Abstract: A method and system for providing multilevel information about multicast distribution. The method comprises the steps of generating a display, on a computer display screen, of a tree having a plurality of nodes, and embedding in the nodes information about the multicast distribution. The tree may display information about one or more of a variety of aspects of the multicast distribution. These aspects include display of the members of each of a plurality of particular multicast groups, group and/or member connectivity, group parameters, group statistics control, monitor and maintenance; acknowledge and/or operational status, etc. As a specific example, the nodes may represent capacities of a defined aspect. Displays may allow users having particular privileges to add, delete and/or modify nodes. Geometric shapes, having geometric aspects, may be used to represent the nodes; and the aspects of these shapes may be used to represent predetermined aspect of the multicast distribution.

Abstract: A virtual L2TP/VPN tunnel network as well as a system and method for automatic discovery of VPN tunnels, such as L2TP tunnels, and other layer-2 services using a method such as one based on the spanning tree protocol are disclosed. The method for automatic discovery of layer-2 services across a network of layer-2 devices generally comprises transmitting an advertisement message on each tunnel of each layer-2 device, the advertisement message containing information for generating a spanning tree based on spanning tree algorithm, receiving advertisement message on the tunnels of each layer-2 device, and processing the received advertisement messages to generate a spanning tree topology of the network of layer-2 devices whereby each layer-2 device in the network automatically discovers layer-2 services of other layer-2 devices on the network. The transmitting is preferably repeated at predetermined configurable intervals.

Abstract: If a quantum mechanical state including a plurality of two-level systems (x1, x2, . . . , x2p+1) is expressed by a superposition of orthonormal bases in which each two-level system assumes a basic or an excited state, a quantum gate network is used to perform an operation including a combination of a selective rotation operation and an inversion about average operation D in order to configure a desired partly-entangled quantum mechanical state in which the coefficients of the respective bases are all real numbers.

Abstract: A process (111,101) of sending packets of real-time information at a sender (311) includes steps of initially generating at the sender the packets of real-time information with a source rate (s11) greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate (d11), the amount of diversity (d11) initially being at least zero kilobits per second. The process sends the packets, thereby resulting in a quality of service QoS, and optionally obtains at the sender (311) a measure of the QoS. Rate/diversity adaptation decision may be performed at receiver (361′) instead. Another step compares the QoS with a threshold of acceptability (Th1), and when the QoS is on an unacceptable side of said threshold (Th1) increases the diversity rate (d11 to d22) and sends not only additional ones of the packets of real-time information but also sends diversity packets at the diversity rate as increased (d22).

Abstract: A method (and system) of creating a multicast packet by a source node in a world-wide network, includes providing each multicast packet with a predetermined indicator indicating that the packet includes a multicast packet, one of a plurality of multicast destinations being placed in a packet destination field and a list of remaining multicast destinations being provided in a packet header. A conventional router receiving a multicast packet handles it as a unicast packet and routes it in a conventional manner. A multicast-capable router receiving a multicast packet goes through a packet regeneration and routing process, creating multicast packets and/or unicast packets and then routing them using the conventional routing table.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packet switching apparatus in a data network including a plurality of ports for taking charge of an input/output of packet transmission/reception commands and data packets, a plurality of transmission/reception control sections for accessing information resources classified into groups in response to the packet transmission/reception commands, and storing the corresponding data packets in a packet memory or transmitting the corresponding data packets stored in the packet memory to the corresponding ports, a plurality of the information resources for storing in groups information required for packet switching, and providing the information stored therein to the transmission/reception control sections, and a plurality of information resource schedulers, connected to the respective information resources, for scheduling accesses of the transmission/reception control sections.

Abstract: A communication system having a wireless trunk for connecting multiple phone lines over wireless communication links to a cellular network comprises a central telephone switch, such as a private branch exchange or key system, connected through one or more trunk lines to a wireless access communication unit. The wireless access communication unit preferably comprises a separate subscriber interface for each trunk line from the central telephone switch. The wireless access communication unit collects data from each of the subscriber interfaces, formats the data into a format compatible with an over-the-air protocol, and transmits the information over one or more wireless channels to a cellular base station. The wireless access communication unit thereby connects calls received from the central telephone switch's trunk lines over a wireless trunk to a network.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus (e.g., photo kiosk) includes a lens for imaging a customer-provided original onto an opto-electronic detector for producing image data, and a reproduction system for producing a copy therefrom. Images that are to be resistant against copying on such apparatuses can be printed on photographic emulsion medium having a subliminal marking. The marking can be detected from visible-light scan data corresponding to the medium, yet such marking is inconspicuous upon human inspection. The apparatus passes the scan data to a processor that looks for evidence of such a marking. If found, the processor issues a signal that interrupts a usual reproduction-making process of the apparatus. The system is useful, e.g., to prevent unauthorized copying of professional photographs, such as wedding portraits.

Abstract: A method for establishing a route over which data packets are to be sent from a source node to a destination node in an ad-hoc network is provided. A source having packets to send to a destination node employs a reactive routing protocol if it does not posses the route to the destination node. Initially, it may be determined whether or not the source node is a member of an existing piconet. If the source node is a member of an existing piconet, a ROUTE request message may be broadcast to the nodes of the existing piconet, while the source awaits a timely REPLY message. If the source node is not a member of an existing piconet, or if a time REPLY message is not received, the source node may initiate a new route discovery process wherein the nodes attempt to establish new piconets that enable more efficient communication between the source and destination nodes.

