Abstract: A radio communication system control method, a radio communication system, and an information processing apparatus used therein is one where system a server and terminals are linked via a plurality of base stations. The radio communication system is configured to prevent communication errors. When the link between a server and a base station is disconnected, the server detects the disconnection, and transmits, to a base station adjacent to the base station, a power supply off command for disconnecting the power supply in the base station. By transmitting the command to the base station via the base station, the server disconnects the power supply in the base station and stops the communication between the base station and a radio terminal apparatus.

Abstract: Computers that exchange data over communication networks frequently wait for responses to messages and therefor use timers to control the amount of time that the computer will wait for a response to a command issued over a network. Communication network responsiveness varies as traffic loading on the network changes. Fixed-value timers that don't take network loading into account can inadvertently terminate communications if a response is not timely received. Varying or adjusting data communication timers according to data network responsiveness can prevent erroneous data communication session termination.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining an approximate network distance using one or more reference points. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of selecting at least one reference point positioned along a path between first and second points of a network, generating first distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a first point and the at least one reference point, generating second distance metric information associated with at least one path associating a second point and the at least one reference point, and determining a total approximate distance between the first point and the second point along one or more paths based on the first and second distance metric information.

Abstract: A method of implementing a distributed algorithm which is based on sending Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) only between neighboring bridging-devices in a network. The method includes sending BPDUs from a first bridging-device of the network to at least one non-neighboring second bridging-device, and determining a characteristic of the network responsive to the BPDUs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a digital radio (2) for pseudo-duplex radio communication, and a method of transmission time mediation for pseudo-duplex radio communication. A digital radio (2) is in time division duplex communication with a second digital radio (4) over a single radio channel. Control of the radio channel may reside with either radio. However, authority for a radio to change the frame format in order to increase the proportion of time for which it transmits always resides entirely with the radio currently transmitting the least per frame. This arrangement allows rapid response to a need for a radio to move from listening to speaking mode, thereby reducing speech clipping. When the digital radio (2) and the second digital radio (4) are transmitting for equal proportions of the frame, authority to change the frame format passes to the radio that is transmitting at that instant.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of remote echo cancellation in a packet based telephony system. Echo cancellation algorithms normally performed on the local end of a connection, are performed instead by the remote end of the connection. Alternatively, the echo cancellation algorithms are performed for both the local and remote ends of a connection on a remote device. In the former case, the remote endpoint estimates the echo function of the local endpoint using audio and timing synchronization data corresponding to the actual audio played at the local endpoint. Using this information, the remote endpoint is able to accurately perform echo cancellation.

Abstract: The invention is a system for transmitting data packets from a ground based sending terminal to a receiving ground based terminal via a satellite, In detail, the system includes each terminal having a processor for generating data packets for transmission to the satellite incorporating the downlink encoding requirements for both the sending and receiving terminal. A transmitter is included for transmitting the data packets to the satellite. A receiver means is incorporated for receiving downlinked data packets from the satellite. The satellite includes a receiver for receiving the uplinked data packets from the sending terminal. The satellite further includes a processor to determine the downlink encoding requirements of the uplinked data packets from the sending terminal. A transmitter is incorporated into the satellite for transmitting the data packets to the receiving terminal at receiving party's coding rates.

Abstract: A searcher receiver (114) includes a sample buffer (202) which stores signal samples loaded using a real time clock. A real time linear sequence generator (RT LSG) (206) stores an initial state and is clocked using the real time clock. The contents of the RT LSG are loaded into a non-real time linear sequence generator (NRT LSG) (208) when sample processing begins. Samples are correlated using a non-real time clock to allow signal processing to be uncoupled from the chip rate. The analog front end (108) may be powered down or tuned to another frequency during non-real time processing.

