Abstract: When an event (for example, an e-mail message) is received at a server it is saved into a log file (or a summary is saved). The log entry for each message includes a set of groups within an organization to which the message is considered to belong. An administrator who has authority over any one of those groups is allowed to view this message. When an administrator logs onto the system it is determined which group or groups the administrator owns, i.e., for which groups the administrator has the authority to view their e-mail messages. For each e-mail log entry it is determined whether there is a group in common between the set of groups stored in the log entry and the groups that the administrator owns. A group in common indicates that the administrator is allowed to view that particular e-mail message.

Abstract: A system and method to store a service level objective, produce one or more network conditions on a first network link where such network condition matches the state of such network condition on a second network link, and where the second network link connects to a remote network location, execute a transaction of an application over the first network link and predict if a service level of the transaction of the application over the second network link reaches the stored service level objective.

Abstract: Techniques for providing information about a current state modeled with multiple attributes is described. The providing of information can include receiving from a first source an indication of an ability to supply values for one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the first source. After the supplying of the value, the providing can include receiving from a second source a value supplying ability for the one attribute and supplying of a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources. After the supplying of that value, the providing can include receiving from the first source an indication of a value supplying inability for the one attribute and supplying a value for the one attribute received from the second source.

Abstract: A system and associated method for managing resources of a network load balancer. The method begins with registering the network load balancer with the presence server. Next the network load balancer notifies the presence server when an end user requests resources from an application server connected to the network load balancer. The network load balancer then provides the end user access to the application server and subscribes to an information feed pertaining to the end user and supplied by the presence server. After receiving a notification from the presence server that the end user changed their presence information, the network load balancer updates their records pertaining to the end user in a database. Finally, the network load balancer determines whether to continue providing the end user with access to the application server or purge the end user's records from the database.

Abstract: Protecting data files from being stolen or compromised in a data processing operation having stored data in a plurality of data files by receiving user requests for access to data files, determining whether said requests are unauthorized intrusions into the requested data files and, responsive to a determination that a request is an unauthorized intrusion, changing the identification of the requested data files by renaming the files. Preferably, the rename should be one which does not identify the contents of the file, i.e. the rename disguises the file contents. Then, it is also desirable that the renamed file be moved to a new “hidden” directory. In such a case, the renamed file is also assigned a covert name which indicates a covert location in the new directory. Then, there is provided a log referencing each renamed file to the covert name of the respective file so as to indicate the covert location of said file in said new directory.

Abstract: A network access arrangement for connecting an end user's computer to the Internet includes a network access server and a proxy server. When an end user requests to be connected to the Internet, the network access server forwards the access request to the proxy server. The proxy server authenticates some requests itself but forwards other requests to authentication servers for authentication. After receiving a response from one of the servers, the proxy server forwards the response to the network access server. If the proxy server does not receive a response from one of the authentication servers, it follows a default procedure. This can be to authenticate the request in the proxy server or simply to accept the request. The proxy server has a counter associated with each of the servers. Each time the proxy server receives a response from one of the servers, it decrements the appropriate counter. Each time it does not receive a response, it increments the appropriate counter.

Abstract: The Content Transform Proxy (CTP) service is an advanced Web proxy service, the basic function of which is to modify incoming HTTP requests having a server-side destination and/or outgoing HTTP responses. The CTP service is implemented by the CTP program, which resides on a host in a data communications network between an end user (the Web client) and a content server that the client is attempting to access. The HTTP request and/or an HTTP response is modified by making an HTTP request on the client side using a client web browser, processing the HTTP request on the server side using outgoing proxy rules, passing on the processed HTTP transaction to the server-side destination, returning the results of the processed HTTP request from the server-side destination, processing the HTTP response on the server side using incoming proxy rules, and returning the processed HTTP response to the client web browser on the client side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preventing harmful variability and oscillation in weight based, dynamic load balancing environments. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods to effectively determine the magnitude of weight changes in dynamic load balancing environments based on the workload magnitude and server farm capacity. This method depends on the development of new multi-system characteristics such as a relative workload metric to characterize the workload of the system relative to the collective capacity of all of the systems to handle the workload.

