Abstract: A system and method for establishing voice communication between a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network includes a network interface unit for coupling to the packet-switched network, a phone interface unit for coupling to the circuit-switched network and a gateway processor coupled to the network interface unit and to the phone interface unit. In response to a call request, a packet-switched network connection is established between the gateway processor and a first station in the packet-switched network, and a circuit-switched network connection is established between the gateway processor and a second station in the circuit-switched network. Incoming voice data packets received from the first station are converted to outgoing voice signals, which are transmitted over the circuit-switched network connection to the second station.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing voice communication between a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network includes a network interface unit for coupling to the packet-switched network, a phone interface unit for coupling to the circuit-switched network and a gateway processor coupled to the network interface unit and to the phone interface unit. In response to a call request, a packet-switched network connection is established between the gateway processor and a first station in the packet-switched network, and a circuit-switched network connection is established between the gateway processor and a second station in the circuit-switched network. Incoming voice data packets received from the first station are converted to outgoing voice signals, which are transmitted over the circuit-switched network connection to the second station.

Abstract: A data link layer switch includes a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers. Each of the port interface controllers comprises a multicast address table, a multicast matcher, and a timer. The multicast address table stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller. The multicast matcher matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table. The timer determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.

Abstract: A data communication network includes a network access unit for coupling one or more computer devices to the network. The network typically has asymmetric upstream and downstream data transmission rates. The network access device implements a method for acknowledging data packets. When a new packet is received by the network access unit from one of the computer devices, the new packet is placed in an outbound queue in the network access unit. When the new packet contains an acknowledgment, previous acknowledgment packets in the outbound queue that have the same source and destination addresses as the new packet are identified and discarded. Remaining packets are transmitted from the outbound queue in the network access unit. By discarding acknowledgment packets in the network access unit, throughput is increased.

Abstract: An ADSL access device controls communication through one or more ADSL channels. The ADSL access device may be located at a customer location or at a central office. The access device includes an ADSL modem coupled to the ADSL channel, a protocol converter for converting the protocol of data packets and one or more switching port controllers. Each switching port controller in an ADSL access device at a customer location performs data packet filtering on a local area network and forwards data packets to the ADSL channel or to another LAN port. The switching port controllers in the central office ADSL access device control routing of data packets between different ADSL channels and a wide area network.

Abstract: A data link layer switch includes a switching mechanism coupled to several port interface controllers. The port interface controllers include an address table, an address learner, and an address matcher. The address table stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller. The address learner compares a destination address in an incoming packet to a target address, and stores a multicast address from the incoming packet in the address table when the destination address matches the target address. The address matcher compares a destination address in an outgoing packet to the multicast addresses stored in the address table, and transmits the outgoing packet when the destination address matches one of the multicast addresses.

Abstract: An Ethernet ADSL adapter controls data communication between an Ethernet port and an ADSL modem connected to an ADSL channel. The adapter includes a first buffer for storing data packets received at the Ethernet port, a second buffer for storing data packets received from the ADSL modem and a controller. When the first buffer contains a first predetermined number of data packets and data packets are not available for transmission to the Ethernet port, a jamming signal is transmitted from the Ethernet port. The jamming signal inhibits transmission of additional data packets to the Ethernet port by other Ethernet nodes until space is available in the first buffer. When the second buffer contains a second predetermined number of data packets, a pause signal is transmitted to the ADSL modem. The pause signal inhibits further transmission of data packets to the ADSL modem on the ADSL channel until space is available in the second+buffer.

Abstract: A data communication network includes a network access unit for coupling one or more computer devices to the network. The network typically has asymmetric upstream and downstream data transmission rates. The network access device implements a method for acknowledging data packets. When a new packet is received by the network access unit from one of the computer devices, the new packet is placed in an outbound queue in the network access unit. When the new packet contains an acknowledgment, previous acknowledgment packets in the outbound queue that have the same source and destination addresses as the new packet are identified and discarded. Remaining packets are transmitted from the outbound queue in the network access unit. By discarding acknowledgment packets in the network access unit, throughput is increased.

Abstract: An integrated network for connecting both telephones and personal computers within an organization, using a single wiring connection is disclosed. Telephones and personal computers within the organization are connected to the same local area network (LAN) which is in turn connected to a telephony-computer interface (TCI). The TCI is also connected to telephone lines. The TCI forms an interface between telephone line communications and data packets for real time communications. In this way, only one wiring connection, the local area network, need be installed to interconnect both telephones and personal computers, for both local and off-site communications.