Abstract: An improved method for facilitating handoff between an asynchronous and a synchronous base station. A method for determining a pilot channel PN offset of a pilot channel transmitted by a wireless base station. In a first embodiment, the method includes correlating a PN sequence with a received pilot signal to acquire a PN frame timing, receiving at least one search code burst aligned with the PN frame timing, the at least one search code burst signifying the pilot channel PN offset, and comparing the at least one search code burst to a set of codewords, each codeword representing a predetermined PN offset. From the search code bursts, the mobile station is able to quickly determine the PN offset of the transmitting base station, and thereby identify it. Methods for transmitting a complementary set of forward link channels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A CDMA communication system transmitting/receiving control information during a voice and/or data communication service by using a dedicated control channel. A message frame length for the control information is variable according to an amount of the control information. The CDMA communication system includes a base station device and a terminal device. The base station device has a forward pilot channel generator for generating a pilot signal, a forward dedicated control channel generator for generating a control message for a forward dedicated control channel, a forward fundamental channel generator for generating a voice signal, and a forward supplemental channel generator for generating packet data.

Abstract: A method for improving the spectral properties of a PN codeset for use in channels of a synchronous CDMA telecommunications system. The method includes steps of (a) providing a PN codeset matrix; and (b) reordering the columns of the PN codeset matrix in accordance with a reordering code. The method may further include the step of inverting at least one codeword of the reordered PN codeset in accordance with an inversion pattern, and may further include the step of selecting PN codes to optimize a subset of channels to operate in an asynchronous manner.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling gated transmission of a dedicated channel signal in a W-CDMA communication system. In the W-CDMA communication system, a dedicated control channel has 15 slots in one frame, each slot includes a TFCI bit, a TPC bit, and a pilot bit, and the dedicated control channel and a dedicated data channel for transmitting packet data are multiplexed prior to transmission. In an embodiment of the present invention, a base station transmits to a mobile station a gated transmission command message including a gating rate and a gated transmission start time for gated transmission of the dedicated control channel signal, if no data exists on the dedicated data channel for a predetermined period of time. Then, the base station transmits the dedicated control channel signal in a gated mode at the gated transmission start time set in the gated transmission command message.

Abstract: A method of conjoint detection of a set of CDMA codes received at a plurality of antennas of a receiver like a mobile telephone receiver. The codes are transmitted via a transmission channel with transfer matrix A satisfying the equation e=A.d+n, where d is the set of symbols of the codes transmitted, n is an additional noise vector and e is the set of received samples.

Abstract: A system of adjusting times between predetermined searches. The searching in a CDMA telephone is adjusted according to the load on the CDMA telephone processor. When the load is low, the searches can be carried out more frequently. When the load is increased, the searches are carried out less frequently. The system determines the load on the processor in either increments or decrements the time between searches as appropriate. In this way, the load on the CDMA telephone processor can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packet data communication system and is primarily intended for packet data radio communication systems, such as a GSM-system (PLMN) supporting a GPRS-service. A data frame received from a connected second packet data network (Internet) is divided into a sequence of data segments (DS). Speech packets (SPP) with an origin from a connected telecommunication network and the segments (DS) and are transmitted over a packet data link (PL1) to a radio base station (BTS) with priority given to the speech packets (SPP). The data segments (DS) shall be transmitted on a corresponding radio link (RL2) to a designated mobile station (MS). The problem is that during high traffic loads the segments are subjected to long delays and as a result no segments can be transmitted on the corresponding radio link. Giving priority to a first few data segments of the sequence when transmitted over the packet data link (PL1) solves the problem.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a distributed scalable hardware independent system that supports multiple functions regarding management and support of communications over a packet-based network. The communications supported by these methods and systems include, but are not limited to, Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VOIP”), voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”), video conferencing, data transfer, telephony, and downloading video or other data. These methods and systems use a call agent, which is composed of various objects distributed along a CORBA software bus, for exercising call management over two endpoints communicating over a packet-based network.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for creating an interface between a packet-switched network and an IN, which is based on an interface between an associated circuit-switched network and an IN/CAMEL service. Meanwhile, the CAMEL application can also provide IN services to mobile subscribers while they are roaming in other networks (e.g., international roaming).

Abstract: An internet telephony system includes a plurality of switching equipment which accommodate a plurality of terminals which can perform at least one of voice communication and data communication, an internet network including a gate keeper, and a plurality of gateways which connect the plurality of switching equipment to the internet network and make it possible to perform communication through the switching equipment and the internet network by communication protocol conversion.

