Abstract: A method for data communication includes receiving a data packet that includes at least one contiguous data item, defining a window that initially includes the beginning of the data items, determining whether the window includes a part of a split data item and processing the contiguous data items when there are no split data items. The method also includes processing all data items occurring before a split data item when a split data item is found, storing the first part of a split data item, moving the window to include both parts of the split data item, appending the stored first part to the second part to create an appended packet and processing the appended packet.

Abstract: A method and system for network communication efficiently transmits encrypted packets from a sending host on an external network to a receiving host on an intranet through a network access point (NAP) of the intranet. A packet to be sent by the sending host on the external network is constructed with the external network address of the NAP as the destination address of the packet. The intranet address of the receiving host is also included in the packet in the non-encrypted form and is used in the calculation of the cryptographic hash or the like that is included in the packet for authentication purposes. The encrypted packet is then routed to the NAP through the external network. When the NAP receives the packet, it strips the intranet address of the receiving host from the packet and uses that address to replace the original destination address in the packet. The NAP then forwards the modified packet to the receiving host.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: A network control system includes a managing device, separate devices that communicate with the managing device, and a repeater that interconnects the managing device and separate devices. In the network control system, when the managing device performs maintenance, the separate devices each include a separate device side power source control circuit. The power source control circuit controls the on-state and off-state levels of a power source which is to be delivered to a circuit including at least an activating signal monitor unit such as a separate device side wake-up packet monitor unit that monitors whether or not an activating signal such as a wake-up packet sent from tho managing device via the repeater has been received. When the power source control circuit detects that the power source switch of the separate device is in off-state, the power source control circuit suppresses the transmission of a predetermined signal to the repeater.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network device interface and method for digitally connecting a plurality of data channels, such as sensors, actuators, and subsystems, to a controller using a network bus. The network device interface interprets commands and data received from the controller and polls the data channels in accordance with these commands. Specifically, the network device interface receives digital commands and data from the controller, and based on these commands and data, communicates with the data channels to either retrieve data in the case of a sensor or send data to activate an actuator. Data retrieved from the sensor is converted into digital signals and transmitted to the controller. In some embodiments, network device interfaces associated with different data channels coordinate communications with the other interfaces based on either a transition in a command message sent by the bus controller or a synchronous clock signal.

Abstract: A home network system and a method for adding and/or deleting home appliances thereto/therefrom. The home network system is constructed so that a plurality of home appliances can transmit and receive data to/from one another. The home appliances are assigned logical addresses, respectively. A plurality of power line modems are connected respectively to the home appliances to modulate and demodulate data transmitted and received over an internal network by the home appliances. A network master is provided to assign the logical addresses to the home appliances and a home address to each of the power line modems, respectively. Therefore, the home network system can be efficiently constructed, and a desired home appliance can be simply deleted from the internal network.

Abstract: In a network having a plurality of hosts, when a host boots, the driver of the host sends a BOOTING message indicating that the host boots to all other hosts. When a host other than the booting host receives the BOOTING message, the driver disables RDMA access to the booting host. The drivers of the hosts other than the booting host respond with ACK or BOOTING messages. The network may generate a hardware NACK in certain cases that, for example, if there is no NIC attached , or a NIC is attached but powered down. After the booting host receives the response from all hosts, the driver of the booting host sends an RDMA13 READY message to all the other hosts. Then RDMA access to the self host is enabled.

Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The CPD provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The CPD also assists the host CPU for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A context for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the CPD to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be stored as a communication control block (CCB) that is controlled by either the CPD or by the host CPU. The CPD contains specialized hardware circuits that process media access control, network and transport layer headers of a packet received from the network, saving the host CPU from that processing for fast-path messages.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more interface circuits, an interconnect, a memory controller, a memory bridge, a packet DMA circuit, and a switch. The memory controller, the memory bridge, and the packet DMA circuit are coupled to the interconnect. Each interface circuit is coupled to a respective interface to receive packets and/or coherency commands from the interface. The switch is coupled to the interface circuits, the memory bridge, and the packet DMA circuit. The switch is configured to route the coherency commands from the interface circuits to the memory bridge and the packets from the interface circuits to the packet DMA circuit. The memory bridge is configured to initiate corresponding transactions on the interconnect in response to at least some of the coherency commands. The packet DMA circuit is configured to transmit write transactions on the interconnect to the memory controller to store the packets in memory.

