Abstract: Register banks are used to allow for fast beam switching in a phased array system. Each beam forming channel is associated with a register bank containing M register sets for configuring such things as gain/amplitude and phase parameters of the beam forming channel. The register banks for all beam forming channels can be pre-programmed and then fast beam switching circuitry allows all beam forming channels across the array to be switched to use the same register set from its corresponding register bank at substantially the same time, thereby allowing the phased array system to be quickly switched between various beam patterns and orientations. Active power control circuitry may be used to control the amount of electrical power provided to or consumed by one or more individual beam forming channels such as to reduce DC power consumption of the array and/or to selectively change the effective directivity of the array.

Abstract: A method, device and software for ensuring path diversity across a communications network are disclosed. The method forms a digest of resources used in an initial, working, path is created as the initial path is established. This digest may be used during the formation of a subsequent, protection, path. Each node along the subsequent path can use the digest to ensure that resources are not common to the initial and subsequent paths. Conveniently, the digest may take the form of a Bloom filter that summarizes local information about resources known to each node along the initial path. The method lends itself for use in an MPLS compliant network or any connection oriented network such as an ATM, SONET or switched optical network.