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 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: 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: An apparatus comprising a service network and a plurality of Layer 2 networks at a plurality of different physical locations coupled to the service network via a plurality of edge nodes at the Layer 2 networks, wherein the edge nodes are configured to maintain a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts across the Layer 2 networks, and wherein the IP addresses of the hosts in each of the Layer 2 networks are mapped by the other Layer 2 networks to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of each of the edge nodes in the same Layer 2 networks of the hosts.

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: An apparatus comprising a service network, and a plurality of Layer 2 sites connected by the service network via a plurality of gateways, wherein 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 gateways inform the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites of the mapped IP addresses 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 the data frames' destinations are residing in the other Layer 2 sites.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) configured to communicate with a plurality of servers at an application layer, and a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to the ACG via an application-network interface (ANI) and configured to communicate with a plurality of network nodes at a plurality of network layers below the application layer, wherein the ANI allows joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising receiving at a service controller in a service plane a resource reservation request from an application controller coupled to an application plane to enable an application for a user, computing a path for the application, allocating the resource for the path at a network plane using network maintained databases, and forwarding a response with the allocated resource to the application plane via the service controller and the application controller.

Abstract: A method for performing an automatic join and leave function for either a host or network using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling, the method comprising, sending a BGP join request that indicates a request to join a virtual network, receiving a BGP join response that indicates either an acceptance or a rejection of the BGP join request, adding the host to the virtual network when the BGP join response accepts the BGP join request, sending a BGP leave request that indicates a request to leave the virtual network, receiving a BGP leave response that indicates either an acceptance or a rejection of the BGP leave request, and removing the host from the virtual network when the BGP leave response accepts the BGP leave request, wherein the BGP join request comprises a quality of service (QoS) requirement and a bandwidth requirement.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) configured to communicate with a plurality of servers at an application layer, and a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to the ACG via an application-network interface (ANI) and configured to communicate with a plurality of network nodes at a plurality of network layers below the application layer, wherein the ANI allows joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising receiving at a service controller in a service plane a resource reservation request from an application controller coupled to an application plane to enable an application for a user, computing a path for the application, allocating the resource for the path at a network plane using network maintained databases, and forwarding a response with the allocated resource to the application plane via the service controller and the application controller.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a service network and a plurality of Layer 2 networks at a plurality of different physical locations coupled to the service network via a plurality of edge nodes at the Layer 2 networks, wherein the edge nodes are configured to maintain a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of a plurality of hosts across the Layer 2 networks, and wherein the IP addresses of the hosts in each of the Layer 2 networks are mapped by the other Layer 2 networks to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of each of the edge nodes in the same Layer 2 networks of the hosts.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a service network, and a plurality of Layer 2 sites connected by the service network via a plurality of gateways, wherein 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 gateways inform the other gateways in the other Layer 2 sites of the mapped IP addresses 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 the data frames' destinations are residing in the other Layer 2 sites.

Abstract: Policy domains are introduced, which include methods and algorithms for ensuring policy consistency within defined regions of one or more communications networks. Examples of such policies include network functions such as routing, filtering, security, authentication, information summarization and expansion. These policies may be organized into hierarchies of policy categories. The policy domains include mechanisms for adding and deleting policies while preserving consistency, as well as mechanisms for allowing fast synchronization and convergence of policies between local databases resident different nodes/peers in the networks. Policy domains may delineated by pre-existing logical topologies, such as autonomous systems, or may have evolving boundaries.

Abstract: A Virtual Communication Environment to support virtual switching engines for layer 2 switches is described. The virtual layer 2 switching engines allow many virtual switches to be created in a CPU or across multiple CPUs in switching hardware. The virtual switch engines reduce the inter-communication costs in memory, CPU, inter-process bandwidth, and fabric bandwidth. This reduction in the cost per Virtual Switch device allows either more virtual switches to be contained within a control plane or more applications per switch control plane.

Abstract: This invention has two mechanisms: Dynamic AS switching for AS confederations and Dynamic AS switching. The Dynamic AS switching for AS confederation mechanism provides a mechanism for an Autonomous System within an AS confederation to survive disconnection from the rest of the Autonomous Systems within the AS Confederation. This invention provides a mechanism for the AS within the AS confederation to use a pre-agreed upon fail-over to the internal AS, so its eBGP connections will not be reset. The Dynamic AS switching mechanisms allows to peers to re-negotiate AS number changes in any Autonomous Systems the peer represent without dropping the BGP peering session.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for exchanging and determining routes in packet-switched mesh networks. Nodes in the mesh networks may be coupled via wireless and fixed-wire links. Routing protocols used to determine routes include link state protocols and hybrids of link state and path vector protocols. Type-Length-Value formats are provided to facilitate state information for nodes in the packet switched network, allowing paths to be re-routed through the mesh networks in real-time.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exchanging route prefix limit parameters and performing route processing based on multi-level, e.g., three levels of prefix limit parameters between BGP peers in a network running BGP protocol. Further, a route refresh BGP message and/or a soft-notify BGP message may be used to exchange prefix limit related information, according to certain embodiments.

Abstract: A canonical interface for remote interaction with communication devices in a network is described. The canonical interface supports interactions for communicating with remote devices for the configuration of router/communication software or devices; querying run-time information (dynamic and static) and statistics from router/communication software or devices; performing multi-system consistency checking; reporting management events from router/communication software or devices; revision control; and prioritizing urgent network requests over standard network management throughput.

Abstract: A method and system for virtualization of control software for a communication device is disclosed. A virtual communication environment is provided to support the virtualization of communication devices. Such a virtual communication environment creates, links and manages virtual communication processes that are associated with the virtual communication devices.

Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods to extend security from enterprise networks to wide-area networks by allowing secure connectivity to the enterprise layer 2 network across a wide-area layer 3 network, such as the Internet

Abstract: Extensions to the ES-IS protocol are described which include virtual nodes and virtual sub-network identifiers. Techniques for selecting a physical IS forwarder amongst multiple candidates in a virtual node may include tie-breaking mechanisms based on pre-emption values supported by the ES-IS extensions Embodiments allow integration between ES-IS based broadcast networks supporting the Internet Protocol (IP) and the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). In some embodiments, this integration is accomplished in part by translating packet data units between ES-IS and versions of VRRP. In some such embodiments, nodes on an internetwork maintain concurrent state tables for ES-IS and VRRP.