Abstract: A system for providing flexible billing in a cable environment can establish billing practices based on tier level of service, quality of service or the amount of network resources consumed. A plurality of tiers or levels of service can be defined by parameters including at least a maximum or peak bit rate or bandwidth for providing services over a shared channel. A plurality of levels or tiers of services are defined by maximum bandwidth or bit rate and a subscriber receives service at that subscribe-to level or at a slower data rate depending on availability of shared bandwidth Quality of service is maintaining the specified bandwidth, jitter or delay.

Abstract: A communications network is managed so that a user is enabled to manage user-related features provided in the network through a user interface. A call is established to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and available features for predetermined user interfaces. The user's access to the network through the user interface to the server is then terminated. At least one characteristic of the user interface is used to identify the user interface. That characteristic is input into the server to enable the user to manage features associated with the characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention permits ISO-7816 smart cards and their non-smart card supporting devices to be connected and to interact over networks, such as networks based on Internet Protocol (IP), broadband, and wide area networks (WAN) using the T=1 protocol, similarly to if these devices were connected locally. Broadly, the invention takes a node address in a small T=1 embedded terminal and maps each address into a network address or a Universal Resource Locator (URL), such that different components of the terminal that are T=1 addressable are able to exist throughout for example, an IP network. The advantages offered by the invention include security and speed, resulting in increased ease of use and application development and increased autonomy for the smart card itself.

Abstract: Requests to send data from a first host within a network of hosts are monitored against a record of destination hosts that have been sent data in accordance with a predetermined policy. Destination host identities (not the record) are stored in a buffer. The buffer size is monitored to determine whether requests from the first host are pursuant to viral activity therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allows processing sequenced records across multiple network connections. A “logical connection” is defined to include one or more network connections. Each message is assigned a sequence number that allows the messages to be ordered on the other end according to sequence number, regardless of which network connection in the logical connection is used to transfer the message. By defining messages, sequencing those messages, and transferring the messages over multiple network connections, the throughput and performance of networked computer systems are substantially increased.

Abstract: A method of connecting a client device with a router in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of establishing a link layer connection with a first access point with a first wireless network interface; detecting a second access point with a second wireless network interface; establishing a link layer connection with a second access point with a first wireless network interface; and determining the compatibility between the client device with an access router associated with the second access point.

Abstract: A method and system for improving networking performance in networks based on lossy channels. A selected file system call 109 is redirected by sending a file request to a server over a first protocol. Data is received from the server in response to the file request over a second protocol.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to remotely disable an input device included within a client computer system coupled to the server utilizing a network. The server computer system transmits a message to the client computer system to disable the input device. In response to a receipt of the message, a network adapter included within the client computer system disables the input device by prohibiting a data stream output from the input device from being received by an input/output controller included within the client computer system.

Abstract: Two or more electronic devices (1, 3, 4) are connected via a bus system (5), wherein one of the network devices controls (1) other network devices (3, 4). A first control applica-tion is uploaded from a first controlled device to the con-trol device and a second control application is uploaded from a second controlled device into the first control ap-plication. The first and second controlled devices can be operated simultaneously using a single user interface shown on a display of the control device. The user interface of the first device is displayed as main user interface and the user interface of the second device is rendered within the main interface as reduced user interface, which includes only operation elements necessary for operation of the sec-ond device in combination with the first device. The genera-tion of combined user interfaces is also possible when the second controlled device comprises features, which are not known at the production of the first controlled device.

Abstract: A technique is provided for assigning an I/O controller to a host in a cluster. The cluster includes one or more hosts and one or more I/O controllers connected by a cluster interconnection fabric. In an example embodiment, an I/O controller is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. The I/O controller connected to the fabric is detected and a network address is assigned to the I/O controller. An administrative agent is used to assign the I/O controller to a host that is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. A message is sent to the host informing the host that the I/O controller is assigned to the host and providing the network address of the I/O controller.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fibre Channel devices. A plurality of Fibre Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fibre Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: Systems and methods that network interface are provided. In one embodiment, a data center may be provided that may include, for example, a first tier, a second tier and a third tier. The first tier may include, for example, a first server. The second tier may include, for example, a second server. The third tier may include, for example, a third server. At least one of the first server, the second server and the third server may handle a plurality of different traffic types over a single fabric.

