Abstract: The problems of large tables in Ethernet switches used on a metropolitan area scale, and the exposure of the enterprise network topologies, can be avoided by encapsulating each original Ethernet packet, which originates in a first network of an entity, e.g., an enterprise, a customer, or a network service provider, within another Ethernet packet which is given a source address that identifies the new encapsulating packet as originating at a port of a switch that is located at the interface between the first network in which the original packet originated and a second Ethernet network, e.g., the metropolitan area Ethernet network, which is to transport the encapsulating packet. When the encapsulating packet would exceed the allowable Ethernet packet length, the original packet may be split up at the interface between the first and second network and the resulting parts encapsulated into two encapsulating packets.

Abstract: An Internet communication technique is provided for making efficient use of available bandwidth between network points by analyzing responses to received requests for information items to identify multiple responses that include the same item and optionally that also have a common next hop address, and responding to the multiple requests with a combined packet addressed to multiple addresses. The combined packets include sufficient information from which to generate reliable unicast packets, that will ultimately be formed from the contents of the combined packet. The combined packet is received by a network router identified by a common next hop address, and a sequence of addresses are associated in sub-groups corresponding to common next hop addresses. A plurality of packets are generated based on the combined packet, each of which includes addresses that correspond to destinations that share a common next hop address. The plurality of packets are then sent to their corresponding next hop addresses.

Abstract: A method for packet processing for data transmission over an optical fiber, the method including the steps of segmenting an incoming bit stream, adding a tag to a header of each segment, each tag including data identifying a route between a source and a destination end-point of the bit stream, encapsulating the tagged segment into a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) packet, and mapping the encapsulated packet into a transmission frame (SONET/SDH or other) for transmission over an optical fiber.

Abstract: Data traffic is conveyed through a node of a communications network. A parameter respecting the data traffic is assigned in an ingress interface of the node, and inserted into an intra-switch header attached to each packet. The data traffic, along with the intra-switch header are forwarded across the node to an egress interface. The parameter is then extracted from the intra-switch header, and used to control processing of the data traffic in the egress interface. The parameter may provide information identifying the source of the data traffic, but may also include other flow-specific information, such as, for example, a normalized DiffServ Code Point. The parameter may be used, in combination with an intra-switch multicast group ID to query one or more translation tables, to thereby enable egress-interface and/or egress port specific replication, forwarding and translation services in respect of the data traffic.

Abstract: In a computer network used for the internet, computers are able to remain permanently connected to the network, without requiring addresses to be permanently allocated thereto. When a computer wishes to communicate with another computer, which has no address allocated thereto at that time, as determined by a server such as a domain name server, a message is sent to that computer, requiring it to request an address, using a dynamic host configuration protocol.

Abstract: A network gateway unit and method for transmitting data from a first router to a second router through an external communications network, whereby local area networks connected to the router devices can be connected through the network gateway unit, include connecting the first router to the communications network through the network gateway unit. The network gateway unit is used for conversion between a transmission protocol used by the first router and a transmission protocol used in the communications network. A hardware address, which identifies the second router, is allocated to the data as a destination address by the first router. In the network gateway unit, a network address that identifies an exit point from the communications network is allocated to the destination address. Based upon the network address, the data is transmitted to the exit point from the communications network and from there to the second router.

Abstract: A system and a method provides both for a real-time-critical communication and a non-real-time-critical communication in a switched data network consisting of users and switching units, for example a distributed automation system, by means of a cyclic operation. In a so-called transmission cycle (12), there exists for all users and switching units of the switched data network in each case at least one section (13) for transmitting real-time-critical data and at least one section (14) for transmitting non-real-time-critical data, as a result of which the real-time-critical communication is separated from the non-real-time-critical communication. Since all users and switching units are always synchronized to a common time base, the respective sections for transmitting data in each case take place at the same time for all users and switching units, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a MMDS broadcast digital video cell system on one polarization and a smaller array of cells, designed for two way services that use the orthogonal polarization in the same area. The present invention includes a method for distributing information in a MMDS network comprising the steps of providing a video signal in a first polarization and a first direction to a first area, the video signal having a frequency within a predetermined set of frequencies, the method further includes providing a two-way digital signal in a second polarization and a second direction to the first area, the two-way digital signal having a frequency within the predetermined set of frequencies, wherein the second polarization is orthogonal to the first polarization. The present invention also includes a system for distributing information in a MMDS network comprising a digital video signal transmitter, wherein the video signal has a first polarization.

