Abstract: A communication system includes a first device and a second device connected to the first device by a single communication line. The first device includes a first transmitting portion which transmits to the second device a pulse signal set to a predetermined cycle that differs according to data, and a first receiving portion which reads data transmitted from the second device based on a voltage value of a transmission signal transmitted over the communication line. The second device includes a second transmitting portion which transmits to the first device a voltage signal set to a predetermined voltage value that differs according to the data, and a second receiving portion which reads data transmitted from the first device based on a pulse signal cycle of the transmission signal transmitted over the communication line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dynamically adjusting sync windows are described. A default sync window is set; a data signal is input; detecting if parts of the data signal within the sync window form a sync pattern; accumulating a count of the sync pattern within and without the sync window; and reducing the sync window when the count of sync pattern within the sync window achieves a first threshold value, and increasing the sync window when the count of the sync pattern outside the sync window achieves a second threshold value.

Abstract: A modified approach to detecting the start frame delimiter (SFD) is disclosed. A receiving system scans a decoded but not yet de-scrambled received signal for a scrambled version of the SFD associated with the preamble format being used. Using this approach, it is not necessary to use any bits intended for use in synchronization to initialize a de-scrambler so as to be able to de-scramble the SFD portion of the preamble for detection. The bits that otherwise would have been dedicated to initializing the de-scrambler may then be used for synchronization, as intended. Detecting fewer than all bits comprising a start frame delimiter is described. Bits not used for SFD detection may be used for other purposes, such as synchronization.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing data between devices and more particularly for synchronizing data between a plurality of peer-to-peer devices in a decentralized environment where no one device stores the most “recent” or “true” version of the data. Embodiments of the invention relate concepts of discovering synchronizing peers, communication between peers using special techniques, and using a way station concept as an aid for both discovery and synchronization between peers that are not simultaneously available.

Abstract: A stream data processing apparatus includes a demultiplexing portion configured to demultiplex multiplexed stream data, to which a PCR is added, into a plurality of pieces of stream data to which a PTS is added, a system time measuring portion configured to measure a system time according to a PCR, a synchronous control portion configured to determine continuity of a reference time according to a PCR and system time information (SYC), to determine continuity of a reproduction time according to a PTS and an STC, and to output synchronous control information according to results of these determinations, a storage portion configured to store stream data, a decoding portion configured to decode stream data stored in the storage portion, an output portion configured to output decoded data, and a decoded data output control portion configured to control a mode of an operation of handling decoded data by the output portion, according to the synchronous control information.

Abstract: A method and a device of providing timing information within a wireless communication system is described. The timing information is extracted from a received transmit signal. The inventive method comprises the steps of providing a training signal on the receiver side relating to a known signal portion of the transmit signal, scaling the training signal, quantizing the scaled training signal, correlating one or more parts of the received transmit signal with the scaled training signal to obtain one or more correlation results, and determining the timing information on the basis of the correlation results.

Abstract: A target time stamp on a target time-base is obtained from a originating time stamp on an originating time-base of an audio video transport system by first taking samples simultaneously from transport streams having the originating time-base and target timebase, respectively. A current sample and an immediately preceding sample for the originating time-base and target time-base are stored, respectively. A first difference is determined between the current sample and an immediately preceding sample for the originating time-base and a second difference is determined between the current sample and an immediately preceding sample for the target time-base, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a sequence of data packets in a receiver apparatus, in particular a sequence of audio and/or video data packets, as well as to a receiver apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a frame alignment processor coupled to a receiver, wherein the frame alignment processor is configured to align a first frame and a second frame in the receiver by matching a first synchronization (sync) pattern predicted using a first sync field in the first frame with a second sync pattern obtained from a second sync field in the second frame. Included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first frame, subsequently receiving a second frame that was transmitted after the first frame, predicting a first sync pattern from a first sync field in the first frame, obtaining a second sync pattern from a second sync field in the second frame, and determining that the first frame and the second frame are aligned when the first sync pattern matches the second sync pattern.

