Abstract: A transport software defined networking (SDN) controller comprising a receiver and a processor coupled to the receiver. The processor is configured to cause the transport SDN controller to determine a physical topology based on physical layer adjacency discovery messages received from physical layer network elements (NEs), receive advertisement messages from the physical layer NEs, each advertisement message comprising a mapping between an adjacent network layer NE and a port of the associated physical layer NE, extract a network layer adjacency request from some of the advertisement messages indicating a first network layer NE is requesting a network layer connection with a second network layer NE, and setup a physical layer connection between the first network layer NE and the second network layer NE based on the network layer adjacency request, the advertisement messages, and the physical topology.

Abstract: There is disclosed a network communication system that includes data sources and of switches. Each of the data sources and switches is interconnected by a packet-switched network, and is synchronized to a common clock. The system also includes a network controller that maintains records of network characteristics including a transmission delay for each of the data sources and switches, and a transmission delay for links in the packet-switched network. The network controller processes the network characteristics to generate, for each of a plurality of packets of a given type of traffic: a path from a particular data source, and through at least one particular switch, and a schedule of departure times at each of the particular data source and the at least one particular switch. The path and the schedule are optimized to meet jitter requirements for the given type of traffic.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a system and method for determining the propagation delay for a signal to traverse an optical fiber between two transceivers. The method is performed by the first transceiver and includes transmitting a message to the second transceiver over a first optical fiber. The method further includes receiving on the first optical fiber a reply message from the second transceiver including an indication of the internal time for the second transceiver to transmit the reply message. The method further includes determining the time interval from the time the message was transmitted to the time the first transceiver received the reply message. The method further includes calculating the propagation delay from the time interval and the internal time. The method further includes configuring the first transceiver to receive data traffic from the second transceiver on a second optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus including a service network and a plurality of Layer 2 sites connected by the service network via a plurality of gateways is provided. The gateways are configured to map a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts under a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs) in a plurality of Layer 2 sites to a plurality of addresses (e.g., MAC or others) of the corresponding other gateways, inform the other gateways in other Layer 2 sites of the IP addresses mapped under each of the VLANs in the local Layer 2 sites, and forward data frames originated from the hosts in the local Layer 2 sites to the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites when destinations of the data frames are residing in the other Layer 2 sites.

Abstract: A source routing method and apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving a data packet that comprises a destination address, a source address, and a payload, determining a plurality of next-hops along a service chain path between the source address and the destination address, generating a source routed data packet that comprises the destination address, the source address, the plurality of next-hops, and the payload, setting the destination address of the source routed data packet to a first next-hop from the plurality of next-hops along the service chain path, and forwarding the source routed data packet in accordance with the destination address.

Abstract: There is provided methods and apparatuses for managing front-haul network resources based on one or more front-haul network characteristics. One or more front-haul network characteristics are collected and/or determined by one or more front-haul network entities and are delivered to one or more network entities that manage front-haul network resources (e.g. scheduler, admission controller). The network entities, based on the received one or more front-haul network characteristics, manage network resources in their control. For example, management of the network resources can include scheduling use of the network resources by UEs, managing admission of UEs onto the communication network or other form of network resource management. By taking into account one or more front-haul network characteristics, the management of the network resources can be adapted to varying front-haul network requirements.

Abstract: A method in a mobile network including a first node configured to receive packets through a point-to-point tunnel from a second node. The method comprises a third node performing steps of: accessing tunnel information identifying the point-to-point tunnel; encapsulating a packet using a tunnel header containing the accessed tunnel information; and sending the encapsulated packet to the first node.

Abstract: A method for operating a source node includes receiving a data path validation request command requesting validation of a path associated with a traffic flow identified in the data path validation request command, and determining a first hop sequence in accordance with the path being validated, wherein the first hop sequence is identical to a second hop sequence associated with a non-validation request packet associated with the path being validated. The method also includes generating, by the source node, a validation request packet in accordance with the data path validation request command, the validation request packet comprises route information associated with the first hop sequence, an alert flag set to a specified value, and a path validation header specifying processing performed by nodes receiving the validation request packet, and transmitting, by the source node, the validation request packet in accordance with the route information.

Abstract: A service description may be used in network virtualization in order to specify requirements of an application. In order to provide network virtualization for generic networking components, including legacy networking components, the service description is mapped to a logical network implementation and then subsequently mapped to a physical implementation.

Abstract: A front-haul controller for a network coupling a BBU and an RRH that exchanges RF analog signals with a supported UE. The network comprises a plurality of nodes coupled by variable bit-rate network communications links. The BBU exchanges packets of frequency-domain samples with the RRH along the network. The front-haul controller monitors information about wireless spectrum occupancy at the RRH and at least one spectrum occupancy threshold and varies a bit-rate of the network link in accordance therewith. The front-haul controller can proactively adjust the bit-rate and/or the threshold during periods associated with at least one event that may impact the spectrum occupancy. The network link can be a FlexE, SONET, DWDM, LAG and/or ECMP link.

