Abstract: A technique is described for facilitating block level access operations to be performed at a remote volume via a wide area network (WAN). The block level access operations may be initiated by at least one host which is a member of a local area network (LAN). The LAN includes a block cache mechanism configured or designed to cache block data in accordance with a block level protocol. A block level access request is received from a host on the LAN. In response to the block level access request, a portion of block data may be cached in the block cache mechanism using a block level protocol. In at least one implementation, portions of block data in the block cache mechanism may be identified as “dirty” data which has not yet been stored in the remote volume. Block level write operations may be performed over the WAN to cause the identified dirty data in the block cache mechanism to be stored at the remote volume.

Abstract: A Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network and related methods and device are provided. A DCE network simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet, storage and other traffic. A Fibre Channel (“FC”) frame, including FC addressing information, is encapsulated in an Ethernet frame for transmission on a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network. The Ethernet address fields may indicate that the frame includes an FC frame, e.g., by the use of a predetermined Organization Unique Identifier (“OUI”) code in the D_MAC field, but also include Ethernet addressing information. Accordingly, the encapsulated frames can be forwarded properly by switches in the DCE network whether or not these switches are configured for operation according to the FC protocol. Accordingly, only a subset of Ethernet switches in the DCE network needs to be FC-enabled. Only switches so configured will require an FC Domain_ID.

Abstract: A remote survivable DHCP technique is described for facilitating communications between nodes of a computer network. According to a specific embodiment, the network include a remote survivable DHCP (RSD) system adapted to enable a DHCP relay agent to temporarily respond, during at least a portion of times when the DHCP server is down or unreachable, to DHCP-related requests from clients that have already received a valid DHCP lease offer from a DHCP server during at least a portion of times when the DHCP server is down or unreachable.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for providing. According to some implementations, radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags are positioned at various locations throughout a building. Building locations can be determined from the RFID tags. Emergency service providers may be equipped with a portable device that includes at least one RFID reader for reading the RFID tags. Some implementations involve transmitting the RFID tag data to a control center from which the emergency services are coordinated. The emergency service workers' current and prior locations can be determined by the portable devices and/or at the control center. In preferred implementations, emergency service provider location information can be provided to control center personnel and to emergency service providers in real time.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for automating a login process and user/device associations. A user's preferred device settings and/or functions may be provisioned automatically. Some implementations provide an automated log out or “sleep” when a user leaves one or more of the devices. Users may be automatically identified and associated. The “presence” of members of a user group may be determined as required for one or more actions to be taken. Some user groups control devices according to which members of a group may have access to certain functions, information, etc., and which may not.