Abstract: The present invention improves speed and reduces complexity in a digital signature scheme that uses elliptic algebra. The signature scheme generates two points that are compared. If the points do not match, the signature is not authentic. The present invention reduces computations by comparing only the x coordinates of the two generated points. The invention provides a scheme for deducing the possible values of the x-coordinate of a sum of two points using only the x coordinates of the original two points in question. The present invention provides a scheme that limits the possible solutions that satisfy the equation to two (the authentic signature and one other). Because of the large number of possible inauthentic solutions, the chance of a false authentic signature is statistically insignificant.

Abstract: A method of providing for synchronizing one or more synchronous terminals with one or more synchronous endpoints, each synchronous terminal and each synchronous endpoint having an asynchronous communications network coupled between at least one synchronous terminal and at least one synchronous endpoint. A synchronization protocol is established between a synchronous terminal and a synchronous end point by providing a gateway between the asynchronous communications network and the synchronous end point, the gateway communicating with the synchronous terminal over the asynchronous communications network in accordance with the synchronization protocol. The synchronization protocol includes sending a message from the gateway to the synchronous terminal, the message containing a timestamp identifying a clock associated with the synchronous end point.

Abstract: Pointer justification event induced low frequency jitter is attenuated during desynchronization of a synchronous input data stream into a plesiosynchronous output data stream. The output data stream has a clock rate T and is made up of tb byte multi-frames containing a nominal number tdb of data bits (tdb=772 and tb=104 for T1 data; tdb=1024 and tb=140 for E1 data). An integer number pc of phase adjustment commands are provided (in the preferred embodiment, pc=12 for T1 data and pc=9 for E1 data). A count having a total value pjT, where 1≦pjT≦tb, is maintained of the total number of positive pointer justification events previously encountered in the data stream. A separate count having a total value pcT, where 1≦pcT≦tdb*pc, is maintained of the total number of previously issued phase adjustment commands. If a positive pointer justification event is detected in the data stream, pjT is incremented by one.

Abstract: A system and method for providing user-configured telephone service to a user of a data network telephone. The user connects a data network telephone to the data network. The data network telephone registers with a telephone connection server to have basic calling service. The user accesses a service provider server to enter feature selections. The service provider server may use a web page to query the user for feature selections The service provider server uses the user's selections to update the user's account and to activate the selected features.

Abstract: A system for deriving multiple channels from four-wire residential telephone wiring. The invention provides two voice channels and two, or more, data channels on common residential telephone wiring. The voice channels occupy a normal telephone bandwidth, in the range of approximately zero Hz to 3500 Hz. With this channel placement, ordinary telephonic devices can use the channels, without a requirement of frequency-shifting. Above these voice-channel frequencies, data channels are provided, for internal communication within the residence.

Abstract: A method for setting the offset of a time stamp, in which the offset value that is added to the time stamp is automatically controlled according to a transmission window value in a packetizing system for a high speed serial bus, and an apparatus therefor are provided.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved receiver that can receive and process many different data types in addition to decoding MPEG-2 transport streams. The preferred embodiment minimizes hardware complexity by using the same loaders for both MPEG-2 and alternative stream data. The preferred embodiment utilizes a bypassable synchronizer and a bypassable packet parser to allow alternative data streams to be sent to system memory for decoding by a the host processor. When receiving MPEG-2 transport streams, the bypassable synchronizer and bypassable packet parser are used to synchronize and filter the MPEG-2 transport stream. The parsed MPEG-2 streams are then loaded into a packet buffer and passed to the video and audio decoders. When non-MPEG-2 stream data is provided, the bypassable synchronizer and bypassable packet parser instead forward the data to the packet buffer without performing synchronization or filtering.

Abstract: A multiplexing system in an ATM network is disclosed. The system produces low deviation in generation timing of a standard ATM cell and low transmission delay to realize high transmission efficiency. A cell multiplexing means is provided for assembling data received from a plurality of terminal lines into a short cell to be multiplexed into a standard ATM cell. A short cell is selected from a plurality of short cells to define a reference line. The short cell generation timing of the reference line is used as the reference timing to generate short cells for other lines so as to synchronize the generation timing. The short cells thus generated are then multiplexed into a standard ATM cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-purpose transaction card system comprising an issuer, one or more cards, one or more terminals, and optionally one or more acquires, communicating using a variety of cryptographic confidentiality and authentication methods. Cards authenticate messages using public key based cryptographic without themselves performing the extensive computations usually associated with such cryptography. Integrity of complex transaction sequences and plural card storage updates are maintained even under intentionally generated interruptions and/or modifications of data transmitted between card and terminal. Cards do not reveal any information to the terminal which is not directly necessary for the transaction or any information to which the terminal should not have access, though externally measurable aspects of its behavior. Transaction types supported include those suitable for off-line credit cards, in which the “open to buy” is maintained on the card.

Abstract: A routing information notifying method improving the efficiency of a network composed of an IP network including an ATM network is disclosed. A virtual circuit (VC) is initially established in the ATM network. The IP network is notified about link resource information of the ATM network in such a way that an alternative route to the virtual circuit in the ATM network is searched for and then the IP network is notified about a link resource of the alternative route found in the ATM network to ensure the required QoS.

Abstract: A terminal and a method for a digital mobile radio system having a receiving device for receiving digital data packets, and having a decision device which before complete reception of an information unit, which comprises one or more data packets, uses a part of the information unit which has already been received to determine whether the information unit is or is not important. If it is determined that the information unit is not important, the decision device causes the receiving unit to ignore the rest of the information unit.