Abstract: A method and system for packaging frames or packets encoded in a variety of formats, for example, Frame Relay, Ethernet, ATM, or TCP/IP. The method includes: accumulating first and second packets; determining the length of each packet; and storing the lengths into a header associated with the first packet. By using the length field, frame synchronization can be efficiently achieved and maintained for the packets encoded using the method.

Abstract: A system (210) for facilitating bidirectional data transfer between a customer premises equipment (212) and information service providers (228A-N) includes a channel service unit (258) which receives packets of data from the information service providers (228A-N), and passes the packets of data to a router (256). The router (256) segregates the packets of data based on which customer premises equipment (212) is destined to receive the packets of data. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) adapter (264) converts the packets of data to an ATM cell, and an ATM modulator (266) synchronizes the ATM cell to facilitate transmission over an ATM broadband network (232).

Abstract: A system (210) for facilitating bidirectional data transfer between a customer premises equipment (212) and information service providers (228A-N) includes a channel service unit (258) which receives packets of data from the information service providers (228A-N), and passes the packets of data to a router (256). The router (256) segregates the packets of data based on which customer premises equipment (212) is destined to receive the packets of data. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) adapter (264) converts the packets of data to an ATM cell, and an ATM modulator (266) synchronizes the ATM cell to facilitate transmission over an ATM broadband network (232).

Abstract: A data packet transmission system is disclosed. The system comprises a processor (178) having a memory block (202) and a communication controller (204). The processor (178) stores a data packet (205), a buffer descriptor array (206), and a header (208) in the memory block (202). The buffer descriptor array (206) has a first plurality of elements (206b, 206d, 206f, 206h, 206i), each indicating a respective segment (205a-205e) of the data packet (206), and a second plurality of elements (206a, 206c, 206e, 206g), each indicating the header (208). The processor (178) supplies the location of the buffer descriptor array (206) to the communication controller (204). In response, the communication controller (204) transmits a plurality of cells (222, 224, 226, 228), each cell including the header (208) and a segment of the data packet (205), to a destination system (180).

Abstract: A distributed telecommunications switching system (100) is disclosed. The system includes a controller (140) that generates and transmits a cell stream with a plurality of reserved cells. A first switching subsystem (104) in communication with the controller (140) receives the cell stream and a first plurality of cells. The first switching subsystem (104) identifies the reserved cells in the cell stream and replaces selected ones of the reserved cells with selected ones of the first plurality of cells to produce a modified cell stream. The modified cell stream is transmitted to a second switching subsystem (102).

Abstract: A file system (10) for a memory device includes a first volume (12), a second volume (14), and a third volume (16). The first volume (12) is located at a highest portion of the memory space defined by the file system (10) of the memory device and includes a primary volume and directory entry control block area (18) to store the control blocks associated with the entire memory space of the memory device. Control blocks are stored in a descending order within the first volume (12). The second volume (14) is located at an intermediate portion of the memory space defined by the file system (10) and includes a secondary volume and directory entry control block area (20) to store the control blocks when the primary control block area (18) of the first volume (12) is being erased and rewritten into. The third volume (16) is located at a lowest portion of the memory space defined by the file system (10) and is used to store data files in an ascending direction.