Abstract: A fixed length data processing apparatus has a registration holding unit holding registration information necessary to identify fixed length data that is an object of a processing commonly to transmission routes, and a data processing unit identifying whether received fixed length data is fixed length data that is an object of the processing or not on the basis of at least the registration information in the registration information holding unit to perform a data processing for fault management in the asynchronous communication on the basis of the fixed length data when identifying that the fixed length data is fixed length data that is an object of a processing correspondingly to the transmission route, thereby holding a large volume of information efficiently for identifying fixed length data to process fixed length data with a simple structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of a port name in a loop network is provided, particularly a loop network in the form of a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL). The loop network (100) has a plurality of devices (120) each device (120) having at least one port (211, 212) on the loop network (100). The method includes determining which ports (211, 212) are populated with devices (120) for which the unique port name (WWPN) is not known. The populated ports are then all bypassed and a mode is entered on the loop network (100) in which idle frames are transmitted around the loop network (100). One port is un-bypassed at a time and the port name from the un-bypassed port is received and recorded. The port name is received from the un-bypassed port in a Loop Initialisation Select Master (LISM) frame transmitted by the un-bypassed port.

Abstract: A loop network hub including a hub port with a loop initialization insertion mechanism. The loop initialization insertion mechanism causes a hub port which detects a new node port connection to automatically begin generating loop initialization data. A hub port continues to generate loop initialization data until that hub port receives a loop initialization sequence. The loop initialization data propagates around the loop of the hub, halting ordinary processing. In this way, the entire loop is cleared. Upon receiving a loop initialization sequence, the hub port originating the loop initialization data inserts the new node port into the loop. At this point, loop initialization begins and each node port in the loop network obtains a unique loop network address.

Abstract: A protocol and method for provisioning traffic routes in a BLSR SONET network includes request packets that are broadcast from the source node to neighboring nodes. The neighboring nodes determine whether the route associated with a request packet requires less cost than other request packets previously transmitted by the node, or whether the cost exceeds that of the best response seen by the node so far. If the cost is less, the route in the request packet is updated and the request packet is broadcast to the next neighboring node. If a request packet is received more than once at the same node, the request packet is discarded. When the destination node receives a request packet, it generates a response packet that is propagated through neighboring nodes back toward the source node. If the cost associated in the route is higher than another route known by a node, the response packet is discarded.

Abstract: A high speed, microcomputer based, Fibre Channel compatible and fault tolerant information processing and mass storage system especially suited for information servers and application servers. A unique and extremely versatile system architecture, including a dual loop arbitrated, Fibre Channel capable, multiple-fault tolerant, hot-swappable mass storage disk array, permits combinations of servers and mass storage arrays which can be tailored for a wide variety of applications and which can be configured with emphasis on the system characteristics such as redundancy, speed, processing capability, storage capability, and the like, as desired. A unique backplane and/or midplane arrangement for connecting the system components allows for easy and, in most cases, on-line field upgrading and/or service and at the same time provides for the very effective cooling of components, particularly those such as disk drives which tend to produce a lot of heat.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a ring bus in an emulation environment is disclosed. The ring bus provides an extra communication channel between a ring master node and target nodes on the ring bus for communicating any desired information. In one aspect, the ring bus includes the ring master node and a plurality of target nodes coupled together in series. The first and last target nodes in the series are coupled to the ring master node to form a first communication channel that is a closed loop. The ring bus also includes a plurality of secondary communication channels, separate from the closed loop, connecting, individually, selected target nodes and the ring master node. In another aspect, the secondary communication channels are used as event flags and are a direct connection from the target nodes to the ring master node without traversing other target nodes.