Abstract: The present invention provides an iSCSI interface allowing remote access to data storage devices directly and independent of a particular operating system. Conversion of control commands to SCSI commands and then to IP commands provides operating system independent access to the data storage devices. Access to separate portions of the data storage devices is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting a message preamble on a shared bus, wherein the message preamble includes N synchronization characters, and each of the synchronization characters is separated in time by a random delay interval. First, an activity status is determined for the shared bus in terms of the number of stations that are currently active on the bus. The number of synchronization characters is then adjusted according to the bus activity status. The activity status is also utilized as a dynamic adjustment parameter for the random delay interval that includes a fixed delay term, D, added to a randomly determined delay increment, d. In this manner the message preamble specification is optimized according to real-time network demands, such that latency and data collisions are minimized.

Abstract: A method, program product and system for integrating user specific output options into an upload for a network service, the method comprising: obtaining information regarding user specific output options from an source that is not a part of the network service; and, incorporating the user specific output options into user interface data to be uploaded from a network service to a network service agent of the user. Another embodiment provides an implementation at the client side.

Abstract: A system and method for operating on data within a network device is described. Between two data operations in a network device is a FIFO queue, which is used to separate the clock domains of the data operations. Data from the first operation is stored in the FIFO queue, which signals an indication to the second operation that there is data in the queue. When the second operation is signaled that there is data in the FIFO queue, it immediately begins reading data from the queue, and begins performing its prescribed operations on the data once it has read enough data from the queue for it to begin operating.

Abstract: Access to the XAUI lanes of a 10 Gigabit Ethernet device is provided when needed for testing of the XAUI electrical interface. Access is provided by extending the XAUI interface contained in a XENPAK interface connector. An embodiment of the present invention uses an extension of the XENPAK connector to generate and receive XAUI signals thus making it possible for any device with a XENPAK connector to become a XUAI tester with minimal components between the test equipment and the device under test. The reduction of components (only an AC-Coupling capacitor resides between the XENPAK connector and the SMA connector) results in significant reduction in insertion loss and signal degradation. Also, the availability of any device with a XENPAK interface as a XAUI tester eliminates any requirement for specialized test equipments. The XAUI Extender card fits in the slot in the test equipment that would normally house the XENPAK module.

Abstract: In one embodiment, in response to receiving a notification to enter a packet filtering mode of operation for a NIC operating a link to a hub/switch in a normal mode of operation at one operating speed, a lower power consuming operating speed is re-negotiated with the hub/switch for the NIC to operate the link in the packet filtering mode. In another embodiment, another link to the hub/switch through another NIC is operated in the packet filtering mode at a lower power consuming speed, in place of the original link and NIC instead. In yet another embodiment, the lowest power consuming NIC among a number of jointly operating NICs is operated in the packet filtering mode, with the remaining NICs being shut down.

Abstract: A control system allows a user to access an input/output device over a communication network using a web browser. The system includes an Internet web site between the network and the input/output module. The web site runs from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the input/output module back plane and includes a HTTP protocol interpreter, an input/output module, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The web site provides access to the input/output module by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The web site translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the input/output module. Using this interface, the user can input or retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the input/output device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for configuring network addresses on multiple machines, such that each machine obtains its own unique network address and other network parameters. These parameters may include network mask, default gateway and DNS servers, etc. The invention further provides apparatus, a computer product and an article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer process to be capable of participating in the network configuration and address assignment process. In an example embodiment multiple unconfigured servers are attached to a network together with one or more configured servers. The process is started by one of the configured servers which triggers the unconfigured machines to participate in a distributed protocol whereby the unconfigured servers mutually agree on unique network addresses for themselves.

Abstract: A network interface for the secure transmission of data comprises a functionally encapsulated unit that encompasses the elements required to ensure a minimum functionality of the network interface, with access from the outside of said encapsulated unit being possible only via specific shared services. Reliable transmission between nodes of a communication network is ensured by encapsulating a network interface of at least one of the nodes, and by ensuring a minimal functionality of the network interface.

Abstract: A receiving FIFO device can prevent a PCI bus from being occupied unnecessarily to enhance the performance of a whole system. An input control part checks in a third comparing part whether or not a received packet written in a memory part is an error packet on the basis of acknowledge information contained in a trailer part of the received packet. If the received packet is the error packet, the input control part supplies a signal EMPTY being HIGH to an output control device and cancels the received packet, thereby preventing the error packet from being transferred to a receiving DMA device. Furthermore, the input control part checks in a second comparing part whether or not the received packet written in the memory part belongs to a predetermined type of packet on the basis of tcode information contained in the first quadret of a header part of the received packet.

