Abstract: An example technique is performed by a client on a device, and includes: obtaining attributes relating to the device, to one or more wireless networks, or to both the device and the one or more wireless networks; evaluating the attributes in voting modules of the client to generate votes, with a voting module evaluating one or more of the attributes and generating a vote; making a determination, based on the votes, to connect the device to a wireless network of the one or more wireless networks, or to maintain a connection between the device and the wireless network; and controlling the device based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for service integrated domain name servers are described. A method for service integrated domain name server processing includes receiving, by a requesting device, a service fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and an anycast Internet Protocol (IP) address for service integrated domain name servers, where each service integrated domain name server includes the anycast IP address and a unicast IP address. The requesting device queries domain name servers on the service integrated domain name servers with the anycast IP address to resolve the service FQDN. The requesting device receives the unicast IP address from a closest service integrated domain name server. The requesting device saves the unicast IP address, sends to a service server on the closest service integrated domain name server, a service request on the unicast IP address and receives from the service server, results for the service request.

Abstract: Methods and systems for service integrated domain name servers are described. A method for out of path border gateway protocol (BGP) validation includes receiving, at a network component, a prefix announcement. The network component denies acceptance of the prefix announcement. A BGP monitor at the network component sends the prefix announcement to an out of path validation controller. The out of path validation controller evaluates the prefix announcement against one or more validation tests, sends a validation notification based on the one or more validation tests, and programs the network component for a validated prefix announcement.

Abstract: A first communications device including a transmitter identifies a packet flow for which end to end packet retransmission is supported. The first wireless communications device transmits an explicit indication in a downlink message to a second wireless communications device, to skip Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for data, corresponding to the first packet flow, said data being directed to the second wireless communications device. In some embodiments, said explicit indication to skip Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for data is a predetermined value in a predetermined field of a downlink control information (DCI) scheduling message. In some embodiments, the predetermined field is a PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator field. HARQ suppression is applied for the first packet flow at a radio link layer and/or MAC layer, e.g., by the second communications device in response to the predetermined value indicating HARQ suppression being recovered from the predetermined field.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for resolving a network address include a Domain Name System (DNS) server configured to receive a request for a resource from a client device, determine a source IP address of the client device, and determine whether the source IP address is included in a source client list. In response to determining that the source IP address is not included in the source client list, the DNS server may determine whether a default view datastore includes a record for requested resource. If the default view datastore does not include a record for requested resource, the DNS server may determine whether the requested resource is included in the view datastore. If the requested resource is included in the view datastore, the DNS server may generate and send to the client device a response message that includes a SIPNOTDEFINED indication.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for premises device identification and characterization. In one embodiment, the premises devices are IoT (“internet of things”) devices having wireless interfaces, and the disclosed apparatus and methods “passively” canvass or assess a given premises as to its IoT profile, including both transparent and proxy-managed installations via a software-defined radio (SDR) device incorporated into a host device at the premises (e.g., DOCSIS modem, DSTB, wireless AP/router, or gateway). The SDR is controlled by logic operative to run on the host device (and optionally a network-side process), enabling the SDR to scan the RF environment within the premises in particular frequency bands typically associated with IoT devices and protocols. Information regarding each particular device is transmit to a network-side management process for use in populating the user's cloud-based EPG, selectively targeting advertising or other content to the premises, or yet other functions.

Abstract: A communication system includes a control wireless station. One or more data payload-conveying wireless stations rely on the control wireless station to provide control information to a mobile communication device to control conveyance of data over one or more data channels to the mobile communication device. For example, to connect to a remote network, a mobile communication device establishes a first wireless communication link with the control wireless station. The mobile communication device establishes a second wireless communication link with a data conveying wireless station. The first wireless link conveys control information from the control wireless station to the mobile communication device. The second wireless link conveys data payload information. The control information conveyed over the first wireless link controls conveyance of the data payload information over the second wireless communication link.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems determining contextual awareness for a mobile device and adjusting settings based on the contextual awareness determination. A method for determining an environmental context for a mobile device includes capturing, by one or more non-intrusive sensors on a mobile device, sensor data associated with the one or more non-intrusive sensors, where global positioning system sensor data is unavailable, generating, by the mobile device, a sensor data attribute from each captured sensor data, determining, by the mobile device, an environmental context for the mobile device from the sensor data attribute, and adjusting, by the mobile device, settings on the mobile device based on the determined environmental context.

Abstract: A communications device is equipped with a secondary interface, e.g., a wireless interface, in addition to a primary interface. In at least some, but not necessarily all, embodiments the secondary interface is an inexpensive Long Range (LoRa) wireless interface which uses sub-GHz unlicensed spectrum or a Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) wireless interface which uses licensed spectrum. The secondary interface is in addition to a primary interface used for transmitting data, e.g., user data such as voice, video or text data, to a primary communications device, e.g., to support voice or data applications running on a user device. The secondary interface, e.g., a low power/low data rate interface, is used for communicating small amounts of data for initial configuration, fault recovery, re-initialization, and/or updates.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing latency in content and content source switching in a digital content delivery network. In one embodiment, linear addressable secondary content is “switched into” primary content within a cloud-based model using one or more latency-reducing techniques so as to minimize the user's perception of delay in performing the switch. In one implementation, secondary content video encodings are selected based on the encoding scheme of the primary content, and open GOPs within the primary content at the content transition point are closed or avoided, each to reduce processing overhead of the recipient client device. In another implementation, otherwise cloud-inaccessible functionality of the client device is accessed to reduce or suspend processing on non-essential tasks to make more processing resources available at the client. In yet another implementation, intelligent RF PHY scheduling of the primary and secondary content are utilized to minimize RF re-tuning by the client.