Abstract: In a network system, each ECU transmits a start control frame when to start, and is started when it receives the start control frame from any other ECU during the stop of its operation. Besides, each ECU transmits a stop control frame cyclically during its operation, and continues its operation in spite of being capable of stopping its operation, while it is receiving the stop control frame from any other ECU. In transmitting each of the frames, each ECU affixes cause information expressive of a start cause or an operation stop incapability cause to the frame. In stopping a network, a supervisory device specifies the start ECU and the start cause thereof from the start control frame and stores them in a nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A power-line communication system and control method to supply power and data to an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) subscriber terminal includes: a subscriber terminal adapted to transmit a response message upon a connection request message being received; and a power supply switch adapted to transmit the connection request message to the subscriber terminal, and to supply power together with data to the subscriber terminal upon the response message to the connection request message being received from the subscriber terminal. The power supply switch is adapted to cut off the power supplied to the subscriber terminal upon the response message to the connection request message not being received from the subscriber terminal.

Abstract: An asynchronous metropolitan packet transport ring having guaranteed QoS. Asynchronous packetized data flow in one direction through a fiber optic loop. A number of Metropolitan Packet Switches (MPS) are coupled to the fiber optic loop. An MPS allows packetized data from an upstream MPS to flow to a downstream MPS over a segment of the fiber optic loop. The MPS also puts packetized data onto and pulls packetized data off of the fiber optic loop. Thereby, flows can access the fiber optic loop via the MPS's. The MPS's also regulate the data rates on a per-flow basis according to setup information supplied by a Ring Management System (RMS). If one segment of the fiber loop becomes overly congested, the MPS guarantees quality of service for those flows by deallocating available bandwidth from flows upstream to the point of congestion. Utilization of packet transport ring capacity is optimized by allocating any bandwidth that becomes available to active flows according to a pre-specified weighting scheme.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a ring map for optical network applications. The method includes sending a first discovery message to a first node through a portion of an optical network. The first node corresponds to a first node identification and a first predetermined identification. The first discovery message includes at least a source node identification associated with a source node, a source predetermined identification associated with the source node, and a first ring connectivity map. Additionally, the method includes if the source node identification and the first node identification are different, updating the first ring connectivity map. Also, the method includes if the source node identification and the first node identification are identical and if the source predetermined identification and the first predetermined identification are different sending a first alarm message.

Abstract: An octagonal interconnection network for routing data packets. The interconnection network comprises: 1) eight switching circuits for transferring data packets with each other; 2) eight sequential data links bidirectionally coupling the eight switching circuits in sequence to thereby form an octagonal ring configuration; and 3) four crossing data links, wherein a first crossing data link bidirectionally couples a first switching circuit to a fifth switching circuit, a second crossing data link bidirectionally couples a second switching circuit to a sixth switching circuit, a third crossing data link bidirectionally couples a third switching circuit to a seventh switching circuit, and a fourth crossing data link bidirectionally couples a fourth switching circuit to an eighth switching circuit.

Abstract: An interconnection architecture allows a digital system to be sold with a switched or ring topology interconnection fabric that can evolve into a point-to-point interconnection fabric as the computer system is expanded, and is capable of supporting high and low end computer systems with a single design. In accordance with the present invention, unique point-to-point interconnections are provided between each pair of modules. In one embodiment, a functional unit is coupled to an adaptive 1-of-N switch, which in turn is coupled to the interconnection fabric to form a switched topology. In a second embodiment, modules are coupled to a full 3×3 switch that fronts an adaptive 2-of-N switch. The second embodiment can be coupled into a ring or switched topology, and can be used to provide additional bandwidth and redundancy.

Abstract: A master node in a packet ring network periodically sends a packet containing a discovery marker into the packet ring network. As each node in turn receives the packet, each adds its own discovery marker, which contains its topology information, to the packet, saves the topology information of others, and resends the packet to the next node in the ring. Eventually, the master node receives the packet containing a chain of discovery markers for all active nodes terminated by the master's own discovery marker, so the master node then removes its own discovery marker and resends the packet in to the ring network. Each node in turn then removes its own discovery marker. In this way, all nodes in the ring see topology information for every other active node.

