Abstract: A technique for providing real-time multimedia conferencing services with guaranteed performance, in a hybrid networking environment, by interconnecting cable modem-based premises networks via hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) access networks and an ATM wide area network is disclosed. The ATM wide area network may be divided into a plurality of access network domains and one backbone network domain to provide efficient and intelligent multimedia conferencing services. Each ATM access network domain has one cable modem server as well as access multimedia bridge server. There is only one central network server and one central multimedia bridge server within the backbone network domain. Each cable modem server located in an ATM access network domain maintains necessary information of how the cable network bandwidth is used by existing calls, and will be allocated when new multimedia conference calls are initiated, in accordance with desired priority and performance levels.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.

Abstract: A system and a method is disclosed that provides that access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing HPNA v2-formatted frames in a centralized manner. A list of sessions in enhanced STAs using the communications medium is maintained at a Media Control Station (MC STA). Each enhanced STA gains access to the communications medium in a centralized manner. A message is transmitted from the MC STA to a selected non-MC STA. The transmitted message is transmitted with a highest physical layer priority level available in a first HPNA v2-formatted frame. After the message is received at a non-MC STA, the non-MC STA transmits a reply message to the MC STA in response to the received message that is transmitted at the highest physical layer priority level available in a second HPNA v2-formatted frame.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed for providing access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames. A sequence of blocking frames is transmitted on the communications medium, such that each blocking frame has timing to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is not recognized by an HPNA v2 station (STA) as a duration defined by an HPNA v2 specification for an HPNA IFG. A message is transmitted from a Media Control Station (MC STA) to at least one selected non-Media Control Station when the blocking frames are transmitted. A reply message to the transmitted message is received at the MC STA from a selected non-MC STA when the blocking frames are transmitted.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed for providing access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames. A sequence of blocking frames is transmitted on the communications medium, such that each blocking frame has timing to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is not recognized by an HPNA v2 station (STA) as a duration defined by an HPNA v2 specification for an HPNA IFG. A message is transmitted from a Media Control Station (MC STA) to at least one selected non-Media Control Station when the blocking frames are transmitted. A reply message to the transmitted message is received at the MC STA from a selected non-MC STA when the blocking frames are transmitted.

Abstract: A method and a system provide access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames in a centralized manner. Each HPNA v2 frame is timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) portion having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an IFG portion of an HPNA v2 frame. A plurality of frames are generated in the communications medium with at least one frame of the plurality of frames having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG) portion and a contention-free portion. The SIFG portion is less than about 17 ?sec in duration. Access to the communications medium is then provided for at least one station (STA) during the contention-free portion of a frame having timing to allow the SIFG portion.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.

Abstract: An device, called a facilities management platform (FMP) connects current digital and analog carrier networks and packet switched networks of interexchange carriers with high speed multiple access subscriber links implemented over twisted pair lines. The subscriber line is terminated by an access module containing one or more modems. In preferred embodiments, the modems are high-speed digital tethered virtual radio channel or xDSL modems. The FMP interface applies and receives signaling and voice through a digital loop carrier (DLC) via a multiplexer connected directly to the DLC backplane. The multiplexer is controlled by a controller of an access module. It translates data from the subscriber link to the form compatible with the digital backplane to create the appearance of one or more line cards. The FMP also may contain a sound generator to allow it to handle calls through an analog carrier network.

Abstract: A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network and for building-up a good quality version of the media information. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided from a media server, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. Once the media server receives the request, the media server begins to stream a copy of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth to the user device via the network and proxy device.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can include, but are not limited to, a method that can include, but is not limited to, a plurality of activities, that can include, but are not limited to: via a capacity planning simulation, for a circuit affected by a failure scenario of a communication network: failing the affected circuit; and rendering an indication that a selected unaffected link has a maximum available capacity of at least a predetermined amount of capacity associated with the communication network being fully restorable.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing secure communications between a plurality of devices are provided. The method and system generally include the provision of at least one common encryption parameter to each of the plurality of devices, as well as an identification of the plurality of devices to one another. This information can be maintained and shared by interaction of the plurality of devices with a designated server device. In this way, a secure, point-to-point connection between at least two of the plurality of devices can be established.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: automatically: receiving a signal; and via a plurality of iterations, determining, for the received signal, a provable near-optimal B-term representation formed from a linear combination of a plurality of elements selected from a predetermined redundant ?-coherent dictionary, said determined near-optimal B-term representation corresponding to an error that is a minimum of a set of errors corresponding to all possible B-term representations associated with the predetermined redundant ?-coherent dictionary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restoring communications in a network. The network includes a plurality of nodes, with each pair of nodes connected by a link, and with each link having information channels and restoration channels. An idle signal is sent on each restoration channel for each link. The failure of a link is detected, with the failed link connecting an originating node with a terminating node. In addition, the failed link includes at least one information channel carrying information signals. An alternate path through the network is determined for the information signals using restoration and idle signals sent over the restoration channels. The information signals are then routed from the originating node to the terminating node in accordance with the alternate path.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method that can comprise, responsive to an instruction to change a setting of a polarization controller, automatically changing a first rotational speed of a birefringent plate associated with the polarization controller to orient the birefringent plate pseudo-randomly over time with respect to a predetermined axis.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing secure network communications between a first device and a second device, at least one of the devices communicating with the other device via a firewall device, are provided. The method and system may include obtaining an encryption parameter that is shared by the first device, second device and firewall device. A data packet sent by the first device may then be copied within the firewall device, so that decryption of the copy of the data packet within a portion of the firewall device may take place. In particular, the portion of the firewall device in which decryption takes place is defined such that contents of the portion are inaccessible to an operator of the firewall device. Thus, scanning of the decrypted copy of the data packet for compliance with a predetermined criterion may take place within the firewall device, without an operator of the firewall device having access to the contents of the data packet to be transmitted.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: based on an analysis of historical information regarding packet traffic conveyed on a local area network associated with a customer, the packet traffic also conveyed on a wide area network managed by a service provider and coupled to the local area network: receiving information relating to a requested change in capacity provisioned for packet traffic conveyed on the wide area network; and automatically changing the capacity provisioned for packet traffic conveyed on the wide area network.

Abstract: A next generation performance network management system (30?) includes a first component (34a) that monitors one or more attributes of network elements (111-11n, 121-12m, 20 and 26) as well as peripheral devices (16 and 22) and interconnecting links (18, 24) to establish an historic trend for each monitored element. A second performance management system component (34b) monitors, on a near real-time basis, critical attributes of elements identified from historic trends as undergoing performance degradation: If such performance degradation persist, as detected by such near real-time monitoring, then the network operator can repair or replace the element in question to maintain network performance.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise method that can comprise receiving information indicative of a fault from a monitor associated a network. The method can comprise, responsive to the information indicative of the fault, automatically determining a probability of a fault hypothesis. The method can comprise, responsive to a determination of the fault hypothesis, automatically initiating a recovery action to correct the fault.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method, comprising: receiving, at a subscriber interface line card, an analog signal from a POTS subscriber loop circuit; quantizing the analog signal into a plurality of digital samples; encoding the plurality of digital samples via codec instructions running on a digital signal processor installed on the subscriber interface line card; and converting, via conversion instructions running on the digital signal processor, the encoded plurality of digital samples to a plurality of VoATM packets.

Abstract: A system and method for providing persistent communications between users is disclosed whereby users can communicate in a real time fashion and/or in an offline or asynchronous manner within a persistent communications session without having to initiate a new session each time a user logs off or onto the communications session.