Abstract: A method of operating an electric vehicle charging system can be provided by receiving a request to initiate a charging session for an electric vehicle associated with a registered user of a tenant electric vehicle charging system, allocating a receptacle of a outlet to the charging session to provide an allocated smart outlet, initiating supply of electrical power to the electric vehicle associated with the registered user via the allocated smart outlet responsive to the request to begin the charging session, monitoring the supply of electrical power to the electric vehicle to determine a cost associated with the charging session, receiving a request to terminate the charging session for the electric vehicle; determining a total cost for the charging session; and requesting payment of the total cost for the charging session.

Abstract: A customer-premises equipment (CPE) gateway and methods for operation thereof, and a multimedia server and methods for operation thereof are disclosed. The method for the CPE gateway including: (a) receiving, by the CPE gateway, a first internet group management protocol (IGMP) compliant command; (b) generating by the CPE gateway, in response to the first IGMP compliant command, a unicast command that instructs a multimedia server to generate a unicast media stream; wherein the generating including concealing multicast information from at least one IGMP compliant entity that follows the CPE gateway; and (c) transmitting, by the CPE gateway, the unicast command to the at least one IGMP compliant entity; wherein the unicast command passes through the at least one IGMP compliant entity and reaches the multimedia server.

Abstract: A system, method and a computer-readable medium having a computer-readable code embodied therein for providing content to a user, the method includes: generating, by a media provider, an instruction to fulfill a preliminary condition for receiving a second media conveying stream; transmitting the instruction to the user while also sending a first multicast media conveying stream; waiting for a preliminary condition fulfillment time period to lapse from an end of the transmitting of the instruction; and transmitting, by the media provider, the second media conveying stream towards the user, wherein the transmitting is initiated without being aware of an exact timing of a fulfillment of the preliminary condition.

Abstract: A scheme for providing programs to multiple end user devices. Two types of media streams that convey a first group of programs are provided to multiple end user devices via an edge device. The two types of programs include a unicast media stream and a multicast media stream. When a request from a first end user device to view a first program that belongs to the first group of programs is received, a type of a media stream that conveys the first program to a second end user device is selectively switched, in response to bandwidth constraints imposed on a communication path coupled to the edge device.

Abstract: A transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols is disclosed herein. The device includes a set of subscriber-side ports. Each of the subscriber-side ports is associated with a plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces disposed to effectively terminate a corresponding plurality of subscriber-side connections with subscriber host devices served by the access network. The device further includes at least one network-side port through which communication occurs with an external network in accordance with a higher-layer protocol. A routing table is configured to establish a correspondence between network addresses of the subscriber host devices and the plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces. During operation of the device, packets received through the at least one network-side port are forwarded to corresponding ones of the virtual subscriber-side interfaces based upon network addresses of the packets.

Abstract: A customer-premises equipment (CPE) gateway and methods for operation thereof, and a multimedia server and methods for operation thereof are disclosed. The method for the CPE gateway including: (a) receiving, by the CPE gateway, a first internet group management protocol (IGMP) compliant command; (b) generating by the CPE gateway, in response to the first IGMP compliant command, a unicast command that instructs a multimedia server to generate a unicast media stream; wherein the generating including concealing multicast information from at least one IGMP compliant entity that follows the CPE gateway; and (c) transmitting, by the CPE gateway, the unicast command to the at least one IGMP compliant entity; wherein the unicast command passes through the at least one IGMP compliant entity and reaches the multimedia server.

Abstract: A transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols is disclosed herein. The device includes a set of subscriber-side ports. Each of the subscriber-side ports is associated with a plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces disposed to effectively terminate a corresponding plurality of subscriber-side connections with subscriber host devices served by the access network. The device further includes at least one network-side port through which communication occurs with an external network in accordance with a higher-layer protocol. A routing table is configured to establish a correspondence between network addresses of the subscriber host devices and the plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces. During operation of the device, packets received through the at least one network-side port are forwarded to corresponding ones of the virtual subscriber-side interfaces based upon network addresses of the packets.

Abstract: A customer-premises equipment (CPE) gateway and methods for operation thereof, and a multimedia server and methods for operation thereof are disclosed, the method for the CPE gateway, the method including: (a) receiving, by the CPE gateway, a first IGMP compliant command; (b) generating by the CPE gateway, in response to the first IGMP compliant command, a unicast command that instructs a multimedia server to generate a unicast media stream; wherein the generating includes concealing multicast information from at least one IGMP compliant entity that follows the CPE gateway; and (c) transmitting, by the CPE gateway, the unicast command to the at least one IGMP compliant entity; wherein the unicast command passes through the at least one IGMP compliant entity and reaches the multimedia server.

Abstract: A device and a method for providing programs to multiple end user devices. The method includes: providing to multiple end user devices, via an edge device, at least one type of media stream out of unicast media stream and a multicast media stream; wherein the at least one type of media stream convey a group of programs; receiving a request from a first end user device to view a first program that belongs to the group of programs; and selectively switching, in response to bandwidth constraints imposed on a communication path coupled to the edge device, a type of a media stream that conveys the first program to a second end user device.

Abstract: A scheme for providing programs to multiple end user devices. Two types of media streams that convey a first group of programs are provided to multiple end user devices via an edge device. The two types of programs include a unicast media stream and a multicast media stream. When a request from a first end user device to view a first program that belongs to the first group of programs is received, a type of a media stream that conveys the first program to a second end user device is selectively switched, in response to bandwidth constraints imposed on a communication path coupled to the edge device.

Abstract: A transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols is disclosed herein. The device includes a set of subscriber-side ports. Each of the subscriber-side ports is associated with a plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces disposed to effectively terminate a corresponding plurality of subscriber-side connections with subscriber host devices served by the access network. The device further includes at least one network-side port through which communication occurs with an external network in accordance with a higher-layer protocol. A routing table is configured to establish a correspondence between network addresses of the subscriber host devices and the plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces. During operation of the device, packets received through the at least one network-side port are forwarded to corresponding ones of the virtual subscriber-side interfaces based upon network addresses of the packets.

Abstract: A transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols is disclosed herein. The device includes a set of subscriber-side ports. Each of the subscriber-side ports is associated with a plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces disposed to effectively terminate a corresponding plurality of subscriber-side connections with subscriber host devices served by the access network. The device further includes at least one network-side port through which communication occurs with an external network in accordance with a higher-layer protocol. A routing table is configured to establish a correspondence between network addresses of the subscriber host devices and the plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces. During operation of the device, packets received through the at least one network-side port are forwarded to corresponding ones of the virtual subscriber-side interfaces based upon network addresses of the packets.

Abstract: A device and a method for providing programs to multiple end user devices. The method includes: providing to multiple end user devices, via an edge device, at least one type of media stream out of unicast media stream and a multicast media stream; wherein the at least one type of media stream convey a group of programs; receiving a request from a first end user device to view a first program that belongs to the group of programs; and selectively switching, in response to bandwidth constraints imposed on a communication path coupled to the edge device, a type of a media stream that conveys the first program to a second end user device.