Abstract: A method for implementing resources reservation in a proxy-requested mode in an NGN, includes: an AF entity sending a resources request message carrying resources requirement parameters information on behalf of a user to a resources mediation PDF; the resources mediation PDF making an admission decision according to network operation policy rules, subscriber configuration files, and availability of transport resources; if the corresponding resources request is admitted, the resources mediation PDF sending an admission installation command to a BGF, setting and keeping corresponding admission decision parameters information in the BGF; the BGF forwarding subscriber traffic entering networks according to the admission decision parameters information to ensure QoS class requested by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a server that provides session-persistent concurrent licenses for resources accessed by clients. In one embodiment, rather than requiring a license when the server is initially accessed, a license is not requested until a client seeks access to a licensed resource. In one implementation, scripts for Web pages associated with licensed resources include requests for licenses from a license management facility. Certain resources conditionally request a license based upon the origin of the access request: the license request may be bypassed for access requests from “pre-licensed” applications. Session-based licensing allows equitable assessment of compensation to a service provider for use of the services. The server includes many resources, some of which require a license for access while others do not. The services of premium value are the only ones for which customers are expected to obtain/claim a license.

Abstract: This application describes how Session Description Protocol (SDP) preconditions signaling can be enhanced to support lead role negotiation, precondition capability exchange, premature precondition attempts and concatenated preconditions processing. The application describes the use of send and receive tags in an SDP message for a given media line. In a given message, a success or failure tag may be associated with a send or receive tag in addition to an optional or mandatory condition indicator tag. A lead role indicator may also be associated with a send or receive tag to indicate a desired preference with regard to the sender or receiver taking the lead role. These additions lead to a greater chance of successful session set-up completion, reduce the number of signaling exchanges in general, and enable precondition attempts to be started earlier and to be executed in parallel.

Abstract: Managing subscriber access to online subscription services providing online subscribers or potential new subscribers access to a subscription or trial subscription content at a normal level of service during the subscription period but, after the subscription has expired, providing a decreased level of service during a post-expiration period. The level of service may be decreased incrementally by reducing the content available to a subscriber, downloading the subscription content at a slower than normal rate, delivering certain features in black and white instead of color, deleting sound files, disabling any inter-active features, or any combination of these features. A subscription server manages the various databases and downloads subscription content to the online subscribers. The databases contain information about the subscribers and instructions for the subscription server to follow in granting normal or reduced access to the subscription content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques of processing data packets in a computer network. The computer network includes a multiport network device and a computer executing a software application. The multiport network device is configured to receive data packets to be transmitted using the computer network and the network device stores one or more authorized network descriptors. The software application generates data packets to be transmitted to the computer network through the network device. The software application registers the network rights descriptor with the network device and inserts the network rights descriptor in each generated data packet. The network device is configured to discard the data packet if the network rights descriptor in the data packet does not match an authorized network rights descriptor and to process the data packet if the network rights descriptor in the data packet matches an authorized network rights descriptor.

Abstract: A network appliance controls access to network resources by identifying network paths passing through the network appliance to a protected network, drawings conclusions about the type of communications traveling along those paths, and then controlling, i.e. limiting, access to the protected network's resources for transmitting communications on a path-by-path basis. Recipient controlled mechanisms are used to control access to the recipient's network's resources, namely, restricting bandwidth, controlling allocation of SMTP or other connections, and packet level traffic shaping techniques including controlling of parameters of TCP and/or IP communications, such as TCP receive window size and Maximum Segment Size, or otherwise decreasing the amount of network traffic per unit of time passing through the network appliance. This limits the amount of network resources that may be used by incoming communications.

Abstract: Within the scope of the method for management and/or administration of access authorizations in a network, especially of access authorizations for internet and/or network main portals, the user administration is designed as a standardized, web protected and a decentralized process. For each main portal, a separate application is required and it is made possible for the user to seek possible internet and/or network main portals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for on-demand media streaming from a user's own media library to a user's receiving device that may be located in a different location from that where the media library is stored. The present invention provides an out-of-the box on-demand media server device that may be used by itself, in conjunction with a personal computer, or in conjunction with a personal home stereo system or video system. The on-demand media server includes security mechanisms that allow a user to establish a private server that only the user may communicate with and gain access to the user's media library. In one particular embodiment, a smart card or other removable media are used as a security device to ensure that access to the media files on the user's personal on-demand media streaming server is limited to the user. In addition, the system and method provides an on-demand conversion of the media in the user's personal media library to an appropriate format.

