Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes intercepting a message in an on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicular network environment between a source and a receiver in the vehicular network environment, verifying the message is sent from the source, verifying the message is not altered, evaluating a set of source flow control policies associated with the source, and blocking the message if the set of source flow control policies indicate the message is not permitted. In specific embodiments, the message is not permitted if a level of access assigned to the source in the set of source flow control policies does not match a level of access tagged on the message. In further embodiments, the method includes evaluating a set of receiver flow control policies associated with the receiver, and blocking the message if the set of receiver flow control policies indicates the message is not permitted.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes authenticating a first agent to an on board unit (OBU) of a vehicle if the first agent validates a first set of one or more authentication requirements and identifying a first identity profile corresponding to the first agent. The method also includes determining a role of the first agent in the vehicle and configuring the vehicle with the first identity profile, where the vehicle is configured based, at least in part, on the role of the first agent. In this embodiment, the first identity profile is one of a plurality of identity profiles provisioned on the OBU. In specific embodiments, each one of a plurality of agents corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of identity profiles, and includes one or more of a human agent, a machine device, a software agent, an authorized entity, and a mobile device.

Abstract: A method in one example embodiment includes receiving a set of data in real time from a plurality of machine devices associated with at least one vehicle, providing a set of reference data corresponding to a machine device of the plurality of machine devices, comparing the set of data with the set of reference data, and detecting a deviation within the set of data from the set of reference data. The method further includes initiating an operation associated with the deviation. The set of reference data could be a trend of previous data received from the machine device or a common trend based on a previous set of data of the machine device. More specific embodiments include receiving a plurality of data containing the set of data from the plurality of machine devices and identifying a state of the machine device using the set of data.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes detecting an event for a transaction on an on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicle, where the event has a trigger associated with an agent. The method also includes determining whether the transaction is authorized, identifying network credentials in an identity profile that corresponds to the agent, providing network credentials to a transaction application corresponding to the transaction, and accessing a remote network using the network credentials. Certain embodiments include selecting the network credentials from a plurality of available network credentials corresponding to the agent. In more specific embodiments, the network credentials include one or more virtual subscriber identity modules (VSIMs) of a plurality of VSIMs provisioned on the OBU. In specific embodiments, the network credentials are mapped to a combination of two or more of the agent, the transaction application, and a predefined current location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method includes establishing communication channels between an on-board unit (OBU) of a vehicle and a plurality of nodes, tagging each of a plurality of data from the plurality of nodes with a priority level, storing the plurality of data in a priority queue according to respective priority levels, selecting a medium to present a first data of the plurality of data to a user, and presenting the first data to the user via the medium. In the method, the plurality of nodes includes a remote node and an in-vehicle device. Another method includes receiving a data from a remote node, generating a plurality of data streams from the data and transmitting the plurality of data streams across a plurality of wireless interfaces. Another method includes enhancing audio signals from a plurality of microphones and speakers. Yet another method includes various gesture based user interfaces coupled to the OBU.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device (e.g., a transmitter) determines a level of error protection of each bit position within symbols of a particular constellation map used for modulation-based communication, and also determines priority levels of application data bits to be placed into a communication frame. Application data bits may then be placed into symbols of the communication frame, where higher priority application data bits are placed into bit positions with greater or equal levels of protection than bit positions into which lower priority application data bits are placed. The communication frame may then be transmitted to one or more receivers with an indication of how to decode the placement of the application data bits within the symbols. In another embodiment, the particular constellation map may be dynamically selected from a plurality of available constellation maps, such as based on communication channel conditions and/or applications generating the data.

Abstract: A method for communicating optically between nodes of an optical network, including forming, between a first node and a second node of the network, a set of lightpaths, each of the set of lightpaths having a respective configuration, and transferring communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the set of lightpaths. The method also includes forming a determination for the set of lightpaths that a communication traffic level associated therewith is less than a predetermined threshold, and in response to the determination, removing a lightpath having a given configuration from the set of lightpaths to form a reduced set of lightpaths. The method further includes transferring the communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the reduced set of lightpaths, while reducing a level of power consumption in the removed lightpath and while maintaining the given configuration of the removed lightpath.

Abstract: An example method includes sending a virtual output queue (VOQ) length of a VOQ to an egress chip. The VOQ relates to a flow routed through an egress port associated with the egress chip. The method also includes receiving fair share information for the VOQ from the egress chip, and enforcing a control action on the incoming packets based on the fair share information. An ingress chip and the egress chip can be provided in a VOQ switch. The control action is a selected one of a group of actions, the group consisting of: (a) dropping packets, (b) pausing packets, and (c) marking packets. The method can further include receiving VOQ lengths of corresponding VOQs from respective ingress chips, where the VOQs relate to the flow. The method can also include calculating respective fair share information for each VOQ, and sending the fair share information to the respective ingress chips.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and can include receiving a source data stream, generating a base layer sub-stream from the source data stream, and generating an enhancement layer sub-stream from the source data stream. The method further includes communicating the base layer sub-stream to a client device using a first communication protocol, and communicating the enhancement layer sub-stream to the client device using a second communication protocol. In a particular example, the one-to-many communication protocol is a multicast communication protocol and the second communication protocol is a unicast communication protocol. In another example, the base layer sub-stream is sent to the client device via a first network connection and the enhancement layer sub-stream is sent to the client device via a second network connection.