Abstract: In the present invention a method is disclosed for using a link to wide area network to connect communications from outside a home voice and data network to within the network. Voice and data modules connect telephones and computers to the existing telephone wiring in a home or building. A link to wide area network allows phone calls to be placed between the network and the Public Service telephone network. All devices connected to the telephone wiring have their own ID and communicate by Tokens in Ethernet technology. This allows Ethernet packets to perform a plurality of communications between a plurality of devices connected to the network under the control of tokens. The communications is accomplished by passing packets containing voice and data signals between phones and computers internal to the network and to an external port to connect to outside of the network.

Abstract: A distributed voice processing system comprises two or more voice processing machines 50A, 50B, connected by an isochronous network. In the preferred embodiment this network comprises an ATM switch 80 and appropriate ATM links 82A, 82B. Each of the voice processing machines includes telephone line interface units 52 connected to the telephone network 5 via respective telephony channels 15, a TDM bus 54, voice resources 55 (such as voice recognition, voice response functionality, etc), and an ATM adapter 58 to allow communications over the ATM network. In operation, a call may be received at the line interface unit at a first voice processing machine, and placed onto a TDM bus at that machine. The call is then taken off the TDM bus by the ATM adapter, and routed over the ATM network to the ATM adapter at a second machine, which places the call on the TDM bus at this second machine.

Abstract: A telecommunications system comprises a signalling network and a Voice over IP (VoIP) network. The signalling network in turn comprises gateway signalling points 6,7 for converting signalling messages between at least two different signalling protocols. The IP network comprises IP nodes 4 for routing IP datagrams, with at least certain of the IP nodes 4 being co-located with respective gateway signalling points 6,7, and with the co-located signalling points 6,7 being arranged in use to pass routing information to the respective IP nodes 4 to enable those nodes to prioritise and route incoming IP datagrams.

Abstract: A control interface protocol governs communications in a satellite telephone system. The satellite telephone system comprises a radio antenna unit (RAU) and a plurality of desksets connected to the RAU. An interface bus connects the desksets to the RAU. The RAU and the desksets communicate with each other by packets. Each packet comprises a start of header (SOH) byte, an address number (ADDR) byte, a command (CMD) byte, an argument (ARG) and a block check character (BCC). The ADDR byte comprises a source and a destination address of the packet. All packets, except negative acknowledgment (NAK) packets from the desksets, are acknowledged by the RAU. The packets originating from the desksets are tagged with an address of the desksets. A packet to a specific deskset includes a destination address. A packet originating from the RAU to all desksets includes a first default address. A packet originating from the RAU to a deskset that does not have an address includes a second default address.

Abstract: A virtual private branch exchange (PBX) system that routes calls within a packet-switching network. Login information is received from a data device. The login information includes an alias identifying a user at the data device and a network address identifying the location of the data device on the packet-switching network. The virtual private branch exchange system associates the user's private branch exchange extension with the network address and routes calls to the user's (PBX) extension to the data device on the basis of the network address of the data device.

Abstract: In an automatic telephone call transfer apparatus in an Internet connection mode, an initial value setting portion sets a telephone number of an exchange of a telephone office which will perform a call transfer, a telephone number of an ISP to be subject to the call transfer, and an automatic/manual mode. An automatic call transfer setting/canceling portion transmits data corresponding to the telephone number of an exchange of a telephone office set at the initial value setting portion, call transfer request data, and the telephone number of the ISP to be subject to the call transfer at the connection of an Internet service, and at the termination of the Internet service, transmits the number of the exchange of the telephone number set at the initial value setting portion and data for canceling the call transfer. A modem is connected to a communication line.

Abstract: A method for sharing a call record between a first controller and a second controller is disclosed. The method comprises the step generating the call record in the first controller. For one embodiment, the call record comprises call parameters operable to establish a call connection between the first controller and a remote controller. The method also comprises the step of transferring the call record to the second controller. For one embodiment, the second controller performs as a stand-by controller and is able to take over the operations of the first controller in the event of failure of the first controller.

Abstract: A signal router, configured to receive information carried by a first signal and transmit the information on a second signal, is described. The signal router, using routing information it gathers, selects the second signal from a number of signals, with the first and the second signals differing in at least one physical characteristic. The signal router operates in a network of a number of such signal routers, and so each one of the signal routers is coupled to at least one of the other signal routers. The routing information is used to create a circuit from a first one of the signal routers to a second one of the signal routers. Once the circuit is created, the information is routed over the circuit. According to one aspect of the present invention, the signals are optical signals.

