Abstract: Provided are a forced protection switching method and a forced protection switching clearing method in an Ethernet ring network. When an operator desires to block a port of a specific node for maintenance and repair, the operator gives a forced switching (FS) command to the specific node in order to block the port. When the operator desires to clear FS, the operator gives a clear command to the specific node in order to clear the blocked port. As a result, operation flexibility of the Ethernet ring network is provided.

Abstract: Techniques are described which provide mechanisms for dual-homing an access ring for virtual private wire service (VPWS) Ethernet line (E-Line) services. The mechanism may provide resiliency against access ring failures and offer a restoration time of 50 msec upon failure. A method to provide such resiliency may generally include determining, at a first ring port of an access node, a ring failure in an Ethernet ring. Upon determining the first ring port of the access node is not situated on a same side of the Ethernet ring as a node designated as a ring protection link (RPL) owner, a message is transmitted on a second ring port of the access node towards a provider edge (PE) node. The message is used to activate pseudowires (PWs) at the PE node for virtual local area networks (VLANs) of the access node.

Abstract: Techniques for ordered and duplicate-free delivery of wireless data frames are provided. A source address, a destination address, and a message sequence number are acquired from a wireless data frame. The message sequence number is compared against a last-received message sequence number, and a last-delivered message sequence number. The destination address is also compared to a current address. In response to the compares, a decision is made to forward the wireless data frame to the destination address, discard the wireless frame as a duplicate wireless data frame, queue the wireless data frame, or release the wireless data frame to a next protocol layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing loops in a network with network devices operating a spanning tree protocol and network devices operating a link state routing protocol to prevent loops are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from one of the network devices operating a link state protocol, a link state routing synchronization packet at a first network device in communication with one of the network devices operating the spanning tree protocol, blocking at the first network device, boundary ports in communication with the network devices operating the spanning tree protocol, transmitting a link state routing synchronization acknowledgement packet at the first network device after the boundary ports are blocked, and performing a loop-free topology convergence process at the first network device.

Abstract: A method and system of communicating between a wireless network and a process control system communicatively coupled to a server, such as OPC. The server receives data from the wireless network, where the data is generated from an input/output data point within the wireless network. The server maps the data between the input/output data point and a data point placeholder within the process control system. The server writes the mapped data to the corresponding data point placeholder of the process control system via a process control interface, and the mapped data is provided to the process control system as process control data native to the process control system. Process control data may also be provided to the server, mapped between a data point placeholder of the process control system and an input/output data point of the wireless network, and written to the corresponding input/output data point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for updating an address table in an Ethernet ring network node and an Ethernet ring network node. When the Ethernet ring network node implements a port state switching operation and a port on the ring is switched from an unblocked state to a blocked state, the Ethernet ring network node updates its forwarding database. The method and the Ethernet ring network node of the present invention can accelerate update of the FDB in the node when a link fails or is recovered, thereby improving the convergence speed for the switching when the ring network fails.

Abstract: In the wireless mesh network including a sender, a receiver, and a plurality of access points disposed between the sender and the receiver, available transmission paths between the sender and the receiver are determined; transmission expected values are calculated for the transmission paths; and a transmission path having a minimum transmission expected value is set as an actual transmission path. The transmission expected value is a sum of expected transmission counts, which is a reciprocal of multiplication of forward transmission success rate and backward transmission success rate of a communication link between the nodes disposed on the transmission paths. When an access point can transmit a packet concurrently with another access point, the expected transmitted count is reduced by half.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining whether a packet received in an input/output (I/O) circuit of a node is destined for the node and if so, providing the packet to an egress queue of the I/O circuit and determining whether one or more packets are present in an ingress queue of the I/O circuit and if so, providing a selected packet to a first or second output register according to a global schedule that is independent of traffic flow. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing communications through a dense mesh network having a plurality of nodes coupled to one of at least two gateway controllers is disclosed. A node location of each node is calculated relative to other nodes in the mesh network. Nodes that are less than a predetermined distance of each other are assigned to separate gateway controllers. Radio frequency interference levels between the nodes in the mesh network are measured and channels or PN codes of nodes having interference levels greater than a predetermined amount are changed.