Abstract: A telecommunications network node architecture is disclosed that enables a telecommunications network that uses automatic protection switching to be expanded to include more nodes than its standard protocol provides for without modifying the standard protocol or the existing nodes in the network. Although the illustrative embodiment is depicted as using the SONET/SDH protocol, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention that use automatic protection switching with another protocol. The illustrative embodiment comprises: an automatic protection switching channel that defines an address space in the telecommunications network; a node that is uniquely identified by an address in the address space; and a node that is not uniquely identified by an address in the address space.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple spanning tree system in which a plurality of spanning trees are constructed in a ring system to effectively use a band of the ring system. A plurality of bridge protocol processing sections are provided in a node device to enable a plurality of bridge protocol processings to be performed in a transmission path connected to one node device. Thereby, a plurality of spanning trees can be constructed and a root bridge can be placed every each node device.

Abstract: A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager of the present invention allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic provisioning of topology for SONET networks are disclosed. The method for topology provisioning generally includes mapping the network topology based on network connection information, verifying that the network elements complete a ring formation, obtaining protection scheme information, and automatically provisioning time-division multiplexing group (TDMG) and/or facility fault protection (FFP) depending upon the protection mechanism.

Abstract: In a communications network, each network node includes a first module that handles a group of channels between its input and output ports as a route decision unit and a second module that handles a channel between its input and output ports as a route decision unit. A module state database stores module cost data of the first and second modules and a link state database stores link cost data of the links. Using the module and link state databases a route of minimum cost is determined and a connection is established between an incoming link and one of the input ports of the first and second modules and a connection is established between one of the output ports of the first and second modules and an outgoing link. The contents of the module and state databases are broadcast to the network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that extend the automatic protection switching protocol to address at least 256 network nodes. By using overhead bytes as extended APS node IDs, large single ring SONET/SDH systems can be avoided. This means APS messages that force every node into a single ring can be avoided and recovery performance from a break in the ring or a node fault can be improved. The protocol for the extended automatic protection switching channels takes multiple extended APS node IDs from tributary lines and merges those extended APS ID's into a single SONET/SDH stream on another line. Placement of the extended APS node ID's in the overhead bytes of SONET/SDH frames allows easy relay around each SONET/SDH ring.

Abstract: A technique for load balancing in resilient packet ring (“RPR”) networks, including wavelength division multiplex RPR (“WDMRPR”) networks is described. In one embodiment, the present technique comprises implementing on every node a QoS/BB monitor, which is common to all rings in the RPR and has knowledge of traffic performance for each class on each ring of the RPR, which information is obtained through periodic measurements or in response to failure events. This allows the monitor to vary the QoS parameters on a node, for a particular traffic class, to achieve load balancing. Likewise, the QoS/BB monitor can signal to the BB entity at higher layers to vary the BB parameters on a node for a particular class to achieve load balancing. The QoS/BB monitor enables QoS and BB parameter changes to be coordinated with one another.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for configuring a headless device. A self-initiated configuration mechanism within a headless device issues a configuration request to a configuration service mechanism across network, requesting a configuration specification corresponding to the headless device. The configuration service mechanism returns the requested configuration specification to the self-initiated configuration mechanism. Upon receiving the configuration specification, the self-initiated configuration mechanism configures the headless device according to the configuration specification.

Abstract: A system provides communication between a plurality of cores in an integrated circuit. The system comprises a circular segmented bus operatively connected to each of the cores for transferring data between the plurality of cores. An arbiter arbitrates which of the plurality of cores can transmit data at any given time.

Abstract: Connecting a new node to a double ring network or establishing a new network having a double ring network is greatly simplified by automatic mapping of logical interfaces to physical interfaces to conform to a mapping or polarity observed by other nodes in the network. A node may discover the network polarity via a message received from an adjacent node and, if necessary, invert the mapping between its two logical interfaces and two physical interfaces. This facilitates installation by relaxing the requirement that the correct media pair be connected to the correct node physical interface. Nodes equipped with this automatic side selection capability may interoperate with nodes that are not so-equipped.

