Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving data from a network element, determining a candidate data processing task for the received data based upon a first similarity metric between the received data and data currently associated with the candidate data processing task, and sending the received data to the candidate data processing task.

Abstract: A system and method for advertising out-of-resources (OOR) conditions for entities, such as nodes, line cards and data links, in a manner that does not involve using a maximum cost to indicate the entity is “out-of-resources.” According to the technique, an OOR condition for an entity is advertised in one or more type-length-value (TLV) objects contained in an advertisement message. The advertisement message is flooded to nodes on a data network to inform them of the entity's OOR condition. Head-end nodes that process the advertisement message may use information contained in the TLV object to determine a path for a new label switched path (LSP) that does not include the entity associated with the OOR condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first routing device establishes a virtual channel with a remote routing device in a G.8032 protocol Ethernet network ring. The first routing device and the remote routing device each being linked to a multi-homed routing device having Layer 2 connectivity to a core network. The multi-homed routing device is not configured with the G.8032 protocol. The first routing device identifies a link state from the first routing device to the multi-homed routing device. Layer 2 connectivity of the first routing device to the core network is controlled based upon the identified link state of the first routing device.

Abstract: In one implementation, a protocol for dissemination of information, such as configuration information, in a computer network is provided. The dissemination of the payload or content is separated from the dissemination of the fact that a new revision of that payload or content exists. The availability of a new revision of the payload or content is signaled prior to the transfer. Only nodes receiving the notice of existence of the new revision and requesting the new revision receive the payload or content. While the payload or content revision notifications potentially arrive at a receiving node from many different neighbors, the payload or content is only requested once by the receiving node and transmitted once over links between neighbors. This scheme may result in low end-to-end delays and in resiliency.

Abstract: In one embodiment, apparatus and methods for a rekey process are disclosed. In certain rekey embodiments, when a key-generation protocol exchange is executed, instead of generating a single new security relationship, such as a Security Association or SA, a multiple set (e.g., 10) of new security relationships (e.g., SAs) are generated. An authorized device can then individually use these security relationships (e.g., SAs) as needed to securely communicate with each other. For example, a set of SAs can be efficiently programmed into an 802.1ae protocol ASIC for handling transmitted and received data packets. In the description herein, embodiments of the invention are described with respect to SA's, and this “SA” term is generally defined as any type of security relation that can be formed to allow a particular node to securely transmit packets or frames to another receiving node.

Abstract: A method and system for fingerprinting a content item is described, the content item including a set of content item elements E, providing information uniquely associated with a single user including a string of bits S0, parsing S0 into a plurality of substrings which are functions of S0, providing a matrix of content item replacement elements, each row of which includes, for each member of E, an array of content item replacement elements for Ei, uniquely associating each substring of S0 so that for every substring there exists a corresponding element of E, for every substring, replacing at least one instance of the corresponding element E in the content item with one substitute matrix element for the corresponding substring, and outputting a replacement content item including the result of the replacing, the substitute matrix elements being chosen according to at least one similarity criterion.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a communication pathway between a first network node and a second network node coupled to a network; forming an adjacency to a new network node coupled to the network, where a designated intermediate system (DIS) election operation is executed after the adjacency is formed in order to determine that the new network node is a newly identified DIS for the network; and communicating a message advertising connectivity to both a previously identified DIS and the newly identified DIS, where the message is communicated during a specified time interval.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for detecting media access control (MAC) address conflicts are described herein. An indication to create a virtual machine on the host device is received at a host device of a plurality of host devices. A MAC address to assign to the virtual machine is identified, and a message is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of host devices, with the message including the identified MAC address. The MAC address is assigned to the virtual machine in the absence of a response from the at least one of the plurality of host devices indicating a potential conflict with the MAC address.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes transmitting data to a backplane from a first communication module simultaneously on a first pair of operating frequencies, where the first pair of operating frequencies includes first and second operating frequencies. The method further provides that a ?3 dB point of a first electromagnetic emission spectrum peak originating from transmission of the data at the first operating frequency is outside a ?3 dB point of a second electromagnetic emission spectrum peak originating from transmission of the data at the second operating frequency.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with logically partitioned networking devices are described herein. One example method includes receiving a message from a common interface. The message comprises a logical partition header (LPH) and a network segmentation header (NSH). The LPH may be associated with a logical partition of a networking device. The NSH is associated with a grouping (e.g., segmentation) of networking devices. The example method may also include forwarding the message to the grouping of networking devices based, at least in part, on the NSH and a virtual route forwarding (VRF) table. Forwarding the message to the logical partition of the networking device based, at least in part, on the LPH.

