Abstract: One or more logical network connection points are provided within an electronic communications network. The logical network connections are provided via an interface between one or more connectivity plane devices and a network connected application, service, or control plane function in the electronic communication network. The network connected application, service, or control plane function registers itself as a logical network resident (NR) with a function in the connectivity plane that provides a logical network connection between the network resident and another logical network connection point.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting a data compression technique for data transfer through a data network is provided. During call setup, information is gathered from the network infrastructure by receiving feedback from smart network devices, reviewing calls logs, or by accessing a network topology database, and the information can then be used to select a desired compression technique. During a call, a media terminating end device or a call control server will monitor call connection performance specific to the data transfer pathway used for the call connection, and may adjust the data compression to conform with the performance that the connection is providing at any given moment. Performance parameters such as delay, jitter, and compression ratios can be measured in real-time for a call to determine if a change in compression is deemed beneficial. In this manner, the compression method can be chosen based on real time network performance.

Abstract: A telephone system connects a user to a plurality of telephone call participants in a sequence of calls referred to as a “call chain.” Features of each call in the chain, such as the telephone number(s) of the participant(s) to be called and the scheduled duration of the call, may be stored in a computer-readable record. A first telephone call is established between the user and the first participant in the call chain. The first telephone call may be terminated automatically by the system upon expiration of a predetermined maximum duration or when the first participant hangs up the telephone. Upon termination of the first telephone call, a second telephone call is established between the user and the second participant in the call chain. A third and subsequent telephone calls may be established between the user and the subsequent participants in the call chain in the same manner.

Abstract: One or more logical network connection points are provided within an electronic communications network. The logical network connections are provided via an interface between one or more connectivity plane devices and a network connected application, service, or control plane function in the electronic communication network. The network connected application, service, or control plane function registers itself as a logical network resident (NR) with a function in the connectivity plane that provides a logical network connection between the network resident and another logical network connection point.

Abstract: One or more logical network connection points are provided within an electronic communications network. The logical network connections are provided via an interface between one or more connectivity plane devices and a network connected application, service, or control plane function in the electronic communication network. The network connected application, service, or control plane function registers itself as a logical network resident (NR) with a function in the connectivity plane that provides a logical network connection between the network resident and another logical network connection point.

Abstract: One or more logical network connection points are provided within an electronic communications network. The logical network connections are provided via an interface between one or more connectivity plane devices and a network connected application, service, or control plane function in the electronic communication network. The network connected application, service, or control plane function registers itself as a logical network resident (NR) with a function in the connectivity plane that provides a logical network connection between the network resident and another logical network connection point.

Abstract: A telephone system connects a user to a plurality of telephone call participants in a sequence of calls referred to as a “call chain.” Features of each call in the chain, such as the telephone number(s) of the participant(s) to be called and the scheduled duration of the call, may be stored in a computer-readable record. A first telephone call is established between the user and the first participant in the call chain. The first telephone call may be terminated automatically by the system upon expiration of a predetermined maximum duration or when the first participant hangs up the telephone. Upon termination of the first telephone call, a second telephone call is established between the user and the second participant in the call chain. A third and subsequent telephone calls may be established between the user and the subsequent participants in the call chain in the same manner.

Abstract: A port on a network device engages in auto-negotiation on a network link during a first operational state to select a transmission mode, either half duplex or full duplex. If half duplex operation is selected, the port commences half duplex operation in a second operational state. During the second operational state, the link is monitored for an error condition indicating that another network device attached to the link may not be operating in a half duplex mode. This error condition includes the occurrence of excessive collisions or late collisions. When the error condition is detected, the port commences full duplex operation in a third operational state, based on the presumption that device at the other end of the link may be configured for fixed full duplex operation. If proper operation ensues, the port remains configured for full duplex transmission.

Abstract: An aggregate link system and process is provided with cooperating link aggregation member devices defining a link aggregation. An connected devices is provided. Network links connect the connected devices to each of the link aggregation member devices. One or more of the network links define an aggregate link. A coordinating system is provided between the link aggregation member devices in the link aggregation of cooperating devices. The coordinating system is defined by the connected devices and the network links. The coordinating system determines a packet type received from the link aggregation. If the packet is one of predetermined packet types, the coordinating system either sends the packet back to the originating link aggregation member device or to the other link aggregation member devices.

Abstract: A system with at least one, and preferably at least two, end devices that operates according to a point-to-point protocol such as the IEEE standard 802.3ad. The two end devices communicate with each other through a trunk cluster formed from a plurality of cluster devices. Each of the cluster devices has a synchronization means for configuring all of the cluster devices with a same logical identity to communicate with the end device according to the point-to-point protocol as if all of the cluster devices were a single device.

Abstract: A system with at least one, and preferably at least two, end devices that operates according to a point-to-point protocol such as the IEEE standard 802.3ad. The two end devices communicate with each other through a trunk cluster formed from a plurality of cluster devices. Each of the cluster devices has a synchronization means for configuring all of the cluster devices with a same logical identity to communicate with the end device according to the point-to-point protocol as if all of the cluster devices were a single device.

