Abstract: A method for implementing an electrical system architecture capable of providing fixed or modular components, for example, interface connectors, is provided. Fixed components allow product cost to be minimized. Modular components provide flexible configurability of products. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical system architecture capable of providing fixed or modular components minimizes costs such as design, production, and customer support costs while being able to provide a range of product variants.

Abstract: Distributed communication traffic control systems and methods are disclosed. An amount of communication traffic received from a traffic management device and stored in a communication traffic queue at a communication device is monitored. Based on the amount of communication traffic stored in the communication traffic queue, a determination is made, at the communication device, as to whether a traffic management action is to be performed. If a traffic management action is to be performed, the traffic management device is controlled to perform the determined traffic management action. The traffic management device may receive an indication of the determined traffic management action from a distributed traffic controller in the communication device, for example, and perform the traffic management action responsive to the indication.

Abstract: A configurable chassis guidance system and method are described. The system may be practiced as a chassis and/or a module or an element thereof (e.g., a mating guide). The system and method allow reconfiguration of multiple modules of various module widths without the need for removal or reinstallation of module guides mounted on the chassis. As an example, a single-width module may be removed and replaced by a double-width module or quadruple-width module without removing module guides used to engage the single-width module. As another example, a double-width module or quadruple-width module may be removed and replaced by a single-width module without removing module guides used to engage the double-width module or quadruple-width module. The system and method may be practiced so as not to impair compatibility of modules with card edge module guides that engage an edge of a circuit board of a module.

Abstract: Communication traffic policing apparatus and methods are disclosed. Communication traffic restrictions for each communication link in a group of communication links are enforced by allowing transfer of communication traffic associated with respective communication links of the group at transfer rates up to respective per-link transfer rates. In a group enforcement stage, transfer of additional communication traffic associated with a communication link of the group, above the per-link transfer rate for the communication link, is allowed where a combined transfer rate of communication traffic associated with another communication link of the group and the additional communication traffic would not exceed the per-link transfer rate for the other communication link. Thus, one or more individual communication links of a group may be allowed to effectively exceed their per-link transfer rates if one or more other communication links of the group have sufficient spare capacity.

Abstract: A method for incorporating a non-redundant component in a redundant system in a communications network, the redundant system having first and second redundant components providing first and second data streams and activity signals, respectively, the activity signals indicating which of the first and second data streams is an active data stream, the first and second data streams being unsynchronized, the method comprising: determining whether an activity switch has occurred from the activity signals; responsive to the determining, selecting an input data stream from among the first and second data streams; filtering the selected input data stream to produce an output data stream by nullifying any incorrect control information inserted into a packet in the input data stream due to the selecting; and, providing the output data stream to the non-redundant component.

Abstract: Data traffic such as cell streams in an ATM communication network frequently contain data destined for multiple output ports having different transmission data rates. In order to accurately schedule such traffic a clocking signal unique to each output data rate is required. This invention provides systems and methods for generating the necessary clock signals utilizing a single timing reference.

Abstract: Data traffic such as cell streams in an ATM communication network frequently contain data destined for multiple output ports having different transmission data rates. In order to accurately schedule such traffic a clocking signal unique to each output data rate is required. This invention provides systems and methods for generating the necessary clock signals utilizing a single timing reference.