Abstract: A local network is interfaced with one or more external network elements via a gateway that implements an address substitution mechanism for ensuring that communications between devices attached to the local network are not routed through an external network as a result of, e.g., disparity in their remotely-assigned Internet protocol (IP) addresses. In accordance with the invention, the gateway is configured to intercept communications from devices on the local network in order to determine remotely-assigned IP address information for those devices. After such information is determined for a given device, the gateway creates a set of address substitution information that includes sub-network compatible addresses for use by other devices on the local network when communicating with the given device.

Abstract: A logical star architecture imposed on an underlying non-star network, for example a Virtual Path Ring (VPR), enhances a mesh protocol with an automatic method for Virtual Path ID (VPI) generation. The VPIs are used by the mesh protocol's inherent routing function to effect automatic configuration at installation, automatic reconfiguration at node updates, and automatic reconfiguration for protection switching. The imposition of the logical star architecture on a VPR reduces node-to-node switching costs (e.g., delay, as well as memory and processing costs) since all nodes in a logical star topology are at most two logical hops away. The logical star also conserves virtual path address space relative to a fully configured ring. Additionally, the imposition of the logical star architecture allows existing star functions to be deployed on the underlying network. Finally, when the underlying architecture is a ring, the protection advantages of ring networks can be preserved.

Abstract: A switch or other processing element of a communication system is configured to detect automatically the particular version of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) user-network interface (UNI) protocol or other signaling protocol utilized by a customer premises equipment (CPE) device or other device coupled to the switch. The switch analyzes at least one message received in a signaling channel from the coupled device in order to determine the particular version of the protocol, and stores an indicator of the particular version of the protocol for use in subsequent interaction with the coupled device. Call processing functions of the switch may be reconfigured based at least in part on the determination of the particular protocol version.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating a system resource in a communication system having an interconnected set of modules and for which the system resource is allocated among the modules are disclosed. The interconnected set of modules may be a multi-shelf daisy-chained DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM), with each of the modules corresponding to a particular shelf of the DSLAM. The system resource is initially allocated among the modules in accordance with a predetermined allocation, e.g., a reserve pool is established with a first portion of the system resource and the remaining portion of the system resource is equally divided among the interconnected modules. The allocation of the system resource is then periodically updated based at least in part on measured characteristics of at least a subset of the modules, the measured characteristics being indicative of utilization of the initial allocation.

Abstract: An automated administration system for providing state-based control of soft-labeled keys (SLKs) in a wireless terminal or other type of communication system terminal. In an illustrative embodiment, the automated administration system uses a set of operations to generate information representative of a state machine for controlling labels for the SLKs. The operations process input received from a given user, e.g., a form specifying desired features, layout and language, and generate a state transition table or other suitable representation of a corresponding state machine. Other information generated by the automated administration system may include a control table and a label table. The control table associates a different set of SLK label identifiers with each state in a set of states of the terminal. Each of the label identifiers specifies a label to be associated with a given one of the SLKs in at least one of the states.

Abstract: An autosensor or other communication system processing device determines which of a number of available link variants is required for a particular communication link that couples customer premises equipment (CPE) or another type of device to a network. The autosensor examines responses to messages sent over the link in order to determine one or more link variants associated therewith. The CPE or other device may then be automatically configured to support the determined link variant(s), e.g., by activation of an appropriate protocol entity in the CPE or other device. For example, CPE may be coupled to a network via an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) virtual circuit (VC) established over a digital subscriber line (DSL). In such an arrangement, multiple protocols may be encapsulated within the ATM cells, with each of the multiple protocols corresponding to a link variant. The CPE in this case may correspond to an ADSL termination unit-receive (ATU-R) device, or other type of gateway.

Abstract: A wireless terminal or other type of terminal in a communication system is controlled in a bandwidth-efficient manner using commands associated with a terminal protocol supported by a switch of the system. In an illustrative embodiment, a set of command symbols are generated by: (i) resizing a command space associated with a wired terminal protocol to obtain a reduced command space suitable for use with a wireless terminal; (ii) generating a representation in which a first portion of the reduced command space is correlated with a second portion of the reduced command space; and (iii) assigning command symbols to valid entries in the representation, such that a given one of the command symbols uniquely identifies a particular combination of commands in the reduced command space. The switch transmits a given command symbol to the wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal decodes the symbol and executes the corresponding commands specified by the symbol.

