Abstract: A method for utilizing a block chain infrastructure to define a trusted circle including at least two nodes of a plurality of nodes, the method includes receiving, by a first node, notification information identifying a trusted user circle including the first node and a second node, wherein the first node and the second node are configured to define a private block chain; and maintaining private block chain data within the trusted user circle according to pre-defined settings, wherein the private block chain data is divided between nodes of the trusted user circle based on the pre-defined settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for exploring a data collection. An exemplary system includes a GUI that displays a window to the user, and displays data element icons within the window representing an initial set of data elements from the data collection. Visual properties of the data element icons indicate the relevance of the data elements in the initial set to the data collection. The GUI receives input from the user selecting a data element icon within the window. Selection of the data element icon assigns a corresponding data element in the initial set as an initial anchor set. The GUI displays another window to the user, displays an anchor icon for the initial anchor set, and displays the data element icons representing a relevant set of data elements. Visual properties of the data element icons indicate the relevance of the data elements in the relevant set to the initial anchor set.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a block chain infrastructure to define a trusted circle including at least two nodes of a plurality of nodes, the method includes receiving, by a first node, notification information identifying a trusted user circle including the first node and a second node, wherein the first node and the second node are configured to define a private block chain; and maintaining private block chain data within the trusted user circle according to pre-defined settings, wherein the private block chain data is divided between nodes of the trusted user circle based on the pre-defined settings.

Abstract: A collaborative software-defined networking (SDN) based virtual private network (VPN) communication method includes: establishing, at a wireless access point, a private wireless local area network (WLAN) slice within a first wireless network in response to a request from a first user, wireless resources for the first wireless network being provided by the wireless access point; creating a VPN connection between the private WLAN slice and a second network; granting users access to the private WLAN slice and the VPN connection between the private WLAN slice and the second network; and routing traffic between the users granted access to the private WLAN slice and the VPN connection without transmission of the traffic to the second network through the VPN connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for exploring a data collection. An exemplary system includes a GUI that displays a window to the user, and displays data element icons within the window representing an initial set of data elements from the data collection. Visual properties of the data element icons indicate the relevance of the data elements in the initial set to the data collection. The GUI receives input from the user selecting a data element icon within the window. Selection of the data element icon assigns a corresponding data element in the initial set as an initial anchor set. The GUI displays another window to the user, displays an anchor icon for the initial anchor set, and displays the data element icons representing a relevant set of data elements. Visual properties of the data element icons indicate the relevance of the data elements in the relevant set to the initial anchor set.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources for transmitting content from a network element in a communications network to one or more mobile devices each in communication with the network element may include receiving, at the network element, characteristic information corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices; and generating one or more adaptive guaranteed bit rate (AGBR) values at the network element corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices, respectively. The AGBR values may be GBR values generated for each of the one or more mobile devices based on the corresponding characteristic information. A first scheduling algorithm may be executed at the network element based on the one or more AGBR values; and resources may be allocated to the one or more mobile devices based on an output of the scheduling algorithm.

Abstract: A collaborative software-defined networking (SDN) based virtual private network (VPN) communication method includes: establishing, at a wireless access point, a private wireless local area network (WLAN) slice within a first wireless network in response to a request from a first user, wireless resources for the first wireless network being provided by the wireless access point; creating a VPN connection between the private WLAN slice and a second network; granting users access to the private WLAN slice and the VPN connection between the private WLAN slice and the second network; and routing traffic between the users granted access to the private WLAN slice and the VPN connection without transmission of the traffic to the second network through the VPN connection.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: identifying a hardware failure of a failed component of a plurality of hardware components; determining a set of agent devices currently configured to utilize the failed component; reconfiguring an agent device to utilize a working component of the plurality of hardware components. Various exemplary embodiments additionally or alternatively relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: projecting a failure date for the hardware module; determining whether the projected failure date is acceptable based on a target replacement date for the hardware module; if the projected failure date is not acceptable: selecting a parameter adjustment for a hardware component, wherein the parameter adjustment is selected to move the projected failure date closer to the target replacement date, and applying the parameter adjustment to the hardware component.

Abstract: A virtual resource placement management capability is presented herein. The virtual resource placement management capability enables a cloud consumer to manage placement of virtual resources of the cloud consumer by a cloud service provider within a cloud environment of the cloud service provider. The virtual resource placement management capability may support management of placement of virtual resources of a cloud consumer onto physical resources of a cloud service provider (e.g., physical resources used by the cloud service provider to provide a cloud environment), which also may be referred to herein as mapping of virtual resources of a cloud consumer onto physical resources of a cloud service provider. The virtual resource placement management capability may support management of placement of virtual resources of a cloud-based application or a cloud-based solution of a cloud consumer onto physical resources of a cloud service provider.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining that a diagnostic test should be performed on a hardware component of a plurality of hardware components, wherein the plurality of hardware components support a plurality of agent devices and at least one agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to at least one of the plurality of hardware components; ensuring that no agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to the hardware component; and after ensuring that no agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to the hardware component, performing the diagnostic test on the hardware component, wherein at least one other hardware component of the plurality of hardware components continues operation during performance of the diagnostic test.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources for transmitting content from a network element in a communications network to one or more mobile devices each in communication with the network element may include receiving, at the network element, characteristic information corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices; and generating one or more adaptive guaranteed bit rate (AGBR) values at the network element corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices, respectively. The AGBR values may be GBR values generated for each of the one or more mobile devices based on the corresponding characteristic information. A first scheduling algorithm may be executed at the network element based on the one or more AGBR values; and resources may be allocated to the one or more mobile devices based on an output of the scheduling algorithm.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining that a diagnostic test should be performed on a hardware component of a plurality of hardware components, wherein the plurality of hardware components support a plurality of agent devices and at least one agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to at least one of the plurality of hardware components; ensuring that no agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to the hardware component; and after ensuring that no agent device of the plurality of agent devices is assigned to the hardware component, performing the diagnostic test on the hardware component, wherein at least one other hardware component of the plurality of hardware components continues operation during performance of the diagnostic test.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: identifying a hardware failure of a failed component of a plurality of hardware components; determining a set of agent devices currently configured to utilize the failed component; reconfiguring an agent device to utilize a working component of the plurality of hardware components. Various exemplary embodiments additionally or alternatively relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: projecting a failure date for the hardware module; determining whether the projected failure date is acceptable based on a target replacement date for the hardware module; if the projected failure date is not acceptable: selecting a parameter adjustment for a hardware component, wherein the parameter adjustment is selected to move the projected failure date closer to the target replacement date, and applying the parameter adjustment to the hardware component.

Abstract: The extended messaging scheme adds additional packet formats to the prior art 6-byte Lucent Access Interface Unit (AIU) Message Format of Table 1. The extended messaging scheme supports multi-packet messaging over telecommunication system configurations not supported by the prior art AIU Message Format. In one implementation, the extended messaging scheme includes (1) a “first-of-many” packet format for the initial data packets of messages requiring more than one 6-byte data packet, (2) a “continuation” packet format for the one or more subsequent data packets corresponding to such multi-packet messages, and (3) a “first-and-only” packet format for messages requiring only a single data packet. The extended messaging scheme enables telecommunication systems to be configured with one or more (possibly non-co-located) client terminals in addition to a main remote terminal to provide telecommunication services to a large number of widely distributed customers.

Abstract: A transmit-receive unit (TRU) which includes interface circuitry for interconnection with another TRU. Interconnect lines can carry PCM data to and from a line interface unit as well as share system information between the two transmit-receive units. An embedded operation channel data path multiplexer (EDP) also permits transmission of data between the transmit-receive unit and a bank controller unit over a service request lead.