Abstract: A system includes an on-board unit (OBU) in communication with an internal subsystem in a vehicle on at least one Ethernet network and a node on a wireless network. A method in one embodiment includes receiving a message on the Ethernet network in the vehicle, encapsulating the message to facilitate translation to Ethernet protocol if the message is not in Ethernet protocol, and transmitting the message in Ethernet protocol to its destination. Certain embodiments include optimizing data transmission over the wireless network using redundancy caches, dictionaries, object contexts databases, speech templates and protocol header templates, and cross layer optimization of data flow from a receiver to a sender over a TCP connection. Certain embodiments also include dynamically identifying and selecting an operating frequency with least interference for data transmission over the wireless network.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and devices for managing network congestion. Preferred implementations of the invention allow congestion to be pushed from congestion points in the core of a network to reaction points, which may be edge devices, host devices or components thereof. Preferably, rate limiters shape individual flows of the reaction points that are causing congestion. Parameters of these rate limiters are preferably tuned based on feedback from congestion points, e.g., in the form of backward congestion notification (“BCN”) messages. In some implementations, such BCN messages include congestion change information and at least one instantaneous measure of congestion. The instantaneous measure(s) of congestion may be relative to a threshold of a particular queue and/or relative to a threshold of a buffer that includes a plurality of queues.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device (e.g., a transmitter) determines a level of error protection of each bit position within symbols of a particular constellation map used for modulation-based communication, and also determines priority levels of application data bits to be placed into a communication frame. Application data bits may then be placed into symbols of the communication frame, where higher priority application data bits are placed into bit positions with greater or equal levels of protection than bit positions into which lower priority application data bits are placed. The communication frame may then be transmitted to one or more receivers with an indication of how to decode the placement of the application data bits within the symbols. In another embodiment, the particular constellation map may be dynamically selected from a plurality of available constellation maps, such as based on communication channel conditions and/or applications generating the data.

Abstract: Media-aware and TCP-compatible bandwidth sharing may be provided. In various embodiments, a network node may periodically update a virtual congestion level for a transmission stream in a network. The transmission stream may comprise at least one video stream and at least one data stream. The network node may then calculate, based at least in part on the virtual congestion level, a random packet marking probability or a random packet drop probability. In turn, the network node may either drop or mark transmission packets according to the calculated marking and dropping probability. The network node may further calculate an optimal video transmission rate for the at least one video stream and adjust a video transmission rate for the at least one video stream accordingly. Rate-distortions parameters for the at least one video stream may influence the optimal video transmission rate calculation for the at least one video stream.

Abstract: A method for communicating optically between nodes of an optical network, including forming, between a first node and a second node of the network, a set of lightpaths, each of the set of lightpaths having a respective configuration, and transferring communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the set of lightpaths. The method also includes forming a determination for the set of lightpaths that a communication traffic level associated therewith is less than a predetermined threshold, and in response to the determination, removing a lightpath having a given configuration from the set of lightpaths to form a reduced set of lightpaths. The method further includes transferring the communication traffic between the first and second nodes via the reduced set of lightpaths, while reducing a level of power consumption in the removed lightpath and while maintaining the given configuration of the removed lightpath.

Abstract: A system includes an on-board unit (OBU) in communication with an internal subsystem in a vehicle on at least one Ethernet network and a node on a wireless network. A method in one embodiment includes receiving a message on the Ethernet network in the vehicle, encapsulating the message to facilitate translation to Ethernet protocol if the message is not in Ethernet protocol, and transmitting the message in Ethernet protocol to its destination. Certain embodiments include optimizing data transmission over the wireless network using redundancy caches, dictionaries, object contexts databases, speech templates and protocol header templates, and cross layer optimization of data flow from a receiver to a sender over a TCP connection. Certain embodiments also include dynamically identifying and selecting an operating frequency with least interference for data transmission over the wireless network.

Abstract: A statistical transition map is built based on mobile wireless device user mobility history data. This data is useful to assist various wireless local area network applications. Received signal strength and location trace information associated with movements of mobile wireless devices in a wireless network is collected. The received signal strength and location trace information is converted to a sequence of natural language pseudo-location word labels representing pseudo-locations of each mobile wireless device as each mobile wireless device moves about with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices in the wireless network. A statistical transition map is generated for each mobile wireless device from the sequence of natural language pseudo-location word labels using a natural language model. A probability of a next pseudo-location for a particular mobile wireless device is computed based on its current location and its statistical transition map.

Abstract: Techniques for improving the performance of flow control mechanisms such as Pause are provided. The techniques provide for maintaining a fair distribution of available bandwidth while also allowing for fewer packet drops, and maximizing link utilization, in a distributed system. For example, in one embodiment, techniques are provided for achieving a fair share allocation of an egress port's bandwidth across a plurality of ingress ports contending for the same egress port.

Abstract: An example method includes sending a virtual output queue (VOQ) length of a VOQ to an egress chip. The VOQ relates to a flow routed through an egress port associated with the egress chip. The method also includes receiving fair share information for the VOQ from the egress chip, and enforcing a control action on the incoming packets based on the fair share information. An ingress chip and the egress chip can be provided in a VOQ switch. The control action is a selected one of a group of actions, the group consisting of: (a) dropping packets, (b) pausing packets, and (c) marking packets. The method can further include receiving VOQ lengths of corresponding VOQs from respective ingress chips, where the VOQs relate to the flow. The method can also include calculating respective fair share information for each VOQ, and sending the fair share information to the respective ingress chips.

Abstract: A method includes joining a vehicular access network (VAN) comprising cooperative communication between a plurality of on-board units (OBU) in respective vehicles, scanning the VAN to pick up a coverage of at least one infrastructure access point (IAP), which operates on a control channel in a radio access tree (RAT) comprising a plurality of cells, listening to a channel allocation information from the IAP that includes a request for a mobile cell gateway (MCG) at a nominal location in the RAT, and sending a candidacy message to the at least one IAP to become an MCG. Certain embodiments include establishing the VAN in a highway, and in urban areas, aggregating traffic in a cell and transmitting to the IAP via the MCG, and other features.

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.