Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive two-way multimedia messaging service transfer method. A user sends a multimedia message to initiate the interactive 2-way transfer. A multimedia messaging service center sends the message to a multimedia messaging service dispatcher, so that the appropriate service provider is contacted according to the multimedia message. The digital multimedia content is obtained from the content service provider and a common service platform transforms the information into a multimedia message reply. Finally, the multimedia messaging service center sends the message to the user. The invention receives and transmits multimedia messages in order to provide the interactive two-way transmission system. In this way, mobile communication equipment users can access interactive content such as online games, anytime and anywhere.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for network service provisioning includes receiving a network address request from a subscriber device. The network address request includes at least one data cell including a channel identifier associated with the subscriber device. The channel identifier identifies the subscriber device for a cell-switched network The method further includes determining the channel identifier from the network address request, and generating a customer tag using the channel identifier.

Abstract: A system accessing and transmitting different data frames in a digital transmission network, for accessing and transmitting different data frames, said system comprises: at least a user-network interface (UNI), which is used to couple with the subscriber's network; and/or at least a network-network interface (NNI), which is used to couple with said digital transmission network to transfer data; and a data converting device, coupled with said UNIs and said NNIs, which is used to convert data formats between said UNIs or data formats between said NNIs or data formats between said UNIs and said NNIs; said data converting device comprises a virtual bridge device and an interface device, said virtual bridge device switches data between said UNIs and said NNIs, and said virtual bridge device detects control messages, and transmits the control messages to control system of the device to process via the control interface unit; and data frames of message except control messages are switched, so as to overcome the limi

Abstract: A process for routing virtual links in a frame-switching network including a plurality of source and/or destination terminals of the frames, in which frame switches are connected to one another by physical connections, with each virtual link being defined, for a point-to-point type, by a path through the network between a source terminal and a destination terminal, and, for a multipoint type, by a plurality of paths through the network between a source terminal and a plurality of destination terminals. The process performs the routing of links by minimizing at least one cost function on a set of solutions satisfying at least one predetermined topological constraint.

Abstract: Apparatus is used in communicating in a data and voice communication system. The apparatus includes a line card and a crosspoint switch in communication with the line card. The apparatus also includes an accelerator card in communication with the line card and the crosspoint switch. The crosspoint switch is configured to provide a redundant communications path between the line card and the accelerator card.

Abstract: An enhanced Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network is optimized through bundling subchannel traffic in DWDM channels at network nodes and “hubbing” the DWDM channels at nodes receiving a relatively higher volume of aggregate traffic than other nodes. The optimization can eliminate low rate links and supporting network equipment. The bundling and hubbing may also be used independently from one another. The DWDM network may be enhanced with SONET, SDH, Ethernet, ATM, or other technology. The DWDM network may be a BLSR, UPSR, point-to-point, mesh, or other network configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packet forwarding apparatus and method for virtualization switch, applicable to switch environments built by Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) connections. The packet forwarding apparatus comprises a header extractor, a dispatcher, and a forwarding unit. After completion of the authorization for iSCSI session connections, the header extractor receives at least an iSCSI packet and extracts the header for the at least an iSCSI packet. The dispatcher decides the flow directions for the received packets. The forwarding unit forwards the packets between the client-side connection and the storage-side connection, including converting the virtual address into physical address for the received iSCSI packets, building the mapping between the client-side interface and the storage-side interface, and delivering the payload associated with the connections.

Abstract: A network device switches variable length data units from a source to a destination in a network. An input port receives the variable length data unit and a divider divides the variable length data unit into uniform length data units for temporary storage in the network device. A distributed memory includes a plurality of physically separated memory banks addressable using a single virtual address space and an input switch streams the uniform length data units across the memory banks based on the virtual address space. The network device further includes an output switch for extracting the uniform length data units from the distributed memory by using addresses of the uniform length data units within the virtual address space. The output switch reassembles the uniform length data units to reconstruct the variable length data unit. An output port receives the variable length data unit and transfers the variable length data unit to the destination.

