Patents Assigned to Level 3 Communication, LLC
  • Publication number: 20220200888
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for providing multiple egress points from a telecommunications network for a client of the network. In particular, the process and system allows for multiple provider edges of the network to utilize a route reflector server to provide a border gateway protocol (BGP) route to other provider edges in the network. Further, the multiple provider edges may each announce similar interior gateway protocol (IGP) routes through the network such that a provider edge receiving a packet intended for the customer network may select from the multiple IGP routes to provide the intended packet to the customer network. In this manner, the receiving provider edge may load balance among the various connections of the customer network to the telecommunications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Osborne, Brent W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11368364
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to consolidation of STP pairs without deploying new STP pairs and without making changes at a Service Switching Point to reflect the consolidation. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a first pair of signal transfer point devices to be decommissioned from a telecommunication network; identifying a second pair of signal transfer point devices to assume, in part, functionalities of the first pair of signal transfer point devices, each signal transfer point device of the first pair and the second pair having at least one primary point code and at least one secondary point code assigning a temporary secondary point code to each signal transfer point device of the first pair; and modifying at least one secondary point code of each signal transfer point device of the second pair with a primary point code of at least one signal transfer point device of the first pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Brad Smeal
  • Patent number: 11368376
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that provision a cloud-based service together with a dedicated network connection to provision a cloud-based service element. In response to the request both the cloud-based service element and a dedicated network connection are provisioned. Provisioning the cloud-based service element together with the dedicated network connection enables the cloud-based service element to utilize the dedicated network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Pete Joseph Caputo, II, Austin David Ritchie, Alan Wade Prehmus, Travis Duane Ewert, Harold Wayne Teets
  • Patent number: 11368548
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method in a content delivery network (CDN) comprising multiple content delivery (CD) services including at least one beacon service, the method comprising: at particular CD service in the CDN: (A) obtaining and responding to at least one first request; (B) obtaining and responding to at least one second request; and (C) making a beacon request to a beacon CD service, the beacon request including particular information about: (i) the at least one first request, and (ii) the at least one second request, wherein at least some of the particular information is encoded in the beacon request, wherein the beacon request comprises an HTTP request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney
  • Publication number: 20220191228
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer implemented method receives flow data for one or more flows that correspond to a device-circuit pair. The method calculates a time difference for each flow that corresponds to a device-circuit pair. Based on the calculated time differences and the received flow data, the method updates a probability distribution model associated with the device-circuit pair. Then, the method determines whether a time bucket is complete or open based on the updated probability distribution model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Yermakov
  • Publication number: 20220191175
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing filters within computer networks include obtaining blocklist data that includes blocklist entries for a network. Each of the blocklist entries includes one or more network traffic attributes for identifying traffic to be blocked. In response to receiving the blocklist data, a filter based on a common network traffic attribute shared between at least two of the plurality of blocklist entries is generated. The filter is then deployed to a network device within the network such that the filter may be implemented at the network device to block corresponding traffic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20220191166
    Abstract: A content delivery method including the operations of receiving a uniform resource locator resolution request at an authoritative name server for a domain where the uniform resource resolution request is received based, at least in part, on a host name of the uniform resource resolution request where the host name is uniquely related to a resource associated with the uniform resource resolution request. The method further including the operation of tracking a popularity of the resource based on the host name uniquely related to the resource and providing a location within a network capable of delivering the resource where the provided location is based on the popularity of the resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Newton
  • Publication number: 20220191322
    Abstract: Automatic testing/analysis of local loops of telecommunications networks includes obtaining bits-per-tone data for a local loop of a telecommunications network and generating a bit value string from the bits-per-tone data. The bit value string is then analyzed to determine whether it includes a bit pattern indicative of an impairment of the local loop. Further approaches for automatically testing local loops of telecommunications networks include obtaining attenuation data for multiple tones carried by the local loop and determining whether the attenuation data falls below thresholds for providing a service using the local loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas C. Woldahl, Erik V. Helfrich, Michael J. Durkin, Larry J. North, Abid Khan
  • Publication number: 20220182285
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to systems and methods for updating configuration data. A method implemented by a computer may include receiving updated configuration data from a control core. Earlier configuration data with a time stamp may be stored in an archive storing additional earlier configuration data with respective time stamps. Responsive to the updated configuration data not being faulty, content may be distributed using the updated configuration data. Responsive to the updated configuration data being faulty, a fault may be communicated to a monitoring system, and commands from the monitoring system may be received and executed to: revert to an earlier configuration data corresponding to a specific earlier time, and disregard any further updated configuration data from the control core until instructed otherwise by the monitoring system. Content may be distributed using the earlier configuration data to which the computer is reverted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: William CROWDER
  • Patent number: 11356473
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing web-based monitoring and detection of fraudulent or unauthorized use of voice calling service. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive, from a user device associated with an originating party, a request to initiate a call session with a destination party, the request comprising user information associated with the originating party and a destination number associated with the destination party; might query a database with session data (including user information) to access permission data and configuration data; and might configure fraud logic using received configuration data from the database. The computing system might analyze the session data and permission data using the configured fraud logic to determine whether the originating party is permitted to establish the requested call session with the destination party; if so, might initiate one or more first actions; and, if not, might initiate one or more second actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Broadworth, Matthew McCarthy
  • Patent number: 11349912
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, operable on a device in a content delivery network (CDN), wherein the CDN delivers content on behalf of at least one content provider, the device implementing a content delivery (CD) service, the method includes receiving a request from a client for particular content; determining a second device in the CDN, the first device being in a first cluster and the second device being in a second cluster distinct from the first cluster; migrating the request to the second device; and then providing the second device with network traffic from the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, Laurence R. Lipstone, Hong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11343201
