Abstract: Path protection of high priority traffic is provided between network nodes in a packet network carrying lower priority traffic in addition to the high priority traffic. First and second traffic paths are provided between the nodes, the high priority traffic being allocated to the first path and the lower priority traffic to the second path. In the event of a failure or degradation of the first path carrying the high priority traffic, this traffic is switched from the first path on to the second path and the lower priority traffic is switched to the first path.

Abstract: A Digital Access Systems (DAS) Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) comprising: a DAS modem connected to an internal packet switched network having a switch and arranged such that the internal network is coupled to an external packet switched network by a DAS link over an access network; a network-telephony interface connected to the internal network and coupled to a customer premises telephony appliance; a network-data interface connected to the internal network and coupled to a customer premises data appliance; a controller to control the switch for establishing packet transfer paths between the modem and the interfaces to complete calls between the appliances and entities on the external network; and transferring of control and information signals between the controller and a computing function to adapt the controller to provide alternative packet transfer paths dependent on predetermined conditions in order to provide one or more additional CPE services.

Abstract: An equipment architecture for Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) equipment is provided, along with related methods of operation.

Abstract: In a broad band network comprising a plurality of edge switches interconnected by a plurality of tandem switches, IP packet data is routed by determining from each packet whether that packet forms part of a flow of packets. Where a packet is determined to be part of a flow, it is segmented into minicells for transmission over a permanent virtual channel established across the network for that flow. Where a packet is not determined to be part of a flow, a destination edge switch is identified for that packet which is then transported to that edge switch via a default permanent virtual channel. Permanent virtual channels for new flows are established at the network periphery by defining a succession of nodes and virtual channels (VCs) to be used to reach the destination of that flow.

Abstract: Voice and data traffic are transported over a digital subscriber loop by multiplexing one or more plesiochronous packet data channels together with lower priority asynchronous traffic into a single composite data stream for transmission over the loop. The plesiochronous data packets each comprise a number of bytes together with a header element containing channel identification information and a packet length indicator. Each plesiochronous data packet is assigned a transmission time such that the desired nominal data rate for the plesiochronous channel is achieved when packets containing the preferred number of bytes are transmitted at the preferred time intervals.

Abstract: An infrastructure exchange (12) has a cross-point switch that is arranged to couple data transmission between subscriber terminals (16, 18), each having a dedicated modem (34), and at least one assignable modem (148) located in the infrastructure exchange (12). The infrastructure exchange (12) comprises fewer assignable modems than a combined number of dedicated modems within the subscriber terminals (16, 18) and, since the cross-point switch (106) is responsive to the data transmission sent via the modems of the subscriber terminals, the cross-point switch (106) thereby acts to concentrate a ratio of dedicated modems to assignable modems.

Abstract: A synchronous telecommunications network comprises a number of rings each incorporating a plurality of multiplexers and each coupled to a switch via a respective master multiplexer. A disaster recovery interface point provides an interface to one or more remote switches. Each ring incorporates a dormant master multiplexer coupled to the disaster recovery point and which is activated in response to a failure of the switch as a replacement master multiplexer so as to re-route traffic on the synchronous ring to the remote switch. This maintains service in the event of a catastrophic failure of the switch.

Abstract: Restricted data is stored on a smart card having a memory and a processor. Preferably the restricted data is stored in groups. The smart card may store a record of users authorized to access certain groups of restricted data. An owner of the smart card must authorize registration of new users by entering their password, the new users are then given their own passwords in order to retrieve certain groups of restricted data. When a registered user uses their password to retrieve restricted data the smart card irretrievably modifies a codeword in a codeword section of the restricted data group, each codeword corresponding to an authorized user. The owner of the smart card is then able to determine if the restricted data has been accessed by checking for modified codewords.

Abstract: A service terminal facility is provided at a public access location, for example in a hotel, hospital or airport, the service terminal facility available for providing electronic information services to users, in response to input of a portable data storage medium, for example a smart card or the like. A smart card contains stored data describing user specified information such as contacts names, personal details and medical information and personal interest information. The service terminal comprises a search engine for searching the user data and comparing data types within the user data with general data stored locally at the service terminal. The service terminal selects data corresponding to data types specified in the user data and displays these on the graphical user interface at the service terminal, or at a user interface connected with the service terminal.

Abstract: A data access and retrieval system comprises a plurality of user data sources each storing electronic data signals describing data specific to a user, or enabling services selected by a user; an agent device which is configurable to select individual ones of the user data sources and present selections of user data and service data to a set of callers who may interrogate the agent device remotely over a communications network; a plurality of service terminals capable of communicating with the agent device over a communications network the service terminals operable by said callers; and a plurality of key devices, storing caller information and security code information for enabling remote access of selections of user data and/or services to be transmitted over a communications network to a caller located at a said service terminal.