Abstract: The present invention has an object to perform transition signal control for creating asynchronous timing using the transition signal control circuit, which is comprised of Muller C elements with inverter. The control device is constituted by a machine ring comprising n-stages of transition signal control circuits, a state ring which is further comprised of k-stages of transition signal control circuits, and a synchronous circuit for synchronizing with the machine ring by receiving the vector Q(T1) which is output from the state ring. When the output vector Q(T1) of the state ring is received, the synchronous circuit outputs the vector S to the machine ring. The output vector Q(M) of the machine ring and the output vector Q(T) of the state ring create timings for controlling the processor, for example, asynchronously, and these timings are input to the instruction decoder, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical communications method, a network node device and a transmission/reception device for use in an optical communications network, and also to an optical communications network having at least a first and a second transmission/reception device which are respectively connected to one of a number of network node devices in an optical transport network via which data can be interchanged between the first and the second transmission/reception device using optical signals, and having a central registration device for centrally storing data relating to the registration of the first and second transmission/reception devices within the optical communications network, wherein at least some of the registration data associated with a transmission/reception device are managed by that network node device to which the respective transmission/reception device is connected.

Abstract: A codec detects congestion in a packet network and responds via a session control protocol to re-negotiate codec-type and/or parameters with the receiving codec to reduce bit rate for supporting a session. Once the connection and session are established, encoded packets start flowing between the two codecs. A control entity sends and receives network congestion control packets periodically in the session. The congestion control packets provide a “heartbeat” signal to the receiving codec. When the network is not congested, all “heartbeat” packets will be passed through the network As network congestion increases, routers within the network discard excess packets to prevent network failure. The codecs respond to the missing packets by slowing down the bit rate or proceeding to renegotiate a lower bit rate via the session control protocol. If there are no missing packets, the codecs detect if the session is operating at the highest bit rate, and if not, re-negotiate a higher bit rate.

Abstract: A method whereby a fair port in a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop behaves unfairly during portions of its loop tenancy and behaves fairly during other portions. In a preferred implementation, the fair port establishes a first loop circuit with an initial destination port during a loop tenancy. Before relinquishing control of the loop to an arbitrating port, the fair port—under the control of a transfer protocol—establishes one or more subsequent loop circuits with other destination ports. Loop circuits are established in sequence without the fair port relinquishing control of the loop and rearbitrating. This continues until (1) the fair port establishes a loop circuit with every destination port to which it desires to exchange information; (2) a fixed time period has lapsed; and/or (3) a predefined maximum number of loop circuits are established.

Abstract: The present invention is a SONET system for use in large geographic areas, such as areas encompassed by an IXC network, or which are larger than a LATA or a metropolitan area. The system uses self-healing rings which are interconnected. Some of the rings are stacked within the same physical routes in order to minimize the number of ring terminals on each ring.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the provision of a simplified interface to a Fibre Channel fabric. The present invention provides connection to a Fibre Channel fabric via a RS-232 interface. The present invention receives and buffers information received from the high bandwidth Fibre Channel system until communication via the RS-232 interface is possible. Likewise, the present invention receives and buffers information received from the RS-232 interface. The present invention waits until a predetermined amount of information is received before attempting to arbitrate access to the Fibre Channel system in order to minimize its effect of the Fibre Channel system. Moreover, the present invention utilizes the preceding mechanisms to emulate a Fibre Channel disk array for diagnostic purposes. Also, the present invention may be utilized by a number of PCs to provide an inexpensive LAN application.

Abstract: A method of configuring a compression method for a terminal in a mobile system. The mobile system comprises a terminal for which characteristics parameters are specified comprising at least the compression methods supported by the terminal, and a radio network, in which a functional entity is configured for specifying a compression method to a radio bearer. The use of a compression method on the radio bearers of the terminal is specified on the basis of the characteristics parameters transmitted by the terminal. The user of the terminal updates the parameters specifying the compression methods of the terminal, the characteristics parameters of the terminal being modified in the terminal in accordance with this update, and the modified characteristics parameters are transmitted to a function comprised by the radio network. The modified characteristics parameters are used to configure the use of a compression method for each simultaneous radio bearer of the terminal.

Abstract: A system for providing high connectivity communications over a composite packet-switched optical ring network comprises a plurality of nodes, each node further comprising, an optical crossbar switch connected to the packet-switched optical ring network, a rapidly tunable laser for serially generating a plurality of packets, each packet being generated at a different wavelength and a wavelength stacker for stacking the plurality of serially generated packets to form a composite packet.