Abstract: A wireless LAN environment includes at least one access point that supports a number of wireless communications devices which are configured to operate in the U-APSD mode. The transmission of packets by an access point to a wireless communications device operating in the U-APDS mode can be accomplished in an efficient manner by coordinating the unscheduled service periods of the wireless communication devices. The service periods are placed into a tightly packed list ordered according to a network address associated with each wireless communications device.

Abstract: A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining logical layer information in a frame relay and/or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a physical layer test system, such as an integrated testing and analysis system, communicates with a broadband network management system, which in turn communicates with an element management system for a frame relay and/or ATM network.

Abstract: Determining the domain name associated with a virtual circuit may includes receiving, at an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server, a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) authentication request comprising a unique identifier comprising a virtual channel ID, and determining whether a domain configuration override attribute exists in a virtual circuit profile associated with a DSLAM port used to receive the PPP authentication request. Determining the domain name further includes, if the domain configuration override attribute exists in the virtual circuit profile or if the PPP authentication request does not comprise a domain name, returning a domain name associated with the unique identifier, and if the domain configuration override attribute does not exist in the virtual circuit profile, returning a PPP domain name used in the PPP authentication request.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communication indoors includes a femtocell base station coupled for operable interaction with an in-building router having a virtual private network server client connection embedded therein. A user equipment unit within range of the femtocell base station for interaction therewith cooperates with a virtual private network server, an internet protocol network, and a cellular network to provide improved wireless coverage and quality of service indoors.

Abstract: One or more multiport systems are used to facilitate servicing of asynchronous communications events. A multiport system, such as an open collector multiport system, receives from one of a plurality of source components an asynchronous communications event directed to a target component coupled to the plurality of source components. The multiport system is controlled to provide, at any given time, a communications path between a plurality of ports of the multiport system to service the asynchronous communications event. One or more multiport systems are used to forward the event from the source to the target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deep packet processing including a parsing and a searching method supported by a data structure storing the state-transition rules in the state-transition rule tables of a programmable state machine for parsing. The state-transition rule table is then compressed using the BaRT compression algorithm. Each transition rule comprises a test value, a test mask and a next state field. In a second embodiment the state-transition rule table is split into more than one state-transition rule table corresponding to disjoints state spaces, thus allowing more flexibility in the use of storage space. Finally a parsing and searching method can be implemented using the same hardware. The searching and parsing methods can be implemented alternatively or in any combination at wire-speed.

Abstract: A switch includes a processor, an ingress port having ingress port logic, and an egress port. It may also include a virtual network identifier rewrite component for rewriting a virtual network identifier in a data frame received the ingress port with a new virtual network identifier. Also included is a virtual network identifier rewrite rule set, where a rule may have one or more of the following: a received virtual network identifier, a source Fibre Channel identifier (FCID) address, an ingress port identifier, and a new virtual network identifier. The ingress port logic may insert a received virtual network identifier into the data frame received at the ingress port, where the virtual network identifier may correspond to the ingress port. The virtual network identifier rewrite component may assign the new virtual network identifier to the data frame according to a specific virtual network identifier rewrite rule.

Abstract: A system and method for routing data, which includes a switching node, including a plurality of switching elements and plurality of links coupled to the switching elements for providing a routing path for the data; and a virtual circuit identification algorithm in communication with the switching node for providing an even distribution of data traffic through the switching node, wherein the virtual circuit identification algorithm determines a path selection formula.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a machine-readable medium that stores a multimedia content file in a first format and multiple program sets. Each program set is a version of software that, when executed by a respective electronic system, produces the multimedia content file in a second format for use in the respective electronic system. A first program set is compatible with a first operating system executed by a first electronic system and a second program set is compatible with a second operating system executed by a second electronic system. The second operating system is distinct from the first operating system.