Abstract: Implementations related to robust multipath routing are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention enables network providers to create peering arrangements with other providers that allow them to fail over to other networks in the event of a site failure. This invention would lower the cost to provide site diversity within a provider's network by allowing cost sharing between the provider's network and other networks. For example, when an Application Server (AS) in a network fails, the network provider can send a call to a partner's network and uses an AS in the partner's network to process the call request.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a resilient IP ring protocol. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device using a resilient internet protocol (IP) ring protocol, including a controller (602) that manages operations of a transceiver (620) for exchanging messages in a communication system with adjacent ring nodes in a communication ring architecture (300). The controller can be programmed to use sub-second level signaling between adjacent ring nodes to determine when adjacent ring nodes have failed and enable failure options upon detection of an adjacent ring-node failure. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A lighting housing for installation in a building having a source of electrical power, including a support structure; a junction box coupled to the support structure and to the source of electrical power; a lighting enclosure coupled to the support structure and mechanically and electrically supporting an electric light powered from the source of electrical power received through the junction box; and an RF mesh network transceiver, coupled to the support structure and powered from the junction box, for participation in a mesh network.

Abstract: Methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation among optical networks units for upstream transmission, performed by an optical line terminal of a passive optical network, which compensate for unused guaranteed bandwidth, which compensate for inability to use allocated bandwidth due to lack of data frame fragmentation, and which provide fair bandwidth allocation between mixed high transmission rate and low transmission rate optical network units.

Abstract: High throughput channel operation in a mesh wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. A mesh network comprises a plurality of mesh points and a network management entity (NME). The NME is configured to retrieve capability and configuration data from the mesh points. The NME configures at least one mesh point with respect to IEEE 802.11n channelization and legacy protection mode based on the capability and configuration data.

Abstract: A method of broadcasting a data packet (D) in an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of groups of mobile nodes traveling along traffic lanes in a road network. The data packet (D) is broadcast within a group (G) during an intragroup broadcasting phase during which the data packet (D) propagates simultaneously in two opposing directions of movement (A1, A2), such that the packet (D) is received by peripheral nodes (B1, B2) of the group (G). During an intergroup broadcasting phase, a peripheral node (B) transmits the data packet (D) to another group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a mesh network, especially according to IEEE standard 802.11s, wherein the mesh network comprises a plurality of network nodes, which have outer edge nodes and inner network nodes. A first edge node forms a connection point for external first stations disjunctive to the network, and a second edge node forms a connection point for external second stations disjunctive to the network, wherein data packets are to be exchanged between the first and second stations. During a switch of an external station from one edge node to another edge node, especially from a coverage area of the first edge node to a coverage area of the second network node, the respective association information of the network nodes is updated by means of an association message while inserting a validity duration for the association of the external stations connected to the edge nodes. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method for operating a mesh network.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a communications facility that is adapted to communicate with at least one other mesh network node at a communication speed selected from a plurality of communication speeds.

Abstract: A telecommunications network comprising first and second access equipment on one side of the network and third and fourth access equipment on another side of the network, a respective communication link is provided between the first and the third access equipment and between the second and fourth access equipment, and further, a communication link is provided between the first and the second access equipment, and between the third and fourth access equipment, each access equipment providing an interface for communication with the network, and each access equipment is configured to be capable of causing a change in the path followed by at least some of the traffic conveyed over the communication links.

Abstract: A method for packet forwarding using a tag in a mesh network is described herein. A packet is received on a non-mesh port of a first mesh network device of the mesh network. One or more available paths between the first mesh network device and a second mesh network device are determined. A path of the one or more available paths is selected based on an egress forwarding rule associated with the path. A tag associated with the selected path is inserted into the packet. The packet is forwarded along the selected path.

