Abstract: A series of substituted imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as defined herein, being potent modulators of human IL-17 activity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: A network statistics processing device comprises a port processing unit for determining an update from a forward statistic metric carried by an input PDU, an arbitration unit for placing the updates into a scheduled stream of updates, and a memory unit for storing statistic totals relating to the network operating parameters. The port processing unit also processes the statistic results retrieved from the memory into reverse statistic metrics that are inserted into an output PDU. A statistics monitoring and processing unit enables performance of high level statistical processing on selected updates and on the results. A method of generating and maintaining statistic totals on a plurality of network operating parameters is also described.

Abstract: A method for incorporating a queuing device as a lossless processing stage in a network device in a communications network, comprising: monitoring a depth of a queue in the queuing device, the queue for receiving packets from an upstream device within the network device, the queuing device acting as a discard point by discarding packets when the queue is full; and, if the depth passes a predetermined threshold, sending a message to the upstream device to reduce a rate at which packets are sent to the queuing device to prevent the queue from filling and thereby preventing packet discarding and loss by the queuing device.

Abstract: A method of detecting missing fragments and idle links in a link bundle for a multilink protocol, and devices provisioned with program instructions for performing the method, employs a plurality of masks to track the links in the bundle that are active. Idle links are excluded from a determination about whether buffer cleanup should be run in order to reduce unnecessary buffer usage caused by orphaned fragments.

Abstract: A method of collecting consistent flow statistics through multiple congestion points within a multi-service switch/router is enabled by computing a payload length of each traffic unit received from a fabric of the switch/router. A PHY-level header containing the payload length, a class of service and a service ID is appended to the switch-internal encapsulated payload. Information associated with the PHY-level header is used at physical level congestion points to collect consistent flow statistics.

Abstract: High-speed signaling pins are often at a premium in Field Programmable Gate Arrays and minimizing the number of high-speed signals crossing a midplane is desirable to simplify system design and improve reliability. The method disclosed herein provides a more pin-efficient high-speed data path interface with per-queue backpressure signaling than what is available in prior art, leading to reduced system design and manufacturing costs and improved perfonnance. The invention improves upon an industry standard protocol, the SPI 4.2 protocol, for high speed data transmission between switching system components by adding advanced functionality from a widely supported standards proposal, the CSIX level 2. In doing so, the invention offers a hybrid of the two interfaces that is more pin-efficient than either of them.

Abstract: The method described herein is a more efficient way to transmit non-user data over a SPI 4.2 interface. During single PHY mode, the transmission occurs between single ports, eliminating the need for a port address in the control word portion of the SPI 4.2 data word. Consequently, the address bits can be used to indicate the type of data being transmitted in single PHY mode, either user or non-user data. Since non-user data is transmitted periodically, the bandwidth granularity is improved by using bandwidth when required for the non-user data as opposed to dedicating bandwidth to it. The bandwidth granularity is reduced to remain within the specifications for any type of SPI 4.2 packet, including OC-192.

Abstract: A method for more efficient data transmission by matching the length of the data portions of a packet to the width of the buffer in the processor. In the SPI 4.2 protocol the data portion can be set to 64 bytes and the buffer set to 64 byte width. This allows for more efficient use of the network processor resources while remaining within the bounds set by the standard. The control words bracketing the data portions may also have SOP and/or EOP indications set to specify the start or end of a packet. The Network Processor, by its design, will store each data portion in a 64 byte slot. Packet headers are stored in a single buffer slot, thereby eliminating the need to reassemble the header before the packet can be processed, making packet processing more time efficient.

Abstract: A mobile loading machine having a frame and an operator's cab mounted thereon has a load arm assembly adapted to be pivotably mounted at a rear end of the frame, and support a power tool between a lowered position and a raised position at a forward end thereof. The load arm assembly includes an outer load arm section for supporting the tool, an inner load arm section pivotably mounted to the frame independent of the cab, and an intermediate load arm section integrally connected between the outer and inner load arm sections. The intermediate load arm section and inner load arm section are in overlapping relationship with each other such that the intermediate load arm section is positioned alongside a lowermost portion of the cab when the load arm assembly is in the lowered position to maximize the lateral visibility of the operator from the cab.