Abstract: A backplane device to connect to a plurality of stackable network switch devices. According to one aspect of the intention, each of the plurality of stackable network switch devices can implement its own internal non-blocking switching. According to another aspect of the intention, the relative configuration of connectors and signal lines of the backplane device provide for a switch device to be readily connected into (or disconnected from) a switch stack implementing combined non-blocking switching.

Abstract: Implementation of non-blocking switch stacking capability for a switch device using a plug-in stacking module to connect to the switch device. In one embodiment, the plug-in stacking module receives switched data from one switch means of the connected switch device and switches the received switch data to another switch means of the same switch device. In another embodiment, switching configurations are changed so that operation of the switch device in combination with the plug-in stacking module increases a total number of ports for which non-blocking switching is supported.

Abstract: Implementation of non-blocking switch stacking capability for a switch device using a plug-in stacking module to connect to the switch device. In one embodiment, the plug-in stacking module receives switched data from one switch means of the connected switch device and switches the received switch data to another switch means of the same switch device. In another embodiment, switching configurations are changed so that operation of the switch device in combination with the plug-in stacking module increases a total number of ports for which non-blocking switching is supported.

Abstract: A filter arrangement, for shaping a signal transmitted over POTS wiring, includes an input to receive a signal. The filter arrangement includes a signal path from the input to an output that is coupled to POTS wiring. The transmit path includes a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter, and a trap filter coupled between the high and the low-pass filter. The trap filter operationally introduces a filter zero at a resonant frequency of the high-pass filter.

Abstract: A data transmission protocol for use in an ATM-based point-to-multipoint passive optical network having a headend facility and a plurality of downstream network units, wherein downstream data is transmitted in serial data frames comprising one hundred eighty, fifty-four byte downstream slots, including two framing slots and one hundred seventy-eight ATM cell slots, which are transmitted every 125 .mu.sec for an overall downstream bit rate of 622.08 Mbps. Upstream data transmission is provided on a "permit" basis controlled by the headend based on monitoring ATM cell queue sizes at respective network units, wherein each downstream frame slot includes a one byte MAC overhead header field for transmitting upstream transmission permits allocated over twenty bit permit fields, for a total of seventy-two upstream permits allocated per downstream frame.

Abstract: Network architectures and data communication protocols for supporting both downstream and upstream transport of digital data between a headend facility and multiple downstream network terminals over a shared communication medium include downstream framing protocols compatible with DVB modem transmission framing synchronization and FEC standards at the physical layer, which support a full range of 16 to 256 QAM transmission rates in both 6 MHz and 8 MHz channels. The downstream data frames are formed by one or more repeating pairs of DVB compatible frame slots, wherein each downstream frame is transmitted over the same interval, e.g., 250 usec in preferred formats, regardless of the number of DVB slot pairs it contains. All downstream frame rates are supported by a single upstream data rate. Upstream bandwidth is allocated based on a selected set of operating criteria and service type priorities, based on both a polling basis and a contention basis, on one or more in-band RF subcarrier channels.

Abstract: A data transmission protocol for use in an ATM-based point-to-multipoint passive optical network having a headend facility and a plurality of downstream network units, wherein downstream data is transmitted in serial data frames comprising one hundred eighty, fifty-four byte downstream slots, including two framing slots and one hundred seventy-eight ATM cell slots, which are transmitted every 125 .mu.sec for an overall downstream bit rate of 622.08 Mbps. Upstream data transmission is provided on a "permit" basis controlled by the headend based on monitoring ATM cell queue sizes at respective network units, wherein each downstream frame slot includes a one byte MAC overhead header field for transmitting upstream transmission permits allocated over twenty bit permit fields, for a total of seventy-two upstream permits allocated per downstream frame.

Abstract: Network architectures and data communication protocols for supporting both downstream and upstream transport of digital data between a headend facility and multiple downstream network terminals over a shared communication medium include downstream framing protocols compatible with DAVIC/DVB modem transmission framing synchronization and FEC standards at the physical layer. The downstream data frames are formed by two or more repeating pairs of DVB compatible frame slots, wherein each downstream frame is transmitted over the same interval, e.g., 250 .mu.sec in preferred formats, regardless of the number of DVB slot pairs it contains. All downstream frame rates are supported by a single upstream data rate. Upstream bandwidth is allocated based on a selected set of operating criteria and service type priorities, based on both a polling basis and a contention basis, on one or more in-band RF carrier channels. Low delay services such as synchronous telephony are provided with requisite delivery and priority.

Abstract: A subscriber network interface for connecting a subscriber premise location to a broadband communication network transporting multiple two-way communication signals, including at least RF analog and RF carrier modulated ATM cells, respectively, includes a coupler for directing incoming communication signals onto, and outgoing signals off of, respectively, at least first and second internal RF communication paths, wherein the first RF communication path includes a bandwidth filter for restricting transmission to, e.g., a CATV broadcast signal, and the second RF communication path is connected to a first modem configured for demodulating and modulating, respectively, the incoming and outgoing ATM cells. A second modem for separately demodulating and modulating, respectively, incoming and outgoing digital baseband signals may also be provided.