Abstract: A node for transmitting digital data over a network receives a plurality of packet data units and identifies at least two of the packet data units that have the same aggregation identifier. The node then forms an aggregate packet from the packet data units that have the same aggregation identifier and transmits the aggregate packet to a common destination node or nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided of handling modified packets containing additional information regarding source and data type for efficient processing within a mixed network. Incoming and outgoing packets are sent via a dynamic protocol which adapts to circumstances, including the type of network being used, the type of packet being transmitted and the network guidelines.

Abstract: Downstream synchronous multichannel (DSSM) communications are provided among a plurality of carriers, each being a completely DOCSIS™ 2.0-compliant downstream. The synchronous multichannels support communications with both DSSM-capable communications nodes and non-DSSM-capable communications nodes (e.g., legacy cable modems). Non-DSSM packets are transmitted on a single channel. DSSM packets are split into multiple pieces, which are transmitted simultaneously on all available channels. Since the physical delay variation (e.g., group delay change) across the adjacent carriers is small (on the order of a symbol time), the multiple pieces arrive at the receiving communications nodes at nearly the same time and can be reassembled with minimal buffering and no packet ordering problems. To avoid causing trouble for the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes, the packet pieces are encapsulated with a header that causes the non-DSSM-capable communications nodes to silently discard them.

Abstract: Network streams and a method for encapsulating media packets having data therein into the network streams. The network streams includes a base layer stream and an enhancement layer stream. Base-layer media packets are encapsulated into the network packets of the base layer stream, wherein each network packet of the base layer stream includes one, and no more than one, corresponding base-layer media packet. Enhancement-layer media packets are encapsulated into the network packets of the enhancement layer stream, wherein a first portion and a second remaining portion of any enhancement-layer media packet may be respectively included in successive network packets of the enhancement layer stream in order to have each network packet of the enhancement layer stream filled to a constant number of bits that does not exceed a maximum number of bits. The media packets are, but not limited to, video packets or audio packets.

Abstract: A method for more efficiently operating a network, and more particularly, for discovery of a path maximum transmission unit (PMTU) between nodes on an IP network, is provided. The method includes (a) comparing the size of a received packet with a maximum transmission unit (MTU) of a next link; and (b) if the size of the received packet is greater than the MTU of the next link, generating an error message, transmitting the generated error message to a source node, generating a test message of the size of the MTU of the next link, and transmitting the generated test message to a destination node. According to the PMTU discovery method, a PMTU can be determined in a shorter time, and it is possible to minimize the use of network resources.

Abstract: Techniques for adapting data rates from a first to a second system in a telecommunication system are provided. The techniques on used on data communications in the ingress or egress direction. The first system transfers data at a first data rate that is faster than a data rate of a second system. The techniques are used to adapt data received at the first data rate for sending to the second system at the second data rate.

Abstract: An HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) communication system is disclosed. A Node B reduces a size of a field transmitting TBS (Transport Block Set) information for user data based on an MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) level assigned to the user data and the number of codes assigned to the user data, before transmission, instead of transmitting an intact size of the actually transmitted transport block for the user data, among TFRI (Transport Format Resource Information) transmitted to a UE (User Equipment) over a shared control channel.

Abstract: For steady state voice data packet transmission between a mobile station and a packet data service node a new compressed TCP/IP header (160) concatenated with a compressed RTP/UDP header (4) is sent. This concatenated header is seven bytes in length instead of the typical 40 byte long RTP/UDP/IP header. A new TCP header arrangement (30) transmits a special access code (161) to a Van Jacobson TCP/IP header compression/decompression arrangement (20). This allows the voice data packet to be transmitted to the receiving end without the other 33 bytes of header information. The PDSN regenerates the IP header and the receiving end then regenerates the RTP/UDP header (205) while it discards the new TCP header arrangement (30).

Abstract: A network repeater apparatus connected to a plurality of networks is provided which includes a VLAN tag addition section (15) or a VLAN tag rewrite section (17) that performs prescribed VLAN tag processing with respect to a communication packet based on prescribed information of the communication packet when the communication packet is input from any one among a plurality of networks, an address translation section (16) that translates a source address of the communication packet based on the prescribed information, and an input and output section (11) that outputs to a prescribed virtual network a communication packet which has been subjected to at least either one of processing by the VLAN tag addition section (15) or the VLAN tag rewrite section (17) or address translation by the address translation part (16), whereby access can be made to a common device while ensuring security between the networks.