Abstract: Speed-up is implemented only in one or more portions of a network that would otherwise experience contention (i.e. when operated without speed-up). For example, an initial stage of a multi-stage interconnection network (MIN) is kept undilated while dilating at least a portion of a later stage. The dilated later stage eliminates or reduces contention, by receiving more traffic than traffic otherwise received by an undilated later stage. In one example, all output ports in the initial stage of a MIN are kept undilated, while one or more input ports of a later stage are dilated. In one implementation, the MIN has stages identified by a stage number that is in the range 0 to N−1, wherein N is the total number of stages, and each stage has output ports dilated by a factor “d” and the relation between number n of links in the output port of a stage and the stage's stage number I is n=d1.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for transferring a packet from a port controller to a switch fabric in a switch fabric system. Notification is received indicating that a packet has been processed in the port controller. The processed packet is assigned and linked to an output priority queue. Subsequently, the packet is retrieved via the link and transmitted from the port controller to the switch fabric.

Abstract: An ATM switch includes routing modules in each of which modules ATM cells can be switched at crosspoints of inputs and outputs, input units which are respectively provided to input highways and add tags to the ATM cells transferred over the input highways, the tags being used to switch the ATM cells in the routing modules, the ATM cells with the tags added being supplied to the routing modules, and output units which are respectively provided to output highways and multiply the ATM cells supplied from the routing modules to output the ATM cells to the output highways.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing multicast in a space-based communication system is disclosed. The present invention allows for the use of a buffer in which to store data packets prior to replication in a multicast application. The present apparatus includes a buffer (102), a header memory (103), and an ASIC (101) to store and extract received data packets and replicate them as required. The ASIC (101) includes a switch interface (201), a queue manager (203), a header processor (205), a holding buffer (207), and a arbitration interface (209). The switch interface (201) is connected to the queue manager (203). The queue manager (203) is connected to the buffer (102), the header processor 205, the holding buffer (207), and the arbitration and switch interface (204). The header processor (205) is connected to the header memory (103).

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating both in-order and out-of-order packet reception in a SAN includes requestor and responder nodes that maintain local copies of a message sequence number. Each request packet includes an ordering field specifying whether the packets must be received in-order. The request node includes a copy of the local sequence number in each packet transmitted and increments its local copy of the sequence number only for packets that must be received in order. The responder node includes the received message sequence number in all response packets and increments its local copy of the message sequence number only if the ordering field specifies that the packets must be received in order.

Abstract: A packet passed to an IEEE 1394 bus is received by a packet receiver (421) and stored into a packet buffer (422). Source and destination IDs from the packet buffer (422) are supplied to a comparison/calculation circuit (428) which are also supplied with ID values from a subnetwork routing register (425), bus routing register (426) and node IDs register (427). The comparison/calculation circuit (428) will judge, based on such signals, whether the packet is to be transferred, and when it decides that the packet is to be transferred, will activate the output signal and open a gate (423) to transmit the packet to an inner fabric (401).

Abstract: An Estimated Wait Time (EWT) service for a Web page provider has an internet-connected facility for monitoring communication status with a communication center having communication equipment hosting agents of the web page provider, and an interactive link in a web page hosted by the Web page provider. The interactive link is presented to a user accessing the Web page, and when selected, connects the user to the facility for monitoring communication status. In a preferred embodiment the facility provides a Web page display for the user, displaying parameters regarding the communication status, such as estimated wait time (EWT). In some cases there are options in a user interface for placing an Internet Phone (IP) call, for sending a message, and e-mail, and so forth, or for requesting a call back. In the case of a call back the user may, in some embodiments, provide alternative numbers or addresses and times for call back.

