Abstract: In one embodiment, a network interface card device includes communication interfaces to provide data connection with respective local devices configured to run respective clock synchronization clients, at least one network interface to provide data connection between a packet data network and ones of the local devices, and a hardware clock to maintain a time value, and serve the clock synchronization clients.

Abstract: A video processor includes a memory and a processor. The processor is coupled to memory and is configured to store in the memory (i) multiple raw frames belonging to a Group of Pictures (GOP) to be processed, and (ii) one or more reference frames. The processor is further configured to select for multiple target blocks having a same block-location in respective raw frames associated with a common reference frame, a common search region in the common reference frame, and before selecting another search region, to apply at least two motion estimation operations using at least two of the target blocks and the common search region, to estimate respective at least two Motion Vectors (MVs).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer apparatus includes a first NIC including at least one network interface port to transfer data with a first packet-data network (PDN) including a master clock to provide a clock synchronization signal S1, a first physical hardware clock (PHC) to maintain a time value T1 responsively to S1, and a first clock controller to generate a clock synchronization signal S2 responsively to S1, S2 having a frequency set responsively to S1, and send S2 over a connection to a second NIC including at least one network interface port to transfer data with a second PDN, a second PHC, and a second clock controller to receive S2, update the second PHC with a time value T2 responsively to S2, send another clock synchronization signal to network nodes in the second PDN responsively to T2, the second NIC acting as a master clock in the second PDN.

Abstract: A video processor includes a memory and a processor. The processor is coupled to memory and is configured to store in the memory (i) multiple raw frames belonging to a Group of Pictures (GOP) to be processed, and (ii) one or more reference frames. The processor is further configured to select for multiple target blocks having a same block-location in respective raw frames associated with a common reference frame, a common search region in the common reference frame, and before selecting another search region, to apply at least two motion estimation operations using at least two of the target blocks and the common search region, to estimate respective at least two Motion Vectors (MVs).

Abstract: A video coding system including an acceleration device including input circuitry configured, for each of a first plurality of video frames to be encoded, to receive an input including at least one raw video frame and at least one reference frame, and to divide each of the first plurality of video frames to be encoded into a second plurality of blocks, and similarity computation circuitry configured, for each one of the first plurality of video frame to be encoded: for each the block of the second plurality of blocks, to produce an intra-prediction hint and an intra-prediction direction. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network interface card device includes communication interfaces to provide data connection with respective local devices configured to run respective clock synchronization clients, at least one network interface to provide data connection between a packet data network and ones of the local devices, and a hardware clock to maintain a time value, and serve the clock synchronization clients.

Abstract: A network element includes a plurality of ports and processing circuitry. The ports are configured for connecting to a communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a packet from the communication network via one of the ports, to assign the packet to a selected queue, to verify whether the packet matches a rule, wherein matching the packet to the rule depends on whether the selected queue is congested, and, when the packet matches the rule, to apply to the packet an action associated with the rule.

Abstract: A network device includes multiple ports, for communicating over a communication network, and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to receive via the ports packets belonging to a plurality of multicast flows, to receive, for each of the multicast flows, (i) a first configuration that specifies clients that are to receive the multicast flow prior to a specified switch-over time, and (ii) a second configuration that specifies the clients that are to receive the multicast flow after the specified switch-over time, to forward the multicast flows via the ports in accordance with the first configuration, to extract from a field in at least one of the packets a value that is indicative of the switch-over time, and, based on the extracted value, to switch-over forwarding of the multicast flows from the first configuration to the second configuration simultaneously at the switch-over time.

Abstract: A network element includes a plurality of ports and processing circuitry. The ports are configured for connecting to a communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a packet from the communication network via one of the ports, to assign the packet to a selected queue, to verify whether the packet matches a rule, wherein matching the packet to the rule depends on whether the selected queue is congested, and, when the packet matches the rule, to apply to the packet an action associated with the rule.

Abstract: A network device includes multiple ports, for communicating over a communication network, and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to receive via the ports packets belonging to a plurality of multicast flows, to receive, for each of the multicast flows, (i) a first configuration that specifies clients that are to receive the multicast flow prior to a specified switch-over time, and (ii) a second configuration that specifies the clients that are to receive the multicast flow after the specified switch-over time, to forward the multicast flows via the ports in accordance with the first configuration, to extract from a field in at least one of the packets a value that is indicative of the switch-over time, and, based on the extracted value, to switch-over forwarding of the multicast flows from the first configuration to the second configuration simultaneously at the switch-over time.

Abstract: A method for communication in a packet data network including at least first and second subnets interconnected by routers. The method includes defining at least first and second classes of link-layer traffic within the subnets, such that the link-layer traffic in the first class is transmitted among nodes in the network without loss of packets, while at least some of the packets in the second class are dropped in case of network congestion. The routers are configured by transmitting control traffic over the network in the packets of the second class. Data traffic is transmitted between the nodes in the first and second subnets via the configured routers in the packets of the first class.

Abstract: A method for communication in a packet data network including at least first and second subnets interconnected by routers. The method includes defining at least first and second classes of link-layer traffic within the subnets, such that the link-layer traffic in the first class is transmitted among nodes in the network without loss of packets, while at least some of the packets in the second class are dropped in case of network congestion. The routers are configured by transmitting control traffic over the network in the packets of the second class. Data traffic is transmitted between the nodes in the first and second subnets via the configured routers in the packets of the first class.