Abstract: Systems and methods that manage multiple stack environments are provided. In one example, a system may include, for example, a first protocol processing stack, a second protocol processing stack and a mapper. The mapper may be coupled to the first protocol processing stack and to the second protocol processing stack. A first port number may be associated with the first protocol processing stack and a second port number may be associated with the second protocol processing stack. The mapper may store a correspondence between the first port number and the second port number.

Abstract: System and method for providing a binary encoding protocol as an alternative to markup language protocols for Web services. Embodiments may provide a Web services stack with a single API that supports a binary encoding protocol in addition to a markup language protocol. Embodiments may dynamically and transparently switch between the markup language protocol and the binary encoding protocol, for example for communications between servers and clients in a Web services network environment. An exemplary markup language is XML. An exemplary binary encoding protocol that may be used is WS-Fast, which may use Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) and a mapping from XML Schema to ASN.1 for on-the-wire binary messages. Some embodiments may be implemented as a Java Web services stack that implements WS-Fast as an alternative to XML, while still supporting XML and providing one API to both protocols.

Abstract: A full hardware based TCP/IP traffic offload engine (TOE) device and the method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a TOE interface and a TOE driver. With the designed socket API executing in the kernel of the operating system, the TOE interface and the TOE driver can effectively improve the input/output traffic load between network nodes without protocol stacking.

Abstract: A novel system and method is provided for improving object cacheability in an ICAP-configured network cache. Unlike prior implementations, the present invention does not require the network cache to invalidate every data object in its object store in response to receiving an updated ISTag value from an ICAP server. Rather, the network cache invalidates data objects on an object-by-object basis after receiving the updated ISTag value. Specifically, the network cache invalidates a data object if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the network cache has received an updated ISTag value, (2) the data object is requested by a client and (3) the requested data object requires transformation by the ICAP server. When each of these conditions is satisfied, the data object is invalidated and replaced with its transformed version.

Abstract: Systems and method for measuring parameters of a media stream are disclosed. Some example systems include a data collection agent that selectively couples with at least one user-designated media stream and collects data associated with the media stream. The example systems may further include a web server that communicates with at least one data collection agent. The web server may obtain a request from a user for measurement of a user-designated media stream, the user request including an identification of the media stream and a list of one or more performance parameters of said stream to be measured. The data collection agent receives from the web server a parameter set defining a measurement of the user-designated media stream, collects and measures media stream data according to the parameter set, and provides the user with real-time performance characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating client-side virtual radio stations. The method comprises: receiving server-supplied radio stations at an network-connected radio service client; establishing radio filter characteristics; analyzing the server-supplied radio stations using the filter characteristics; generating a client-side virtual radio station service; supplying the virtual radio station service from a virtual radio station; and, presenting the virtual radio station services on a client-side user interface. The radio filter characteristics may be established using automatic, semi-automatic, or manual selection mechanisms. For example, characteristics may be selected automatically, as learned from an analysis of a user's past and present behavior. The radio filter characteristics may include criteria such as musical genre, song title, artist information, or server source, to name just a few.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a transmission of data from a first storage device to a second storage device. The first storage device includes a recording unit for recording the data, a buffer for temporarily storing the data read from the recording unit, and a transmission unit for transmitting the data read from the buffer. It is determined that sufficient buffer space in the buffer is not available for the transmission of the data in a predetermined time interval. It is ascertained whether a transmission error exists in a communication line connecting the first storage device to the second storage device. If the transmission error exits, then the transmission unit is controlled to not perform the transmission of the data from the first storage device; otherwise the transmission unit is not controlled to not perform the transmission of the data from the first storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling header compression and decompression for a link of a packet data network, wherein a predetermined header extension size for the link is initially set, and wherein a packet which will not be used as reference for subsequent decompression is transmitted from the compressor to the decompressor, if an extension header list of a size larger than the predetermined header extension size has been received. At the decompressing side, the transmission of an acknowledgement is suppressed, if an extension header list of the size larger than a predetermined header extension size configured at the decompressor has been received. Thereby, inconsistency of compression context between compressor and decompressor is prevented and a higher compression efficiency is achieved since there is no need to repair the context and correctly decompressed packets can be delivered to upper network layers without discarding any packets.

Abstract: An approach to rapid failover of a communication path between computers that are linked by redundant virtual links in a virtual private network (VPN) features detection of communication link and device failures through an active monitoring approach and re-routing of communication through a redundant link of the VPN when a failure is detected.