Abstract: A method of bandwidth management over a transmission network comprising a plurality of stations forming a logical ring that circulates a token from station to station. Each station is allowed to transmit data to other stations over the transmission network when it receives the token. The station is allowed to transmit C bytes, where C is a credit. The credit increases in proportion to the time spent since the preceding reception of the token by the station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing: a rings architecture for communications and data handling systems; an enumeration process for automatically configuring the ring topology; automatic routing of messages through bridges; extending a ring topology to external devices; write-ahead functionality to promote efficiency; wait-till-reset operation resumption; in-vivo scan through rings topology; staggered clocking arrangement; and stray message detection and eradication. Other inventive elements conveyed include: an architectural overview of a packet processor; a programming model for a packet processor; an instruction pipeline for a packet processor; and use of a packet processor as a module on a rings-based architecture.

Abstract: A novel and useful mechanism for detecting the nodes connected to a network device and for creating a ring network from the nodes detected thereby. The invention simplifies insertion, removal and modification of nodes in the ring by detecting and reconfiguring the ring without requiring intervention by a user. Identification information messages generated by network devices and sent out on all links and received over a plurality of ports are used in identifying and determining the connectivity and topology of the network devices. The resulting topology information is stored in a node database. The contents of the node database are then used to generate one or more ring networks, wherein each ring generated corresponds to a unique line speed. The connectivity of the one or more rings generated is stored in a ring database and the rings configured therefrom.

Abstract: A network or interconnect structure utilizes a data flow technique that is based on timing and positioning of messages communicating through the interconnect structure. Switching control is distributed throughout multiple nodes in the structure so that a supervisory controller providing a global control function and complex logic structures are avoided. The interconnect structure operates as a “deflection” or “hot potato” system in which processing and storage overhead at each node is minimized. Elimination of a global controller and buffering at the nodes greatly reduces the amount of control and logic structures in the interconnect structure, simplifying overall control components and network interconnect components and improving speed performance of message communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic end-to-end paths for SONET networks are disclosed. The method for path provisioning generally includes obtaining path parameters for each network element, performing discovery of paths including determining connection possibilities based upon the path parameters, and provisioning an end-to-end STS-n path based on the paths resulting from the discovery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning an IP address, in a modular network system, to at least one client premise equipment device coupled by a communications link to a router, wherein the last octet of said IP address may be one of at least three different values.

Abstract: A multi-port Serdes transceiver includes multiple parallel ports and serial ports, and includes the flexibility to connect any one of the parallel ports to another parallel port or to a serial port, or both. Furthermore, the multi-port transceiver chip can connect any one of serial ports to another serial port or to one of the parallel ports. The substrate layout of the multi-port Serdes transceiver chip is configured so that the parallel ports and the serial ports are on the outer perimeter of the substrate. A logic core is at the center of the substrate, where the logic core operates the serial and parallel data ports, and the bus that connects the data ports. The bus can be described as a “ring” structure (or donut “structure”) around the logic core, and is configured between the logic core and the data ports. The ring structure of the bus provides efficient communication between the logic core and the various data ports.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically creating a circuit path that includes specified elements are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present embodiment, a method for computing a circuit path between a source node and a destination node of a network includes identifying at least a first element that is to be traversed by the circuit path such that the path passes from the source node, traverses the first element, then passes to the destination node. The method also includes routing a first segment of the circuit path automatically such that the source node and the first element are components of the first segment. In one embodiment, routing the first segment automatically includes routing the first segment automatically using a shortest path first algorithm.

Abstract: A dynamic break loop capable closed loop network having a plurality of switches and links. Each switch has two uplink ports that each have a set of dynamic break loop logic functions that may be enabled or disabled. The dynamic functions include inserting an ID number of a source switch into each frame that is transmitted from the switch, enabling a transmit function of each uplink port to monitor the ID number of each frame, and enabling a receive function of each uplink port to monitor the ID number of each frame. If the ID number is not equal to a filter ID number, then the frame will pass unchanged. If the ID number is equal to the filter ID number, then the frame will be cut off and will not be allowed to pass. The dynamic functions create a dynamic break for each switch in the network. The result is a closed loop network that operates dynamically as a plurality of open loop networks.

