Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. The method also includes suppressing a selected one or more of the samples. The method also includes retransmitting certain samples when a given sample has stopped changing, in comparison to a previously received sample, for a configured time interval.

Abstract: Techniques for responding to intrusions on a packet switched network include receiving user data at a subscriber-aware gateway server between a network access server and a content server. The user data includes subscriber identifier data that indicates a unique identifier for a particular user, network address data that indicates a network address for a host used by the particular user, NAS data that indicates an identifier for the network access server, flow list data that indicates one or more open data packet flows, and suspicious activity data. The suspicious activity data indicates a value for a property of the open data packet flows that indicates suspicious activity. It is determined whether an intrusion condition is satisfied based on the suspicious activity data. If the intrusion condition is satisfied, then the gateway responds based at least in part on user data other than the network address data.

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of cells associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more of the cells included in the flow should be suppressed. In specific embodiments, the method further includes suppressing a selected one or more of the cells associated with asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) adaptation layer 2 (AAL2).

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of cells associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more of the cells included in the flow should be suppressed. In specific embodiments, the method further includes suppressing a selected one or more of the cells associated with asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) adaptation layer 5 (AAL5).

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. The method further includes suppressing a selected one or more of the samples if the selected samples are similar to previously received samples and interleaving one or more voice data segments associated with a voice call into outgoing Internet protocol (IP) traffic flows. In more particular embodiments, packets that do not come in from a GSM port on the cell site element are designated as default best effort (BE) traffic.

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and inspecting the bits. The method also includes determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. A portion of the bits is converted to 1 bits such that they are designated for later suppression. A selected one or more of the samples are suppressed if the selected samples are designated for suppression.

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of cells associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more of the cells included in the flow should be suppressed, whereby a selected one or more of the cells are suppressed. The method also includes identifying cells that cannot be suppressed and suppressing portions thereof.

Abstract: A device for measuring network performance in an Internet protocol (IP) network including a counter generating a send sequence number representing a relative send timing indicator for a data packet sent to a respondent network address. The counter generates a receive sequence number representing a relative receive timing indicator for a return data packet received by the device. A comparator compares the send sequence number with the receive sequence number to measure data packet loss.

Abstract: A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. The method also includes suppressing a selected one or more of the samples if the selected samples are similar to previously received samples. In a more particular embodiment, the method also includes positioning unique samples that are included in the flow in a super-frame to be communicated to a next destination. Additionally, the method may include receiving the unique samples and evaluating the unique samples in order to restore a plurality of bits associated with the communications flow.

Abstract: A method for operating a computer network has a source router transmit a first message to be received by an intermediate router of the computer network, the first message to activate the intermediate router to listen for a designated time period for the intermediate router to receive a second message. Upon receiving a second message by the intermediate router during the designated time period, the intermediate router responds to the second message in response to receiving the second message during the designated time period.

Abstract: A signaling network node is configured for identifying a received signaling message as belonging to one of a plurality of prescribed originating node groups, based on prescribed message class selection criteria. Each originating node group has at least one originating node and is assigned at least one congestion threshold relative to a message rate (e.g., messages per unit time or number of bytes per unit time). The signaling network node determines the message rate for each corresponding originating node group; if the message rate for an originating node group exceeds the corresponding at least one congestion threshold, the signaling network node outputs a congestion signaling message to the originating node having sent the signaling message, for reduction of the corresponding message rate.

Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of an Internet protocol (IP) network is described. The method includes generating a timing probe data packet to be sent over the network, the timing probe data packet containing at least a send time of day (STOD) stamp for a sender of the timing probe data packet. The method further includes sending the timing probe data packet over the network from the sender to a receiver. Finally, the method further includes analyzing the timing probe data packet contents including at least the STOD stamp as a performance measure of the network. Between the sending and the analyzing, there is further included writing into the timing probe data packet at the receiver data including at least a receive time of day (RTOD) stamp, and echoing the timing probe data packet by the receiver thereof. Thus, the sender of the timing probe data packet performs the analysis based upon the STOD stamp and the RTOD stamp.

Abstract: A control mechanism enables a destination router to authenticate a response time request issued by a source router. The control mechanism uses a control message that is transmitted by the source router to the destination router. Receipt of the control message by the destination router causes the destination router to listen for a server request message for a designated response time. The source router, after sending the control message, transmits a server request message to the destination router. In the event that the destination router receives the server request message within the designated response time, then the destination router responds to the server request message by providing the request to service software. The control message may encapsulate a message that holds the response time request. The request message may be encrypted.

Abstract: The invention provides a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) over a DLSw interconnection so that VLAN identification is preserved as a packet is forwarded from a source VLAN over the TCP/IP link of the DLSw interconnection to a corresponding destination VLAN. A packet assigned to a VLAN is received by a first router. The first router uses a universal parser to determine the VLAN assignment of the packet. The parser is universal as it responds to the type of packet and type of VLAN (Ethernet, IEEE 802.5, etc.). The parser then writes VLAN information into a data structure in the router memory. The parsed data written into the data structure may include the following: the VLAN identification; a user priority identification; a CFI tag field; etc. The information fields in the data structure are assigned to the particular packet as it is processed by the router.

Abstract: Backup peers in an asymmetrically organized computer network are organized into a "pool" of available devices that are activated as necessary. The network comprises a set of remote peers and a set of local peers directly associated with a central computational facility, the local peers facilitating connection between the remote peers and the central facility. During the capabilities exchange, the "primary" local peer to which the remote peer connects provides a list of backup peer devices to the remote peer. If the primary peer fails (or if the rate of message exchange falls below some predetermined threshold), the remote peer can use the backup information to access a backup peer from the pool. The invention allows each backup peer to be assigned to multiple remote peers, with the total number of backup peers determined by aggregate backup utilization (rather than simply assigning an individual backup peer to each primary peer regardless of whether such a high level of redundancy is justified).

Abstract: A hierarchical wide-area network architecture which conforms to the DLSw protocol is provided, in which multiple routers having a logical connection to one another are designated as a peer group. At least one router in each peer group is designated as a border peer, and functions as a gateway between the members of its group and other peer groups. The peer group structure reduces broadcast traffic on slow links by changing the source of the broadcast from a small access router with a relatively slow link to another, more powerful router, with a faster link on the network. More than one border peer can be included in each group, to share the transmission workload and act as a backup. The border peers can share information about the groups that they service and can cooperate to provide a single-point broadcast service to all of the users of the service. When two or more routers are connected to a network in parallel to provide back-up facilities, conditional filters are employed to prevent redundant operations.