Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus cascades groups of serialized data streams through devices, and performs operations based on information communicated therein. A received group of serialized data streams is aligned, but not framed, and forwarded to a next device (e.g., a next stage in a linear or tree cascaded formation of devices). Eliminating the framing and subsequent serialization operations performed on the received group of serialized data streams reduces the latency of communications through the cascaded devices, which can be significant when considered in relation to the high-speed communication rates. The received group of serialized data streams is also framed to create a sequence of data frames for processing (e.g., associative memory lookup operations, controlling multiplexing of received downstream serialized data streams, general or other processing) within the device.

Abstract: A method of propagating an FCAPS operation through a plurality of servers including a configuration server connected on a network. The method includes the steps of: receiving, by the configuration server, an FCAPS operation; the configuration server selecting a server from the plurality of servers to be lead management aggregator; the configuration server transferring the FCAPS operation to the lead management aggregator; the lead management aggregator selecting a plurality of first deputy servers from the plurality of servers; and the lead management aggregator transferring the FCAPS operation to each of the first deputy servers.

Abstract: A dynamically-scriptable load balancer including a packet input port, a packet output port, a dynamically scriptable load balancing engine, and an application interface for loading a load balancing script into the dynamically scriptable load balancing engine.

Abstract: A dynamically-scriptable router including a packet input port, a packet output port, a dynamically scriptable packet processing engine, and an application interface for loading a packet processing script into the dynamically scriptable packet processing engine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus cascades groups of serialized data streams through devices, and performs operations based on information communicated therein. A received group of serialized data streams is aligned, but not framed, and forwarded to a next device (e.g., a next stage in a linear or tree cascaded formation of devices). Eliminating the framing and subsequent serialization operations performed on the received group of serialized data streams reduces the latency of communications through the cascaded devices, which can be significant when considered in relation to the high-speed communication rates. The received group of serialized data streams is also framed to create a sequence of data frames for processing (e.g., associative memory lookup operations, controlling multiplexing of received downstream serialized data streams, general or other processing) within the device.

Abstract: A mobile Internet Protocol service provider system implements home agent functionality in two separate devices. One device, the home registration agent, is devoted to registration of the mobile node and session control. The other device, the home tunneling agent, is devoted to tunneling and routing functions for the foreign agent. The home registration agent can be a general purpose computer. The home tunneling agent is preferably implemented in a robust routing device, such as an IP switch or router. Multiple home tunneling agents or home registration agents can be implemented in the respective devices as multiple instantiations of a home registration agent or home tunneling agent software program. Foreign agent functionality for mobile IP networking can also be split into separate devices.

Abstract: In a Quality of Service system, segments in a TCP session are assigned a priority level. A segment may contain an acknowledgement and data. The system determines if network congestion is detected or anticipated in the segment's priority band or in a higher priority band. When the TCP segment arrives at a network point, the segment is split into an acknowledgement segment and a data segment. The acknowledgement segment is scheduled at a higher QoS priority than the data segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bridging packet flows to bypass call legs and/or tunnels are provided. A tunnel initiator, which can be an access gateway, a foreign agent, and a mobility anchor point, for example, provides a bypass for certain packets that have a destination serviced by the same tunnel initiator. The bridge allows the packets to bypass a backhaul loop and reduces latency and frees bandwidth for other purposes in the network. The bridging can be implemented in a tunnel initiator for mobile to mobile packet flows, mobile to land line packet flows, and land line to mobile packet flows. Route optimization can also be provided in certain embodiments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow voice and data traffic to be shifted from one chassis to other chassis without interrupting service. Geographic Redundancy (GR) is an inter-chassis redundancy, where the chassis may be a home agent, a packet data serving node, or any combination of wireless networking devices. Additionally, each chassis can have one or more partitions that handle subscriber session traffic and a corresponding redundant partition on a different chassis. The redundant chassis partition can take over all or a portion of the functionality of the active chassis partition if the active chassis or any critical peer servers/gateways communicating with the active chassis should fail. This provides users with uninterrupted service in the case of some failures.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sending information in a first protocol over a network that supports a second protocol. A tunnel is used to provide a roaming mobile node with IPv6 packet data over an IPv4 core network. When the mobile node is handed off while roaming, the same IP address is provided to the mobile node and the IPv6 packet data is again tunneled over the IPv4 core network. Certain embodiments allow an IPv4 core network to support a mobile node that uses Simple IPv6 or MIPv6 addressing. This system and method can be applicable to situations where the mobile node uses addressing greater than 32 bits, while the core network supports 32 bit addressing.

