Abstract: A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a source packet constructed of a pair of data of source packet data and a source packet header including a time stamp is provided. The transmission apparatus includes transmission packet generating means of investigating values of a predetermined portion of the time stamp included in the source packet when the source packet is inputted. The transmission packet generating means unifies source packets that have a same value for the predetermined portion and are inputted in series to be outputted as one unit of transmission packet data. The transmission apparatus includes data outputting means of producing a transmission packet by adding predetermined additional information to the outputted transmission packet data and outputting the produced transmission packet outward.

Abstract: In wireless Internet, a resource reservation path is established between a CH and a MH through an initial BS located in an initial cell where the MH is currently located. Pseudo reservation paths (PRPs) are established between the initial BS and its neighboring BSs, one PRP being established between the current BS and each of the neighboring BSs. Once the MH moves into one of the neighboring cells of the initial cell, a PRP established for a neighbor BS is activated. The activated PRP is concatenated with the established resource reservation path through the initial BS and the neighbor BS, thereby establishing an optimized resource reservation path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an upper layer network device with one or more physical layer data test ports. The data supplied to the test ports reflects the data received by the network device with minimal modification and no upper layer translation or processing, and supplying the data to the test ports does not impact or disrupt the service provided by the network device. Only a small portion of the network device need be operable to send data to the test ports. In addition, the test ports are programmable while the network device is operating and without impacting its operation. Moreover, because the test ports are programmable—that is, they are not dedicated—they may be re-programmed for normal device operation.

Abstract: A method for the multicast distribution of a message is provided. A first real machine multicasts the message through a network of message processing machines to one or more message receiving machines, wherein the network is organized into two or more cells including machines, and wherein one or more links between cells comprise link bundles. The method includes selecting a spanning tree rooted in the cell including the first real machine, and comprised of the cells and the link bundles. The method determines one or more cells for receiving the message based on the selected spanning tree and the location of the receiving machines, and selects one or more routes from among the machines and links within the cells and link bundles to a next cell. The method further routes the message to the receiving cells in the spanning tree, and delivering the message to the receiving machines within the receiving cells.

Abstract: A wireless network, which includes a wireless router client operable to broadcast data packets to at least one wireless server and one additional wireless client. Each client and server includes programs for determining optimum routes between them. The client also includes a program for determining if a received data packet is not addressed to it and if the packet has been sent via a new optimal route unknown to the client, and for notifying the respective server of such a new optimal route.

Abstract: A channel plan with a corresponding test plan are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan has one or more predefined specifications for each of one or more signal channels on each of the nodes. The channel plan may comprise a specification of the following, for example, for each of the channels: a label describing use of the corresponding channel, a center frequency, a bandwidth, a power level, information regarding the carrier roll-off, a default status indicator identifying whether the corresponding channel is currently allocated or reserved for future use, one or more default threshold levels for various tests, and an alternate center frequency that may be utilized by the corresponding channel. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to, among other things, conduct automatic periodic test plans, comprising tests, on the nodes, based upon the predefined data specified in the channel plan.

Abstract: A network system includes a content provider connected to local service providers via an interactive distribution network, such as the Internet. The local service providers facilitate delivery of the content from the content provider to multiple subscribers. The local service providers schedule delivery of frequently requested content from the content provider prior to a peak time when the subscribers are likely to request the content. The content is downloaded from the content provider during the off-peak hours and cached at the local service providers for serving to the subscribers during the ensuing peak time. In this manner, the frequently requested content is already present at the local service providers and ready to be served to the subscribers before they actually request it. When the content is finally requested, the data is streamed continuously in real-time for just-in-time rendering at the subscriber computer.

Abstract: A method for managing a digital interface connection is provided. The method for managing the connection of plurality of devices which are point-to-point connected by a digital interface includes: where an arbitrary first device has to break a point-to-point connection between the first device and another device which is point-to-point connected to the first device, the first device sending a second device, which established the point-to-point connection, a connection release request command requesting the second device to break the connection and the second device receiving the connection release request command to analyze the connection release request command, and the second device breaking the point-to-point connection in response to the connection release request command. When a plurality of devices are point-to-point connected, the method enables the concerned device of the connection to break the connection, thus allowing for enhanced connection management efficiency.

Abstract: A controlling apparatus, record medium, and method, which include the steps of (a) obtaining control information from the electronic devices, the control information allowing the electronic devices to be controlled, (b) determining whether or not the electronic devices have a lime setting function corresponding to the control information obtained at the step (a), (c) obtaining time information, and (d) setting each of the electronic devices determined as devices having the time setting function at the step (b) to the time information obtained at the step (c). Thus, even if an electronic device connected to a network system does not have a function for obtaining time information through the network system, time corresponding to time information can be set for the electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the cost of a minimally configured network device by providing a network device with a distributed switch fabric. Such a network device locates a portion of the switch fabric functionality on each forwarding card allowing the minimal network device configuration to include less than the entire switch fabric functionality. The cost of the minimal configuration is, therefore, reduced allowing network service providers to more quickly recover the initial cost of the network device. As new services are requested, additional functionality, including both forwarding cards and universal port cards may be added to the network device to handle the new requests, and the fees for the new services may be applied to the cost of the additional functionality. Consequently, the cost of the network device more closely tracks the service fees received by network providers.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode network, in accordance with the present invention, includes a plurality of remote terminals remotely disposed relative to a central office. The remote terminals are connected by a ring with two paths. The ring transfers signals thereon in opposite directions relative to each path. The central office feeds duplicate signals on each path. Each remote terminal includes a first multiplexer for routing signals transferred on the ring to and from an asynchronous feeder multiplexer. The asynchronous feeder multiplexer is adapted to route components of downstream signals on a first path of the ring to a destination and to replace the components of the signals on the first path with copies of components of signals running in an opposite direction on a second path of the ring such that at any location in the network both paths provide all signals.