Abstract: Serial networking dedicated fiber optic inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, methods therefor and components thereof, that exhibit improved configuration and failover attributes through implementation of novel network configuration protocols. In some aspects of the invention, such an IFE system comprises a plurality of head end line replaceable units (HE-LRUs) and a plurality of serial networking line replaceable units (SN-LRUs), wherein each of the SN-LRUs individually detects that a closed system network has been formed between the plurality of HE-LRUs and the plurality of SN-LRUs based on a plurality of packets sourced by at least one of the HE-LRUs and received on a plurality of ports of each of the SN-LRUs, and wherein in response to detecting that the closed system network has been formed one of the SN-LRUs blocks one of its ports based on further detecting that the SN-LRU is a middle SN-LRU.

Abstract: A communication device configured to facilitate a mesh network includes a media independent mesh function (MIMF) configured to exchange media independent mesh information between peer mesh entities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for topology aggregation and a routing controller. The method comprises: obtaining a link-diversity path number c(i,j,?k) between each pair of border nodes in a real topology GR; and obtaining a connectivity matrix C by utilizing said link-diversity path number c(i,j,?k) and constructing a corresponding full-mesh topology GB. Moreover, the method further comprises compressing the resulting full-mesh topology into a bi-directional shuffle-net topology using the genetic algorithm. Therefore, according the present invention, more link information can be provided for routing decision and more accurate topology can be provided.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a delivery context for channel subscription in a mobile network comprising the steps of: establishing, from a mobile device in the mobile network, a subscription with a content provider; and passing a delivery context to a delivery server.

Abstract: Allocation of channels in a dedicated frequency spectrum on a secondary basis. A direct mode communication request (150) from a first wireless communication device (112) can be received and processed to determine whether there are one or more secondary communication channels over which direct mode communication may be implemented between the first wireless communication devices and other wireless communication devices (114, 116, 118) without violating at least one communication policy for the secondary communication channel. Use of a secondary communication channel can be assigned or denied. In addition, a direct mode communication request can be communicated from a wireless communication device to a base transceiver station (104) identifying one or more other communication devices for which direct mode communication is requested.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming products from a retail store includes passing a plurality of products through an object identification system, capturing images of the plurality of products with object sensors as the products pass through the object identification system, processing the images to identify an indicium for each product, transmitting the indicium for each product through a wireless communication network to a logic engine, sorting the plurality of products based on the indicia to produce a bundled lot of products, producing a unique identifier for the bundled lot, the unique identifier having a machine readable code, and communicating the unique identifier of the bundled lot and the indicia of the products in the bundled lot to an auctioneer for initiation of a direct-to-consumer auction for auctioning of the bundled lot directly to a group of bidders.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an inbound data packet over a wireless link at a wireless intermediate network node. The inbound data packet indicates the packet was transmitted by a node at an edge of the mesh. The inbound data packet is associated with a low priority minimum wait interval and a low priority maximum wait interval for reducing contention on the wireless link. An outbound data packet based on the first data packet is transmitted over the wireless link after a wait time. The wait time is based on a high priority minimum wait interval and a high priority maximum wait interval for reducing contention. The low priority minimum wait interval is greater than the high priority minimum wait interval. These techniques allow long packet queues at the edge but quickly clear packets already forwarded by the mesh.

Abstract: A SONET/SDH transmission apparatus comprises a plurality of interface units that accommodate a plurality of lines, and mesh wiring that interconnects the interface units in a mesh pattern. Each of the interface units includes a time slot interchange (TSI) unit to output a signal selected from among a plurality of signals through the TSI processing of a plurality of signals on the lines accommodated at all the interface units, a detection unit to detect alarm information on the lines accommodated at all the interface units, and a control unit to provide the TSI unit with control data reflecting protective switching operation calculated by computation of a logic circuit which virtually executes the protective switching operation to be as for the plurality of lines.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node “N” within a computer network utilizing directed acyclic graph (DAG) routing selects a parent node “P” within the DAG, and, where P is not a DAG root, may determine a grandparent node “GP” as a parent node to the parent node P. The node N may then also select an alternate parent node “P?” that has connectivity to GP and N. N may then inform P and P? about prefixes reachable via N, and also about P? as an alternate parent node to P to reach the prefixes reachable via N. Also, in one embodiment, P may be configured to inform GP about the prefixes reachable via N and also about P? as an alternate parent node to P to reach the prefixes reachable via N, and P? may be configured to store the prefixes reachable via N without informing other nodes about those prefixes.