Abstract: Techniques for providing an uninterrupted data stream to a mobile node are disclosed. In a first technique, a time stamp is inserted at some point in the wireless network and the time stamp is used along with a tolerance value to determine when to transmit a packet in a data stream. By transmitting the packets at the same adjusted time, transmission to mobile nodes is synchronized. A second technique uses duplication of data stream content to avoid an interruption in the data stream at a mobile node. A third technique uses an error correcting code to avoid interruption of the data stream at a mobile node. A fourth technique uses a sequence number inserted into packets in the data stream at the content server to synchronize transmission to mobile nodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an element used in a printing plate processor is disclosed. The printing plate processor includes a container for containing a liquid used in performing the processing operation on the printing plate. The apparatus includes a cleaner located in the container, the cleaner being moveable to contact the element to be cleaned and an actuator coupled to the cleaner and operably configured to move the cleaner to contact the element to be cleaned. An apparatus for performing a processing operation on a printing plate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recovering from an interruption in, or failure of, an L2TP tunnel connection, such that reconnection of the tunnel is not required. According to various embodiments, redundant storage of tunnel state information is used to avoid having to reconnect an interrupted or failed tunnel session. According to various other embodiments, extraction of sequence numbers from a peer L2TP endpoint server is achieved by subdividing the set of all available sequence numbers into an appropriate number of divisions, and sending a control message having a sequence number from each of the divisions to the peer endpoint server to elicit a response.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for filtering packets in a wireless communication system in the to-mobile subscriber direction. This filtering is at least in part based on RF circuit state information. For example, a packet filter is used that either permits or denies packets from reaching a mobile subscriber based on whether there is already an established RF circuit to provide packets to the mobile subscriber. Alternatively, or in addition, the packet filter may consider the history of circuit state transitions associated with a particular mobile subscriber, the percentage (or aggregate number) of available airlink resources that are currently in use, and/or the length of time associated with the dormancy of a mobile subscriber's RF connection. In various embodiments, the packet filter may cause one or more packets to be sent to a mobile subscriber using a special data channel that does not require the establishment of an RF circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamic service registration, activation and deactivation on a data-over-cable system. A first network device, such as a cable modem with associated service devices (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol telephones) sends a first message to another network device, such as a cable modem termination system. The first message includes multiple service parameters for a desired service requested by a service device associated with the first network device. The multiple service parameters are extracted from the first message. A service session profile is created for the desired service. The service session profile includes one or more of the extracted service parameters required by the desired service. The service session profile is used by a service server associated with the cable modem termination system to provide a desired service. The service session profile is associated with a deferred inactive service identifier for the cable modem.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a PDSN in a wireless communication network that includes multiple IP addresses and multiple corresponding physical interfaces. Through the use of multiple IP addresses and interfaces, the throughput of the PDSN may be substantially increased. Additionally, the multiple IP addresses and interfaces may be used to provide redundancy in order to protect against software or hardware failures. According to the methods and systems of the invention, moreover, the risk of internal hard handoffs resulting from the use of a PDSN having multiple IP addresses and interfaces is eliminated or at least substantially reduced.

Abstract: A mobile Internet Protocol service provider system implements home agent functionality in two separate devices. One device, the home registration agent, is devoted to registration of the mobile node and session control. The other device, the home tunneling agent, is devoted to tunneling and routing functions for the foreign agent. The home registration agent can be a general purpose computer. The home tunneling agent is preferably implemented in a robust routing device, such as an IP switch or router. Multiple home tunneling agents or home registration agents can be implemented in the respective devices as multiple instantiations of a home registration agent or home tunneling agent software program.

Abstract: Multiple home agents for a home agent service provider network are implemented in a single computing platform in software as multiple virtual home agents. Each home agent is assigned or dedicated to a single virtual private network. Any number of home agents can be realized in the computing platform by multiple instantiations of a home agent program or code, and by providing unique IP addresses for each instantiation. Each home agent runs independently, and is independently configured and managed by the subscriber of the virtual private network service, freeing the service provider of having to manage and supervise low level processing tasks and customization features that the subscribers may want. In a representative embodiment, the computing platform comprises a router having a general purpose-computing platform.

Abstract: Multiple home agents for a home agent service provider network are implemented in a single computing platform in software as multiple virtual home agents. Each home agent is assigned or dedicated to a single virtual private network. Any number of home agents can be realized in the computing platform by multiple instantiations of a home agent program or code, and by providing unique IP addresses for each instantiation. Each home agent runs independently, and is independently configured and managed by the subscriber of the virtual private network service, freeing the service provider of having to manage and supervise low level processing tasks and customization features that the subscribers may want. In a representative embodiment, the computing platform comprises a router having a general purpose-computing platform.

Abstract: Tones that are generated by a telephone or PC (such as DTMF tones) and subject to loss or noise during generation or during transmission along a medium are detected and replaced with substantially noise-free and distortionless digital signals. In one embodiment, the replacement of the tones is done in a modem embodied in an Internet telephony Gateway/Terminal, such as in a network access server coupling a time division multiplexed telephone line to a packet-switched network. The replacement of the tones may also be performed in any suitable device that provides an interface between a time division multiplexed transmission medium and a packet switched data network, such as in the modems of a cellular telephone network to Internet network access server.