Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.

Abstract: A system for the assessment of network performance criteria, and applying this criteria to the classification of network addresses into appropriate ranges, using these ranges to consolidate performance measurements for the associated addresses, and applying these metrics toward the optimization of the network towards performance or policy objectives.

Abstract: Telephone central office-switching system integrated interface devices such as those for DSL, Voice over IP, cable-TV, fixed wireless, and Internet capable wireless cellular are further integrated into integrated interface device systems. Such systems share common facilities including a router function, messaging function, and a common voice communications channel. The messaging function is arranged to provide call setup and associated messages which enable a calling device which calls an Integrated Device to establish an Internet communication simply by dialing the telephone number of the Integrated Device. Integrated Devices have both an Internet connection and a telephone number; the Internet connection has an associated IP address. Call setup messages include telephone numbers and IP addresses. The integrated router function is enabled to edge route Internet data traffic within the system and to and from other such systems, without the data traversing further into the Internet.

Abstract: A system for mapping dissimilar communication protocols is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises user communication information that spans at least two dissimilar communication networks, a first communication protocol associated with a first communication network, a second communication protocol associated with a second communication network, and a software code segment configured to detect a call setup identifier and a call tear-down identifier associated with the first communication protocol, the software code segment also configured to detect a call setup identifier and call tear-down identifier associated with the second communication protocol, where the call setup identifier and the call tear-down identifier associated with the second communication protocol may occur within a predetermined amount of time before or after the call setup identifier or the call tear-down identifier associated with the first communication protocol.

Abstract: A method for controlling switching in a bidirectional line-switched ring network configured by a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of nodes, (i) having a first node receive as input an LP-S (or having the first node detect an SF-P) and having a second node adjacent to the first node across a span receive the LP-S (or receive the SF-P), and (ii) having the second node send an SF-R switch request to another node when the second node further detects an SF-R on said span under the above state (i), whereby a method for controlling switching in a bidirectional line-switched ring under conditions where ring switch and LP-S cannot co-exist, but ring switch and SF-P can, is realized, as a whole, in the ring network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system allocates a channel in each frame period in which the amount of channel space allocated to each guaranteed time slot remains unchanged when transmission using an allocated channel is performed in a personal area network. For transmission in such a case, a channel is allocated at a specific position in each frame period. Even if each wireless communication apparatus cannot obtain channel allocation information transmitted from a control station, each wireless communication apparatus can detect the start position and the end position of a fixedly-allocated guaranteed time slot.

Abstract: A differentiated service network having a plurality of routers. An operating condition such as stability may be determined at a first router. An indication of the operating condition may be propagated from a first router to a second router such as an edge router. Based on the indication of the operating condition, one or more parameters of a constraint may be adjusted. The indication may be a signal corresponding to a network traffic status.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically testing hardware and software components of a system. A request type message is generated in the software component of the system. A request-type message, including a destination address and a source address, is made to traverse the transmit channel of the system. The destination address and source address are swapped, i.e., interchanged, and the message is wrapped into the receive channel where it is forwarded to the software component for further analysis. Modification is in the transmit channel to modify the message by swapping the source address and the destination address to preclude discarding of the message by the receive channel.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a guaranteed quality of service (QoS) Internet protocol (IP) connection between an first bridging device and a second bridging device through a switched transport network. The second bridging device receives a first signaling message from the first bridging device through an IP network, the first signaling message containing at least one parameter defining a predefined quality of service. In response, the second bridging device associates the first bridging device's switched transport network address and IP address, without communicating with an address server. The second bridging device directs a second signaling message to the switched transport network of address of the first bridging device, which establishes the IP connection between the first bridging device and the second bridging device through the switched transport network. The IP connection is in accordance with the at least one quality of service parameter contained in the second signaling message.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating via a packet telephony distribution system is defined that includes a dual-use/analog phone or phone adapter. Any communication device incorporating the adapter can dynamically receive incoming calls and transmit outgoing calls over analog phone lines and over derived phone lines such as VoIP (Voice Over IP). When receiving or transmitting calls, the adapter and an associated gateway perform operations that enable simultaneous communication over the analog phone lines or derived phone lines from any combination of communication devices. In cooperation with the communication devices, the gateway further dynamically controls the incoming and outgoing calls over the analog phone lines and derived phone lines.

