Abstract: The spacer has a cell memory, means for allocating a theoretical emission time to each cell, means of control for managing the cell memory, with the aid of an associated pointer memory, in such a way that the cell memory includes, for each virtual connection for which it contains cells, a list of locations where these cells are stored in first-in first-out mode, sorting means for ordering data elements each comprising a virtual connection identity and a sort key consisting of the theoretical time of emission of the cell contained in the start of list relating to said virtual connection, and for selecting at least one data element having a minimum sort key. Each cell emitted is contained in the start of list relating to a virtual connection identified in a data element selected by the sorting means.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a plurality of data flows in a shared resource in a computer system, each of the data flows containing a plurality of data cells including the steps of providing a scheduler in the shared resource, initializing the scheduler to receive the plurality of data flows, receiving a first data flow in the scheduler, said first data flow having a first flow rate, receiving a second data flow in the scheduler, said second data flow having a second flow rate, scheduling, by the scheduler, the first data flow and the second data flow such that the first flow rate and the second flow rate are less than an available bandwidth in the shared resource and a relative error is minimized between an actual scheduling time and an ideal scheduling time on a per cell basis, and repeating the steps of receiving and scheduling.

Abstract: A communications system employs frequency division duplexing to accommodate symmetric and asymmetric services, while substantially eliminating near-end cross talk. Upstream and downstream channels are separated by a guard band in order to insure that near-end cross talk is kept to a minimum. An asymmetric upstream channel is preferably located at a lower frequency range than that of the asymmetric downstream channel. The guard band between these asymmetric upstream and downstream channels shifts in frequency along with the shift in frequency of the respective upstream and downstream channels as a function of reach. This guard band shifting permits the communications systems to utilize a greater percentage of the frequencies available to it and to thereby substantially maximize the communications rate that it can support. Although the asymmetric guard band is allowed to shift in the manner described, it is not allowed to do so in a manner that would create a conflict with symmetric channels.

Abstract: A satellite broadcast and communication system employing a constellation of satellites in highly elliptical and highly inclined orbits, where the satellites remain almost stationary relative to ground users, describing a small loop in the sky around the apogee of the orbit for long periods of time. A user on the ground with conventional directive antenna will be provided with continuous communication services without interruption, 24 hours per day. The small loop where the satellites are operational is located around the highest latitude of the orbit. Therefore, it will have a high angular separation from satellites operating in the equational geostationary satellite orbit (hereafter more simply referred to as the geostationary satellite orbit), thus enabling a full sharing of the frequency hands used by the geostationary satellite orbit systems, without causing any interference between the two types of satellite network systems, and without the need for any interference migrating factors.

Abstract: We describe a method for solving the joint problem of optimal routing and optimal bandwidth allocation in a network that supports plural subnetworks and plural communication services. Our method involves, for each source-destination pair communicating via a given subnetwork and a given class of service, determining a traffic rate to be offered to each of a set of permissible routes between that source and that destination, in the given subnetwork and service class. Our method further involves allocating a respective bandwidth to each link of each subnetwork. Significantly, the determinations of traffic rate to be offered, and the allocations of bandwidth to respective links of subnetworks, are performed in a mutually responsive manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting data from a stream of data includes processing that begins by receiving at least one bit of data from a bit stream of data. The bit stream of data represents packetized data that is formatted based on a data packetizing protocol (e.g., HDLC encapsulated data packetizing formats). Next, a data packet associated with the at least one bit is identified based on time occurrence of receiving the bit. Next, the status of the data packet is determined based on the time occurrence of the bit and the data packet (e.g., the content of the data contained within the data packet and/or the bit). The processing continues by extracting data from the at least one bit based on the status of the data packet and the content of the bit. Next, the processing updates at least a portion of the status of the data packet based, at least partially, on the content of the bit.

Abstract: A system for remultiplexing packets that are provided at variable rates in digital bitstreams using a delay buffer and rate estimation. A bitstream with specific packet types provided at different rates is extracted from a multiplex and combined with other fixed or variable rate bit streams in such a way that timing delivery constraints on the extracted variable rate bitstream are followed. The extracted bitstream is smoothed to reduce variations in the data rate. The smoothed bitstream is then processed in first and second parallel paths. In the first path, selected packets are discarded to obtain a retained data stream. The data rate of the retained data stream is estimated and provided to a control. In the second path, the smoothed bitstream is delayed according to at least the processing time of the rate estimator in the first path, then the selected packets are discarded to obtain a delayed, retained data stream.

Abstract: A backplane for a dynamic synchronous transfer mode network that comprises two dual ring topologies having opposite fiber direction. The ring topologies has a plurality of disjointed segments that permits the simultaneous transmission of signals in the same time slots over the disjointed segments.

Abstract: A large number of real-time events are efficiently processed using an integer field incremented based on a periodic timer tick and functioning as a global counter. Other integer fields are created for each received real-time event having a value equal to the value of the global counter plus the period of the event. These other fields are stored at the end of a queue that stores all events having the same period. To determine whether any fields in a particular queue have expired, the system checks only the first field in the queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maximizing the use of available capacity in a communication system having a base station and a plurality of mobile stations. The forward link in the mobile radio system includes a plurality of traffic streams sent on at least one channel from the base station to the mobile stations. The forward link is subject to a maximum power ceiling. A first output power level associated with simultaneously transmitting a first set of one or more traffic streams from the base station to the mobile stations on the forward link is initially determined. Next, the first output power level is compared to the maximum power ceiling. In response to the comparing step, at least one time frame in the forward link having available capacity for transmitting a portion of at least one further traffic stream is identified. The first set of traffic streams and the portion of the at least one further traffic stream are then transmitted simultaneously during the at least one frame on the forward link.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining when to set up or tear down such a temporary transit path so that temporary transit paths are set up when they are needed and torn down when they are no longer needed. A temporary transit path is set up when the bit rate exceeds a first threshold. The temporary transit path is torn down when the bit rate is less than a second threshold. The temporary transit path is set up or torn down between a source station's router and a next hop router. The temporary transit path is set up within a subnetwork that includes the source station, the next hop router, and an intermediate router that is interconnected by a plurality of permanent transit paths to the source station and the next hop router. In one embodiment, a method for creating a temporary path for data packet transmission in the subnetwork is disclosed. Transmission of the data packets is initiated over the permanent transit paths that are coupled between the source station and the next hop router.