Abstract: A motion control system and method that includes a central controller configured to generate first and second demand control signals to be used to define actuation motion of respective first and second actuators. The central controller is in communication with first and second nodes by way of a data network, each node including at least a respective actuator configured to implement at an actuator time a motion or force-related effort based upon the respective demand control signal. Each node also includes a memory configured to store at least one respective propagation delay parameter related to a signal propagation delay between the central controller and the node. A timing mechanism establishes timing at each node based on the respective propagation delay parameter so that the actuator time at the nodes occurs simultaneously. Strictly cyclic and/or full-duplex high-speed communication can be supported. The network can be wired in a ring or as a tree and with twisted pair cabling or fiber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic provisioning of equipment, topology, and end-to-end paths for SONET networks are disclosed. The method for equipment provisioning generally includes detecting a new equipment, selecting a default equipment template corresponding to the new equipment type, and provisioning the equipment using the predefined values of the default equipment template.

Abstract: A method of provisioning a connection across a SONET/SDU network formed from multiple sub-networks comprises: determining a model of the entire network, the model indicating the connections between all sub-networks, and representing each sub-network as a single unit; calculating a route between the sub-networks containing the first and second nodes using the model; passing the signals along the determined route, and determining the route between nodes within each sub-network locally within the respective sub-network. This method enables a simplified model of the network to be stored in each node of the network, so that a route calculation can take place at the sending node. The specific route through the network is determined as the signal passes through the network, as the specific path through individual sub-networks is determined locally.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating for differences between a recovered receive clock and an internal transmit clock in an elastic buffer and thereby preventing corruption of data. In one embodiment, the system comprises a circularly accessed buffer coupled to read and write logic. The read and write logic read and write to locations within the circular buffer as indicated by respective read and write pointers. The system further comprises control logic which compares the pointers to determine whether the buffer is approaching an underflow or overflow condition and adds or deletes fill words between frames of data to compensate for the underflow or overflow condition. In one embodiment, the system includes fill word logic which is configured to add a fill word bit to each received word and to set or clear the fill word bit to indicate whether or not the corresponding word is a fill word.

Abstract: A method for configuration of a node inserted into a bidirectional ring network includes, responsive to traffic on first and second rings of the network, determining at the node that one of the first and second rings carries the traffic in a clockwise direction around the network, while the other of the rings carries the traffic in a counterclockwise direction. The node then sends and receives advertisement packets through its network interfaces over the respective rings, advertising the determined directions of the traffic carried by the rings. Responsive to the advertisement packets received at the node, the configuration of the node is completed so that the traffic can be sent to and from the node on the first and second rings in the determined directions.

Abstract: A telecommunications node architecture is disclosed that comprises multiple add/drop multiplexors that are interconnected in a novel topology to enhance the reliability of the telecommunications network. Furthermore, the architecture of the illustrative embodiment ameliorates the well-known “add-before-drop” problem.

Abstract: A method for generating a ring map for a bi-directional line switched ring. The method includes identifying a change in a provisioned bi-directional line switched ring and generating a ring map for both directions in the ring at a node of the ring. The generated ring maps are compared to determine if the change in the ring is a result of a link failure or a node change and the node's ring map is updated if there was a node change in the ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adapting a network topology including at least one hybrid digital cross-connect system (DCS)/SONET ring structure such that DCS network elements are managed by a DCS element management system, while SONET network elements such as ring structures are managed by a SONET element management system. A digital link is created to separate pure DCS equipment from SONET equipment within the hybrid DCS. Based on this separation, the hybrid DCS is logically decomposed into separate DCS and SONET equipment such that a SONET ring structure including an add-drop multiplexer (ADM) included within the DCS may be managed as a homogeneous SONET ring by a SONET network element manager, while the DCS equipment is managed by a DCS element manager.

Abstract: A communication network includes a communication medium and a plurality of communication nodes, mutually coupled by the communication medium so as to form a ring, over which each of the nodes is configured to transmit traffic to the other nodes in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions around the ring. At least one of the nodes is configured to receive the traffic in only one of the directions at any given time.

