Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: A multi-carrier communication system (400) groups subchannels (802) into different quality-of-signal (QoS) regions (804). An unconstrained optimization process (1200) is performed independently for the subchannels (802) of the different QoS regions (804) to allocate bit rates and power to the individual subchannels (802) so that the indicated QoS will result. Coders (504, 508, 512, 516) partition and error-correction encode source information using encoding schemes matched to the different QoS regions (804). A set (1100) of only a few directed QoS partition vectors (1102) direct the unconstrained optimization process (1200) to attempt bit-rate and power allocations on only a few promising groupings of subchannels (802) and QoS regions (804). An iterative process may take place between bit-rate and power allocation on one side and source information coding on the other for different directed QoS partition vectors (1102) to identify the best solution.

Abstract: A synchronization technique computes, in the frequency domain, a differential-in-frequency function across a large number of OFDM tones, to develop robust estimates of time and frequency offset. The technique allows the system designer to directly trade performance in the presence of channel impairments against signal processing complexity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ranging method for a mobile communication system based on an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) scheme. In the communication system for classifying a ranging procedure between a transmission side and reception sides into an initial ranging process, a bandwidth request ranging process, and a periodic ranging process, the ranging method includes the steps of determining the number of initial RCs(ranging codes) for the initial ranging process, the number of bandwidth request RCs for the bandwidth request ranging process, and the number of periodic RCs for the periodic ranging process, determining a backoff value of the periodic RCs according to the number of the periodic RCs, and sending the initial RCs, the bandwidth request RCs, the periodic RCs, and the backoff value of the periodic RCs to the reception sides.

Abstract: In a communication system, and in particular a wireless Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system, the present invention provides systems for estimating parameters of a channel across which a signal is transmitted. The present invention may be used in a Multi-Input, Multi-Output (MIMO) system in which the data is transmitted from any number of transmitting antennas and received by any number of receiving antennas. The number of transmitting and receiving antennas does not necessarily have to be the same. Circuitry is provided for calculating parameters indicative of the characteristics of the communication channel. Estimates of channel parameters may include channel estimates and noise variance estimates.

Abstract: Reference phase is a radio communication system using orthogonal M-ary modulation is determined, so that a coherent detection system for a CDMA radio communication system is readily achieved. The determination of reference phase is performed by the step of determining a reference phase in a radio communication system, which uses orthogonal M-ary codes comprising the steps of determining the correlation values of an in-phase component and quadrature component corresponding to respective Hadamard matrices resulting from fast Hadamard transform or inverse Hadamard transform of a signal, which possesses said in-phase component and quadrature component, and which is sent from the sending end by phase shift keying an orthogonal M-ary code computing the sum of the squares of the respective correlation values of said in-phase component and quadrature component and selecting either said fast Hadamard transform or inverse Hadamard transform output, which outputs a maximum value of said computed sum of the squares.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein for ingress port filtering for packet switching systems. One implementation includes a mechanism to duplicate and provide an incoming packet stream to multiple per-port ingress filters. Under standard operating conditions, these filters are configured to be cooperative and complementary, with the portion of packet traffic filtered out of the stream on one port allowed to pass through on the other ports so as to load balance traffic across redundant systems. Upon recognition of a failure condition, the filters are typically modified to adapt to the error condition, which may include allowing all traffic to pass through one ingress port while filtering all traffic from the other ingress ports, or dynamically re-programming the filters to effectively redistribute the portion of the traffic going to an ingress port associated with the error condition to the other ingress ports.

Abstract: A method for authenticating an element in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a request for one or more triplets. One or more of the triplets may be associated with an authentication communications protocol that may be executed in order to facilitate a communication session. The method further includes returning one or more of the triplets in response to the request and initiating the communication session in response to the triplets after proper authentication of an entity associated with the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus.