Abstract: A dedicated bandwidth switch backplane has efficient receive processing capable of handling highly parallel traffic. Packets must pass a filtering check and a watermark check before the receive port is allowed to release them to a queue. Highly efficient algorithms are applied to conduct the checks on the packets in a way which expedites receive processing and avoids contention. A hybrid priority/port-based arbitration algorithm is used to sequence filtering checks on pending packets. A watermark comparison algorithm performs preliminary calculations on the current packet using “projected” output queue write addresses for each possible outcome of the queueing decision on the preceding packet and using the actual outcome to select from among preliminary calculations to efficiently address the outcome-dependence of the current packet's watermark check on the queueing decision made on the preceding packet.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting forward traffic channel power allocation in a communications system, wherein signal qualities of pilot channels respectively transmitted by multiple base stations in an active set of a mobile station, are measured by the mobile station, compared to a signal quality standard, and the comparison results reported to a system controller, thereby to indicate which of the pilots at the mobile station surpass the standard. The system controller then adjusts the forward channel power allocation based on the comparison results.

Abstract: A headend of a shared data channel receives data packets, each data packet being addressed to a user of the shared data channel. A buffer of the headend queues the data packets, and a router of the headend assigns high transmittal priority to data packets addressed to users who have more recently received a previous data packet and assigns low transmittal priority to data packets addressed to users who have relatively less recently received a previous data packet, wherein the low transmittal priority is a lower priority than the high transmittal priority.

Abstract: In a data network, a source node transmits a data packet to a destination node across interconnected switches whereby a switch, upon receiving the data packet from the source node, queries other switches in the network for the appropriate switch and port on the switch out which to forward the data packet to the destination node. The appropriate switch responds to the query with its switch number and the port number of the port out which the data packet should be sent to reach the destination node. The querying switch caches the switch number and port number and prepends a destination tag to subsequent data packets it receives which are destined to the same destination node, thereby providing a distributed system among the switches in the network for maintaining detailed information regarding the appropriate switch and port out which to forward data packets received by a source node in the network.

Abstract: An ATM cell buffer circuit including an output buffer type ATM switch for switching ATM cells and an input buffer unit provided for each line, read control means of the input buffer unit for reading a cell from a queue which temporarily stores an input cell and transmitting the same to the output buffer type ATM switch including a state control table, a delay quality class setting table for setting cell reading priority for each priority class assigned to an input cell, table value modifying means for modifying a set value of the delay quality class setting table as required and cell reading means for determining priority order to read a cell based on the delay quality class setting table and the state control table.

Abstract: An electronic communications manager for providing an interface between a user using a communication device and a data and/or telephone network is disclosed. The data network, which may include an internet or intranet, is connectible to at least one information provider as well as a second user, and the telephone network is also connectible to the second user. The electronic communications manager can receive and interpret voice, such as from the first user using a telephone, as well as data, such as from the first user using a computer or information appliance. Likewise, the electronic communications manager can provide voice/video, such as for interacting with the first user through the telephone, and can provide data, such as interacting with the first user through the pager or interacting with the second user through the data network. Furthermore, the electronic communications manager can send and receive internet protocol to and from the information provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing orthogonal spot beams, sectors, and picocells. The transmissions can be made orthogonally by using orthogonal auxiliary pilots and different Walsh traffic channels in adjacent areas. In accordance with the IS-95 standard, the pilot signal is covered with the 64-chip Walsh sequence zero. The 64-chip all zeros Walsh sequence can be designated as P and the 64-chip all one sequence can be designated as M. In the present invention, additional pilot signals can be provided by concatenating 64-chip all zeros P and all ones M sequences. Thus, for two pilot signals, pilot Walsh sequences of PP and PM can be used. For four pilot signals, pilot Walsh sequences of PPPP, PMPM, PPMM, and PMMP can be used. The present invention can be extended such that any required number of pilot Walsh sequences can be generated by substituting each bit in an K-bit Walsh sequence with the 64-chip all zeros P or all ones M sequence depending on the value of that bit.

Abstract: Interconnect traffic between local exchange carrier (LECs) networks and other carrier networks, particularly competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) networks, dictates a need for efficient monitoring and analysis of the interconnect traffic. In accord with the invention, monitor equipment on the LEC network captures call related messages produced by the LEC network and compiles data from those messages to form call detail records for the interconnect traffic. These records are loaded into a relational database. A data preparation routine enhances the data, for example, by translating certain codes from the records into more useful text and by spreading or binning usage over predefined time intervals. An on-line analytical processing program runs one or more applications to allow the LEC to analyze the interconnect traffic between the LEC network and the other carrier's network. The analysis provides useful traffic data for accounting purposes, e.g.

Abstract: A radio communication system having a base station and a plurality of radio terminals, wherein each radio terminal having a transmission request transmits a reservation packet at arbitrary timing through a reservation channel in accordance with a CDMA scheme, and the base station assigns a traffic channel and a time slot to be used to each radio terminal requesting a reservation through a reply packet outputted onto a reply channel. On the reservation channel, a short spreading code corresponding to a matched filter is applied.