Abstract: A novel method of enabling a port of a network switch to support connections with multiple VLANs. The method comprises storing VLAN data indicating a plurality of VLAN identifiers corresponding to the multiple VLANs supported by the port. A VLAN identifier of a data packet received via the port is compared with the plurality of VLAN identifiers determined using the stored VLAN data. The data packet is forwarded for further processing if the VLAN identifier matches one of the plurality of VLAN identifiers. However, the data packet is discarded if the VLAN identifier does not match one of the plurality of VLAN identifiers. Moreover, VLAN information corresponding to a VLAN identifier of a data packet to be transmitted from the port is compared with the stored VLAN data to determine whether the VLAN identifier matches one of the plurality of VLAN identifiers supported by the port.

Abstract: A communication system includes a packet-based data network and network elements coupled to the data network. The network elements are capable of participating in call sessions (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP call sessions) over the data network. A first network element can generate a call request including announcement information, with the call request targeted to one or more other network elements. The announcement information may include identification information (e.g., telephone number or web address) of the calling party and additional information that conveys to the called party some information relating to the desired call session (e.g., description of the content). Based on the announcement information, a called party may decide on disposition of the requested call.

Abstract: Systems and methods for employing digital two-way cable MAC protocols for multi-user wireless communication systems. In one embodiment, a physical layer TDMA framing structure is provided to complement the MAC layer framing. A single MAC layer frame is divided into multiple physical layer frames. The physical layer frames are divided among frames dedicated to transporting data between MAC layer entities and frames dedicated to transporting physical layer control information. Constant delay in transmission through the physical layer is preserved.

Abstract: A central node in a network computes for, and sends to, each node a forwarding table which consists of the set of neighbors to which the node should forward a message intended for a particular destination. The message includes a version number in the packet field header indicating which forwarding table version the node should use to forward the packet. The node does not begin marking and forwarding packets according to the new version number immediately. The node may wait a period of time after receiving the new table or may wait until receiving notification from the fabric manager to begin using the new version number. When a node receives a message from an end node, it inserts either the most recently received version number in one embodiment or uses the version dictated by the fabric manager in another embodiment.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a network gateway is configured to facilitate on line and off line bi-directional communication between a number of near end data and telephony devices with far end data termination devices via a hybrid fiber coaxial network and a cable modem termination system. The described network gateway combines a QAM receiver, a transmitter, a DOCSIS MAC, a CPU, a voice and audio processor, an Ethernet MAC, and a USB controller to provide high performance and robust operation.

Abstract: Frame collisions on communication channels connecting half-duplex units and a full-duplex unit are avoided using MAC and LLC layer protocols adapted to arbitrate channel usage. One or more flags can be included in MAC and LLC packet headers and/or acknowledgements to indicate whether subsequent packet transmissions will be attempted by sending units. Units receiving set flags can hold off transmission until receiving cleared flags from the sending units. In this manner, packet collisions can be avoided.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an system and a method for configuring subnets within a switch network that is typically comprised of switches and a router coupled together via a common shared bus. In one embodiment, a VLAN-defined (virtual local area network-defined) subnet is configured by mapping a subnet to a VLAN. All subnet members share a single VLAN ID irrespective of device boundaries of the switch network. In particular, in contrast to the span of a conventional subnet, the span of the VLAN-defined subnet is not required to be confined within a single switch's device boundary. As such, the present invention provides flexibility in configuring subnets. Moreover, an intra-VLAN packet forwarding mechanism is provided for said VLAN-defined subnet such that a packet can be transmitted between any two subnet members. This intra-VLAN packet forwarding mechanism avoids routing even when the VLAN-defined subnet spans more than one switch.

Abstract: A system and method for managing high speed traffic though switching elements in a digital network such as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. The system applies in particular to available bit rate (ABR) and unspecified bit rate (UBR) categories of service in an ATM network. ABR traffic incorporates resource management cells (RM) in a feed back loop from destination to source for the purpose of carrying explicit rate (ER) congestion control information. Lookup tables are provided in order to quickly provide ER information to the RM cells. UBR traffic is subject to cell discard in the event of congestion. Lookup tables are provided in order to fairly apply an early packet discard (EPD) algorithm.

Abstract: A first network element includes or is associated with a query engine that allows it to retrieve operating parameters from a second network element even when the first and second network elements are not participating in a common routing protocol. The first element is thereby able to determine if the second network is operational and to take action to reroute data to a backup element if the second element is not operational.

Abstract: Scheduling is performed for a switch fabric (e.g., an input-buffered switch fabric). A first input port from a set of input ports is selected, for a first output port, based on a weight value uniquely associated with each link from a first set of links. Each link from the first set of links are between the first output port and a unique input port from the set of input ports. A second output port from a set of output ports is selected for a second input port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a communication system (SYS) for setting up connections from a first terminal (TE) of a first communication network (TCP/IP) to a second terminal (MS) of a second communication network (PLMN). A specific access server (AS) is selected on the basis of the location (LA) of the second terminal (MS) and/or on the basis of call processing related features (CPC) necessary for handling the call in the first and/or second communication network (TCP/IP, PLMN). Thus, always the optimal access server (AS), e.g. nearest to the second terminal (MS) can be selected, together with the appropriate functionalities needed for supporting the call in the networks.

