Abstract: A method for networked communications includes determining a group identifier associated with a received request for multicast data, determining an available upstream bandwidth and an available downstream bandwidth, adding an entry for the identified group into a multicast forwarding table, allocating bandwidth from the available upstream bandwidth and available downstream bandwidth, the allocated bandwidth corresponding to bandwidth required by the requested multicast data, and forwarding the received request to an upstream network destination. The method includes, if no response is received in response to the received request within a designated timeout period, removing the entry for the identified group in the multicast forwarding table, and restoring the allocated bandwidth to the available upstream bandwidth and available downstream bandwidth.

Abstract: A network processing unit includes a first table, a forwarding table, and a processor. The first table includes a first entry for a network, including a network aging, which includes the network processing unit. The forwarding table includes a second entry associated with a network entity which includes an indication of whether network traffic associated with the entity has been encountered in the current or previous network aging period. The processor is configured to receive an indication from a hardware timer that a hardware aging cycle has ended, and then determine whether the network aging period has ended. If so, the processor is configured to determine for a first network entity in the forwarding table whether traffic associated with the entity has been encountered in the current or previous network aging period. If not, then the processor is configured to remove the given first network entity from the forwarding table.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for telecommunications includes steps of receiving a first packet through a first port, and determining whether the first packet arrived over a protected path. If the first packet arrived over a protected path, the method also includes the steps of hashing a source address of the first packet, adding a first entry into a forwarding table, and adding a second entry into the forwarding table. The protected path is coupled to at least the first port and a second port. The first entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the first port. The second entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the second port.

Abstract: A method for networked communications includes determining a group identifier associated with a received request for multicast data, determining an available upstream bandwidth and an available downstream bandwidth, adding an entry for the identified group into a multicast forwarding table, allocating bandwidth from the available upstream bandwidth and available downstream bandwidth, the allocated bandwidth corresponding to bandwidth required by the requested multicast data, and forwarding the received request to an upstream network destination. The method includes, if no response is received in response to the received request within a designated timeout period, removing the entry for the identified group in the multicast forwarding table, and restoring the allocated bandwidth to the available upstream bandwidth and available downstream bandwidth.

Abstract: A network processing unit includes a first table, a forwarding table, and a processor. The first table includes a first entry for a network, including a network aging, which includes the network processing unit. The forwarding table includes a second entry associated with a network entity which includes an indication of whether network traffic associated with the entity has been encountered in the current or previous network aging period. The processor is configured to receive an indication from a hardware timer that a hardware aging cycle has ended, and then determine whether the network aging period has ended. If so, the processor is configured to determine for a first network entity in the forwarding table whether traffic associated with the entity has been encountered in the current or previous network aging period. If not, then the processor is configured to remove the given first network entity from the forwarding table.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for telecommunications includes steps of receiving a first packet through a first port, and determining whether the first packet arrived over a protected path. If the first packet arrived over a protected path, the method also includes the steps of hashing a source address of the first packet, adding a first entry into a forwarding table, and adding a second entry into the forwarding table. The protected path is coupled to at least the first port and a second port. The first entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the first port. The second entry includes the result of hashing the packet, and an identification of the second port.