Abstract: An apparatus and method of using a cache to improve a learn rate for a content-addressable memory (“CAM”) are disclosed. A network device such as a router or a switch, in one embodiment, includes a key generator, a searching circuit, and a key cache, wherein the key generator is capable of generating a first lookup key in response to a first packet. The searching circuit is configured to search the content of the CAM to match the first lookup key. If the first lookup key is not found in the CAM, the key cache stores the first lookup key in response to a first miss.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for reserving spare bandwidth for a link in a communication network including a plurality of links. The method provides for monitoring the volume of traffic routed through each link of the communication network. A single link failure for each link is then simulated and the volume of traffic which would be rerouted through each link for maintaining communication and the volume of traffic removed from each link are determined for each simulated single link failure. The difference between the volume of traffic which would need to be rerouted through each link and the corresponding volume of traffic removed from each link is then computed, and a maximum difference value is determined for each link for all simulated single link failures. An amount of spare bandwidth equivalent to the determined maximum difference is then reserved for each link.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of a network configuration configured to permit a dense wavelength division multiplexing (“DWDM”) element to connect to a storage server, an Internet Protocol (“IP”) router, and DWDM network are disclosed. The configuration includes the DWDM network, storage area network (“SAN”) server, IP router, and optical transport network (“OTN”) switch. While the DWDM network transports information via optical fibers, the DWDM switch is coupled to the DWDM network for transporting optical signals. The SAN server is coupled to a port of the DWDM switch and is configured to store data at a remote location. The IP router which is coupled to the DWDM switch facilitates IP traffic between a user and the DWDM network. The OTN switch, coupled to the first DWDM switch, is capable of processing at least a portion of the optical signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting statistics data over a communications network using scalable stateless processes are disclosed. A process capable of obtaining statistics data, in one embodiment, detects a delay associated with the availability of statistics data in accordance with predefined lag duration, and subsequently, adds one or more stateless processes to a pool of stateless processes to increase capacity of collecting statistics data. Upon enabling a stateless process to collect statistics data from network element (“NE”) in response to a statistics collecting tasks, the statistics data is stored in a database.

Abstract: A network device such as a router or switch, in one embodiment, includes a timing analyzer which is capable of providing timing analysis over one or more network circuits. The timing analyzer, in one aspect, receives a data packet traveling across a circuit emulation service (“CES”) circuit such as T1 or E1 circuit. Upon obtaining an arrival timestamp associated with the data packet, the arrival timestamp is stored in a timestamp buffer in accordance with a first-in first-out (“FIFO”) storage sequence. After identifying the oldest arrival timestamp in the timestamp buffer, an offset is generated based on the result of comparison between the arrival timestamp and the oldest timestamp. The timing analyzer can also be configured to generate timing reports on-demand based on generated offset(s).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing and maintaining a network device are disclosed. A process performed by a router, for example, is able to generate configuration data in accordance with network configuration of the router and store the data in a memory. A converter generates human-readable representation of requested status in accordance with configuration data. For example, command line interface (“CLI”) show output is generated by the converter for displaying system status. In one embodiment, a second converter is used to convert the configuration data to markup language configuration output such as extensible markup language (“XML”) based CLI output. A script, in one aspect, is able to run test cases to verify network configuration in light of the markup language configuration output.

Abstract: A network device such as a router or switch, in one embodiment, includes a timing analyzer which is capable of providing timing analysis over one or more network circuits. The timing analyzer, in one aspect, receives a data packet traveling across a circuit emulation service (“CES”) circuit such as T1 or E1 circuit. Upon obtaining an arrival timestamp associated with the data packet, the arrival timestamp is stored in a timestamp buffer in accordance with a first-in first-out (“FIFO”) storage sequence. After identifying the oldest arrival timestamp in the timestamp buffer, an offset is generated based on the result of comparison between the arrival timestamp and the oldest timestamp. The timing analyzer can also be configured to generate timing reports on-demand based on generated offset(s).

Abstract: A network element (“NE”) is capable of starting an automatic configuration in response to an initiator such as a dongle. In one embodiment, after resetting a counter used for identifying a signal, a process for the automatic configuration forces a first test signal at a test mode output (“TMO”) pin of a console interface to a logic state zero. Upon detecting a break condition at a receiver pin, a second test signal at the TMO pin is forced to a logic state one. When logic state one is detected at the receiver pin of the NE, an automatic configuration mode at the NE is activated.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may comprise pairing a first switching module with a second switching module such that the first switching module is enabled to switch signals received via its first input ports and its second input ports to its first output ports and second output ports, wherein the signals received by the first input ports of the first switching module are communicated from the first output ports of the second switching module, and the signals communicated by the first output ports of the second switching module are signals received by the second input ports of the second switching module and forwarded to the first output ports of the second switching module.

Abstract: Embodiments including methods, systems, and apparatuses for distributing, processing, and reacting to path information distributed via a service-agnostic packet fabric for the purpose of enabling path selection are disclosed. By configuring two ingress line cards to send path quality words to each other via the switch fabric, compare the path quality words, and determine whether to transmit traffic to an egress line card via the switch fabric based on the comparison of the path quality words, the embodiments enable a central switch fabric to be unaware of the paths that it carries, and enable both ingress and egress bandwidth of the switch fabric to be sized according to the facilities for which it is terminating. The switch fabric does not need to support working and protection paths simultaneously in some embodiments, allowing it to be scaled appropriately to termination facilities.

