Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a physical link to a service provider is disclosed whereby physical link information in a carrier network is store, in one embodiment, in a database within the carrier network or, in another embodiment, in a database shared by a carrier and a service provider. In response to a request from the service provider for the use of the physical link, physical link information and network management information associated is retrieved from that database. In one embodiment, this information is sent directly from the carrier via in-band signaling. In another embodiment, the information is retrieved from the shared database and is transmitted via out-of-band signaling. In accordance with yet another embodiment, messages exchanged between service providers and carriers comprise digital certificates that are used to verify the identity of the providers and carriers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a physical link to a service provider is disclosed whereby physical link information in a carrier network is store, in one embodiment, in a database within the carrier network or, in another embodiment, in a database shared by a carrier and a service provider. In response to a request from the service provider for the use of the physical link, physical link information and network management information associated is retrieved from that database. In one embodiment, this information is sent directly from the carrier via in-band signaling. In another embodiment, the information is retrieved from the shared database and is transmitted via out-of-band signaling. In accordance with yet another embodiment, messages exchanged between service providers and carriers comprise digital certificates that are used to verify the identity of the providers and carriers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a physical link to a service provider is disclosed whereby physical link information in a carrier network is store, in one embodiment, in a database within the carrier network or, in another embodiment, in a database shared by a carrier and a service provider. In response to a request from the service provider for the use of the physical link, physical link information and network management information associated is retrieved from that database. In one embodiment, this information is sent directly from the carrier via in-band signaling. In another embodiment, the information is retrieved from the shared database and is transmitted via out-of-band signaling. In accordance with yet another embodiment, messages exchanged between service providers and carriers comprise digital certificates that are used to verify the identity of the providers and carriers.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a Virtual Path (VP12) capability in a Frame Relay network wherein frames are transmitted over a plurality of virtual circuits from a first switching node to a second switching node. A control message is transmitter from the first switching node to the second switching node with a Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI) having a predetermined value indicating the purpose of the control message which is to define a virtual path aggregating at least two virtual circuits selected from multiple virtual circuits. The control message contains the identification of the virtual circuits aggregated in the defined virtual path.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing of Data Link Switching-like protocols within a high speed packet switching network environment. The invention relates to new access services for NBBS (Networking Broad Band Services) networks. A new access agent (implementing the DLSw Access Services) provides a dramatically simplified but comprehensive Data Link Switching Services across a wide area network and minimizes the latency to set up SNA paths across the network, while maximizing the efficiency of setting up these paths. The invention does not require the implementation of a complex and large TCP/IP protocol stack within the Data Link Switching node. The Access Agent implementing the DLSw node makes intensive use of such NBBS facilities as the Spanning Tree with the use of internode functional addresses, for the exchange of the control information necessary to efficiently set up paths across the network between DLSw access agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for pre-loading access nodes with the location of more frequently requested resources. The method includes declaring each locally supported communication protocol for participating to control message exchanges between nodes supporting a same communication protocol; receiving a message to locate a target resource; searching for information related to the location of the target resource in the Local Directory Database; broadcasting an undirected message to the other access nodes in the network to locate the target resource; receiving a control message from the destination access node providing access to the target resource, this control message comprising information related to the location of the target resource; and storing the information related to the location of the target resource in the Local Directory Database.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data frames with compressed headers in a multiprotocol data transmission network comprising at least one ingress node transmitting data to egress nodes. Each frame of data includes data bytes and a header which defines the transmission protocols.

Abstract: A method, system or program product for assigning a dual address to a workstation connecting anywhere to an IP data transmission network composed of at least a first Local Area Network (LAN) provided with a home Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, a home Domain Name Services (DNS) server and a home registration server; this method comprising: a) off-line registering into the registration server the workstation parameters including a static IP address, and a logon ID and password which have been provided to the user of the workstation, b) connecting the workstation to the IP network, the workstation being configured in DHCP mode, c) providing by the home registration server a dynamic IP address to the workstation, d) calling the home registration server by the workstation to get first the static IP address and, secondly a configuration file for the workstation, and e) configuring automatically the applications to be processed by the workstation with the static IP address or the dynamic IP ad