Abstract: A protection switching method and apparatus for use in a ring network are provided. At least two switching request signals are received from a network device neighboring a link in which a failure occurs. A switching operation is performed in response to a first received signal of the at least two received switching request signals. When a network failure occurs, fast protection switching can be performed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method of monitoring, by establishing end to end loopback testing across one or more networks with dissimilar transport technologies. The system allows for connection in loopback mode from a standard interface on a test device to a media adaptor located on an IP-based access network, such as a standard multimedia terminal adapter (“MTA”). End-to-End Quality of service delivered over the transmit and receive path can thus be monitored. Loopback tests are initiated from designated endpoints on the network and made operational by attaching a tag to a telephone number, to allow the gateway to signal connection mode to a call agent.

Abstract: An inspection signal to inspect forward-path or return-path communication, is transmitted from a reference node of a network. A response signal is transmitted in a priority class from a node of a forward path to the reference node. In the case of inspection of return-path communication, a replica of the response signal is transmitted in a non-priority class from the node of the forward path to the return path, and the node that receives the replica of the response signal transfers the replica in a priority class to the reference node. In the case of inspection of forward-path communication, a replica of the inspection signal is transmitted in a non-priority class from the node of the forward path to the forward path, and a replica of the response signal is transmitted in a priority class from the node that receives a replica of the inspection signal to the reference node.

Abstract: A communication-processing method performs communication processing on any network-connected equipment. The method includes the steps of sending an identification signal through a network to every apparatus that is connected in an identical network circuit to identify a local apparatus, and determining whether a reply signal including identification information in reply to the sent identification signal is received or not. The method also includes the steps of deciding that the local apparatus is connected to the identical network circuit if receiving the reply signal including the identification information to secure a communication-processing condition for the identified local apparatus, communicating with the identified local apparatus, and sending the communication-processing condition to the identified local apparatus.

Abstract: A provider edge (PE) node of a network operates to send a trace path message over the network to a receiver PE node, the trace path message recording a list of intermediate nodes of a unicast path from the PE node to the receiver PE node; and receive a join message initiated from the receiver PE node, the join message using the list to propagate to the source PE node through the intermediate nodes such that a branch of a multicast tree is aligned with the unicast path. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server computer are presented. The method includes receiving an action request at the server computer, where the server computer is configured to generate display views for the requesting client. The method further embeds, at the server computer, a first encoded area into a first image frame that is communicated to a client computer when acknowledging receipt of the action request. After the action associated with the action request is completed, the method embeds a second encoded area into a second image frame that is communicated to the client computer. Action performance time is stored in memory, where the action performance time is based on the time difference between arrivals of the first and second image frames at the client computer. The stored timing information is used to generate statistical performance data.

Abstract: A method of automatic response and loop-backing is developed for remotely measuring the quality of the Internet telephone by IP phone. When a quality measuring instrument is requested to measure the quality of Internet telephone, a request call is placed to an IP phone for quality measurement. The method of automatic response and loopback is enable the IP phone to handle the call for quality measuring without interrupting the user of IP phone without affecting utilization of supplementary Internet telephone services.

Abstract: An access node (e.g., DSLAM, OLT/ONT) is described herein that implements a trust verification method comprising the steps of: (a) filtering an up-stream message initiated by a non-trusted device (e.g., CPE); (b) intercepting the filtered up-stream message if the filtered up-stream message is a connectivity fault management message (e.g., LB message, LBR message, CC message); (c) inserting a trusted identification into the intercepted up-stream message; and (d) outputting the intercepted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification. Thereafter, a trusted device (e.g., BRAS) receives and analyzes the outputted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification message to ascertain a trustworthiness of the non-trusted device (e.g., CPE). Several different ways that an access network (e.g., IPTV network) can implement the trust verification method are also described herein.