Abstract: A communication apparatus according to the invention can be applied to constitute each of relay nodes provided to constitute a novel communication network which avoids electric wave collision arising on a communication channel without carrying out “carrier sense” or operations for transmitting and receiving control information, such as “RTS”, “CTS”, and so no. The communication apparatus comprises a temporary managing portion 16 for controlling temporary memory means 15, a main managing portion 18 for controlling main memory means 17 and an operation control portion 20.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for an end-to-end connection between an RPR and an MPLS network, where the RPR network is linked to the MPLS network (and viceversa) through a TLS layer. In a preferred solution, the client layer is Ethernet, but any client layer can be considered.

Abstract: A method and system to aggregate packets. A plurality of packets are received from a medium. The packets are aggregated into a single Advanced Switching (“AS”) packet and transmitted onto an AS fabric as a single AS packet.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting frames using a fiber channel switch element is provided. The switch element includes a port having a receive segment and a transmit segment, wherein the fiber channel switch element determines if a port link has been reset; determines if a flush state has been enabled for the port; and removes frames from a buffer, if the flush state has been enabled for the port. For a flush state operation, frames are removed from a receive buffer of the fiber channel port as if it is a typical fiber channel frame transfer. The removed frames are sent to a processor for analysis. The method also includes, setting a control bit for activating frame removal from the transmit buffer; and diverting frames that are waiting in the transmit buffer and have not been able to move from the transmit buffer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for establishing a connection between a mobile client and an external computer network such that the client computer network connection provides the illusion of seamless connectivity. In one aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received from a access point at a gateway to an external computer network. Access points are disposed in the vicinity of the path of the mobile client. In another aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received at an onboard proxy from an access point. The data is then transmitted to a mobile client.

Abstract: A method for accessing a configuration space of a device is described. The method includes setting a first field of a packet to a value to specify a destination device, and setting a second field of the packet to a defined value to indicate that the packet is a configuration access packet. The method further includes setting a third field of the configuration access packet to a value to select one of a plurality of configuration apertures of a configuration space of the destination device, and setting a fourth field of the configuration access packet to a value to address a specific memory location within the selected aperture.

Abstract: This method enables the reconstitution of messages fragmented in packets. It comprises a process for taking a census of the packets made available to a terminal (1) by transmission networks (Na, Nb) and a process for the reassembling of messages from packets listed by the census-taking process. These two processes implement a table of pointers pointing at the packets made available to the terminal (1) by the transmission networks (Na, Nb), sorted out by membership message, said pointers being placed, for each membership message, in a stack according to the order in which the packets that they point at are made available to the terminal (1) and being provided with information or status fields enabling the reporting of doubles or discrepancies between the order in which the packets of a stack are made available and the natural order of the message fragments constituted by the payloads of the packets, and the fate of the packet pointed at during the reassembling process.

Abstract: Method of transmitting a multimedia data stream (F) from at least one sender to at least one receiver through a link including a communication network (14) of Internet type using the IP protocol, the method comprising the following steps: packetization, at the sending end, of at least part of the data of the multimedia data stream (F) in accordance with a predefined format, transmission of the packets (22) thus formed from the sender to the receiver, at least a part of the link between the sender and the receiver consisting of a plurality of predefined distinct physical paths (21). The invention makes it possible to exceed the throughput limits imposed by a single transmission line. The user can therefore expect the throughput that he desires by multiplying up the number of physical paths at least between the sender and the network or between the network and the receiver.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method of handling an incoming packet at a node in a network. The method includes associating at least one source identifier with a link into the node. A packet is then received at the node over the link, and a source identifier is extracted from the received packet. The extracted source identifier is compared with the source identifier(s) associated with the link in order to authenticate the packet.

Abstract: A distributed storage system having n nodes (201), (202), . . . , (20n), a recording commanding device (10) for commanding recording of data in each node, and a transmission commanding device (30) for reading out the data recorded in the respective nodes. These nodes and the devices are interconnected over a network. The recording commanding device (10) applies FEC coding, with the coding rate of q/p, to data composed of p blocks, to generate q blocks, and appends a recording probability a, recorded by the node, to the data, to send out the resulting data to the network. In readout, the transmission commanding device (30) responds data to which has been appended the response probability ? in responding the data.