Abstract: A flexible metadata driven and workflow based report generation system is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system comprises at least one client application on a client terminal and a report manager system. The client application allows a user to run a report from a user interface having the flexibility to choose various parameters that affect the content of the generated report. The report manager system comprises a metadata service and a workflow controller service. The metadata service is for retrieving report metadata (report name, parameter(s) and their parameter values) to be displayed on the user interface to allow the user to choose parameter values and run a report job. The controller is for receiving messages from the client terminal upon submission of a report job and, based on the received messages, sending messages to one or more service components for executing the report job in a sequence of determined discrete steps.

Abstract: In a multi-level redirection method, a first level redirection of a first request is performed based on static information. At a manager, a second level redirection of a second request is performed to an agent server based on dynamic information. The manager is configured to monitor an individual status of the agent server. The static information is associated with selection of the manager and the dynamic information is associated with selection of the agent server. The second level redirection is application redirection performed based on application protocols and contents used in the first and second request.

Abstract: The invention relates to the routing of data packets in a packet-switched network, e.g. in an autonomous system, having traffic distribution. According to the invention, the forwarding or the routing of data packets occurs via the access interface based on an item of information and via the output interface of the data packet based on an item of information. Both these items of information are, for example at the input interface, placed in front of the data packet in the form of information fields or labels. The invention enables, with a moderate expense and limited degree of complexity, a flexible and loop-free routing under the terms of a traffic distribution.

Abstract: A method of improving BGP convergence in a packet-switched network comprises receiving, at a router in the packet-switched network, an advertisement of a first route that includes alternate route information indicating that an alternate route is available; storing the alternate route information in association with the first route; detecting a change in network reachability of the first route, and in response thereto, determining if the alternate route information is stored for the first route, and if so: awaiting, for a particular time, an advertisement of an alternate route; storing and using the alternate route in place of the first route.

Abstract: Stateful failover redundancy support is provided for network address translation (NAT). A master NAT device is backed-up with at least one back-up NAT device. Existing sessions are synchronized between the two NAT devices, such as via a dedicated link between them. In the event of a failover where the master NAT device is unable to perform its NAT functions, ownership of Internet protocol (IP) addresses is transferred from the master NAT device to the back-up NAT device. The back-up NAT device, which is now owner of the IP addresses, assumes the NAT functionality associated with these IP addresses and continues the existing sessions, as well as processing new sessions.

Abstract: Even if an email attached with a moving image is sent to a terminal that is not capable of moving image display, pseudo moving image display can be carried out in high quality on the terminal. An email reception unit receives the email, and a model judgment unit judges the model of the terminal as a destination of the email. If the destination terminal cannot display the moving image, a moving image conversion unit generates a multimedia image data in a multimedia format from moving image data representing the moving image. An image attaching unit attaches the moving mage data or the multimedia image data to main content of the email, and an email transmission unit sends the image-attached email to the destination terminal.

Abstract: Data for a multicast service is provided by a radio communication system by performing header compression and employing a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity that exists for every specific MBMS service to be provided for a cell with users therein. The particular network component (e.g., in a SRNC or a CRNC) that includes one PDCP layer for each specific MBMS service depends upon certain characteristics of the terminals (UE) located within a cell that wish to receive the specific MBMS service. The terminal receives via a common transport channel and restores (i.e., decompresses) the header-compressed data of the MBMS service that was transmitted after header compression at the CRNC, while the terminal receives via a dedicated transport channel and restores (i.e., decompresses) the header-compressed data of the MBMS service that was transmitted after header compression at the SRNC.

Abstract: A robust device messaging framework is disclosed that enables a user to send commands to a device. A provisioning service is used to provision unique device identities and maps user web identities to device identities. The provisioning service also limits device per day provisioning attempts to limit denial of service attacks. A command service allows remote users to issue commands to a device, synchronize outgoing commands with incoming results, receive accurate feedback about whether a command was received, and maintain state information about the device. A device layer encrypts and stores device identities, authenticates itself with the command service, establishes a high-availability Internet connection to receive alerts that a command has issued, and reports results to the server-based command service.