Abstract: A system and method for processing and connecting a call has the communication devices in the system connected through a Fiber Data Distributed Interface (FDDI) network ring. A signaling processor, an interworking unit, and an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) matrix are configured as stations on the FDDI ring. The signaling processor receives, generates, and processes call signaling to select connections for the call. The interworking unit interworks calls between ATM and non-ATM connections. The ATM matrix connects calls between different ATM connections. Because the call processing system devices are connected through the FDDI ring, efficiencies of speed and cost can be gained for transmissions between the devices. Additional devices may be added or removed from the ring structure without disturbing the configuration or call processing.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for prioritized transmission of packets from a plurality of storage queues, each interfacing one corresponding input bitstream to one common transmission medium, is disclosed, whereby the respective queue priorities, on the basis of which access to the common transmission medium is determined, are itself dependent upon respective weigths associated to the corresponding input bitstreams. This dependency on these respective weight; relates to a respective amount of successive values of these respective queue priorities, to be selected from an arbitrary interval and sorted in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for queuing and de-queuing packets in a two-dimensional link list data structure. A network processor processes data for transmission for a plurality of Virtual Connections (VCs). The processor creates a two-dimensional link list data structure for each VC. The data field of each data packet is stored in one or more buffer memories. Each buffer memory has an associated buffer descriptor that includes a pointer to the location of the buffer memory, and a pointer pointing to the memory of the next buffer descriptor associated with a buffer memory storing data for the same packet. Each data packet also has an associated packet descriptor including a pointer pointing to the memory location of the first buffer descriptor associated with that packet, and a pointer pointing to the memory location of the packet descriptor associated with the next data packet queued for transmission.

Abstract: A method and system for preventing the transmission of stale communications packets by a network multiplexer. Common network hardware and protocol specifications require that communications delayed in transit through a network multiplexer must be discarded after a specified period of time. The method and system employ single bit flags within transmit queue entries to flag queue entries that become stale due to the passage of time while communications packets received by a network multiplexer are stored within the network multiplexer for subsequent transmission. A global clock within the network multiplexer invokes a transmit queue monitoring function at one-second intervals. The transmit queue monitoring function discards queue entries having single bit flag values of “1,” and sets the bit flag values of the remaining queue entries to “1”.

Abstract: Multiple network switch modules have memory interfaces configured for transferring packet data to respective buffer memories. The memory interfaces are also configured for transfer among each other data units of data frames received from different network switch modules. The memory interfaces transfer the data units according to a prescribed sequence, optimizing memory bandwidth by concurrently executing a prescribed number of successive memory writes or memory reads. An alternative embodiment includes a distributed memory interface in between the network switch modules and a shared memory system, where the width of the data bus of the shared width memory system equals the total number of bits on the data buses of the switch modules.

Abstract: A scalable multicast protocol buffers the multicast messages at a subset of “C” members, where C is selected to reduce to an acceptable level the probability that a given message will be lost before it reaches at least one of the C members. When a member receives a multicast message, the member determines whether or not it should buffer the message by manipulating a string of bytes that is unique to both the message and the member and determining if the result is less than a calculated value C/n, where “n” is the number of known members. When one of the C bufferers thereafter receives a gossip message that indicates that the multicast message has been lost to the gossiping member, the bufferer retransmits the message to the gossiping member. When a member that is not one of the C bufferers receives such a gossip message, the member determines which members are bufferers of the lost message and requests that one of the bufferers retransmit the message to the gossiping member.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an error in a transmission of data through an ATM cell in a ATM switching system is disclosed. The present invention allows a system manager to easily detect errors as the errors occur in the ATM switching system.

Abstract: A system-on-a-chip with a variable bandwidth bus. The integrated circuit includes at least one bus, a clock, a plurality of modules coupled to the bus and operable to transfer and receive data on the bus, and a bus controller coupled to the bus that controls data transfers on the bus. The modules are operable to generate requests to the bus controller to perform transfers on the bus. Each request comprises an identifier which identifies one or more receiving modules, a transfer size value which specifies the amount of data to be transferred, and a timing value providing a time frame within which the requested data transfer should occur.

Abstract: In a transmission system in which information is transmitted from a first device (2) to a second device (6) and vice versa, use is made of a first part (t0-t3) of a timeslot to transmit data from the first device (2) to the second device (6) and of a second part (t3-t4) of the timeslot to transmit data from the second device (6) to the first device (2). To obtain correct operation of the system, the second device (6) is synchronized to the first device (2). This is done using a phase locked loop (78) which locks on the signal present on the interconnection lines between the first device (2) and the second device (6). To ensure reliable synchronization, the second part of the timeslot (t3-t4) ends before the beginning (t5) of the first part of the next timeslot; and a rising edge is presented at the beginning (t5) of the first part of each new timeslot.

