Patents Assigned to Level 3 Communications, LLC
  • Patent number: 9769202
    Abstract: Embodiments provide system and methods for a DDoS service using a mix of mitigation systems (also called scrubbing centers) and non-mitigation systems. The non-mitigation systems are less expensive and thus can be placed at or near a customer's network resource (e.g., a computer, cluster of computers, or entire network). Under normal conditions, traffic for a customer's resource can go through a mitigation system or a non-mitigation system. When an attack is detected, traffic that would have otherwise gone through a non-mitigation system is re-routed to a mitigation system. Thus, the non-mitigation systems can be used to reduce latency and provide more efficient access to the customer's network resource during normal conditions. Since the non-mitigation servers are not equipped to respond to an attack, the non-mitigation systems are not used during an attack, thereby still providing protection to the customer network resource using the mitigation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Smith, Shawn Marck, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 9762473
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for optimizing an extension of an optical network to provide service to one or more new customers. The method considers the location of existing network nodes as well as a metropolitan environment where the new customer is located (e.g., the geographical location of streets where fiber may be routed to a customer). Aspects of the present disclosure further employ one of various linear programming models, such as a 1-Layer Model, a 3-Layer Model, a 5-Layer Model and a Dual Path Model to generate cost effective solutions to extend the existing optical network to provide service to the new customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9762692
    Abstract: A content delivery network has at least a first tier of servers. A content delivery method includes, at a first server in the first tier of servers, obtaining a request from a client for a resource. If the resource is available at the first server or at a peer of the first server, then the resource is served to the client from the first server. Otherwise, it is determined whether the resource is popular, and if the resource is determined to be popular, then the first server obtains the resource and the first server serves the resource to the client. If the resource is determined not to be popular, the client is directed to a second server, not in the first tier of servers, and the second server serves the resource to the client. The second server may be in a second tier of servers or it may be an origin server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: David Fullagar, Christopher Newton, Laurence Lipstone
  • Publication number: 20170257439
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for managing network connections. A computing device accesses a request to provision a network connection associated with a first device. The request includes a plurality of connection parameters defining desired specifications for a network connection from the first device to a second device. The connection parameters are validated against information from a database and other predetermined rules. A network connection path is generated to connect the first device with the second device. The network connection path is generated by selecting network elements for the network connection that satisfy the connection parameters. Configuration information for the network elements of the network connection path is aggregated for a configuration system. The configuration information is used to provision the network connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Michael Nythus, Craig Tystad, James M. Adkins, III
  • Patent number: 9755914
    Abstract: A content delivery framework (CDF) includes a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services comprise one or more CD service networks, and each particular CD service network has a dynamic network topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart
  • Patent number: 9756034
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve a system and/or method for providing account information for a telephone number. All users are authenticated to ensure they may access the account information. Once authenticated, the user provides one or more telephone numbers that they would like to retrieve account information for. The system searches for the telephone number and if found, checks to ensure that the telecommunications provider services the phone number. When the telecommunications provider is the provider for the phone number, the record is retrieved and sent to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Brett Wentworth, Taylor Fraley, Mike Keating, Dale Drew, John Fable
  • Patent number: 9756507
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a system and methods for determining a minimum number of communication nodes to substantially cover a particular geographical area and for optimizing an extension of an optical network to provide service to the communication nodes. In one implementation, at least one parameter for one or more forces configured to control interactions of a plurality of nodes is received. Each of the nodes has a node range corresponding to an effective operational limit of the node. Boundary information defining a geographical area to which coverage by a network may be provided is received. The one or more forces are simulated to distribute the plurality of nodes. The simulation of the one or more forces causes the plurality of nodes to become positioned in an overall layout such that the defined geographical area is substantially covered by the node ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin K. Peterson, Samid Ameer Hoda
  • Publication number: 20170250911
    Abstract: A data network analysis system includes a computer-executable set of instructions that obtain service account information associated with a route provided to a customer through a data communication network having network elements. Using the service account information, the instructions identify a termination port that terminates the route to a customer premises equipment of the customer, and at least one target port of the route and those network elements that are assigned to convey the route through one or more of the network elements. The instructions then obtain the routing information for the route from each of the network elements that are assigned to convey the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Steve R. Wakumoto, Andrew S. Gerber, John D. Clouatre
  • Publication number: 20170250951
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving information on network firewall policy configurations are disclosed. Based on the received firewall configuration information, a configuration of a firewall and/or subnet of network devices is automatically provisioned and/or configured to control network traffic to and from the subnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Travis D. Ewert
  • Publication number: 20170250894
    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: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Osborne, Brent W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9749191
