Abstract: Techniques are provided for dynamically scheduling requests in data processing systems in accordance with differentiated service levels. In a first aspect of the invention, a technique for processing a request to at least one server comprises the following steps. A request is received. Then, submission of the request to the at least one server is scheduled based on: (i) a quality-of-service (QoS) class assigned to a client from which the request originated; (ii) a response target associated with the QoS class; and (iii) an estimated response time associated with the at least one server. The technique may further comprise the step of withholding the request from submission to the at least one server when the request originated from a client assigned to a first QoS class to allow a request that originated from a client assigned to a second QoS class to meet a response target associated therewith.

Abstract: A system for weighted communication of data packets via a data communication network. Data packets from sending devices are selectively transmitted in the upstream direction to recipient devices through the application of weights, or weight factors, which determine the number of data packets from each sending device transmitted upstream relative to the number of data packets from other sending devices during a round robin cycle of such devices. Data packets for delivery to receiving devices are selectively transmitted in the downstream direction to the receiving devices using the application of weights, or weight factors, which determine the number of data packets for each receiving device transmitted downstream relative to the number of data packets for other receiving devices during a round robin cycle of such devices. Weights may be associated with the service tier subscribed to with a communication service provider by an owner/user of a sending and receiving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE. By using a combination of bandwidth allocation techniques, the present invention advantageously makes use of the efficiency benefits associated with each technique.

Abstract: Distribution of network processing load among a set of packet processing devices is improved by employing means for eliminating, controlling, or otherwise affecting redundant packet processing operations. In one embodiment, at least two packet processing devices are present, both capable of processing data packets flowing therethrough, such as, inspecting, detecting, and filtering data packets pursuant to one or more filters from a filter set. Redundancy is controlled by providing or enabling either or both of the packet processing devices with capability for detecting during its said inspection of said data packets that, for example, one or more filters had been previously executed on said data packets by the other packet processing device, and then not executing the previously-executed filters on said data packets.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for best-M CQI feedback together with PMI feedback may include generating a plurality of feedback messages, which may be communicated from a mobile station to a base station, wherein at least one of the generated plurality of feedback messages may be associated with each corresponding selected one of a plurality of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting units. The at least one of the generated feedback messages may comprise CQI information and Pre-coding Matrix Index (PMI) information, which may both be associated with the selected one of the plurality of CQI reporting units. At least one other of the generated plurality of feedback messages may comprise an aggregate CQI information, which is based on one or more of the plurality of CQI reporting units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting traffic quality of service (“QoS”) on-demand over a communications network are disclosed. The process, in one embodiment, is configured to receive an enhanced QoS request from a user via a first node over a communications network. Upon prioritizing traffic flow in accordance with the enhanced QoS request, the enhanced QoS request associated with the first node is recorded. Upon acknowledging the enhanced traffic QoS, the process routes the information to the first node in accordance to a predefined enhanced QoS.

Abstract: A system such as a multicast VOD system communicates content, e.g., delivers content or receives content, responsive to a user request for content and according to a schedule adapted to a user-specified acceptable latency for content delivery. The schedule may be modified to minimize initiation of delivery of content in response to the user's request. The schedule may also be modified to delay delivery of subsequent portions of the content as late as possible to allow subsequent requests to share a content stream while not exceeding the acceptable latency parameter specified by the user.

Abstract: A call admission control technique allowing flexible and reliable call admissions at an ATM switch in the case of an ATM network including both QoS-specified and QoS-unspecified virtual connections is disclosed. In the case where a QoS (Quality of Service) specified connection request occurs, an estimated bandwidth is calculated which is to be assigned to an existing QoS-unspecified traffic on the link associated with the QoS-specified connection request. A call control processor of the ATM switch determines whether the QoS-specified connection request is accepted, depending on whether a requested bandwidth is smaller than an available bandwidth that is obtained by subtracting an assigned bandwidth and the estimated bandwidth from a full bandwidth of the link.