Abstract: Soft-labeled keys (SLKs) of a wireless terminal or other type of terminal in a communication system are controlled in an efficient manner using a state-based control model. In an illustrative embodiment, a state machine is generated such that each state in the state machine specifies a set of labels for a corresponding set of soft-labeled keys associated with the wireless terminal. At least a portion of the state machine is downloaded from a switch of the system, and processed to generate a display including a given one of the sets of labels. The state machine may be in the form of a state transition table which includes, for each state, (i) a set of labels for the set of soft-labeled keys, (ii) a set of feature identifiers, e.g., system codes, each identifying, for a given one of the labels, a particular feature supported by the switch, and (iii) a next state which is entered when the corresponding soft-labeled key is selected by the user.

Abstract: A feature presentation order for a feature browser display of a communication system terminal is controlled in accordance with user-specific feature utilization history information. The utilization history information may include a set of utilization counters for each of a number of features supported by the system, and the presentation order may be determined by sorting the utilization values of the corresponding features in an increasing or decreasing order. Advantageously, the invention allows different user-specific utilization-based feature presentation orders to be provided to different users of the system.

Abstract: A logical star architecture imposed on an underlying non-star network, for example a Virtual Path Ring (VPR), enhances a mesh protocol with an automatic method for Virtual Path ID (VPI) generation. The VPIs are used by the mesh protocol's inherent routing function to effect automatic configuration at installation, automatic reconfiguration at node updates, and automatic reconfiguration for protection switching. The imposition of the logical star architecture on a VPR reduces node-to-node switching costs (e.g., delay, as well as memory and processing costs) since all nodes in a logical star topology are at most two logical hops away. The logical star also conserves virtual path address space relative to a fully configured ring. Additionally, the imposition of the logical star architecture allows existing star functions to be deployed on the underlying network. Finally, when the underlying architecture is a ring, the protection advantages of ring networks can be preserved.

Abstract: In a system with multiple independent element management systems (EMSs) and their data, control, and service overlap issues, an Integrated Element Management System (IEMS) includes all the capabilities of individual element management systems, but offers additional synergies and features. The IEMS exists in the context of multiple vendor network elements with varying degrees of standardized Management Information Base (MIB) support and multiple EMSs. It minimizes the likelihood of inconsistent provisioning of network (i.e., service) elements resulting from multiple (and possibly inconsistent) parameter entry to independent network elements or EMSs by centrally managing a MetaMIB. The MetaMIB includes at least one authoritative, self-consistent, network-wide set of all parameters for multiple network elements of the end-to-end system. It also includes indicators for each parameter, for each network element, which reference how that data should be interpreted and presented between that element and the IEMS.

Abstract: Feature access control is provided for soft-labeled keys (SLKs) of a wireless terminal or other type of terminal in a communication system. In an illustrative embodiment, a different set of SLK label identifiers are associated in a control table with each state in a set of states of the terminal. Each of the label identifiers specifies a label to be associated with a given one of the SLKs in a given one of the states. The label identifiers are used as pointers into a label table which specifies, for each of the label identifiers, a corresponding label for one of the SLKs. The control table and label table together implement a bidirectional mapping between single switch-based features and corresponding multiple state-based appearances of those features on the terminal. The control table and label table may be downloaded into the terminal from a switch of the system. The SLK labels of the terminal may be updated by, e.g.

Abstract: A feature presentation order for a feature browser display of a communication system terminal, e.g., a wireless terminal, is controlled in accordance with user-specific feature utilization history information. The utilization history information may include, e.g., a set of utilization counters for each of a number of features supported by the system, and the presentation order may be determined by sorting the utilization values of the corresponding features in an increasing or decreasing order. The utilization counters may be stored in a feature presentation management table that is implemented in the terminal and includes a feature identifier, a presentation order number and the utilization counter for each of the features. In a state-based embodiment, a different feature presentation management table is maintained for each of a set of designated terminal states, such as on hook, off hook and active.

