Abstract: A method and system for resilient internetwork connection of frame relay (FR) networks and/or end systems. For FR relay networks interconnected by a self-healing network, a standard protocol is provided which allows a resilient network-to-network interface NNI to automatically respond to physical interfaces failures detected by the self-healing network. Switching gateways in the resilient NNI, re-route further traffic to avoid the failed physical interface. In one embodiment, a simple set of interacting protocols and mechanisms control communication between FR/ATM gateways and ATM switches. Each FR/ATM gateway includes interworking function (IWF) processing modules for converting user data between frame relay packets and ATM cells and for processing status signaling messages to achieve a resilient NNI.

Abstract: A bandwidth throttling system is implemented on a server network connected to a computer network system to serve one or more clients over a network. The network server supports a service that presents multiple virtual services that can be individually requested by the clients. The bandwidth throttling system controls bandwidth on a per virtual service basis. The bandwidth throttling system has a measuring subsystem to measure the amount of bandwidth being used by each virtual service supported by the network server. The bandwidth throttling system also has a control subsystem to selectively throttle requests for a particular virtual service independently of others based upon the bandwidth used by the particular virtual service. The bandwidth throttling system utilizes an adaptive, hierarchical throttling strategy that is applied to each virtual service independently.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved system and method for increasing the timing accuracy of a time domain multiple access (TDMA) mobile communication system using a resource efficient parabolic interpolator. With the present invention, a mobile unit receives burst transmissions from a base station and a timing information is recovered therefrom. Since the timing information establishes the time of arrival of the burst, correlation initially identifies a coarse approximation of the location of the control signal within a defined portion of the burst signal and, together with two adjacent samples. Using a curve fitting technique, a precise position of the peak, relative to the coarse position, is determined. The equation can be solved ahead of time and values from the three samples substituted into a single expression for evaluation. Once the coefficients of the equation are known, the time offset of a refined peak relative to the coarse peak is readily calculated.

Abstract: A video transmitting apparatus having a plurality of transmission medium for transmitting multiplexed video information, a plurality of video information receiving units each connected to a corresponding transmission medium to receive specific video information on the corresponding transmission medium, a video displaying unit for displaying video information, a switcher for connecting the video displaying unit to any one of the video information receiving units to supply video information to the video displaying unit, and a video display requesting unit for communicating with each of the video information receiving units and the switcher to request to display specific video information on the video displaying unit by giving instructions to a relevant video information receiving unit which can receive the specific video information and the switcher.

Abstract: A multimedia communication system having a plurality of mobile, fixed location, and portable terrestrial communication terminals. The system links terrestrial communication terminals together through a network of non-geostationary satellites. The satellites communicate with a communication protocol similar to terrestrial communication protocols to reduce protocol conversion. The source and destination addressing uses static terrestrial cells for the uplink and the downlink. The terminal data stream is segmented into communication packets at the terrestrial gateway based on the uplink satellite's determination of system parameters. A control satellite dynamically balances up-links and down-links in the terrestrial areas with over-lapping satellite coverage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently communicating across an asymmetric digital subscriber loop are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for communicating between a computer in a central office and a remote computer across DSL communications links involves sending a first set of data from the central office computer across a first DSL communications link. The first DSL communications link couples the central office computer to a switch. The method also includes selecting a second DSL communications link, which couples the switch and the remote computer, and sending the first set of data from the switch to the remote computer across the second DSL communications link.

Abstract: An enhanced acknowledgment pacing device and method for TCP connections is disclosed. The invention includes a link layer entity for receiving data packets from a source and forwarding the data packets to a forward data link, the link layer entity storing the received data packets in a data packet buffer until the data packets depart the link layer entity and are forwarded to the forward data link and an acknowledgment pacing device, coupled to the link layer entity, for pacing acknowledgment packets to be sent to the source in response to receiving the data packets from the source.

Abstract: An ATM cell constructor (100) limits transmission-delay variations between successive cells of traffic of individual narrowband and wideband channels in a multi-channel environment. Whenever an ATM AAL1 layer (112) of processing completes assembling (606) an ATM cell payload for a narrowband channel (611), it increments (612) a count that anticipates the number of ATM cells that will mature for transmission during the next cell construction period. For wideband channels, a function checks (1010) whether traffic from the number of narrowband channels that form the wideband channel will result in completion of assembly of that channel's cell payload during the next cell construction period; if so, the function increments (1012) the abovementioned count. The count is reset (302) at the beginning of each cell construction period.

Abstract: A telecommunication apparatus and method for providing packets to at least one of a first and a second network are described. A telephone set connects the first network to the second network. In one embodiment, the telephone set includes two MAC devices. Each MAC device is in electrical communication with one of the two networks via a communication path. In another embodiment, a packet switching device provides the separate communication paths to the two networks. The telephone set forwards packets received from one network to the other network, generates packets from signals locally inputted into the telephone set and forwards such generated packets to at least one of the networks, and performs actions prescribed by packets received by and addressed to the telephone set. Packets addressed to the telephone set may or may not be forwarded.

