Abstract: A method of selecting at least one routing path between and access node and a gateway is provided. The method includes the access node receiving over a plurality of channels, indicators from at least one upstream access node, the indicators providing information of selected upstream paths between each of the upstream access nodes and upstream gateways. The access node determines an optimal set of routing paths between the access node and at least one upstream gateway, based upon the indicators, the optimal set of routing paths including a combination of paths over multiple channels.

Abstract: Upon receiving a call while receiving a digital broadcast, an audio path switching control unit switches an audio path to an output side of a telephone audio processing unit, and outputs telephone audio data received, when the user presses the call start/end button to end the call, the audio path switching control unit switches the audio path to the side of a digital broadcast audio processing, and outputs audio data extracted from the digital broadcast.

Abstract: Access routers making up a LAC device or LNS device are given virtual router functions. The virtual routers are associated with either physical interfaces or fixed logical interfaces, L2TP tunnels, or PPP sessions. This allows one LAC device or LNS device to be connected with a plurality of L2TP transfer networks or ISP networks managed by different carriers.

Abstract: A method that includes wirelessly receiving a signal, and detecting a start of packet (SOP) for a packet that conforms to a wireless networking standard. The detecting from the received signal uses at least one SOP detection criterion. In the case an SOP is detected, the method further includes determining a plurality of metrics from the received signal, and using at least two of the plurality of metrics to determine an initial timing for a received packet. Different versions combine the metrics in different ways to determine the initial timing. Also an apparatus that includes a radio receiver to receive a signal and output a received signal, and an SOP detector coupled to the radio receiver to detect a start of packet (SOP) from a received signal using at least one SOP detection criterion for a packet that conforms to a wireless networking standard.

Abstract: A communications apparatus for switching among different interfaces includes a switch unit. The switch unit includes a main switch for switching data of a fixed length and an interface having a first buffer for an input of the main switch and a second buffer for an output of the main switch.

Abstract: The disclosed method and system provides a new service provision interface that allows operator use without requiring many of the specific technical network details, such as VRF, RT, SOO, route redistribution, etc. Further, the translation from a customer's requirements (including both VPN topology membership requirement and L2, L3 requirement from customer) into technical network configuration commands are handled using an automated method that is transparent to the operator. In a particular illustrative embodiment of this patent disclosure, a high level table with reduced technical detail is generated by an operator and an automated provisioning system, without operator visibility or required operator interaction, creates intermediate data including network specific technical information in an automated process to generate a deployable network topology including VRF and RT assignments for use in network provisioning.

Abstract: A system and methods for automating membership discovery in a distributed computer network is presented. A first virtual circuit label switch path (LSP) associated with a first VPLS is established between a first multi tenant unit (MTU) and an attached provider edge (PE) device. A first label mapping message (LMM) is communicated over the first virtual circuit LSP and received at the PE device. The PE device broadcasts the LMM to a plurality of additional PE devices. In addition, methods for automating membership discovery for adding and deleting virtual private LAN service (VPLS) sites are presented. A virtual circuit forwarding equivalence class (VC-FEC) type packet utilized in the various methods and system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for slot deflection routing of optical data packets. The method of the present invention includes the steps of establishing a schedule pattern that includes a plurality of time slots. The schedule pattern includes at least one time slot in which an ingress edge unit can communicate with a destination egress edge unit, at least one time slot in which the ingress edge unit can communicate with a intermediate edge unit, and at least one time slot in which the intermediate edge unit can communicate with the destination egress edge unit. The present invention also includes receiving a data packet at the ingress edge unit and determining if the schedule pattern allocates sufficient bandwidth to send the data packet from the ingress edge unit to the destination egress edge unit without deflecting the data packet through an intermediate edge unit.

Abstract: A Call Alerting and Control System is provided in a communication environment to allow an Internet user (“user”) approximately real-time monitoring of information about an incoming call from a calling party while maintaining a connection with the Internet. The monitored information can include the calling party's name and telephone number. The system could also allow the user to provide an answering machine-type message to the calling party and the user to listen to the calling party's response to the message while still connected to the Internet. The system can further allow the user to reroute, answer or otherwise treat the incoming call while, at the user's discretion, either maintaining or disconnecting a connection to the Internet.

Abstract: A data communication system dynamically selects timer durations to ensure delivery of data at a desired bit rate. A source or proxy source transmits data, such as streaming media, to a destination according to a dynamic bit rate timer, where the timer regulates the transmission frequency and/or the packet size of the data being transmitted. The timer dynamically adapts the transmission frequency or packet size according to the relative positioning of data pointers in a buffer and effectively changes the rate of data delivery. In this way, data may be delivered at the desired average bit rate to the destination despite network capacity fluctuations.

Abstract: A 3-layer Virtual Private Network (VPN) is disclosed and includes P devices and PE devices in the backbone network, a plurality of sites and CE devices in subscribers' VPNs, and Hierarchy of PE (HoPE) devices, the HoPE devices serve as edge routers in the backbone network and are connected to P devices in the backbone network as well as sites and CE devices in subscribers' VPNs; the HoPE devices include understratum PEs (UPEs), zero or more middle-level PEs (MPEs) and superior PEs (SPEs) connected with each other, and all of the PEs (UPEs, MPEs, and SPEs) take different roles and deliver the function of a central PE. For the SPEs, the routing and forwarding performance should be relatively higher; while for UPEs, the performance may be lower. The architecture can enhance the expandability in hierarchical BGP/MPLS VPNs.

