Abstract: A method and an apparatus for user-based provisioning of distribution channels in a communications network allows an end user to select and initiate digital distribution channel allocation to accommodate their needs instead of submitting a service order to the telephone company each time a change in channel allocation is desired. In one implementation, a user-accessed provisioning terminal at a Distant Terminal (DT) receives a subscriber's distribution channel allocation selection after the user is authorized. The user's allocation selection is transmitted to a Remote terminal (RT) via a control channel, such as the Facility Data Line of an ESF-type T1 line or a dedicated data link that directly connects the DT and an RT. When the RT receives a provisioning message from a DT, the RT confirms that the provisioning selection is acceptable and automatically rearranges its time-slot interchange (TSI) connections according to the provisioning change initiated by the user.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for policy based accounting and billing for network services. In one embodiment, a packet forwarding device receives a packet to be forwarded over the network, accesses a policy table to identify a billing party associated with the packet, obtains billing information, and stores a record of the forwarded packet and the associated billing party.

Abstract: In a multi-QOS level queuing structure, packet payload pointers are stored in multiple queues and packet payloads in a common memory pool. Algorithms control the drop probability of packets entering the queuing structure. Instantaneous drop probabilities are obtained by comparing measured instantaneous queue size with calculated minimum and maximum queue sizes. Non-utilized common memory space is allocated simultaneously to all queues. Time averaged drop probabilities follow a traditional Weighted Random Early Discard mechanism. Algorithms are adapted to a multi-level QOS structure, floating point format, and hardware implementation. Packet flow from a router egress queuing structure into a single egress port tributary is controlled by an arbitration algorithm using a rate metering mechanism. The queuing structure is replicated for each egress tributary in the router system.

Abstract: An insertion-based error concealment method and apparatus are provided whereby, instead of directly inserting white noise, a filter is created to shape the white noise. The filtered white noise is then used to replace lost data. The method of the present invention is implemented by first estimating the power spectrum of the previous frame; then designing a filter with transfer function H(f), where |H(f)|2=the estimated power spectrum; and finally generating the replacement packet using noise which has been spectrally modified by the filter. The resulting filtered noise has the same power spectrum as the previous packet but is not highly correlated with it.

Abstract: In an information transmission method, a radio communications system, a base station and a mobile station, a TBS size, a modulation scheme and the number of codes in a multicode are converted into identification data having a relatively smaller data size before being transmitted to a destination of communication. The TBS size is identified by using, in combination, an identification code identifying a channelization code set, an identification code identifying a modulation scheme, and an identification code obtained by converting a combination of the number of codes in a multicode and a modulation pattern identification (TFRC) into a corresponding code. Accordingly, the data size for TBS size identification is reduced.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for efficient routing of mobile node packets. Nodes in a network are configured to classify a received flow from a mobile node to a second node based upon a home address option in a packet in the flow if the address is present. The address is a home address of the mobile node. The classification has associated reserved resources at each node for the received flow. Therefore, the Quality of Service is maintained for the flow between the mobile node and the second node if the mobile node moves to a new location. Resources reserved in nodes in the old path are torn down and released, while reserved resources in nodes in the old and the new path need not be reserved again.

Abstract: An information routing system and apparatus includes separate control and forwarding planes. The control plane is split into box management control functions and routing control functions. The box management control functions are isolated to a single processing card, while the routing control functions are distributed across multiple processing cards. The routing table is also distributed across multiple processing cards. The multiple processing cards are interconnected via a high-speed backplane bus for control plane traffic and by a fabric for forwarding plane traffic.

Abstract: A method of carrying out arbitration in a packet exchanger including an input buffer temporarily storing a packet having arrived at an input port, and a packet switch which switches a packet between a specific input port and a specific output port, includes the steps of (a) concurrently carrying out a first plurality of sequences in each of the sequences basic processes for at least one of the input buffer and the output port are carried out in a predetermined order, and (b) making an allowance in each of the sequences for packets to be output through output ports at different times from one another.

Abstract: A cross-layer architecture is provided for delivering multiple media streams over 3G W-CDMA channels in adaptive multimedia wireless networks. A resource management mechanism dynamically allocates resources among different media streams adapted to channel status and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. By taking the time-varying wireless transmission characteristics into account, an allocation of resources is performed based on a minimum-distortion or minimum-power criterion. Estimates of the time-varying wireless transmission conditions are made through measurements of throughput and error rate. Power and distortion minimized bit allocation schemes are used with the estimated wireless transmission conditions to for dynamically adaptations in transmissions.

Abstract: A novel scalable-port non-blocking shared-memory output-buffered variable length queued data switching method and apparatus wherein successive data in each of a plurality of queues of data traffic is distributed to corresponding cells of each of successive memory channels in striped fashion across a shared memory space.