Abstract: A transparently-bridged wide area network connecting Ethernet/IEEE 802.3-based local area networks uses redundant proxy devices on each LAN for internetwork communications. The proxy devices, implemented as data link switching (DLSw) devices, prevent looping of traffic such as explorer frames by sharing their MAC addresses to enable the proxy devices to recognize data packets from another proxy device. Incoming explorer frames from the wide area network are modified by performing an address substitution, where the source address in a received explorer frame is replaced with the address of the local proxy device. The proxy device then outputs the modified explorer frame onto the local area network. Any other proxy device on that same local network will then be able to detect the modified explorer frame as a frame forwarded by another proxy device, as opposed to a data frame from an end station on that local area network.

Abstract: A ring network for transporting data packets between network devices is provided. The ring network includes a number of ring switches. Each ring switch has at least one ring port, at least one local port and at least one table that self learns which network devices are associated with each port of the ring switch based on a selected source identifier from the packets processed by the ring switch. The source and destination identifiers may, for example, be a media access control (MAC) address from an Ethernet packet, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, at least a portion of a hierarchical address, a combination of two or more identifiers at different protocol levels for the data packet, a port number of a universal datagram protocol, or other appropriate identifier. The at least one ring port of each ring switch is coupled to a ring port of another ring switch in the ring network.

Abstract: Traffic demands are routed in a ring network by first determining an inter-ring path for a given demand, and then independently determining an intra-ring path for the demand on each of the rings in the inter-ring path. The intra-ring path provisioning is fully decoupled from the inter-ring path provisioning, such that the demand can be routed more quickly and efficiently. For example, both the routing direction and the interworking nodes for a dual ring interworking (DRI) connection can be determined independently for each of the rings of the inter-ring path. The invention may be implemented in the form of a hybrid centralized/distributed network architecture, in which a central operations system or other central controller determines the interring path by applying a shortest path algorithm to a ring graph in which nodes represent rings in the network and links represent ring interconnections in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for connecting and configuring a communication network are described. A network includes a first router; a tie-line having a plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects connected to said first router; a second router connected to said plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects; a first user connected to said first router with a first full duplex loop; and a second user connected to said second router with a second full duplex loop. The systems and methods provide advantages in that bursty control information can be multiplexed with time sensitive laminar data.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in token ring switches for selectively setting the A/C bits in token ring frames. The apparatus includes a database with addresses of stations on the ring connected to the port. The apparatus compares the destination addresses of frames received from the ring with the addresses in the database and sets the A/C bits only if a match does not occur. By setting the A/C bits selectively, by the port, errors that would otherwise occur, either by setting the A/C bits on all frames or not setting the bits on all frames, are obviated.

Abstract: A restoration procedure for use in bidirectional multiplex section-switched ring transmission systems re-establishes a connection path by using a loopback connection at nodes bordering the failure and by then establishing a jumpered connection path, for each active tributary affected by the failure. The jumpered connection path at affected node eliminates any unnecessary loop formed in the re-established connection path caused by the loopback connection at the border nodes. There is stored in memory at each node (1) the provisioned connection path, (2) the jumpered path, and (3) a jumper flag is set indicating that a jumper connection exists. When the failure is cleared the (1) jumpered path is removed and its record erase from memory, (2) the provisioned connection path is restored, and (3) the jumper flag is reset. Advantageously, the this operation can be programmed into existing node controllers and is compatible with existing restoration procedures.

Abstract: A multi-tier, master-slave control network having multiple buses comprises a master node and a plurality of slave nodes operating over each of the multiple buses. Each master node comprises a downlink transceiver, and each slave node comprises an uplink transceiver. All of the nodes in the control network are connected in a continuous loop configuration with each segment of the loop comprising a cable connector of either a first type (feed thru) or a second type (crossover). Each cable connector comprises a pair of signal wires for each bus. The type of cable connector between any two adjacent nodes in the loop is related according to which of the uplink or downlink transceiver should be connected to which bus.

