Abstract: A computer based system and method for distributing a global shaper rate implemented across multiple traffic processing devices. A controller distributes credits according to the demand (amount of traffic, or offered load) of each device, in such a way to achieve global targets, including the shaper rate, strict prioritization of traffic, WFQ weights and fairness between cloned channels, iteratively updated as changes occur in the quantity and makeup of the traffic across the devices.

Abstract: A method and system for network capacity planning are provided. The method includes: collecting utilization data related to a plurality of network resources on the network; determining a peak period for each of the network resources based on the utilization data; determining at least one key performance indicator (KPI) over the peak period for each of the network resources; aggregating each of the KPIs for each of the plurality of network resources; and outputting the aggregated KPIs. The system includes a data source module configured to collect utilization data related to a plurality of network resources; a peak period module configured to determine a peak period for each of the network resources based on the utilization data; a peak KPI module configured to determine at least one KPI over the peak period for each of the plurality of network resources; a KPI aggregation module configured to aggregate the KPIs for each of the network resources; and a processor module configured to output the aggregated KPIs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and a method for managing network traffic. The traffic management system has a quality of experience (QoE) measurement module configured to monitor a QoE metric in real-time. A control module is configured to periodically receive the QoE metric and determine a traffic management action based on the QoE metric. A traffic management module is configured to apply the traffic management action to the network traffic.

Abstract: A method for applying network services related to geographic location including receiving regions within a map and receiving geo-service definitions for the regions. The method includes determining a subscriber's region and determining information related to the subscriber's traffic flow. The method then applies geo-service definitions based on the subscriber's region and the information related to the traffic flow. A system for applying network services related to geographic location having a location detection module for detecting a subscriber's location and a region detection module for determining the subscriber's region within a map based on the subscriber's location. The system further including a geo-service definition and enablement module for defining geo-service definitions and actions; and a subscriber detection and traffic management module adapted to receive the subscriber's region and apply geo-service definitions to the subscriber traffic flow based in part on the region of the subscriber.

Abstract: A method for managing quality of service (QoS) consists of receiving a packet and identifying at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The method for managing QoS further consists of modifying quality of service parameters of the packet based on the application level characteristic and sending the packet to a destination with modified quality of service parameters. A system for managing QoS includes modules such as a bearer module adapted to review and retrieve data from a packet and a payload packet inspector module adapted to identify at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The system for managing QoS further has a policy enforcement module designed to modify quality of service parameters of the packet based in part on the retrieved data and the at least one application level characteristic.

Abstract: A network data flow management device including: a working packet module configured to store data related to a data flow; at least one network interface connected to the working packet module for receiving and sending data related to data flows; and a processor configured to: receive data from the working packet module and determine if the data flow matches a predetermined protocol; and if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, send predictive acknowledgments based on the data flow via the network interface. A method for network data flow management including: monitoring a data flow for a predetermined protocol; if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, saving data relating to the data flow; and creating and sending a predictive acknowledgement packet related to the data flow.

Abstract: A network data flow management device including: a working packet module configured to store data related to a data flow; at least one network interface connected to the working packet module for receiving and sending data related to data flows; and a processor configured to: receive data from the working packet module and determine if the data flow matches a predetermined protocol; and if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, send predictive acknowledgments based on the data flow via the network interface. A method for network data flow management including: monitoring a data flow for a predetermined protocol; if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, saving data relating to the data flow; and creating and sending a predictive acknowledgement packet related to the data flow.

Abstract: A method for measuring quality of experience for media streaming in a network is provided, the method includes: identifying a media stream; detecting an event related to the media stream indicative of a quality of experience (QoE) as perceived by a subscriber; measuring a metric relating to the detected event; and determining a quality of experience measurement based on the metric.

Abstract: A network data flow management device including: a working packet module configured to store data related to a data flow; at least one network interface connected to the working packet module for receiving and sending data related to data flows; and a processor configured to: receive data from the working packet module and determine if the data flow matches a predetermined protocol; and if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, send predictive acknowledgments based on the data flow via the network interface. A method for network data flow management including: monitoring a data flow for a predetermined protocol; if the data flow matches the predetermined protocol, saving data relating to the data flow; and creating and sending a predictive acknowledgement packet related to the data flow.

Abstract: A computer based system and method for distributing a global shaper rate implemented across multiple traffic processing devices.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a path optimizer for Peer to Peer (P2P) networks. Large amounts of P2P file exchanges increase the costs to maintain a network. Network service providers typically pay for the amount of data they exchange with other network service providers. The present invention examines P2P messages between and within networks and provides a cost efficient path to handle each P2P message.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for administering Peer to Peer (P2P) query messages within a P2P network. The present invention collects a plurality of metrics for each host that it is aware of in a P2P network, most often by a host information or query hit message. The metrics collected aid in determining a set of P2P hosts best able to fulfill a query message, without having knowledge of specific content. The metrics collected also aid in managing query messages in that they determine when to drop query messages or when to resend query messages.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) transport handler for a network intermediary. The handler examines all segments in a TCP/IP data stream between two nodes The handler maintains a list of changes made by an application module to a data segment within a data stream and utilizes that list to ensure that the sequence numbers for both receiver and transmitter refer to the same segments of data. The list of changes is also used to reapply changes to retransmitted packets. Data segments are not acknowledged until the receiver acknowledges a segment, eliminating the requirement of buffering data segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for the monitoring of email and other message traffic on a network. The intent of the monitoring to determine if message traffic is abnormal, thus indicating unwanted messages such as spam. A number of methods may be utilized by the invention to recognize unwanted messages, including the calculation of fanout, the number of messages sent by a unique host, unique email address or domain. Also included is fanin, the number of messages received from unique hosts, unique domains or unique email addresses. Further components consider the number of error messages received from a host, variations in bandwidth from a host, and variations in message content from a host.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for reducing and reconstructing state entries for initiator messages in a communication network. It compares a set of common options to each initiator message. If the message has the common options, no state entry is created for the message. This saves resources in systems such as Peer to Peer networks utilizing TCP/IP, where there is often no acceptor (SYN/ACK) to an initiator (SYN). By utilizing the present invention an agent dealing with communications need not maintain state for every connection. Upon receiving an acceptor message corresponding to an initiator message, the agent may create a state entry from the common options.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a system and method for examining a communication stream between two nodes for a protocol of interest. If a protocol of interest is found, the communication stream is diverted to a divert host. If a protocol of interest is not found, the stream passes without diversion. By way of example, the invention is shown to work with TCP and UDP.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and system for dynamically modifying files in a shared file network, such as Peer to Peer network. Files may be modified by inserting advertising into the file before passing it on to the end user. Files may be modified to create audible artifacts thus making them less likely to be copied by an end user. The audible artifacts may be removed should the user pay a licensing fee for the file. Files may also be modified to add digital rights management information so that the file may not be utilized without the appropriate key. Files may also be modified by inserting tracking information to include such information as the date of download and the IP address of the site providing the file.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) transport handler for a network intermediary. The handler examines all s segments in a TCP/IP data stream between two nodes The handler maintains a list of changes made by an application module to a data segment within a data stream and utilizes that list to ensure that the sequence numbers for both receiver and transmitter refer to the same segments of data. The list of changes is also used to reapply changes to retransmitted packets. Data segments are not acknowledged until the receiver acknowledges a segment, eliminating the requirement of buffering data segments.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a path optimizer for Peer to Peer (P2P) networks. Large amounts of P2P file exchanges increase the costs to maintain a network. Network service providers typically pay for the amount of data they exchange with other network service providers. The present invention examines P2P messages between and within networks and provides a cost efficient path to handle each P2P message.