Abstract: The invention describes a method for transmitting and forwarding packets from source nodes with variable bit rates (VBR) and how it can be integrated with other types of traffic, over a packet switching network. The sources can generate traffic with predefined average and peak rates. Packets enter the network in predefined time interval and are forwarded over each link inside the network within a periodic time interval if there is sufficient capacity. When arriving packets exceed predefined average capacity, packets are rescheduled for alternative time intervals or discarded. This invention facilitates congestion-free forwarding from one input port to multiple output ports, and consequently, from one source to multiplicity of destinations for packets within the predefined average rate. Such packets that are destined to multiple destinations reach all of their destinations in redefined time intervals and with delay jitter that is no larger than one time interval.

Abstract: A method in a connection based communication network for rerouting a call connection path coupling a calling and a called party. Rerouting is done within a peer group and may be performed in any peer group level along the connection path. The method allows individual segments within peer groups to be rerouted for a number of different reasons such as fault recovery, route optimization, bandwidth adjustment, and load balancing. The reroutable call paths are implemented by inserting rerouting information elements in the standard setup and connect messages used to create call paths in PNNI environments. These information elements permit both nonpreemptive rerouting, establishing a new call path before the old one is terminated and preemptive rerouting, establishing a new path after the old one is terminated. Additional features such as, preserving QoS metrics during rerouting and separately identifying different incarnations of segments along the same call path are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides broadband multimedia communication over the standard circuit-switched public switched telephone network infrastructure (PSTN) and other physical or virtual circuit-switched infrastructures while simultaneously and transparently interoperating with the public Internet packet-switched infrastructure to effectively merge the capabilities of the two types of infrastructures into a seamless capability that can bring the benefits of using both types of existing switching infrastructures to large groups of users under the control of the same common and simple interface tools such as web browsers. The invention enables users to establish both packet-switched connections for sending or receiving content for which low-latency and unpredictable response times are not a problem (i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously communicating a first data stream along with a second data stream. A first carrier is modulated with a first data stream and a feature of the modulated first carrier is then imposed under the control of a second independent data stream. The modulated first carrier with the imposed feature is then demodulated to provide the first data stream. The distinguishable feature of the modulated first carrier is then detected to provide the second data stream. The first and the second data streams are clocked at rates which are integer multiples of each other. The distinguishable feature of the modulated first carrier includes the amplitude of the modulated first carrier or the frequency of the modulated first carrier. M-ary information is transmitted by transmitting groups of 3 or more bits simultaneously by using distinguishable amplitude or frequency values of a feature imposed on a first carrier.

Abstract: It is objected to simplify a procedure concerning bandwidth acquisition. Bandwidth acquiring means 809 of a second transmitting apparatus 814 acquires a bandwidth which was used by a first transmitting apparatus 806 by using a propagation delay identifier 804 read from first transmitting apparatus 806 and a maximum transmission data size 805 after stopping transmission of first transmitting apparatus 806. Each apparatus is composed so that transmission is started using this bandwidth and because returning and re-acquisition are not accompanied when the transmission is switched, necessary procedure can be simplified. Further, it is possible to effectively use the bandwidth by using a propagation delay identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for power management that controls the overflow of a digital combiner used in the transmit path for a broadband transceiver station (BTS) is disclosed. Power is managed by a digital word banking agent which is a part of the BTS system software. If a new channel request is received, the digital word banking agent determines if the request can be satisfied at the requested power level. Otherwise, the digital word banking agent determines if the channel request can be satisfied at a lower power request. The digital word banking agent also manages active channels by reclaiming power from channels requiring less power and/or by allocating more power to the channels requesting more power. If the digital word banking agent cannot satisfy a request, the digital word banking agent will queue the request for submission at a later time in the event that additional power becomes available.

Abstract: In a distributed network of host computers, a system and method are provided for translating names and addresses of the host computers. The names of a substantial number of all of the host computers of the network are collected by probing the network from a collecting site. The names are stored in a table. Name-address bindings, which may include time-to-live information, are obtained for each of the collected names. The name-address bindings can be compressed and transferred to a cache memory of a recipient computer, such as, for example, a proxy server. The recipient computer receives translation requests for any of the name-address bindings stored in the memory. These translation requests can include first translation requests for the any of the name-address bindings stored in the memory. In response to the requests, including the first requests, the recipient computer replies the name-address bindings to reduce response latencies.

Abstract: An electronic commerce distributed network is disclosed that includes a plurality of interconnected processing nodes. Each processing node (50) includes a first sub-node (52) and a second sub-node (54) that are connected to communicate information and are in geographically remote locations. The first sub-node (52) of each processing node (50) has an active state in which the first sub-node (52) communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The second sub-node (54) of each processing node (50) has a mirror state in which the second sub-node (54) mirrors the first sub-node (52) as well as an active state in which the second sub-node (54) communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The first sub-node (52) of each processing node (50) is initially in the active state, and the second sub-node (54) is initially in the mirror state.

Abstract: The network allows communications at various bit rates, with signals transmitted in successive frames each divided into elementary timeslots which can be used for different communications. A frequency band is allocated to communications between base stations of a group of cells and mobile stations. This band is subdivided into blocks of width 2M−1×B0, where B0 is a predefined spectral width and M an integer greater than 1 chosen as a function of a maximum communication bit rate. Each of the blocks is divided into carriers of width 2m(i)−1×B0, m(i) being an integer dependent on the relevant block such that 1≦m(i)≦M. The partition of the blocks and of the carriers within the allocated frequency band is identical for all the cells of the group. To support a communication in one of the cells, a logic channel is selected, defined, depending on the bit rate required, as one or more timeslots on one of the carriers.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for interfacing a packet-switched network with real-time streams from various sources, such as circuit-switched telephony network sources. The network interfaces and gateways maintain a common time reference (CmR), which is obtained either from an external source (such as GPS—Global Positioning System) or is generated and distributed intemally. A data packet that is packetized at the gateway is scheduled to be forwarded to the network in a predfined time that is responsive to the common time reference. The invention relates, in particular, to timely forwarding and delivery of data packet between voice over IP (VoIP) gateways. Consequently, the invention provides a routing service between any two VoIP gateways where the end-to-end performance parameters, such as loss, delay and jitter, have deterministic guarantees. Furthermore, the invention enables gateway functions with minimum delay.