Abstract: A beacon frame (5) for transmission during a beacon period for a wireless device to maintain synchronization with other wireless devices of a community in a wireless communications network, the frame (5) comprising: a header (8) containing routing information for the frame (5); beacon parameters (9) to indicate signaling methods in use by the wireless devices; at least one information element (7) comprising at least one identifier to identify the wireless device; wherein the at least one identifier comprises a signature identifier (104) for the frame (5), an interface version, and a name and unique identifier for the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatic gain control (AGC) before an initial synchronization of a mobile station modem in OFDM system, and an apparatus thereof.

Abstract: A time domain symbol timing synchronization circuit is disclosed, which comprises: an autocorrelation function calculator for calculating cyclic prefix autocorrelation functions and an offset time estimator for searching peak positions of cyclic prefix autocorrelation functions to indicate symbol boundary of received communication symbols. The offset time estimator compares a current peak position and a previous peak position. If (a) the difference of the positions is larger than a threshold and (b) the current peak is smaller than a reference average peak, the current peak is determined as false; the offset time estimator weeds out and replaces the current peak position by the previous peak position; and the current peak is not introduced in the reference average peak calculation.

Abstract: The network relay device of the invention carries out data transmission to and from an opposite device to relay data in a network. The network relay device includes: multiple ports connecting with corresponding multiple ports of the opposite device via multiple links; and a link aggregation control module that aggregates the multiple links to establish a link aggregation, which is regarded as one logic link, and carries out transmission of a control frame signal including a synchronization bit, as well as data transmission, at each port via the link aggregation. In response to detection of occurrence of a trouble in at least one of the aggregated multiple links, the link aggregation control module causes a port that connects with a normal link without the trouble among the multiple ports to stop the data transmission and send the control frame signal including the synchronization bit set equal to a first value.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing transmission/reception timings delayed during transmission/reception of data frames for voice signals in a mobile communication system including a media gateway with a transcoder and a base station controller for exchanging digital voice signals with the media gateway. The media gateway or the base station controller performs synchronization control by detecting synchronization of forward data frames for the voice signals. As the base station controller requests synchronization, the media gateway adjusts transmission timing and acquires synchronization according to the adjusted transmission timing, thereby correctly transmitting/receiving data frames for the voice signals.

Abstract: A circuit includes: a portion for performing a logical operation based on a binary modulated signal and a cyclic signal; serial-to-parallel converter for sampling a operation output for parallel output; correlation filter having multiple digital filters for allowing the parallel signal values to pass therethrough; maximum difference detector for detecting a maximum difference in a period during which a difference between the maximum and minimum output signal values from digital filters is greater than a threshold; timing detector for detecting the inversion timing of each output signal value; and decision timing exterminating portion for determining decision timing based on the maximum difference and the detected inversion timing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronization of real-time signals between core network and air interface in a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The synchronization of the signals is needed to make a feasible connection between user equipment and a core network. This is achieved by using the timing knowledge from the protocols that are to be synchronized, and recalculating synchronization parameters for both uplink and downlink transmission. By using frame numbers instead of time of arrivals of frames, the present invention gives better control of timing and avoids long delays, and handles the problems with time alignments.

Abstract: A method (and algorithm) for detection of 802.11a and 802.11b frames in an 802.11 transmission, calculates DCC (delayed copy correlation) and LCC (local copy correlation) magnitudes and compares their normalized values with threshold values. When a signal is detected, (i.e., AGC locks) the algorithm checks for a valid 802.11a frame, and it exploits the DCC properties of the received symbols. Because of the repetitions of short preambles in received symbols, the DCC is high when the short preamble symbols are present. Further, 802.11b detection may be based on Barker correlation properties simultaneously. A counter array is maintained for each position in a Barker window, and is incremented if the normalized LCC of the incoming sequence with the Barker code exceeds a threshold. An 802.11b packet is declared if the maximum value of the counter array exceeds a predetermined number in a specified number of Barker windows.

