A method and system for analyzing and measuring multiple sources of data over a communications network (18) so as to ascertain information or usage of one or more resources, such as resource servers (2). A data collection and processing means (20) collects and processes the data sources which are forwarded to a reporting server (34) as a combined data source made available to interested parties.

A method for packet generation includes designating a group of one or more ports, from among multiple ports of one or more network elements, to perform the packet generation. A circular packet path, which traverses one or more buffers of the ports in the group, is configured. A burst of one or more packets is provided to the group, so as to cause the burst of packets to repeatedly traverse the circular packet path. A packet stream, including the repeated burst of packets, is transmitted from one of the ports.

A method for verifying an operation of a mobile radio communication network is provided, wherein the method comprises sending an Initiation Message from a first network entity to a second network entity, the Initiation Message defining an undo request and comprising an UNDO section defining an undo area, a TRIGGERING_CM section indicating changes to the network, and an ASSISTANCE section; receiving an Assistance-Response Message, the Assistance-Response Message comprising the UNDO section, and an ASSISTED_CM section; and sending an Assistance-Acknowledge Message including an ACK flag and the UNDO section from the first network entity to the second network entity.

A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. One embodiment uses a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be self-correcting. Another embodiment utilizes an abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol to allocate bandwidth. The abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol system utilizes padding packets to request a reduction in bandwidth allocation to a CPE. A base station modem alerts a base station CPU when the BS modem receives a padding packet from a CPE. After alerting the BS CPU the method can reduce the associated CPE's bandwidth allocation.

A method for implementing an upstream symbol alignment within a network component, the method comprising receiving an upstream sync signal via an initializing digital subscriber line (DSL) during a channel discovery phase from a customer premise equipment (CPE), determining a corrected upstream symbol alignment value based upon the upstream sync signal, and transmitting the corrected upstream symbol alignment value to the CPE, wherein the upstream symbol alignment value determines an upstream symbol alignment for one or more upstream transmissions, and wherein the corrected upstream symbol alignment value is determined before receiving a plurality of upstream data signals within the data symbol positions during the channel discovery phase.

A time slot management method for use in a time division multiple access system that couples a line terminator via a tree-like network to a plurality of network terminations is provided. At least one grant is transmitted by the line terminator towards a network terminator in order to allocate at least one adjacent subsequent corresponding upstream time-slot to the network terminator. The grant is received by the network terminator from the line terminator, and it is recognized if the at least one grant is associated with the network termination. Upon recognition of the at least one grant being associated with the network termination by the network terminator, overhead data in the first time slot of the at least one time slot and payload data in each potential adjacent subsequent time slot of at least one time-slot allocated to said network terminator is transmitted.

A method and apparatus for in-line processing a data packet while routing the packet through a router in a system transmitting data packets between a source and a destination over a network including the router. The method includes receiving the data packet and pre-processing layer header data for the data packet as the data packet is received and prior to transferring any portion of the data packet to packet memory. The data packet is thereafter stored in the packet memory. A routing through the router is determined including a next hop index describing the next connection in the network. The data packet is retrieved from the packet memory and a new layer header for the data packet is constructed from the next hop index while the data packet is being retrieved from memory. The new layer header is coupled to the data packet prior to transfer from the router.

A method for implementing an upstream symbol alignment within a network component, the method comprising receiving an upstream sync signal via an initializing digital subscriber line (DSL) during a channel discovery phase from a customer premise equipment (CPE), determining a corrected upstream symbol alignment value based upon the upstream sync signal, and transmitting the corrected upstream symbol alignment value to the CPE, wherein the upstream symbol alignment value determines an upstream symbol alignment for one or more upstream transmissions, and wherein the corrected upstream symbol alignment value is determined before receiving a plurality of upstream data signals within the data symbol positions during the channel discovery phase.

A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. One embodiment uses a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be self-correcting. Another embodiment utilizes an abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol to allocate bandwidth. The abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol system utilizes padding packets to request a reduction in bandwidth allocation to a CPE. A base station modem alerts a base station CPU when the BS modem receives a padding packet from a CPE. After alerting the BS CPU the method can reduce the associated CPE's bandwidth allocation.

A SON element which is operative to carry out at least two different SON functions is provided, wherein each of the SON functions is associated with at least one SON related action, and wherein a SON related action, initiated by triggering a SON function, would have been adversely affected by another SON related action, initiated by triggering another SON function, had the SON element not affected a modification in operating conditions of the cellular network, wherein the SON element is operative to: (a) assign priorities to the different SON functions; (b) assign different weights to the SON related actions; and (c) coordinate execution of SON related actions, that when executed are carried out in a way that does not breach the priorities hierarchy and the weights' order assigned to the SON related actions, thereby improving operation of the cellular network.