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing intent-based orchestration using network parsimony trees. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a request for network services that comprises desired characteristics and performance parameters for the requested network services without information regarding specific hardware, hardware type, location, or network, a computing system might generate a request-based parsimony tree based on the desired characteristics and performance parameters. The computing system might access, from a datastore, a plurality of network-based parsimony trees that are each generated based on measured network metrics, might compare the request-based parsimony tree with each of one or more network-based parsimony trees to determine a fitness score for each network-based parsimony tree, and might identify a best-fit network-based parsimony tree based on the fitness scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. McBride, Brett E. Dwyer, James E. Sutherland, Jamie Lin, Brent Smith, Glenn B. Balanoff, Frank Moss, Bryan Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20220158970
    Abstract: Improved methods for retrieval of content from CDNs is provided that includes a rendezvous controller that receives information of an identification of content being requested and an estimated location of a content requesting device. Based on this information, the rendezvous system identifies a server within a CDN from which the requested content may be retrieved. The selected server may be based on a repeatable hash function such that the likelihood that the content being requested is cached at the selected server. Steering requests to a server of the CDN which may have the content cached may reduce the number of servers within the CDN with the same cached content, particularly for the highest requested content. The rendezvous system may then return a corresponding domain name associated with the selected server and that can be subsequently submitted to a DNS for resolution to the IP address of the identified server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin C. Johns
  • Patent number: 11337076
    Abstract: A security platform of a data network is provided that includes security services for computing devices in communication with the data network. The security platform may apply a security policy to the computing devices when accessing the Internet via a home network (or other customer network) and when accessing the Internet via a public or third party network. To provide security services to computing devices via the home network, the security platform may communicate with a security agent application executed on the router (or other gateway device) of the home network. In addition, each of the devices identified by the security profile for the home network may be instructed or otherwise be provided a security agent application for execution on the computing devices. The security agent application may communicate with the security platform when the computing device connects to the Internet over a third party or public access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Mayur Kudtarkar, Kirsten Coppo
  • Patent number: 11334424
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems and methods for improving the performance of a telecommunications network by monitoring the performance of one or more storage drives. Operational data is received from a plurality of storage drives of a storage server of a telecommunications network. A plurality of operational coefficients for each of the plurality of storage drives is derived based on the operational data, and a cluster plot is created from the plurality of operational coefficients for each of the plurality of storage drives. A distance is calculated between a subset of operational coefficients of the plurality of operational coefficients of the cluster plot, and a remedial action is initiated on a storage drive of the plurality of storage drives when a calculated distance of an operational coefficient associated with the storage drive exceeds a distance value from a cluster of the cluster plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: William Hopkins, Lawrence W. Gowin
  • Patent number: 11329877
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to systems and methods for tiered updating of configuration data. Updated configuration data is transmitted to different tiers of nodes. The nodes of a first tier are commanded to use the updated configuration data. After waiting to see if any nodes of the first tier communicate a fault after using the updated configuration data, for each of the additional tiers in the CDN it is sequentially repeated to: transmit a command to the nodes of that additional tier to use the updated configuration data; and after waiting to see if any nodes of any tier communicate a fault after using the updated configuration data, transmitting a command to the nodes of another additional tier to use the updated configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Laurence Lipstone, Daniel Jensen, William Power
  • Patent number: 11328329
    Abstract: Directed to methods and systems for automated fee generation through the use of machine learning for telecommunications projects. Exemplary implementations may: receive, by a sales support microservice in communication with a trained model running on a server, a plurality of attributes; and feed the plurality of attributes to the trained model. The trained model can retrieve historical data regarding fee prices, identify similar historical projects based on final fee prices and historical attributes of the respective projects, and refine a correlation between historical attributes and fee prices, which can be used in the generation of a fee price to provision a telecommunications project as a result of those attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: James Roberts, Masum C. Muttalib
  • Publication number: 20220141141
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for controlling a congestion window (CWND) value of a communication session of a CDN. In particular, a content server may analyze a request to determine or receive an indication of the type of content being requested. The content server may then set the initial CWND based on the type of content being requested. For example, the content server may set a relatively high CWND value for requested content that is not particularly large, such as image files or text, so that the data of the content is received at the client device quickly. For larger files or files that a have a determined smaller urgency, the initial CWND may be set at a lower value to ensure that providing the data of the content does not congest the link between the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Joelle T. Maslak
  • Patent number: 11323319
    Abstract: A dynamic controller to automatically generate layer 3 network connections between devices and/or networks associated with a virtual computing environment in response to a request for such connections is provided such that communications associated with the computing environment may be transmitted between the endpoints. For example, the dynamic controller may connect one or more cloud service provider networks, one or more customer-controlled data centers, one or more customer networks, and the like, based on information provided in a connection request. A layer 3 communication controller may also be instantiated within a core network that manages the flow of communications between the connected networks, such as by translating messages between the connected networks so that messages intended for a connected network may match the supported communication protocols of that network and/or providing one or more security features to the transmitted communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Austin D. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 11323510
    Abstract: A load-balancing cluster includes a switch having a plurality of ports; and a plurality of servers connected to at least some of the plurality of ports of the switch. Each server is addressable by the same virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. Each server in the cluster has a mechanism constructed and adapted to respond to connection requests at the VIP by selecting one of the plurality of servers to handle that connection, wherein the selecting is based, at least in part, on a given function of information used to request the connection; and a firewall mechanism constructed and adapted to accept all requests for the VIP address for a particular connection only on the server that has been selected to handle that particular connection. The selected server determines whether it is responsible for the request and may hand it off to another cluster member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Maksim Yevmenkin, David Fullagar, Christopher Newton, Jeffrey Koller