Abstract: In a live audio presentation system, a stage rack and a front of house rack are interconnected by a transmission medium that transmits digital audio data and control information between them. Packets of digital audio data and control information are sent at the audio sampling rate. The packets of data are encoded using an encoding technique that provides unique codes that may be detected, thus enabling clock recovery of a clock signal embedded in the data packets. Data packets may include data for error checking. A serial digital transmission medium may be used as the transmission medium. Such a transmission medium uses low voltage signals and supports high bit rates. The system is synchronized by the FOH rack which transmits data to the stage rack according to a local audio sample clock or an external audio sample clock to which it synchronizes. This clock is embedded in data packets sent to the stage rack.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for operating in a network in which stations communicate over a shared medium are presented. The shared medium has at least one varying channel characteristic that varies approximately periodically. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations, wherein at least some beacon transmissions are synchronized to the varying channel characteristic; and transmitting from a first station to at least one receiving station during a time slot determined based on at least one of the beacon transmissions received by the first station from the coordinator station.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes synchronizing to a common reference timeframe between a sender node and a plurality of receiver nodes connected over a packet-based network. The sender node sends Real-Time Protocol (RTP) frames to the receiver nodes, and also sends a RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) sender report to each receiver node that contains a rendering offset value, each receiver node rendering the RTP frames at a render time equal to a sampling time in units of the common reference timeframe plus the rendering offset value. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: This invention provides a transmission system and control method capable of reliably transmitting real-time data. A switching device and router each serving as an intermediate device mediate an iso-data packet sent from each iso-data server to a predetermined terminal at a timing designated by an iso-packet from the iso-server. If a plurality of iso-data packets conflict in the transmission path, the switching device and router collectively continuously output the plurality of iso-data packets.

Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-radio wireless communication device having a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) radio module and a Bluetooth (BT) radio module and methods for communicating are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a WiMax active signal is asserted by a coexist controller of the WiMax radio module during receipt of a downlink subframe, and the BT radio module aligns a BT slot boundary of either master-to-slave or slave-to-master slot based on timing information conveyed by the WiMax active signal. The WiMax active signal may be de-asserted by the coexist controller during transmission of an uplink subframe by the WiMax radio module.

Abstract: A method is provided for receiving a data frame in an ultrawide bandwidth network. In this method, a device receives an ultrawide bandwidth signal containing a data frame. The device then performs an acquisition operation during a first preamble in the data frame, and identifies a marker after the first preamble that indicates that the first preamble has ended. After this, the device performs a signal processing operation during a second preamble in the data frame. After the training, the device then receives a header in the data frame, and then receives a payload in the data frame. By having a marker between the two preambles, this method provides a receiving device with critical information regarding the timing of the preamble section of a frame.

Abstract: A synchronizing apparatus comprises a normal lock synchronization detecting unit for detecting synchronization by detecting from demodulated data a synchronization pattern in a normal lock state, and a pseudo lock synchronization detecting unit for detecting synchronization by detecting from the demodulated data a synchronization pattern in a pseudo lock state.

Abstract: An interval centroid-based watermark encoder encodes a watermark into a packet flow. Intervals are defined for the packet flow. Some of the intervals are selected as group A intervals while other intervals are selected as group B intervals. Group A and group B intervals are paired and assigned to watermark bits. A first or second value may be encoded by increasing the relative packet time between packets in either the group A (for the first bit value) or group B (for the second bit value) interval(s) of the interval pair(s) assigned to the watermark bits that are to represent the first or second bit value and the beginning of the same group interval(s). The relative packet times may be measured by a decoder and used to calculate a centroid difference for each interval pair. The centroid differences may be used to reconstruct the watermark.

Abstract: A barrier synchronization apparatus includes a receiving device which transmits a first synchronization signal to a synchronization device when the first synchronization signal in which a transmission destination is set in advance according to setting conditions including an algorithm of the barrier synchronization and an execution condition is received. A synchronization device synchronizes n first synchronization signals which are set in advance according to the setting conditions, wherein n is a positive integer, and designates transmission of m second synchronization signals in which transmission destinations are set in advance according to the setting conditions after the synchronization is established, wherein m is a positive integer. A transmitting device transmits the second synchronization signals to m transmission destinations set in advance, when a transmission designation information indicating the transmission designation is received from the synchronization device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for time synchronization of operations in a control system. Synchronization networks and devices are provided for transferring synchronization information between controllers in a distributed or localized control system, which is employed in order to allow operation of such controllers to be synchronized with respect to time. Also disclosed are synchronization protocols and hardware apparatus employed in synchronizing control operations in a control system.

