Abstract: Forwarding state may be installed for sparse multicast trees in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network by enabling intermediate nodes to install state for one or more physical multicast trees, each of which may have multiple logical multicast trees mapped to it. By mapping multiple logical multicasts to a particular physical multicast, and installing state for the physical multicast, fewer FIB entries are required to implement the multiple multicasts to reduce the amount of forwarding state in forwarding tables at the intermediate nodes. Mapping may be performed by destination nodes before advertising membership in the physical multicast, or may be performed by the intermediate nodes before installing state when a destination node advertises membership in a logical multicast.

Abstract: A SIP header reduction protocol operating on a communication network to compress the SIP header fields on SIP control messages used to initiate a SIP communication session. The new protocol is implemented on the mobile use equipment (UE) (301) and P-CSCF proxy SIP server (302). The prior SIGCOMP compression dictionary is used to compress those header field parameters defined by the SIGCOMP dictionary. A new 3G Dictionary is implemented with header field parameters for several wireless specific data elements and parameters necessary to access various wireless technologies and services which are missing from the SIP/SDP based SIGCOMP dictionary. Finally, an Encoding Assistant (EA) (310, 355) function is implemented on the UE and P-CSCF that operates a standard encoding and decoding of SIP message header fields to reduce those SIP header fields that are dynamic over time but are essentially static in terms of most user communication.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods and apparatus for regulating the transfer of data bursts across a data network comprising electronic edge nodes interconnected by fast-switching optical core nodes. To facilitate switching at an electronic edge node, data bursts are organized into data segments of equal size. A data segment may include null data in addition to information bits. The null data are removed at the output of an edge node and the information data is collated into bursts, each carrying only information bits in addition to a header necessary for downstream processing. To ensure loss-free transfer of bursts from the edge to the core, burst transfer permits are generated at controllers of the optical core and sent to respective edge nodes based on flow-rate-allocation requests. Null-padding is not visible outside the edge nodes and only the information content is subject to transfer rate regulation to ensure high efficiency and high service quality.

Abstract: A method for providing a packet-based multimedia service to a mobile device in a network. The method includes initiating a multimedia session for the mobile device by establishing a packet connection between the mobile device and the network and establishing a circuit bearer connection between the mobile device and the network. The method further includes transferring information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet connection. Additionally, the method includes transferring information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection.

Abstract: An enhanced communication bridge includes a context interface that enables the audio bridge to learn information about the type of Voice encoder, device, network connection, location, type of call (business vs. personal), identity and position of the individual, and other information about the context of the communication session itself as well as the context of each person joining the communication session. This context information is used to determine how quality of experience targets for the communication as a whole, as well as how each individual contribution should be uniquely processed to attempt to meet the quality of experience targets. Business factors may influence the decision as to the type of processing to be implemented on each of the signals provided by the participants. Corrective action may also be implemented by the bridge on the client network devices as well in the embodiment. The bridge may be centralized or distributed. A video bridge may be implemented as well.

Abstract: The present invention supports a scheduling protocol on a wireless communication network to transmit data packets stored in a queue from a user. Two performance metrics are generated and summed to provide a priority. The performance metrics are based on the delay for the data packets stored in the queue and the rate that the data packets can be transmitted on the network. The user with the higher calculated priority for the current time slot has its data packets transmitted.

Abstract: A unique RVID is used for each spoke node to identify traffic flowing from that spoke node to the hub and from the hub to the spoke. Spoke nodes perform MAC learning on any frame containing their assigned unique RVID and only bridge traffic received on the ring to a client port if the traffic contains their assigned RVID. Thus, MAC learning at the spoke is localized to client routes, or to routes of interest that pass through the hub. The hub node learns C-VID/RVID-ringport bindings for traffic on the ring. When a frame is received on the ring, the hub will use the C-VID and RVID to determine the I-SID and forward the traffic onto the external network. When a frame is received from the external network, the hub node will use the I-SID & C-VID to determine the RVID of the spoke node, and then use the C-VID & RVID to determine, from its forwarding database, which ringport should be used to output the frame.

Abstract: A system and method that includes monitoring a state of a physical queue receiving data is shown. The system and method includes generating, queuing, and scheduling messages based on the state of the physical queue, sending the messages to a virtual queue system, and approximating the state of the physical queue in a virtual queue system based on the messages. The system and method includes modifying a transmission rate towards the physical queue based on a state stored in the virtual queue system.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a frame structure for transmitting an integer number of OFDM symbols in which some of the OFDM symbols are to be transmitted in a unicast format and some of the OFDM symbols are to be transmitted in a broadcast format. The frame structure includes partitioning of a frame into at least two portions to accommodate both unicast and broadcast modes in the frame. The frame structure is used for transmitting multiple frames in a serial manner from at least one transmitter. The unicast mode supports transmission of OFDM symbols from a single transmitter to a single receiver. The broadcast mode supports transmission of OFDM symbols from multiple transmitters to all receivers within range of the multiple transmitters. The multicast mode supports transmission of OFDM symbols from multiple transmitters to multiple receivers within range of the multiple transmitters.

