Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program, for operating a network planning tool. The method includes recognizing at least one predetermined criteria being satisfied or triggered, and learning at least one network attribute, to be used in subsequent network planning. Various types of network attributes can be learned, such as, e.g., network element parameters, site parameters, link parameters, demand parameters, optical parameters, general parameters, and networking parameters. Example attributes may specify, e.g., a maximum number of add/drop channels, at least one alarm threshold, a maximum number of sites per network ring, a maximum number of add/drop sites per ring, and a maximum ring circumference. Others can specify a maximum light path distance, a routing tendency, at least one grooming node, or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for venting an enclosure, such as a chassis housing electronic equipment. The method includes receiving, at least one air directing surface, airflow moving in a first direction, the at least one air directing surface being disposed externally from the chassis at a predetermined placement relative to the at least one ventilation surface in a path of the airflow. The at least one air directing surface has a configuration to alter the direction of the airflow between the air directing surface and the at least one ventilation surface. The method also includes redirecting the airflow between the at least one air directing surface and the at least one ventilation surface to at least a second direction using the air directing surface.

Abstract: Multiple physical NEs may be presented to a network carrier as a single logical NE comprising multiple physical NEs. Alarms between the multiple physical NEs may be treated as internal connection alarms of the single logical NE instead of endpoint alarms of the multiple physical NEs. A number of alarms in the network may be reduced as well as alarm processing of the alarms at an Operational Support System (OSS), effectuating scaling of alarms as well as relaxing resource requirements (e.g., compute power, memory, etc.) of the OSS.

Abstract: Due to demand for more network bandwidth, a need for multi-user optical network topologies has, and will continue to, increase. A method or corresponding apparatus in embodiments of the present invention provide for an availability determination tool for determining and displaying wavelength and subrate availabilities within a network. Benefits of embodiments of a tool include allowing a user to identify the availability and capacity of any wavelength on any network, via an interactive graphical user interface, such as by using three-dimensional representations. In one embodiment, the disclosed availability determination tool allows users to locate and view any combination of available wavelengths between nodes in an optical network topology, and generate graphical and tabular reports of the availability in order to maintain an efficient and organized method or apparatus for determining and controlling wavelengths in a network.

Abstract: Packets having at least one cell are switched using input queues, output queues, a switch fabric, and a controller. Each input queue stores cells to be switched, and each output queue stores switched cells. The switch fabric couples the input queues to the output queues and has memory. The switch fabric stores cells moved from the input queues to the switch fabric and stores cells based on the output queues. The controller couples to the input queues and the switch fabric and determines input priorities for cells moving from the input queues to the switch fabric and output priorities for cells moving from the switch fabric to the output queues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interference suppression in wireless communication systems, especially Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) systems, is presented. The array apparatus includes a two-tier adaptive array system, which provides for both spatial diversity and beamforming at the uplink and includes sub-arrays spaced at a distance sufficient to provide spatial diversity and support beamforming or scanning. A Direction of Arrival (DOA) of signals impinging upon the array can be calculated by comparing signals from sub-array elements. Each sub-array can be filtered or beamformed to provide high gain to desired signals received from the DOA (which may be a multipath signal) while simultaneously dampening-out undesired signals, such as co-channel interference (CCI) in the frequency band of operation. The DOA is also used for allocating frequency bins for data signals, such as in an OFDM system, to provide weighted guidelines for bin allocation to maximize received signal power.

Abstract: A network configuration and method of delivering targeted advertisement during an audio broadcasting using a targeted radio advertisement manager (“TRAM”) are disclosed. A TRAM process for delivering targeted advertisement (“AD”) is able to receive a packet carrying identification (“ID”) identifying a radio and a time stamp associated with a tune-in broadcast station via a cellular communication network. After identifying at least one user associated with the radio, a user preference is determined in accordance with the user. After generating a set of targeted ads based on user preference, the set of targeted ads is forwarded to the radio. The targeted ads are selectively disseminated during commercial intervals between radio broadcasting in accordance with a predefined broadcasting schedule.

Abstract: Network service providers have largely addressed the growth in demand for communications networks in two ways: employing faster and more robust communications protocols through equipment upgrades and increasing use of Operations, Administrations, and Management (OAM) procedures for improved network performance. Typically, OAM operations procedures used by a network protocol are unique to that protocol and are not compatible with other network protocols. Service providers with networks that use multiple communications protocols, such as networks using legacy and newly installed equipment, can have difficulty ensuring optimal performance due to non-compatible OAM operations. A method, and corresponding apparatus, for supporting OAM interworking between first and second communications protocols used in an interworking circuit of a communications network is disclosed.

