Abstract: The ad-hoc router enables a decentralized IP routing network (mobile of fixed) amongst a set of network devices, and can offer quality of services for voice, video and data applications. The ad-hoc router is divided into a receiving, control/management processing, IP datapath/routing, randomizer, scheduler and transmission blocks. The IP datapath/routing block provides, in addition to the standard datapath routing functionality, per packet labels that uniquely identify the source device of the packet in the network. The scheduler maintains a plurality of QoS queues, which are then dequeued with a WFQ scheduler, which can be based on standard technology or a simplified low-cost implementation. The randomizer uses the labels to route the packets to a queue such that all packets from the source device, indicated by the label, enter the same queue. For greater security, the randomizer uses a random mapping function that is re-computed periodically.

Abstract: A backpressure mechanism uses a TDM backpressure bus with each port card being assigned time slot. During its time slot, each ingress card/port writes on the bus the number of packets it transmitted to an egress ports during the last data refresh cycle. This information is read by the egress ports and used to compute current depth of the switch fabric output queues. In addition to information received from ingress cards, egress cards keep count of number of packets received from the appropriate switch fabric port and based on it estimate/calculate the current depth of the switch fabric output queue. Congestion states are calculated for all queues by comparing the queue depth with a respective threshold. Each egress card uses these congestion states to generate backpressure signals to ingress cards. Ingress card are using these signals to make decision whether to send or not traffic to destination egress card/port.

Abstract: A distributed, multistage agent for monitoring, diagnosis and maintenance of network devices comprises an input/output interface for receiving input monitoring and diagnostic data relevant to operation of a first neighboring agent and transmitting output monitoring and diagnostic data relevant to operation of the host network device to a second neighboring agent. An agent process analyzes the input data and generates processed data characterizing operation of the host network device, using a local database which stores expected performance data on operation of said network device. The processed data is correlated with the expected data any error is signaled to the network operator. The agents may be designed as a multiple stage process, the stages being triggered by the data output by an earlier stage only when needed.

Abstract: A feed additive for dairy cattle is described comprising DHA and inhibitors of microbial degradation of DHA in the rumen of the dairy cattle. A method of producing milk in dairy cattle which is enriched for DHA is also described comprising feeding the dairy cattle a feed containing the feed additive of the invention for a period of at least about 14 day, and milking the dairy cattle to obtain milk enriched for DHA.

Abstract: An efficient and economical process for the waste treatment of spent metal plating solutions, primarily spent electroless nickel solutions, to significantly reduce the metal content therein, so as to permit direct discharge to municipal water systems without violation of the law. The waste treatment process is a sequential two-step chemical precipitation process, whereby the dissolved metal content is precipitated first by sodium borohydride reduction, followed by sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate precipitation, with an intermediate filtration step and pH adjustment step interposed there between. The amount of metal-bearing sludge produced is minimal. Furthermore, the bulk of the metals in the sludge may be recovered and reused, resulting in significant reduction in hazardous waste disposal costs.