Abstract: A device that supports a plurality n of message objects, including a plurality of registers associated with each message object, including at least one object match ID register that contains a multi-bit object match ID field, and at least one object mask register that contains a multi-bit object mask field; and, a CAN/CAL module that processes incoming messages. The CAN/CAL module assembles a multi-bit screener ID from selected bits of each incoming message to be acceptance filtered, compares the bits comprising the screener ID with corresponding bits of the object match ID field associated with each of at least designated ones of the message objects, disregarding any bits of each object match ID field that are masked by corresponding bits of the associated object mask field, and then determines whether any of the comparisons results in a match.

Abstract: An electronic data transmission and reception system has n apparatus, a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus which are connected to a network. The transmitting apparatus transmits first electronic data to a first apparatus. The receiving apparatus receives (n+1)th electronic data from a nth apparatus. A jth (j is an integer satisfying 1?j?n) apparatus generates (j+1)th electronic data which comprise jth electronic data with a signature assigned thereto for identifying the jth apparatus, and transmits the (j+1) electronic data to a (j+1)th apparatus. When j is n, an (n+1)th apparatus corresponds to the receiving apparatus. The electronic data transmission and reception system guarantees the first electronic data transmitted by the transmitting apparatus until the first electronic data are received by the receiving apparatus, because of signatures that are generated until the (j+1) electronic data are generated.

Abstract: A General Packet Radio System (GPRS)-based communications network that includes a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) assigns an IPv4 address to a mobile station in a GPRS-based network that conserves IPv4 addresses and simultaneously maintains end-to-end security and application friendliness. The SGSN receives from a mobile station an Activate PDP Context Request message having an APN field that requests a private or a public network address. The SGSN then sends a Create PDP Context Request message to the GGSN. The GGSN assigns a private or a public network address to the mobile station, and sends a Create PDP Context Response message to the SGSN. In turn, the SGSN sends an Activate PDP Context Accept message to the mobile station assigning a private or a public network address to the mobile station.

Abstract: A method for carrying Frame Relay over Ethernet comprises: receiving a Frame Relay frame, and removing header and tail flag sequences from the Frame Relay frame; determining a control word and performing payload encapsulation; mapping a DLCI to a VCE ID and encapsulating the VCE ID; encapsulating an Ethernet frame header, generating an Ethernet FCS and transmitting the Ethernet frame to Ethernet; and, receiving the Ethernet frame, checking the Ethernet frame and removing the Ethernet frame header; removing the VCE ID, and mapping the VCE ID to the DLCI; obtaining the control word, obtaining Frame Relay information from the payload and reconstructing the Frame Relay frame according to the control word; adding flag sequences to the Frame Relay frame, and transmitting the Frame Relay frame to a Frame Relay network. According to the invention, Frame Relay carried over Ethernet may be implemented without relying on the types of the upper layer protocols.

Abstract: A method for coding a packet of information words into frames for transmission, includes receiving blocks of input data, including control words and the packet of information words. When the block consists exclusively of information words, a master transition having a first sense is scrambled and appended to the block to form one of the frames. When the block does not consist exclusively of information words: the block is condensed to accommodate a TYPE word; a TYPE word having a value that indicates a structural property of the block is generated and inserted into the block; and a master transition having a second sense, opposite to the first sense, is scrambled and appended to the block to form one of the frames.

Abstract: A divided Media Access Control (MAC) protocol structure, a data transmission and reception method, and a handover method and system using the structure in a wireless communication system for efficiently managing session information in handover of an MSS (Mobile Subscriber Station). In the MAC protocol structure, a MAC is divided into a MAC-high layer and a MAC-low layer. The MAC-high layer performs session information-related functions and the MAC-low layer performs functions sensitive to a time delay in relation to handover of an MSS. In the handover method, when an MSS in the wireless communication system performs handover between Access Points (APs), session information is managed at a fixed position by an Access Point Controller (APC) including an MAC-high layer or a serving AP. Therefore, the system load can be reduced and communication quality can be improved.

