Author: claimsbot

1. A method of routing a message in a communications network of interconnected nodes, the nodes being arranged to generate messages, each message having a destination information element containing the identity of a destination node for that message, a source information element containing the identity of the source node of that message, and a virtual source information element initially containing the identity of that source node, and each of the nodes having a respective routing table containing respective entries corresponding to source nodedestination node pairs, each entry being in the form of a ranked pair of alternative next hop routes, the method comprising a said node:
(a) comparing its own node identity with the destination node identity of a message to be routed; and, when it is not the destination node for that message,
(b) comparing its own node identity with the virtual source node identity of that message, and,
if there is a match at step (b),
(c) operating in source mode,

else,
(d) operating in transit mode;

wherein step (c) comprises the substeps of
(e) accessing its routing table in accordance with the virtual source nodedestination node pair of that message to find the corresponding entry,
(f) forwarding the message to the higher ranking next hop route of that corresponding entry, and in the event that step (f) fails,
(g) forwarding the message to the lower ranking next hop route of that corresponding entry, and in the event that step (g) fails,
(h) replacing the content of the virtual source information element of the message with the node identity of the node from which that message was received, and
(i) sending that message back to that node from which it was received; and wherein step (d) comprises the substeps of
(j) accessing its routing table in accordance with the virtual source nodedestination node pair of that message to find the corresponding entry,
(k) forwarding the message to a preselected one of the ranked pair of alternative next hop routes of that corresponding entry, and in the event that step (k) fails,
(l) replacing the content of the virtual source information element of the message with its own node identity and performing step (c).
2. A method as claim 1, wherein for each said pair of alternative next hop routes, the two routes are node-disjoint routes.
3. A method as in claim 1, wherein substep (h) further comprises changing the state of a flag in a crankback information element of the message, and step (f) further comprises initially checking whether the state of the crankback flag is indicative that the higher ranking route has already been attempted for that message.
4. A node for use in a communications network of interconnected nodes, the node having a respective routing table containing respective entries corresponding to source nodedestination node pairs, each entry being in the form of a ranked pair of alternative next hop routes, and being arranged:
to generate messages, each message having a destination information element containing the identity of a destination node for that message, a source information element containing the identity of the source node of that message, and a virtual source information element initially containing the identity of that source node;
to compare its own node identity with the destination node identity of a message to be routed; and, when it is not the destination node for that message;
to compare its own node identity with the virtual source node identity of that message;
to operate in source mode in the event of a match between its own node identity and the virtual source node identity by
accessing its routing table in accordance with the virtual source nodedestination node pair of that message to find the corresponding entry,
forwarding the message to the higher ranking next hop route of that corresponding entry, and in the event that that higher ranking next hop route is not available,
forwarding the message to the lower ranking next hop route of that corresponding entry, and in the event that that lower ranking next hop route is not available,
replacing the content of the virtual source information element of the message with the node identity of the node from which that message was received, and
sending that message back to that node from which it was received;

to operate in transit mode in the event of a mismatch between its own node identity and the virtual source node identity by
accessing its routing table in accordance with the virtual source nodedestination node pair of that message to find the corresponding entry,
forwarding the message to a preselected one of the ranked pair of alternative next hop routes of that corresponding entry, and in the event that that preselected one of the ranked pair of alternative next hop routes is unavailable,
replacing the content of the virtual source information element of the message with its own node identity and operating in source mode for that message.
5. A node as in claim 4, further arranged to respond to no route being available, by changing the state of a flag in a crankback information element of the message, and to respond to receipt of a message containing a crankback flag in a changed state, by ignoring the alternative route that had previously been used for that message.
6. A communications network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes each node being as described in claim 4.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An onoff fertility regulator device, comprising:
an implantable housing incorporating at least one actuator;
a pair of opposite extending valves operable by a pair of extending valve actuators for respectively engaging first and second reproductive ducts and which is adapted to being mounted between interrupted conduit locations associated with the reproductive ducts extending within a body cavity of a user, the conduit locations being reattached to inter-fitting nipple portions associated with said valve in order to fluidly communicate the conduit locations;
an electro-magnetic inducing component incorporated within housing for powering a displaceable portion of said actuator extending to an openclose element located within valve and to establish an open position for permitting flow through the duct and a closed position for interrupting flow through the duct; and
a separate handheld controller positioned in external proximity to the implanted actuator, said controller incorporating wireless energy transfer circuitry for energizing said electro-magnetic inducing component and causing movement of said valve between said flow permitting and interrupting positions.
2. The device as described in claim 1, further comprising said controller having a specified shape and size and generating at least one of an DC or an AC electromagnetic inducing signal.
3. The device as described in claim 2, further comprising said implant having a body incorporating receiver circuitry and which is configured to receive said signal from said controller.
4. The device as described in claim 1, a pair of nipples extending from first and second locations of said implant for receiving the spliced ends of the reproductive duct.
5. The device as described in claim 4, further comprising a conduit ribbon extending from said implant and which can communicate at least one of an AC or DC generated electromagnetic input in order to actuate said valve actuator.

