Abstract: A method of operation of a node for obtaining channel information in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes receiving periodically, information related to channel assessment capability of plurality of nodes of the wireless communication network, maintaining a metric characterizing the channel assessment capability for each of the plurality of nodes based on the received channel assessment capability, selecting at least one node from the plurality of nodes by comparing the metric of each of the plurality of nodes, sending a request for channel information to the selected node and receiving channel information from the selected node.

Abstract: An OFDM wireless communications system includes terrestrial and satellite based base stations. Mobile nodes support two uplink modes of operation, multi-tone mode for terrestrial station interaction and single tone mode for satellite base station interaction. In single tone mode the peak to average power ratio is lower than in the multi-tone mode allowing the same power amplifier to transmit higher average power signals and thus extend range and reach a satellite in geostationary orbit. In multi-tone mode, the mobile node: is temporarily assigned a multi-tone uplink traffic channel segment for user data, is assigned a dedicated control channel for uplink control signals, and supports slaved Ack/Nak for traffic channels. In single tone mode, the mobile node: is assigned a single logical uplink dedicated tone to use for transmitting both user data and control data, and does not use a slaved Ack/Nak mechanism for traffic channels.

Abstract: A local network, particularly an Ethernet network having redundancy properties, in which coupling devices (K1, K2, K3) and a redundancy manager (RM) are interconnected in a ring-shaped topology. The redundancy manager opens the ring to create a linear topology if test messages (T11, T12) emitted by the redundancy manager (RM) are received at the other port (P42, P41) within a given period of time, otherwise the redundancy manager (RM) closes the connection. As a so-called redundancy manager observer, at least one of the coupling devices (K3) is configured such that it evaluates messages received at the port (P32) thereof, the port (P32) being connected to the redundancy manager, opens the ring to create a linear topology, and signals an error if more than initial test messages (T11) have been received at this port (P32) and if the status “ring opened” has been indicated by the redundancy manager (RM) in the last-received initial test message (T11), whereby messages are prevented from circulating on the ring.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for configuring a network component in a computer network includes coupling the network component to a first computer and a second computer. The network component may be an appliance while the second computer may be a management server for the appliance, for example. A data unit, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) packet, can be sent from the first computer and the data unit can be observed by the appliance such that a source of the data unit may be determined. The source address of the data unit can then be adopted as an appliance address. Also, the appliance address may be forwarded from the appliance to the management server for registration. The appliance may be a transparent security appliance or device, for example. Among other advantages, the technique allows for plug-and-play accommodation of network components with good usability across different network configurations.

Abstract: A port management table 2 which stores connectable terminal information indicating an upper limit value of the number of terminals connectable to each port A, B and C is provided in a MAC bridge 1. When address retrieving means 7 of an address learning section 3 receives packet information Hi at the ports A, B and C from terminals of a network, the address retrieving means 7 retrieves the port management table 2. When the upper limit number is satisfied, register number addition/subtraction 8 adds/subtracts the number na of registrations, and writes a transmission origin address of packet information received by address table updating means 9 in an address table 5.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide for persistent caching of methods delivered via a publish-subscribe network. At a first node, a message having data via the network is received. The data is time-marked. The data is cached in a cache memory at the first node. The message is routed to a second node using content-based routing. These steps are repeated at a second node. A router that includes modules for executing this method is provided. A publish-subscribe network that includes nodes that include modules for executing this method is provided. A computer-readable medium that includes instructions for executing this method is provided.

Abstract: Transmissions may be scheduled in communication networks to accommodate the possibilities that target receivers are unavailable to receive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conversion of a pulse modulated signal to a radio frequency signal enabling use of applications and protocols designed for wireless optical links on radio frequency channels. The method comprises receiving the pulse modulated input signal, decoding the received pulse modulated input signal into a decoded data bit-stream, encoding the decoded data bit-stream into a recoded data bit-stream, under use of the recoded data bit-stream modulating a radio frequency signal, and transmitting the modulated radio frequency signal. In the receiver path a received radio frequency signal is converted to a pulse modulated output signal by the steps of demodulating the received radio frequency signal into a demodulated data bit-stream, decoding the demodulated data bit-stream into a received data bit-stream, encoding the received data bit-stream into a pulse modulated output signal, and forwarding the pulse modulated output signal.

Abstract: The present invention may be used for determining a topology of a network in the presence of network address translation. From an active client behind a translating device, communications are initiated that effect the network address translation. The communications are monitored beyond the translating device to infer partitioning of servers into equivalence sets relative to the network topology induced by the network address translation. Active clients behind the translating device may include a respective actual sending address in a message sent to a server beyond the translating device. The server beyond the translating device distinguishes between communications affected by and not affected by network address translation, which may include comparing an apparent source address of a message against an actual address provided in the message by the active client behind the translation device. The external server may also distinguish between active and passive client messages.

