Patents Assigned to Level (3) Communications
  • Publication number: 20240348525
    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: June 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas C. Woldahl, Leigh A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20240348528
    Abstract: A traffic controller device for distributing or otherwise controlling the distribution of routing information may be included in a telecommunications network. The traffic controller may receive routing tables from a plurality of network devices, such as one or more provider edge devices of the network. The traffic controller, upon receiving the routing information from the provider edge devices, may generate a routing table associated with each device providing the routing information. The traffic controller may also provide updates to one or more of the networking devices associated with the controller. The traffic controller may alter or update, at the traffic controller, the routing table associated with the target provider edge device based on the network policy. The routing information in the routing table for that device and maintained by the traffic controller may be updated with a new route or new local preferred parameter value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Logan Rawlins
  • Patent number: 12117888
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing intelligent alert automation (“IAA”). In various embodiments, IAA receives alert/event feeds from several different alerting and ticketing systems via input Redis queues, and uses a triage system to determine whether to process the alert/event or disregard it. If so, IAA may create a flow instance, assign a unique instance ID, and place the flow instance in one of a plurality of jobs queues based on alert/event type and/or or source. An abattoir system retrieves a flow instance from one of the jobs queues (in order of the queue's priority), and processes the next node or step in the flow instance. The flow instance is placed back into the jobs queue for subsequent processing by the same or different abattoir system until no additional nodes or steps remain in the flow, at which point the flow instance is considered complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Schneider, Angela A. Rash, Troy G. Pohl, Steven Burrell, Matthew D. Schoenfeldt, Shelli L. Hurd
  • Patent number: 12117889
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing real-time fault management or real-time fault management system (“RFM”). In various embodiments, RFM may receive alerts from or associated with network devices (e.g., layer 2, 3, and/or 4 devices, or the like) that are disposed in a plurality of disparate networks that may utilize different alert management protocols and/or different fault management protocols. RFM may collect, enrich, normalize, aggregate, and display the alerts in a user interface to facilitate addressing of the alerts by a user. To enable continuous and real-time functionality, RFM may be implemented in a plurality of siloed platforms in a primary data center, with processing of alerts being load balanced across the siloed platforms, with mirrored group of siloed platforms in a secondary data center located geographically distant from the primary data center and configured to be on “hot standby” and to completely take over RFM processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Toms, Michael McClintock, David Sutton, Steven Burrell, Shelley Goldner, Shelli L Hurd
  • Publication number: 20240340268
    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: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20240340307
    Abstract: In a network system in which a server receives packets each including a source address, and in which the server ordinarily responds to each packet, Distributed Denial of Service attacks may be launched by malicious actors controlling a plurality of network devices. In such an attack, the attacking devices may spoof the IP address of a legitimate device, e.g., they may include, in each packet, the source address of the legitimate device. As such, systems and methods for increased security using client address manipulation are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John R.B. Woodworth, Dean Ballew, Lisa Lamanna, James C. Anders, Dan Luther, Carol D. Lovell
  • Publication number: 20240340318
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve utilizing network threat information to manage one or more security devices or policies of a communication network. The security system may receive threat intelligence data or information associated with potential threats to a communications network and process the threat intelligence data to determine one or more configurations to apply to security devices of a network. The system may then generate a rule or action to respond to the identified attack, such as a firewall rule for a firewall device to block traffic from the source of the attack. The threat intelligence information may include a confidence score indicating a calculated confidence in the identification of the malicious communications, which may be utilized by the system to determine the type of action taken on the security devices of the network in response to the information or data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: David Dubois, Michael Benjamin, Mark Dehus, Peter Brecl
  • Publication number: 20240340218
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods relating to adaptive virtual services. In an example, a user specifies a device configuration for a platform device. As a result, a service provider installs selected virtual-network functions and defines network connections as specified by the device configuration. Management software may also be installed, thereby enabling the service provider to communicate with and remotely manage the platform device. The installed virtual-network functions are activated on the platform device once it is delivered to the user. In some instances, the user changes the device configuration. For example, the user may install new virtual-network functions, reconfigure or remove existing virtual-network functions, or change defined network connections. As a result, the service provider reconfigures the platform device accordingly. Thus, the user need not purchase new specialized hardware in order to change the available functions of the computer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Saenger, Matthew Holway, Len Brannen, Gene Clark, Anil Simlot, Zubin Ingah, Johan J. Shane, Michael Gibson, Cory Sawyer, Rich Cerami, Kurt Deshazer
  • Patent number: 12113715
    Abstract: A quality of service management system includes a rules engine that receives information associated with a communication path having an assigned quality of service (QoS) to be provided for a customer communication device, and identifies one or more network elements assigned to provide the communication path. Each network element having a plurality of queues configured to provide varying QoS levels relative to one another. For each of the network elements, the rules engine determines at least one queue that is configured to provide the communication path at the assigned quality of service, and transmits queue information associated with the determined queue to its respective network element, the network element conveying the communication path through the determined queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications
    Inventors: Marcus Hadavi, James Ryan
  • Publication number: 20240333720
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conference security based on user groups are disclosed. In examples, a set of attendees (e.g., in a collaboration group) may be allowed access to a meeting by a host user with a specified access permission. The collaboration group may be in the network hosting the meeting or outside of the network. An attendee requesting access to the meeting may be verified based on the attendee's identity and membership status of the collaboration group. If an attendee's identity is not identified or if the attendee is not a member of the collaboration group, the requesting attendee may be denied access to the meeting. If the requesting attendee's identity is verified and the attendee is a member of the collaboration group, the attendee is allowed access to the meeting with their specified access permission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew J. Broadworth
  • Publication number: 20240333833
    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: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas C. Woldahl, Erik V. Helrich, Michael J. Durkin, Larry J. North, Abid Khan
  • Publication number: 20240323051
