Abstract: A spatial monitoring-correlation mechanism and a method are described herein for determining an origin of a problem within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network by using topology information about the IPTV network and at least one error notification (e.g., packet loss notification-retransmission request) that is generated by at least one component (e.g., set-top box) within the IPTV network.

Abstract: A network system (10). The system comprises a plurality of nodes (PE, CE). Each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one other node in the plurality of nodes. Further, each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate to another node via a respective primary path and via a respective backup path. Still further, each node in the plurality of nodes is operable to perform the steps of, when receiving network traffic as a receiving node, detecting delay (110, 120; 130, 140; 160, 170) in traffic received from a transmitting node, and, in response to detecting delay, communicating a signal to the transmitting node. In response to the signal, the transmitting node is operable to dynamically adjust (150; 190) a distribution of traffic through a respective primary path and a respective backup path from the transmitting node to the receiving node.

Abstract: A bridged network system (10). The system comprises at least one network server (NS) for receiving and responding to authentication session requests. The system also comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (BRNx). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is connected to communicate with at least one other neighboring bridge node in the plurality of nodes, and each bridge node comprises at least one port (BPx), circuitry for communicating with at least one of either another bridge node in the plurality of nodes or the at least one network server, and circuitry for limiting (40, 42) a number of authentication sessions active at a same time through the at least one port. The system also comprises a central resource (e.g., BRN0).

Abstract: A spatial monitoring-correlation mechanism and a method are described herein for determining an origin of a problem within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network by using topology information about the IPTV network and at least one error notification (e.g., packet loss notification-retransmission request) that is generated by at least one component (e.g., set-top box) within the IPTV network.

Abstract: A method of operating a bridge node (B0) in a network system. The bridge node comprises a plurality of ports (BP0.x). The method comprises a step of receiving a frame (240), from a device in the network system and other than the bridge node, at a port in the plurality of ports. The frame comprises a source network address. The method is also responsive to at least one condition (250, 260) associated with the port in that the method stores the source address in a forwarding table associated with the bridge if the at least one condition is satisfied. The at least one condition comprises whether the frame was received within a time window Tw of when a threshold number of previous frames were received at the port and their respective source network addresses were stored in the table.

Abstract: A processing device (CM) programmed to determine homing paths for a plurality of virtual private local area network services in an Ethernet network comprising a plurality of PE nodes. The processing device is programmed to perform the steps of computing (32-48) a plurality of sets of different homing configurations, computing (52) a cost function for each set of different homing configurations in the plurality of sets of different homing configurations, and selecting (58) a set of homing configurations from the plurality of sets of different homing configurations in response to a respective computed cost function.

Abstract: A bridged network system (10, 10?). The system comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (BRNx). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is connected to communicate with at least one other neighboring bridge node in the plurality of nodes. Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes comprises circuitry (BPy.z) for communicating with at least one of either another bridge node in the plurality of nodes or a network server. Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes further comprises circuitry for storing (neighbor-tracking table), as received from the at least one of another bridge node in the plurality of nodes and the network server, at least one spanning tree parameter of a neighboring bridge node.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic provisioning of reliable connections in the presence of multiple failures in optical networks are described. One embodiment is a method for allocation of protection paths after a failure in an optical network. The method comprises, responsive to a failure in an active lightpath, switching traffic on the active lightpath to a protection path; subsequent to the switching, identifying all active lightpaths in the network that no longer have an available protection path; and attempting to allocate a protection path to each of the identified active lightpaths.

Abstract: A method of routing packets in network system where the network system comprises a plurality of edge nodes and a plurality of core nodes. Selected core nodes are coupled to communicate with selected edge nodes. The network system also comprises a plurality of external nodes, with selected external nodes coupled to communicate with selected edge nodes, and where different external nodes are associated with a plurality of different entities sharing resources on the network system. The method comprises proposing a set of entities from the plurality of different entities. The proposed set comprises entities associated with external nodes that share respective connections to a number of edge nodes in the edge nodes such that the shared number is less than a total number of all edge nodes to which each different entity in the set is connected, with other aspects then taken with respect to the proposed set.

Abstract: A centralized node (CM) for coupling into a computer network (10) along which network traffic flows between a plurality of nodes (PEx) in a form of packets. The centralized node is programmed to perform the step of identifying requirements of unicast packet traffic (10, FIG. 1a) along the network, where the unicast packet traffic identifies a first traffic configuration along the network. The centralized node is also programmed to perform the step of constructing a second traffic configuration (10, FIG. 1b) along the network, differing from the first traffic configuration, wherein the second traffic configuration is for routing multicast packet traffic along the network.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a shared protection scheme under a scenario of multiple failures in an optical network. In one embodiment of the invention, a working path between an ingress node and an egress node is computed responsive to a connection request received in the network. One or more backup paths are computed between the ingress and egress nodes, which are activatable upon a failure condition associated with the working path or the backup paths. The backup paths may be based on link and/or node disjointedness, as well as resource-based cost constraints.