    Abstract: In a content delivery network (CDN) a method includes: receiving a request for a CDN service of a first type, wherein a CDN service of the first type defines a fixed number of configurable layers of request processing, sequentially from a first layer to a last layer; and processing the request, starting at the first layer, the processing being based on a modifiable runtime environment, the processing continuing conditionally through each of the layers in turn until either the request is terminated by one of the layers or the last layer processes the request. A layer may cause some of the processing of a request to be handled by another service. The CDN service may be selected from: delivery services, collector services, reducer services, rendezvous services, configuration services, and control services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 9749192
    Abstract: A first group is defined from an arbitrary set of nodes comprising service instances. Each node in the first group assumes one or more responsibilities in processing a request across the first group. A second group is defined from an arbitrary set of nodes. Each node in the second group assumes one or more discrete responsibilities in processing a request across the second group. The second group has a topology distinct from that of the first group. Request processing is transitioned from the first group to the second group based on a responsibility adaptation policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 9749190
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is operable on a device having hardware including memory and at least one processor. The method includes maintaining invalidation information in a list at a service on the device, where the invalidation information includes a plurality of invalidation commands. At least some of the invalidation commands in the list are selectively combined to form at least one other invalidation command in the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, Lewis Robert Varney, Laurence R. Lipstone, William Crowder, Andrew Swart
  • Patent number: 9749381
    Abstract: A content delivery (CD) service in a CDN maintains property invalidation information on said CD service including, for each property, a list of one or more group invalidation commands. New group invalidation commands are added by selectively merging one or more invalidation commands to form a merged invalidation command and inserting the merged invalidation command into said list, wherein the merging is based on a length of common prefix of elements in said list. A per property common prefix list is maintained for invalidation commands in each property list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Newton, Fiona Wang, Laurence Lipstone, William Crowder
  • Publication number: 20170244667
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for serving content over a network. In one implementation, a method of serving content is provided. The method includes maintaining a first address record associated with serving a resource and a second address record associated with serving the same resource. The first address record is further associated with a first protocol for a first device capable of serving the resource. Similarly, the second address record is associated with a second protocol, different from the first protocol, for a second device, distinct from the first device, capable of serving the resource. The method further includes providing, in response to at least one resolution request for the resource, the first address record and the second address record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Joel C. Maslak
  • Publication number: 20170244643
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content associated with a plurality of different types of applications/devices. Using a CDN flow application, a plurality of network flow parameters are generated for content delivery unique to different types of applications or devices. The network flow parameters include customized data transmission rates. The network flow parameters include predetermined settings for transmission control protocol (TCP) connections between the CDN and devices using a TCP flow control mechanism. Upon receiving a content request, the CDN fulfills the content request based upon first network flow parameters. The network flow parameters may be adjusted for each of the plurality of different types of applications/devices. The network flow parameters may be generated based upon requests or based upon the performance of each of the plurality of applications/devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Lawrence, William R. Power
  • Patent number: 9742731
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for extracting information associated with one networking transmission protocol, such as Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), based on information associated with a different networking transmission protocol, such as Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv4). More specifically, when resolving an IP address for a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) through which a content file may be obtained, the system may base the resolved URL on attributes of an IPv4 address extracted from an IPv6 address for a machine associated with the request. In one particular example, a geographic location of a requested computing device or machine may be determined or estimated based on an IPv4 address extracted from an IPv6 address associated with the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Joel C. Maslak
  • Publication number: 20170236105
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a virtualized communication device dynamic provisioning system includes a computer-based set of instructions that are executed to generate a user interface for receiving selection of one or more virtualized communication devices. The instructions may then receive provisioning information associated with the selected virtualized communication devices from the user interface, and provision the virtualized communication devices in accordance with the received provisioning information to prepare and equip the virtualized communication devices according to the financial transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Feldpusch
  • Publication number: 20170237619
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for automatically configuring, managing, updating, and/or monitoring the configuration of various computing devices and/or network devices within a communications network, such as a telecommunications network. Basic input/output setting configurations for a network devices and/or cluster of network devices may be extracted from a template. Subsequently, a module may be identified and executed to configure the cluster based on configuration parameters defined within the template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Flynn, Lawrence W. Gowin, Ricky L. Nooner, Shane Trotter
  • Publication number: 20170230336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically provisioning honeynets are disclosed. The honeynets continuously gather and capture unauthorized network traffic and/or other information being transmitted, processed, accessed, and/or executed within the honeynet network that is indicative of a network threat or attack by unauthorized users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Skyler J. Bingham, Mark R. Shirley