Abstract: Extending the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to provide redundancy and avoid loops in the topology of a service domain associated with a data transport service provided using a provider core network is disclosed. At each of a plurality of provider edge (PE) devices participating in the service, each participating PE being connected to the other participating PE's by a full mesh of mesh connections through the provider core network, a virtual core port is defined that encompasses all of the ports on the PE that are associated with a mesh connection from the PE to one or more other PE's participating in the service. Each participating PE is configured to associate the virtual core port with a virtual core bridge representing the core of the service domain. It is ensured that the virtual core bridge becomes and remains the root bridge.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating traffic on an emulated subnetwork of a telecommunications ring having a plurality of nodes interconnected by a transmission media includes obtaining traffic at a node on the telecommunications ring. The traffic is segmented into a plurality of discrete segments. A set of broadcast cells is generated by adding an address header to each segment. The address header identifies a virtual channel dedicated to the node on the subnetwork in the telecommunications ring. The set of broadcast cells are transmitted in the virtual channel of the subnetwork and within a frame of the telecommunications ring. At each remaining node on the telecommunications ring, in response to receiving the set of broadcast cells in the virtual channel, both retransmitting and processing the broadcast cells.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs packets switching in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. After receiving a packet, the system obtains a first set of results by performing a first lookup based on a first set of values derived from the packet. The system also obtains a second set of results by performing a second lookup based on a second set of values derived from the packet. Next, the system merges the first set of results and the second set of results, and produces a merged value. The system then obtains a subsequent result by performing a subsequent lookup with the merged value. If the packet is a downstream packet, the system derives a logical identifier corresponding to one or more remote nodes from the subsequent result. The system then incorporates the logical identifier into the packet and transmits the packet to one or more remote nodes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing convergence for a dual-homed site in a network is presented. An occurrence of a failure between a first Provider Edge (PE) device and a first Customer Edge (CE) device in communication with a dual-homed site is detected. A determination is made whether an alternate route exists for the dual-homed site in a routing table associated with the first PE device. When an alternate route exists then a routing entry associated with the first CE device in a routing table of said first PE device is kept from being deleted for a predetermined amount of time, the routing table is modified to reference the alternate route, the routing entry is rewritten to perform a POP and lookup in a VRF table of the first PE device, and the routing entry is deleted after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

Abstract: A resilient interface architecture may include at least two interface switches and at least two interface routers. The at least two interface switches may provide connectivity between a subnetwork and a main network. If one of the switches fails, the connectivity otherwise provided by the failed interface switch may be provided by another one of the interface switches. Each interface router may be individually coupled to at least one interface switch. The interface routers may select a transmission path between the subnetwork and the main network through the interface switches. If one of the interface routers fails, the selection of transmission paths otherwise provided by the failed interface router may be provided by another one of the interface routers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that allow recovery in the event that sequence counts used on receive and transmit sides of a communications link become out of sync are provided. In response to receiving a packet with an expected sequence count from a receiving device, a transmitting device may adjust pointers into a transmit buffer allowing the transmitting device to begin transmitting packets with the sequence count expected by the receiving device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a virtual network are disclosed. At least one layer of abstraction is created between network service applications and conventional network protocols by inserting an adaptive dispatcher between applications and network transport services on each machine in a network. The message protocol in the virtual network is extensible, allowing application programs to create new headers within any message as needed. The adaptive dispatcher contains handlers that route and dispatch messages within the virtual network based on arbitrary content within each message, including any combination of headers and/or data content. Each device on the virtual network has a virtual address to which messages are directed, allowing devices to move within the network without reconfiguring routing tables.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering security services. According to one embodiment, multiple virtual routers are established within a service processing switch, which is operable to be logically interposed between a public communications network and multiple subscriber sites. Each of the virtual routers has associated therewith a subset of processing and storage resources of the service processing switch. Subscribers are provided with respective sets of customized application layer services. Subscriber resource isolation is provided by partitioning the virtual routers between the subscribers including allocating and configuring partitions, having subsets of the virtual routers, to the subscribers. Changeable provisioning of processing capacity between the subscribers is provided by dynamically reallocating resources of the service processing switch between the partitions based on comparative processing demands of the customized application layer services.