Abstract: Efficient methods for rerouting failed channels on to spare channels in a multichannel transmission system are described. One method uses a minimal amount of rerouting to reroute all the channels if one or two line cards fail. Another set of methods reroute up to two failed channels on to spare channels in the event of channel failures. With this method only the failed channels are rerouted. However the failed channels may have to be routed through a slightly larger, but minimal, number of additional hops than with the first method.

Abstract: A communication system includes an access server that communicates information between a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN). The access server includes a WAN interface, a switch fabric, a number of route processors, and a LAN interface. The switch fabric directs information from the WAN interface to a selected route processor based on its loading characteristics.

Abstract: A radio communications system includes a plurality of talkgroups. Each talkgroup comprises a number of individual radio units having the capability to communicate with each other on one of a number of discrete communications channels temporarily assigned to that talkgroup by a control unit (CU). The control means identifies a communication channel (the selected channel) which is currently idle and transmits a “Free Channel” signal in that channel. A radio unit initiating communication with the other radio units in the same talkgroup starts to transmit on the selected channel, and the control unit (CU) assigns the selected channel to the respective talkgroup in response to the transmission to enable all the radio units in the talkgroup to communicate with each other on the selected channel.

Abstract: The invention provides both a fixed and a mobile data telecommunication service using a fixed code, direct sequence spread spectrum, connection-free data protocol as an overlay on cellular or PCS wireless services. A wide band connectionless data protocol is employed to transmit packetized digital data from a variety of home sources e.g. www inputs, e-mail, utility meter readings, security system data, to a local cellular or PCS communications hub station. From the hub station the cellular/PCS provider routes the packet data into packet networks for delivery to a variety of recipient parties designated by address within the packets themselves. The data capability is provided as a supplement to the existing communications capability of the cellular/PCS system and overlays, but does not destructively interfere with, the pre-existing voice connection oriented services.

Abstract: An architecture and coherency protocol for use in a large SMP computer system includes a hierarchical switch structure which allows for a number of multi-processor nodes to be coupled to the switch to operate at an optimum performance. Within each multi-processor node, a simultaneous buffering system is provided that allows all of the processors of the multi-processor node to operate at peak performance. A memory is shared among the nodes, with a portion of the memory resident at each of the multi-processor nodes. Each of the multi-processor nodes includes a number of elements for maintaining memory coherency, including a victim cache, a directory and a transaction tracking table. The victim cache allows for selective updates of victim data destined for memory stored at a remote multi-processing node, thereby improving the overall performance of memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating an access identifier (ID) for a communications line of a communications network capable of providing a relatively low bandwidth channel and at least one relatively high bandwidth channel over the communication line. According to one embodiment, a virtual circuit is established with an access ID server using the relatively low bandwidth channel. An access ID is requested from the access ID server over the virtual circuit that will enable a circuit to be established using the at least one relatively high bandwidth channel.

Abstract: A bus management node 11 has a register for channels in use REG1 and a bus capacity register REG2. Before starting the synchronous communication, each node 12 transmits a read-out command to the register for channels in use REG1 and the register for channels in use REG1 in order to read out their contents for ascertaining the number of the un-used channel and the residual capacity. If there is any un-used channel and any residual bus capacity, the node 12 transmits write commands to these registers REG1 and REG2 so that the number of the channel to be in use and the capacity of the bus to be in use will be stored in the register for channels in use REG1 and the bus capacity register REG2. This enables bus management to be achieved easily in a system performing synchronous communication between plural nodes connected to the bus.

Abstract: A management system has a hierarchical structure of interconnected management authorities controlling communication network resources. The system also includes user interfaces. Each authority has a number of agents which communicate internally with other agents and externally with other agents in a uniform manner using KQML semantics. Agents may be intelligent or simply reactive. Generally, reactive agents are located within a platform part of an authority and intelligent agents are located within the controlling part of an authority. Agents within the controlling part are grouped into functional components to provide FCAPS functionality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic advertising system. More specifically, the present invention provides a computer based psychographic matching system that is significantly more effective and convenient for the advertiser. In the present invention, when a person places a personal ad on the system, either via a telephone or via the Internet, the person creates a personal psychographic profile (a subjective makeup of preferences) of himself by selecting his preference for various items, such as musical pieces, environmental sounds, poetry selections, etc. At the conclusion of the profiling process, the system automatically finds other advertisers (whether they placed their ad via audiotext or the Internet) whose profiles match the new advertiser's profile. The system then gives the new advertiser information on how to contact all of the recorded matches.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for identifying a processing port (12) and a link (22) at which a cell (24) is received. The system (10) includes a logical link table (14) having a plurality of logical link entries (30). Each logical link entry (30), which corresponds to a particular link (22) of a processing port (12) associated with the logical link table (14), specifies a numerical value. The processing port (12) may receive the cell (24) at one of a plurality of links (22). The processing port (12) can convert the cell (24) by replacing a numerical value of an identification field, such as a virtual channel identification field (28), of the cell (24) with the numerical value specified by the logical link entry (30) corresponding to the link (22) at which the cell (24) is received. A switch control module (18), which is connected to the processing port (12), may receive the converted cell (38).