Abstract: A method for transmitting signals over a power line network, wherein within the power line network at least one transmitter and at least one receiver communicate via at least two channels, each channel including a respective feeding port of at least one transmitter and the respective receiving port of the at least one transmitter and transmitter including at least two feeding ports. The method: determines a channel characteristic of each of the channels; applies a feeding port selection criterion based on the channel characteristic; and selects an excluded feeding port among the at least two feeding ports based on the feeding port selection criterion, wherein the excluded feeding port is not used during further communication. A corresponding power line communication modem can implement the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to Krone block dongle. More particularly, the invention encompasses a method and an apparatus to monitor any media DSLAM port remotely off of a Krone block assignment.

Abstract: In order to measure the latency of a particular transport service from end to end, a method of measuring the latency of a transport connection between a first network node (N1) and a second network node (N2) is provided, which makes use of a virtual concatenation function with a buffer (B) to compensate the differential delay between members in a received virtual concatenation group. In particular, the first network node (N1) creates a virtual concatenation group which has as members at least two multiplexing units (VC4—1, VC4—2). A first of the two (VC4—1) is used as a reference for the latency measurement. The second (VC4—2) is sent to the second network node (N2), where it is looped back to said first network node (N1). The first network node (N1), by using its buffer (B) available for re-aligning members of a virtual concatenation group, determines a latency difference between the first and second multiplexing units (VC4—1, VC4—2).

Abstract: A Queue Manager (QM) system and method are provided for communicating control messages between processors. The method accepts control messages from a source processor addressed to a destination processor. The control messages are loaded in a first-in first-out (FIFO) queue associated with the destination processor. Then, the method serially supplies loaded control messages to the destination processor from the queue. The messages may be accepted from a plurality of source processors addressed to the same destination processor. The control messages are added to the queue in the order in which they are received. In one aspect, a plurality of parallel FIFO queues may be established that are associated with the same destination processor. Then, the method differentiates the control messages into the parallel FIFO queues and supplies control messages from the parallel FIFO queues in an order responsive to criteria such as queue ranking, weighting, or shaping.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes ingesting a program stream from a program source on a first channel. The method also includes storing the program stream, and receiving notification from a client of unrecoverable error in a stream received at the client. The unrecoverable error corresponds to at least a portion of the stored program stream. The method also includes distributing the corresponding portion of the stored program stream to the client on a second channel in response to the notification.

Abstract: For use with a path vector routing protocol, a system and method for increasing alternative network route convergence speed and a border gateway router incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a router information base (RIB) data receiver, associated with a network, that receives RIB data including: (1a) an update of an active route to a domain in the network that causes the active route to become a withdrawn route and (1b) indications, based on loopback addresses associated with nodes through which the withdrawn route passed, of a reachability of the each of the nodes and (2) route disqualification logic, associated with the RIB data receiver, that disqualifies alternative routes to the domain based on the indications.

Abstract: A method for discovering computers connected to a computer network, including receiving a packet containing address information of a computer connected to the computer network that sent the packet, extracting the address information from the packet, and adding the address information to a database of discovered computers connected to the computer network.