Abstract: With communication service considered, it is an object to provide a communication system in which power consumption of a mobile station device is suppressed. This mobile communication system includes a base station device and a mobile station device, wherein the base station device includes a scheduling portion that carries out scheduling to determine a downlink CQI effective period scheduled by using the downlink CQI as a downlink effective period, start the downlink effective period after a lapse of a given period from downlink CQI transmission timing, and allow the mobile station device to transmit control information and user data only during the downlink effective period.

Abstract: A method of handling packets within a packet-based communication system implementing a policy and charging control architecture. The method comprises, at one or more policy and charging enforcement functions within a packet switched access network or networks, monitoring packet flows to determine user usage on a per service class basis, and periodically reporting the determined usage from the policy and charging enforcement functions to a policy and charging rules function. At the policy and charging rules function, the received usage information is used in order to generate one or more one or more rule sets, each rule comprising one or more packet properties and one or more actions for handling a packet. The or at least one rule set is sent to the or each policy and charging enforcement function where they are applied in order to determine an action or actions for handling a packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for hardware-accelerated packet multicasting in a virtual routing system. According to one embodiment, a virtual routing engine (VRE) including virtual routing processors and corresponding memory systems are provided. The VRE implements virtual routers (VRs) operable on the virtual routing processors and associated routing contexts utilizing potentially overlapping multicast address spaces resident in the memory systems. Multicasting of multicast flows originated by subscribers of a service provider is simultaneously performed on behalf of the subscribers. A VR is selected to handle multicast packets associated with a multicast flow. A routing context of the VRE is switched to one associated with the VR. A packet of the multicast flow is forwarded to multiple destinations by reading a portion of the packet from a common buffer for each instance of multicasting and applying transform control instructions to the packet for each instance of multicasting.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a synchronous packet manager containing a data structure for scheduling future synchronous packet transmissions and arbitrating between synchronous and asynchronous packet transmissions. Slots required for transmitting a synchronous packet are reserved by marking the corresponding entries in a synchronous packet reservation table. Rather than writing packets to many different queues, the application software fills in a single reservation table per BTS sector.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed include a system and method for sharing services between service profiles on a single telecommunications device resulting in improved ease of access for a user who wishes to access services through different service profiles. The user can access services in multiple service profiles with a single device. In one embodiment, the techniques described below are enabled through a Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”)-based next-generation network (“NGN”), such as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (“IMS”) architecture.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunication system, an apparatus (e.g., base station, eNB) and a method are described herein for selecting a target cell to handover a user equipment such that the user equipment would continue to receive a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service or would be able to receive a MBMS service they where interested in receiving.

Abstract: Congestion control provides congestion control for one or more shared resources in a wireless communication network. In one exemplary embodiment, a congestion controller manages congestion of shared packet data channels by under-serving selected ones of the data connections sharing the packet data channel. Such selective under-serving may be effected by biasing scheduling of service on the packet data channel toward maximum throughput scheduling such that connections associated with poor radio conditions are naturally under-served. Further, the controller may manage congestion of other shared resources, such as shared transmit power resources, wherein congestion of the shared power resource is managed by under-allocating transmit power to selected ones of the connections. Congestion is sensed, for example, by monitoring transmit buffer occupancy levels, and/or reserve power levels.

Abstract: A base station for an Internet protocol (IP) wireless access network receives a policy for subscriber traffic over a particular bearer, where the policy includes a particular quality-of-service control indicator (QCI) value, and an average bit rate (ABR) value, a maximum bit rate (MBR) value, and a weight factor value associated with the QCI value. The base station detects network congestion associated with the IP wireless access network and applies, to the subscriber traffic over a particular bearer, the weight factor, the ABR value, and/or the MBR value to manage the network congestion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by selectively discarding packets are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can drive changes in the communication system using control responses. One such control responses includes the optimal discard (also referred to herein as “intelligent discard”) of network packets under capacity constrained conditions. The systems and methods prioritize packets and make discard decisions based upon the prioritization. Some embodiments provide an interactive response by selectively discarding packets to enhance perceived and actual system throughput, other embodiments provide a reactive response by selectively discarding data packets based on their relative impact to service quality to mitigate oversubscription, others provide a proactive response by discarding packets based on predicted oversubscription, and others provide a combination thereof.