Abstract: A telephony network for enabling the origination and termination of telephone calls between one or more subscriber terminals connected to a public packet network with an open addressing protocol and one or more non-subscriber terminals connected to a PSTN network. Subscribers to the telephony network have E.164 numbers mapped to their current IP address and published by a mapping server so other subscribers and non-subscribers can call the subscriber. The mapped information is published on either a HTML or XML page for direct use over the Internet by other subscribers or for use by a gateway device. The gateway device enables non-subscribers on the PSTN to directly call subscribers. Calls between subscribers completely by-pass the PSTN. Subscribers can also call anyone with a phone number whether they are a subscriber or not.

Abstract: A packet-switched network system comprises a multiplicity of multi-port network units each of which has first and second ports and other ports and transmission links coupling the first and second ports of said unit in a closed ring. The first and second ports and transmission links support duplex transmission of Ethernet data packets. Each unit transmits from said first and second ports packets including selected information enabling on reception of a packet at any of the units a determination of a number of hops from unit to unit around said ring said packet has made. Each unit has a forwarding database and in response to the said selected information controls the transmission of said packets in two directions around said ring, and each unit causes discard of packets which have according to said selected information circumnavigated the ring.

Abstract: A method of operating a data transmission network (10) is described comprising at least two outer rings (11, 13) and a middle ring (12) which are coupled to one another via nodes (14, 15, 16). One of the nodes (14) represents a central node for all three rings (11, 12, 13). Switching devices (23, 24, 25, 26) for the establishment of connections are contained in each of the nodes (14, 15, 16). It is recognized that a connection is to be established from the one outer ring (11, 13) to the other outer ring (13, 11) via the middle ring (12). Then the connection is established taking into account all three rings (11, 12, 13).

Abstract: A system and method for a packet VRU which directly utilize packet network protocols, such as those of the H.323 standard, to provide enhanced services via a packet network. The packet VRU generally operates within the packet network and is not required to provide data format translation or multiple device-type access. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packet VRU redirects the media stream from a source so that it is sent directly to a destination, instead of passing through the packet VRU. Alternatively, if the packet VRU must perform processing on the message contents, the packets may be sent to both the destination and to the packet VRU. The packet VRU may still retain call control over the media streams by maintaining the signaling and user input components of the call.

Abstract: A base station node (28) of a radio access network determines a number of connections that can be added for each of plural spreading factors to the base station node, and sends to a radio network controller (RNC) node (26) a capacity indication (110) including the determined number of connections. In a first message mode of the invention, the capacity indication is included in a conventional 3GPP “Resource Status Indication” message, while in a second message mode the capacity indication is included in a separate supplemental message known as the capacity message. To prepare the capacity indication, the base station tracks actual usage of base station resources for determining the number of connections that can be added to the base station node, and assesses the capability of the base station node to add new connections.

Abstract: Data traffic is conveyed through a node of a communications network. A parameter respecting the data traffic is assigned in an ingress interface of the node, and inserted into an intra-switch header attached to each packet. The data traffic, along with the intra-switch header are forwarded across the node to an egress interface. The parameter is then extracted from the intra-switch header, and used to control processing of the data traffic in the egress interface. The parameter may provide information identifying the source of the data traffic, but may also include other flow-specific information, such as, for example, a normalized DiffServ Code Point. The parameter may be used, in combination with an intra-switch multicast group ID to query one or more translation tables, to thereby enable egress-interface and/or egress port specific replication, forwarding and translation services in respect of the data traffic.

Abstract: A communications system provides for the establishment of audio/video/data connections between system users employing a personal computer and Web browsers, to agents of a business or organization. A business or organization may provide a Web server through which system users may connect either over a data network or over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Once connected, various screen displays may be provided through which system users may enter account or other personal information which the server may employ to locate a profile for the system user. A system user may be provided the option to establish communication with an agent in a number of different modes. Once a mode is selected, the system user will be connected with an agent who is best able to serve the system user based on the profile information found in memory.

Abstract: A communications network includes a communications medium with a synchronous communications transport signal including time-division-multiplexed (TDM) channels, bridges having respective interfaces to different local area network (LAN) segments, and add-drop circuits coupling associated ones of the bridges to the communications medium. Each add-drop circuit groups TDM channels of the communications transport signal into a bundle, and schedules the use of the bundle to carry data traffic originated by the associated bridge and to carry data traffic originated by the other bridges. Data traffic originated by the associated bridge and destined for the other bridges is transmitted on the bundle in accordance with the scheduling. For data traffic received from the other bridges via the bundle, it is determined whether the received data traffic is destined for the associated bridge, and if so then it is forwarded to the associated bridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packet transmission network operating according to a packet switching method, comprising a plurality of network nodes coupled via at least two rings working in opposite directions which each have in status tables entries about the location of a defect and switched loops from one ring to another ring in a network node. After detecting a repaired defect, a network node changes an entry in its status table and transmits a repair message of this type about the location of the repaired defect to all the network nodes that can be reached.

Abstract: A method of audio communication between a first telephony client located behind a network address translation (NAT) server and a remote second telephony client is disclosed. A calibration datagram is sent from the first telephony client to the second telephony client on a user datagram protocol (UDP) channel identified for sending audio data. The second telephony client extracts the source address and port number to identify a reverse UDP channel for sending audio data to the first telephony client.