Abstract: A device for participating in a distributed peer-to-peer communications network has a distributed network application that includes a capability-routing entity having capability information for a group of associated peers participating in the network. A method for establishing peer-to-peer communication in the network including determining which of the group of associated peers can fulfil the requested connection based in the capability information and referring the request to the peer that can fulfil the connection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for switching VOIP packets in a data network, wherein the method includes the steps of receiving a first packet in a network switch and determining if the first packet is a VOIP packet. Further, method includes determining a dynamically negotiated VOIP port for a VOIP session from at least one of the first packet and a second packet received in the network switch, if the first packet is determined to be the VOIP packet. Finally, the method includes the steps of classifying all subsequent VOIP packets corresponding to the dynamically negotiated VOIP port in accordance with predetermined parameters. The apparatus includes a network switch having at least one data port interface controller supporting a plurality of data ports for transmitting and receiving data, and a fast filtering processor in communication with the at least one data port interface.

Abstract: A process of controlling a flow of data in a wireless network providing wireless access to the wireless network by wireless devices is disclosed. Data is received from a wireless device by a network device, through one access point of a plurality of access points in communication with the network device, indicating a client identifier for the wireless device. The client identifier is forwarded to an authentication server and the network device mediated authentication of the wireless device with the authentication server. Thereafter, data packets received from portions of the wireless network and from the plurality of access points are evaluated and the received data packets are passed to portions of the wireless network and to the plurality of access points, based on the evaluation of the received data packets. In addition, the network device periodically polls for a status of the wireless device from the access point.

Abstract: A method of providing data to two client devices on a first network having a shared cache from a server device on a second network. An instance of substantially simultaneous requests for data being made to a server from two client devices on a same network is identified. In response to a first request for the data being received at a first point in time a first one of the two client devices is served with the requested data from the server such that the data is stored in the shared cache. The second one of the two client devices is directed to make a second request for the data at a second point in time, later than the first point in time, so that the requested data is available in the stored cache.

Abstract: A process of controlling a flow of data in a wireless network providing wireless access to the wireless network by wireless devices is disclosed. Data is received from a wireless device by a network device, through one access point of a plurality of access points in communication with the network device, indicating a client identifier for the wireless device. The client identifier is forwarded to an authentication server and the network device mediated authentication of the wireless device with the authentication server. Thereafter, data packets received from portions of the wireless network and from the plurality of access points are evaluated and the received data packets are passed to portions of the wireless network and to the plurality of access points, based on the evaluation of the received data packets. In addition, the network device periodically polls for a status of the wireless device from the access point.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. The switch also includes a CPU interface, where the CPU interface is configured to communicate with a CPU, and a memory management unit, including a memory interface for communicating data from the data port interface to the switch memory. A communication channel is also provided, communicating data and messaging information between the data port interface, the CPU interface, the switch memory, and the memory management unit. The data port interface also includes an access control unit that filters the data coming into the data port interface and takes selective action on the data by applying a set of filter rules such that access to the switch is controlled by the set of filter rules.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for switching VOIP packets in a data network, wherein the method includes the steps of receiving a first packet in a network switch and determining if the first packet is a VOIP packet. Further, method includes determining a dynamically negotiated VOIP port for a VOIP session from at least one of the first packet and a second packet received in the network switch, if the first packet is determined to be the VOIP packet. Finally, the method includes the steps of classifying all subsequent VOIP packets corresponding to the dynamically negotiated VOIP port in accordance with predetermined parameters. The apparatus includes a network switch having at least one data port interface controller supporting a plurality of data ports for transmitting and receiving data, and a fast filtering processor in communication with the at least one data port interface.

Abstract: A process of controlling a flow of data in a wireless network providing wireless access to the wireless network by wireless devices is disclosed. Data is received from a wireless device by a network device, through one access point of a plurality of access points in communication with the network device, indicating a client identifier for the wireless device. The client identifier is forwarded to an authentication server and the network device mediated authentication of the wireless device with the authentication server. Thereafter, data packets received from portions of the wireless network and from the plurality of access points are evaluated and the received data packets are passed to portions of the wireless network and to the plurality of access points, based on the evaluation of the received data packets. In addition, the network device periodically polls for a status of the wireless device from the access point.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. The switch also includes a CPU interface, where the CPU interface is configured to communicate with a CPU, and a memory management unit, including a memory interface for communicating data from the data port interface to the switch memory. A communication channel is also provided, communicating data and messaging information between the data port interface, the CPU interface, the switch memory, and the memory management unit. The data port interface also includes an access control unit that filters the data coming into the data port interface and takes selective action on the data by applying a set of filter rules such that access to the switch is controlled by the set of filter rules.

Abstract: An alternate access platform is coupled to the Internet, a local-exchange-carrier (LEC), and other communications facilities such as a plurality of long-distance facilities provided by any one of a number of long distance carriers. Access to the alternate access platform occurs in any one of a number of ways. For example, a user, or calling party, establishes an Internet connection to the alternate access platform, or dials into the alternate access platform via a local plain-old-telephone-service (POTS) call. Independent of the access method, the alternate access platform selects a communications facility for routing the call as a function of a “call profile” associated with the calling party. This “call profile” uses any one of a number of parameters to determine routing such as called party, cost, quality, reliability, time-of-day, etc. This “call profile” is either determined by the user on a call-by-call basis, or is separately administered by the user.