Abstract: External packets entering a transmitting entity of a broadband wireless access system are forwarded to a receiving entity onto MAC layer connections at the wireless interface between such entities in a manner depending on the result of a packet classification performed by using a set of classification rules identified by a rule index and associated with a priority index determining the order of application of different rules to packets relating to a same service. The classification rules include both classification rules specific for data communication protocols and containing one or more protocol-specific parameters to be matched by corresponding fields in a packet being classified, and a pass-through classification rule only containing a priority index and a rule index, but no protocol-specific matching parameter, said pass through classification rule being applied to a packet not having matched a protocol-specific classification rule.

Abstract: A method for managing radio resources allocated by a radio network controller of a UTRAN radio access network, where the resources support a plurality of service requests identified by a radio access bearer service request sent by the core network and describing the required QoS as a set of RAB parameters defined by mapping with corresponding QoS parameters of the core network, the controller is provided to distribute the resources amongst the bearer services and to modulate the allocation of the resources according to the priority level associated with each of the bearer services, and the priority level is defined by the “priority level” sub-parameter of the “Allocation Retention Priority” RAB parameter, with a value determined by taking into account the value of the “Allocation Retention Priority” QOS parameter of the core network and the value of at least one QoS parameter associated with the type of service.

Abstract: A method for configuring service curves for managing the output port of a networking device includes the following steps. A multitude of traffic classes is defined, each traffic class being characterized by a bandwidth and a delay priority. A multitude of traffic service curves is computed, each of the plurality of traffic service curves is associated with a different one of the multitude of traffic classes. At least one of the multitude of traffic classes service curves is characterized by a shifted two-piece linear function shifted such that the service curve limits service to during a nonzero time period prior to the start of the two-piece linear function.

Abstract: System and method for providing a telecommunication transmission from an originating device to a terminating device over a telecommunications network. In one embodiment a bit code may be received from the telecommunication network, such that the bit code is extracted from the telecommunication transmission from the originating device. A directory number associated with the originating source may be received and a predefined message may be determined based at least on the directory number and bit code. The predefined message may be displayed on the terminating device.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a communication device, operable with a plurality of remote devices, and operable with an admission profile comprising a capacity reservation for zero or more remote devices, comprises a scheduler for determining if a remote device corresponding to the data transmission indicator has a capacity reservation in the admission profile and for allocating capacity in accordance with the data transmission indicator. In another aspect, data indicators correspond to one or more service levels. Remaining capacity may be allocated in priority of increasing size of data transmission requirement. In yet another aspect, an admission profile is updated to accept a new flow, characterized by flow parameters, in accordance with available system capacity. Various other aspects are also presented.

Abstract: A technique that seeks to direct and re-direct streams of packets through a packet network without adversely affecting the quality of service of existing streams is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, streams of packets that are directed and re-directed through a packet network are initially put on probation. During the probation period, a quality-of-service measure for the stream is compared with a threshold whose value is initially high and decreases with time. This has the advantageous affect of noticing problems quickly so that they can be remediated quickly.

Abstract: Network switching and/or routing devices can use multiple priority data streams and queues to support prioritized serial transmission of data from line cards (or the like) through a fabric switch to other line cards (or the like). Preemption logic is used to insert within a data stream commands indicating a switch from one priority level data to another. Delimiter commands and combination switch/delimiter commands can also be used. Multiple crossbars are implemented in the fabric switch to support the various data stream priority levels.

