Abstract: A gateway device at a user premises edge of a wide area network implements a method for rapidly routing a media session. for an application layer service. The gateway device receivers a request from a first endpoint device to create the media session with a second device. The request includes an application layer identifier for the second device. The method involves accessing a routing table within the gateway device using the application layer identifier and obtaining, from the internal routing table a network layer address for communication with the second device. The gateway device then creates a route for the media session for the application layer service via bi-directional network layer communications through at least one of its interfaces using the network layer address.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding data values that are hierarchically organized are presented. For example, an encoder encodes data as a set that has a hierarchy of subsets with set symbols. In the encoding, the encoder evaluates the data values of the set and selectively encodes a symbol combination code that indicates the set symbols of multiple subsets of the set. Then, for each of the multiple subsets considered as a new set, the encoder selectively repeats the evaluating, selective encoding and selective repetition for the new set. In corresponding decoding, a decoder decodes data encoded as a set that has a hierarchy of subsets with set symbols. In some implementations, the encoding and decoding are adaptive and use a symbol alphabet with nested elements.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches receive, at a packet switch, a control packet from another packet switch. The packet switch and the other packet switch are coupled together by two or more tunnels. The control packet indicates that a particular one of the tunnels is active on the other packet switch. In response, the packet switch operating methods and packet switches activate the particular tunnel indicated by the received control packet on the packet switch.

Abstract: A node according to a packet relay method which enables a multicast transfer or broadcast transfer of a packet effectively is provided. When the node receives a packet set with a multicast address or broadcast address as a destination address from a source client, the packet is added with an MPLS label common to destination clients corresponding to the multicast address or all destination clients corresponding to the broadcast address. The packet added with the common MPLS label is transferred over a ring network. When receiving the packet from a ring network, the node removes a common MPLS label from the received packet to be transmitted to destination clients when it detects that the common MPLS label is added to the received packet.

Abstract: Scalable video coding based on H.264/AVC uses motion compensation, which results in motion vectors and residual pictures. To optimize the encoding of the residual pictures of the enhancement-layer, they can be predicted from the base-layer. This requires complex encoders and decoders. Simplified residual prediction techniques are provided that focus on reducing the encoding and decoding complexity of the spatial scalable enhancement-layer with optimized coding efficiency. The method for encoding video data containing high-pass frames and low-pass frames comprises the steps of encoding the low-pass frames, wherein residual prediction may be used, splitting the high-pass frames into two interleaving frame groups, encoding the frames of the first of said frame groups, wherein residual prediction may be used, and encoding the frames of the second of the frame groups using an encoding method without residual prediction.

Abstract: A method of processing sequential information in near real-time data packets streamed over a network includes providing a process running according to a process clock. The process buffers and decodes the streamed data packets. The speed of the process clock is dynamically controlled in accordance with a receipt time value of a data packet. The speed of the process clock is run faster or slower than a system clock.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a SIP server and a media converter. The SIP server uses media communication control data output from communication terminal devices (CTDs) to discriminate the communication media standards adopted by the CTDs, based on a call control, to call-control the CTDs. The media converter uses the communication media standards discriminated and acquired to convert media data, delivered from the CTDs, involved in communication, to a signal of a relevant communication media standard. The SIP server causes the communication media standard and information used for communication to be stored in an information memory. The media converter includes input/output interfaces, a controller, a media converter circuit and a data switcher. The interfaces verify whether or not the received data is media data, the media converter circuit converts the communication media standard of received media data received from the source CTD to a communication media standard of the destination CTD.

Abstract: Instead of alternatively utilizing only one fabric or the other fabric of a redundant pair, both fabrics simultaneously transmit duplicate information, such that each packet forwarding module (PFM) receives the output of both fabrics simultaneously. In real time, an internal optics module (IOM) analyzes each information chunk coming out of a working zero switch fabric; simultaneously examines a parallel output of a working one duplicate switch fabric; and compares on a chunk-by-chunk basis the validity of each and every chunk from both switch fabrics. The IOM does this by examining forward error correction (FEC) check symbols encapsulated into each chunk. FEC check symbols allow correcting a predetermined number of bit errors within a chunk. If the chunk cannot be corrected, then the IOM provides indication to all PFMs downstream that the chunk is defective. Under such conditions, the PFMs select a chunk from the non-defective switch fabric.