Abstract: Dynamic rate limiting adjustment may be provided by sampling actual output rates from a rate limited device and utilizing this information to modify configured traffic limits. This allows the device to achieve actual output rates much closer to the desired rate limits for users and services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for bonding asynchronous transfer mode permanent virtual circuits using a multi-link segmentation and reassembly sublayer. A method includes: transforming a plurality of streams of asynchronous transfer mode cells into a stream of bonded asynchronous transfer mode cells, the plurality of streams of asynchronous transfer mode cells provided by a first plurality of permanent virtual circuits; demultiplexing the stream of bonded asynchronous transfer mode cells into a plurality of streams of inverse multiplexed bonded asynchronous transfer mode cells; and transmitting the plurality of streams of inverse multiplexed bonded asynchronous transfer mode cells to a remote location via a second plurality of permanent virtual circuits. The transmitted plurality of streams of inverse multiplexed bonded asynchronous transfer mode cells can be multiplexed and transformed into a plurality of multiplexed streams of asynchronous transfer mode cells after transmitting.

Abstract: An Ethernet switch with rate control and associated method is provided. Each port in the switch has individual settings of egress/ingress) rate control, which are stored in a register and configured based on required rates. The switch uses data volume that a port can output/input within each unit time to control egress/ingress rate of the port. Further, the egress rate can be precisely controlled by using uniform random numbers provided by an random number generator of the switch, and the ingress rate can be advantageously controlled by combining a proper kind of congestion control, which is performed according to the capability of a device connected to the port, such as full-duplex or half-duplex, and flow control.

Abstract: A radio access bearer in a mobile communication system is controlled by disposing a radio resource control layer having radio access bearers in a user side, disposing a radio link control layer, a media access control layer, and a physical layer in the user side beneath the radio resource control layer in succession, measuring a traffic volume of the media access control layer and radio link control layer in the user side by using the media access control layer in the user side to produce traffic volume measurements, comparing the traffic volume measurements to at least one of an upper critical value and a lower critical value provided to the media access control layer in the user side from a radio resource control layer in a network side of the communication system through the radio resource control layer in the user side of the system, and forwarding a comparison result and the traffic volume measurements to the radio resource control layer in the network side through the radio resource control layer in the

Abstract: For reverse transmission/reception of rate control bits, a receiver in a mobile station transmits a message indicating combinability of rate control bits received from several base station systems through signaling, thereby securing efficient transmission/reception of the rate control bits, and improving reliability of the rate control bits. In addition, for reverse transmission/reception of ACK/NACK bits, a receiver in a mobile station transmits a message indicating combinability of ACK/NACK bits received from several base station systems, thereby securing efficient transmission/reception of the ACK/NACK bits, and improving reliability of the ACK/NACK bits.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing periodic communications between devices. For example, a periodic packet process may receive configuration parameters from a routing protocol process. The periodic packet process may manage periodic communication sessions with neighboring devices in accordance with the configuration parameters from the routing protocol process. The periodic packet process may monitor for incoming periodic packets from a specified neighboring device in a specified periodic time interval. The periodic packet process may also send outbound periodic packets at a specified periodic time interval.

Abstract: In a communication system wherein a station transceiver and a plurality of nodes communicate in a TDM system through a signal transmission line, at least a part of the line is shared, a method to judge nodes performing normal operation from the station transceiver comprises a request step to request a return of a test pattern by transmitting a trigger signal for a designated node in the plurality of nodes, a correlation process step to process correlation between a received signal in a timeslot assigned to the designated node and a reference pattern corresponding to the designated node, and a judging step to judge whether the designated node is a normal node according to the correlation process result.

Abstract: A test device (21) sits between two or more nodes (20, 22). The nodes (20, 22) communicate in conversations, according to some predetermined protocol. The test device (21), under user control, may introduce jitter, drop packets, create new packets, reroute packets, and reorder packets in the conversations. Particular conversations are detected and tracked by respective virtual state machines (38, 39, 40) within the test device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for de-prioritizing mobile-to-mobile calls in favor of mobile-to-landline calls in a communication system. De-prioritizing mobile-to-mobile calls, which are less sensitive to infrastructure delays due to to their bypass of encoding and decoding steps, allows more delay sensitive mobile-to-landline calls requiring extra processing time due to encoding and decoding to be transmitted over a communication system first. A control processor creates a modified FIFO queue to effect a queuing scheme to de-prioritize mobile-to-mobile calls. Application of the de-prioritizing scheme in a packet based network affords an increase in the quality of mobile-landline calls while not adversely affecting quality of service for mobile-to-mobile calls.

