Abstract: A rate determination unit and methods for use in a receiver in a communication system that is adapted to receive communications at a plurality of different data rates is disclosed. The rate determination unit is configured to receive an encoded signal and determine the encoded signal's data rate without first requiring decoding of the encoded signal. In a preferred embodiment, the rate determination unit includes a plurality of hypothesis units and a hypothesis analyzer. Each hypothesis unit is arranged to determine a hypothesis value for a frame of the encoded signal at an associated one of the data rates. The hypothesis analyzer is arranged to compare selected hypothesis values, determine the frame data rate based on such comparisons, and output a rate indication signal based on the determined frame data rate.

Abstract: A technique for updating a routing table in a routing device operating over a logical connection in a communication network utilizes a mechanism at a first protocol layer to determine a logical connection status and trigger a routing table update at a second protocol layer based upon the logical connection status. Specifically, the first protocol layer logic monitors the status of the logical channels, and, based on the status of the logical channels, determines the status of the logical connections. When the first protocol layer logic detects a logical channel failure that results in a logical connection failure, the first protocol layer logic triggers a routing table update by sending a signal to the second protocol layer logic indicating that the logical connection failed.

Abstract: A flow control method for available bit rate service in an asynchronous transfer mode network for detecting congestion in a switch and conveying congestion status information using resource management cells to the source which adjusts its flow rate accordingly. During detection of congestion in the switch the explicit rate field of the resource management cell is updated using a dynamic major reduction factor to improve transient queue-length performance.

Abstract: A glitchless delay line using a Gray code multiplexer is provided. The glitchless delay line combines a multi-tap delay circuit with the Gray code multiplexer. Specifically, the multi-tap delay circuit provides a plurality-of sequentially ordered delayed output signals on a plurality of sequentially ordered output terminals. The Gray code multiplexer has a plurality of input terminals coupled to the sequentially ordered delayed output terminals. The Gray code multiplexer is controlled by driving a Gray code value onto the control terminals of the Gray code multiplexer to select a specific delayed output terminal of the multi-tap delay circuit. The delay provided by the delay line is increased by incrementing the Gray code value on the control terminals of the Gray code multiplexer and decreased by decrementing the Gray code value on the control terminals. Race conditions on the control lines are eliminated when incrementing or decrementing the Gray code value by one.

Abstract: A method and system for combining plural independently addressable packets into a SuperPacket to improve the utilization of a communications channel. The method and system reduce the percentage of the header information that is redundant between packets and/or redundant based on the source and destination addresses of the packets as compared to the data payload. The combined SuperPackets are disassembled at a terminating gateway or at a second multiplexer. The reduction in header information is especially useful in voice over IP communications systems where the data is voice information that is kept in small packets to avoid latency.

Abstract: In order that a mobile part having a slow channel changing function can be synchronized in a manner which is economic in terms of frequencies and, at the same time, to at least two base stations having a fast channel changing function in a cellular TDMA/FDMA radio system, in particular in a cellular DECT/GAP system, the base station transmits broadcast information to the mobile part. The mobile part maintains a telecommunications link to one of the base stations in the radio system, using a predetermined transmit separation which is defined as a number of TDMA time slots and is greater than a receive separation which is predetermined by the slow channel changing function of the mobile part and is defined as a number of TDMA time slots.

Abstract: A device and algorithm for fairly allocating available bandwidth between contending connections at a contention point in a data network. The allocation is based on global queue size at the contention point and a weighted value assigned to the data traffic. The device and algorithm find particular application in an ATM network which supports the available bit rate (ABR) service category.

Abstract: A method and system for routing multi-rate traffic in a communications network determines a first expected admission cost difference that corresponds to admission of the traffic onto a single-link route. If the first expected admission cost difference is less than a pre-determined cost threshold, the network routes the traffic through the single-link route. If the first expected admission cost difference is equal to or greater than the cost threshold, the network determines a second set of expected admission cost differences that corresponds to admission of the traffic onto a set of multi-link routes, and selects the multi-link route that has a minimum expected admission cost difference. If the minimum expected admission cost difference is less than the cost threshold, the network routes the traffic through the selected multi-link route.

Abstract: A route selection service control system for selecting an optimum one of routes connecting an originating-side terminal to each of terminals owned by an identical subscriber and connected to respective communication networks operated by different telecommunication carriers. On receiving the identification number of a terminating-side subscriber, a reading unit refers to terminal type storing unit and reads out the terminal types and terminal numbers of a plurality of terminating-side terminals associated with the identification number. A position information acquiring unit acquires the current positions of the terminating-side terminals. A distance calculating unit calculates the distance between the position of an originating-side terminal and the current position of each of the terminating-side terminals.

Abstract: A method of transmitting messages in an answer-back paging system in which a primary station (10,14,16) transmits a series of messages addressed to respective secondary stations (20) on a down-link. The primary station then invites the secondary stations to transmit their responses, for example as CDMA signals, on an up-link. On receipt the primary station analyses those responses which are deemed to be intelligible, matches them to the originally transmitted messages and transmits acknowledgements to the relevant secondary stations. The primary station then issues another invitation to those stations whose responses had not been detected requesting them to reply on the up-link. Those responses which are deemed intelligible are processed as before and acknowledgements are transmitted together with another invitation on the down-link. The cycle of operations is repeated until either a predetermined number of cycles have elapsed or it is considered that all the intelligible responses have been received.