Abstract: A broadcast overlay network has a ring topology to carry broadcast traffic from a head-end network. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) has a network interface in communication with the broadcast overlay network. The DSLAM is to receive a request for a particular video channel from a customer premise via a line interface and to deliver the particular video channel from the network interface to the line interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus to improve network performance by managing packet fragmentation with address translation are described.

Abstract: A method (500) and system for compensation of frequency offset between a first transceiver (102) and a second transceiver (104) in wireless communication are disclosed. The compensation of the frequency offset between two or more transceivers (102, 104) is achieved using frequency synchronization bursts. These bursts contain information about the frequency offset. The frequency synchronization bursts are transmitted by the first transceiver at a range of frequencies above and below its carrier frequency (502). A second transceiver that receives at least one of these bursts (504) determines the frequency offset (504), and adjusts its frequency to match the frequency of the first transceiver (508). Thereafter, the second transceiver may enter a low power sleep mode (510) in order to reduce its power consumption. The second transceiver returns to active mode (512) just before the start of the transmission of the data packets (514).

Abstract: Data packets are received at a communications node. Each of the received data packets is associated with one of a set of different service classes. Packets corresponding to the received data packets are transmitted to recipients. The order in which the data packets are transmitted is controlled based on the transmission rate and the service class of the packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, system and method for transmitting asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data cells on an ATM adaptation layer (AAL) configured connection within an ATM system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) sub-system (160) and a host processor (190). The transmitter interfaces directly with the DSP sub-system (160) (which converts the digitized voice samples into voice signals) and the host processor (190) (which performs AAL2 signaling and layer management functions). The transmitter is configured to interleave AAL2 voice packets from the DSP sub-system (160) and signaling and management packets from the host processor (190) on an ATM connection. Data is fetched by DMA(s) (415). A channel look-up table uses the DSP assigned voice channel as an index into the table to map a voice channel to the ATM connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a loop network, the loop network (200) including at least one loop (206, 208), a plurality of devices (210) connected to the at least one loop (206, 208) via ports (211, 212), wherein at least two of the devices are initiators (207, 209). The method includes each initiator (207, 209) sending a frame to all other initiators (207, 209) in the loop network (200) identifying any ports (211, 212) which should not be used. Each initiator (207, 209) merges the information from all other initiators (207, 209) with its own information identifying any ports (211, 212) which should not be used resulting in all the initiators (207, 209) generating a single list of ports (211, 212) to be used which is consistent across all the initiators (207, 209). Each initiator (207, 209) applies an algorithm (300) to determine a common set of ports (211, 212) to be used by all the initiators (207, 209) and to balance port accesses across the loop network (200).

Abstract: An MPOA system for establishing communication by using layer 3 protocol on an ATM network, in which data about the layer 3 address of a source of data packets is added to an address resolution request packet which is transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets in each communication node and hence transmitted to the destination, and in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets to be transmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs toward the destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, from a plurality of the communication nodes, a shortcut VCC is established only between the destination and the communication node remotest from the destination on the network.

Abstract: A system and method of providing remote agent access to a voice over internet protocol contact center by allowing an agent to login to the contact center with a data circuit through a remote data access device such as a VPN device are disclosed. The system and method further include, after receiving contact information, the contact center transmitting call data to the remote agent through the data line, the data line carrying bi-directional signaling data including the agent's ability to control call pick-up and hang-up, while transmitting the voice component over a telephone line. Further, the present invention has the ability to provide a continuous stream of customer calls to the agent or to disconnect after each individual call.

Abstract: In a system having two or more gateway apparatuses connected to both first and second networks having mutually different address systems, a gateway apparatus is provided with a translation table for associating IP addresses with node IDs. The gateway apparatus inquires other gateway apparatuses whether other gateway apparatuses are administering the same address as an IP address generated for a newly added device. If there is another gateway apparatus that is administering the same address, the IP address is prevented from being registered in the translation table.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in a network that offers a simple user interface for efficient utilization of network resources. The VPN is defined for a specified set of endpoints each of which is associated with a single “hose.” A hose provides access to the VPN through an access point which may be a node of the network, for example. The hose is a single interface to the VPN for communication to all other endpoints of the VPN. The VPN achieves network resource allocation efficiency by exploiting resource sharing possibilities via multiplexing routing paths between endpoints and dynamic resource allocation techniques that permit real time resource allocation resizing. When a VPN is established with a VPN service provider, the routing paths between the endpoints of the VPN is optimized for multiplexing opportunities so that resource allocations between nodes along routing paths within the IP network is reduced to a minimum.