Abstract: A high-speed routing search is realized by a hierarchical routing table, while a conventional network having a hierarchical network as a backbone performs conventional operations without being aware of the hierarchical backbone network, in a mixed environment of the hierarchical and non-hierarchical networks, by assigning the non-hierarchical network a virtual hierarchy number equivalent to a hierarchy number in the hierarchical network, attaching the virtual hierarchical number to a packet to be relayed at a router located at an entrance from the non-hierarchical network to the hierarchical network, performing hierarchical routing control by the virtual hierarchy number within the hierarchical network, and by removing the virtual hierarchy number from the packet to be relayed at a router located at an exit from the hierarchical network to the non-hierarchical network.

Abstract: An optical distribution node is provided. The optical distribution node includes a laser transceiver that is coupleable to at least one fiber optic link. The optical distribution node communicates upstream and downstream digital data with the head end over the at least one fiber optic link. The optical distribution node further includes a data concentrator coupled to the laser transceiver. Further, for each of at least one coaxial cable link, the optical distribution node includes a frequency translator and a node modem. The frequency translator receives and translates the upstream digital data from modems on the at least one coaxial cable link to a different carrier to provide a signal to the modems on the at least one coaxial cable link for collision detection. The node modem is coupled between the coaxial cable link and the data concentrator. The node modem demodulates upstream digital data for the data concentrator and modulates downstream digital data for transmission over the coaxial cable link.

Abstract: Transmitting data packets received from a non-constant delay medium includes storing the data packets in a buffer, determining a play-out schedule for the data packets based on timing information in the data packets, and transmitting the data packets from the buffer in accordance with the play-out schedule. Two of the data packets may contain time-stamps and the play-out schedule may be determined based on a difference between the time-stamps.

Abstract: All upstream messages that are desired to be sent from one of a plurality of settop terminals sharing a common upstream channel are segmented into data packets through an adaptation layer before sending into the upstream channel by a settop terminal, using the present invention using a hybrid of contention and reservation methodologies. If the upstream message is lengthy, a user settop terminal can request and gain exclusive control over the upstream channel and transmit the message using a reservation and self-acknowledging mechanism. In accordance with the present invention, a combination reservation mechanism and calculation method to optimize random backoff time for upstream transmission is added to conventional contention based Media Access Control methods and this embodiment to substantially enhance performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (2, 20) are provided for transmitting a message from a first node (A) to a radio-silent node (S) in a network. The network includes a plurality of nodes. A location area corresponding to the radio-silent node (S) is determined. A set of nearby routers (Z0–Z10) within the location area is identified. The message is transmitted from the first node (A) to the set of nearby routers (Z0–Z10). Each router of the set of nearby routers (Z0–Z10) that receives the message retransmits the message for the radio-silent node (S).

Abstract: A stream distribution system comprises a stream distribution server, a plurality of terminal devices each having a information reproduction function, and a local area network for connecting both of the stream distribution server and the terminal devices, in which the stream distribution server comprises reception means for receiving a stream data of a digital form transmitted through a broadcasting network or a communication network, selection means for selecting a predetermined unit of information from the stream data received by the reception means based on a distribution condition set by the terminal device which has an information reproduction function, file I/O means for controlling a file device under management of the stream distribution server and for outputting information selected by the selection means to the file device, and transmission means for transmitting information selected by the selection means to the terminal device after executing a predetermined processing according to a limitation of

Abstract: In hyperframe synchronization processing of a hyperframe including FEXT frames and NEXT frames, each difference between the number of consecutive FEXT frames and the number of consecutive NEXT frames is calculated, and a unique sequence of these differences is detected. When the unique sequence of differences can be detected from a received hyperframe, the position of a frame which is being received now in the hyperframe can be specified at that point in time. Hence, hyperframe synchronization can be established in a short time after frame synchronization is established.

Abstract: A hybrid fiber/coax network is provided. The network includes a head end with at least one optical distribution node coupled to the head end over at least one fiber optic link. A plurality of coaxial cable links are coupled to each of the at least one optical distribution node. Further, a transmitter is disposed at the optical distribution node. The transmitter is responsive to signals from the plurality of coaxial cable links. The transmitter converts analog signals to baseband digital signals and transmits the baseband digital signals to the head end over the at least one optical link. A receiver is disposed at the head end. The receiver is responsive to the digital signals from the transmitter and converts the digital signals to analog signals for the head end.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an acquisition method for a multipoint-to-point CDMA network (NET) that minimizes the influence of the acquisition procedure on the information transmission. The acquisition signals are encoded in a specific acquisition code that differs from the CDMA communication code of the information signals. In addition, the acquisition signals are transmitted with an amplitude smaller than that of the information signals. At the receiving end, the acquisition signals are detected by correlation (11) and subsequent accumulation (12). This method maximizes the transmission capacity of the information signals. In addition, the acquisition time is reduced since adaptive contention-resolving techniques can be employed taking account of the estimated number of colliding terminals (2, 3, 4, 5).