Abstract: A packet-based communication system includes a transmitter which configures multiple channels of encoded voice information for transmission through the system to a receiver. In an illustrative embodiment, the transmitter determines a total number of active channels to be coded at each of a number of different available code rates, within a specified bandwidth constraint. The transmitter assigns the code rates to the active channels in accordance with a code rate assignment technique, such that the bandwidth constraint is satisfied for a defined time period, e.g., a voice channel sample period. The code rate assignment technique may be, e.g., a random rate assignment technique, a round robin rate assignment technique, or an oldest talking channel to lowest rate assignment technique.

Abstract: A switch or other processing element of a communication system is configured to detect automatically the particular version of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) user-network interface (UNI) protocol or other signaling protocol utilized by a customer premises equipment (CPE) device or other device coupled to the switch. The switch analyzes at least one message received in a signaling channel from the coupled device in order to determine the particular version of the protocol, and stores an indicator of the particular version of the protocol for use in subsequent interaction with the coupled device. Call processing functions of the switch may be reconfigured based at least in part on the determination of the particular protocol version.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allocating a system resource in a communication system having an interconnected set of modules and for which the system resource is allocated among the modules are disclosed. The interconnected set of modules may be a multi-shelf daisy-chained DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM), with each of the modules corresponding to a particular shelf of the DSLAM. The system resource is initially allocated among the modules in accordance with a predetermined allocation, e.g., a reserve pool is established with a first portion of the system resource and the remaining portion of the system resource is equally divided among the interconnected modules. The allocation of the system resource is then periodically updated based at least in part on measured characteristics of at least a subset of the modules, the measured characteristics being indicative of utilization of the initial allocation.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for selecting, on a dynamic basis, an interworking function (IWF) that can modify a communication protocol to a particular format required by bridged terminal equipment in a communication system. The IWF can be selected to ensure compatibility between transmission bandwidth, coding and other format parameters of a call and the corresponding parameters of its destination terminal in the system. An IWF in accordance with the invention may be utilized to allow a user to bind to different terminals having different capabilities over the duration of a given call. An IWF in accordance with the invention may also be used to insert additional data, retrieved from a database of the switch, into a reverse portion of the call directed from the destination terminal to the source terminal. The invention can thus be used to ensure that the established bandwidth between the destination terminal and the source terminal is substantially bidirectionally symmetric.

Abstract: The invention provides dynamic binding and bridging between a mobile terminal and other more complex terminals in a communication system. In an illustrative embodiment, a temporary association is established, in a memory of a system switch, between the mobile and at least one other system terminal. While the mobile is “registered” in this manner to the other terminal, the mobile user can request permission to utilize the functions of the other terminal in order to, for example, receive incoming calls or place outgoing calls. The temporary association may be established based on a determination of the proximity of the mobile to the other terminal, such that the mobile registers to different complex system terminals as it moves between different cells of the system. The invention also provides techniques which allow users to access a user-defined profile for one terminal at another terminal of the system.

Abstract: The invention in an illustrative embodiment provides binding and bridging between a mobile terminal and other more complex terminals in a communication system. The binding is based on a determination of the proximity of the mobile to the other terminal, such that the mobile registers to different complex system terminals as it moves between different cells of the system. In accordance with the invention, a proximity-based temporary association is established, in a memory of a system switch, between the mobile and at least one other system terminal. While the mobile is “registered” in this manner to the other terminal, the mobile user can request permission to utilize the functions of the other terminal in order to, for example, receive incoming calls or place outgoing calls.

Abstract: Whether or not the provisioning of a given BRI is properly administered is determined by providing a collection of processes which exercise the known network provided supplementary services in a predetermined fashion. Specifically, a predetermined, i.e., algorithmic, process is employed to examine an administration database to determine which DSLs are to support supplementary services and, then, the process invokes a plurality of processes which attempt to activate the expected supplementary service. The basic mode of operation is to generate a connectivity context in which the supplementary service can be invoked and, then, cause the service to be invoked. ISDN messages are transmitted to the network over the D channel of the given BRI both to establish the service context and, then, to invoke the supplemental service.