Abstract: Method of detour path determination for data packets re-routing in a mesh network comprising a plurality of N nodes, arranged according to a network topology, each node has a K-hops neighborhood knowledge of the network topology, with 1?K<N, primary paths are predefined for routing data packets within the mesh network. Detour paths are automatically discovered and set up while expending relatively few resources in terms of processing complexity, signaling and information spreading. The method is particularly advantageous when used in a wireless mesh network wherein the available bandwidth and the node resources and capabilities are much more limited than in wired networks.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for simulating battlefield scenarios in an ad-hoc communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links between the nodes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mobility of mobile nodes in mesh networks are taught wherein the mobile mesh nodes choose an attachment point to another mesh node based on predetermined criteria, such as the characteristics of the attachment point's path to a reference destination, and other factors local to the attachment point, such as load and available capacity. The mobile nodes forward packets on each other's behalf. Static and mobile nodes and the links between them are treated differently from each other in view of their respectively different properties. A special metric is used for paths that include mobile links in addition to the static mesh links and wired mesh links. Mobility is handled completely transparently to any client devices attached to the mesh nodes, where this attachment could be wireless or wired.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an optimal backbone for a robotic relay network are provided. A robotic relay network comprising a plurality of nodes including a base station node, one or more mobile relay nodes, and one or more user nodes is provided. A signal strength value for each pair-wise communication link between each of the nodes is identified. A weight function is applied to each communication link value to determine a communication link weight. An optimal backbone tree is determined from the communication link weights.

Abstract: A communication device 1 has a first protocol analysis section 11 that analyzes a status of a transmission signal Vs received at a transmission signal receiver 10. A transmission controller 14 determines a communication available period and a communication unavailable period based upon the analysis result. When the communication available period is determined, the transmission controller 14 allows a second protocol signal transmitter 12 to transmit a packet in accordance with a second protocol to a signal line Ls. With this result, it is possible to transmit a relatively large amount of data while suppressing noise influence caused by a varying condition of a carrier, in contrast to a prior system in which the transmission signal is superimposed only by a simple determination of the carrier condition. Thus, it is possible to share the signal line Ls with the time-division multiplexing transmission system and improve reliability of data transmission.

Abstract: A system for controlling packet forwarding through a point-to-point (p2p) connection between first and second end nodes of a packet network domain having a mesh topology. The system comprises a sub-ring network instantiated in the network domain, the sub-ring network comprising a pair of topologically diverse ring spans extending between the first and second end nodes. Each of the end nodes is controlled to forward packets of the p2p connection through the sub-ring network in accordance with a ring network routing scheme, and an intermediate node traversed by one of the ring spans is controlled to forward packets of the p2p connection through the ring span in accordance with a linear path routing scheme.

Abstract: Applications executed out of router memory may acquire additional bandwidth that is not being used by other applications, in order to speed up network traffic. Scavenging may occur up to a point where current congestion is detected, at which point any scavenged bandwidth is relinquished and the application returns to its prescribed limit. After current congestion is mitigated, scavenging may occur up to a limit below the point where congestion was detected. After a predetermined interval, additional scavenging may occur beyond this limit until a preset bandwidth limit is reached.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network where a portion of the nodes have reduced receive sensitivity. The negative effects of the density of the wireless mesh network, such as interference, are reduced when fewer nodes receive messages to rebroadcast. In an alternative embodiment, some of the nodes of the mesh network are configured to not rebroadcast even if they receive a message. A method for configuring a dense mesh network is also provided. As many nodes as possible are discovered and registered in the network. Node characteristics of those nodes are adjusted to reduce or eliminate the negative effects of the dense mesh network so that additional nodes may be discovered and registered.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products provide quality of service and power aware forwarding rules for mesh points in wireless mesh networks by monitoring frame flow to and from a first mesh point in the wireless mesh network; and in dependence on the monitored frame flow, setting a power management mode of the first mesh point. The first mesh point monitors, for example, the power save mode and mesh deterministic access status of peer modes and selects power save and frame transmission modes in dependence on the monitored information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide a distributed restoration signaling protocol for shared mesh restoration with standbys for transparent optical networks.

