Abstract: A method implemented for providing a source of entropy in source routing, the method comprising receiving a source routing packet that comprises an entropy-header, wherein the entropy-header comprises an entropy field and a list of identifiers (IDs), determining a next hop ID from the list of IDs, determining whether the next hop ID identifies a plurality of routes used to reach a next hop node, selecting a first route from the plurality of routes using the entropy field, and transmitting the source routing packet via the first route, wherein the list of IDs indicates the route used to transport the source routing packet from a source to a destination.

Abstract: An address resolution method, comprising obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for a destination network node, computing a Media Access Control (MAC) address for the destination network node using a mapping function and the IP address for the destination network node, and sending data traffic using the MAC address computed for the destination network node.

Abstract: A packet obfuscation method comprising receiving a data packet having a routing header portion and a payload portion, performing a first obfuscation on the routing header portion to generate an obfuscated routing header portion, performing a second obfuscation on at least the payload portion to generate an obfuscated payload portion, and combining the obfuscated routing header portion and the obfuscated payload portion to form an obfuscated packet. A packet forwarding method comprising obfuscating routing information using a packet obfuscation function, generating a plurality of forwarding rule entries in accordance with the obfuscated routing information, transmitting the plurality of forwarding rule entries to at least one network node in a network, transmitting the packet obfuscation function to at least one network node in the network, and transmitting a de-obfuscation function to at least one network node in the network.

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: A network component including a receiver configured to receive a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for a plurality of hosts in a plurality of external Layer 2 networks located at a plurality of physical locations and interconnected via a service, a logic circuit configured to map the IP addresses of the hosts in the external Layer 2 networks to a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of a plurality of corresponding gateways in the same external Layer 2 networks, and a transmitter configured to send to the external Layer 2 networks a plurality of a plurality of IP addresses for a plurality of local hosts in a local Layer 2 network coupled to the external Layer 2 networks via the service.

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: An embodiment method of loop suppression in a layer-two transit network with multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) encapsulation includes receiving a packet at a provider edge (PE) router for the layer-two transit network. The packet is stored in a non-transitory memory on the PE router. The packet is stored according to a packet data structure having an MPLS label field and a layer-two header. A time-to-live (TTL) attribute is then determined for the packet. The TTL attribute is written to the non-transitory memory in the MPLS label field. The packet is then routed according to information in the layer-two header.

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: A physical layer network element comprising one or more physical ports, a network packet interface, and a processor coupled to the network packet interface. The processor and the network packet interface may be configured to inspect adjacency discovery messages forwarded across the network packet interface between adjacent logical nodes operating at a network layer and map at least one of the physical ports to at least one of the adjacent logical nodes, wherein the network packet interface and the processor are not configured to modify header information contained in the adjacency discovery messages forwarded across the network packet interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that reduce the maximum transmission unit (MTU) size associated with an output port when a jitter sensitive packet flow utilizes the output port. This may reduce the amount of jitter introduced into the jitter sensitive packet flow. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting packets through an output port. The output port has an MTU size set to a first MTU value, and the packets have a size no greater than the first MTU value. The method further includes setting the MTU size to a second smaller MTU value, and transmitting other packets through the output port. The other packets have a size no greater than the second MTU value. The other packets include packets from a jitter sensitive packet flow. The method further includes subsequently setting the MTU size to an MTU value greater than the second MTU value.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising: a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following: receive an instruction to virtualize a network device within a network, divide, according to the instruction, the network device into a plurality of network functions (NFs) used to form a virtualized network node that corresponds to the network device, launch the NFs within one or more virtual containers, and group the virtual containers together using a group identifier (ID) that corresponds to the virtualized network node, wherein each of the NFs correspond to a network function performed by the network device prior to virtualization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing traffic among a plurality of interconnected sites. The sites are interconnected via ring members and ring segments of a logical ring implemented by a network controller over a physical transport network. When it is determined there is a change in traffic that requires a change in ring topology, topology optimization is performed to accommodate the change in traffic. The topology optimization may include: dynamically increasing capacity of a ring segment, dynamically decreasing capacity of a ring segment, dynamically creating a traffic path, and/or dynamically removing a traffic path.

