Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols at various communication layers. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating above Layer 2 using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 2.5 (e.g., Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocols or other Layer 2.5 protocols) using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 3 (e.g.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols at various communication layers. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating above Layer 2 using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 2.5 (e.g., Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocols or other Layer 2.5 protocols) using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 3 (e.g.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols at various communication layers. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating above Layer 2 using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 2.5 (e.g., Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocols or other Layer 2.5 protocols) using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 3 (e.g.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols at various communication layers. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating above Layer 2 using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 2.5 (e.g., Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocols or other Layer 2.5 protocols) using a Layer 2 network security protocol. For example, various example embodiments for supporting security for communications may be configured to support security for communications of communication protocols operating at Layer 3 (e.g.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide improved timing compensation for a bidirectional serial link in order to relax accuracy requirements of clock sources used for the link. When forming a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) for transmission over the link, fill levels of receiver buffers at either ends of the link are used to determine a particular type of start of PDU (SOP) character sequence to use. When a given type of SOP character sequence is present in a PDU received at one end of the link, a next PDU to be transmitted from the same end of the link is delayed by a predetermined amount of time to allow the receiver buffer at the other end of the link to decrease its fill level before receiving the next PDU.

Abstract: A method for communicating backpressure messaging over a serial encoded link is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention enable advanced backpressure signaling to be retrofitted into legacy systems to achieve performance improvements and support new or enhanced services. Specifically, such signaling enables per-context and per-priority backpressure signaling information to be conveyed by a backpressure message; thereby enabling flow control to be performed in accordance with a priority or context associated with a traffic flow, or flows, carried over the serial link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing backpressure flow control to traffic flows of a data communications system are provided. Embodiments of the invention selectively apply a measure of flow control to traffic flows responsive to a level of congestion at a packet processor of the system. These embodiments advantageously provide flexibility in the application of flow control to specific traffic flows in accordance with one or more of characteristics of those traffic flows.

Abstract: An egress traffic management system for a data communication system is disclosed. The egress traffic management system makes use of a hierarchical queue ID header paradigm that enables data packets to be directed for egress traffic management to either one of a plurality of assignable queues in a main egress queue module or to one of a plurality of distributed queue modules via a common queue of the main egress queue module. This behavior enables egress traffic management functionality and scale to be varied independently and in a cost-effective manner to meet evolving requirements of a data communications system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing backpressure flow control to traffic flows of a data communications system are provided. Embodiments of the invention selectively apply a measure of flow control to traffic flows responsive to a level of congestion at a packet processor of the system. These embodiments advantageously provide flexibility in the application of flow control to specific traffic flows in accordance with one or more of characteristics of those traffic flows.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide improved timing compensation for a bidirectional serial link in order to relax accuracy requirements of clock sources used for the link. Fill levels of receiver buffers at either ends of the link are used to determine a particular type of start of PDU (SOP) character sequence to use when forming a PDU for transmission over the link. When a given type of SOP character sequence is present in a PDU received at one end of the link, a next PDU to be transmitted from the same end of the link is delayed by a predetermined amount of time to allow the receiver buffer at the other end of the link to decrease its fill level before receiving the next PDU.

Abstract: A method for communicating backpressure messaging over a serial encoded link is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention enable advanced backpressure signaling to be retrofitted into legacy systems to achieve performance improvements and support new or enhanced services. Specifically, such signaling enables per-context and per-priority backpressure signaling information to be conveyed by a backpressure message; thereby enabling flow control to be performed in accordance with a priority or context associated with a traffic flow, or flows, carried over the serial link.

Abstract: An egress traffic management system for a data communication system is disclosed. The egress traffic management system makes use of a hierarchical queue ID header paradigm that enables data packets to be directed for egress traffic management to either one of a plurality of assignable queues in a main egress queue module or to one of a plurality of distributed queue modules via a common queue of the main egress queue module. This behavior enables egress traffic management functionality and scale to be varied independently and in a cost-effective manner to meet evolving requirements of a data communications system.

Abstract: A folding platform for mounting to an outer surface of a watercraft includes a platform, a hinge base attached to the outer surface of the watercraft, and a hinge arm pivotally coupled to both the hinge base and the platform. The hinge arm operates to position the platform in a deployed position and a stowed position. A top side of the platform in the deployed position faces away from the outer surface of the watercraft in the stowed position. Where the outer surface of the watercraft is curved, one of a plurality of hinge bases may be pivotally attached to the surface, such that a corresponding plurality of hinge arms move in substantially parallel planes. The hinge arm may be adjustably coupled to the platform such that the position of the hinge arm is capable of being adjusted along the axis of rotation of the pivotal coupling of the hinge arm to the platform.

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: Dynamic data path component configuration apparatus and methods are disclosed. A configuration of a data path link that is operatively coupled to a communication equipment data path is determined. A determination as to whether a configurable data path component, which is configurable to exchange data with the data path link and with another data path link, is configured compatibly with the determined configuration, is also made. If the configurable data path component is not configured compatibly with the determined configuration, then an operation to configure the configurable data path component is performed. The configuring operation could dynamically configure the data path component to increase or reduce data path speed, to bond multiple links, and/or to unbond multiple links, as electronic cards are installed or removed, for example. During the configuring operation, the configurable data path component is able to exchange data with other data path links and accordingly is non-service affecting.

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: A method for resetting a component of an off-card assembly in a redundant system, the redundant system having first and second control plane cards coupled to the off-card assembly by respective serial interfaces, each serial interface including a respective status line and a respective clock line, each status line for providing a respective activity indication and a respective reset instruction, each clock line for providing a respective clock signal, the method comprising: monitoring respective activity indications and clock signals from the first and second control plane cards by the off-card assembly to determine which of the first and second control plane cards is an active card; and, selecting the reset instruction from the active card to reset the component, thereby resolving any conflict between respective reset instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for 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: 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: A method and apparatus for providing a configurable data path interface is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, one or more line processing cards may be configured to support interfaces having various attributes, such as data rate, numbers of data bits, redundancy or lack thereof, clocking, electrical signal characteristics, etc. For example, a line processing card capable of processing at least 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a 16-bit-wide data path using dual edge (e.g., double data rate (DDR)) clocking can be configured to operate according to those attributes or other attributes, such as other data rates (e.g., 5 Gbps or 2.5 Gbps), other data path widths (e.g., 8 bits), and/or other clocking techniques (e.g., single data rate (SDR)), in either redundant or non-redundant configurations.