Abstract: A mobile backhaul inter-mesh communication point forms an interface between a wireless mesh network on a first level and a wireless mesh network on a second, higher bandwidth, level. The two wireless networks are differentiated, e.g., by causing the mesh networks to be formed using different spectra, protocols or coding, or antennae. The mobile intra-mesh communication point functions as an access point in the lower level mesh network and as a relay point in the upper level mesh network. Utilizing mobile inter-mesh communication points facilitates deployment of wireless network access points while enabling the location of access points to follow the concentration of network users. Mobile inter-mesh communication points may be deployed in personal vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, public transportation vehicles such as busses, trains, and aircraft, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and many other types of vehicles.

Abstract: Frame-transfer functional units function as a switch for transferring a frame to a destination retrieved from an FDB. In transferring a frame to a ring selecting unit, the frame-transfer functional units transfers the frame with the frame added with a header in device. RPR functional units execute processing on an RPR frame received from the other communication device or a frame from the frame-transfer functional units with ring processing functional units based on an RPR protocol. The ring selecting unit searches a switch table based on information about the header in device added to the frame with the frame-transfer functional units and the RPR functional units to transfer the frame to a retrieved destination. The ring selecting unit can distribute a frame addressed to one port to plural ports.

Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adaptive multi-redundant ring network system using a 2 port Ethernet communication module capable of selecting a path, the network system including a main network system including a first main control unit and a plurality of first slaves; and a sub-network system including a second main control unit and a plurality of second slaves, wherein each of the plurality of first slaves and each of the plurality of second slaves include 2-port Ethernet communication modules, and each of the plurality of first slaves, each of the plurality of second slaves, the first slave and the second slave are selectively connected via the 2-port Ethernet communication modules.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type; activating the first node at a predefined interval to detect the presence of a message of the communication type in a transmission from a second node in the mesh network; continuing to activate the first node at the predefined interval if the transmission from the second node does not conform to the associated communication type of the first node; activating the first node beyond the predefined interval if the associated communication type is detected in the transmission from the second node; and receiving a message at the first node from the second node following detection of the associated communication type.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of the data communication between mobile wireless communication terminals having a communication means mainly used for the wireless communication between the mobile wireless communication terminals and a wireless communication means mainly with a base station, a following terminal is used.

Abstract: An architecture by which combined scheduling and network coding can be used in mesh networks, and more particularly wireless mesh networks. In various embodiments, this architecture includes a scheduling MAC protocol for scheduling nodes in the mesh network in order to take advantage of network coding opportunities. The schedule takes advantage of these opportunities by assigning a gain to transmit packets based upon the number of packets that are transmitted concurrently and choosing a schedule which minimizes the gain over the scheduling horizon. Regarding the assigned gain, in one embodiment this value is one for basic non-encoded operations and two or more for encoded operations. A scheduling MAC protocol is also used to announce and arbitrate network coding opportunities by indicating which packets (as characterized by their transmission slot) are to be encoded with each other.

Abstract: A method, router node, and set of instructions for using express virtual channels in a component network on a chip. An input link 302 may receive an express flow control unit from a source node 102 in a packet-switched network via an express virtual channel 110. An output link 306 may send the express flow control unit to a sink node 106. A switch allocator 322 may forward the express flow control unit directly to the output link 306.

Abstract: A network having a hierarchical structure includes a plurality of clusters. Each of the clusters includes a plurality of nodes and a cluster head connected to the nodes in a mesh format. Each of the nodes is connected to other clusters via the cluster head.

Abstract: System and method for increasing throughput and reducing the transmission delay in a hybrid mesh network. The hybrid mesh network including a plurality of physical mediums and a plurality of nodes linked over the plurality of physical mediums to form at least one route including a retransmitting node, linked over one physical medium with a preceding node and over other physical medium with a following node. The network is configured such that there is no link on anyone of the physical mediums between the preceding node and the following node, and each two nodes of the route with a link on one of the physical mediums do not have any links on the same physical medium with any other of nodes in the route. This enables the retransmitting node to start retransmitting a message received from the preceding node to the following node before completing receiving the message.