Abstract: A VPN (Virtual Private Network) communication detecting apparatus connecting to an internal network for detecting a VPN node on an external network which connects to the internal network through a relay apparatus, transmits response request packet to test target node, receives response packet from the test target node in response to the response request packet, measures response time which is from first time point when the response request packet is transmitted to second time point when the response packet is received, and determines whether the test target node is the VPN node, based on correlation between the response time and delay time inserted by the relay apparatus when test target packet pass through the relay apparatus, the test target packet, if the test target node is the other of the VPN nodes, including the response request packet or the response packet.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a network device for interfacing a host with a network are described. One example network device includes a transmit path, and a receive path. A loopback path connects the transmit path and the receive path. A frame detection logic is configured to monitor network traffic on the transmit path to identify loopback frames. When a loopback frame is detected, a loopback logic routes the identified loopback frame onto the loopback path and then to the receive path. The rerouted loopback frame may then be received by a host or an embedded client from the receive path.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes establishing a path for a media session between a first network element and a second network element. A third network element is detected along the path. A response is received from the third network element indicating that it is capable of performing a loopback activity that involves the first network element. A test packet is communicated from the first network element to the third network element in order to evaluate characteristics associated with the media session. In more specific implementations, the response includes an indication as to a proximity of the third network element in relation to the first network element. The first network element can receive additional responses from a plurality of network elements such that the first network element generates a list of available network elements for performing loopback activities.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method of monitoring, by establishing end to end loopback testing across one or more networks with dissimilar transport technologies. The system allows for connection in loopback mode from a standard interface on a test device to a media adaptor located on an IP-based access network, such as a standard multimedia terminal adapter (“MTA”). End-to-End Quality of service delivered over the transmit and receive path can thus be monitored. Loopback tests are initiated from designated endpoints on the network and made operational by attaching a tag to a telephone number, to allow the gateway to signal connection mode to a call agent. The system and method overcome certain inherent limitations of the MGCP/NCS architecture.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely managing a bridge device, such as a modem, are disclosed. Management traffic from a service provider can be communicated to a bridge device which lacks a public IP address by sending the management traffic through the bridge device to a router of a LAN. The router then sends the management traffic back to the bridge device. Thus, the service provider can perform management tasks such as troubleshooting, health monitoring, accounting, provisioning, security and firmware upgrades in a manner that is transparent to the user.

Abstract: A method for testing a ZigBee device included in an IC Card includes associating a predetermined Personal Area Network (PAN) Identifier to the ZigBee device, and providing a test device, for initializing a ZigBee network. The method may include connecting the ZigBee device to the ZigBee network and transmitting the corresponding PAN Identifier to the test device. The method may include returning a fault message, indicative of a failure of connecting and transmitting, if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier. The predetermined PAN Identifier may be stored in a memory portion of the test device and include, in the fault message, the PAN Identifier if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier, in order to identify the ZigBee device as a defective device.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a transmission loop in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network includes configuring the loop as an open loop and performing a single-ended loop test (SELT), configuring the loop as a terminated-loop and performing another SELT, subtracting a trace of the first SELT from a trace of the second SELT, and determining the length of the loop from the result. A service assurance system in an IPTV network includes a test module and a DSLAM coupled to a residential gateway by a transmission loop. The test module operates to determine that a fault condition on the IPTV network is caused by a fault in the loop, direct the DSLAM to perform an open loop SELT and a terminated-loop SELT on the loop, receive the results of the SELTs, and determine a location of a tap on the loop based upon the results.

Abstract: A method tests network ports of a network connection device. Multiple port pairs of the network connection device are set. Each of the port pairs includes an external network port and an internal network port of the network connection device. Each internal network port is connected to a loopback device. For each port pair, a data packet is created and transmitted from the external network port of the port pair to the internal network port of the port pair. The data packet transmitted to the internal network port of the selected port pair is compared with a corresponding data packet returned from the internal network port of the selected port pair via the corresponding loopback device. A test result of the port pair is displayed by a display device to indicate whether data transfer of the port pair is normal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for measuring IP network performance and controlling IP network QoS, and apparatus and system thereof. In embodiments of the present invention, the information about the measurement contents, the data stream to be measured, and the measurement modes is sent to the IP network performance measurement peer end, and the end-to-end IP network performance measurement of the measurement contents of the data stream to be measured is started according to the measurement modes.

Abstract: In a computer system divided into multiple separate workload partitions, wherein at least one of the partitions contains multiple applications, and a loopback interface is made available to each partition, a method is provided for routing packets from one application to another application. In one embodiment of the invention, each packet to be routed from one application to another application in the same home partition comprises a first packet, and all other packets comprise second packets. The method comprises the steps of assigning the same pre-specified IP address to each of the first packets, and routing each of the first packets from its home partition to a loopback interface at the IP network processing layer. The method further includes marking the first packets to identify the home partition of each first packet, and directing the marked first packets to a mechanism configured to deliver each first packet only to its home partition, in response to the markings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method and apparatus for verifying connectivity in a network comprising a plurality of provider edge routers and a plurality of customer edge routers facilitating communication within at least one customer virtual private network. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for determining respective operational statuses of edge communication links between provider edge routers and customer edge routers. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for verifying site-to-site reachability within the context of customer virtual private networks.