Abstract: A optical communications network including at least one optical phase conjugator for compensating for non-linear effects. The optical communications network includes at least one dispersion compensation module before the optical phase conjugator and at least one dispersion compensation module after the optical phase conjugator. The dispersion compensation modules compensate for linear effects of the transmission path such as dispersion and dispersion slope. This allows the optical phase conjugator to be designed to compensate for non-linear effects such as self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation. The separate compensation of linear and non-linear effects provides enhanced control of these effects.

Abstract: A multiple-domain processing system includes a multi-dimensional switching fabric to provide intra-domain and inter-domain communication within the system.

Abstract: A video teleconferencing method for providing reservationless conferencing. The method involves creating a conference profile identifying selected connection parameters; allocating a dial-in number; notifying participants of the dial-in number; detecting a call from a requesting participant; determining if sufficient resources for the participant are available; and connecting the requesting participant into the reservationless conference. Additionally, the video teleconferencing method allows the conference time to be automatically extended. This is done using timers and reallocating available resources when the original end of conference time arrives. The method also enables the conference to automatically terminate after all conference participants leave the conference.

Abstract: In a method for the control of a connection in a communication network comprising a plurality of nodes (MSC, TSN, MG), a connection (CO) is established stepwise between nodes (MSC, TSN, MG). At least two of the nodes (MSC, TSN, MG) are adapted to insert an entity into the connection (CO), the entity affecting the connection quality, or to remove an entity affecting the connection quality from the connection. An indicator is forwarded between nodes controlling the connection (CO) wherein the indicator indicates whether the connection (CO) comprises an entity affecting the connection quality. A node which decides to insert an entity into the connection or remove an entity adjusts the indicator accordingly before forwarding it to a further node (MSC, TNS, MSC?) controlling the connection (CO). A node (MSC, TSN, MSC?) controlling the connection (CO) checks the value of the indicator when it performs a decision to insert or remove an entity. Nodes and program units for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: Method for providing a transmission link includes providing a proxy equipment including cache or buffer, establishing a streaming connection or session between the proxy equipment and the mobile terminal, upon request of a service from the terminal requesting streaming data, receiving and storing at the equipment the requested streaming data from a server intended for the mobile terminal and forwarding the received and stored streaming data from the proxy equipment to the mobile terminal if the mobile terminal is detected to be under the coverage of and/or connected to the discontinuous coverage network, where when the request for the service by the mobile terminal is received by the proxy equipment, the proxy equipment establishes a continuous data and signaling transmission link with the server to receive the requested streaming data, and a discontinuous data transmission link with the mobile terminal to forward the received streaming data to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved transmitter for processing data blocks including bits of data coming from multiple transport channels in a transmitter of a radio communication system supporting variable data-rate transmissions. This is accomplished by using a computationally efficient technique for processing the received data blocks for variable data rate transmissions. The improved transmitter receives the data blocks including the bits of data from multiple transport channels. The transmitter then forms rectangular arrays including a predetermined number of columns and rows using the received bits of data such that the columns are based on a segmented radio frame size suitable for variable data-rate transmission. The transmitter then equalizes and interleaves the formed columns and reads out bits of data in the equalized and interleaved columns column-by-column. The transmitter then multiplexes the read-out bits of data for variable data-rate transmissions.