Abstract: A data distribution method and apparatus have a satellite communication line (5) for transmitting data to a receiver and a ground line (10) for transmitting a data distribution request and a transmission confirmation pattern to a transmitter, a transmission confirmation designation device (11) in the transmitter for designating the transmission confirmation pattern, and a transmission confirmation processing device (12) for performing the transmission confirmation process according to a transmission confirmation method indicated by the transmitter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for routing information lookup for packets using a routing protocol such as IP. Routing information which has been determined responsive to the packet header, which includes a destination address, a source address, and an input interface for the packet. Routing lookup is performed in response to at least one set of selected routing information, using a lookup table which includes tags both for the routing information and for a bitmask length (thus indicating the generality or scope of the routing information for the routing lookup). The lookup table is structured so that addresses having the most common bitmask length are addressed first, but that more specific addresses are still considered when they are present. It has been discovered that most internet addresses can be found by reference to 24-bit or 21-bit IP addresses, after which 16-bit, 12-bit, and finally 32-bit IP addresses are considered.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) functions within a ringlet-type interconnect of a computer system are described. By time multiplexing CRC checking and generating functions, the number of CRC units can be reduced.

Abstract: A control communication method includes synchronizing a timing in a central earth station and a plurality of remote earth stations such that a predetermined control time period having a plurality of time slots is synchronized among the central earth station and the remote earth stations. The control time period is not longer than a substantially real-time response time period for the remote stations. This method further includes: initiating from a respective remote earth station, and completing, a transmission of control information through a satellite to the central earth station only during one or more of the time slots assigned to the respective remote earth station; receiving the transmission at the central earth station; and sending from the central earth station a separate transmission of data through the satellite to the remote earth station.

Abstract: A novel system and method for maintaining timing synchronization in a digital video network, in conjunction with a digital video and data delivery system, makes possible the delivery of digital video content, bi-directional data services, such as Internet data, and plain old telephone service (POTS) to an end user over a communications channel. The channel is typically the copper wire pair that extends between a telephone company central office and a residential premises, but may be any communication medium that supports the communication of compressed digital video, bi-directional data, such as Internet data, and POTS, and indeed, may be a wireless connection. The digital video and data delivery system capitalizes on a bus, or broadcast backplane, created by circuitry contained within the central office.

Abstract: A scheduler for a server for serving ATM cells. The scheduler includes R rate bins where R is greater than or equal to 2. The scheduler includes a controller which places a session having a desired rate into a rate bin of the R rate bins. A system for transmitting ATM cells. The system includes an ATM network along which ATM cells are transmitted. The system includes S sources where S is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer. Each source is connected to the network and produces ATM cells for transmission on the network. The system includes D destinations where D is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer. Each destination is connected to the network. Each destination receives ATM cells from the network. The system includes a server connected to the ATM network. Additionally, the system includes a scheduler which has R different rate bins for holding sessions, where R is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus.

Abstract: A number of user IDs are assigned to each wireless device. The number of user IDs required is based on the type of information transmitted (e.g., video, voice, or data). The user ID's generate the orthogonal Walsh codes used to cover a data signal to be transmitted. Each Walsh code is 2n-bits in length and the memory size is 2n×2n where n is the number of bits in the Walsh code. Each unique user ID addresses a memory to generate a unique Walsh code corresponding only to that user ID. The orthogonal codes output from the memory cover the information to be transmitted. This results in the transmitted signal being orthogonal to other users and also orthogonal within the transmitting user's own signal bursts.

Abstract: An ATM switch system has a plurality of input ports and output ports all having associated buffers, and a source traffic control system which includes a shared bus coupling the ports, and a switch controller or arbiter which controls the transfer of data among the ports via the shared bus. ATM cells placed on the shared bus include an internal destination address which designates the output port within the switch to which the ATM cell is destined. The switch controller monitors the internal destination addresses of the ATM cells, and increments a counter associated with the destination port when the destination corresponds, and decrements other counters which do not correspond to the destination. Accordingly, bursts for a particular output port causes the count of the associated counter to grow large; whereas frequent or long breaks cause the count to drop. The counts are compared to a high threshold which alerts the arbiter that the buffer of the output port being tracked is in danger of overflowing.

Abstract: Quality of Service (“QoS”) variables for predetermined protocol Type data units are stored in a cache memory. For data units that are associated with a flow, thirteen bytes selected out of the Internet Protocol (“IP”) header are employed as at least a portion of a key to perform a cache lookup to obtain at least one Quality of Service variable from the cache. Both routing and QoS information may be stored in the cache for retrieval upon a single lookup operation.

Abstract: Distributed precomputation techniques for determining primary and/or restoration paths in an optical or electrical network. The invention provides a number of partially and fully asynchronous distributed precomputation algorithms which may be implemented, for example, by the nodes of an all-optical network, in which network links are constrained in terms of optical signal wavelength and failure isolation. A given distributed precomputation algorithm may include a first phase in which paths are allocated for capacity demands to the extent possible without resolving contentions, and a second phase in which contentions between demands for the same capacity are resolved.