Abstract: In a configuration wherein N individual fibers interconnect two devices, each fiber can be configured, through configuration of the packet processing devices at each end of the fiber, to carry traffic in a single direction. From the perspective of the first device, an arbitrary subset T of the N fibers can be used for transmitting signals to the second device. The packet processing devices terminating a subset R of the remaining N-T fibers can be configured so that the first device may receive signals from the second device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interacting with a distributed database is provided. The database includes plural storage devices. Plural keys are generated and associated with a data item. Plural operations, such as storage or retrieval operations are then initiated on the distributed database. Each operation specifies a different key acting as an index for a corresponding data record. The keys can be generated using functions operating on an initial descriptor. For example, the characters of the descriptor can be reordered to produce new keys. As such, a data item can be stored in multiple different storage devices to provide redundancy.

Abstract: There is provided a Radio Frequency Identification tag that is sensitive to stress induced in a component to which the tag is coupled. In some embodiments, the RFID tag includes an electrically conductive loop that it configured to retain the RFID tag in a first operational state and upon breakage of the electrically conductive loop the RFID tag changes into a second operational state. By adhering the stress sensitive RFID tag to a particular component or location thereon, the operation state change of the RFID tag can be indicative of a the particular component reaching a known physical change. Moreover, a change in the operational state of the RFID tag can be detected by an appropriate RFID detector or scanner without the need for visual inspection, and thus provides evaluation of components that are positioned in hard to reach locations or hidden behind one or more coverings.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for path flow scheduling of multicast traffic through a network. The paths for traffic flow are determined to optimize link utilization in terms of bandwidth and link capacity, and limit link cost. In an embodiment, a method is implemented for network flow scheduling. The method includes establishing, by a controller of a network, a multicast tree which includes a plurality of links for sending multicast traffic from a source to multiple destinations. The tree is established based on minimizing a number of links in the multicast tree. The tree is then adjusted by replacing one or more of the plurality of links to reduce the link utilization. The tree adjustment is repeated by further replacing one or more links in the multicast tree to further reduce the link utilization.

Abstract: A controller and method for fault detection is provided in network cloud environments is provided. The controller may transmit a request to activate at least two scout functions at deployment locations in the network cloud environment, each scout function operable to execute one or more evaluation operations to collect and report evaluation information relating to its corresponding deployment location. The controller may receive at least one evaluation report comprising an evaluation of computational or communication resource availability at the deployment locations.

Abstract: A front-haul controller for a network coupling a BBU and an RRH that exchanges RF analog signals with a supported UE. The network comprises a plurality of nodes coupled by variable bit-rate network communications links. The BBU exchanges packets of frequency-domain samples with the RRH along the network. The front-haul controller monitors information about wireless spectrum occupancy at the RRH and at least one spectrum occupancy threshold and varies a bit-rate of the network link in accordance therewith. The front-haul controller can proactively adjust the bit-rate and/or the threshold during periods associated with at least one event that may impact the spectrum occupancy. The network link can be a FlexE, SONET, DWDM, LAG and/or ECMP link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for instantiating network slices using connectivity and computing resources, is provided. Information regarding connectivity and computing resources for supporting network slices is used to identify shared risk groups. Each shared risk group includes those resources expected to be disabled by a common failure event. A first set of functions, such as virtual network functions, belonging to a network slice, is instantiated on a first subset of the resources. The union of all shared risk groups which include at least one of the first subset of resources is disjoint from the union of all shared risk groups which include at least one of a second subset of resources. The second subset of resources is allocated for instantiating a second set of functions which are redundant with the first set of functions. As such, redundant network slices and/or functions thereof can be provided which are robust to failure.

Abstract: A network element configured to operate in a source routing network, wherein the network element comprises a receiver, a transmitter, and a processor coupled to the receiver and the transmitter. The processor may be configured to cause the network element to receive from an upstream network element, a liveness protection probe comprising a header that comprises a list of one or more ordered connection identifiers that indicate a network path traversing the source routing network through which the liveness protection probe should be forwarded, transmit the liveness protection probe toward a downstream network element according to the connection identifiers, receive the liveness protection probe from the downstream network element, and transmit the liveness protection probe to the upstream network element according to a second list of one or more ordered connection identifiers contained within the header.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transport software defined networking (SDN) controller, comprising a receiver configured to receive advertisement messages from physical layer NEs, each advertisement message indicating a mapping between a physical layer network elements (NE) port and an adjacent network layer NE, and a processor coupled to the receiver. The SDC controller is configured to determine a relationship between a logical topology and a physical topology, inspect a network layer link aggregation group (LAG) request, the request indicating a first network layer NE is requesting modification of a LAG with a second network layer NE, and modify a physical layer connection between a physical layer NE adjacent to the first network layer NE and a second physical layer NE adjacent to the second network layer NE to implement the LAG modification based on the relationship between the physical topology and the logical topology.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for steering an input packet stream includes a traffic splitter configured to split an input packet stream into a first packet stream and a second packet stream, and a photonic switching fabric coupled to the traffic splitter, where the photonic switching fabric is configured to switch the first packet stream. The system may also include an electrical packet switching fabric coupled to the traffic splitter, where the electrical packet switching fabric is configured to switch the second packet stream, and a traffic combiner coupled to the photonic switching fabric and to the electrical packet switching fabric, where the traffic combiner is configured to merge the first switched packet stream and the second switched packet stream to produce a first packet flow.