Abstract: A mobile terminal device searches a beacon signal sent from an access point through a wireless LAN, and obtains beacon frame information for certification and connection permission. The mobile terminal device then holds network information necessary for data communication with the access point, and measures a period of time between each time the data communication is performed. The mobile terminal device terminates electric power supplied to hardware for performing the data communication with the access point when the data communication is not performed within a predetermined period of time and network connection is terminated. The electric power is supplied to the hardware when it is necessary to send data to the access point through an input operation of the mobile terminal device while the electric power to the hardware is terminated. Accordingly, the mobile terminal device can be frequently disconnected from the network for a very short period of time.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for providing access in a centralized manner to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, and such that each HPNA v2 frame is timed to allow a plurality of physical layer priority level slots. A list of sessions in enhanced stations (STAs) using the communications medium is maintained. At least one second message is transmitted from at least one selected non-MC STA in response to a first message during the same HPNA v2 frame. Accordingly, at least one second message can be transmitted to the MC STA and/or to another non-MC STA. At least a portion of the second message simultaneously with the step of transmitting the first message. Similarly, a portion of at least two second messages are transmitted simultaneously with each other.

Abstract: An independent, broadcast medium (32) is used to communicate an time reference to each element: switch element (36), active element (14-20) or passive element, of an in-vehicle network (30). Each element (36) in the network accepts the time information, i.e., a time reference from the source. The time reference is then used by each element (36) to adjust an internal clock of the element. Commands may then be sent to the elements to occur at a particular time.

Abstract: When there is an arrival of a multicast call at a VoIP terminal on a call reception side, an SLIC sends out a ringing signal to a loudspeaker IF. The loudspeaker IF, after receiving the ringing signal, enters into a state in which voice is outputted from a loudspeaker even if a user does not respond. Compressed voice data is taken out of an IP packet received from a network and extended by a DSP to become voice data. Further, the voice data is converted by a CODEC into a voice signal, which is outputted from the loudspeaker.

Abstract: This invention consists of a system permitting to send text messages by Internet and let them arrive in the form of speech directly on the addressee's phone. This system works by means of a central server, where at least one software is installed, which receives the written message, converts it into speech and processes it, so that it can be sent in vocal form on a telephone line. The user receiving the message can also answer it, sending another message to the sender, always using the telephone.

Abstract: In a digital broadcasting system comprising a server for retransmitting a digital broadcast on the basis of an Internet protocol (IP), a user terminal for receiving the digital broadcast on the basis of the IP, and a router for connecting the server with the user terminal, the server performs a method for providing the broadcasting channel information that includes the steps of dividing a broadcasting stream to be transmitted to the user terminal into the broadcasting channel information and other information excluding the broadcasting channel information by demultiplexing the broadcasting stream and extracting the broadcasting channel information from the divided broadcasting stream, converting the extracted broadcasting channel information into IP-based broadcasting channel information by inserting the Internet protocol information for each broadcasting channel into the extracted broadcasting channel information, and remultiplexing the IP-based converted broadcasting channel information and the other inform

Abstract: A method for performing a lawful interception in a packet network comprises the steps of generating (S2) interception related information packets from a communication to be intercepted; generating (S2) communication content packets from a communication to be intercepted; providing (S3) identification data for the interception related information packets and for the communication content packets of one group of communication packets; providing (S5) ordering data for each of the interception related information data packets and for each of the communication content packets; and transmitting (S6) the interception related information packets, the communication packets, the identification data and the ordering data to an interception authority device. By this measure, a missequenced reception of interception related information (IRI) packets and communication content (CC) packets can be avoided.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes a first data port interface, wherein the first data port interface supports a plurality of data ports for transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate. The network switch also includes a second data port interface, wherein the second data port interface supports a plurality of data ports for transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate, along with a third data port interface for transmitting and receiving data at a third data rate. A CPU interface is provided and configured to communicate with a CPU. The switch includes a first, second and third internal memory communicating with the first, second and third data port interface. A first and second memory management unit for communicating data and to control access to and from the second internal memory, are also provided. A communication channel is provided for communicating data and messaging information.