Abstract: An improved data communication technique may be employed with modems through a packet network. The disclosed technique facilitates a virtual end-to-end connection between two modems such that the two modems can effectively behave as if directly connected to each other, unaware of any modifications to the data being transferred or to the protocols configured within the communication connection. Preferably, a data communication system for carrying out the communication technique demodulates data coming from a first modem, transports the demodulated data in packets between two gateways, and then remodulates the data before delivering to a second modem at the other end.

Abstract: A method for communicating data over a packet switched network comprises dividing data into a plurality of frames, with each frame described by at least a first and a second parameter. The second parameter has a high correlation. The first parameter is placed in a first and a second description, while the second parameter is interleaved to the first and second descriptions. The first and second descriptions are packetized and communicated over the network. Upon reception, the first parameters for a frame sequence are extracted from one of the packets, while the interleaved second parameters are extracted from both the packets. If a packet is lost, the missing first parameter may be obtained from another packet, while the missing second parameter may be reconstructed using a second parameter from the other packet.

Abstract: A wireless communication system configured to communicate using a mixed waveform configuration. The mixed waveform includes a first portion modulated according to a single-carrier scheme with a preamble and header and a second portion modulated according to a multi-carrier scheme. The waveform is specified so that a CIR estimate obtainable from the first portion is reusable for acquisition of the second portion by the receiver. The transmitter may include first and second kernels and a switch, where switch selects the first kernel for the first portion and the second kernel for the second portion to develop a transmit waveform. The receiver may include a single-carrier receiver, a multi-carrier receiver, and a switch that provides a first portion of a signal being received to the single-carrier receiver and a second portion of the signal being received to the multi-carrier receiver.

Abstract: An isochronous output data stream format which is time multiplexed and has a fixed time period where input isochronous data streams are multiplexed into the output isochronous data stream and the output data stream is the same data rate as the fastest input isochronous data stream. One or more of the input data streams contain a code which has been run length limited and/or has a zero running digital sum with banded disparity. In another embodiment, an isochronous output data stream format which is time multiplexed and has a fixed time period where input isochronous data streams are multiplexed into the output isochronous data stream and the output data stream is the sum of the maximum input isochronous data streams. One or more of the data streams contain a code which has been run length limited and/or has a zero running digital sum with banded disparity.

Abstract: A network layer bridge includes: plurality of ports for connection to different network segments, a first port and a second port for connection to respective first and second network segments; a memory for storing network layer addresses for nodes with corresponding port identifiers and data link layer addresses, and data link layer addresses of more than one type; and a unit for discovering corresponding port identifier and data link layer address for a network layer address. The bridge forwards a message from a first node to a second node when corresponding port identifiers and data link level addresses for both first and second nodes are stored in the memory; the message being addressed with the network layer address of the second node, and the network layer bridge directing the message through the corresponding port to the corresponding data link level address for the second node.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a plurality of media conferences includes digital signal processors (DSPs) and a system resource management (SRM) module coupled to the DSPs. Each DSP receives input data packets from conference participants, processes the input data packets to generate output data packets, and communicates the output data packets to the conference participants. The SRM module may migrate a media conference from a first DSP to a second DSP.

Abstract: This invention relates to an SDH transmission technique, wherein one SDH transmission equipment is provided with a first switching control part which performs a line switching control between a work line and a protection line in accordance with setting information on a line switching control and a setting information transfer part which transfers the setting information to other SDH transmission equipment as setting information at other SDH transmission equipment, while other SDH transmission equipment is provided with a setting information detection part which detects the setting information transferred from the one SDH transmission equipment and a second line switching control part which performs a line switching control at own side in accordance with the setting information detected by the setting information detection part.

Abstract: In a code division multiple access communication system, a method and apparatus provide for an efficient testing of operating behavior of a quality indicator bit. The method and the accompanying apparatus include configuring a receiver to expect to receive a communication channel at a full data rate, and transmitting a signal from a transmitter to the receiver. The signal is carrying the communication channel at a data rate other than said full data rate, and at a power level for receiving at the full data rate. Consequently, the receiver fails to receive the communication channel at the full data rate. A received signal to noise ratio of the received signal at the receiver is determined. A value of the quality indicator bit is determined based on the determined signal to noise ratio. The determined value of the quality indicator bit is communicated to the transmitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for increasing a data throughput in network applications for the transmission of data at high speed, for example, the internet, via a packet oriented cordless data network, for example, the GPRS network. The internet application provides for data in the form of data packets (n,n+1,n+2,n+3, . . . ). In case of transmission via the internet the data packets are transmitted via different paths, which is why the data packets are available to the GPRS network at an intermediate node in the wrong sequence. Also, data packets get lost, which upon a new request are available also in the wrong sequence. Due to a different bandwidth a number of data packets is available for transmission at the intermediate node of the GPRS network while a first data packet is transmitted. The sequence of the available data packets is determined and the data packets are sorted for being available for transmission in a sorted sequence.