Abstract: A method and system for emulating an Ethernet link over a Sonet path to provide link integrity is disclosed. The method generally includes receiving an error code at a local Ethernet port upon detection of a link failure at a remote Ethernet port. The error code is received over a Sonet path in a Sonet path overhead. If the error code is still present after a specified period of time, the local Ethernet port is disabled. Methods for providing link stability and link availability are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system is described to provide data to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System. The method may comprise accessing an image communicated from a voice-communication device and communicating the image to an optical character recognition (OCR) module. Thereafter, data extracted from the image by the OCR module may be accessed and communicated for use in one or more IVR processes. The extracted data may be communicated to the device and confirmation that the extracted data corresponds to data in the image may be monitored. For example, the method may discover capabilities of the device to identify different communication options to communicate the image from the device. The options may be communicated to the device for presentation to a user. Upon receiving an indication of an option selected by the user, the IVR system may be configured to allow receipt of the image via the user selected option.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improving the configuration, management, and distribution of quality of service information in a fibre channel fabric using zoning mechanisms. Configuration of Quality of Service (QoS) information is made easy by using zones as a classifier for flows. QoS information is included in zone objects, thereby using the existing zone distribution mechanism to distribute QoS information. Devices not part of any zones are placed automatically in the default zone with a default QoS priority level. QoS information for a particular packet is available as soon as the zoning information is obtained.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) receiving a packet in a switch, where the packet includes a plurality of fields that forms a binding; (ii) performing a first lookup of a first table using a first lookup key, where the first lookup key includes a first subset of the plurality of fields; (iii) performing a second lookup of a second table using a second lookup key, where the second lookup key includes a result of the first lookup and a second subset of the plurality of fields; and (iv) indicating a check of the binding by using a result of the second lookup. The plurality of fields can include a media access control (MAC) source address, an internet protocol (IP) address, a receive port, and a receive virtual local area network (VLAN), while the result of the first lookup can include a layer-2 source index, for example.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for electronic enablement of features at a communication device that includes receiving a feature token, validating the feature token, and changing the enablement state of one or more features at the communication device in accordance with a valid feature token.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to providing different censoring levels for audio-video streams. In one embodiment, an audio-video stream is received. Metadata including censoring information for the audio-video stream is also received. The audio-video stream and metadata may be sent by a source in separate streams. A first level of censoring associated with a first receiver is determined along with a second level of censoring for a second receiver. A first audio-video stream is generated for the first receiver with a first censor level and a second audio-video stream is generated for the second receiver with a second censor level. For example, the first audio-video stream may include censoring of faces and the second audio-video stream may be an audio-video stream without censoring or may censor some other part of the audio-video. The first audio-video stream and the second audio-video stream are then sent to the first and second receivers, respectively.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a request that is obtained by a call center system from a customer. The method also includes identifying a first set of experts that includes at least a first expert suitable for, or capable of, processing the request. The first expert is offline with respect to the call center system. An offer task is created and provided to the first set of experts. The offer task identifies the request and initiates the scheduling of a callback to address the request.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conference with multiple end points is provided. At the locations, multiple screens may be configured to display video from a portion of the multiple end points. Video from multiple locations is output onto the multiple screens, such as video streams from N different segments are output on N different screens. The video output may be determined based on a first dimension of the floor control algorithm. A push-to-talk input may then be received from a button. A video segment associated with the push-to-talk button is then determined and the video segment is output on one of the multiple screens in response to receiving the push-to-talk input. The push-to-talk input may be used by users that cannot actively participate in the first dimension of the floor control algorithm. For example, users using sign language cannot speak louder and thus by using the push to talk button or hand gestures can indicate their desire to be switched in as one of the displayed segments.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improving fiber channel packet delivery. Techniques are provided for the in-order delivery of packets by blocking incoming packets associated with a port channel change at a fiber channel switch and sending flush messages onto links associated with a port channel change. Upon receiving acknowledgments for the flush messages, incoming packets are unblocked.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preventing compressed keys from being aliased across multiple hash tables. A special hashing technique is used to produce hash keys and compressed keys that make such aliasing avoidable. Given a first input key K, a second and different input key K?, a first hash function H0 that produces a first hash key as an index into a first hash table, a second hash function H1 that produces a second hash key as an index into a second hash table, a first compression function L0 that produces a first compressed key for the first hash table, and a second compression function L1 that produces a second compressed key for the second hash table, functions H0, H1, L0, and L1 are selected in such a way that H0(K)=H0(K?) and L0(K)=L0(K?) if and only if H1(K)=H1(K?) and L1(K)=L1 (K?).