Abstract: A method for exchange of vertical information in a layered redundant deployed network is disclosed. At an endpoint side, a first message, e.g. a user registration message, is vertically being sent upwards from layer to layer. For each passed node, an address list of peers in the current layer is added to the message. When reaching the uppermost layer, all the address lists added to the message are being stored in a node in that layer. A second message confirming the first message is being sent from the latter node in the opposite vertical direction from layer to layer, wherein said second message always contains the addresses of the previously passed node and its redundant peers. These addresses are stored in each node receiving said second message. Consequently, the uppermost layer at the endpoint side will know all the alternative routes for transmitting messages vertically towards the lowermost layer.

Abstract: A sender converts a non-compressed packet, which is to be transmitted, into a full-header packet including a full header or a header-compressed packet including a compressed header, and sends the converted packet to a receiver. The receiver receives the packet transmitted from the sender, and converts the received packet into a decompressed packet. In cases the full-header packet or header-compressed packet is lost between the sender and receiver, the receiver keeps header-compressed packers received during an interval from the packet loss to the next earliest reception of a full-header packet, and decompresses the compressed headers of the kept header-compressed packets on the basis of contents of the full header of the full-header packet.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting voice communication from a plurality of end points, where the voice communication is packetized, to an access point. The end points and the access point are linked by a point-to-multipoint network, configured according to OSI layer 2, that includes a voice-over-IP gateway. The gateway negotiates end point aliases with the access point. The gateway then bundles the voice payloads of the packets received from the end points, along with the aliases, into a superpacket. The superpacket header includes a type field that indicates that the superpacket is not a prior art packet. The gateway then transmits the superpacket to the access point. The access point unbundles the superpacket for further transmission.

Abstract: A real time data transmission method is used in a network in which a real time media gateway is provided to allow access to the internet backbone in addition to the usual GPRS specific gateway. The method involves changing the header in a real time data stream as it passes through the network so that it can pass directly to the real time gateway without passing through the GPRS specific gateway. This ensures that the data stream travels along a more direct route and shortens the headers used in the data stream in the process.

Abstract: A foreign agent to which a correspondent terminal is attached receives a Binding Update Message from a home agent so that the foreign agent encapsulates an IP packet destined for a mobile terminal 11 before transmission thereto.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an interfacing apparatus and method for adapting Ethernet directly to physical channel, which encapsulates MAC frames into SDH/SONET SPE/VC using LAPS. The LAPS encapsulation consists of the start Flag Sequence, address field (SAPI, Service Access Point Identifier), control field (0x03), Information field (Ipv4, Ipv6, or PPP protocol data unit), FCS (Frame check sequence) and the ending Flag Sequence. The Flag Sequence (0x7E) identifies the beginning/end of a LAPS frame. The present invention can be used to provide Ethernet interface in telecom SDH/SONET transmission device or provide facilities to remote access datacom device, such as core and edge routers, switch devices, IP based network accessing equipment, line cards, and interfacing units used in high speed application, e.g. Gigabit applications. By simplification of SDH/SONET, i.e. using simplified SDH/SONET, Ethernet could be applied to DWDM.