Abstract: Local drive presence is provided for local and remote drives by maintaining a plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections between a plurality of I/O controllers and a plurality of device interfaces through which peripheral bus commands are transmitted. Preferably, the I/O controllers are each housed in a separate server blade and provide each blade with access to the local and remote drives. At each of the device interfaces, rather than attaching an actual storage device, peripheral bus commands received at the device interfaces are serialized and conditionally passed or suppressed to and from the shared drive which is shared amongst the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections. Preferably, the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections is maintained such that the shared drives can be simultaneously shared. In one embodiment, the local drives are provided in a media tray which is shared amongst a plurality blades.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-function peripheral which is easy for a user to operate. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, there is provided a peripheral connected to an information processing apparatus, which inputs and analyzes a job script constituted of packet data from the information processing apparatus, and subsequently generates an appropriate job file in accordance with the content of the job script.

Abstract: A system and method for flexible multiple protocols are presented. A device's logical layer may be dynamically configured on a per interface basis to communicate with external devices in a coherent or a non-coherent mode. In coherent mode, commands such as coherency protocol, system commands, and snoop response pass from the device's internal system bus to an external device, thereby creating a logical extension of the devices internal system bus. In non-coherent mode, the input-output bus unit receives commands from the internal system bus and generates non-coherent input-output commands, which are eventually received by an external device.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for managing in-order-delivery of data traffic in a storage area network which includes at least one host device adapted to communicate with at least one storage device via a fiber channel fabric. When a change in at least one route in the fiber channel fabric is detected, a first zone, flow and/or device in the network which is affected by the route change is identified, and frames associated with the first zone/flow/device are temporarily dropped for a temporary time period T. In one embodiment, the first zone/flow/device includes at least one device which is sensitive to the order in which data traffic is received. According to a specific implementation, a second zone/flow/device in the network which is affected by the route change, and which is not sensitive to the order in which data traffic is received may also be identified, and frames associated with the second zone/flow/device forwarded to their destination address during the temporary time period T.

Abstract: A communications bus for a digital device includes a credit-based flow control mechanism, in which a sending component maintains a local record of its credits. Credits are returned to the sender by pulsing a single-bit credit return line. A separate mechanism provides a count of available credits from the receiver, the separate mechanism not necessarily being current. The local record is compared to the count of credits from the separate mechanism over a pre-determined time interval, failure of the two values to agree at any time during the interval indicating a probable credit discrepancy. A credit discrepancy is confirmed, preferably by suspending certain bus activity for a sufficiently long period to account for any delay in propagating credit value changes, and re-comparing the values. Preferably, the bus communicates between internal components of an integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: A system that includes a host including at least one per-connection data structure and at least one per-processor data structure, wherein the at least one per-connection data structure is associated with a connection, and an offload engine operatively connected to the host. The engine includes offload engine connection registers and functionality to update the at least one per-connection data structures in the host, wherein the offload engine is configured to send and receive network data on the connection, wherein the host and the offload engine communicate using the at least one per-processor data structure, and wherein the offload engine communicates a status of the connection to the host using the offload engine connection registers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software products for moving and/or resizing a producer-consumer queue in memory without stopping all activity is provided so that no data is lost or accidentally duplicated during the move. There is a software consumer and a hardware producer, such as a host channel adapter.

Abstract: A base address sorting device in a switching device is disclosed that includes an array of base address registers in which each base address register contains a base address, an address shifting device; and a control logic element electrically coupled to the array of base address registers and operable, upon receiving a configuration command comprising a new base address, to implement a method for reconfiguring the contents of the array of base address registers. The method includes determining an insertion point base address register in the array of base address registers into which to write the new base address, shifting the contents of one or more base address registers array to other base address registers to preserve the sorted order, and shifting the contents of the configuration command into the insertion point base address register. The inserting results in preserving the pre-determined order of the register array content.

Abstract: A building control or danger warning system includes a two-core circular bus for voltage supply and for communication with bus user circuits connected to the cores of the circular bus. The bus user circuits are looped-into the circular bus via FET (field effect transistor) polarity-reversal protection bridges, thereby simplifying connection of the bus user circuits to the circular bus. A bus user circuit is located between d.c. connection terminals and connected in parallel with two protection bridges. The bus user circuit measures the voltage conditions and polarity of the a.c. voltage input terminals of the bridges. According to the results of the measurement, the bus is relayed to the subsequent bus user circuit.