Abstract: An apparatus (213) and corresponding methods (FIG. 7) to facilitate maintaining crypto synchronization while processing communication signals in a communication unit includes a vocoder (215) configured to convert input audio band signals to vocoder output frames; a crypto processor (217) configured to encrypt the vocoder output frames to provide encrypted output frames; and a synchronizer (219) configured to substitute in a predetermined manner synchronization information corresponding to an encryption state of the crypto processor for a portion of the encrypted data in a portion of the encrypted output frames to provide resultant output synchronization frames suitable for synchronizing a decryption process at a target communication unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus, and system of wireless transmission with frame alignment. For example, a method in accordance with demonstrative embodiments of the invention may include synchronizing between a transmitter using a first modulation scheme, which may have multiple frame formats, and a receiver using a second modulation scheme, by calculating a transmission time that aligns an inter frame space start time of the first and second modulation schemes. Other features are described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system with PN-sequence. In the synchronization of the invention, both timing offset and frequency offset are estimated and compensated by utilizing a time and frequency synchronization device. In addition, the PN-sequence with the cyclic prefix is added to the OFDM symbol before transmitting. The time and frequency synchronization device of the invention comprises two synchronization circuits from the cyclic prefix and PN-sequence when calculating the timing offset and frequency offset of receiving signal. As a result, the OFDM system of the invention not only has better performance in fading channel, but also has the better bandwidth utilization without extra bandwidth for transmitting the PN-sequence.

Abstract: A decoder includes a transport engine configured to receive programs and extract timing information and timestamps embedded in the programs. An adder is configured to add a set of timing offsets to the sets of timing information to adjust the timing information from a first time basis to a second time basis. Sums of the timing offsets and the timing information are referred to the mapped-timing information. A correction engine is configured to update the timing offsets as timing information is encountered in the programs, and an offset register is configured to: receive the timing offsets, store the timing offsets, and transfer the timing offsets to the adder. The adder is also configured to add the timing offsets to the timestamps to adjust the time basis of the timestamps from the first time basis to the second time basis. A program is decoder configured to receive the adjusted timestamps to decode the programs.

Abstract: A synchronization system (D) for equipment of a synchronous transport network comprises, firstly, a first synchronization module (MA) comprising i) a first submodule (SM1A) delivering a first intermediate clock signal derived from a first external reference clock signal or an internal reference clock signal, ii) a second submodule (SM2A) delivering a first main reference clock signal derived from the first intermediate clock signal or a second intermediate clock signal, and iii) a third submodule (SM3A) delivering a first output reference clock signal derived from the first main reference clock signal or a second main reference clock signal, and, secondly, a second synchronization module (MB) comprising i) a first submodule (SM1B) delivering the second intermediate clock signal derived from another first external reference clock signal and another internal reference clock signal, ii) a second submodule (SM2B) delivering the second main reference clock signal derived from the first or the second intermediate c

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a base station of a wireless communication system and a subscriber communication equipment located in the coverage area of the base station by compensating a sampling frequency offset in the subscriber equipment by interpolating input and/or output signals of a radio frequency part of the communication equipment to generate samples corresponding to the original symbol timing of the base station, and compensating the carrier frequency offset from the estimate of the sampling clock error.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus includes an input interface which receives a TS, a counter which counts the number of packets contained in the TS and output count values, a multiplexing section which multiplexes the output count values of PCR packets contained in the TS on a predetermined position of each PCR packet, a discard section which discards null packets from the TS, and a transmitting section which transmits the TS. A receiving apparatus includes a receiving section which receives the TS, an extraction section which extracts the count values from the PCR packets contained in the received TS, and a rearranging section which rearranges the multiplex position of the PCR packets of the received TS based on the extracted count values to restore a TS equivalent to the previous TS from which the null packet has not been discarded.

