Abstract: Techniques for configuring customer premises equipment for communication with a provider network include establishing a physical layer network connection between a particular customer node and a first provider node. The particular customer node is an intermediate network node on a customer premises. The first provider node is an intermediate network node on a first provider network of a first service provider different from the customer. Configuration data for one or more network interfaces on the particular customer node are automatically received through the physical layer network connection. The particular customer node is automatically configured based on that configuration data. The automatic provisioning of the customer node allows equipment to be more economically shipped and installed at customer premises and allows upgraded or replacement equipment to be more economically swapped in place of equipment previously installed.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a persistent session associated with a particular Media Access Control (MAC) include determining at a broadband remote access server whether an elapsed time since a data packet is received with the particular MAC address exceeds a threshold time. If so, then point-to-point protocol (PPP) control data is sent in a data link protocol payload that is encapsulated in a data packet with an Ethernet destination field that indicates the particular MAC address. The PPP control data indicates a request for an echo. It is determined whether a data packet with the particular MAC address in an Ethernet source field is received within a particular time interval. If not, then a session associated with the particular MAC address is terminated. These techniques allow PPP control plane functionality while utilizing IP over Ethernet for the data plane.

Abstract: Techniques for providing remote access to a service provider network include exchanging multiple Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) formatted messages instead of any Point to Point Protocol (PPP) message to provide all PPP functions for accessing a service provider network from a customer node. The service provider network is on provider premises and the customer node is on customer premises different from the provider premises. The DHCP format is used to exchange authentication messages, user profile data on Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) servers, or session keep-alive echo messages, alone or in some combination. When all are message types are combined, these techniques provide a remote access server (RAS) with the capability to perform all functions presently provided by PPP processes. In some combinations, these techniques allow a modified DHCP server to replace a legacy AAA server.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a persistent session associated with a particular Media Access Control (MAC) include determining at a broadband remote access server whether an elapsed time since a data packet is received with the particular MAC address exceeds a threshold time. If so, then point-to-point protocol (PPP) control data is sent in a data link protocol payload that is encapsulated in a data packet with an Ethernet destination field that indicates the particular MAC address. The PPP control data indicates a request for an echo. It is determined whether a data packet with the particular MAC address in an Ethernet source field is received within a particular time interval. If not, then a session associated with the particular MAC address is terminated. These techniques allow PPP control plane functionality while utilizing IP over Ethernet for the data plane.

Abstract: Techniques for exchanging point to point protocol (PPP) information among network nodes using an arbitrary network protocol include determining whether a PPP payload includes PPP control data. If so, then an outbound protocol frame is generated with the PPP control data in a payload and with an outbound protocol type field that indicates PPP control data. The outbound protocol frame is sent to a server which uses the PPP control data. The outbound protocol is different from PPP and from PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) and from PPP over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol (PPPoA). The outbound protocol may be Ethernet or ATM Adaptation Layer (AAL) or some other protocol. These techniques allow PPP control plane functionality while utilizing IP over Ethernet for the data plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming lightweight pallets from tightly wound single-face corrugated board includes a support for a reel of corrugated board, tensioning apparatus for applying a tensioning force to the corrugated board, slitting and advancing apparatus for slitting the board into narrow strips, an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the corrugated medium of said board, a winding reel including a central retractable mandrel about which the strips are initially wound, and further shaped mandrels which are selectively introduced into the winding reel to block the winding of corrugated board in predetermined regions to create shaped openings in the lightweight pallet, and severing apparatus for severing the strips when the winding operation is completed.

Abstract: A pallet comprising a flat top member (1) having depending sides (2, 3, 4, 5,) and a base member comprising eight generally triangular elements (6 to 13, 30 to 33, 40 to 47) each formed from closely packed elements of single-face corrugated paperboard in which the corrugations are perpendicular to the top member (1), and forklift openings (14 to 29) formed in the edges of the base elements. In another form the pallet is formed from a single winding of single-face corrugated paperboard to define a central square opening 52, a pair of opposed generally triangular openings 53, 54, a pair of opposed truncated triangular openings 55, 56 at 90.degree. to the triangular openings 53, 54, a further pair of larger truncated triangular openings 57, 58 located at 45.degree. to the preceding pair, a further pair of slightly larger truncated triangular openings 59, 60 at 90.degree. to the preceding pair, two further opposed pairs of larger triangular openings 61, 62, 63, 64 at 45.degree.