Abstract: A method of modeling or constructing a switch element uses an ingress stage with input sorters and input routers; an egress stage with output routers and output sorters; and a center stage interconnecting the ingress and egress stages. Routers are partitioned such that each partition is assigned to only one data line. A switch controller and method may use such modeling to advantage. For example, during initial configuration of the switch element, a subset of connections are excluded from a control algorithm that initially configures the switch with the subset being subjected to post processing. Furthermore, a fast rearrangement of the switch rearranges only part of the existing connections and then adds/deletes cross connects as necessary to complete the connections.

Abstract: A network processing device is signaled to establish a media path with another network processing device in a packet switched network with Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard H.323, MGCP, Megaco, or some other signaling protocol. The network processing device receives a request to send information to an observer device that is not directly in the media path. The network processing device then sends information about the media path to the observer device.

Abstract: Multicast routing in ad-hoc networks by exchange of multicast group update information and routing tree information among neighboring routers is disclosed. A router propagates multicast group update information based on the update information and the routing tree information. A router also determines whether to forward multicast data packets based on control information in the multicast data packets and the routing tree information.

Abstract: A method, along with corresponding devices (11 12) and a system (11 12), by which in-sequence delivery of data blocks, sent wirelessly by a sending terminal (11), is provided to a radio link control layer (12a) of a receiving terminal (12) by a media access control layer service (12b) of the receiving terminal (12), where the data blocks are communicated according to a protocol, such as WCDMA, in which a media access control layer (11b) of the sending terminal (11) includes as a service the transmission of the data blocks and possible retransmission of the same data blocks in response to ACK/NAK signaling by a corresponding service included in a media access control layer of the receiving terminal. No data block sequence number is used in the ACK/NAK signaling.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a network layer header of a network packet is received, metadata associated with the network packet is received, a header offset associated with the network packet is determined based on the metadata, and the network layer header is stored in an aligned cache based on the header offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a data communication device that can process a number of streams of data according to a plurality of services. A host device such as a network access server which may include a router and a number of carrier cards hosts a number of modules. The host and modules are equipped with a messaging application programming interface (API). The API allows the host to discover what services are offered by the modules, and allows the host and modules to form an optimal interface configuration that most effectively handles data connections of different service types, such as voice, data, facsimile, video and so forth. In operation, each module is presented with a stream of data containing multiplexed calls. Each call contains data that is best operated on by one of the particular services. The messaging API allows the host to setup and control the module and sessions of the services offered by the modules depending upon the data types of the connections.

Abstract: Each packet message in a sequence of packet messages is sent with an associated packet message priority label in accordance with a predetermined cyclic sequence of such labels. These priority labels each represent one of a plurality of priority levels and the position of each label in the cyclic sequence is such that number of consecutive lower priority labels between that label and the nearest label of equal or higher priority is substantially maximized. In this way, if packet messages are dropped from the sequence due to congestion on a priority basis, the packet messaging method and apparatus according to the invention ensure that, as far as possible, regular update packet messages are still received from all packet message sources.

Abstract: A hybrid ARQ method for packet data transmission in a mobile communication system wherein previously transmitted packets are combined with retransmitted packets. The packets are segmented into a plurality of protocol data units (PDUs), and each PDU is assigned a sequence number for identification purposes. The sequence number is transmitted on a control channel which is separate from the data channel for transmitting the PDUs.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of a selecting an egress connection from egress connections at a node for a call being established in a network along a path being associated with the node. Each connection has sufficient bandwidth to carry the call and terminates at a same destination point in said path. The system and method comprise utilizing at least a bandwidth load balance value for each connection in a set of the connections to select the egress connection from the set. An administrative factor score may be used to further define members of the set.

