Abstract: A method and system for delivery of real-time popular recorded over-the-top (OTT) streams in a broadband network are provided. The method includes monitoring OTT streams flow in the broadband network; for each monitored OTT stream, determining if a type of a monitored OTT stream is a recorded OTT stream; upon determining that the type of a monitored OTT stream is a recorded OTT stream, determining an efficiency in delivering the recorded OTT stream in a multicast format; reformatting the recorded OTT stream into a multicast OTT stream, if the recorded OTT stream can be efficiently delivered in a multicast format; and delivering the recorded OTT stream as a multicast OTT stream to a user edge device over the broadband network.

Abstract: A method and system for managing live, linear, and repetitive video stream transmissions in limited multicast resource systems are provided. The method includes monitoring OTT content streams flow in the broadband network; determining a delivery mode for each of the monitored OTT content streams, wherein the determination is based on at least one decision parameter, wherein the deliver mode is any one of a multicast mode and a unicast mode; and switching from a current delivery mode to the determined delivery mode when the current mode and determined delivery mode are not the same.

Abstract: A system and method for off-loading the serving of repetitive content by a streaming server are presented. The method includes establishing a plurality of unicast transport-layer sockets with a plurality of end-user devices; receiving a plurality of requests for a multimedia content from the plurality of end-user devices, wherein the plurality of requests are session-layer requests; determining if the received plurality of requests are for a repetitive content; and upon determination that the received plurality of requests are for the repetitive content: opening a single socket with a streaming application of at least one streaming server; retrieving a single copy of the requested multimedia content from the streaming application over the single socket; and streaming the retrieved single copy to the plurality of end-user devices through their respective plurality of unicast transport-layer sockets.

Abstract: A system and method for delivery of unmanaged over-the-top (OTT) streams in a cellular network are provided. The method includes monitoring unmanaged OTT streams flow in the cellular network; determining if at least one of the monitored unmanaged OTT streams can be delivered as an OTT stream in a multicast format; reformatting the at least one unmanaged OTT stream into a multicast OTT stream, if the at least one unmanaged OTT stream can be delivered in a multicast format; and delivering the at least one unmanaged OTT stream as a multicast OTT stream to a user edge device over the cellular network.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a live over-the-top (OTT) stream are provided. The method includes analyzing a received request for an OTT stream; requesting a plurality of time-shifted OTT streams respective of the requested OTT stream when the analysis of the received request indicates that the requested OTT stream is suspected as a live OTT stream; analyzing the plurality of time-shifted OTT streams, wherein each analysis of a suspected live OTT stream results in a definitive indication of whether the requested OTT stream is a live OTT stream.

Abstract: A method and system for switching between a unicast streaming source and a multicast streaming source of over-the-top (OTT) streams are provided. The method includes retrieving an OTT unicast stream from the unicast streaming source and an OTT multicast stream from the multicast streaming source, wherein there is a time delay between the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream; synchronizing the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream to compensate for the time delay; selecting one of the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream; and switching to a streaming source of the selected OTT stream.

Abstract: A system and method for off-loading the serving of repetitive content by a streaming server are presented. The method includes establishing a plurality of unicast transport-layer sockets with a plurality of end-user devices; receiving a plurality of requests for a multimedia content from the plurality of end-user devices, wherein the plurality of requests are session-layer requests; determining if the received plurality of requests are for a repetitive content; and upon determination that the received plurality of requests are for the repetitive content: opening a single socket with a streaming application of at least one streaming server; retrieving a single copy of the requested multimedia content from the streaming application over the single socket; and streaming the retrieved single copy to the plurality of end-user devices through their respective plurality of unicast transport-layer sockets.

Abstract: A method and system for delivery of real-time popular recorded over-the-top (OTT) streams in a broadband network are provided. The method includes monitoring OTT streams flow in the broadband network; for each monitored OTT stream, determining if a type of a monitored OTT stream is a recorded OTT stream; upon determining that the type of a monitored OTT stream is a recorded OTT stream, determining an efficiency in delivering the recorded OTT stream in a multicast format; reformatting the recorded OTT stream into a multicast OTT stream, if the recorded OTT stream can be efficiently delivered in a multicast format; and delivering the recorded OTT stream as a multicast OTT stream to a user edge device over the broadband network.

Abstract: A method and system for managing live, linear, and repetitive video stream transmissions in limited multicast resource systems are provided. The method includes monitoring OTT content streams flow in the broadband network; determining a delivery mode for each of the monitored OTT content streams, wherein the determination is based on at least one decision parameter, wherein the deliver mode is any one of a multicast mode and a unicast mode; and switching from a current delivery mode to the determined delivery mode when the current mode and determined delivery mode are not the same.

Abstract: A method and system for multicast transmission of OTT streams to players that do not support multicast format are provided. The method includes establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection with a media player; establishing a user datagram protocol (UDP) connection with a multicast delivery server (MDS); receiving an OTT content stream in a multicast streaming format via the UDP connection; reformatting the received multicast OTT content stream into a unicast stream; and delivering the unicast stream via the TCP connection to the media player, wherein the unicast stream is a streaming format supported by the media player.