Abstract: Video decoding with video enhancement using direct contrast enhancement in the spatial domain including transforming the decoded intramacroblock output to a matrix of spatial domain coefficients; multiplying the spatial domain coefficients with the corresponding intramacroblock enhancement matrix elements of an intramacroblock enhancement matrix to provide enhanced spatial coefficients; transforming said enhanced spatial coefficients to the temporal domain to generate an enhanced decoded intramacroblock; multiplying the spatial domain intermacroblock coefficients from the entropy decoder of the video decoder with the corresponding intermacroblock enhancement matrix elements of an intermacroblock enhancement matrix to provide enhanced spatial coefficients, and transforming the enhanced spatial coefficients to generate enhanced decoded residual coefficients.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches detect, at a packet switch, a change in a first tunnel's ability to relay packets between the packet switch and another packet switch and, in response, send a control packet to the other packet switch. The control packet indicates a particular one of the tunnels is active on the packet switch. The packet switches are coupled together by the first tunnel and a second tunnel. A packet switch network includes a first packet switch and a second packet switch both configured to recognize disagreement regarding which one of a first tunnel and a second tunnel is active and which one is inactive in response to receiving control packets from each other and resolve the disagreement so that a particular one of the first tunnel and the second tunnel is active according to both the first packet switch and the second packet switch.

Abstract: A switching node is disclosed for the routing of packetized data employing a multi-stage packet based routing fabric combined with a plurality of memory switches employing memory queues. The switching node allowing reduced throughput delays, dynamic provisioning of bandwidth and packet prioritization.

Abstract: Techniques for segmenting an image of an object are provided. In some embodiments, an image segmentation apparatus includes an image input unit and an image processing unit. The image input unit is configured to receive as input a video image having a first image frame and a second image frame that is consecutive to the first image frame. The image processing unit is configured to segment the second image frame based at least in part on information on the first image frame.

Abstract: A method for processing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packets is provided. The method includes: determining if the arrived VoIP packet arrives out of order according to a sequence number of the arrived VoIP packet and a sequence number of a preceding VoIP packet of the arrived VoIP packet; determining whether the buffer has a packet having a same sequence number as the arrived VoIP packet if the arrived VoIP packet arrives out of order; calculating the difference between the sequence number of the arrived VoIP packet and that of the preceding VoIP packet if the buffer has no such packet having the same sequence number as the arrived VoIP packet; and counting a number of pseudo packets needed to be inserted into the buffer according to the calculated difference and generating and inserting the number of pseudo packets into the buffer.

Abstract: An administrative interface is provided between a first network and a second network, where the administrative interface is separate from one or more communications session signaling interfaces between the first network and second network. At least one of authorization, authentication, and accounting messages is communicated over the administrative interface. A module associated with the administrative interface is provided to perform topology hiding of the first network such that topology information of the first network is hidden from the second network.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to transfer data directly to another endpoint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing packet transfer in a network using duplicated copy of data packets are disclosed. Upon classifying a data packet in accordance with a set of predefined packet identifiers, the method for enhancing packet transfer, in one embodiment, generates a replicated packet which is substantially similar to the data packet in response to the result of classification of the data packet. The replicated packet is subsequently forwarded to an application component via a route of non-bearer traffic for facilitating parallel processing.

Abstract: A device receives, from a customer, a request for an end-to-end path through a network, determines parameters of a query based on the request and path criteria, and executes the query on a database of network elements capable of being included in the end-to-end path. The device also selects one or more of the network elements provided in the database based on results of the query, and reserves, in the database, the one or more selected network elements for the end-to-end path.

Abstract: Once the user has configured which call paths to monitor, VOIP automatically creates all the required IP SLA operations, including turning on the responder on the destination side. When these operations disappear, either due to their periodic expiration or due to a router reset, so the service dynamically recreates the IP SLA operations as necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to method applicable in a packet-switched cellular network for voice connections, by which method a new dedicated channel can be established quickly using the existing dedicated channel of the voice connection. The establishment of the new dedicated channel utilizes the previous dedicated channel the existence of which is extended by sending to at least the receiving terminals post-speech packets according to the invention. The post-speech packets produce a 2-second delay, approximately, which is sufficient to establish a new dedicated channel between terminals participating in a session.

Abstract: Switch elements, each receiving data from external sources and transmitting data to external sinks, are interconnected through a single rotator to form a switching node. The single rotator has a number of inlets equal to the number of switch elements and a number of outlets equal to the number of switch elements. A first set of channels connects the switch elements to inlets of the rotator and a second set of channels connects the outlets of the rotator to the switch elements. The connectivity pattern of the second set of channels is a transposition of the connectivity pattern of the first set of channels in order to preserve sequential data order of switched data. A controller communicatively coupled to the switch elements exchanges timing data with external nodes of a time-coherent network and schedules data transfer among the switch elements.