Abstract: A sender converts a non-compressed packet, which is to be transmitted, into a full-header packet including a full header or a header-compressed packet including a compressed header, and sends the converted packet to a receiver. The receiver receives the packet transmitted from the sender, and converts the received packet into a decompressed packet. In cases the full-header packet or header-compressed packet is lost between the sender and receiver, the receiver keeps header-compressed packers received during an interval from the packet loss to the next earliest reception of a full-header packet, and decompresses the compressed headers of the kept header-compressed packets on the basis of contents of the full header of the full-header packet.

Abstract: A system for broadcasting data (30) that includes a message flow optimizer (150) that forms a single concatenated message (180) from a number of discrete messages (190, 200), and a number of broadcast message receivers (250) operable to isolate a portion of the single concatenated message (180).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving packets from a bus. A packet is received at an interface to the bus. The packet is parsed, and a determination is made whether to retain the packet from the parsing of the packet. The packet is placed in a buffer with a header. The packet is moved from the buffer to another bus using information located within the header, wherein repeated parsing of the packet to move the packet to another bus is unnecessary.

Abstract: A router (10) in a packet-based telecommunications system receives incoming packets that may have “shim” headers between their link-layer and network-layer headers. The shim header contains one or stack entries, each of which includes a label, and the router can employ the label in the top stack entry as direct index into a forwarding table that the router uses to forward the packet. Among the forwarding table's contents is a pointer to a replacement data structure (62). To assemble an outgoing packet to be forwarded in the incoming packet's place, the router replaces the incoming packet's link-layer header and any top shim-header stack entry with the replacement data structure. The router employs this mechanism (1) to impose a shim header on packets that did not have them previously, (2) to replace shim-header stack entries for forwarding to subsequent routers, and (3) to remove shim headers.

Abstract: In a routing switch a technique for routing messages from an input port to an output port involves storing a plurality of sets of routing information in the routing switch, each set associated with a value of a header of the message. The technique involves grouping outputs which are suitable for outputting the same message. In the routing network, unicast packets include multiple headers and multicast packets include single headers. Sequence numbers of packets in the message are encoded in the packets by use of a longitudinal checksum. In the routing switch, messages are prioritized for routing in dependence on a priority allocated to the respective header.

Abstract: A method and system for injecting/extracting a control cell into/from a data connection transmitted from a source switching node to a destination switching node of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. The injecting method consists in adding to the ATM cell a switch routing label (SRL) and a protocol engine correlator (PEC) by the control point of the injection switching node before injecting the cell into the connection. The extracting method consists in setting a control flag in the control block of the incoming cell if this cell includes an extraction condition indicating that it is a control cell to be extracted, and adding to the control cell a switch routing label corresponding to the control point (CP SRL) and a reserved static protocol engine correlator (SPEC).

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) exchange includes an ATM switch (120), an ATM line card (110), a server card (130), and an Ethernet line card (140). The server card (130) converts an ATM cell including connection data, into a network layer packet, extracts a network layer next hop out of the network layer packet, converts the network layer next hop into associated connection data, and converts the network layer packet and connection data into an ATM cell. The Ethernet line card (140) converts the ATM cell into a network layer packet, extracts the connection data out of the ATM cell, converts the connection data into a shared medium address, and converts the network layer packet and shared medium address into a shared medium frame.

Abstract: A label distribution repeating installation and it's method which enables to make a label allocating process more efficient in a switching node that mounts a label distribution protocol. A label distribution repeating installation of the present invention includes line termination equipment for terminating a packet transmitted to take out packet data and perform a transmission process, and a repeating processor for performing a repeating transfer process of the packet from the packet data acquired from the line termination equipment, the repeating processor comprising a protocol data unit (PDU) receiver for disassembling the packet data into message elements of the label distribution protocol, a protocol analyzer for analyzing a message required for repeating from each message element, a PDU transmitter for assembling the packet data to be retransmitted in accordance with the analysis of the message elements, and a label correspondence table for storing LDP message information received.