Abstract: Methods are provided for managing hierarchically organized subscriber profiles. According to one embodiment, a connection for a subscriber is created based on a service context of the subscriber. A connection request is received from a subscriber of a network service delivery environment. The subscriber is associated with a first-level profile identifier indicative of a service context for the subscriber. One or more other subscribers can be associated with the first-level profile identifier. Lower-level profile identifiers are determined using the first-level profile identifier. The lower-level profile identifiers indicate a set of services that is available to the subscriber during the connection. Creating a connection for the subscriber that enables forwarding of packets based on the lower-level profile identifiers.

Abstract: A method for transferring time-synchronous data, particularly voice and video data, over a network, particularly the Internet, between at least two terminals, where between the terminals a connection is established using a SIP server and where the SIP protocol is used for establishing the connection, is—with respect to high Quality of Service for transferring time-synchronous data and with a technically simple and cost effective design—developed in a way that the SIP server analyzes the connection and/or the terminals or the like and that based on the analysis it determines an ideal bandwidth for optimizing the transfer of time-synchronous data.

Abstract: A call admission control technique allowing flexible and reliable call admissions at an ATM switch in the case of an ATM network including both QoS-specified and QoS-unspecified virtual connections is disclosed. In the case where a QoS (Quality of Service) specified connection request occurs, an estimated bandwidth is calculated which is to be assigned to an existing QoS-unspecified traffic on the link associated with the QoS-specified connection request. A call control processor of the ATM switch determines whether the QoS-specified connection request is accepted, depending on whether a requested bandwidth is smaller than an available bandwidth that is obtained by subtracting an assigned bandwidth and the estimated bandwidth from a full bandwidth of the link.

Abstract: A first field of a data unit is analyzed to determine whether the data unit is marked as a particular type of data unit. If the data unit is marked as a particular type of data unit, a second field of the data unit is analyzed to determine whether characteristics of the second data field correspond to the particular type of the data unit. Determining whether the characteristics of the second field correspond to the type of data unit ensures that the data unit is properly marked with respect to type. The first field may indicate a particular priority or that the data unit is carrying voice data. The second field may carry voice data. The analysis of the fields may be done on a data unit by data unit basis, or on a stream basis.

Abstract: An automatic network retrieval and display device including: a transmission/reception processing unit 2 that receives information on at least one existing network and extracts error information and the like; a data conversion processing unit 4 that decides a connection state of each network on the basis of extracted information and outputs packet information lists in descending order of excellence in connection state; a network monitor processing unit 3 that extracts radio field intensity information from a network identifier and creates network identification information lists in decreasing order of radio field intensity; a network information establishment processing unit 5 that establishes a connection priority based on a communication state of the network on the basis of the network identification information list and the packet information list; a network switch processing unit 6 that connects to a network with a high priority on the basis of the connection priority of the network; and, a display unit 7

Abstract: A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The inventive method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. In accordance with this technique, currently active CPEs request bandwidth using previously unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE.

Abstract: A system for selectively applying a service to a packet in a network. In a specific embodiment, the system includes a mechanism for encoding service information in a network-compatible packet header and providing encoded data in response thereto. In a more specific embodiment, the network-compatible header includes a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) header, a Generic Route Encapsulation (GRE) header, and/or a Layer-2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) header.

Abstract: System and method for providing a telecommunication transmission from an originating device to a terminating device over a telecommunications network. In one embodiment a bit code may be received from the telecommunication network, such that the bit code is extracted from the telecommunication transmission from the originating device. A directory number associated with the originating source may be received and a predefined message may be determined based at least on the directory number and bit code. The predefined message may be displayed on the terminating device.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments are a method and related device and computer-readable medium including one or more of the following: receiving a packet sent from the source node to the destination node; associating the packet with an active flow by accessing information in the packet; performing deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify an application associated with the active flow; associating application-identifying information with the packet; forwarding the packet including the application-identifying information towards the destination node; and performing application-specific processing at a downstream device on at least one packet belonging to the active flow, the downstream device identifying the application associated with the active flow by extracting the application-identifying information from the packet.