Abstract: A precise-clock synchronization method and system and a precise-clock frequency/time synchronization device are provided. In the embodiments of the present invention, two time stamp engines are provided at a slave clock side. A relative time stamp engine provides a relative arrival time stamp. An absolute time stamp engine provides an absolute arrival time stamp. The frequency/time synchronization is calculated by using different time stamps obtained from different time stamp engines, so the frequency synchronization and time synchronization of master clock and the slave clock may be separately accomplished, and one synchronization function may be enabled or disabled. Therefore, the frequency synchronization and time synchronization of the master clock and the slave clock do not interfere with each other, thus greatly reducing the occupied link bandwidth resources.

Abstract: A slave node for use with a Local Interconnect Network (LIN network) receives incoming messages from the LIN network in a manner that reduces operating current, power consumption and/or operating temperature. The slave node generally includes an input circuit, an electronic processing device, associated components such as an Integrated Glass Fog Sensor (IGFS) unit, and a transmitting device all mounted on a single circuit board. The input circuit, which can either be separate from or incorporated within the electronic processing device, pre-filters an incoming message from a LIN bus such that it only wakes the transmitting device out of its low-current sleep mode when required. Stated differently, the transmitting device is removed from an incoming message path so that it is only active when it is transmitting an outgoing message.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Residential Ethernet node apparatus for maintaining a starting point of a superframe, the Residential Ethernet node apparatus comprising a synchronous queue for receiving and temporarily storing synchronous data, in order to transmit the synchronous data by inserting the synchronous data into a transmission cycle, a parser for receiving asynchronous frames from at least one exterior source, parsing the asynchronous frames according to characteristics of the asynchronous frames, a plurality of the asynchronous queues for separately storing the asynchronous frames received from the parser according to the characteristics of the asynchronous frames, a scheduler for receiving the asynchronous frames from the asynchronous queues, and transmitting the received asynchronous frame when it is possible to transmit the received asynchronous frame, and a multiplexer, which receives a synchronous frame from the synchronous queue and an asynchronous frame from the scheduler so as to transmit the synchronous

Abstract: A central entity and/or a remote device in a communication system are designed to address the problem of maintaining upstream synchronization in the remote device after loss of the downstream signal. The system maintains upstream transmissions from the remote device in a Synchronous-Code Division Multiple Access (S-CDMA) or perhaps Synchronous-Time Division Multiple Access (S-TDMA) mode that does not degrade performance caused by via poor upstream timing or a need for re-ranging. By providing novel functionality at the central entity for synchronizing first and second downstream signals and/or by providing novel functionality at the remote device for determining a symbol clock offset between a first terminated downstream signal and a second re-acquired downstream signal, embodiments of the present invention maintain synchronization through the loss of the downstream signal, thereby minimizing the need for re-ranging and avoiding poorly timed upstream bursts.

Abstract: Handover in a wireless communications system from a first communications platform to a post-handover platform is implemented utilizing low-level synchronization mechanisms to enable at least some of a plurality of terminals to adjust timing and synchronize communications with the post-handover platform. Synchronization with the post-handover platform can be facilitated based on a comparison between an expected time to receive response data and the actual time that such data is received from the post-handover platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for synchronizing distribution of packet information. In one embodiment, the invention includes timestamp processing logic to process a transmit time indicator embedded within the packet information, where the transmit time indicator is based on a time reference, and service synchronization queuing logic to hold the packet information until a time offset after the transmit time indicator, where the service synchronization queuing logic is synchronized to the time reference.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for frame and frequency synchronization in packet-based Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in wireless digital communication systems. An OFDM packet includes a preamble preceded by a Cyclic Prefix (CP). The method includes computing a timing metric for packet-based OFDM. The timing metric yields a sharp peak at a preamble boundary. The preamble boundary is detected, based on a threshold. The threshold is determined a priori, based on mean and variance of the timing metric at the preamble boundary and in its neighborhood. The mean and the variance are evaluated for an Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel. The detection of the preamble boundary enables frame synchronization in packet-based OFDM. The method further involves the task of frequency-offset estimation, using the preamble. The frequency-offset estimation enables frequency synchronization in packet-based OFDM.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device for use in a node of a communication system is provided. The integrated circuit device includes a memory configured to store data written thereto by a receiver associated with the node in accordance with a receiver clock, and to read data therefrom by a transmitter associated with the node in accordance with a transmitter clock. The integrated circuit device also includes a control logic circuit that is in communication with the memory, and is configured to send a control signal to the transmitter to adjust a speed of the transmitter clock responsive to an operating condition of the memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a random access data transmission system and method using OFDMA. The system includes a scheduling ID into an access grant on a preamble for a random access, and transmits it together with an acknowledgment or a non-acknowledgment of the preamble, a base station uses the scheduling ID to notify the mobile station of a random access data transmittable time and a data transmission channel through a control channel, and the mobile station transmits a preamble in advance. After receiving a transmission assignment instruction corresponding to a scheduling ID through the control channel, the mobile station transmits random access data through an assigned channel.

