Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches receive a plurality of packets using a forwarding plane of the packet switch. Each packet of the plurality conforms to a different one of a plurality of forwarding information formats. The methods and packet switches modify each packet of the plurality to conform to a common forwarding information format instead of a respective one of the plurality of forwarding information formats and forward the modified packets of the plurality to a control plane of the packet switch.

Abstract: Network operating methods provide a first packet switch configured to send a plurality of packets from the first packet switch to a second packet switch via a network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches, access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the network path, and based on the data, modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends the plurality of packets to the second packet switch via the path. Network management methods receive data describing at least one performance characteristic of a network path having a first endpoint on a first packet switch, a second endpoint on a second packet switch, the network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches and, based on the received data, instruct the first packet switch to modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends packets to the second packet switch via the network path.

Abstract: Network operating methods provide a first packet switch configured to send a plurality of packets from the first packet switch to a second packet switch via a network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches, access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the network path, and based on the data, modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends the plurality of packets to the second packet switch via the path. Network management methods receive data describing at least one performance characteristic of a network path having a first endpoint on a first packet switch, a second endpoint on a second packet switch, the network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches and, based on the received data, instruct the first packet switch to modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends packets to the second packet switch via the network path.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches receive a packet from a port and then forward the packet to the port from which the packet was received. The packet switch receives a packet having a first transport identifier from a port, modifies the packet to have a second transport identifier, and forwards the modified packet to the port while retaining a layer-two source address and a layer-two destination address. Other methods and packet switches transmit modified, duplicated packets on a single port. The packet switch receives a packet on a first port and creates at least one duplicate of the packet. The packet switch modifies the packet and the duplicate so that they have different transport identifiers. The packet switch then transmits the modified packets on a single port.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using first processing circuitry of the packet switch, specify a configuration for a control packet processing procedure implemented by different second processing circuitry of the packet switch, communicate the configuration to the second processing circuitry, and using the second processing circuitry, receive a control packet, examine contents of the control packet, and process the control packet according to the control packet processing procedure, the control packet processing procedure being configured according to the configuration.

Abstract: The present invention, in particular embodiments, is directed to methods, apparatuses and systems that provide an efficient compression technique for data streams transmitted to storage devices or over networks to remote hosts. Local storage as well as network transmission of streams is made more efficient by awareness and utilization of repeated sequences of data blocks. Such data blocks can be placed in a dictionary on persistent storage and shared across all streams. The dictionary is hierarchically indexed (two or more levels of indexing) to combine high efficiency search with efficient access to the stored data blocks. Additionally, data blocks, in particular implementations, are stored sequentially in order to improve overall performance.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to efficient compression processing in system architectures including a control plane and a data plane. Particular implementations feature integration of compression operations and mode selection with a beltway mechanism that takes advantage of atomic locking mechanisms supported by certain classes of hardware processors to handle the tasks that require atomic access to data structures while also reducing the overhead associated with these atomic locking mechanisms.

Abstract: This document describes tools that enable data network equipment to use its permitted data rate or physical maximum rate even if one of its links fail or it transmits more data on some links than others. To do so, the tools may track how much of a permitted data rate is used by a group of physical links. If the group is using more than the permitted data rate, the tools may limit the group to that rate. If some of the physical links in the group fail, the tools enable the group to use either its permitted data rate or the physical maximum rate of the group. In addition, the tools allow unique permitted data rates in two directions by a group of physical links. The tools may be used at ingress or egress modules within equipment depending upon the application and implementation.

Abstract: Systems and methods of establishing IP telephony sessions between enterprises are disclosed. A first enterprise requests an association with a second enterprise. Both enterprises and the second enterprise belong to the same federation. The association request is accepted, to establish an association between the first and second enterprises. In response to the acceptance, a direct routed path is established between the first enterprise and the second enterprise. One of the associated enterprises requests activation of an IP telephony service. If the request to activate references the association, an IP telephony session is established using the direct routed path.

Abstract: Systems and methods of establishing IP telephony sessions between enterprises are disclosed. A first enterprise requests an association with a second enterprise. Both enterprises and the second enterprise belong to the same federation. The association request is accepted, to establish an association between the first and second enterprises. In response to the acceptance, a direct routed path is established between the first enterprise and the second enterprise. One of the associated enterprises requests activation of an IP telephony service. If the request to activate references the association, an IP telephony session is established using the direct routed path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for partitioning session initial protocol (SIP) processing among execution units are disclosed. An exemplary device comprises: a plurality of execution units and a plurality of session initiation protocol (SIP) processes. The SIP processes comprise: a SIP transport process; a SIP location server process; and a plurality of SIP core processes. The SIP transport process executes on a first one of the execution units. The SIP location server executes on a second one of the execution units. Each of the SIP core processes executes on a different remaining one of the execution units. An exemplary method comprises: executing a SIP transport process on a first one of the execution units; executing a SIP location server on a second one of the execution units, and executing each of the SIP core processes on a different remaining one of the execution units.