Abstract: An approach to introducing adaptive routing into a communication approach for passing messages between nodes over links between the nodes includes forming virtual channels over the links of the system and defining a deterministic routing function over the virtual channels such that the deterministic routing function is deadlock free. Adaptive routing is then permitted at nodes using the existing virtual channels by introducing a constraint on the available virtual channels used to forward communication that arrives at a node for a particular destination. The constraint on the virtual channels is such that the adaptive system is also deadlock free.

Abstract: The real-time reassembly of data received over an ATM network is enabled by a system including two digital memories, an indicator for indicating one of the two memories as a process memory and another one of the two memories as a storage memory, a buffer memory, a processor which processes the digital contents of a cell stored in the process memory and stores the digital contents of a subsequent cell in the storage memory. In operation of the system, the processing of the contents of the process memory is completed prior to completion of the receiving and storing of the contents of the subsequent cell in the storage memory.

Abstract: A converter for connecting its ATM network with other ATM networks through a LAN, which is provided with an address translation table storing external VPIs, internal VPIs uniquely assigned to the LAN, and opposing MAC addresses for opposing converters in correspondence and a processing unit for performing control for transmitting, to the LAN, frames changed from the external VPI/VCIs of headers of cells from its ATM network to the internal VPI/VCIs by referring to the address translation table and having opposing MAC addresses corresponding to the internal VPI/VCIs attached, removing the opposing MAC addresses of frames received from the LAN by referring to the address translation table, and transmitting cells changed from internal VPI/VCIs to external VPI/VCIs to its ATM network.

Abstract: A method for providing a content service based on a virtual channel in a disk media playback apparatus is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention, an open content service is provided using the disk media playback apparatus to overcome drawbacks of a closed broadcasting service and wherein a virtual channel map is employed to support a selection of the content service of a viewer.

Abstract: A method for intelligently distributing packets of a data stream to multiple links of a network for simultaneous transmission via the multiple links, and for periodically re-allocating the distribution, achieves higher network throughput. The method has particular application for streaming audio-video traffic on a home local area network that has a source device, like a media server PC, and a destination device, like a digital TV. One of the links is assigned as the primary link (PL), and another link is assigned as a backup link (BL). Periodically a signal is sent from the source device over each link to the destination device and the round-trip travel time (RTT) for the signal and response for each link is measured. The RTT for a link is a good measure of the current end-to-end link status and generally will change during the time that the data stream is being transmitted as a result of certain events, such as traffic load and interference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for virtual circuit routes is described. A method in a network element comprises associating a virtual circuit to a layer 3 next hop, the virtual circuit being associated with a layer 2 protocol specific logical circuit, receiving a packet on the logical circuit, processing the packet with configuration information indicated by the virtual circuit, and forwarding the packet to the layer 3 next hop associated with the virtual circuit without processing the packet's layer 3 header.

Abstract: A processing device (CM) programmed to determine homing paths for a plurality of virtual private local area network services in an Ethernet network comprising a plurality of PE nodes. The processing device is programmed to perform the steps of computing (32-48) a plurality of sets of different homing configurations, computing (52) a cost function for each set of different homing configurations in the plurality of sets of different homing configurations, and selecting (58) a set of homing configurations from the plurality of sets of different homing configurations in response to a respective computed cost function.

Abstract: A switch may be configured to support a point-to-multi-point PVC which can be used to support a point to multi-point application. The signaling overhead is reduced due to the use of PVC, and the available bandwidth is used efficiently due to the use of the point-to-multi-point connection. Another aspect of the present invention minimizes the resources required while providing such point-to-multi-point virtual connections. A switch may minimize allocation of resources to branches that are not active. For example, a switch may determine that a branch is inactive based on the absence of reception of OAM cells in a specified duration and delete the forwarding information for the inactive branch. The switch may thus scale to support many point-to-multi-point virtual circuits having many branches.