Abstract: A method of media transmission. The method includes providing at least one variable bit rate (VBR) video stream and multiplexing the at least one VBR video stream together with auxiliary data related to the at least one VBR video stream, in a constant bit rate (CBR) stream. The stream is transmitted to a first receiving unit, which is adapted to discard the auxiliary data as padding and use the at least one VBR stream and to a second receiving unit, which is adapted to extract the auxiliary data and use it in further handling of the at least one VBR stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus according to the technique wherein support of a quality of service is provided for transmissions between at least one node (N) and at least one mobile station (MS1) in a multihop communication environment. Support is ensured by checking the quality of service class of each transmission prior to transmission. Once the checking has been performed, depending on the class of the checked transmission a multihop transmission or a direct transmission is selected for the transmission to the at least one mobile station, whereby a transmission having a quality of service class belonging to a first class of quality of service classes is transmitted using the direct transmission, whereas a transmission having a quality of service class belonging to a further class of quality of service classes is transmitted using the multihop transmission.

Abstract: According to specific embodiments of the invention, a technique is described for providing constant bit rate (CBR) service over shared access channels in a computer network. The technique of the present invention provides a plurality of linked lists of grant allocation elements at the head end of the network for implementing CBR service to requesting nodes on each shared access channel. Each grant allocation element corresponds to a respective unsolicited CBR grant allocated to a particular node on a selected channel. A CBR service request sent by a particular node to the head end is handled by an admission control engine within the head end. If admission control admits the CBR service request, it inserts one or more unsolicited grant allocation elements relating to the admitted request in at least one of the plurality of linked lists. Each linked list of grant allocation elements is used to generate a CBR portion of a respective, fixed size, grant allocation MAP message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating radio resources to an elastic session in a cell in a CDMA network is presented. The method comprises allocating, to the elastic session, a radio resource share corresponding to a reduced transmission rate wherein the reduction in transmission rate corresponds to a peak transmission rate of the elastic session being slowed down by a first slowdown rate. The first slow down rate is determined in dependency of the transmission rate requirements of the ongoing sessions in the cell in a manner so that the radio resource share allocated is not lower than a radio resource share corresponding to the maximum transmission rate if a total amount of resources available for allocation to ongoing sessions in the cell is sufficient for all ongoing sessions to transmit at a respective peak transmission rate.

Abstract: A scheduler is adapted to schedule packets or other data blocks for transmission from a plurality of transmission elements in timeslots of a frame in a communication system. In scheduling for a given frame, the scheduler initially designates each of the transmission elements as eligible to transmit one or more data blocks in the given frame, and selects from among those of the transmission elements designated as eligible at least one of the transmission elements for scheduling in a next available timeslot of the given frame. The scheduler then adjusts the eligibility status of the selected transmission element(s), and repeats the selecting and adjusting operations for one or more remaining timeslots of the given frame. The scheduler in an illustrative embodiment may be implemented in a network processor integrated circuit or other processing device of the communication system.

Abstract: Techniques are given for determining the data transmission or sending rates in a router or switch of two or more input queues in one or more input ports sharing an output port, which may optionally include an output queue. The output port receives desired or requested data from each input queue sharing the output port. The output port analyzes this data and sends feedback to each input port so that, if needed, the input port can adjust its transmission or sending rate.

Abstract: A method and system for ensuring QoS in a communication network and a SLA server. The system for ensuring QoS includes a service-specific server and a SLA server. The method for ensuring QoS includes: querying the SLA information according to a user identity, where the SLA information includes different service levels signed by the same user identity; obtaining different service levels signed by the same user identity; and providing the user with the service at a corresponding service level. Through the technical solution of the present invention, a user can subscribe to more than one service level and the SP can ensure the QoS at different service levels for the user.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for performing a scheduling algorithm in a scheduler (120) of a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of obtaining from a communication unit (200) a minimum resource parameter, wherein said minimum resource parameter indicates a minimum of resources allocated to the communication unit in a scheduling frame to meet a resource constraint and scheduling allocation units for radio access to the communication unit in a scheduling frame in accordance with the minimum resource parameter.