Abstract: Optical transceivers used in data communications equipment are typically bidirectional and require two-way communications in order to maintain their operability. However, in some applications such as cable television, the traffic is highly unbalanced with very high bandwidth requirements in one direction and minimal bandwidth requirements in the opposite direction. Hence for such efficient and cost effective one-way communication applications, unidirectional fiber optic transceivers are useful. There is provided here a unidirectional transceiver provided internally with a keep-alive signal generator to enable unidirectional transmissions. The keep alive signal is, for instance, idle characters for a Gigabit Ethernet communication system, or any other suitable handshake signal which provides the desired operability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving tunneling techniques and reducing packet loss in mobile communications systems are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for use with Mobile IP and can facilitate handoff operations. A mobile node establishes multiple tunnels, representing downlinks, from the mobile node perspective. The different downlink tunnels are through different access nodes but terminate at the same home agent. The mobile node maintains, at most, a single uplink tunnel at any given time with the home agent. Tunnels representing uplinks and downlinks are managed independently. Thus, each of the uplink and downlink tunnels can have different lifetimes and can be created/removed independently allowing for flexibility in handoff operations.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring a network to support real-time applications include determining a first role of multiple of roles performed by network elements to completely support a particular real-time application. Each role is associated with multiple groups of policies. Each group of policies includes one or more policies associated with a class of network elements. The network includes multiple classes. Each policy includes a configuration command that causes a network element of an associated class to perform an action on a data packet to support an associated role. A first subset of network elements is selected from the network. The first subset includes network elements that perform the first role. The selection is based at least in part on network links in the network. Each network element in the first subset is associated with a group associated with the first role.

Abstract: Provided are an IP address lookup system and method for forwarding a packet over a data plane of a router. The IP address lookup system includes a forwarding table which has a three-layer table architecture so that it can search for each address group that constitutes an IP destination address of an input packet and a forwarding engine which obtains packet processing information and next hop information for the input packet by searching for the forwarding table using the IP destination address as a search key.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need to lower backhaul costs for EGPRS operators while maintaining the low and constant delay characteristics they require. 20 msec TRAU frames (221-226) are still used for backhaul to maintain the low and constant delay. However, to eliminate the restriction of mapping TRAU timeslots to air timeslots (211-218) one-to-one, the TRAU slots are collectively treated as a one large 20 msec TRAU frame for a group of air timeslots. The data for the air timeslots can be packed efficiently into this giant TRAU frame, ignoring backhaul timeslot boundaries. In this way, the appropriate amount of backhaul for the carrier can be allocated and the data for the air interface timeslots more efficiently packed into the backhaul.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for checking for errors and problems in routing protocol modules through hello packet transmission in a distributed router that is mounted with a network processor, a system processor, a routing protocol module, and a switch module including at least two input/output processors which can be operated together with independent routers, a system processor, and a designate routing protocol module. The method including the steps of: checking hello packet transmission cycle; if the hello packet transmission cycle has expired, transmitting a hello packet to the adjacent routing protocol module; receiving a hello response packet from the adjacent routing module; if the adjacent routing protocol module does not send the hello response packet, concluding that the adjacent routing is malfunctioning; and transmitting information on the malfunctioning adjacent routing protocol module to the designate routing protocol module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding data for transmission in a communication system provides increased efficiency in bandwidth utilization through higher data rates, lower error rates, lower power levels, and/or increased capacity. A set of orthogonal codes is partitioned into subsets. The data to be transmitted is partitioned into packets of bit sequences, each of which is mapped to an orthogonal code in an assigned subset. The number of members in a particular subset is determined by the relative transmission requirements of the data signal the subset will be used to encode.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc established device network, a profile based handover of the network control functionality is performed whenever a new device (15) requests association with the network and the central controller (16) does not support the profile of the new device (15). A database is searched for a controller-capable device that supports both the profiles of the network devices and the profile of the new device. The former central controller (16) passes the control functionality to the controller-capable device (17), which becomes the new central controller (24). Thus it is possible to associate the new device (15) with the network. The invention allows to integrate devices supporting different profiles into a common network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a multimedia server to function as a hub based network server includes processing that begins by receiving packets from at least one of a plurality of clients. The processing continues by determining whether a network access application is active for this particular client. When the network access application is active for the client, the processing continues by processing the data of the packets in accordance with the network access application. The processing then continues by determining access to a network connection for transmission of the network data. The processing then continues by transporting the network data via the network connection.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, that reduces the occurrence of generation of redundant requests for retransmission of packet-formatted data, formatted at a physical layer and at a higher-logical layer, such as at an RLP layer. An estimate of an appropriate delay period is formed. The estimate is responsive to communication conditions in the communication system. When a data packet appears to have been inadequately delivered to the RLP logical layer, a DELAY_DETECTION_WINDOW timer is caused to time out the delay period estimated by the estimator. The request for retransmission, generated at the RLP layer, is permitted, upon expiration of the timer if the data packet has not yet been successfully delivered to the RLP layer and the transmitter has not given up the data packet delivery.

Abstract: A mobile communication network system is capable of achieving both of route optimizing function and demand for privacy protection. An address server determines network addresses to be assigned for a plurality of variable IP subnetworks and use period of the network addresses, and distributes network addresses to routers having foreign agent function in the variable IP subnetworks. When use period of the assigned network address expires, new network address of own router is at first assigned. Addition of the subnetwork having new network address is notified to respective routers of the fixed IP subnetworks using IP route control means.