Abstract: In order to perform cache processing for the received packets, a network apparatus is provided with a network-processor accelerator for caching the process result of a network processor. Accordingly, the network apparatus of the present invention ensuring higher packet-processing throughput can be realized by improving the packet-processing throughput without increase in the chip area, increase in the power consumption, and shortage in an external connected memory bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for forwarding data packets with quality of service and rate control. A plurality of data packets are received from a plurality of sources. The header information of each data packet is extracted and compared against a plurality of tables, and then new header information is assembled based upon the comparison results. The data packets have their headers replaced by the new header information on the fly before being sent to their destinations, or the new header information may be dropped if certain conditions are met.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a WLAN-BTS gateway are disclosed. A handset registers with a WLAN-BTS gateway. The handset then initiates a call by initiating layer 3 air interface signaling with a BTS. The gateway forwards the layer 3 air interface signaling between the gateway and the handset. The gateway learns the control channel and traffic channel allocated to the call, either directly from the layer 3 signaling or from a separate message received from the handset. Once the call is connected, the gateway listens on the traffic channel and forwards voice packets between the handset and the BTS. Communications with the BTS occur over the allocated traffic channel. Communications with the handset occur over a WLAN.

Abstract: A method and structure is disclosed for dispatching appropriate data to a network processing system comprising an improved technique for extracting protocol header fields for use by the network processor. This technique includes basic classification of a packet according to the types of protocol headers present in the packet. Based on the results of the classification, specific parameter fields are extracted from corresponding headers. All such parameter fields from one or more protocol headers in the packet are concatenated into a compressed dispatch message. Multiple of such dispatch messages are bundled into a single composite dispatch message. Thus selected header fields from N packets are passed to the network processor in a single composite dispatch message, increasing the network processor's packet forwarding capacity by a factor of N. Likewise, multiple enqueue messages are bundled into a single composite enqueue message to direct enqueue and frame alterations to be taken on the bundle of N packets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of sub-packet adaptation based on data rate. Specifically, the size of a sub-packet is adapted to a data rate at which the sub-packet is to be transmitted. In one embodiment, the sub-packet is size adapted to the data rate in a format that would allow such size adapted sub-packet to be soft combined with another sub-packet of a same or different size. The size adapted sub-packet may be transmitted prior to or after the other sub-packet.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a processing element (PE) includes a data router adaptor (DRA) and one or more elements that produce function packets. When the DRA receives a function packet, it generates a set of associated router packets. Each of the associated router packets includes a segment of the function packet, and has a router packet data length that is less than or equal to the function packet length. In one embodiment, the router packet data lengths are included in a table, and can be re-configured to alter system performance parameters (e.g., bandwidth usage and/or latency). The DRA sends the set of associated router packets to a router for delivery through a packet-based network. A destination DRA receives the set of associated router packets, and generates a re-assembled function packet from the set of associated router packets. The destination DRA sends the re-assembled function packet to a destination element.

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a shared TDM data channel for communications in different time slots with respective mobile stations (MSs), as well as dedicated channels. A first medium access control (MAC) multiplexing sublayer, provided in a base station controller, maps information of logical channels for communications services to the communications channels. A second MAC multiplexing sublayer maps information, mapped to the shared data channel in the first MAC multiplexing sublayer, to respective data units for communication in respective TDM time slots of the shared channel. The second MAC multiplexing sublayer handles scheduling, adaptive modulation and coding, and automatic retransmission of information on the shared data channel, as well as shared control channels for the shared data channel and channel quality feedback and data acknowledgement channels from the MSs.

Abstract: A method and data structure for transmitting data in a networked system having a shared transmission medium that includes generating a plurality of virtual packets each containing information for delivery to at least one selected terminal in the networked system via the shared medium and generating a map field having control information for controlling the delivery of the virtual packets. The method and data structure also include forming a physical packet for transmission across the shared transmission medium, the physical packet including a control field and the plurality of virtual packets such that overhead associated with the control field and medium access is amortized over the plurality of virtual packets.

Abstract: An embodiment may include an apparatus comprising a dejitter buffer to receive packets containing audio data, a codec coupled with the dejitter buffer, the codec to receive coded audio frames from the dejitter buffer and decode them, and a concealed seconds meter coupled with the dejitter buffer, the concealed seconds meter to record concealment events by the decoder to provide an objective measure of media impairment. Another exemplary embodiment may be a method comprising receiving packets containing audio information at a dejitter buffer, decomposing the packets to coded audio frames, sending the coded audio frames to a decoder and decoding the frames, generating a concealment output stream if the decoder does not receive a valid frame from the dejitter buffer, and recording concealment events to provide an objective measure of media impairment.

