Abstract: A device, of a first data center, detects a power failure associated with the first data center when the first data center stops receiving power. The device further identifies a second data center for traffic to be processed by the first data center. The device also receives the traffic and routes the traffic to the second data center.

Abstract: A device receives a service graph of feature peers for a packet of an application flow. The feature peers are associated with a network and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers and forwarding requirements for the ordered set of the feature peers. The device generates forwarding instructions based on the service graph. The forwarding instructions include instructions to forward the packet to the ordered set of feature peers. The device provides the forwarding instructions to network devices of the network. The network devices forward the packet of the application flow to the ordered set of feature peers based on the forwarding instructions.

Abstract: A device receives packets of an application flow, and inspects one or more of the packets of the application flow. The device determines, based on the inspection of the one or more packets, a service graph of feature peers for the packets of the application flow. The feature peers are associated with a network and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers. The device creates a representation of the service graph. The representation includes an ordered set of feature elements that represent the feature peers of the service graph. The device provides the representation of the service graph to a controller device, and the controller device configures, based on the representation, the network with the service graph so that the packets of the application flow traverse the service graph.

Abstract: A device receives feature peer packets including feature peer state information. The feature peer packets are received from a first set of feature peers provided at a first location and associated with a service graph associated with a user device of a customer. The device receives customer packets including customer state information, and receives a request for the feature peer packets and the customer packets based on movement of the user device to a second location. The device provides, based on the request, the feature peer packets and the customer packets to a storage device at the second location. The storage device provides the feature peer packets and the customer packets to a second set of feature peers provided at the second location. The second set of feature peers establish a relocated service graph for the user device based on the feature peer packets and the customer packets.

Abstract: A device receives packets of a traffic flow, and inspects one or more of the packets of the traffic flow. The device determines, based on the inspection of the one or more packets, a service graph of feature peers for the packets of the traffic flow. The feature peers are associated with a network, and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers. The device configures network devices of the network with the service graph, and the network devices forward the packets of the traffic flow to the feature peers based on the service graph and without changing the traffic flow.

Abstract: A device communicates with feature peers, associated with a network, to obtain information associated with the feature peers, and receives a customer packet that includes a feature header. The device also modifies, based on the feature peer information, current condition state signaling, and other information, the feature header to create a modified customer packet, and determines, based on the feature peer information, the current condition state signaling, and the other information, which of the feature peers support a feature associated with the modified customer packet. The device further selects, from the determined feature peers, a set of feature peers for the modified customer packet to traverse, and forwards, based on the modified feature header, the modified customer packet to one of the feature peers in the selected set of feature peers.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for managing access communications between the service edge of a communications service provider and a customer. Access communications are carried in the form of carrier-tagged flows, the communications traffic being appended with carrier tags having significance to handling of the traffic through access network elements. A building aggregation system is provided which couples to customer premise equipment and interfaces customer flows to carrier-tagged flows used in the access network.

Abstract: System and method for managing communications in an access network is provided. The system and method utilizes carrier-tagged paths established between communicatively coupled terminating elements, such as a service or customer edge and network elements, such as a building aggregator, layer 2 switch, or the like. The carrier-tagged paths may be nested within one another, and carrier-tagged paths may be aggregated together to simplify switching. Carrier-tagged flows carried over the carrier-tagged paths include one or more carrier tags prepended to terminating element traffic. For example, in an embodiment, inbound carrier-tagged flows from multiple sources destined for a common service edge may be merged by prepending a common carrier tag. In another embodiment, outbound carrier-tagged flows are nested within other carrier-tagged flows.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a discard eligibility indication may be provided with the data frames.

Abstract: An approach provides a communication network that supports one or more network-based Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to resist Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. A first boundary router is configured to provide a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that supports quality of service levels, and interfaces an access network via a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) edge router and a physical access link. A second boundary router is coupled to a public network. The access network connects to the first boundary router, and wherein the first boundary router and the second boundary router are connected by a separate logical connection to prevent denial of service attacks on the physical access link originating from sources outside the VPN.

Abstract: System and method for providing a layer 2 switch in the access network that switches based upon one or more carrier tags identifying customer traffic. Customer traffic conforming to any variety of different layer 1 or layer 2 protocols may be encapsulated and identified according to carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may determine how to handle the traffic by interpreting and manipulating the carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may be capable of switching TDM input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic, and switching packetized input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic. Handling classification values may also be processed by the layer 2 switch to affect prioritization of handling of encapsulated traffic.

Abstract: A network architecture in accordance with the present invention includes a communication network that supports one or more network-based Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The communication network includes a plurality of boundary routers that are connected by access links to CPE edge routers belonging to the one or more VPNs. To prevent traffic from outside a customer's VPN (e.g., traffic from other VPNs or the Internet at large) from degrading the QoS provided to traffic from within the customer's VPN, the present invention gives precedence to intra-VPN traffic over extra-VPN traffic on each customer's access link through access link prioritization or access link capacity allocation, such that extra-VPN traffic cannot interfere with inter-VPN traffic.

Abstract: System and method for providing applets to remote devices in a communications network. A preferred embodiment includes a host device, which is the device from which the applet will be transferred, and a target device, which is the device to which the applet will be transferred. In one embodiment, the host device autonomously determines that an applet is to be pushed to the target device. The host device then determines the address of the target device and transmits the applet to the target device. Instructions and commands may be sent to the target device form the host, and the target device may transmit results to the host device. In another embodiment, the target device is customer premise equipment and/or a user device that requests an applet from the host device. The target device requests applets, for example, to perform service parameter verification, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.

Abstract: A device receives, by using a first communication technique, a message from a first user device. The device identifies a profile associated with the first user device or a user of the first user device. The device further identifies, in the profile, a relevant rule, based on the message, and a second user device that is designated as a primary user device of the user associated with the profile. By using a second communication technique, the device transmits a request for instructions to the second user device based on the relevant rule, and receives the instructions from the second user device. The instructions specify a third user device selected by the user. The device generates a command based on the relevant rule. The device transmits, by using a third communication technique, the command to the third user device.

Abstract: A device is configured to determine that the user device is participating in a conference call with a plurality of other user devices; determine that the user device is muted during the conference call; receive a first sound from the user device while the user device is muted; recognize that the first sound matches a vocal pattern of a user associated with the user device; and un-mute the user device after recognizing that the first sound matches the vocal pattern.

Abstract: A device, of a first data center, detects a power failure associated with the first data center when the first data center stops receiving power. The device further identifies a second data center for traffic to be processed by the first data center. The device also receives the traffic and routes the traffic to the second data center.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames.

Abstract: A device receives, from feature peers associated with a network, information associated with the feature peers, receives a customer packet, and determines, based on the feature peer information, which of the feature peers support a feature associated with the customer packet. The device also selects, from the determined feature peers, a set of feature peers for the customer packet to traverse, attaches a feature header to the customer packet to create a modified customer packet, and forwards, based on the feature header, the modified customer packet to one of the feature peers in the selected set of feature peers.

Abstract: System and method for providing a layer 2 switch in the access network that switches based upon one or more carrier tags identifying customer traffic. Customer traffic conforming to any variety of different layer 1 or layer 2 protocols may be encapsulated and identified according to carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may determine how to handle the traffic by interpreting and manipulating the carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may be capable of switching TDM input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic, and switching packetized input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic. Handling classification values may also be processed by the layer 2 switch to affect prioritization of handling of encapsulated traffic.