Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to utilization of a single interconnect to support the transmission of data, power and serial control information to an access point. The interconnect comprises at least three and perhaps four twisted pairs such as a CAT-5 cable.

Abstract: An internet service node (ISN) enabling the provision of desired service policies to each subscriber. The ISN may contain multiple processor groups, with each subscriber being assigned to a processor group. The assigned processor group may be configured with the processing rules, which provide the service policies desired, by a subscriber. A port may determine the specific processor group to which received data is to be forwarded. A content addressable memory with masks for individual locations may be implemented to quickly determines the processor group to which received data is to be assigned to. Due to the features of the present invention, an ISN may be able to serve a large number of subscribers efficiently. The ISN may be used at the edge of an access network.

Abstract: A system and method for routing data between input and output ports in an ATM node of a packet-switched network allocates port capacity in accordance with the requirements of the users connected to the ports. Capacity may be allocated either dynamically in real time, according to a fixed predetermined schedule, or according to certain characteristics of the data awaiting transfer between users, such as the length or type of data. The system and method optimize the utilization of system resources by enabling ports having a physical capacity which substantially exceeds the capacity of a conventional ATM switch to be interconnected for data transfer.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating multiple priority level data packets between input ports and output ports of a switch is disclosed where the data packet has a header portion identifying at least one output port destination and a level of priority, selected from a predetermined set of priority levels, of the data within the data packet. A buffer, shared by the output ports, stores the data packet in a selected buffer location based on the output port destination and priority level of the data packet. Pointers to buffer locations containing data packets having a particular priority level are stored in one or more priority sub-queues for one or more of the plurality of output ports based on the output port destinations and the priority level of the data packet. The data packets are output to the output ports in priority order.