Nortel Networks Corporation

Apple Inc.

Research in Motion Corporation

Ciena Corporation

Rpx Clearinghouse LLC

Glenn G Algie

Peiying Zhu

Hang Zhang

Shalini Suresh Periyalwar

Claude Royer

James Mark Naden

Bill W Gage

Thomas Chmara

Craig Donald Suitor

Robert Matyas

Alauddin Javed

Eric C Valk

Eric Bernier

John Hanmer Watkins

Jozef Babiarz

Hasler Hayes

Alan B Caldwell

A communications network includes multiple distributed nodes that are coupled by a circuit-switched network. To improve efficiency, a plurality of the nodes are associated with a single source synchronization block that injects timing messages over circuits in the circuit-switched network to the plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes is associated with a timing extraction and recovery block that extracts information from the timing messages injected by the source synchronization block to synchronize a local clock in each node to the frequency and phase of a clock received by the source synchronization block.

Providing a timing source for multiple nodes coupled to a circuit-switched network

A technique for delivering and enforcing network quality of service from a head-end to a plurality of outstations is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by assigning a transmit duration for each one of the plurality of outstations by the head-end; and assigning a transmit frequency for each one of the plurality of outstations by the head-end; wherein bandwidth for each one of the plurality of outstations is adjusted dynamically at the head-end. In addition, a control message may be received from an outstation indicating extra capacity at the outstation where the extra capacity may be allocated for one or more of burst capacity and best effort traffic.

Technique for accommodating electronic components on a multilayer signal routing device

Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network, in particular an aggregation node (AGN). The AGN includes a plurality of spatially switched antennas and a transceiver configured to operate on the plurality of spatially switched antennas in a time divisional multiplexing (TDM) fashion to establish active connections with other network nodes in a hierarchical manner. The AGN is further configured to perform a bi-directional relay function for backhaul traffic with the other network nodes using at least one virtual circuit having an allocated bandwidth for delay sensitive traffic. The AGN may serve to aggregate and relay/amplify circuit traffic between network nodes in the up stream and down stream directions. If the AGN is interposed within a circuit between two other nodes, the AGN can switch the circuit traffic between the end-nodes of the circuit.

Multi-hop wireless backhaul network and method

The present invention relates to adaptive interconnect logic, which is adapted to communicate with various types of modules that are plugged into the interconnect logic, and to automatically configure itself to interact with the various modules. For each module interface, the interconnect logic can take on different interface personalities for facilitating communications via the data path. Preferably, the interconnect logic will automatically configure itself to provide the appropriate layer or physical and media access control layers, to effectively communicate with computer premise equipment via the modules. The interface personality will define pin functionality, signal levels, acceptable protocols, and the like. In general, the interconnect logic provides a universal translator between a control system associated with the access equipment and the various modules, which need to be plugged into the access equipment.

Dynamic configuration for a modular interconnect

Technique for delivering and enforcing network quality of service to multiple outstations

Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network. These embodiments can advantageously be deployed in dense urban areas and/or co-located with wireless access nodes, such as base-stations of a cellular wireless communication system. Preferably wireless links between constituent network nodes are set-up hierarchically. A basic result of this is that peer-to-peer (child-to-child) communication is generally prohibited and circuits are forced to conform to a topology. The multi-hop wireless backhaul network may be used to carry delay sensitive, high-density last mile circuit traffic over Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) broadband radio links. Moreover, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of path-healing for re-routing of circuit traffic from circuits that have experienced catastrophic failures.

A network device such as a combination ONU-DSLAM deployed outside the central office includes a wireless transceiver to enable a technician to interface with the network device over a wireless control channel. This allows the technician to monitor, interrogate, and control the network device to ascertain performance of the network or the network device and cause the network device to perform particular desired operations. Additionally, providing a wireless interface enables the network technician to fix specific perceived problems in the network device, such as by uploading new software to the network device, to enable the network device to have increased functionality or more reliable performance. Infra-red, wireless, powerline, or another technology may be used to interface with the network device. The wireless access port may also enable subscribers to access the network, for example by causing the network device to act as an 802.11 hot spot.

Remote interface for a network device in the physical plant

A technique for delivering bursted native media data flows over an Ethernet physical layer between a head-end and an outstation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by operating a device in a default bypass mode at the outstation; receiving a first command wherein the first command is one of a directed command and a multicast command to an address for exchanging Ethernet frames with an Ethernet physical layer; and receiving a second command wherein the second command is one of a multicast command and a directed command for exchanging native data flows with the Ethernet physical layer. The bursted native media data flows may be TDM data flows and the device may be a TDM device wherein the commands may be pause signals or burst signals.

Technique for delivering bursted native media data flows over an ethernet physical layer

A method and apparatus for protocol-independent extension of data services through a broadband packet network packs legacy data streams associated with the data services into containers which are in turn encapsulated in protocol data units (PDUs) that are launched into the broadband packet network. The apparatus optimally supports idle suppression to efficiently utilize packet network resources. If idle indications are not provided by subtending sources, idle patterns may be detected by examining the serial data stream for repeating data patterns. The containers have headers dependent on the data stream type. Thus data is only transported across the packet network as required, further improving efficiency.

Method and apparatus for efficient protocol-independent trunking of data signals

A technique for implementing a tunable add/drop collector having at least two bursting ports for supporting dedicated and shared timeslotting in a point to consecutive point environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by method for implementing a tunable add/drop collector for supporting dedicated and shared timeslotting in a network having a plurality of nodes comprising the steps of computing an add/drop burst schedule for scheduling timeslots wherein the timeslots comprise a plurality of dedicated timeslots and a plurality of shared timeslots; receiving timeslot control information at one or more nodes and transmitting data flows from the one or more nodes via at least two timeslotted ports in accordance with at least the timeslot control information and the add/drop burst schedule.

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Ottawa, Canada

Glenn G Algie