Abstract: The present invention provides enhanced flexibility regarding the use of media devices, including media communication peripheral devices, in communication sessions. Communication sessions can be conducted between devices having differing capabilities. According to some implementations, requests for communication sessions may be accepted according to the capabilities and/or preferences indicated for local media communication peripheral devices. Some components of an incoming communication signal may be selected for reproduction by a local media communication peripheral device and others may be ignored.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices using location detection to enable MMMDs to activate and tune to appropriate radios and networks. Some preferred embodiments use radio frequency identification (“RFID”)—based location detection. Preferably, the location detection occurs at or near wireless domain boundaries. Some implementations employ proximity/boundary detection to enhance handoff triggers, which initiate handoff mechanisms between different networks, as an MMMD moves between wireless networks, via a wireless domain portal. Some implementations involve methods and devices for device validation and authorization. An MMMD is provided with local wireless network awareness, which may be used by the MMMD to have the appropriate radio turned on and properly tuned. Accordingly, the methods and devices of the present invention achieve power savings and improved handoff across networks.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, computer program products, apparatus, and systems for controlling sending and receiving of universal serial bus (“USB”) messages between a plurality of host computers and a USB device over a data network. A first USB server is in communication with a first one of the host computers and the data network. A second USB server is in communication with a second one of the host computers and the data network. A USB client is in communication with the data network and the USB device. A first control path is established between the USB client and the first USB server, and a second control path is established between the USB client and the second USB server. A data transfer path is established between the USB client and the first USB server. The data transfer path enables sending of data between the USB client and the first USB server over the data network.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, computer program products, apparatus, and systems for sending and receiving uniform serial bus (“USB”) messages between a host computer and a USB device over a data network, using a USB server in communication with the data network and the host computer, and a USB client in communication with the data network and the USB device. An association is established between the USB server and the USB client. The USB server receives a first USB message from the host computer. The first USB message is translated to a format suitable for sending over the data network, and sent as a first network message from the USB server to the USB client over the data network. The USB server receives a second network message from the USB client over the data network, and translates the second network message to a USB format. At the USB server, the translated second network message is provided as a second USB message for the host computer.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for determining the status of a networked device. Messages from such devices may include information indicating the health, accuracy and/or reliability of a device and/or of the network that includes the device. Multiple message formats may be supported, e.g., heartbeat only, partial statistics, full statistics, etc. Transmission of such messages may be triggered by the occurrence of various conditions, such as the passage of a predetermined time interval, a predetermined change in one or more criteria, etc. In some implementations, a time-based message throttle establishes a minimum time interval between messages. Messages may be created in a format that is compatible with SNMP. Messages may be transmitted in more than one packet, if necessary. Messages may be sent to one or more devices, e.g., to one or more servers, according to various criteria.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing a Low Latency Ethernet (“LLE”) solution, also referred to herein as a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) solution, which simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet and storage traffic. Some aspects of the invention involve transforming FC frames into a format suitable for transport on an Ethernet. Some preferred implementations of the invention implement multiple virtual lanes (“VLs”) in a single physical connection of a data center or similar network. Some VLs are “drop” VLs, with Ethernet-like behavior, and others are “no-drop” lanes with FC-like behavior. Some preferred implementations of the invention provide guaranteed bandwidth based on credits and VL. Active buffer management allows for both high reliability and low latency while using small frame buffers. Preferably, the rules for active buffer management are different for drop and no drop VLs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling a Mobile Node supporting mobile IP to roam without an assigned IP address and receive lookups indicating that a Corresponding Node wants to send information to the Mobile Node are disclosed. A name lookup may be sent from a Corresponding Node to a Home Agent that has previously registered the Mobile Node. The name lookup may be sent through an intermediate device, including a Domain Name Server, such that the intermediate device contacts the Home Agent. During the name lookup process, an IP address is allocated to the Mobile Node and a data path is established between the Home Agent and the Mobile Node via a Foreign Agent. When the lookup is completed successfully, the Home Agent sends the IP address allocated to the Mobile Node in the name lookup process to the device requesting the lookup. The IP address of the Mobile Node may then be used by the Corresponding Node to “push” information to the Mobile Node.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for determining the status of a networked device, e.g., a networked RFID device. In some embodiments of the invention, a customized packet is used to transmit a “heartbeat” from each of a plurality of networked devices to a server. Some such embodiments use a customized syslog packet for the heartbeats. The heartbeat includes identification information regarding the device, e.g., the unique electronic product code (“EPC”) of the device. The identification information may include other identification and/or authentication information, such as a shared secret and time data, which may be hashed with the identification information. The heartbeat may include information indicating the health, accuracy and/or reliability of the device and/or of the network that includes the device.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a video analysis tool to assist a computer programmer working on a program that effects video data. The tool may be integrated with program code. When enacted, the tool obtains statistical information related to the video data and information corresponding to functions of the code. The code may be responsible for encoding, transcoding, and/or decoding video data, for example. The tool is integrated with a video decoder to allow the information to be output with raw video data. The present invention is particularly useful for developing, debugging and analyzing programs responsible for encoding, transcoding, and/or decoding video data, such as video data compressed according to an MPEG standard.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for identifying end devices and automatically configuring associated network settings. Preferred implementations of the invention do not require users to manually identify connection types (e.g., RFID, IPphone, manufacturing device, etc.) or to manually configure the network device. Accordingly, such implementations allow automatic switch configuration, even for devices that use inconsistent protocols and/or protocols that are not well known. Some methods of the invention employ DHCP options combined with traffic snooping to identify devices and automatically apply appropriate switch port configuration.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for locating, identifying and provisioning devices in a network. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, location information included in a DHCPDISCOVER request can be used to determine appropriate configurations for networked devices. In some such implementations, the location information is read from an RFID tag near the networked device and is inserted in the DHCPDISCOVER request. The location information may include any type of absolute or relative coordinate, positioning, cartographic or similar information and/or information from which such information may be derived.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for securely transmitting sensitive information over the Internet to and from a first device in a home network that lacks the ability to communicate according to a secure protocol. Communications between the first device and a second device within the home network may proceed according to a non-secure protocol, such as HTTP. However, the second device has the ability to communicate with the outside world via a secure protocol, such as HTTPS. Various implementations of the invention allow the first device to avail itself of the secure communications provided by the second device.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for establishing a VPN tunnel for a user whose IP address is not known in advance (a “road warrior”). The road warrior first initiates a secure authentication session with a security gateway. In some such implementations, the road warrior provides a username/password pair that the security gateway compares to a database of usernames that have been authorized to initiate a VPN tunnel. After authenticating the road warrior, the security gateway then determines the IP address of the road warrior, then makes a correlation between the IP address, user, and a shared secret allocated to the road warrior. If the road warrior uses the proper shared secret in connection with a request to establish a VPN tunnel, the security gateway will establish the VPN tunnel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for triggering roaming in a mobile network device are disclosed. A speed of the network device is detected. One or more maximum/minimum trigger values corresponding to one or more trigger events are ascertained at the speed of the network device. One or more trigger counters associated with the one or more trigger events are maintained. Roaming of the network device is triggered when one of the trigger counters associated with one of the trigger events is equal to or exceeds (or is less than or equal to) one of the trigger values corresponding to the trigger event at the speed of the network device.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for implementing flow control coordination in a gateway between a TCP/IP network and a second network. The second network may be any type of network, including another TCP/IP network. In some implementations, the throughput of the TCP/IP network is controlled by modifying the round trip time observed by a TCP connection. In other implementations, the throughput of the TCP/IP network is controlled by modifying the size of the TCP window.