Abstract: The invention describes a system and method for arranging to provide power to a power monitor device. The disclosure describes the system and method receiving a request for power for at least one device specified by a power monitor device. The disclosure describes receiving at least one proposal from an entity desiring to supply power according to the request for power. A best proposal of the at least one proposal is determined. And the system and method command the power monitor device to supply power in accordance with the best proposal.

Abstract: A method of preventing an attack on a network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of receiving an ICMP packet that includes a copy of a header associated with a connection in a connection-oriented transport protocol; obtaining a packet sequence value from the header; determining if the packet sequence value is valid; and updating a parameter value associated with the transport protocol connection only if the packet sequence value is determined to be valid. Use of the disclosed method enables authenticating ICMP packets so that responsive measures of a network element, such as adjusting an MTU value, are performed only when the ICMP packet is determined to be authentic.

Abstract: A method, a system, a machine-readable medium, and an apparatus for managing storage on a shared storage space, for example, on an email server, are provided. A plurality of emails is compared. If the content of each of the plurality of emails is the same, then a single copy is stored on the email server. Further, each recipient of the plurality of emails is enabled access to the stored email via a link to the single copy. Additionally, one or more attachments of the plurality of emails are compared. If an attachment is the same in each of the plurality of emails, then it is stored as a single copy. Further, a link is inserted in each of the plurality of emails, enabling access to the attachment from the single copy.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing connectivity is provided that includes a mobility server operable to coordinate a communication session between a first and a second end-user device. The first end-user device is associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device is associated with a second call leg. A handoff is executed in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device. In more particular embodiments, the mobility server is operable to receive signal strength information from the first end-user device and to execute the handoff based on the signal strength information. In addition, the handoff is executed based on an end-user preference that is provided in a subscription that is accessed by the mobility server.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method, and a software product to control a plurality of surveillance video camera/encoder combinations. The method includes receiving a plurality of encoded video streams from a respective surveillance camera/encoder combination, and accepting a measure of the level of activity for each encoded video stream. Each measure is obtained from the output of the camera of the corresponding camera/encoder combination. The method further includes assigning output bit rates for each encoded stream according to the accepted level of activity such that a maximum overall bit rate is not exceeded. One version is for controlling camera/encoder combinations that accept remote bit rate control, and a second is for controlling camera/encoder combinations that send at a pre-set bit rate. One version includes a network connection between the camera/encoder combinations, and the method or apparatus for central control.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for locating, identifying and provisioning devices in a network. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, first location information included in a DHCPDISCOVER request can be used to determine appropriate configurations for networked devices. In some such implementations, the first location information is read from an RFID tag near the networked device and is inserted in the DHCPDISCOVER request. The first location information may include any type of absolute or relative coordinate, positioning, cartographic or similar information and/or information from which such information may be derived. Second location information, which may be a logical name, is provided to the device. If the device is an RFID reader, the second location information may be included with reads from RFID tags that are transmitted from the RFID reader.

Abstract: Converting a media stream includes communicating a call for a first system according to a first protocol. A media stream is retrieved from a second system, where the media stream communicated according to a second protocol distinguishable from the first protocol. The media stream is converted from the second protocol to the first protocol, and is associated with the call. The media stream is transmitted to the first system according to the first protocol.

Abstract: A local area network/wide area network (LAN/WAN) switch is presented which aggregates LAN traffic onto SONET/SDH transport streams in a programmable manner. The system can concentrate Ethernet packets and map the data onto SONET streams at data rates varying from STS-1 to STS-12C. Depending on the bandwidth available in the WAN interface, different numbers and combinations of STS-n streams can be formed. The system allows for efficient and flexible mapping of LAN traffic onto a WAN for transport over fiber optic networks.

Abstract: A method for tracking information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a packet included within a request that is associated with an end user and communicating the packet to a selected one of a plurality of gateways. An object may be built that correlates an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the end user to the selected gateway such that the object may be used to direct subsequently received packets associated with the end user to the selected gateway. Subsequently received packets may be directed based on end-user IP address information included in the subsequently received packets.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for securely transmitting sensitive information over the Internet to and from a first device in a home network that lacks the ability to communicate according to a secure protocol. Communications between the first device and a second device within the home network may proceed according to a non-secure protocol, such as HTTP. However, the second device has the ability to communicate with the outside world via a secure protocol, such as HTTPS. Various implementations of the invention allow the first device to avail itself of the secure communications provided by the second device.