Abstract: A method to reduce the amount of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), traffic in a LAN environment connected to the Internet via multiport gateway, 63. The gateway, 63, stores a list of terminals connected to its local LAN Paths 61, 62, and determines if the destination of the ARP request is one of the terminals, 611 . . . 622, connected to the local LAN paths. If the destination terminal is not connected to the local LAN paths, the gateway does not rebroadcast the ARP request to the local LAN paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing communication between a first initiating host and a second communicating host in a computing environment having a gateway device. The gateway device is electronically connected from one side to a plurality of initiating hosts and on another side to at least one local area network, further connecting a plurality of receiving hosts to said gateway device. During an initialization step, all connected hosts and the local area network(s) is identified and their addresses and information obtained and stored in a port-sharing table in a memory location accessible to the gateway device. Upon receipt of a special command for establishing communication between a first initiating host and a second receiving host, all information required for establishing of a successful communication between the two hosts is then obtained from the port-sharing table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enabling multiple users to concurrently access a PC-based server in a home local area network using conventional TVs as display devices. A client system includes a TV, conventional input devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a set top box for interfacing the TV to the network. The server maintains a system work area and multiple processes corresponding to user applications. The system work area is partitioned in the server into multiple independent, simultaneously active desktops, one desktop for each of the client systems. Individual processes are mapped to the appropriate desktop. Multiple frame buffers are maintained in the server, such that a different frame buffer is assigned to each client system. Each desktop is rendered within the server and stored in the corresponding frame buffer. The contents of each frame buffer are transmitted over a transmission medium to the set top box of the corresponding client system.

Abstract: A route switching layer is provided to end stations on a local area network (LAN) segment between the network layer protocol stack and the LAN adapter device driver. The route switching layer reads the network layer protocol header in a data frame queued for transmission. If the data frame is destined for a station on a different LAN segment, the route switching layer compares the network layer address with entries stored in a local address table. If a match occurs, the route switching layer inserts the corresponding data link layer address from the table in the data link header that is appended to the data frame. The data frame is then transmitted directly from source to destination end station by a hardware switch. If an address table match does not occur, the source station route switching layer sends a query to a route server device for the data link layer address corresponding to the network layer address of the destination end station.

Abstract: A network system in which at least one loop comprising plural loop-connected nodes and at least one loop comprising either a single node or plural loop-connected nodes are directly connected to a common transmission line, wherein a signal output from one of the nodes is transmitted to all the nodes, and then is discarded by one of the nodes in each loop.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting Local Area Networks (LANs) includes ports for attaching LAN segments and port modules for connecting the ports to a switch fabric. Each of the port modules include a mechanism which searches the Routing Information (RI) field of a Received frame to detect at least two Triplets (a minimum configuration for a LAN segment) indicating a Source path from an originator user and a Destination path to a destination user. The Triplet (single or in combination) is used to access a database (tables) which identifies the Port of Exit (POE) through which the frame is to be routed.

Abstract: A system and method connects a call in a broadband system using the asynchronous transfer mode protocol for switching. Calls are connected over a SONET ring that has SONET multiplexers coupled by SONET paths. The SONET multiplexers are adapted to add calls to, and drop calls from, the SONET ring. An ATM cross connect system that has ATM cross connect devices is coupled to the SONET ring. The ATM cross connect devices provide provisioned ATM connections over the SONET ring. ATM interworking units are coupled to the ATM cross connect system. The ATM interworking units interwork calls with selected ATM connections in response to control messages. The selected ATM connections are provisioned between the ATM interworking units by the ATM cross connect system over the SONET ring. A signaling processor system receives call signaling for the calls, processes the call signaling to select the ATM connections for the calls, and sends the control messages to the selected ATM interworking units.

Abstract: The present invention is a SONET system for use in large geographic areas, such as areas encompassed by an IXC network, or which are larger than a LATA or a metropolitan area. The system uses self-healing rings which are interconnected. Some of the rings are stacked within the same physical routes in order to minimize the number of ring terminals on each ring.

Abstract: An optical network which is arranged to ensure communication between nodes in a lower-order loop and a higher-order loop when there is an interruption in the lower-order loop or in the event of hub failure. Each lower-order loop consists of a bus network with hubs and one or a plurality of nodes. Two optical fibers connect the nodes in each bus network and are used for communication in opposite directions between the nodes. Each bus network comprises precisely two hubs of which the first closes the bus network end at the first end thereof and the second closes the bus network at the other end. The hubs connect the bus networks in a lower-order loop and join this loop to a higher-order loop. Each node in the bus network is arranged to communicate with each hub. Channel allocation can be carried out so that channels received in one node are re-used for transmission on the same fiber from the same node.

Abstract: A computer is coupled to a switching subsystem that connects the computer to either a network interface device or a wireless modem. The network interface device sends a status signal to the switch indicating whether the device is connected to the network. If a network connection is made, the network interface device is used to communicate over the network. If the status indication is that the network interface device is not connected, the switch automatically connects the wireless modem to the computer so that the computer can communicate with the network over a radio channel. In a preferred embodiment, the switching subsystem reconnects to the network port when it again becomes operable.

Abstract: A computer system with a plurality of devices compatible with the Fibre Channel Protocol, wherein at least two of which devices are initiators. The computer system is provided with the capability to control and manage multiple initiators configured in an Arbitrated Loop. This capability is realized by manipulating the contents in outstanding.sub.-- link.sub.-- services arrays associated with the initiators.