Abstract: A method and system for delivery of over-the-top (OTT) streams over a fixed-line network are provided. The method comprises monitoring OTT streams flow in the fixed-line network; determining if the delivery of at least one of the monitored OTT streams improves the efficiency of the fixed-line network when the at least one of the OTT streams is delivered in a multicast format; reformatting the at least one of the OTT streams into a multicast OTT stream; instructing user edge devices connected to the fixed-line network to expect the reception of the multicast OTT stream; and delivering the multicast OTT stream to the user edge devices over the fixed-line network.

Abstract: A system and method for delivery of unmanaged over-the-top (OTT) streams in a cellular network are provided. The method includes monitoring unmanaged OTT streams flow in the cellular network; determining if at least one of the monitored unmanaged OTT streams can be delivered as an OTT stream in a multicast format; reformatting the at least one unmanaged OTT stream into a multicast OTT stream, if the at least one unmanaged OTT stream can be delivered in a multicast format; and delivering the at least one unmanaged OTT stream as a multicast OTT stream to a user edge device over the cellular network.

Abstract: A method and system for switching between a unicast streaming source and a multicast streaming source of over-the-top (OTT) streams are provided. The method includes retrieving an OTT unicast stream from the unicast streaming source and an OTT multicast stream from the multicast streaming source, wherein there is a time delay between the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream; synchronizing the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream to compensate for the time delay; selecting one of the OTT unicast stream and the OTT multicast stream; and switching to a streaming source of the selected OTT stream.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a live over-the-top (OTT) stream are provided. The method includes analyzing a received request for an OTT stream; requesting a plurality of time-shifted OTT streams respective of the requested OTT stream when the analysis of the received request indicates that the requested OTT stream is suspected as a live OTT stream; analyzing the plurality of time-shifted OTT streams, wherein each analysis of a suspected live OTT stream results in a definitive indication of whether the requested OTT stream is a live OTT stream.

Abstract: A performance management unit manages a primary interface and a standby or secondary interface to two channels of an optical communications network having APS capabilities. Each performance parameter is associated with three counters. First and second counters are linked to registers of the primary and the secondary ports, and the third counter is linked to the registers of the currently active port. When a protection switch occurs, the first and second counters are immediately read and reset. The third counter continues accumulating data, but becomes associated with the new active port. At the end of a read interval, the third counter correctly reflects the number of data received, regardless of switchovers between the primary and secondary channels.

Abstract: Communication access apparatus includes a master shelf, including a master switching unit linked to communicate with a high-speed network, and a plurality of slave shelves arranged in a given system topology with respect to the master shelf. Each of the slave shelves includes ports configured to serve network subscribers, and further includes a slave switching unit, coupled to communicate with the master switching unit and to multiplex among the ports so as to provide the subscribers with access to the high-speed network, and to receive from the master shelf management messages that are addressed to an internal network-layer address that is determined uniquely for each of the slave shelves based on the topology.

Abstract: Communication access apparatus includes a master shelf, including a master switching unit linked to communicate with a high-speed network, and a plurality of slave shelves. Each slave shelf includes ports that serve network subscribers, and further includes a slave switching unit, coupled to communicate with the master switching unit and to multiplex among the ports so as to provide the subscribers with access to the high-speed network. A management station is coupled to communicate with the master shelf and the plurality of slave shelves over a management network in which all of the slave shelves are on a single subnet.

Abstract: Dividing a multiplexed optical signal transmitted along a first transmission path into two portions and diverting one of the two portions to a second transmission path and forwarding the other portion of the multiplexed optical signal along that first transmission path, while the energy of the diverted portion comprises the entire spectrum of the multiplexed optical signal. Preferably, the diverted first portion is further divided into at least two parts, each comprising a wavelength range substantially different than the others, and at least one of the two parts is forwarded towards an optical receiver.

Abstract: A performance management unit manages a primary interface and a standby or secondary interface to two channels of an optical communications network having APS capabilities. Each performance parameter is associated with three counters. First and second counters are linked to registers of the primary and the secondary ports, and the third counter is linked to the registers of the currently active port. When a protection switch occurs, the first and second counters are immediately read and reset. The third counter continues accumulating data, but becomes associated with the new active port. At the end of a read interval, the third counter correctly reflects the number of data received, regardless of switchovers between the primary and secondary channels.

Abstract: Multiplexing apparatus for providing access to a high-speed network over a plurality of subscriber lines. One or more line cards include ports to the subscriber lines, at least one of the line cards including a volatile memory for storing backup configuration parameters of the apparatus. A switching unit includes a non-volatile memory, adapted to store operating configuration parameters. A controller in the switching unit is operative to receive the backup configuration parameters stored in the volatile memory and to update the operating configuration parameters in the non-volatile memory responsive to the backup configuration parameters. The switching unit also includes a communication interface, over which it is coupled to communicate with the network in accordance with the operating configuration parameters so as to link the ports of the line cards to the network.