Abstract: A trunk switch of a trunk cluster for connecting a plurality of edge devices to each other, where each edge device can communicate with all the other edge devices through all of the trunk switches. Each trunk switch contains an intra cluster port and intra cluster links connect the intra cluster ports of different trunk switches. When an edge device becomes disconnected from one trunk switch, but is still connected to another trunk switch, the trunk switch from which it has become disconnected transfers the data destined for the disconnected edge device to the intra cluster port which then transfers that data to another trunk switch. The another trunk switch, upon receiving the intra cluster data, then forwards that data to the edge device which has become disconnected from the first trunk switch.

Abstract: A computer network switch includes a receiving module for receiving packets, a packet memory with a plurality of buffer cells with each of the buffer cells having a buffer descriptor. A descriptor free pool lists available buffer descriptors that can be used for new incoming packets. A plurality of transmit queues hold the buffer descriptors. Each of the transmit queues include an input queue, an expansion queue and an output queue. The switch also includes control logic for directing the removing of one of the available buffer descriptors from the free pool and directing one of the packets from the receiving module into one of the buff cells corresponding to the one available buffer descriptor. The control logic places the one buffer descriptor in the input queue of one of the transmit queues. The control logic also monitors a load status of the input and output queues.

Abstract: A wireless hot-sync system includes a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a transceiver for communicating over a wireless link, a hot-sync server having a transceiver for communicating with the PDA over the wireless link and a network interface for communicating with devices on a local area network (LAN), and a host system connected to the LAN. Upon receipt a hot-sync request from the PDA via the wireless link, the hot-sync server opens a network connection with the host system to establish a wireless hot-sync channel. The PDA and the host system exchange packets containing synchronization data, which is used by each device to update a local data set to bring it into correspondence with the data set of the other device. Upon completion of the wireless hot-sync, the hot-sync server closes the network connection and disables the hot-sync channel.

Abstract: A system with at least one, and preferably at least two, end devices that operates according to a point-to-point protocol such as the IEEE standard 802.3ad. The two end devices communicate with each other through a trunk cluster formed from a plurality of cluster devices. Each of the cluster devices has a synchronization means for configuring all of the cluster devices with a same logical identity to communicate with the end device according to the point-to-point protocol as if all of the cluster devices were a single device.

Abstract: A trunk switch of a trunk cluster for connecting a plurality of edge devices to each other, where each edge device can communicate with all the other edge devices through all of the trunk switches. Each trunk switch contains an intra cluster port and intra cluster links 35 connect the intra cluster ports of different trunk switches. When an edge device becomes disconnected from one trunk switch, but is still connected to another trunk switch, the trunk switch from which it has become disconnected transfers the data destined for the disconnected edge device to the intra cluster port which then transfers that data to another trunk switch. The another trunk switch, upon receiving the intra cluster data, then forwards that data to the edge device which has become disconnected from the first trunk switch.

Abstract: A port on a network device engages in auto-negotiation on a network link during a first operational state to select a transmission mode, either half duplex or full duplex. If half duplex operation is selected, the port commences half duplex operation in a second operational state. During the second operational state, the link is monitored for an error condition indicating that another network device attached to the link may not be operating in a half duplex mode. This error condition includes the occurrence of excessive collisions or late collisions. When the error condition is detected, the port commences full duplex operation in a third operational state, based on the presumption that device at the other end of the link may be configured for fixed full duplex operation. If proper operation ensues, the port remains configured for full duplex transmission.

Abstract: An aggregate link system is provided with cooperating link aggregation member devices defining a link aggregation. An end device is provided. Network links connect the end device to each of the link aggregation member devices. One or more of the network links define an aggregate link. A coordinating system is provided between the link aggregation member devices in the link aggregation of cooperating devices. The coordinating system is defined by the end device and the network links. The coordinating system determines a packet type received from the link aggregation. If the packet is one of predetermined packet types, the coordinating system either sends the packet back to the originating link aggregation member device or to the other link aggregation member devices.

Abstract: A trunk switch of a trunk cluster for connecting a plurality of edge devices to each other, where each edge device can communicate with all the other edge devices through all of the trunk switches. Each trunk switch contains an intra cluster port and intra cluster links 35 connect the intra cluster ports of different trunk switches. When an edge device becomes disconnected from one trunk switch, but is still connected to another trunk switch, the trunk switch from which it has become disconnected transfers the data destined for the disconnected edge device to the intra cluster port which then transfers that data to another trunk switch. The another trunk switch, upon receiving the intra cluster data, then forwards that data to the edge device which has become disconnected from the first trunk switch.

Abstract: A port on a network device engages in auto-negotiation on a network link during a first operational state to select a transmission mode, either half duplex or full duplex. If half duplex operation is selected, the port commences half duplex operation in a second operational state. During the second operational state, the link is monitored for an error condition indicating that another network device attached to the link may not be operating in a half duplex manner. This error condition includes the occurrence of excessive collisions or late collisions. When the error condition is detected, the port commences full duplex operation in a third operational state, based on the presumption that device at the other end of the link may be configured for fixed full duplex operation. If proper operation ensues, the port remains configured for full duplex transmission.