1. An architecture that integrates a wireless access service in a local broadband network to a broadband packet network of a service provider that facilitates end-to-end packet telecommunication services, wherein the architecture comprises:
a media terminal adapter in the local broadband network, coupled to an access port in the local broadband network and to a broadband transport network of the service provider, the broadband transport network further connected to the broadband packet network, wherein the media terminal adapter is configured to provide an access function for connecting the broadband packet network via the broadband transport network with the local broadband network, wherein the access port is configured to receive and send wireless signals to a plurality of wireless devices in the local broadband network, wherein the access port supports a quality of service functionality for the receiving and sending of the wireless signals.
2. The architecture of claim 1, further comprising:
a network server platform, in the broadband packet network, for administering a service of the access port and the plurality of wireless devices in the local broadband network via the broadband transport network.
3. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the architecture supports interworking among the plurality of wireless devices within the local broadband network.
4. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the architecture supports telephony interworking among TIAEIA-136 handsets, EDGEGRPS handsets and IEEE 802.11b devices within the local broadband network.
5. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the access port comprises a miniaturized radio base station that interworks with air interfaces including Global System for Mobile Communication, IS-95, IEEE 802.11b, TIAEIA-136, IEEE 802.15, Cellular Digital Packet Data, Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA2000, Wideband CDMA, Personal Handyphone System and IS-95 High Data Rate.
6. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the architecture supports telephony interworking among a plurality of different handsets supporting different protocols.
7. The architecture of claim 6, wherein the plurality of different handsets comprises TIAEIA-136 handsets, EDGEGRPS handsets and IEEE 802.11b devices.
8. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform interworks with another server to establish an end-to-end call.
9. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform interworks with a gateway to establish an end-to-end call.
10. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform functions as a transaction server that participates in call processing.
11. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform functions as a transaction server that controls access to network resources.
12. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform translates an E.164 address to a destination internet protocol address.
13. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the network server platform physically comprises a plurality of servers.
14. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the access port is a miniaturized radio base station for establishing analog and digital communications channels, and interworks between wireless and packet telephony protocols.
15. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the local broadband network comprises a home network of a subscriber.
16. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the local broadband network comprises a business network of a business.
17. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the access port provides voice transcoding.
18. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprises home-business devices, and computing-telephony appliances.
19. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the access port supports a standardized air interface used for analog, digital, circuit, and packet communication with the plurality of wireless devices.
20. A media terminal adapter, comprises:
a processor configured to:
interact with an access port in a local broadband network; and
interact with a broadband transport network of a service provider, the broadband transport network further connected to a broadband packet network, wherein the media terminal adapter is configured to provide an access function for connecting the broadband packet network via the broadband transport network with the local broadband network, wherein the access port is configured to receive and send wireless signals to a plurality of wireless devices in the local broadband network, wherein the access port supports a quality of service functionality for the receiving and sending of the wireless signals.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A portable point of sale terminal comprising:
a housing;
an electronics compartment within the housing;
a magnetic stripe reader coupled to the housing, the magnetic stripe reader including a flexible printed circuit board to transmit an electronic signal to the electronics compartment, the reader including a holder secured within the terminal, wherein the holder includes a cavity in which a magnetic head is mounted for translational movement, the flexible printed circuit board including a first end coupled to the magnetic head in the cavity, the cavity surrounding the magnetic head to isolate the head from the electronics compartment, and further wherein the cavity includes an opening and the flexible printed circuit board is routed through the opening, and further including a gasket adhered to the holder at the opening and sealing the cavity opening where the flexible printed circuit board passes through, the opening allowing the flexible printed circuit board to pass through the holder and into the electronics compartment, while the gasket seals the opening and the flexible printed circuit board against fluid ingress into the electronics compartment.
2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the opening is offset from the lower surface of the cavity.
3. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the gasket at the opening is substantially flat.
4. The terminal of claim 3 wherein the gasket is adhered to the back of the cavity.
5. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the housing includes flanges, and further wherein the holder includes flanges that mate against the flanges on the terminal housing.
6. The terminal of claim 1 wherein the holder includes an alignment assembly for locating a head of the magnetic stripe reader.
7. The terminal of claim 6 wherein alignment assembly includes locating pins for the head.
8. The terminal of claim 7 wherein the pins are integrally formed within the holder.