Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer selection in a network are disclosed. For example, the method requests peer information from an application server supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service, and receives the peer information comprising a plurality of peer endpoint devices. The method then selects a peer endpoint device from the plurality of peer endpoint devices based on at least one preference.

Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in wiring in a DSL system. The method includes collecting data including instantaneous values, a history of values, and/or parameters relating to a central office or customer premises equipment, analyzing a line for a wiring defect based on the collected data, and reporting whether or not a wiring defect was detected responsive to the analyzing step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer selection in a network are disclosed. For example, the method requests peer information from an application server supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service, and receives the peer information comprising a plurality of peer endpoint devices. The method then selects a peer endpoint device from the plurality of peer endpoint devices based on at least one preference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to allocate shared resources of a high speed packet access channel in a communication network are disclosed. An example method to allocate shared resources of a high speed packet access channel disclosed herein comprises providing information to a user device describing a plurality of service options for exchanging data over the high speed packet access channel, wherein the information comprises a plurality of costs based on an availability of the shared resources, and allocating at least a portion of the shared resources of the high speed packet access channel to the user device according to a selected service option from the plurality of service options.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer selection in a network are disclosed. For example, the method requests peer information from an application server supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service, and receives the peer information comprising a plurality of peer endpoint devices. The method then selects a peer endpoint device from the plurality of peer endpoint devices based on at least one preference.

Abstract: A particular method includes communicating a media stream in response to receiving a channel change request (e.g., a request to view an interactive health channel) from a first device associated with a patient. The media stream is received from a second device associated with a healthcare provider and is communicated to the first device via an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method further includes communicating patient data received from the first device associated with the patient to the second device associated with the healthcare provider via the IPTV network.

Abstract: A method for redirecting video content includes receiving a video signal at the set-top box and decoding the video signal to produce unrendered video data. The unrendered video data is encoded and provided to the remote device via a wide area network. By encoding unrendered, rather than rendered, video data for transmission to the remote device, the need for an encoding device external to the set-top box is obviated.

Abstract: A method for redirecting video content includes receiving a video signal at the set-top box and decoding the video signal to produce unrendered video data. The unrendered video data is encoded and provided to the remote device via a wide area network. By encoding unrendered, rather than rendered, video data for transmission to the remote device, the need for an encoding device external to the set-top box is obviated.

Abstract: A system and method for managing network traffic is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a data switch having a controller element to transmit telemetry data representative of bandwidth usage by one or more users of the data switch. At least one higher bandwidth user can have an increased polling frequency based at least in part on a differential in upstream and downstream data transfer rates for the one or more users. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for managing network traffic is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a data switch having a controller element to transmit telemetry data representative of bandwidth usage by one or more users of the data switch. Traffic for the data switch can be managed based at least in part on the bandwidth usage by higher bandwidth users of the data switch. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer selection in a network are disclosed. For example, the method requests peer information from an application server supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service, and receives the peer information comprising a plurality of peer endpoint devices. The method then selects a peer endpoint device from the plurality of peer endpoint devices based on at least one preference.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to determine a behavioral profile of an end user from packet traffic generated by activities of the end user, and share the behavioral profile with a network element for distributing targeted advertisements to the end user according to the behavioral profile. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for restricting a remote control interface port of a set-top box configured to broadcast multimedia programs over a provider network. A change schedule that changes communication parameters may restrict the remote control interface port. The operating frequency or the code set used to transmit data and commands may be changed at random or at predefined intervals. The set-top box, the remote control, or an external network device may initiate the change schedule. Encryption of communications between the set-top box and the remote control unit may also be performed to protect the set-top box from unauthorized access.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to allocate shared resources of a high speed packet access channel in a communication network are disclosed. An example method to allocate shared resources of a high speed packet access channel disclosed herein comprises providing information to a user device describing a plurality of service options for exchanging data over the high speed packet access channel, wherein the information comprises a plurality of costs based on an availability of the shared resources, and allocating at least a portion of the shared resources of the high speed packet access channel to the user device according to a selected service option from the plurality of service options.

Abstract: A method for redirecting video content includes receiving a video signal at the set-top box and decoding the video signal to produce unrendered video data. The unrendered video data is encoded and provided to the remote device via a wide area network. By encoding unrendered, rather than rendered, video data for transmission to the remote device, the need for an encoding device external to the set-top box is obviated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to characterize a digital subscriber line (DSL) subscriber loop are disclosed. An example method comprises selecting a portion of a search space based on a measured transfer function response, the search space defining a plurality of combinations of transmission line parameters, and identifying a characterizing parameter of a digital subscriber line (DSL) subscriber loop from the selected portion of the search space, the characterizing parameter having an associated transfer function that substantially corresponds with the measured transfer function response.

Abstract: A method of processing online advertisement selections includes detecting an electronic selection of an online advertisement, where the electronic selection is issued from a user computing device. The method also includes identifying an online site with which the user computing device is communicating at a time of the electronic selection of the online advertisement. The method also includes storing a fraudulent click indicator in association with an identifier of the user computing device, when the user computing device has not communicated with the online site a threshold number of times within a first pre-defined period preceding the electronic selection.

Abstract: A system and method for managing network traffic is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a data switch having a controller element to transmit telemetry data representative of bandwidth usage by one or more users of the data switch. Traffic for the data switch can be managed based at least in part on the bandwidth usage by higher bandwidth users of the data switch. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A multicast test of an Internet Protocol (IP) network is performed with an initial multicast probing frequency. The multicast probing frequency of the multicast test is increased, and an impairment of the IP network based on the multicast test is detected based on the multicast test. Based on detecting the impairment, a unicast test is performed at one or more segments of the IP network. Based on the unicast test, an impaired segment of the IP network is identified.

Abstract: A computerized method for selecting a host web site for hosting advertising data is disclosed the method including characterizing in a data communications network, data communications for a plurality of end user devices for each of a plurality of subscribers to the data communication network between the data communication network and each of a plurality of potential host web sites; profiling each of the plurality of potential host web sites for advertising performance based on the characterizing data communications and subscriber profile data for the plurality of subscribers stored in the data communications network; and selecting one of the plurality of potential host web sites as a selected host web site for the advertising data based on the selected host web site advertising performance. A system and a computer program are also disclosed for performing the method.