Abstract: Adaptive Gain Control (AGC) is performed directly in a coded domain. A Coded Domain Adaptive Gain Control (CD-AGC) system modifies at least one parameter of a first encoded signal, resulting in corresponding modified parameter(s). The CD-VQE system replaces the parameter(s) of the first encoded signal with the modified parameter(s), resulting in a second encoded signal. In a decoded state, the second encoded signal approximates a target signal that is a function of two signals, including the first encoded signal and a third encoded signal, in at least a partially decoded states. Thus, the first encoded signal does not have to go through intermediate decode/re-encode processes, which can degrade overall speech quality. Computational resources required for a complete re-encoding are not needed. Overall delay of the system is minimized. The CD-AGC system can be used in any network in which signals are communicated in a coded domain, such as a Third Generation (3G) wireless network.

Abstract: Optical regenerators and amplifiers are expensive to implement and maintain. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention relates to an optical planning tool that plans an optical network configuration by determining a plurality of costs for maintaining signal strength in corresponding network configurations including (i) a configuration of regenerators, (ii) a configuration of pre-or post-amplifiers, and (iii) a configuration of pre- and post-amplifiers in candidate locations and regenerator modules. The candidate locations for placing pre-or post-amplifiers are determined based on loss in each span, expected traffic patterns, and proposed regeneration locations along paths of expected traffic. The regeneration modules are located in locations determined based on the candidate locations. The example embodiment selects a configuration from among the network configurations as a function of the plurality of costs, helping reduce the cost of network deployment.

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 system and method capable of implementing network initiated packet data protocol (“PDP”) context to enhance security of network communications are disclosed. An activation and/or modification request message containing security information element is generated and forwarded from a gateway general packet radio service support node (“GGSN”) to a serving general packet radio service support node (“SGSN”) requesting traffic security for a particular Internet Protocol (“IP”) session. After sending the activation/modification request message from SGSN to user equipment (“UE”), an IP session with PDP context encryption between the UE and a destination is initiated according to the security information element.

Abstract: A method and/or network system is able to perform an in-service software upgrade (“ISSU”) using virtualization technology while ongoing network service is maintained. After receipt of an upgrade signal such as a command of software upgrade, a new or second virtual machine (“VM”) is created in response to the upgrade signal. After downloading the new version of program to the second VM while maintaining the first version of program running on the first VM, the process for providing network management begins to migrate from the first version of program to the new version of program. The process simultaneously facilitates ISSU for a data-path module such as a line card to convert from the previous version of software to the new version of the software.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and calculators for configuring traffic allocations for service classes with different Quality of Service (QoS) in a router. Example embodiments involve setting allocations at a router based on traffic rate values and/or traffic weight values provided by a user. The router may monitor actual traffic rates to ensure that traffic is not being dropped due to improper rate allocations and to provide historical data for optimizing traffic allocations. In addition, the router may automatically adjust traffic allocations to avoid dropping high(er) priority traffic. The router may also transmit alarms to the user and/or to other network devices to prompt traffic re-routing and/or re-allocation of traffic rates. Example methods and apparatus ensure appropriate traffic allocation to meet certain QoS metrics.

Abstract: In a multi-protocol label system (MPLS) carrying data, a working path carries data from a starting point or node to a destination point or node via a working path. The working path includes the switches and physical media linking starting point and the destination point. MPLS system reliability is enhanced by way of a protection path, over which data can be carried from the starting point to the destination point upon a detected failure along the working path. Upstream messages inform one or more MPLS switching systems to make a switchover from a working path to a protection path.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a testing device selecting at least one power port for testing. The testing device enables at least one power port to output power, where the power may be used by a corresponding remote device that may be present. The testing device may then determine whether a corresponding remote device may be communicatively coupled to it. After the determination, the power port may be disabled from outputting power.

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 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: 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: A procedure for provisioning a network, and a system, apparatus, and computer program that operate in accordance with the procedure. The procedure comprises performing a provisioning action to provision a traffic flow in a network. A graphical representation of a portion of the network is provided based on a result of the provisioning action. In one example aspect, the graphical representation comprises a plurality of representative elements representing one or more network components and one or more links between at least two of the plurality of representative elements. The network components comprise, for example, at least one of a network element, an optical channel, or a cross-connection, or the like.