Abstract: A system for hierarchical data storage management and transparent data backup in a high speed, high volume Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop environment comprising first and second Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loops, each coupling a Transaction Server and backup HSM server to high speed disk drives and mirrored high speed disk drives respectively. The two loops are coupled by a Bridge compatible with the Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop protocol which forwards write transactions directed to the mirrored disk drives from the first loop the second but keeps read transaction from the Transaction Server to the high speed disk drives on the first loop isolated from backup and HSM transactions occurring on the second loop between the backup HSM server, the mirrored disk drives and backup storage devices coupled to the backup HSM server.

Abstract: A service restoration system and method for a mixed SONET/WDM optical fiber telecommunication networks comprising a plurality of self healing SONET rings and at least one WDM link which is shared by these SONET rings, provides protection on the optical layer of at least one WDM link in case of fiber or cable cut. The WDM link protection is provided by rerouting the WDM link traffic through a dedicated protection ring which is selected from the plurality of self healing SONET rings, via color blind optical fiber-to-fiber switches. The WDM working equipment protection is provided by rerouting the SONET traffic via additional optical switches and wavelength converters through WDM link. Wavelength converter aligns the wavelength of the optical signal to match the wavelength of failed WDM channel, to localize and heal the failure of the WDM working equipment without reporting to the adjacent nodes.

Abstract: A data mover which provides guaranteed transfer of data between two locations. The data mover includes a pair of data packet memories for input, a pair of data packet memories for output, and a controller which alternately switches each of the paired data packet memories between a data loading mode and a data unloading mode. The controller enables one of the paired data packet memories in the data loading mode and enables the other one of the paired data packet memories in the data unloading mode. The controller switches the modes of the paired data packet memories upon receiving an acknowledgement of moved data.

Abstract: Idle messages are transmitted by an expansion node into the ring topology until the first idle message arrives to the expansion node after having passed through the entire ring. Frames may then be transmitted by the expansion node at every cycle time. The expansion node has an expansion buffer that may receive incoming frames and stores the frames until the next cycle time. The frame stored in the buffer may then be transferred to transmission side of the expansion node and transmitted into the ring topology. If there is no frame stored in the buffer at the beginning of a new cycle time, the expansion node may generate a new frame and transmit the new frame into the ring topology.

Abstract: A communications networking system is disclosed for controlling and monitoring devices within a telephony central office. The networking system includes a high bandwidth local area network (LAN) within the central office for transferring substantially all communications between each central office network element and remote telephony operational support systems (OSSs) that control and monitor network element performance. The LAN simplifies communications within the central office: (a) by substantially eliminating direct connections, between central office network elements and remote OSSs, and (b) by utilizing at least one standardized communication protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, or OSI when transferring communications over the LAN. The networking system includes a mediation device(s) for translating between network element specific protocols and a standardized protocol used on the LAN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically shifting between switching and routing packets efficiently to provide high packet throughput. The present invention provides a method for transmitting packets between an upstream node and a downstream node in a network that utilizes flow classification and labelling to redirect flows. The method includes the steps of establishing default virtual channels between the upstream node and the downstream node, receiving a packet at the downstream node, performing a flow classification at the downstream node on the packet to determine whether the packet belongs to a specified flow that should be redirected in the upstream node, selecting a free label at the downstream node, and informing the upstream node that future packets belonging to the specified flow should be sent with the selected free label attached. Other embodiments of the present invention include a basic switching unit and a switch gateway unit for use in a system for transmitting packets in a network.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, point-to-point, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. A system is provided for routing packets with a plurality of data bits and target identity code bits through a packet routing switching network. The packets are transmitted from source nodes through the switching network to target nodes that are designated by the target identity code bits. Operational rings are used to link output ports of switches of the output stages to input ports of switches of the input stage wherein each operational ring is identified by ring identity code bits associated with the input stage switches of the operational rings and has at least one node which is capable of performing a function with the data. Recirculation rings are used to link output ports of switches of the output stage to input ports of switches of the input stage.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI include: (a) a "new/stale" bit which is generated in a data packet for detecting stale packets to discard; (b) an idle.cc which is an idle bit to be inserted between packets for detecting lost packets which toggles when the idle bit has circulated around the ringlet; and (c) a scrubber node in each operational ring of an SCI network which toggles "new/stale" bits from a "new" state to a stale state when they are received at the scrubber node. The "new/stale" bit is also set to a "new" stale bit when a packet is generated in a source node in a first operational ring for transmission to a target node in a second operational ring. A scrubber node is located as the first node of each operational ring of the network. The new/stale" bit and the idle circulation (idle.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, point-to-point, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI are the (a) idle.cc which are idle bits circulation to be inserted between packets transmitted in an SCI network for detecting lost packets which toggles when the idle bit circulation has circulated around the ringlet; and (b) idle.ac, or allocation bit which is a bit in a group of transmitted idle bits which toggles when all operational nodes in an SCI network have had an opportunity to transmit their data packets. All switches accumulate transitions of the allocation bits to a value that is different from the current remembered allocation value on each enabled input port. If the network is out of allocation bit synchronization at a switch when a second transition of allocation bit occurs on an input port of the switch, the transition is ignored.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, unidirectional links to high performance microprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI include: (a) a "new/stale" bit which is generated in a data packet for detecting stale packets to discard; (b) a scrubber node in each operational ring of an SCI network which toggles "new/stale" bits from a "new" state to a stale state when they are received at the scrubber node. In addition, valid ring identity code bits are used to identify operational rings and target identity code bits are used to identify the intended designated target mode of each packet. Packets are transmitted from input ports to output ports of the switches and through operational rings of the network that are connected until each of the packets reaches a designated target node.