Abstract: A multi-phase frequency divider comprises first and second latches configured to receive a first input clock having a first frequency and a first phase, wherein the second latch receives the inverted first input clock. The first and second latches generate a plurality of output clocks each having a frequency that equals the first frequency divided by a predetermined divider ratio. The plurality of output clocks each have different phases staggered from the first phase. The frequency divider also comprises at least a first delay latch electrically connected between the first and second latches. The first delay latch is configured to generate, based on an output clock generated by the first latch and a second input clock at the first frequency and a second phase, two delayed output clocks. These two delayed output clocks have a frequency that equals the first frequency divided by the predetermined ratio with different staggered phases.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for obtaining network usage information about a plurality of users, analyzing the network usage information to detect a plurality of subjects and determine a set of relationship scores describing the strength of the relationship between users and subjects, and analyzing the sets of relationship scores to detect a plurality of virtual communities formed among the users. The virtual communities are used to detect subjects to recommend to members of the virtual communities, such as topics or content items that other users of the community have found of interest.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request packet associated with a flow; designating an out of order sequence number range associated with the flow; creating an entry that designates the out of order sequence number range; receiving a subsequent packet that includes a particular sequence number range; referencing the out of order sequence number range; resolving a portion of the entry corresponding to the particular sequence number range for the subsequent packet; and forwarding the subsequent packet. In other embodiments, the request packet includes a content length field indicating the out of order sequence number range associated with the flow. Creating the entry can include creating a segment within a queue for the out of order sequence number range, which reflects expected sequence numbers for packets associated with the flow.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a network element coupled to a base station and a network and operating in a WiMAX communications environment. The base station is coupled to an endpoint, the network element defining authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) attributes for the endpoint at an interface between the network element and the base station. In more specific embodiments, the network element defines one or more quality of service attributes for the endpoint and the network element defines a layer two virtual local area network (VLAN) priority/class of service (Cos). In still other embodiments, the network element defines a layer three Internet Protocol differentiated service code point (IP-DSCP). Traffic separation can be specified on a per-subscriber basis or a per service-flow basis and, further, the traffic separation can be executed through a virtual router element.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus comprising a plurality of ports and routing logic coupled with the plurality of ports. The routing logic obtains data representative of a first port configuration for the plurality of ports, the first port configuration comprises data representative of a status for individual ports selected from the plurality of ports, the status indicating whether an individual port selected from the plurality of ports is an open port, an alternate port, or a failed port. The routing logic forwards data in accordance with the first port configuration. The routing logic also obtains data representative of an alternate port configuration for the plurality of ports, the alternate port configuration is to be employed upon determining a predefined link has failed. The alternate configuration comprising a new status for individual ports selected from the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving a location update indicative of a position of a mobile device; determining a proximity of the mobile device to an anchor location based on the position; identifying a preference associated with the mobile device; and sending content to an output device based on the preference and the proximity. In specific implementations, the anchor location is a display device and the content is sent to the output device if the proximity is within a viewing area of the display device. Additionally, the preference can be a preferred language, where content is sent to the output device in the preferred language.

Abstract: A computer system includes functionality enabling a provider edge router to determine whether network data such as VRF information is properly associated with a corresponding virtual private network. A first node through which the network data is transmitted generates a signature value uniquely associated with the virtual private network. The first node forwards the signature value along with the network data to a second node of the physical network. The second node, in turn, verifies that the network data (such as VRF information) is properly associated with the second node (and virtual network) based on its own generation of a signature value, which is compared with the signature value received from the first node.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method for selecting a communication path is provided. The method may comprise receiving data encapsulated in a transport protocol. In addition, a classification type and exit path information associated with the classification type may be received. The data is associated with the classification type and then is encapsulated in Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) based on the exit path information. This exit path information is associated with the classification type that is associated with the data.

Abstract: A first set of frames is received in a data flow and tagged with respective serial numbers identifying an ordering of frames in the first set. The tagged first set is forwarded to a general processor for processing prior to being sent to a remote network element. A data flow policy is received from the general processor based on processing of the first set. A second set of frames of the data flow are received subsequent to forwarding the first set to the general processor. It can be verified, based on the assigned serial numbers, that each frame in the first set has been sent to the remote network element prior to sending frames in the second set. The second set is processed and sent to the remote network element by the network processor, bypassing the general processor, based on the data flow policy.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for optimizing maintenance of a geographically distributed data processing system. The method comprises selecting a primary territory having associated operating hours, identifying maintenance hours that exclude the operating hours, and selecting a maintenance time within the available maintenance hours. The midpoint of the maintenance hours may be selected as the maintenance time, or activity distribution data may be analyzed to select a maintenance time corresponding to a low activity time.