Abstract: At an audio source, pause information is added to audio data, the combination of which is subsequently packetized. The resulting packets are transmitted to an audio destination via a network in which different packets may be subjected to varying levels of delay. At the audio destination, the pause information may be used to insert pauses at appropriate times to accommodate the occurrence of delays in packet delivery. In one embodiment, pauses are inserted based on a hierarchy of pause types. During pauses, audio filler information may be injected. In this manner, the effects of variable network delays upon reconstructed audio may be mitigated.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data in a communication system are described. A packet may be partitioned into multiple subpackets, and each subpacket may be encoded separately. The subpackets may be mapped to resources assigned for transmission of the packet, with at least one subpacket being mapped to a subset of the assigned resources. The assigned resources may include multiple tiles, with each tile corresponding to a block of time frequency resources. The subpackets may be mapped to the tiles such that (i) the subpackets are mapped to equal number of tiles to achieve similar decoding performance, (ii) each subpacket is mapped to at least NMIN tiles, if available, to achieve a certain minimum diversity order for the subpacket, and/or (iii) each subpacket is mapped to a subset of the multiple tiles, if possible, so that the subpacket can be decoded without having to demodulate all of the tiles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method, system, and computer program product of dynamic segmentation based on processor load using various steps. If a network interface card is enabled for segmentation, a determination is made as to whether a processor utilization value is greater than a threshold. If processor utilization value is above the threshold, segments are offloaded to the network interface card, wherein segments are sent to the network interface card.

Abstract: The use of IP address blocks with default interfaces in a router is described herein. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method includes in response to a request for a first IP address received from a first client at an interface of the network element, assigning the first client an IP address from a first block of IP addresses dynamically allocated from an IP address provider separated from a pool of statically preassigned IP addresses, if there is no IP address remained unassigned in the pool of statically preassigned IP addresses, and advertising reachability information in a network with respect to the first block of the IP addresses dynamically allocated from the IP address provider, such that other entities of the network are aware of the first block of the IP addresses. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for providing RTP suppression across a DOCSIS network. An index number and a set of rules are sent to a receiver. The index number indicates the type of header suppression technique (i.e., RTP header suppression) to be performed, and the set of rules define how to recreate the RTP packets on the receiving end. At least one complete RTP packet is transmitted upstream for enabling a receiver to learn the RTP header. Subsequent RTP packets are transmitted upstream for reconstruction at the receiving end. The subsequent RTP packets are comprised of delta values representing fields that dynamically change from packet to packet in an RTP header.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packetizing a coded bitstream of digital data in accordance with a transport protocol. Packetizer receives MPEG4 stream from an encoder and translates it into MPEG2-PEG packet. A multiplexer receives the stream of the MPEG2-PEG packet form and transports a stream of MPEG2-TS form as a transport output signal. The packetizer detects a header from the MPEG4 stream and analyzes the header to obtain predetermined information from Video_Object_Layer header and Video_Object_Plane header. The packetizer generates the time information such as ESCR, DTS, and PTS using the predetermined information and an initial value of ESCR supplied from outside. The PES header including such time information is generated. The packetizer further generates the MPEG2-PES packet in sequence with the generated PES header added into every AU of the MPEG4 stream and obtains the stream of MPEG2-PEG packet form.

Abstract: Adaptive data transmission is accomplished by allotting transmission to data of a data package via a communications connection. In one embodiment, the steps comprise determining the transmission speed available using an open connection; estimating time of transmission of the data package in accordance with the determined transmission speed and size of the data package; comparing the time of transmission to a predetermined maximum time limit, and if the time of transmission is within the predetermined maximum time limit, allotting transmission via the open connection to the data package; else, if the time of transmission exceeds the predetermined maximum time limit, breaking the data package into segments, each of which fits within the predetermined maximum time limit, assigning priorities to each the segment in accordance with information within each the segment, and allotting transmission via the open connection to the one of the segments having the highest priority.

