Abstract: An intelligent network planning and provisioning tool is provided. The intelligent network planning and provisioning tool includes a forecaster coupled to a network control plane. The forecaster receives an estimate of initial network resources from a user and generates a set of link costs and constraints for use by the network control plane in making routing decisions for a network. The network control plane transmits provisioning experience information, representing network traffic demands received by, and provisioning decisions made by, the network control plane, back to the forecaster. When the forecaster receives the provisioning experience from the network control plane, the forecaster generates a new set of link costs that are transmitted to the network control plane for use in making further provisioning decisions. The forecaster may optionally generate link costs, termed “smart costs”, that may be used to route traffic through the network using preferred links.

Abstract: Techniques for performing a continuity check operation include sending a pattern of bits over a packet network connection through a first interface on a packet network to a second interface on the packet network. The first interface is monitored for return of the pattern of bits over the packet network connection. A decision whether the continuity check is successful is based on whether the pattern of bits is detected at the first interface during the monitoring. The techniques can be used for both narrowband as well as broadband calls over the packet network.

Abstract: In today's network, enhancing or otherwise modifying signals in bearer flows in or at equipment already deployed in a network may be done by modifying or upgrading existing equipment, or otherwise invasively routing signals through identified network elements. In accordance with example embodiments of the present invention, signals for control plane flows are transparently monitored using policy based routing to direct control signals from a routing point to a signaling monitoring point. Bearer plane address information of a selected media processing point is substituted for other bearer plane address information in the control signal in a manner that causes subsequent bearer flows to be directed to the selected media processing point from the routing point by destination based routing. Bearer flows may be directed to a media processing point to apply signal enhancement to an encoded media signal on the bearer flows to produce an enhanced media encoded signal.

Abstract: An intelligent network planning and provisioning tool is provided. The intelligent network planning and provisioning tool includes a forecaster coupled to a network control plane. The forecaster receives an estimate of initial network resources from a user and generates a set of link costs and constraints for use by the network control plane in making routing decisions for a network. The network control plane transmits provisioning experience information, representing network traffic demands received by, and provisioning decisions made by, the network control plane, back to the forecaster. When the forecaster receives the provisioning experience from the network control plane, the forecaster generates a new set of link costs that are transmitted to the network control plane for use in making further provisioning decisions. The forecaster may optionally generate link costs, termed “smart costs”, that may be used to route traffic through the network using preferred links.

Abstract: Autonomous link discovery specifies a method and associated procedures that automatically discover various levels of transmission links and paths between transport network elements residing in the transport plane of communications networks. Unlike more traditional centralized polling techniques rooted in a management plane, autonomous link discovery procedures are rooted in and triggered by network elements composing the transport plane. As such, autonomous link discovery procedures may be event driven and execute in a coordinated, distributed fashion to automatically detect new link connectivity associations and correlate link endpoint attributes between these network elements. Once successful link correlations have been determined, autonomous notifications of these correlated link associations are sent to management elements and/or control elements residing in their respective management and control plane domains.

Abstract: Techniques for performing a continuity check operation include sending a pattern of bits over a packet network connection through a first interface on a packet network to a second interface on the packet network. The first interface is monitored for return of the pattern of bits over the packet network connection. A decision whether the continuity check is successful is based on whether the pattern of bits is detected at the first interface during the monitoring. The techniques can be used for both narrowband as well as broadband calls over the packet network.

Abstract: Techniques for performing a continuity check operation include sending a pattern of bits over a packet network connection through a first interface on a packet network to a second interface on the packet network. The first interface is monitored for return of the pattern of bits over the packet network connection. A decision whether the continuity check is successful is based on whether the pattern of bits is detected at the first interface during the monitoring. The techniques can be used for both narrowband as well as broadband calls over the packet network.

Abstract: Techniques for providing communication services include provisioning a packet network connection that has packet channels, each of which is independently capable of carrying narrowband signals so as to emulate a private line circuit. A narrowband private line that traverses the packet network connection using a particular one of the packet channels is established. Delays that might otherwise be introduced as a result of packetizing the narrowband signals can be reduced. Private lines that traverse the packet network connection using other packet channels can be added or removed without adversely affecting the existing lines. Additionally, a narrowband communication line that traverses a channel in a first virtual circuit connection in a packet network can be rolled over to a channel in a second virtual circuit connection in the packet network. The latter technique can improve the use of available bandwidth and can be applied to non-private line applications as well.

Abstract: The present invention that provides a network topology for an ATM network. The topology includes a source network element, at least one intermediate network element, and a distributed virtual path connecting the source network element and the intermediate network elements. The distributed virtual path includes a virtual circuit that originates from the source network element and a virtual circuit that originates from at least one of the intermediate network elements. The distributed virtual path originates from the source network element and may terminate on a destination network element or on the source network element (thereby forming a ring). The network elements may be, for example, computers, satellites or other communications devices.

Abstract: The present invention that provides a network topology for an ATM network. The topology includes a source network element, at least one intermediate network element, and a distributed virtual path connecting the source network element and the intermediate network elements. The distributed virtual path includes a virtual circuit that originates from the source network element and a virtual circuit that originates from at least one of the intermediate network elements. The distributed virtual path originates from the source network element and may terminate on a destination network element or on the source network element (thereby forming a ring). The network elements may be, for example, computers, satellites or other communications devices.

Abstract: A method for managing an upgrade on a system that includes a system manager, a subsystem of a first type and a subsystem of a second type that is subordinate to the subsystem of the first type is disclosed.

Abstract: A warm air furnace including a plenum, a blower, heat exchanger disposed within the plenum and an air distribution chamber. The heat exchanger includes an encasement surrounding a plurality of vertically extending heat exchanger tubes. The tubes are in communication with the plenum and with the air distribution chamber. A fibrous refractory inorganic tubular flame chamber is positioned within the encasement and is partially surrounded by the vertically extending tubes. The tubes are positioned in a generally U-shaped pattern and one of the tubes contacts the flame chamber. The tubes along the sides of the pattern are interconnected by upper and lower side baffles. The baffles are vertically spaced from each other to define exhaust outlets. A rear baffle extends between the tubes along the base of the pattern. A flue extends from the encasement for exhaust of combustion gases.