Abstract: A computer motherboard detects the form factor type of the chassis in which it is installed to permit tailoring functionality accordingly.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a communication medium coupled to a plurality of the functional blocks in an integrated circuit. Three or more of the initiator functional blocks communicate with a target functional block by sending requests having an associated identifier to indicate a transaction stream that the request is part of. At least a first and a second of buffer are associated with the target functional block at an interface of the target functional block to the communication medium and receive requests having the associated identifiers from the three or more initiator functional blocks through a shared common connection point for the interface. The communication medium implements a mapping algorithm to map requests from a first initiator functional block as well as requests from a third initiator functional block to a first dedicated buffer based on the associated identifiers.

Abstract: A control system includes a host device and a string of slave devices coupled in series. The host device includes a first transmission unit operable to transmit an encoded control signal provided by a first processing module, and to receive an encoded feedback signal for subsequent decoding by the first processing module. Each of the slave devices includes: a driven member responsive to a driving signal for generating an event; a driving unit operable to provide the driving signal; a detection unit generating an initial feedback signal based on the event; a second processing module capable of decoding the encoded control signal so as to drive the driving unit when an address code in the encoded control signal corresponds to the slave device, and of generating the encoded feedback signal; and a second transmission unit operable to receive the encoded control signal, and to transmit the encoded feedback signal.

Abstract: Technologies are described for implementing locks to control I/O operations in a storage system. The lock implementations can have reduced resource requirements for memory and processing. Through the utilization of the technologies and concepts presented herein, an I/O process preparing to acquire a write lock can advertise its need for the lock for a pre-determined time before the lock is granted. The time period for advertisement can be specified so that all I/O operations that were initiated before the advertisement are guaranteed to have completed by the time the advertisement period is over. As such, a lock controller may only need to track outstanding I/Os that begin once the advertisement starts. This can reduce the typical requirement to maintain and process a lock structure for every unit of storage in the system at all times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically arbitrating, in hardware, requests for a resource shared among multiple clients. Multiple data streams or service requests require access to a shared resource, such as memory, communication bandwidth, etc. A hardware arbiter monitors the streams' traffic levels and determines when one or more of their arbitration weights should be adjusted. When a queue used by one of the streams is filled to a threshold level, the hardware reacts by quickly and dynamically modifying that queue's arbitration weight. Therefore, as the queue is filled or emptied to different thresholds, the queue's arbitration weight rapidly changes to accommodate the corresponding client's temporal behavior. The arbiter may also consider other factors, such as the client's type of traffic, a desired quality of service, available credits, available descriptors, etc.

Abstract: A processor bus has several data processing units, each connected to a line system which acts as a bus having bus segments connected in a separable manner through connection units. Functional units arranged on the bus carry out the information thereof. The functional units may carry out exchanges independently of each other. Conversely, functional units in different groups may carry out information exchanges simultaneously. The connection units define combinatory connections of the signal lines, with physical connections between the connection units provided by the bus segments. The connection units can carry out information exchanges with as many connected functional units as desired. The information path from a functional unit to selected functional units can be multiplexed or switched by toggling simultaneous connections to several functional units or by bridging non-participating functional units.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for helping maintain isochronous communications with peripheral devices (308), such as USB devices, over a network (302). Some methods for facilitating isochronous IN communication include noting (1906) passage of a predetermined interval without communication (310) from the peripheral device driver (402), and then creating (1908) a dummy communication (312) and sending (1910) it over the network toward the peripheral device to maintain isochronous communication toward the peripheral device. Some methods for facilitating isochronous OUT communication include noting (2006) passage of a predetermined interval without receipt, over the network, of a responsive communication (310) from the peripheral device in response to a first communication, and then creating (2008) a dummy communication (312) and sending (2010) it toward the peripheral device driver to maintain isochronous communication transmissions toward the peripheral device driver.

Abstract: A data bus of a DVD+RW recorder between a DSP and a SDRAM usually needs a multilayer wiring board. In order to simplify the layout of the wiring board of the data bus there is provided a method for connecting at least a first and a second integrated circuit by providing the first integrated circuit having a plurality of first logical I/O ports physically arranged in a first order at the periphery, and providing the second integrated circuit having a plurality of second logical I/O ports physically arranged in a second order at the periphery, wherein each first I/O port is to be connected to one of said second I/O ports. The first and second I/O logical ports are connected independently from the first and/or second physical order, so that connection lines do not cross each other.