Abstract: Program clock references in first and second MPEG data streams are re-stamped in accordance with delays introduced into the first and second MPEG data streams. Accordingly, the program clock references in the first MPEG data stream are re-stamped according to a variable delay in the first MPEG data stream, and the program clock references in the second MPEG data stream are re-stamped according to a variable delay in the second MPEG data stream. The re-stamped program clock references in the second MPEG data stream are corrected according to a fixed delay in the second MPEG data stream. The first and second MPEG data streams are multiplexed, and the multiplexed first and second MPEG data streams are transmitted and received.

Abstract: A method is described that involves loading X bits at a time into a shift register and shifting groups of older, loaded X bits up in the shift register with each new group of loaded X bits. Each group of X bits has been received from a serial data stream. The method further involves identifying an alignment key within the shift register and presenting aligned data from the serial data stream by rotating selection of a first group of Y contiguous bits from the shift register and a second group of Y contiguous bits from the shift register after the identifying. Y is greater than X.

Abstract: A data communication system transmits data between a transmitting node and a receiving node. The transmitting node may transmit data from streamed data signals across respective transmission paths of a communication link, transmit timing information for base clock signals across the communication link, and transmit configuration data. The configuration data may associate transmission paths and corresponding base clock signals. The receiving node may receive data from the transmission paths of the communication link and process the timing information for the base clock signals in response to the configuration data to generate a respective sample clock signal corresponding to each respective transmission path. Moreover, the receiving node may associate the sample clock with data from the respective transmission path depending upon the configuration data to recover the streamed data signals.

Abstract: A network for data transmission comprises a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames. The sub-networks have different transmission rates and are connected to each other via at least one gateway. The transmission of the data frames is effected with a defined timing relationship between the sub-networks.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relate to source content streaming, particularly to transmitting data units scheduled for dropping or non-transmission. This data unit in the buffer scheduled for dropping is instead transmitted by dropping one or more consecutive data units later in the transmission order in the buffer and which meet a lower priority threshold. In some embodiments, the data unit is transmitted with a modified time value, e.g., a modified timestamp and/or an allowable presentation time range value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing packet-based digital data streams. Key idea of the inventive method is to perform a state machine process (S3) with respect to received primary digital data streams (D1-1, D1-2) based on derived time stamp structure data (TSD), thereby synchronization state data (SSD) are generated which are representative for the synchronization state of the received primary digital data streams (D1-1, D1-2).

Abstract: A method for dormant data session reactivation may include a packet control function (118) in a radio access network (104) receiving a first data packet (150) having a source IP address (152), where the first data packet has a destination IP address (152) addressed to reactivate a dormant mobile station (102) coupled to the radio access network. The packet control function may receive a plurality of subsequent data packets (160) having the source IP address, where each of the plurality of subsequent data packets has a subsequent destination IP address (162, 164, 166) and a corresponding time stamp (163, 165, 167). For each of the subsequent destination IP addresses that are substantially sequential, evaluating an absolute value of a slope (270) of the difference between the subsequent destination IP addresses that are substantially sequential over a difference in the corresponding time stamps.