Abstract: A judging unit in a network relay apparatus for communicating between first and second networks determines whether a first address in the first network and a second address in the second network overlap. If so, a determining unit finds a third address range and a fourth address range to avoid the overlap. The third address range is a private address range used by a communication device within the first network to identify a communication device within the second network, and the fourth address range is a private address range used by a communication device within the second network to identify a communication device within the first network.

Abstract: A network device, for forwarding packets from an asynchronous transmit mode (ATM) network over different permanent virtual connections (PVC) to a plurality of terminal devices, includes a storage module, a flag setting module, a buffer, and a sending module. The storage module is for storing an identifier of at least one predetermined PVC, and packets transmitted over the at least one predetermined PVC need to be processed with higher priority. The flag setting module is for receiving the packets transmitted over the different PVCs, marking packets transmitted over the at least one predetermined PVC corresponding to the identifier stored in the storage module, and sending the packets to the buffer for temporarily storing the packets. The sending module is for retrieving the packets from the buffer, and first sending the marked packets to the plurality of terminal devices.

Abstract: The system of this invention for extending address on UTOPIA and the method thereof can extend the single PHY on the ATM switching chip bus to many PHY ports easily without increasing too much cost, and thus increase the application flexibility of corresponding ATM switching chips. Evidently, there would be still many other embodiments of the invention, the people skilled in the art can make a variety of corresponding changes and transformations in accordance with the invention without departing from its spirit and essential, but these corresponding changes and transformations should also be in the protection range of the claims of this invention.

Abstract: Technologies for switching a set of nodes in an overlay network from one relay tree configuration to another without duplicate packets or packet loss at any of the nodes. A commander node calculates a new relay tree as well as a media stream set configuration for each node in the overlay network, each media stream set corresponding to the new relay tree. Media stream sets include a unique version number or the like that identifies the specific relay tree configuration of which they are a part. Also provided are technologies for associating a media stream with a particular relay tree configuration and the corresponding media stream set of each node in the overlay network.

Abstract: A source node or a sink node retains path information of a VC path and actualizes an efficient process in an LCAS process on the basis of the path information. This can actualize an efficient process procedure in the LCAS and reduce an amount of loss data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing data communication between stations on a network which optimizes the amount of resources required for a network switch. A first data frame is encoded with a source station identifier for the first station and a source switch identifier for the first switch. The first data frame is sent from the first switch to the second switch. A station list in the second switch is updated to indicate that the first station is associated with the first switch. Subsequent data frames having the same destination as the first switch are sent directly to the second switch. Any switch on the network need only identify the local ports attached to the switch, plus the number of switches on the network. The task of identifying all of the ports on the network is distributed across all switches on the network.

Abstract: Upon initialization, a VPC is set up between edge nodes. A control processor of each node creates an IP address/VPC mapping table using IP routing information and an address mapping table mapping correspondence between IP addresses and ATM addresses and supplied by a network management system. A gateway assigns a VCC to each packet input to the network. A sending-side edge node inputs the packet to the VPC corresponding to its destination by referring to the IP address/VPC mapping table. A transit node performs packet switching over VP. A receiving-side edge node transfers each packet to the gateway corresponding to its destination. If a series of packets meet a predetermined condition in a given edge node, its control processor sends VCC information to input interfaces of the edge node so that the packets are switched by an ATM switch in the edge node without intervention of the control processor.