Abstract: A communication network configured to substitute serving gateway (“SGW”), packet data network gateway (“PGW”), and mobility management entity (“MME”) with an OpenFlow network controller (“OFNC”) for packets routing between mobile devices and the Internet is disclosed. The network includes a cellular base station, a packet data network (“PDN”), and OFNC. The cellular base station provides wireless communication for user equipments (“UEs”). The PDN is able to route packet flows to their destination(s). The routing controller or OFNC manages a cluster of routers including at least one edge router via OpenFlow protocol. The OFNC, in one embodiment, establishes a routing path between the cellular base station and the PDN for an authenticated UE via a group of routers based on information obtained from an authenticating server and a charging system.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to increasing an aggregate capacity of a network without using a centralized switch fabric. A method and corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention relates to increasing overall aggregate capacity of a switching system. The example embodiment includes a first switching shelf having a first predetermined aggregate capacity, and multiple second switching shelves having a second predetermined aggregate capacity. The second predetermined aggregate capacity is less than the first predetermined aggregate capacity. The example embodiment increases the overall aggregate capacity as a function of connections between the first switching shelf and the multiple second switching shelves. The shelves are interconnected with interconnection links and can be configured to connect to additional shelves as the switching system grows to larger sizes. Embodiments can increase capacity while reducing cost within a network node.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein enable network simulation including a range of networking technologies to be scaled to include large numbers of devices under test (DUTs) even though computing resources, such as a total number of simulation hosts or IP addresses, may be limited. By enabling a network simulator to scale with limited computing resources, developers may be enabled to reduce the requirements for physical space, power, cost, and maintenance for network simulation. For example, developers may be able to determine capacity, such as a total number of DUTs that a network management system (NMS) is capable of managing, even though few simulation hosts or IP addresses may be available for simulation of the DUTs.

Abstract: A system and method capable of scaling or gradually scaling bandwidth of a network flow over a period of time based on network usage are disclosed. In one embodiment, a process or network system obtains a network usage subscription after detecting a network flow. After retrieving a usage subscription and record in accordance with the network flow, the amount of data transferred since the beginning of a predefined time period is identified. Upon identifying the available data transfer quota, the process is able to gradually scale the bandwidth of the flow based on the available data transfer quota.

Abstract: A communication network system includes a solid-state meter, an optical line terminal (“OLT”) based device, and a meter network management device. In one embodiment, the solid-state meter, which can be an electricity meter or a gas meter, provides a measurement, and has a serial communication interface. The OLT based device transfers the information between network devices via a communication network. The meter network management device, which may be an optical network terminal (“ONT”), is capable of communicating with the solid-state meter using the serial communication interface via an RS-232 port.

Abstract: Each node of a telecommunications network determines a connection type attributes available for each signal type supported by the node. Each signal type represents a different connection routing layer within the telecommunications network. Adaptation costs involved in traversing from one connection routing layer to another connection routing layer in the node are calculated. The connection type attributes and adaptation costs are included in a link state advertisement broadcasted by each node in the telecommunications network. A route calculation is performed for a desired signal to determine a route through the telecommunications network for the signal. The route calculation takes into account the various connection type attributes, availability, and adaptation costs in determining the shortest route for the signal through the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A process or method for embedding diagnostic information in a Simple Network Management Protocol (“SNMP”) response during an occurrence of provisioning error is disclosed. A network element (“NE”), in one embodiment, is able to detect an operation failure while performing a GET or a SET request from a network manager. If the enhanced diagnostic code notification is registered between the NE and manager, the NE composes a response message such as GET-RESPONSE to include a standard error code as well as an enhanced diagnostic code. The enhanced diagnostic code includes diagnostic information associated with the operation failure. After transmitting the response to the network manager, the enhanced diagnostic code is subsequently decoded in accordance with enhanced diagnostic information stored in a network manager database.

Abstract: A procedure for directing network traffic, and a system that operates in accordance with the procedure. One or more messages are received, notifying of a degradation or recovery of a network link and remaining available bandwidth. A policy decision is generated based on the degradation or recovery of the network link and remaining available bandwidth and capabilities of other equipment on the network. The policy decision is transmitted to a network element on the network.

Abstract: A mobile network configuration is able to offload packet flows based on identification (“ID”) rules to a wireless network using a deep packet inspection (“DPI”) function. After activating DPI function located in a packet data network gateway (“PDN-GW”), every packet flow passing through the PDN-GW is monitored, detected, and analyzed based on a set of predefined ID rules. Upon identifying a packet flow for a predefined network application, the packet flow is offloaded from a long term evolution (“LTE”) network to a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) or Wi-Fi network. To reduce traffic loading on the LTE network, the PDN-GW sends binding updates containing offloading information associated with the packet flow to user equipment (“UE”) for offloading implementation.

Abstract: When planning and maintaining a network, it may be very difficult for a network provider to organize variations of equipment rack installations at several different sites. Present methods of planning installation configurations in a network involve planning the same equipment installation configuration at all sites, planning a limited number of variations, or planning multiple variations but, with difficulty, tracking and changing configurations. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention provides a tool for simplifying the planning of multiple network element installation configurations at multiple sites within a network. The benefits include fewer required truck rolls, resulting in reduced costs before and after deployment of installation configurations.