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure involve systems and methods for utilizing Virtual Local Area Network separation in a connection, which may be a single connection, between a customer to a telecommunications network and a cloud environment to allow the customer to access multiple instances within the cloud through the connection. A customer may purchase multiple cloud resource instances from a public cloud environment and, utilizing the telecommunications network, connect to the multiple instances through a communication port or connection to the cloud environment. To utilize the single connection or port, communication packets intended for the cloud environment may be tagged with a VLAN tag that indicates to which cloud instance the packet is intended. The telecommunications network may route the packet to the intended cloud environment and configure one or more aspects of the cloud environment to analyze the attached VLAN tag to transmit the packet to the intended instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Austin D. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 12101443
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing management of routing across multiple voice or data networks with separate routing masters. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a request to establish a call between a calling party in a first network and a called party in a second network, a computing system might receive a first set of network information from a first routing database(s) that is operated by a first service provider and a second set of network information from a second routing database(s) that is operated by a second service provider separate from the first service provider; might analyze the received first and second sets of network information to generate a unified routing model for optimizing routing of the call through the first and second networks; and might establish the call through a selected optimized route based on the generated unified routing model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Scivicque, Adam Uzelac
  • Patent number: 12101358
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing monitoring and detection of fraudulent or unauthorized use in telephone conferencing systems or voice networks. In various embodiments, a computing system might monitor call activity through telephone conferencing system or voice network. In response to detecting use of the telephone conferencing system or voice network by at least one party based on the monitored call activity, the computing system might identify incoming and/or outgoing associated with a call initiated by the at least one party. The computing system might analyze the identified incoming and/or outgoing call data to determine whether the call initiated by the at least one party constitutes at least one of fraudulent use or unauthorized use of the telephone conferencing system or voice network. If so, the computing system might initiate one or more first actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Uzelac, Andrew J. Broadworth, Robert P. Slaughter
  • Publication number: 20240311360
    Abstract: A data system is provided for analyzing and maintaining data obtained from one or more data sources on which the data system depends. The system includes a primary database including current values used by the system and a collection of executable algorithms used to generate the data maintained in the primary database. In response to receiving a notification regarding a change in one of the data sources, a dependency database is used to establish an execution order for algorithms of the algorithm collection that are directly or indirectly dependent on the changed data. The algorithms identified in the execution order are then executed in accordance with the execution order and the corresponding result is stored in the primary database. The system may include data harvesters adapted to recognize changes in the data sources and to generate and transmit corresponding change notifications when such changes occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: William Gray, Binchao Chen, Steven D. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20240314070
    Abstract: Dynamic and self-healing optimized traffic rerouting is provided. A system and method are described for determining and implementing optimized traffic routing decision. A route orchestration system monitors network resource performance characteristics information for identifying a traffic redirection triggering event and for determining an optimized traffic control decision based on the network resource performance characteristics information. The decision may include software defined networking (SDN) instructions that may be communicated to one or more network resources (e.g., PE devices, P devices, and/or routers) that may cause traffic to be rerouted the one or more targeted servers. For example, the optimized traffic control decision may be determined to improve load balancing amongst performing servers and other network resources in the network while reducing or minimizing administrative costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: John R.B. Woodworth, Dean Ballew, Stewart Bamford
  • Patent number: 12095735
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, for encoding a firewall ruleset into one or more bit arrays for fast determination of processing of a received communication packet by a firewall device associated with a network. Through this bitmap, a number of computation operations needed to determine a processing rule for a received packet is significantly reduced compared to the traditional approach of using a hash or a longest prefix match technique. Rather, determining a processing rule for a received packet may include determining a bit value within one or more arrays. In one implementation, a firewall rule may be encoded into a 64-bit array of bit values in which each bit of the array corresponds to a particular processing rule for a particular network address. The firewall rule may be encoded into a bitmap array of bit values by asserting a particular bit within the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Whelton
  • Patent number: 12095647
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems for providing multiple egress routes from a telecommunications network for a client of the network. In general, the system provides for a client of the network to receive intended packets of information through multiple connections to the network such that load balancing and failover services for traffic to the customer are provided. The process and system allow for telecommunications network to utilize a common next-hop value of announced border gateway protocol (BGP) routes to advertise multiple routes to reach a destination customer network or address. By utilizing a common next-hop value in the announced BGP information, the devices of the network may load balance communication packets to the destination customer or address among the multiple egress locations from the network, as well as providing fast failover to alternate routes when a failure at the network or customer occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Francis Ferguson, Eric Osborne, Clyde David Cooper, III, Brent W. Smith
  • Patent number: 12091869
    Abstract: A system for finishing an interior or exterior drywall surface of a building structure can apply a predetermined formulation of dispensable compound material in liquefied form at a continuous flow with simultaneous surface finishing characteristics while reducing labor intensity and maximizing finish quality to a level 5 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: LEVEL 6 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Wigfield
  • Patent number: 12093123
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing dashboard for alert storage and history (“DASH”). In various embodiments, DASH provides for consolidated tracking and monitoring of two or more of current (or active) alerts, cleared alerts, and/or transactional information for alerts that are stored within corresponding alert live database that mirrors current alert instance data in a real-time fault management system, alert history database that contains a snapshot of an alert history of each alert or corresponding network device, and/or alert log database that contains a full transaction record of every copy of an alert either over a first duration or having a total data size within a first total data size. DASH also cleans received alert data and/or enriches the alert data, and provides a user interface (“UI”) that enables a user to view, absorb, filter, manage, and/or organize alert data to facilitate addressing of alerts in the network(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Schoenfeldt, Steven Burrell, Angela A. Rash, Shelley Goldner, Shelli L. Hurd