Abstract: The system and method allow Customer Premises Equipment Network Access Devices using ATM as a datalink layer transport, to automatically determine what VC addresses are supported by the remote Network Access Concentrator end of the physical connection. A “divide and conquer” approach is used to ping as quickly as possible the most likely VPI/VCI values. The VC discovery mechanism attempts to discover active VP's and pings only VC's on these VP's. If there are no VP replies, it pings VC's to a limited VCI depth covering the entire VP range. The maximum predetermined range of VC's to ping (MAX-PING) and the physical upstream line speed determines the overall amount of time required by this procedure. Direct benefits of the proposed approach include: time and money saved by not having to customize the firmware in each NAD destined for particular Network Service Providers, and improved end-user experience by providing plug-and-play convenience out of the box.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating a network farm from a tree topology network are disclosed. One method includes receiving a logical specification of the farm, the logical specification specifying at least one of device types required by the farm and a number of devices for each of the device types. The method further includes receiving a communication model for the farm, the communication model specifying expected bandwidth usage for devices of the farm. The method additionally includes ascertaining, responsive to the logical specification and the communication model, a solution set of devices among devices of the tree topology network for constructing the farm.

Abstract: A method for interfacing with a home automation system using a router. The router receives control signals from an instant messenger application via a communications network. The communications network can be the Internet. The router then transmits the control signal to at least one appliance to control the appliance in accordance with the control signal. A reply to the control signal can be received from the appliance and the reply can be transmitted to the instant messenger application regarding a status of the appliance. The control signals can be transmitted among the appliances in accordance with a standardized home automation interface. The router can be configured to interface with a plurality of appliances via a home automation system interface unit. The router can also be configured to log onto an instant messenger server and function as an instant messenger client to receive control signals from a user.

Abstract: A scheduler for a network processor includes one or more scheduling queues. Each scheduling queue defines a respective sequence in which flows are to be serviced. A respective empty indicator is associated with each scheduling queue to indicate whether the respective scheduling queue is empty. By referring to the empty indicators, it is possible to avoid wasting operating cycles of the scheduler on searching scheduling queues that are empty.

Abstract: A node apparatus includes ready queue lists, state variable storing section, state variable temporary storing section, and output control section. In the ready queue lists, the numbers of queues in a ready state for packet transmission are written. Each list manages the order in which the numbers were written. The state variable storing section holds state variables associated with all queues. The state variable temporary storing section temporarily stores only state variables associated with queues whose numbers fall within a predetermined range from the start of the list means and is smaller in data amount than the state variable storing section. The output control section transmits a packet from a queue having a number extracted from the start of the list and updates the state variable of the queue in the state variable temporary storing section. A method of transmitting packets is also disclosed.

Abstract: N data bits are stored in ?N/M? cells by programming each cell with up to M of the bits according to a valid, nonserial bit ordering that satisfies one of the following criteria: Either the number of threshold voltage comparisons needed to read all M bits sequentially is at most 1 more than the smallest such number, or the largest number of threshold voltage comparisons needed to read any bit is minimized, or the smallest number of threshold voltage comparisons needed to read any bit is minimized, or the difference between the largest and smallest number of threshold voltage comparisons needed to read any bit statically is at most 1 more than the smallest such difference, or the difference between the largest and smallest number of threshold voltage comparisons needed to read any bit dynamically is minimized.

Abstract: A network processor for processing information elements is described. Each information element is associated with a flow and comprises at least one information element segment. A policy controller stores an information element into at least one information segment storage unit within a memory, and determines whether an information element segment conforms to a predetermined quality of service (“QoS”). A traffic processor selects the information element segment for forwarding based on at least one QoS parameter. A forwarding processor forwards the selected information element segment to an egress port.

Abstract: A method and a network for a universal transfer mode (UTM) of transferring data packets at a regulated bit rate are disclosed. The method defines a protocol that uses an adaptive packet header to simplify packet routing and increase transfer speed. The protocol supports a plurality of data formats. The network includes a plurality of modules that provide interfaces to various data sources. The modules are interconnected by an optic core with adequate inter-module links. The adaptive packet header is used for both signaling and payload transfer. The header is parsed to determine its function. Rate regulation is accomplished using each module control element and egress port controllers to regulate packet transfer. The protocol enables the modules to behave as a single distributed switch capable of multi-terabit transfer rates. The advantage is a high speed distributed switch capable of serving as a transfer backbone for substantially any telecommunications service.