Abstract: Described are a method and system for secure transmission of data through a network. A subcarrier sequence for data transmission is generated. The subcarrier sequence designates at least one subcarrier from a number of orthogonal subcarriers for each of a plurality of intervals in a time sequence. The subcarrier sequence is provided to a receiver. A data signal that includes the subcarriers identified in the subcarrier sequence modulated according to the data is transmitted from a transmitter to the receiver. For additional security, the subcarrier sequence can be transmitted to the receiver using a communications channel that is separate from the communications channel for the data signal. The data signal is detected at the receiver and demodulated according to the subcarrier sequence.

Abstract: A fiber network is monitored in order to detect physical intrusion. The state of polarization of an optical fiber is monitored. A fiber tap is determined to have occurred if the state of polarization of the fiber changes beyond a predetermined amount found to be associated with all types of fiber taps. Alternately, it may be determined that a fiber tap has occurred if the state of polarization changes beyond a second predetermined amount and in a predetermined direction. Monitoring of the state of polarization occurs before and after a time period chosen to be less than a time during which the state of polarization of the optical fiber is expected to drift. This step eliminates false positives due to natural fiber PMD drift.

Abstract: Bit-transparent muxing of an input signal for transport through an optical communications network is provided. A fixed length container of the optical communications network is defined, which includes an overhead and a payload. A stuffing ratio (?) is based on a line rate of the input signal and a data rate of the container. A number (NFS) of fixed stuffs is computed based on the stuffing ratio (?). The input signal and NFS fixed stuffs are inserted into the payload of the container, and the computed number NFS stored in the container's overhead.

Abstract: To communicate in a press-to-talk (PTT) session, a message for requesting a right to talk in the PTT session is sent over a wireless link between a mobile station and a base station system. The message for requesting the right to talk in the PTT session is sent in wireless signaling over the wireless link. An acknowledgment of the wireless signaling carrying the message is received, with the acknowledgment sent by the base station system in response to the control signaling. An indication is provided at the mobile station of the right to talk in response to the acknowledgment.

Abstract: The present invention supports a communication protocol for transmission of information packets between a mobile node and a virtual private network. Information packets are encapsulated and decapsulated along the route as the information packet is forwarded among the various networks on its path to the destination address; either the mobile node on a foreign network or a correspondence node on a virtual private network. A home agent on the virtual private network supports transmitting the information packets, and the information packets are transmitted from the virtual private network from the home agent or a virtual private network gateway.

Abstract: A resilient virtual Ethernet ring has nodes interconnected by working and protection paths. Each node has a set of VLAN IDs (VIDs) for tagging traffic entering the ring by identifying the ingress node and whether the traffic is on the working or protection path. MAC addresses are learned in one direction around the ring. A port aliasing module records in a forwarding table a port direction opposite to a learned port direction. Each node can also cross-connect working and protection paths. If a span fails, the two nodes immediately on either side of the failure are cross-connected to fold the ring working-path traffic is cross-connected onto the protection path at the first of the two nodes and is then cross-connected back onto the working path at the second of the two nodes so that traffic always ingresses and egresses the ring from the working path.

Abstract: An adaptable orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing system (OFDM) that uses a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) to having OFDM signals transmitted either in accordance with time diversity to reducing signal fading or in accordance with spatial diversity to increase the data rate. Sub-carriers are classified for spatial diversity transmission or for time diversity transmission based on the result of a comparison between threshold values and at least one of three criteria. The criteria includes a calculation of a smallest eigen value of a frequency channel response matrix and a smallest element of a diagonal of the matrix and a ratio of the largest and smallest eigen values of the matrix.

Abstract: A method for processing calls in a packet network using peer call servers includes receiving a setup message from a first gateway in the packet network. The setup message includes a first address for a called endpoint. The call server that receives the setup message translates the message into a call server ID and an endpoint ID specifying the remote call server corresponding to the called party. The call server sends the call server ID and the endpoint ID to the remote call server. The remote call server obtains a call signaling transport address to the called end user based in the endpoint ID.

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: Provided is a method and apparatus for objectively and non-intrusively measuring voice quality on live calls without disrupting the call session or the network. A communication system includes plural communities each including a switch that controls access to a packet-based data network for call sessions. Each of the communities is coupled to the data network by respective packet-based trunks. Quality of service (QoS) monitoring devices are coupled to the respective packet-based trunks to monitor quality levels of routes between any two given communities. Each QoS monitoring device receives packets containing streaming data (which may be actual packets or test packets). From the received packets, the QoS monitoring device can derive QoS parameters, particularly for audio and speech signals on live calls without disrupting the call session.

Abstract: Contacts are managed within a contact center by associating each contact with one or more skill set and priority identifiers. The contacts may be represented as a software object. Contact (or contact objects) may be queued relative to one another by means of references to and/or from the object(s) immediately ahead of and behind each contact. For those contacts having multiple skill sets, a process and a system is disclosed wherein the multiple skill sets of the contact are serviced by multiple agents to provide a 1 to N process. The customer may be given the option to have each additional agent conference into a contact session thereby reducing the customer's overall wait time for the contact to be serviced. The process and system also may include identifying contact objects having prerequisites and routing those contact objects to an agent having one of the prerequisites. The process and system also allows a group of related contacts to be serviced by one or more agents in an M to 1 or M to N fashion.