Abstract: A method of operating a transceiver integrated circuit is disclosed. The method comprises generating test signals directed to testing one or more transceiver parameters. The test signals are transmitted from a digital domain to an analog domain along a transmit path, and looped-back from the transmit path to a receive path. Echo canceller circuitry coupled between the transmit path and the receive path is trained and generates a filtered output representing a metric indicative of the one or more transceiver parameters.

Abstract: A resilient virtual Ethernet ring has nodes interconnected by working and protection paths. If a span fails, the two nodes immediately on either side of the failure are cross-connected to fold the ring. Working-path traffic is cross-connected onto the protection path at the first of the two nodes and is then cross-connected back onto the working path at the second of the two nodes so that traffic always ingresses and egresses the ring from the working path. A traffic originating node, upon determining that transmitted packets are being looped back due to a fault on a primary path, is adapted to switch transmission of data packets from the primary path to a secondary path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a data path in a network is described. The method may comprise creating a closed loop in the data path so that test data (e.g., fixed set of known data) sent from a local network device to a downstream network device is returned by the downstream network device. Thereafter, the test data is injected into the closed loop and selectively extracted from the loop. The test data may then be processed. The method may create the closed loop by closing a first loopback mechanism at the local network device and closing a second loopback mechanism at the downstream network device. In an example embodiment, the method determines whether the identified errors exceed a threshold number of errors. The method may be utilized to determine if fiber connectivity of the data path has failed when the identified errors exceed the threshold.

Abstract: A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: soliciting, based at least in part on a hypothesis that links one or more objective occurrences with one or more subjective user states and in response at least in part to an incidence of at least one subjective user state associated with a user, at least a portion of objective occurrence data including data indicating incidence of at least one objective occurrence; and acquiring the objective occurrence data including the data indicating incidence of at least one objective occurrence. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A network verification system verifies a network to which a relay apparatus relays a packet. A test management apparatus includes a condition acquiring unit to acquire verification conditions which contain an unused network address as a test target and a registering unit to register, in an address resolution table of the relay apparatus, an entry in which the unused network address contained in the acquired verification conditions is associated with a physical address of the testing apparatus. A testing apparatus includes a test packet transmitting unit to transmit, when instructed by the test management apparatus, the plurality of test packets to form a plurality of connections based on the verification conditions, a test packet receiving unit to receive the plurality of test packets and a measuring unit to measure communication qualities with respect to the respective connections of the plurality of test packets.

Abstract: A communication system transmitting signals over a network using a transmission waveform in which a plurality of data packets are transmitted in a payload field of a transmission frame, the system includes a transmitter, which has a transmitting portion that sends information including user data in the data packets and a user data rate portion that dynamically changes the data rate of the user data to the highest rate possible for current link conditions by changing the waveform. The communication system also includes a receiver, which has a receiving portion that receives the information data packets and a reconfiguration portion that reconfigures the receiving portion based on the waveform parameters.

Abstract: Provided is a method for retransmitting data based on antenna scheduling in a MIMO system to which a spatial multiplexing technique is applied. The method includes the steps of: (a) at a transmitter side, modulating an input packet into transmittable data to transmit to a receiver side; (b) at the receiver side, estimating channel values from the packet transmitted from the transmitter side, and selecting transmitting and receiving antennas for transmitting the next packet from the estimated channel values; (c) detecting whether an error is present in the packet or not, and transmitting a feedback signal to the transmitter side, the feedback signal including information on whether or not to transmit the packet and a list of the selected transmitting antennas; and (d) at the transmitter side, retransmitting the transmitted packet or transmitting the next packet through the transmitting antennas designated by the receiver side depending on the feedback signal.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a session sender configured to define and transmit a sender test packet, and a session reflector communicatively coupled to the session sender. The session reflector is configured to receive the sender test packet from the session sender, determine whether the sender test packet is received by a predetermined time. Upon a determination that the sender test packet is received by the predetermined time, the session reflector is configured to define a response test packet and transmit the response test packet to the session sender. The response test packet is defined to include data for calculating at least one two-way performance metric. In some embodiments, the session reflector is configured to record information for calculating at least one one-way performance metric. In certain embodiments, a fetch client is configured to remotely retrieve the recorded information from the session reflector.

