Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a virtual circuit network is disclosed that enables hand-off management. An illustrative embodiment establishes a virtual ciruit by receiving, at a radio port, a virtual circuit identifier from a wireless terminal and attaching the virtual circuit identifier to an OA&M cell. The radio port then transmits, over a pre-established unidirectional virtual ciruit, the OA&M cell to a radio port manager.

Abstract: A telecommunications architecture using ATM based technology is disclosed that supports wireless communications. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide a mechanism for hand-off, which has fewer costs and restrictions than other hand-off schemes the in the prior art. In one embodiment a plurality of virtual circuit identifiers is created such that each is unambiquously associated with the others. The virtual circuit identifiers are then transmitted to a wireless terminal, via a first radio port. Subsequently, the wireless terminal transmits one of the virtual circuit identifiers to second radio port.

Abstract: An orthopaedic implant device is formed from, or defined by, a combination of different materials. These devices include a body metal component and a porous metal surface layer for intimate contact with bone and a polymer in the form of a casing that includes adhesive characteristics for attachment to the body metal component and the porous metal layer. The preferred polymer casing is polyaryletherketone.