Abstract: There is disclosed a node for routing data packets in a flow. The node generally comprises a receiver which is configured to receive a command to reroute the flow from a first source route to a second source route. The node also includes a processor for determining that a period of time between first and second consecutive data packets of the flow exceeds a threshold value and a transmitter configured to transmit the second data packet on the second source route in response to the determination. Alternatively, the determination of a period of time between first and second consecutive data packets of the flow can be made by a network controller which can instruct a given node to perform the rerouting of the flow in a manner to route only the second and following consecutive data packets along the second source route.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing traffic over a wireless link through the compression or suppression of high layer packets carrying predictable background data prior to transportation over a wireless link. The methods include intercepting application layer protocol packets carrying the predictable background data. In embodiments where the background data is periodic in nature, the high layer packets may be compressed into low-layer signaling indicators for communication over a low-layer control channel (e.g., an on off keying (OOK) channel). Alternatively, the high layer packets may be suppressed entirely (not transported over the wireless link) when a receiver side daemon is configured to autonomously replicate the periodic background nature according to a projected interval. In other embodiments, compression techniques may be used to reduce overhead attributable to non-periodic background data that is predictable in context.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting/attaching a mobile device to a network. Service information, such as pricing and plan information, associated with one or more networks is provided to a mobile device. The mobile device requests and receives configuration details for a selected one of the networks. The configuration details can include identity information such as is stored in a reprogrammable SIM, usable for connecting/attaching the mobile device to the selected network. The mobile device then registers and connects with the selected network based on the configuration details.

Abstract: A plurality of network nodes, under the control of a network controller, are configured to perform a method to direct packets in a packet flow from a source to a destination. In one embodiment, the network controller transmits an instruction to a first node in a network instructing the first node to transmit a first packet in the packet flow along a first route from the source to the destination, the first route having a first delay. The network controller also transmits an instruction to a node in the network to transmit a second packet in the packet flow along a second route different from the first route, the second route having a second delay, the second delay having a duration less than a duration of the first delay. The network controller further transmits an instruction to a node in the second route to delay the second packet in order to delay arrival of the second packet at the destination.

Abstract: Rather than there being a requirement that specific instructions be issued to cause a transport network tunnel to be configured, it is proposed herein to have a transport node autonomously determine that a transport network tunnel is to be configured and, responsively, cause the transport network tunnel to be configured. In general, a transport node (an L0/L1 device) adjacent to the packet device at the origin of LACP messages snoops on the LACP messages. The transport node may determine, based on the contents of a control LACP message, that a new packet network link is to be established between the origin packet device and a destination packet device. Responsive to the determining, the transport node adjacent to the origin packet device causes a transport network tunnel to be established between one of its ports and a port at a transport node adjacent the destination packet device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention pertain to methods and devices that allow user equipment (UE), such as for example wireless devices, to reconfigure their respective antennas in a dynamic manner to allow connection to additional or fewer logical networks, also being referred to as network slices. Changing the configuration of the array of antennas may include changing an existing configuration, or allocation, of the antennas that are currently communicating with a first number of logical networks into a different configuration of antennas for communicating with a second, different second number of logical networks. In some cases this may mean that antennas that were allocated for communicating with a primary logical network are re-allocated for communicating with a second logical network, with other antennas remaining in communication with the primary logical network.

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 service chaining method comprising receiving a source routed data packet, wherein the source routed data packet comprises a destination address and identifies a plurality of next-hops along a service chain path, identifying a next-hop for the source routed data packet using the plurality of next-hops, determining whether the next-hop is source routing capable, setting the destination address of the source routed data packet in accordance with the determination, wherein the destination address is set to the next-hop when the next-hop is source routing capable, and wherein the destination address is set to a next downstream network node that is source routing capable when the next-hop is not source routing capable, and forwarding the source routed data packet to the next-hop.