Abstract: Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising an upper sequencer that sequentially designates packets transmitted to and from the device under test, by executing a test program for testing the device under test; a packet data sequence storing section that stores a data sequence included in each of a plurality of types of packets; and a lower sequencer that reads, from the packet data sequence storing section, a data sequence of a packet designated by the upper sequencer and generates a test data sequence used for testing the device under test.

Abstract: A customer premises optical network unit (ONU) comprises: an electrical/optical transform unit 6 to be connected with an optical transmission path 2 at a central office side for performing an opto-electrical transform and an inverse opto-electrical transform; an ONU function part 7 to be connected with an electric signal input and output terminal of the electrical/optical transform unit 6; a serial/parallel transform unit 8 to be connected with a parallel signal terminal of the ONU function part 7 for performing a serial/parallel transform and an inverse serial/parallel transform; and a multi source agreement interface module 9 to be connected with a serial signal terminal of the serial/parallel transform unit 8.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide a virtual responder that can be contacted by any number of senders. When a sender wants to perform a measurement test with a real responder, the sender sends a control message to a virtual responder. The virtual responder is configured to determine a real responder based on real responder selection metrics. The virtual responder may poll the real responders at certain times to receive the real responder selection metrics. The virtual responder then selects a real responder from a plurality of real responders based on the real responder's selection metrics. The virtual responder then sends contact information for the selected real responder to the sender device. This allows the sender device to contact the selected real responder to perform the measurement test with a real responder.

Abstract: In some ring protocols, control messages are exchanged among ring nodes in order to implement certain behaviors, such as loop-free behavior and/or failure recovery, within the ring. A segment of a ring can be replaced by another network, effectively turning the ring into a daisy chain. If the intervening network does not allow transmission of the control messages used by the ring protocol, certain control messages may be blocked, causing the ring to operate in undesirable ways. Reflector ports can be implemented at each end of the daisy chain in order to prevent these control messages from being blocked.

Abstract: A route setup server has a storage unit a route designing unit. Next hop information indicating candidates of a next hop node for each node is stored in the storage unit. In response to a route setup request specifying a source node and a destination node of flow, the route designing designs a communication route between them. Specifically, the route designing unit has a next hop determination unit that executes “next hop determination processing” with reference to the next hop information. In the next hop determination processing, the next hop determination unit randomly selects one from the candidates of the next hop node regarding a target node and updates the target node to the selected one. The next hop determination unit determines the communication route one-hop by one-hop by initializing the target node to the source node and then repeating the next hop determination processing until the target node becomes the destination node.

Abstract: The relay apparatus relays frames in which a plurality of network identifiers are set and comprises a frame determining unit, a converting unit, and a sending unit. The frame determining unit determines whether a frame received at a communication port is a specific frame or not. The converting unit converts, when it is determined that the received frame is a specific frame and when the communication port is a blocking port, a network identifier set in the specific frame to another network identifier among the plurality of network identifiers. The sending unit sends the specific frame, the network identifier of which has been converted by the conversion unit, from a port opposing the communication port.

Abstract: A system for validating communications between a plurality of processors is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of loop back paths, and each of the loop back paths is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of processors. In addition, each loop back path is configured to attenuate one of a plurality of signals transmitted from each of the corresponding ones of the plurality of processors so as to generate a plurality of loop back signals. A plurality of signal transmission paths are configured to carry a corresponding one of the plurality of signals from one of the plurality of processors to another of the plurality of processors, and a plurality of comparators compare the plurality of loop back signals to the plurality of transmission signals so as to enable the validity of each of the plurality of signals to be assessed.

