Abstract: Various examples relate to apparatuses, devices, methods and computer-readable media for handling connectivity packages. An apparatus for a gateway device comprises interface circuitry, machine-readable instructions, and processor circuitry to execute the machine-readable instructions to obtain information on a plurality of available connectivity packages, with each connectivity package defining a connection between the gateway device and an endpoint of an internet service provider, and with each connectivity package being characterized by one or more connection performance parameters, select one or more connectivity packages of the available connectivity packages for data traffic of a client device, and route the data traffic of the client device via one or more connections between the gateway device and a corresponding endpoint of the internet service provider associated with a respective connectivity package of the selected one or more connectivity packages.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of simulating the functionality of the gatekeeper in a LAN telephony system. The gatekeeper simulator of the present invention enables tester personnel to manually control the behavior of the gatekeeper and its environment. The gatekeeper simulation platform utilizes a commonly available computing platform such as a personal computer (PC) adapted so as to have a LAN connection interface such as a commonly available Network Interface Card (NIC), IP communication stack and an H.323 protocol stack. A gatekeeper simulation software application runs over the IP communication stack and H.323 protocol stack which together constitute a LAN telephony platform. The gatekeeper simulator is adapted to simulate any desired request supported by the H.323 protocol suite. In addition, it is adapted to simulate all possible responses to a request as well. Further, it is adapted to simulate the responses selectively and individually for each specific user in the network.

Abstract: A method of providing a qualification function and associated action function to be performed for a connection request or a group of connection requests. The invention is applicable to situations wherein it is desirable for the network to perform a specific action before, during and/or after the establishment of a connection. The network is provided a mechanism whereby specific connection requests trigger the performance of one or more action functions. The network is operative to qualify connection requests wherein one or more action functions associated with those connection request(s) are triggered in response thereto. The qualifier, upon a connection meeting the criteria, passes a trigger to the specific action function that performs the desired specific action. More than one action may be specified, each action functioning to resolve an existing problem or perform a desired action.

Abstract: A system for probing one or more SVCs that enables a network manager station to setup a probe event in advance before a SVC is created. Upon the creation of the SVC, the data is captured and sent to the network management station without any further intervention required. In a first stage, a SVC originator is configured with a probing IE containing parameters to be included in the SETUP request message when SVCs are established. A unique identifier is included as one of the parameters in the probing IE and is used by the probing switch to detect a SVC that is to be probed. A PVC is established to the switch containing one or more SVCs that are to be probed. A probing port is configured on the switch and a range of VPI/VCIs are assigned to the port. A multicast connection is configured in the switch and traffic from the SVC originator is directed toward both the destination and to the probing port. In this fashion, the SVC traffic can be analyzed using diagnostic tools located remotely anywhere on the network.

Abstract: A system for establishing static SVCs (i.e. permanent SVCs) whereby the results of the signaling/routing protocol generated when the network is first brought up are stored in a ‘permanent SVC’ memory. The results of the signaling/protocol that were previously stored are restored from memory in the event the connections must be re-established again. The connections are restored from memory without the need to execute the signaling/routing algorithms and protocols again. Use of the signaling/routing protocols yields the same connections that were already stored previously in the memory from when the connections were originally established. The system of the present invention is applicable to any connection-oriented network that utilizes signaling to establish connections between network users. The signaling and routing algorithms and protocols would not need to be run for every connection request.

Abstract: A method of selectively providing redundancy on a dynamic basis to end users that request it. The method establishes both a primary and a redundant connection for each connection requested to be redundant. The redundancy method of the present invention has application to PNNI networks and to any public network that uses signaling and routing in its operation, i.e., ISDN, frame relay, networks utilizing general signaling, voice networks, etc. A unique call reference number generated by the end user is carried unchanged from switch to switch along the path. Each switch along the routing path registers the call as a primary call in its database. Subsequently, once the primary connection is established successfully, the redundant connection is established. Each switch along the redundant path checks to see if the primary path already includes that switch.

Abstract: A signaling cache suitable for use in networks, such as ATM networks, that utilize signaling in establishing calls. The invention functions to greatly reduce the amount of call processing required for calls that have been previously received and processed by the switch. The signaling cache can be implemented on each switch in the network to reduce the processing requirements network wide. Each switch along the call route functions to perform signaling processing only once for each unique call request. The results of the signaling processing are stored in a cache memory to enable re-use in the event a call request is receive that matches a previously received and processed call request. Signaling processing is performed for each request message having a particular set of characteristics, e.g., a set of IEs having a particular value. Anytime thereafter, when a signaling request having the same characteristics is received, the signaling process is bypassed and the results fetched from the cache memory.

Abstract: A method for implementing redundancy of both links and ports between two switches, e.g., ATM switches. A redundant link connection between two ATM switches is constructed using two separate parallel communication links connected between separate ports on each of the switches. One communication link is termed the main link and the other is termed the backup link. Two virtual circuits are setup between the backup link ports. One is a direct virtual circuit directed over the backup link. The other is an indirect virtual circuit that is routed over the main link via the main link ports. A virtual circuit is also setup over the main link for regular data traffic. In addition, a standby virtual circuit is setup over the backup link but is placed in standby until the occurrence of a failure. Until a failure occurs, traffic normally proceeds over the main link while the backup link ports transmit keep alive messages to each other over the indirect virtual circuit that is routed over the main link.