Abstract: Gateway hardware/software (such as associated with a router in a subscriber domain) provides multiple communication devices access to a remote network. During operation, the gateway hardware establishes a secured tunnel between the gateway hardware and a remote communication device over a shared communication link. The gateway hardware also establishes a non-secure channel over the shared communication link. The gateway hardware analyzes communications received from multiple communication devices; the communications are destined for delivery to recipients in the remote network. Depending on attributes of the received communications, the gateway hardware selectively forwards each of the received communications over the secured tunnel or the non-secure channel.

Abstract: An optical fiber tape includes a matrix and at least one optical fiber connected to the matrix in an undulating manner. The undulations of the optical fiber are generally sinusoidal, semicircular, or elliptic, and are of amplitude and wavelength such that the minimum bend radius of each undulation is not less than a minimum bend radius specified by a manufacturer of the optical fiber. A road having an upper surface has a pathway indented into the upper surface to less than full depth of the road and has the optical fiber tape laid in the pathway so that the optical fiber tape does not protrude above the upper surface of the road.

Abstract: A first communications device may use one or a plurality of communications connections in parallel for a communications session between the first communications device and the second communications device. The first device makes decisions as to the number of connections to use, the level of error correcting code to use, and/or the level of packet redundancy to use based on test scores corresponding to one or more communications session connections. The first communications device generates a first test score corresponding to a first communications session connection based on a test performed over a first test path between the first communications device and a test server, said first communications session connection and the first test path sharing a common link, e.g., a common wireless link between the first device and an access point. The first device may generate and use an overall connection score corresponding to a plurality of session connections.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing capacity in a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network. An exemplary method embodiment includes operating a Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) of a cell to perform the steps of: receiving a power down message; decreasing, in response to the power down message, UE inactivity timer length for one or more UEs from a first length to a second length; and continuing to transmit packets to UEs at an edge of the cell. An exemplary system embodiment includes: a CBSD of a cell that comprises: a network receiver that receives a power down message; a first processor that controls the first CBSD to decrease, in response to the power down message, UE inactivity timer length for one or more UEs from a first length to a second length; and a wireless transmitter that continues to transmit packets to UEs at an edge of the cell.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments disclosed herein may provide a protocol enabling anycast based discovery of local resources. Various embodiments may provide a lightweight decentralized directory system that pairs local demands with local resources in a network. Various embodiments may provide a routing (or bridging) protocol that brokers communication between endpoints in Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks. Various embodiments may broker any type services, such as virtual network services, physical services, etc. Various embodiments may pair local demands with local resources in a network without requiring any central network infrastructure and/or requiring a Domain Name System (DNS) server. Various embodiments may support low latency and high bandwidth applications through the pairing of local demands with local resources in a network.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a wireless communication system includes one or more wireless communication devices and gateway hardware. The gateway hardware can be configured to notify the one or more wireless communication devices of a change associated with frequency hopping settings (such as switchover from first frequency hopping settings to second frequency hopping settings). Further, the gateway hardware can include a first radio frequency interface and a second radio frequency interface. In accordance with the frequency hopping settings, the gateway hardware: i) fixedly tunes the first radio frequency interface to a first wireless channel; and ii) while the first radio frequency interface is fixedly tuned to the first wireless channel, the gateway hardware dynamically tunes the second radio frequency interface to hop amongst multiple different wireless channels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for using out-of-band spectrum for shared spectrum registration and increased link reliability and capacity. A method for customer premise equipment (CPE) attachment and registration in a shared spectrum system includes attaching, by the CPE to a shared spectrum access point, using an out-of-band spectrum, where the out-of-band spectrum is out-of-band with respect to a shared spectrum of the shared spectrum system, registering, by the CPE with a spectrum access system, using the out-of-band spectrum upon successful attachment with the shared spectrum access point, and communicating, by the CPE, using at least the shared spectrum upon successful registration with the spectrum access system.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for reducing the sizes of electronic messages in a conversation. A client device processor may generate a message that includes a conversation identifier (convo-id) header field and determine whether the generated message is a first message in the conversation. The client device processor may generate a convo-id value and include the generated convo-id value in the convo-id header field of the generated message in response to determining that the generated message is the first message in the conversation. The client device processor may set the convo-id value of convo-id header field of the generated message equal to the value of a convo-id header field of a previous message in response to determining that the obtained message is not the first message in the conversation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for securely storing, using and/or updating credential information, e.g., passwords and user IDs for a user who subscribes to one or more services, e.g., video stream services or other services available through a communications network such as the Internet, are described.

Abstract: A plurality of customer premises equipment devices in a broadband network are periodically polled to determine a corresponding upstream interface port for each of the plurality of customer premises equipment devices. The determined corresponding upstream interface ports for each of the plurality of customer premises equipment devices are compared to stored data indicating authorized upstream interface ports for each of the plurality of customer premises equipment devices. Responsive to the comparing indicating that at least one of the determined corresponding upstream interface ports does not match a corresponding one of the authorized upstream interface ports, at least one remedial action is taken for a customer account associated with a corresponding one of the customer premises equipment devices in the broadband network.