Abstract: A method for provisioning non-preemptible unprotected traffic (NUT) in a bi-directional ring is provided. The ring includes a plurality of nodes. Each node includes a local NUT table that is operable to store NUT provisioning data for the node. The method includes distributing a master NUT table to each of the nodes. The master NUT table comprises NUT provisioning data for the ring. The master NUT table is verified at each of the nodes. The NUT provisioning data in the master NUT table is stored in the local NUT table at each of the nodes when the master NUT table is verified by every node.

Abstract: A system for selectively routing data within a fiber channel arbitrated loop, including an intra-loop router configured to be coupled between a first segment and a second segment of the fiber channel arbitrated loop. The intra-loop router includes a router controller configured to be coupled with the first and second segments, and a processing system coupled with the router controller. The processing system is configured to receive fiber channel frames and cause those frames to be re-transmitted onto a selected one of the first and second segments of the fiber channel arbitrated loop.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (208-212) and a plurality of communication links (214-230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. At least a portion of the plurality of communication links may be specified in accordance with a shared-access bus protocol. The plurality of communication links are arranged to communicate data packets between the network elements.

Abstract: In accordance with a dynamic and recursive method, the number of required ADMs for a given set of light-paths in an OWDM ring network can be minimized. In one formulation of the minimum ADM problem, the method aims to create as many circular segments among the set of light-paths in the OWDM ring network as possible, and to form as few non-circular segments as possible from the remaining light-paths such that the number of shared ADMs can be maximized. In one example, the method of the invention operates in two phases: in the first phase, a dynamic and recursive searching for all the possible circular segments among the light-paths is employed, after which the concatenated circular segments are removed from further processing. Next, a reverse recursive searching among the remaining light-paths for concatenated non-circular segments with as many light-paths as possible is conducted.

Abstract: A WDM ring network and method for distributing within such ring network for feeding in data and for distributing both working signals and protection signals on different transmission paths and in oppositely directed transmission directions, and for forwarding data from subscribers and for distributing the working signals to the subscribers.

Abstract: To automate fiber connectivity management in optical systems, a dedicated low bit-rate communications channel unique to each fiber connection in an optical system is provided. The dedicated communications channel simplifies fiber connectivity management by supporting the exchange of port identification information from one optical component to another after which processing determines if the specific connection is a desired association. The dedicated communications channel supports optical interconnection surveillance for all card-to-card optical connections within a group of related cards or within an optical network link. Automating fiber connectivity management in this manner will enhance future products by simplifying the fiber connection validation process and ensuring that any specific connection between optical components is the required association.

Abstract: In a broadcasting control system in an ATM ring network in which a control cell containing control information is transmitted by ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) between a plurality of nodes connected into a ring shape, each of the nodes includes a receiving section and a transmitting section. The receiving section receives a control cell from an upstream node. The transmitting section writes response information of the self node for the control information contained in the received control cell in an area corresponding to the self node in the control cell and transmits the control cell to a downstream node. A broadcasting control method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention involves a system having a first group of integrated circuits connected in a truncated ring fashion, wherein the truncated ring includes a truncated region to allow for additional integrated circuits to be added to the ring. In some embodiments, the invention involves a system having a group of integrated circuits connected in a pseudo ring fashion, wherein the pseudo ring is created by data flow of bi-directional signaling between the integrated circuits. In some embodiments, the invention involves a system having a group of integrated circuits connected in a pseudo differential arrangement in which multiple conductors carrying signals share a common reference signal conductor.

Abstract: A ring network has first and second network connecting offices for connecting ring networks together and for dropping a signal from a terminal office. Each node of the ring network recognizes whether it is the first network connecting office based upon channel setting information. A first node, which has been recognized as being the first network connecting office, executes a squelch-table creation procedure between itself and other nodes based upon the channel setting information, thereby identifying a second node, which is the second network connecting office. The first node embeds office identification information in a squelch table of a protection channel and sends this information to the second node. The second node recognizes that it itself is the second network connecting office based upon the office identification information.