Abstract: A demodulation section 13 receives a TDMA-TDD based phase-modulated burst signal of mobile communications and demodulates the burst signal by a synchronous detection system (or a quasi-synchronous detection system). The demodulation section 13 includes a frequency deviation compensation section and a carrier recovery section each having a loop filter 14 with three or more stages of time constants. The time constants are switched by a selector switch 15 based on a control signal from a demodulation control section 16. This achieves quick pull-in and jitter after convergence is minimized, thereby allowing highly efficient performance of frequency deviation compensation, etc. that is required for synchronous detection (or quasi-synchronous detection) without increasing the size of circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the number of CC messages transmitted in a provider network. In one embodiment of the invention, a first service provider network element receives CC messages from a first customer network at a first periodicity rate. The first service provider network element stores the received CC messages and reduces the first periodicity rate to create a second periodicity rate that is smaller than the first periodicity rate. The first service provider network element transmits CC messages to a second service provider network element through the provider network at the second periodicity rate. Other methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for detecting a loop-back in a physical layer on an Ethernet link. In the physical layer, a device sends a base page on the Ethernet link. The base page has at least one next page capability bit set. Subsequently, the device receives a received base page. Thereafter, for detecting the loop-back, the next page capability bit is set in the received base page is determined.

Abstract: A network element is configured to function as a first virtual element and a second virtual element. A first monitoring packet is sent to the first virtual element via a label switched path. A second monitoring packet is sent to the second virtual element via an internet protocol path that includes at least a portion of the internet. A first condition of the network element is determined based on a response to the first monitoring packet. A second condition of the network element is determined based on a response to the second monitoring packet.

Abstract: Methods are described for identifying a dominant impairment on a communication channel impaired by an interference issue. The methods include systematic examination of total power loading, systematic examination of signal power reduction, statistical examination of communication channel noise power, and systematic examination of interleaver effectiveness. Each relates to automatically diagnosing and characterizing distortion-based interference issues by monitoring the performance of a communication channel during a testing procedure. These methods enable a technician or engineer to remotely diagnose distortion-based interference issues relatively quickly without having to use external test equipment and without having to deploy technicians to various locations within the cable plant. A system by which these methods can be implemented is also disclosed.

Abstract: Only when a request formed of a plurality of request packets obtained by dividing the request is reconstructed, the request is transmitted to a survey target node that returns a response formed of a plurality of response packets obtained by dividing the response. When no response packet has been received at all from the survey target node, it is determined that any of the request packets has been discarded on a first route from a surveying node as a transmission source of the request to the survey target node. When one or more response packets have been received from the survey target node but the response cannot be reconstructed, it is determined that any of the response packets transmitted from the survey target node has been discarded on a second route from the survey target node to the surveying node as the transmission source of the request packets.

Abstract: Provided is a CAN system that can generate an error signal without requiring hardware for generating an error signal to be connected to a bus. A protocol processing part within a CAN controller incorporates error data into receive data or send data, based on error data information stored in a register.

Abstract: A method for traffic shaping includes receiving traffic from one or more clients at one or more ingress ports of forwarding engine of a network node. The method also includes transmitting at least a portion of the traffic through the forwarding engine to one or more first egress ports of the forwarding engine and shaping the traffic transmitted to the egress ports. Furthermore, the method includes looping the shaped traffic internally within the network node back to one or more ingress ports of the forwarding engine. The method further includes transmitting the looped traffic through the forwarding engine to one or more second egress ports (the second egress ports different than the first egress ports) and outputting the shaped traffic from the network node.

Abstract: A system and method for loopback self testing. A system includes a host device and an endpoint device. The host device transmits unencoded test symbols. The endpoint device loops back the unencoded test symbols to the host device. The host device drives at least some bits of each unencoded test symbol onto host device data signals and drives at least some bits of each unencoded test symbol onto host device control signals.