile node.

Abstract: Virtual links may be used to divert traffic within an Ethernet network without affecting overall traffic patterns on the Ethernet network. In one embodiment, the virtual link may be established on the network via a routing system in use on the network. Nodes on a defined path for the virtual link will install forwarding state for the virtual link so that traffic may follow the defined path through the network. The logical view of the virtual link, from a routing perspective however, has the same cost as the shortest path between the endpoints of the virtual link and, accordingly, does not affect other traffic patterns on the network. Once established, the end nodes on the virtual path will have two equal cost paths through the network—one following the shortest path tree and one along the path for the virtual link. The end nodes may use a tie breaking process in an Equal Cost Multi Path (ECMP) selection process to preferentially select the virtual link over the shortest path.

Abstract: Described is a process and system for providing an extensible forwarding plane data communications channel adapted to selectively support operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) activity within one or more different domains of an Ethernet transport network. The data communication channel is established using Ethernet protocol data units forwarded within the forwarding plane, between network elements. The Ethernet protocol data units can be Ethernet OAM frames modified to include an OpCode indicative of a maintenance communication channel. The OAM frames are generated at a selected one of the network elements (source), forwarded along the same network path as the Ethernet frames, and terminate at another network element (destination) associated with a maintenance level identified within the OAM frame. The source and destination network elements can reside on a domain boundary using the Ethernet OAM frames flowing therebetween to relay maintenance communications channel messages.