Abstract: A probing router is used at a source site of a virtual private network. In-band probing operations are performed by components within the probing router, using processing resources available from a router engine portion of the probing router. In this way, changes in the network and service level agreement statistic collection processes may be quickly and easily accommodated within the probing router. Furthermore, the probing router communicates the probe message through an in-band communication channel so as to provide a direct measurement of service level data for the channel used for communicating information between the source site and a destination site.

Abstract: A communications network switch includes a plurality of network ports for transmitting and receiving packets to and from network nodes via network links, each of the packets having a destination address and a source address, the switch being operative to communicate with at least one trunking network device via at least one trunk formed by a plurality of aggregated network links. The communications network switch provides a method and apparatus for balancing the loading of aggregated network links of the trunk, thereby increasing the data transmission rate through the trunk.

Abstract: A staged partitioned communication bus for interconnecting the ports of a multi-port bridge for a local area network. The communication bus is partitioned into a plurality of data bus segments. Each data bus segment is coupled to one or more ports of the multi-port bridge and includes a same number of signal lines. A multiplexer is coupled to each data bus segment and to a memory device. A bus controller is coupled to each port and to the multiplexer. Each port requests access to the memory device from the bus controller for storing packets in the memory device and for retrieving packets therefrom. In response, the bus controller conditions the multiplexer to provide a signal path between the memory device to and the data bus segment which includes the requesting port. The memory device temporarily stores packets undergoing communication between the ports.

Abstract: A private communication network is formed of a source station, a transit station and a destination station are interconnected by transmission mediums. Each station includes a PBX switch, an ATM switch and a cell assembly/disassembly unit connected between the PBX and ATM switches. A call setup message is sent from the PBX switch of the source station to the PBX switch of the transit station, and connections are established in the PBX switch of the transit station according to the call setup message. A call setup message is then sent from the PBX switch of the transit station to the PBX switch of the destination station. Source and destination trunk identification numbers of the source and destination stations associated with the call setup message are exchanged so that all of the stations share the source and destination trunk identification numbers.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for selecting one particular interface between a pair of adjacent nodes in an ATM network for assignment to a call in that network. The cell rate available on each possible interface is examined and compared with the cell rate expected for the call, and one of the interfaces is selected and assigned responsive to those cell rates. (1) The interface can be chosen which preserves the maximum remaining cell rate for future calls. (2) The interface with the highest-speed available link can be chosen, so long as cell rate capacity is available on that interface for the call.

Abstract: A system for operating a wireless communications device in a manner that significantly reduces the power consumption of the device. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system is provided for operating a wireless communications device in a low power mode including the step of controlling the operation of circuit components to operate in either a low-power standby mode or an operating mode. The system includes detecting a first condition and, in response to the detection of the first condition, operating a first set of circuit components in a low-power standby mode while operating a second set of circuit components in the operating mode. The system further includes detecting a second condition and, in response to the detection of the second condition, operating substantially all the circuit components in the operating mode.

Abstract: The invention concerns data transmission method for implementing a transmission connection. The transmission connection comprises a transfer media (11) and transceivers (A, B) located at opposite ends of the connection. In the method the transceivers operate in time domain in consecutive cycles (T) each of which is composed of the following parameters: (a) a transmission interval (Tr) whose length corresponds substantially to the length of the burst to be transmitted, (b) a switching interval (t1) during which the transceiver switches from transmission interval to reception interval, (c) a reception interval (Rc) whose length corresponds substantially to the length of the burst transmitted by another transceiver, and (d) a switching interval (t2) during which the transceiver switches from the reception interval to the transmission interval. The propagation time &tgr; of the burst across the connection is determined before the transfer of payload data is started.

Abstract: A DECT communication system having; at least one portable part; and a fixed part for connection to a GSM interworking unit of a GSM communication system and capable of wireless communication with the portable part to provide data service communications between the portable part and the GSM interworking unit; and including converting means for converting between data service signals at the portable part and signals in ISDN format, so as to provide data service communications between the DECT communications system and the GSM interworking unit at a data rate greater than 9600 bps.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system to achieve a high data rate channel in a CDMA system. According to the preferred embodiment, multiple CDMA data sequences are modulated in parallel by multiple low data rate CDMA channels. Each low data rate CDMA channel digitally delays the CDMA data sequence modulated thereby by a different period of time, where the largest period of time of all the digital delays is less than one-half the period of a single chip of data. The high data rate CDMA channel is created by combining the output of multiple low data rate CDMA channels operating in parallel, thereby resulting in significantly increased data throughput.

Abstract: Rain fade mitigation methods and data broadcast systems that provide improved performance in a rain fade environment. The systems distribute data derived from a transmitting processor by way of a data distribution system to one or more receivers located at remote locations. The transmitting processor may include forward error correction processing software that is used to add forward error correction bits to data packets to be transmitted. When error correction bits are added to the data prior to transmission, the receivers include forward error correction software that processes the received data packets to reconstruct the original data. Data packets with or without error correcting bits may be transmitted two times to the remote locations, which times are separated by a time delay having a duration that is related to a rain fade event, which time delay is sufficient to allow data reconstruction in the presence of the rain fade event.