Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of first counters, a second counter, and a logic circuit. The plurality of first counters may each be configured to increment a first value in response to receiving one of a plurality of incoming data packets on an associated port. The second counter may be configured to increment a second value in response to a highest value of said first values being incremented. The logic circuit may be configured to generate an output representing a volume of packet traffic in response to the plurality of first values and the second value. The output signal generally indicates which of a plurality of ports is best suited for implementing flow control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus resynchronizes a link state database (LSDB) of router with the LSDB of a neighboring router (“neighbor”) while maintaining an existing adjacency with the neighbor in a computer network. An out-of-band resynchronization process executes on the routers to essentially maintain the existing adjacency between the router and neighbor, rather than resetting that adjacency as defined by a conventional resynchronization approach. By keeping the adjacency “up” from the perspective of a routing protocol, such as the Open Shortest Path First routing protocol, the adjacency can be used for continued data traffic to and from the router.

Abstract: Selected categories of data are assigned to priority links in a multilink bundle. In one example, virtual circuits in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) or Frame Relay (FR) network are assigned priority status and particular types of high priority data are assigned only to the priority virtual circuits.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for negotiating the used communication mode in a telecommunications system, wherein a connection is arranged between at least two system elements. The system elements exchange messages and check whether a first in-band signalling protocol is supported. The communication mode is selected according to the first signalling protocol if the system elements support the first signalling protocol. If the first signalling protocol is not supported, support for a tandem free operation (TFO) protocol is checked and communication between the system elements is continued according to TFO procedures if the system elements support TFO. If the first signalling protocol and TFO are not supported, the communication mode between the system elements may be selected according to a second in-band signalling protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing recovery and backoff rules for a hybrid coordinator of an IEEE 802.11e Quality of Service (QoS) wireless station. The invention comprises a wireless local area network that is capable of using the recovery and backoff rules of the present invention in the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of QoS hybrid coordinators. The HC recovery and backoff rules of the present invention minimize collisions especially when hybrid coordinators from an overlapping basic service set are present.

Abstract: A multi-channel network is disclosed in which channels can be designated as “active” or “inactive” and changes can be made from one channel to another based on a metric which is a function of various channel parameters such as throughput and stability. In one form, the metric is a linear combination of factors such as the mean of the round trip time sequence of previous packets (indicating throughput) and the sample variance of the sequence of retransmission timeout values computed for previous transmission attempts (indicating stability). Regardless of the specific form of the metric or the estimation procedures for the channel parameters, these factors are combined using user-specified weights which permit the user to emphasize the relative importance of individual factors, thereby characterizing the strategy whereby “active” or “inactive” paths are used.

Abstract: Methods of transmitting data can include providing a data packet in a transmit buffer and providing a delay bound time period within which the data packet should be transmitted after being provided in the transmit buffer. After providing the data packet in the transmit buffer, a determination can be made if there is sufficient time to transmit the data packet before expiration of the delay bound time period. If there is insufficient time to transmit the data packet before expiration of the delay bound time period, the data packet can be flushed without initiating transmission of the data packet. Related devices are also discussed.