Abstract: The controller 500 monitors the analog-SLIC 100, the ISDN-SLIC 200, the xDSL-SLIC 300 and the signal processor 400 and selectively produces first and second control signals, wherein the first control signal responds to at least one of the analog signals, the ISDN data signals and the xDSL signals, each of which is received by the responding SLIC, while the second control signal responds to the ATM cells received by the signal processor 400 from the ATM Core Network. Selective one of the first and second control signals is input to the signal processor 400 so that the received signals are subjected to a suitable signal process in correspondence with a content of the received signals.

Abstract: A mobile node moves from a first IP (Internet Protocol) network to a second IP network in a network system in which the first IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with both first and second kinds of IPs and the second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only the first kind of IP are connected with each other. When the mobile node communicates a message with other nodes on the first network after its movement accordance with the second kind of IP, a header for the movement containing both home and foreign addresses of the first kind in IP is added to a header containing home and foreign addresses in the second kind of IP, and put to the message, is added. The message to which the movement header is thus added is used for the communication between a first mobile agent on the first network and a second mobile agent on the second network, or between the mobile node and the first mobile agent.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a flow of a plurality of packets in a computer network is disclosed. The network includes a queue having a maximum queue level that is possible. The method and system include determining a queue level for the queue and determining an offered rate of the plurality of packets to the queue. The method and system also include determining a virtual maximum queue level based on the queue level and the maximum queue level and controlling a transmission fraction of the plurality of packets to the queue, based on the queue level, the offered rate and the virtual maximum queue level.

Abstract: A second processor 6 inserts data to be transmitted and pointer information into a data packet and transmits the data packet at step S20 and then determines whether an acknowledgement from the receiving party has been received at step S22. If no acknowledgement has been received, a determination is made as to whether the number of re-transmissions is equal to or less than a predetermined re-transmission number at step S32. If the re-transmission number is equal to or less than the preset value, then a data packet 16 with the same data is transmitted at step S20. However, if the re-transmission number has reached the preset value, then the number of data bits per data packet is reduced at step S36, and a data packet with reduced data is transmitted at step S20.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for long code generation in synchronous, multi-chip rate systems, wherein a first code sequence having a first bit rate, and a second code sequence having the first bit rate, the second code sequence being a time delay of the first code sequence, are multiplexed together, producing a desired long code.

Abstract: Methods and devices useful in high-speed scalable switching systems include a memoryless switch fabric, per virtual channel queuing, digital phase aligners, randomized and complement connection modes, a mid-point negative acknowledge and output negative acknowledge scheme among other elements. A particular implementation of a routing table and switch element is described in part to illustrate the various techniques and devices of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveying information over a communication network such as a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) network free of in-band signaling information for at least a portion of an established communication between at least two users so as to reduce the information error rate associated with the established communication. For communication links that support robbed-bit signaling (RBS), the RBS signaling is disabled to allow the communication link to be operated in a clear channel mode. When appropriate, operations can be switch from the clear channel mode back to the RBS mode. Embodiments are described for one-stage DLC systems having a local digital switch (LDS) connected to a remote terminal (RT) by a communication link conforming to either the TR-303 protocol or the TR-008 protocol. In addition, embodiments are described for two-stage DLC systems that also have a distance terminal (DT) connected to the RT by a second communication link.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting data packets in a ring network includes a plurality of network nodes having a protection switching agent and at least one fast downstream path circuit that provides a low-latency packet cut-through function for forwarding packets from an upstream node to a downstream node. The network nodes include three interfaces, two interfaces for coupling the network node to other network nodes in the ring network, and a third interface for coupling the network node to a local node. A plurality of virtual paths are provided between a data packet gateway, such as an Internet gateway, and the local nodes that are coupled to the network nodes of the ring network. A virtual channel identifier is embedded within data packets transported on the network so that the protection switching agent in each network node can determine whether to route received data packets to the local node, or to the low-latency cut-through downstream path circuit.