Abstract: A system for supporting a burst transmission procedure includes a burst manager that divides a selected content item into individual content segments. A transmitter then transmits the content segments in a substantially concurrent manner over different corresponding transmission channels. One or more electronic devices receives and stores the transmitted content segments. A content manager of the electronic device performs a reassembly procedure to convert the content segments into the originally-transmitted content item for utilization by a device user.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform QoS. An interface between an upper layer and a lower layer in a multi-hop mesh network receives and transmits packets from and to a local node and a remote node. A classifier classifies the received packets into a plurality of packet types having different priority levels. A queue manager manages a plurality of buffers organized according to the packet types. The plurality of buffers stores the classified packets based on the packet types. A scheduler schedules distributing the packets from the plurality of buffers based on the priority levels according to a scheduling policy.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for best-M CQI feedback together with PMI feedback may include generating a plurality of feedback messages, which may be communicated from a mobile station to a base station, wherein at least one of the generated plurality of feedback messages may be associated with each corresponding selected one of a plurality of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting units. The at least one of the generated feedback messages may comprise CQI information and Pre-coding Matrix Index (PMI) information, which may both be associated with the selected one of the plurality of CQI reporting units. At least one other of the generated plurality of feedback messages may comprise an aggregate CQI information, which is based on one or more of the plurality of CQI reporting units.

Abstract: A key distribution scheme is provided, which is useful for establishing, distributing, and maintaining security associations in a Mobile IP network. An authentication server performs an initial validation of a new session and generates a root key which it delivers to the initial access gateway and to the home agent. The initial access gateway and the home agent each independently compute a derivative key available only to themselves. The initial access gateway, acting as proxy for the mobile station, uses the derivative key to sign the Mobile IP registration or binding update transactions, and sends the signed registration or binding update to the home agent for validation. Once the session is established between the mobile station and the home agent, the access gateways act as proxies on behalf of the mobile station to maintain the session mobility. In handoff, the new access gateway acquires the root key as part of the transferred session context.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments are a method and related device and computer-readable medium including one or more of the following: receiving a packet sent from the source node to the destination node; associating the packet with an active flow by accessing information in the packet; performing deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify an application associated with the active flow; determining a classification for the packet based on characteristics of the identified application; associating, with the packet, information identifying the classification; forwarding the packet including the information identifying the classification towards the destination node; and performing processing on the packet at a downstream device by extracting the classification from the packet.

Abstract: A wireless communications connection control method that enables flexible reconstruction of a wireless communications network system structure. The wireless communications connection control method comprising the steps of retaining in advance a node registration table in which the inter-node distance and node types are associated with each node; issuing a joining notification, together with the inter-node distance, in response to when a new node joins the wireless communications system; refreshing the node registration table according to the joining notification, determining whether it is necessary to change the node type based on the inter-node distance stored in the node registration table, and changing the node type stored in the node registration table when it is determined that the type needs to be refreshed.

Abstract: Virtual dedicated voice connections between parties to a packet-switched system can be created by reserving capacity for such connections in the packet-switched system. The capacity reservable by any one party is limited to prevent over-subscription of resources in the packet switched. The system incorporates a call admission control processor for controlling access to the packet-switched call routing system such that a voice call attempt is successful only if capacity for such a dedicated connection has previously been reserved. The capacity reserved for the virtual connections is made available for use by other traffic when not required for voice sessions.

Abstract: In a network device such as a network switch having a port coupled to a communications medium dedicated to a single virtual local area network and another port coupled to a communications medium shared among multiple virtual local area networks for transmitting data frames between the dedicated communications medium and the shared communications medium, a method of identifying the virtual network associated with each data frame received by the network switch when transmitting the data frames over the shared communications medium. The method comprises receiving data frames from the dedicated communications medium coupled to one port, and, with respect to each data frame so received, inserting a new type field and a virtual network identifier field. The contents of the new type field indicate the data frame comprises a virtual network identifier field.