Abstract: A universal electronic switching node serves as an edge node in a high-capacity network with an optical core. The universal edge node may handle a variety of traffic classes and may control traffic admission, connection definition, connection routing and core node configuration. The provided capabilities significantly simplify network operation and control. The universal edge node includes input ports for receiving data streams, output ports for transmitting the data streams though the optical core, a switching fabric for communicating these data streams between input and output ports and a controller for controlling this communicating. In particular, the controller can select a route through the optical core, schedule the communication between input and output ports and adaptively allocate the bitrate of this communication.

Abstract: A universal electronic switching node serves as an edge node in a high-capacity network with an optical core. The universal edge node may handle a variety of traffic classes and may control traffic admission, connection definition, connection routing and core node configuration. The provided capabilities significantly simplify network operation and control. The universal edge node includes input ports for receiving data streams, output ports for transmitting the data streams though the optical core, a switching fabric for communicating these data streams between input and output ports and a controller for controlling this communicating. In particular, the controller can select a route through the optical core, schedule the communication between input and output ports and adaptively allocate the bitrate of this communication.

Abstract: A simple access device provides access to a high-capacity network to a traffic source. Once connected to a traffic source, an edge module in the high-capacity network can assign a sub-network address to the traffic source so that the source may also serve as a sink for data traffic. Although the sub-network address assigned to the traffic source may bear little resemblance to a network address for the edge module, distant edge modules may route traffic to a traffic sink having such a sub-network address easily and flexibly. Features may be added to the access device, which would otherwise be little more than a multiplexer, but, for the most part, the edge modules make the routing decisions. Data transfer from the current Internet to the high-capacity network and vice versa can be facilitated by requiring that each edge module in the high-capacity network that acts as a gateway be bilingual, that is, understand both a simple high-capacity network-specific routing protocol and conventional Internet protocols.

Abstract: A simple access device provides access to a high-capacity network to a traffic source. Once connected to a traffic source, an edge module in the high-capacity network can assign a sub-network address to the traffic source so that the source may also serve as a sink for data traffic. Although the sub-network address assigned to the traffic source may bear little resemblance to a network address for the edge module, distant edge modules may route traffic to a traffic sink having such a sub-network address easily and flexibly. Features may be added to the access device, which would otherwise be little more than a multiplexer, but, for the most part, the edge modules make the routing decisions. Data transfer from the current Internet to the high-capacity network and vice versa can be facilitated by requiring that each edge module in the high-capacity network that acts as a gateway be bilingual, that is, understand both a simple high-capacity network-specific routing protocol and conventional Internet protocols.

Abstract: A simple access device provides access to a high-capacity network to a traffic source. Once connected to a traffic source, an edge module in the high-capacity network can assign a sub-network address to the traffic source so that the source may also serve as a sink for data traffic. Although the sub-network address assigned to the traffic source may bear little resemblance to a network address for the edge module, distant edge modules may route traffic to a traffic sink having such a sub-network address easily and flexibly. Features may be added to the access device, which would otherwise be little more than a multiplexer, but, for the most part, the edge modules make the routing decisions. Data transfer from the current Internet to the high-capacity network and vice versa can be facilitated by requiring that each edge module in the high-capacity network that acts as a gateway be bilingual, that is, understand both a simple high-capacity network-specific routing protocol and conventional Internet protocols.

Abstract: A building system for wall construction utilizes a prefabricated panel having two layers of foamed insulating sheets sandwiched around a layer of concrete or other cementitious material. Channels are cut into an interior face of one of the panels. The channels receive cement, which provides a reinforcing structure when hardened. Steel vertical channel studs encase the sandwiched layers on two sides of the panel. The vertical channel studs have a vertical surface which is fastened to a similar, opposing vertical channel stud of an adjoining panel to effectively create a vertical I-beam support when the panels are assembled together. The panels of the invention can be readily transported to a worksite, assembled, and finished on-site with a stress-skin to yield a wall which is extremely rigid, insulative, and resistant to forces such as fire, water, termites, and impact.