Abstract: A data and control plane architecture for network devices. An example system architecture includes a network processing unit implementing one or more data plane operations, and a network device operably coupled to the network processing unit that implements a control plane. In a particular implementation, the network processing unit is configured to process network traffic according to a data plane configuration, and sample selected packets to the network device. The network device processes the sampled packets and adjusts the data plane configuration responsive to the sampled packets. In particular implementations, the control plane and data plane implement a server-side triggered policy caching mechanism that allows for previous classification policy decisions made for previous data flows to be applied to subsequent new flows.

Abstract: The claimed embodiments provide methods, apparatuses and systems directed to storing write records in a hierarchical index which includes a root node with one or more stem nodes, each corresponding to respective data ranges of a data file. Write records are attached to the hierarchical index as leaf nodes with a possibility of being split into two or more leaf nodes if a write record traverses multiple data ranges. Additionally, the hierarchical index can conditionally grow based on a number of leaf nodes attached to a given stem node in the hierarchical index.

Abstract: A multicast services control system is provided for Internet protocol television transport. The system includes a service distribution platform, at least one service concentration platform, and at least one set-top box. The service distribution platform has a multicast table. The service distribution platform is configured to receive channels from an Internet protocol video source and the multicast table is configured to include an entry for each of the channels. The at least one service concentration platform communicates with the service distribution platform for forwarding “leaves” and receiving “joins” with the service distribution platform.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using first processing circuitry of the packet switch, configure different second processing circuitry of the packet switch to periodically transmit control packets to a destination device via a port of the packet switch and, subsequent to the configuring and using the second processing circuitry, transmit the control packets to the destination device via the port during moments in time when the first processing circuitry is non-operational.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to improving the efficiency of bandwidth allocation schemes by adapting to slow-start mechanisms associated with network communications protocols, such as the TCP/IP protocol suite. In one implementation, the present invention scales down the initial target rate assigned to a data flow to a fraction of an initial estimate of the effective rate capacity of the communications path between two hosts. As packets are received, the target rate is gradually increased, eventually up to the detected rate capacity of the communications path. Implementations of the present invention improve the efficiency of bandwidth allocation by reducing the over-allocation of bandwidth to data flows during the slow-start phase, leaving more bandwidth available to other data flows.

Abstract: This invention includes methods and packet switches that translate a packet between a switching format and a transport format. One packet switch receives a packet intended for a destination port of a packet switch from a switching fabric of the packet switch and determines, based on the destination port, a treatment to be applied to the packet. The packet switch then applies the treatment to the packet prior to forwarding the packet to the destination port. The treatment may include adding a transport identifier to the packet.

Abstract: The present invention, in particular embodiments, provides methods, apparatuses and systems directed to providing a Wide Area File System that is robust against network connectivity issues. In particular implementations, the present invention provides a WAFS disconnected-mode read-write access that provides for a more seamless user experience against WAN or other network connectivity failures. Specific embodiments provide for management, at a network device such as an EFG node, of file objects previously opened during a connected state with a remote file server appliance, creation of new file objects during a disconnected state and re-synchronization of those file objects (data and meta-data) when a connection becomes available.

Abstract: This document describes tools useful in relaying a data stream from a data device to a network tunnel, such as by enabling virtual switching using a provisional identifier to conceal a user identifier. These tools, for example, may use an inexpensive switch module to create virtual switch instances. To do so, the tools may assign data packets to a virtual switch instance by mapping the data packets to a particular provisional identifier and then modifying the data packets to include the provisional identifier. The switch module may then forward the data packets based on the provisional identifier rather than on the user identifier. The tools may remove the provisional identifier before forwarding the data packets to a destination.

Abstract: Packet switch operating methods and packet switches provision a plurality of tunnels on a packet switch by associating each of the plurality of tunnels with a packet switch port and by configuring the packet switch to modify packets relayed by the tunnel to include a transport identifier associated with the tunnel. The tunnels of the plurality relay packets when permitted by a tunnel index. The plurality of tunnels and the tunnel index are associated with a virtual interface. The methods and packet switches also permit a first tunnel of the plurality of tunnels to relay packets by configuring the tunnel index to indicate the first tunnel. The tunnel index indicates only one tunnel. The methods and packet switches also enable a second tunnel of the plurality of tunnels to relay packets by configuring the tunnel index to indicate the second tunnel, thereby preventing the first tunnel from relaying packets.