Abstract: Channel-to-channel communications is provided by integrating channel-to-channel functionality into one or more communication channels of a computing environment which may include heterogenous computer systems. The one or more channels having the integrated CTC function are non-dedicated channels also capable of conventional channel functionality. Work units at such channels are forwarded to either the CTC function or the channel function based on work unit type. Further, a facility is provided for. automatically deciding which of the first channel and the second channel is to provide the CTC function for a CTC connection. Partition-to-partition communication can also be accomplished using the integrated CTC function by establishing an internal logical path between a first logical partition and the CTC function and a second logical path between a second logical partition and the CTC function.

Abstract: An access request system has at least one content data store. A server is provided that has a scheduler, a port and a plurality of buffers. Each buffer corresponds to a service level for a request received from the data store. The connection scheduler applies an interpretative script to requests and the connection scheduler checks the port for requests.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling high-speed, low-latency global tree communications among processing nodes interconnected according to a tree network structure. The global tree network optimally enables collective reduction operations to be performed during parallel algorithm operations executing in a computer structure having a plurality of the interconnected processing nodes. Router devices are included that interconnect the nodes of the tree via links to facilitate performance of low-latency global processing operations at nodes of the virtual tree and sub-tree structures. The global operations include one or more of: global broadcast operations downstream from a root node to leaf nodes of a virtual tree, global reduction operations upstream from leaf nodes to the root node in the virtual tree, and point-to-point message passing from any node to the root node in the virtual tree.

Abstract: A common goal of developers is to make their products efficient and easy to use by the consuming public. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention operate to make it easier for a user to access content served by a network peripheral. An interface enabling a user to select options for the network peripheral is generated. A driver for the peripheral includes, in the interface, controls enabling a user to request access to the content served by the peripheral.

Abstract: A customizable client application capable of running on all seven classes of Internet-enabled personal cellular telecommunications devices whose Internet browser launching capabilities range from being Class 0 non Internet-enabled to Class 6 automatic Internet browser launching. The client application facilitates minimum subscriber intervention for Internet session initiation from an Internet session option of an interactive display message.

Abstract: A computer system which includes one or more wireless interface devices that are adapted to communicate with a remote host over a radio link. Each of the wireless interface devices is a pen-based device which includes an ink field in which pen events are translated into pen data. packets and transmitted to the remote host over the radio link. Local inking is provided at the wireless interface device in order to maintain the pen paradigm in essentially real time.

Abstract: A control interface protocol governs communications in a satellite telephone system. The satellite telephone system comprises a radio antenna unit (RAU) and a plurality of desksets connected to the RAU. An interface bus connects the desksets to the RAU. The RAU and the desksets communicate with each other by packets. Each packet comprises a start of header (SOH) byte, an address number (ADDR) byte, a command (CMD) byte, an argument (ARG) and a block check character (BCC). The ADDR byte comprises a source and a destination address of the packet. All packets, except negative acknowledgment (NAK) packets from the desksets, are acknowledged by the RAU. The packets originating from the desksets are tagged with an address of the desksets. A packet to a specific deskset includes a destination address. A packet originating from the RAU to all desksets includes a first default address. A packet originating from the RAU to a deskset that does not have an address includes a second default address.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of forwarding data packets from a network interface controller (NIC) to one or more media decoding devices. The NIC may comprise an I/O interface to transmit to communicate with either a host processing system and the one or more media decoding devices. Data packets received at the NIC may be forwarded to the one or more media decoding devices independently of the host processing system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deframing signals is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a plurality of signals at a first clock rate, synchronizing the plurality of signals to a second clock rate, and deframing the plurality of signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, method and device for selecting a mapping for a data path coupling path terminating equipment (PTE) at a first node to PTE at a second node. The first node may transmit a mapping request message to the second node specifying one or more candidate mappings. The second node may then reply with a selection of one of the candidate mappings or one or more alternative mappings.