Abstract: In a LEO satellite system with the implementation of a virtual network, a method and a system are proposed for arranging an optimal route for data packets to travel. The method and system will diversify the traffic between satellites, and accordingly enhance the efficient use of the entire satellite system. An intermediary satellite is first selected between a source satellite and a destination satellite. Further, an optimal route is found among a plurality of shortest paths between the source satellite and the intermediary satellite, and subsequently another optimal route is found between the intermediary satellite and the destination satellite. Once an optimal route is determined, the route information can be encoded in the header segment of data packets.

Abstract: An interfacing device (INT) which extracts M outgoing sets of bits (OS1, OS2, . . . , OSM) out of N incoming sets of bits (IS1, IS2, . . . , ISN), M being smaller than N, includes: a. an incoming register (IR) wherein the N incoming sets of bits (IS1, IS2, . . . , ISN) are temporarily stored; and b. a selector (SEL) comprising a multiplexer bank (MUX) with M multiplexers (MUX1, MUX2, . . . , MUXM) each having N−M+1 inputs and one output, and a control unit (CTRL) for the multiplexer bank (MUX). The distinct sets of N−M+1 incoming sets of bits that are applied to distinct multiplexers overlap and the control unit (CTRL) can control the multiplexers (MUX1, MUX2, . . . , MUXM) so that an appropriate order is respected by the outgoing sets of bits (OS1, OS2, . . . , OSM).

Abstract: Routes of communication data are set in an address area provided in communication data as transmission object by use of root addresses, which are constructed by arranging addresses of relay units existing at branch points in the communication routes in passing order. The address area is divided into a majority code describing area, in which majority codes formed by coding at least types of the relay units in a discriminable manner are described, and a type code describing area, in which type codes formed by coding either the relay units of the same type or node terminals as connection objects in a discriminable manner are described.

Abstract: A digital delay line, comprising adjustable digital delay elements coupled in series, receives and buffers a packet bit stream. The outputs of selected adjustable digital delay elements are tapped for determining in parallel the destination address bits of the packet. The packet is routed at the end of the digital delay line to the destination indicated by the destination address bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a communication between plural host computers connected to terminal apparatus. The communication controlling apparatus includes a storage unit for storing information relating to upper apparatus names, information relating to program names and information relating to pseudo program names.

Abstract: In a mobile communication system, when a mobile station (PS1 to PSj) makes a request for connection to a service provider (SP), a base station (BS1 to BSn) acquires an IP address "IP1" assigned for the base stations and assigns to the requesting mobile station an IP address "IP2" for the mobile stations that has been acquired in advance in place of the IP address "IP1". When data transfer is started, the base station changes the source address in data sent by the mobile station from "IP2" to "IP1" and then transfers the resulting data to the service provider. On the other hand, the base station changes the destination address of data sent by the service provider from "IP1" for the base stations to "IP2" for the mobile stations for subsequent transfer to the mobile station.

Abstract: Techniques employed in packet networks for transferring a packet across subnetworks with different namespaces. When a packet enters a given subnetwork and has a destination in a subnetwork with a different namespace, the given subnetwork encapsulates the packet by adding a header which specifies a decapsulator in the namespace. When the packet arrives at the decapsulator, the decapsulator strips the header and provides the packet to a subnetwork with a different namespace. A particular use of the technique is in a network used for broad-band interactive service. The network has two sub-networks. The first subnetwork is a TV channel which functions as a high-bandwidth forward channel and the second subnetwork is a packet network accessible via a public modem pool which functions as a lower-bandwidth return channel. The encapsulator establishes a connection with the public modem pool and receives an address in the second subnetwork which is temporarily associated with the connection.

Abstract: In a radio data communication network where a plurality of radio data communication apparatuses mutually communicate information through frames carried by radio waves, a communication method using radio data communication apparatuses having a relay function is provided. When two radio data communication apparatuses cannot directly communicate with each other due to the limit of the radio wave range, another radio data communication apparatus serves as a relay station to relay frames between the two apparatuses, thus extending a communicable range.