Abstract: A communications networking system is disclosed for controlling and monitoring devices within a telephony central office. The networking system includes a high bandwidth local area network (LAN) within the central office for transferring substantially all communications between each central office network element and remote telephony operational support systems (OSSs) that control and monitor network element performance. The LAN simplifies communications within the central office: (a) by substantially eliminating direct connections, between central office network elements and remote OSSs, and (b) by utilizing at least one standardized communication protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, or OSI when transferring communications over the LAN. The networking system includes a mediation device(s) for translating between network element specific protocols and a standardized protocol used on the LAN.

Abstract: A two-way communications switch is provided that includes a first state machine connected to a first communications ring and a second state machine connected to a second communications ring. The first state machine is capable of transmitting data to the first communications ring and of receiving data from the first communications ring. The second state machine is capable of transmitting the data to the second communications ring and of receiving data from the second communications ring. Logic circuitry selectively connects the first state machine and the second state machine for receiving data from the second communications ring and transmitting data to the first communications ring and for receiving data from the first communications ring and transmitting data to the second communications ring.

Abstract: The present invention is a SONET system for use in large geographic areas, such as areas encompassed by an IXC network, or which are larger than a LATA or a metropolitan area. The system uses self-healing rings which are interconnected. Some of the rings are stacked within the same physical routes in order to minimize the number of ring terminals on each ring.

Abstract: A system of discovering the active topology of the LANs (local area networks) connected via any apparent bridges that conform to the IEEE 802.1D standard. A discovered active topology of the present invention consists of the active bridges, the LANs and the NMMs (network management modules) that constitute the bridged LAN. The system of the present invention advantageously utilizes the standard (IEEE 802.1D) defined behaviors of transparent bridges to discover the active topology. In so doing, the present invention does not require the bridges to issue any special proprietary frames for development of the active topology. The IEEE 802.1D conforming bridges have the property of forming a path between two conversing end stations. If the two end stations reside in adjacent LANs, the path between these two LANs only has the connecting bridge and no other LAN in between.

Abstract: An advanced data server including an I/O ring coupled to at least one I/O access channel which provides data to the I/O ring or reads data out from the I/O ring; a disc array ring coupled to least two disc arrays which store therein data received from the disc array ring or retrieve therefrom data for receipt by the disc array ring, the disc array ring also being coupled to the I/O ring so that data can flow between those rings; and a server controller coupled to the I/O ring and the disc array ring for controlling the operations thereof. The I/O ring includes a first ring controller which controls receipt of data from the I/O access channel and transfer of that data to the disc array ring, or receipt of data from the disc array ring and transfer of that data to the I/O access channel.

Abstract: A local network for connecting a plurality of stations includes a main ring which is formed by a number of network interfaces coupled via main ring lines, which network interfaces are each coupled to a respective one of the stations, and a first relief ring, which is formed by a number of bridge elements coupled in series via relief ring lines. The relief ring is coupled to the main ring. At least one bridge element is provided for establishing a connection between the first relief ring and the main ring.

Abstract: In a multinode communication or multiprocessor network, messages are communicated from one node to another using an adaptive and dynamic routing scheme. The routing scheme includes two-level multi-path routing tables at each node to ensure efficient delivery of the messages. An entry in the level-1 table identifies a group of nodes and entry in the level-2 table identifies the address for each node within that group. The routing scheme also includes a deflection counter in each message header to avoid endless rerouting of messages and an exponential backoff and retry policy to avoid deadlocks.