Abstract: Virtual routers within a single physical router share a centralized data plane containing a centralized switch fabric and a plurality of physical network interfaces, each assigned to only one virtual router. Using a logical cut-through device between a pair of virtual routers designated respectively client and server, packet forwarding information from the server is imported into the client, which creates, allocates, and maintains a data structure for the imported information, which then resides on the client interfaces. This imported forwarding information is then integrated into a single forwarding table that is used to recognize an incoming packet at the client and forward it appropriately out through a server interface with a single packet forwarding decision in a single transit through the switch fabric. Within a physical router, a client virtual router can communicate with multiple servers and can concurrently function as a server to multiple clients.

Abstract: The present invention provides shared communication medium capability to the plethora of computer devices, like the PCCAs, that normally are able to communicate with other devices via dedicated point-to-point links, e.g., via the practically universal RS-232 ports. It allows the sharing of the communication medium in a dynamic fashion depending on the instantaneous traffic demands by the various communicating devices. It further allows the emulation of point-to-point links over the shared communications medium in such a way that applications running on a PCCA use the shared medium transparently. Thus, this invention enables applications designed to operate over a point-to-point connection to operate over the shared medium without any modifications of the applications or the point-to-point devices.

Abstract: A method for providing data paths between a sending computer and a receiving computer. The method is comprised of steps of periodically receiving broadcasted data through a first subnet data path and through a second subnet data path, and reception of the broadcasted data on either of the subnets indicates status of the respective subnet. The method continues on to change local data routing tables in the sending computer and the receiving computer based upon the status of at least one of the subnets, providing high reliability in a peer-to-peer environment.

Abstract: Managing end stations locations in a bridged network includes providing a smart bridge, and performing communications operations using a network flood active port connections table, a network flood reaching table, a best path forwarding table and a best path sourcing table. An end station locations revision manages a host location (HLOC) table. End stations locations revision is invoked upon detection of changes in any end station location. The end stations locations revision exchanges location revision grandparent (LRG), a location revision child (LRC) table and a location revision wavefront distribution protocol. The locations revision passes the location revision request from the smart bridge over a topology of the bridged network. A location revision wavefront starts at the root and, spreads a location revision request for revising the HLOC of the other smart bridges. The wavefront spreads by wavefront protocol.

Abstract: A heterogeneous computer system, a heterogeneous input/output system and a data back-up method for the systems. An I/O subsystem A for open system and an I/O subsystem B for a mainframe are connected by a communication unit. In order to back up the data from at least a disk connected to the I/O subsystem B in a MT library system and in order to permit the mainframe to access the data in the I/O subsystem B, the I/O subsystem A includes a table for assigning a vacant memory address in a local subsystem to the memory of the I/O subsystem for an open system. A request of variable-length record format received from the mainframe is converted into a fixed-length record format for the subsystem B. The disk designated according to the table is accessed, and the data thus obtained is sent to the mainframe and backed up in the back-up system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for an Ethernet station that transmits blocks of Ethernet frames in datagrams utilizing a pointer at the beginning of the datagram, rather than interrupts at the beginning and end of each data frame. Hardware receives a pointer to the start of an IP datagram and is then prompted to transmit. Hardware forms the frame header and sends out the IP datagram as a series of frames with only one interrupts signaling the end of the datagram. As a transmission comes in to the receiving station, hardware will check first to see if this is part of an IP datagram currently being received. If not, the frame is stored in a new location. If it is part of a datagram that is currently being received, hardware will check an offset in the IP header to determine where the new frame should be placed so the IP datagram is assembled properly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a connection to a data transmission network functions by detecting the network signal energy on a network cable while avoiding the problems of excessive power consumption and generation of excessive electrical noise. By monitoring the receive network lines and determining if there is electrical energy on the cable in the form particular to the type of network supported by the network adaptor card, the host computing device can power-down the transceiver associated with the network adaptor card until an active network connection is detected.

Abstract: A network adapter (20) functioning as an intermediary between a microprocessor (25) and a network (15) includes a communication protocol (43) compatible with a network protocol and an interpreter (45) compatible with a programming language of the microprocessor (25). The network adapter (20) reformats a signal received from a network interface (12) and following the network protocol into a signal compatible with the microprocessor programming language and transmits the reformatted signal to the microprocessor (25). The network adapter (20) also transforms a signal received from the microprocessor (25) into a signal compatible with the network protocol and transmits the transformed signal to the network interface (12). The network adapter (20) is capable of establishing a network communication for various kinds of microprocessors without significantly modifying or reprogramming the microprocessors.