Abstract: A method to resequence packets includes sequentially allocating in each source ingress adapter a packet rank to each packet received within each source ingress adapter. In each destination egress adapter, each ranked data packet is stored at a respective buffer address of an egress buffer. The respective buffer addresses of data packets received by a same source ingress adapter with a same priority level and switched through a same switching plane are linked in a same linked-list. The respective buffer addresses are preferably linked by their order of use in the egress buffer, and thus each linked-list is having a head list pointing to the oldest buffer address. The linked-lists are sorted into subsets including those linked-lists linking the respective buffer addresses of data packets received by a same source ingress adapter with a same priority level.

Abstract: Access points for supporting wireless communications, a packet transmission device, and terminals for handing-over between service areas are provided. An existing terminal is provided with respect to this access point for performing a Quality of Source (QoS) guarantee. Accordingly, when a new terminal is handed over to be engaged in wireless communications with this access point, the priority of the packet associated with the existing terminal and/or new terminal is changed.

Abstract: A radio communication system for transmitting a radio signal with a transmission format in which a channel response calculation preamble signal serving as a reference upon reception is inserted is disclosed. The output frequency of channel response calculation preamble signals is varied in accordance with a temporal change in radio propagation environment. A channel response variation measurement unit measures a variation of the radio propagation environment. A channel response calculation preamble signal output frequency setting unit sets the output frequency of preamble signals in accordance with the temporal change in radio propagation environment. The preamble signals are inserted in the transmission format to be transmitted at that frequency.

Abstract: A bandwidth brokering system and method incorporating methodology for supporting self-healing communication rings is disclosed. The present invention utilizes state-based tokens that are transmitted on a separate communication channel between network nodes to monitor and correct communication failures occurring at a link, interface, and network node level. The invention as taught permits generic brokering of all available network bandwidth in a granular method without the need for fixed designations of “protection” or “working” communication paths. As such, the present invention permits integration of “protection” and “working” communication data paths to permit full utilization of available system bandwidth with graceful recovery in the event of system or link malfunctions.

Abstract: Methods and structure for standardized communication between a test operator, a host system, and an embedded system under test. Test program instructions are designed, written for, and executed on, an embedded system under test in accordance with standard API functions for message exchange. Still further, the invention provides for standards in the user interface to select a desired test, to start the test with defined parameters and to present reply and status information to the test operator. These user interactions are defined in a test configuration language of the present invention and preferably incorporated with the executable image file to define an integral test vehicle file. The present invention thereby reduces test sequence development time by providing standard API functions for message exchange between a host system test application and the system under test and provides for standardized user interaction in a flexible, easily maintained design language.

Abstract: System and method for allocating and managing a shared Internet access channel on an Internet access device. The system and method prioritize data flow in a multi-user, limited bandwidth networking environment by differentiating data types for disparate processing thereof by which a plurality of aggregation classes are hierarchically ordered to include at least one favored class (bandwidth guaranteed) and at least one disfavored class (best effort). Network sessions are aggregated into these classes according to an aggregation policy and bandwidth is asymmetrically allocated to the sessions according to a plurality of algorithms operating in conjunction with the hierarchy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for providing multiple qualities of service to different virtual network connections. In one example, the method receives a token of a cell descriptor of data traffic of a virtual network connection. It is determined whether the token is in conformance with contracted bandwidth parameters of the cell descriptor to obtain a conformance status. Based on the conformance status, one of the following steps is performed: the token is inserted into a first random access memory configured to store the token for immediate output, or the token is inserted into a second random access memory configured to store the token for non-immediate output.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting broadcast traffic in Mobile IP are disclosed. When a Mobile Node registers via a Foreign Agent supporting Mobile IP, the Foreign Agent receives a registration request from a Mobile Node and sends the registration request to a Home Agent. A registration reply received from the Home Agent has a network mask extension including a network mask associated with the home address of the Mobile Node. The Foreign Agent then sends the registration reply to the Mobile Node. Alternatively, the Mobile Node may register via a collocated care-of address, in which case the registration reply is received directly from the Home Agent. Once the Mobile Node has obtained its network mask, it may send packets such as broadcast packets, as well as roam to its Home Agent. Additionally, in accordance with various embodiments, the Foreign Agent duplicates broadcast packets for transmission to Mobile Nodes, rather than receiving the duplicated packets from the Home Agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are the multiplex communication system and the method therefore. A fault detection part of a duplex switching device detects it as generation of fault when recognizable signals are not detected from a connected line within a prescribed time. When the fault detection part detects the generation of fault in the present system line, the line switching part switches the lines from the present line to the standby line to perform communication between a terminal device and another terminal device therethrough. Also, the fault detection part notifies the generation of fault to the other duplex switching device after a prescribed switching protection time has passed from the time of the fault detected by the fault detection part, so the selection of the lines becomes consistent.