Abstract: The combination of narrowband applications with broadband transport may be enabled with a tri-level nodal architecture including a call control node having switching intelligence and narrowband switching fabric, at least one connection control node having broadband switching fabric and an intermediate node for interworking between the call control node and the connection control node. The call control node further includes a load distribution function for distributing the load amongst a plurality of call processors within the intermediate node. In certain embodiments, the load distribution function assigns the call processors on a per call basis. The assigned call processor is used for encoding all messages transmitted from the call control node to a selected connection control node for the call.

Abstract: A method of scheduling cells into an asynchronous network for a circuit emulation service, comprises estimating the virtual clock of each connection by on-line traffic measurement, determining the lateness of the head-of-the-line cell for each connection, and giving highest priority to the latest cell.

Abstract: A method for allocating transmission resources to a constant rate connection includes determining a maximum cell clumping value for a constant rate connection based on a peak cell rate and a cell delay variation tolerance for the constant rate connection. An allocation bandwidth is determined for the constant rate connection based on the maximum cell clumping value. The allocation bandwidth comprises the bandwidth at which no cells of the constant rate connection are lost and the cell delay variation tolerance for the constant rate connection is satisfied. The allocation bandwidth is allocated at a network element for transmission of the constant rate connection.

Abstract: A link level flow control method for serving ATM cell streams arriving from a number of packet sources determines a requested bandwidth share for each packet source and queues ATM cells arriving from the packet sources in a shared FIFO buffer. Based on the number of transmitted ATM cells during a pre-defined time period, non-violating packet sources and violating packet sources are identified. The non-violating packet sources are those packet sources that during the predefined time period do not require more than their requested bandwidth share, and the violating packet sources are those packet sources that during the same period require more than their requested bandwidth share. In order to maintain fairness among the packet sources, the non-violating packet sources are granted no more than their requested bandwidth share, with the remaining bandwidth not granted to the non-violating packet sources being granted to the violating packet sources.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptively assigning queue service weights to an ATM traffic management controller in order to reduce service weight update calculations. The implementation of a fair weighted queuing scheme on a network is divided into two functions: queue arbitration; and queue weight configuration. Queue arbitration is performed via a virtual time-stamped fair queuing algorithm. The queue weight configuration is performed via a reconfigurable weighted fair queuing controller wherein bandwidth requirements are calculated in response to connection setup and release values.

Abstract: A buffer management scheme for an ATM switch where the static and dynamic thresholds are applied appropriately at different levels to ensure efficient and fair usage of buffer memory. A novel dynamic threshold mechanism which, while ensuring fair sharing of memory, maximizes the overall memory utilization.

Abstract: A relay for use in telecommunications equipment, said relay comprising:

Abstract: Hybrid fiber/coax networks employ the existing cable plant used for cable TV and transmit data signals in a frequency bandwidth above that which is used for cable TV. As this cable plant was deployed in a tree and branch topology, data transmissions may be susceptible to noise, variable transmission loss and frequency dispersion, particularly in the upstream direction. Further, due to the tree and branch topology, homes at the far end of the network experience much greater loss than do the homes that are near to the headend/ONU. The present system, which uses point-to-point data links between intelligent network elements located in the feeder/distribution network to provide reliable, secure, bi-directional broadband access. Digital signals are terminated at the intelligent network elements, switched and regenerated for transmission across additional upstream or downstream data links as needed to connect a home to a headend or router.

Abstract: A method for controlling the data rate of a virtual connection. Data packets are received for transmission on the virtual connection. The method comprises buffering the data packets in a buffer. A counter signal is generated to indicate the beginning of timeslots in a measurement window. The number of timeslots needed to transmit the data packets with a selected data rate is determined. The method further accesses data from at least one table to determine the spacing between timeslots in the measurement window used to request access to a data bus based on the number of timeslots needed to achieve the selected data rate. Further, access to a data bus for the data packets in the buffer is requested based on the data accessed from the table. The method further transmits the packets when access to the bus is granted.

Abstract: A call connection is supported by first receiving a call connection request. After the call connection request is received, the loads supported by a plurality of packet processors are compared. The call connection is then assigned to the packet processor having a load that is no larger than the load supported by any other of the plurality of packet processors.

Abstract: A flexible scheduler in an ATM switch. The scheduler enables each connection to be served fairly according to associated quality of service parameters, while enabling several other features. A connection can be shaped while minimizing additional memory and processing requirements. Specifically, the conformance time of cells of a connections need not be stored when significant backlog exists in the transmission of the cells. The shaping rate can be dynamically varied. Sequence of cells forming a frame are buffered in the ATM switch until the end of frame cell is received. All the cells of a frame are then sent in quick succession.

Abstract: A Digital-Subscriber Line (DSL) modem dynamically allocates bandwidth among one or more voice calls and unchannelized data, as needed. The channelized voice and unchannelized data traffic are transmitted over a digital subscriber line according to the bandwidth allocations therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flexible sharing of bandwidth in switches with input buffering by dividing time into a plurality of frames of time slots, wherein each frame has a specified integer value of time slots. Counters associated with the input-output queues of the switches are loaded with a negotiated integer value once per frame. The inputs sequentially select available outputs to which the inputs send packets in specified future time slots. Priority is given to input-output queues with counters having positive values. The selection of outputs by the inputs is done using a pipeline technique and a schedule is calculated within multiple time slots. The counters for selected queues are then decremented by 1.

Abstract: In a method of managing buffers in a SAR (Segmentation and Reassembly) device operating in DBCES (Dynamic Bandwidth Circuit Emulation Service) mode, first an active channel buffer limit is determined. This is dependent on the number of active channels in the virtual circuit. Next, the amount of buffering for each active channel is set equal to the CDV (Cell Delay Variation) plus the active channel buffer limit. This prevents underruns over overruns from occurring when the number of active channels suddenly changes.