Abstract: System and method for diagnosing misconfigurations in a network are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises querying a network element for a current value of at least one parameter; determining an optimal value of the at least one parameter; comparing the current value of the at least one parameter with the optimal value of the at least one parameter; and providing a notification if a discrepancy exists between the optimal value of the at least one parameter and the current value of the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A bridged network system (10). The system comprises at least one network server (NS) for receiving and responding to authentication session requests. The system also comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (BRNx). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is connected to communicate with at least one other neighboring bridge node in the plurality of nodes, and each bridge node comprises at least one port (BPx), circuitry for communicating with at least one of either another bridge node in the plurality of nodes or the at least one network server, and circuitry for limiting (40, 42) a number of authentication sessions active at a same time through the at least one port. The system also comprises a central resource (e.g., BRN0).

Abstract: A bridged network system (10, 10?). The system comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (BRNx). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is connected to communicate with at least one other neighboring bridge node in the plurality of nodes. Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes comprises circuitry (BPy.z) for communicating with at least one of either another bridge node in the plurality of nodes or a network server. Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes further comprises circuitry for storing (neighbor-tracking table), as received from the at least one of another bridge node in the plurality of nodes and the network server, at least one spanning tree parameter of a neighboring bridge node.

Abstract: Protection paths are dynamically allocated in a wavelength-division multiplexed network including a plurality of nodes (12) coupled by communication links (14). A database (26) stores information regarding the status of the network including information associating channels in each link of the node to one or more protection paths and information associating channels in each link to respective working paths. Upon receiving a request for a new protection path to protect a defined working path, links are identified that have at least one shareable channel which may be shared between the new protection path and one or more existing protection paths, as are links that do not have a shareable channel but do have an unused channel that may be used for the new protection path. Costs are assigned to identified links where links that have at least one shareable channel are weighted differently than links that do not have a shareable channel. A protection path is determined using the found links based on the costs.

Abstract: A method of operating a bridge node (B0) in a network system. The bridge node comprises a plurality of ports (BP0.x). The method comprises a step of receiving a frame (240), from a device in the network system and other than the bridge node, at a port in the plurality of ports. The frame comprises a source network address. The method is also responsive to at least one condition (250, 260) associated with the port in that the method stores the source address in a forwarding table associated with the bridge if the at least one condition is satisfied. The at least one condition comprises whether the frame was received within a time window Tw of when a threshold number of previous frames were received at the port and their respective source network addresses were stored in the table.

Abstract: A method (20) of routing packets in network system (10). The network system comprises a plurality of edge nodes (ENx) and a plurality of core nodes (CNx). Selected core nodes are coupled to communicate with selected edge nodes. The network system also comprises a plurality of external nodes (CSTa,b) external from the edge nodes, with selected external nodes coupled to communicate with selected edge nodes in the plurality of edge nodes, and where different external nodes in the plurality of external nodes are associated with a plurality of different entities sharing resources on the network system. The method comprises a step (30) of proposing a set of entities from the plurality of different entities.

Abstract: A network system (10). The system comprises a plurality of nodes (PE, CE). Each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one other node in the plurality of nodes. Further, each node in the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate to another node via a respective primary path and via a respective backup path. Still further, each node in the plurality of nodes is operable to perform the steps of, when receiving network traffic as a receiving node, detecting delay (110, 120; 130, 140; 160, 170) in traffic received from a transmitting node, and, in response to detecting delay, communicating a signal to the transmitting node. In response to the signal, the transmitting node is operable to dynamically adjust (150; 190) a distribution of traffic through a respective primary path and a respective backup path from the transmitting node to the receiving node.

Abstract: A processing device (CM) programmed to determine homing paths for a plurality of virtual private local area network services in an Ethernet network comprising a plurality of PE nodes. The processing device is programmed to perform the steps of computing (32-48) a plurality of sets of different homing configurations, computing (52) a cost function for each set of different homing configurations in the plurality of sets of different homing configurations, and selecting (58) a set of homing configurations from the plurality of sets of different homing configurations in response to a respective computed cost function.

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to controlling auxiliary paths (CP, SC) in a hybrid optical communications network comprising a multiplicity of hybrid nodes (NO) including switching means (CM1) and color converter means (CM2) and interconnected by transmission lines. The device comprises processor means (MT) adapted, in the event of a fault on at least one of the transmission lines carrying a connection and at the ends of which are two hybrid nodes (NO) adapted to effect switching in opaque mode, to command the switching means (CM1) of at least one of the hybrid nodes (NO) to switch the optical signals taking the connection to a selected auxiliary path independent of color and passing through said nodes, where applicable after color conversion of the optical signals by the associated converter means (CM2).