Abstract: The principles of the invention allow an intermediate device, such as a router, to intelligently filter redundant data streams provided by one or more hosts. In the event of a network disturbance, the router may stop filtering one of the now needed redundant data streams in a manner that may reduce the consumption of network resources, such as bandwidth, without having to modify end-user applications residing on subscriber devices. Therefore, the router acting in accordance with the principles of the invention may transparently provide data streams to subscriber devices despite the occurrence of a network disturbance that may otherwise prevent the subscriber devices from receiving the data streams.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing and configuring network devices from a plurality of vendors with a single network configuration tool. This vendor-independent network configuration tool may extract configuration information stored to devices from disparate vendors, and parse tags from extracted configuration information. Each tag defines a configuration property. The tool may further analyze the tags to determine relationships and present configuration information based primarily on the determined relationship and only secondarily on the devices. The tool may also perform analysis on the tags to detect one or more errors or configuration inconsistencies, as well as, update or change tags, which causes the tool to push any changes to the appropriate device. Furthermore, the tool by automatically share information related to the above described steps with other vendor-independent network configuration tools to more quickly propagate efficient extraction and updating techniques.

Abstract: Techniques for delivering and receiving multicast content across a unicast network are described. A system that supports delivery and reception of multicast content across a unicast network includes a first device and a second device. The first device may be a destination device or a multicast-enabled router. The second device is multicast-enabled, and may be a multicast-enabled router. The first device determines whether a route between a destination device and a source of multicast packets is multicast-enabled, sends a unicast request message that includes as a destination address an address associated with the source and is marked for interception by a second device based on the determination, and receives the multicast packets as unicast packets from the second device. The second device intercepts the unicast request message and delivers the multicast packets to the requesting device as unicast packets in response to the unicast request message.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing and configuring network devices from a plurality of vendors with a single network configuration tool. This vendor-independent network configuration tool may extract configuration information stored to devices from disparate vendors, and parse tags from extracted configuration information. Each tag defines a configuration property. The tool may further analyze the tags to determine relationships and present configuration information based primarily on the determined relationship and only secondarily on the devices. The tool may also perform analysis on the tags to detect one or more errors or configuration inconsistencies, as well as, update or change tags, which causes the tool to push any changes to the appropriate device. Furthermore, the tool by automatically share information related to the above described steps with other vendor-independent network configuration tools to more quickly propagate efficient extraction and updating techniques.

Abstract: The principles of the invention allow an intermediate device, such as a router, to intelligently filter redundant data streams provided by one or more hosts. In the event of a network disturbance, the router may stop filtering one of the now needed redundant data streams in a manner that may reduce the consumption of network resources, such as bandwidth, without having to modify end-user applications residing on subscriber devices. Therefore, the router acting in accordance with the principles of the invention may transparently provide data streams to subscriber devices despite the occurrence of a network disturbance that may otherwise prevent the subscriber devices from receiving the data streams.

Abstract: Techniques for delivering and receiving multicast content across a unicast network are described. A system that supports delivery and reception of multicast content across a unicast network includes a first device and a second device. The first device may be a destination device or a multicast-enabled router. The second device is multicast-enabled, and may be a multicast-enabled router. The first device determines whether a route between a destination device and a source of multicast packets is multicast-enabled, sends a unicast request message that includes as a destination address an address associated with the source and is marked for interception by a second device based on the determination, and receives the multicast packets as unicast packets from the second device. The second device intercepts the unicast request message and delivers the multicast packets to the requesting device as unicast packets in response to the unicast request message.