Abstract: A new type of data transport service which uses a frame relay layer 2 data link connection identifier (DLCI) to select among various service types, feature sets, and/or closed user groups (CUGs). A layer 3 address may be extracted from a layer 2 frame, and the layer 3 address information may be used to route a data packet over a packet-switched network according to the service classes, feature sets, and/or CUGs selected. At the destination, the layer 3 data packet may again be enclosed in a layer 2 frame with a DLCI indicating the service classes, features sets, and/or CUGs. Because the use of conventional permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) is not required in aspects of the invention, new methods of measuring and managing network traffic are presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring network connectivity is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller element to route packets to one or more locations of a virtual private network utilizing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) functionality, and route a connectivity message to a connectivity server in response to receiving a query for connectivity information. The query can be grouped with at least one other query for at least one among a border network device of a service provider and a customer network device of the virtual private network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods wireless communication terminals are disclosed that operate an ad-hoc wireless local area network. A network identifier and an application key are maintained within a first wireless communication terminal. The application key is defined for at least one application program hosted on the first wireless communication terminal. An ad-hoc wireless local area network is established between the first wireless communication terminal and a second wireless communication terminal using the network identifier and the application key.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of determining configurations for handling communication path management traffic are disclosed. Respective communication path management traffic handling configurations of communication system elements that terminate a communication link, which is a portion of a communication path, are determined. If the respective communication path management traffic handling configurations indicate that the communication system elements have been configured to pass communication path management traffic associated with the communication path toward endpoints of the communication path, then communication path management traffic for managing the communication path is exchanged through the communication link. Indications of a communication path management traffic handling configuration may be exchanged between the communication system elements during establishment of the communication link.

Abstract: A resilient interface architecture may include at least two interface switches and at least two interface routers. The at least two interface switches may provide connectivity between a subnetwork and a main network. if one of the switches fails, the connectivity otherwise provided by the failed interface switch may be provided by another one of the interface switches. Each interface router may be individually coupled to at least one interface switch. The interface routers may select a transmission path between the subnetwork and the main network through the interface switches. if one of the interface routers fails, the selection of transmission paths otherwise provided by the failed interface router may be provided by another one of the interface routers.

Abstract: A wireless network and associated method for providing continuous communication service for a mobile unit as it roams within a virtual wireless network. The virtual network includes home and foreign access controllers and a virtual network manager (VN manager). The VN manager is used to maintain a VN configuration record that includes all active access controllers within virtual network and to disseminate said VN configuration record to all active access controllers. A tunneling data communication connection is established between all active access controllers including home and foreign access controllers. When a mobile unit first connects to home access controller and then roams to foreign access controller, communication data is transmitted between the mobile unit and the foreign access controller to provide continuous data communication on the basis of the characteristics defined by the virtual networking services while simultaneously preserving the IP configuration of mobile unit on the network.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced datagram packet switched computer network. The invention processes network datagram packets in network devices as separate flows, based on the source-destination address pair in the datagram packet. As a result, the network can control and manage each flow of datagrams in a segregated fashion. The processing steps that can be specified for each flow include traffic management, flow control, packet forwarding, access control, and other network management functions. The ability to control network traffic on a per flow basis allows for the efficient handling of a wide range and a large variety of network traffic, as is typical in large-scale computer networks, including video and multimedia traffic. The amount of buffer resources and bandwidth resources assigned to each flow can be individually controlled by network management. In the dynamic operation of the network, these resources can be varied—based on actual network traffic loading and congestion encountered.

Abstract: A system and method for providing IP services. A packet is received at a line interface/network module and forwarded to a virtual routing engine The virtual routing engine determines if the packet requires processing by a virtual services engine. If the packet requires processing by the virtual services engine, the packet is routed to the virtual services engine for processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for translating an ATM cell header for the routing thereof on a transmission highway of a communication network via an ATM switch. The header of the cell includes a first field VPI and a second field VCI, the first field VPI identifying a virtual path number and the second field VCI selecting a specified virtual channel within the virtual path. The process includes in]storing indirect addressing context page numbers in a first major table (3), storing context page numbers for the circuits in VP switching mode in a second major table (4), storing context page numbers (7) for the circuits in VC switching mode in indirect addressing (5) context pages (2), addressing the context pages (7) of circuits in VC switching mode by way of an indirect addressing (5) context page on the basis of the first major table (3) and of the field VCI, and addressing the context pages (9) of the VP switching mode on the basis of context page numbers contained in the second major table (4).