Abstract: The switch fabric of the ATM switch, i.e., the ATM switch backplane bus, switches a cell based on routing information provided by the source LAN or ATM module to an output port on a destination LAN or ATM module of the switching hub. In the described system, the ATM switch is preconfigured to provide a fully connected topology between ports of all modules. In one embodiment, ATM cells transmitted across the ATM switch fabric between a source LAN or ATM module and a destination LAN module, e.g., Token Ring, FDDI or Ethernet, is accomplished by way of a routing tag prepended on the ATM cells. The routing tag provides both unicast and multicast group destination information such that the ATM cells are routed to the appropriate port on a given destination module without the need to establish a virtual circuit between the source module and the destination module using VPI/VCIs.

Abstract: Interconnection of local area networks, which use a protocol of the "Source Routing" type, through a wide area network involves pieces of interconnection equipment each having a configuration memory which avoids systematic broadcast of discovery frames on the wide area network. Machine learning by these pieces of interconnection equipment stores in respective configuration memories the address of the interconnection equipment through which a local area network containing a destination station is situated. For a given size of routing information field, the maximum number of interconnected networks is doubled.

Abstract: An address reporting device receives a query for an address corresponding to a machine name of a machine on a first network, from a second network. The address reporting device accesses name servers so as to determine whether or not the address corresponding to the machine name designated in the query is an unauthorized address. If it is determined that the address corresponding to the machine name designated in the query is an unauthorized address, the address reporting device searches an address pair register table and/or an address mapping table stored in a router equipped with address translation function so as to specify an appropriate authorized address corresponding to the unauthorized address and prepares an address pair formed by the specified authorized address and the unauthorized address. The address pair is registered in the address pair register table. The address reporting device returns the authorized address forming the pair to the second network.

Abstract: The invention routes SVC ATM call setups by utilizing one of a plurality of designated transit lists (DTLs) stored at an originating node. The DTLs describe all routes in the network from the originating node to endpoint destinations. When a call setup message is received at the originating node, it inserts a desired DTL as an information element (IE) of the setup message. Each DTL is formatted as a concatenation of elements with each element including the node ID and output ports of each successive node in the route. Preferably, each element of the DTL includes flags such as a "process" flag which indicates whether an element of the DTL has been processed by a node, a "link up" flag which indicates that an alternative route is available between two nodes should the preferred route be down, a "bandwidth" flag which allows the alternate link to be used if the preferred link is busy, and a "last node" flag which is used in the last element of the concatenated DTL.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing address translation in an ATM network element, such as a switch, resulting in minimized circuit complexity and resultant cost savings. The present invention includes the generation of a simplified local address from elements of internetwork communications, the local address being suitable for addressing a routing table in the network element. Components of the local address are also individually employed as masks for out-of-range checking.

Abstract: Network which accepts connections from a subscriber unit for service by a service provider. A plurality of nodes on the network are connected to different servers which provide the identical service. A subscriber unit's request for service is handled by the nearest node. A translation table is accessed by the LSO of the node to obtain the address of the nearest server based on a fuzzy address received as part of the request for service. The LSO of the node returns complete address data to the requesting subscriber unit for the nearest server capable of serving the request. The subscriber unit then issues a request for connection to the server using the acquired address information. The LSO of the receiving node creates a connection between a requesting subscriber unit and the addressed server.

Abstract: The present application concerns a method and an apparatus, in a communication network, for processing the various fields of a protocol header preceding a data stream to provide a unique connection identifier for processing the data stream. All relevant protocol information is extracted from the protocol header for look up in a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) (80). Each time an entry in the CAM (80) matches protocol information applied to the CAM's input (84), the CAM address of this storage section, i.e. the address of a row of the CAM (80), is provided at the output (82) thereof. The CAM addresses obtained from the protocol header are concatenated by means of a Connection Number Builder (CNB, 95) resulting in a unique connection identifier provided at the Protocol Filter's output (96) to be used for the processing of the data stream.