Abstract: The present invention is a SONET payload processing system capable of handling virtual concatenation of SONET payloads. The payload processing system enables combinations of sub-frames, comprising an arbitrary number of virtual concatenation data streams, to be multiplexed into a single SONET frame stream. The present invention further provides a processing system that is not limited by the number of sub-frames or the grouping arrangement. The payload processing system accepts both virtual concatenation and contiguous concatenation within the same SONET frame stream and processes them into blocks of data that do not intermix information from different channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing/reproducing a transport stream and a digital receiver using the same are disclosed. The method for storing the transport stream includes the steps of receiving a TS, selecting a storing stream type for the TS, and transcoding the TS into a PES or PS according to the selected stream type and storing the transcoded stream, or storing the TS as it is. Accordingly, the structure for storing the PS or TS overcomes incompatibility of the stored stream and difficulty in the rate control at the time of reproduction in the general PVR.

Abstract: A packet processor for a switch/router alters headers of packets and includes a plurality of ports Memory buffers a first portion of a first packet that is received by an incoming port. A control data processor receives a first control portion of the first packet from the incoming port and transmits the first control portion to one or more outgoing ports. A header altering device strips, modifies and encapsulates the first portion on egress from the packet processor based upon one or more protocol layering requirements of the one or more outgoing ports. The protocol layering requirements include bridged or tunneled Ethernet, unicast or multicast multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), and IPv4 and IPv6 routed.

Abstract: An overhead data generating unit stores and generates the non-multiframe structured data and the multiframe structured data to be inserted into the overhead portion of an OTU frame. The overhead data generating unit includes a memory which stores the multiframe structured data corresponding to sequence numbers in each multiframe unit of 256 frames (or the number of frames of ½ or ¼ thereof) from 0 to 255 which are needed for completing a set of meaningful data for each predetermined data item. An editing unit reads at least the multiframe structured data corresponding to the sequence numbers, and causes to list-display each multiframe in order of the sequence numbers to a display unit, and carries out editing processing in each multiframe unit with respect to the multiframe structured data in accordance with an arbitrary setting by an operating unit.

Abstract: A packet communication process for a wireless system that includes a sender and a receiver, is provided. The packet communication process dispenses with the need to send multiple block acknowledgments, one per Traffic Identifier (TID), from the receiver to the sender. This involves aggregating multiple MPDUs having a plurality of different TIDs; for each TID, generating a BAR to request an acknowledgment for one or more MPDUs with that TID from the receiver; transmitting the aggregated MPDUs and the BARs from the sender to the receiver over a wireless channel; receiving the aggregated MPDUs and the BARs at the receiver; in response to the BARs, generating a single block acknowledgement that includes an acknowledgment for each MPDU with a different TID; and transmitting the single block acknowledgement to the sender.

Abstract: Provided are a method for parsing a bit stream including multiple data formats, and an apparatus and computer program including a set of parsers and parser-selection and invocation capabilities for handling parsing of multiple data formats. A first parser is selected and invoked to handle a first formatted component of the bit stream, and this selected parser selects and invokes a next parser which is capable of handling a differently formatted next component of the bit stream. This is differentiated from systems which rely on a single generic parser or a single high-level parser selection process, and is especially advantageous when parsing messages to enable message processing in systems in which a message can include multiple different, nested data formats.

Abstract: Frames are relayed through a packet network by pre-pending a packet header to the frames. The packet may be formed in response to a timing mechanism indicating that the frames have been buffered for more than a threshold time interval. Alternatively, the packet may be formed in response to buffering a threshold number of frames. The packet is relayed through the packet network to an egress device. The egress device removes the header from the packet, and forwards the frames via one or more virtual circuits.

Abstract: The present invention concerns load balancing for control plane traffic of a network element comprising multiple CPU nodes assigned to a common external IP address in a packet data enabled telecommunication network. IP messages addressed to the network element are received, and received IP messages comprising GTP-C messages are identified. A TEID-C value of a GTP-C message is identified and the GTP-C message is forwarded to a CPU node based on its identified TEID-C value, if its identified TEID-C value does not equal zero.

Abstract: A method for sending/receiving a TCP segment is provided. The sending process includes, determining if a TCP port can be offloaded; saving a host system's time stamp value; replacing a host system's time stamp value with a TCP offload engine (“TOE”) adapter's time stamp value; and sending the TCP segment via the TOE adapter. The receiving process includes verifying if a TCP port is being offloaded by a host system to the TOE adpter; retrieving the host system's time stamp value; and inserting the host system's time stamp value in the received TCP segment before the forwarding the received TCP segment to the host system.