Abstract: A multi-level classification scheme for classifying subscriber traffic at a network node coupled between subscribers of network services and providers of the network services includes two levels of classification. The subscriber traffic is received at the network service node. A first portion of the subscriber traffic is selectively routed from a plurality of first level routers to a plurality of second level routers within the network service node. The first portion of the subscriber traffic is then selectively routed from the second level routers to network applications executing within the network service node for processing.

Abstract: A technique for storing a plurality of data records in a database. Client processes link to the database to access the data records of the database. Each client process has a specified scope. The scope defines to which of the data records within the database each of the client processes has access.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to support dynamic allocation of traffic management resources in a network element. Shared pools of traffic management resources comprising an aggregation of local line card resources distributed across the line cards or a network element maintained by apparatus software. Incoming packets are classified into subscriber flows using a hierarchical classification scheme. In view of subscriber services and flow application types, traffic management resources are dynamically allocated from the shared pools, and traffic management policies associated with the subscriber services and application types are applied to the subscriber flows via the allocated resources. In response to detecting a subscriber flow has terminated, the allocated resources are release and made available to be dynamically re-allocated to subsequent subscriber flows.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an application aware traffic shaping service node architecture is described. One embodiment of the invention, the service node architecture includes a set of one or more line cards, a set of one or more processor cards and a full mesh communication infrastructure coupling the sets of line and processor cards. Each link coupling the sets of line and processor cards is of equal capacity. A line card includes a physical interface and a set of one or policy network processors, with the network processors performing deep packet inspection on incoming traffic and shaping outgoing traffic. Processors cards include a set of one or more policy generating processors. According to another embodiment of the invention, the service node generates a set of statistics based on the incoming traffic and continually updates, in real-time, traffic shaping policies based on the set of statistics.

Abstract: A technique to replicate unicast flows is described. A plurality of unicast control flows are received at a network element from a plurality of clients. One of the unicast control flows is forwarded to a server. A unicast content flow is received from the server at the network element in response to forwarding the one of the unicast control flows. The unicast content flow is replicated at the network element as a plurality of replicated unicast content flows for transmission to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring quality of experience includes forwarding a data packet flow carrying content between first and second endpoints. The data packet flow is forwarded at an intermediate point between the first and second endpoints so that the first and second endpoints are communicatively coupled over one or more networks through the intermediate point. The data packet flow is analyzed at the intermediate point and an intermediate point quality of content rating of the content received at the intermediate point is generated. A report detailing one or more attributes about the data packet flow based at least in part on the intermediate point quality of content rating is further generated.

Abstract: A converter may be used to convert a serializable object to other file formats. A serializable objects database can be used to store these serializable objects. The serializable object database may be accessed by passing a field value, corresponding to a selected field of the serializable object, to the database. The selected field of the serializable object is marked with an index value. The database is queried using the field value to determine whether any record stored in the database includes the field value in a matching field indicated by the index value. If the query determines that the serializable objects database includes at least one record with the field value in the matching field indicated by the index value, then a plurality of field values are returned to populate a plurality of fields of the serializable object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an application aware traffic shaping service node positioned between the access and core networks is described. One embodiment of the invention enforces a per subscriber, per application traffic policy for network traffic between one or more subscribers communicatively connected through an access network and a set of one or more service providers communicatively connected through a core network. According to another embodiment of the invention enforcement of the per subscriber, per application traffic policy comprises classifying the network traffic into application level subscriber flows, maintaining real-time statistics on the application level subscriber flows and overall network element congestion, updating, in real-time, the per subscriber, per application traffic policy based on the real-time statistics and restricting bandwidth and dropping packets on the application level subscriber flows as necessary to enforce the per subscriber, per application traffic policy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimum matching of a traffic profile with an individual traffic flow using flow bifurcation and analysis. Bifurcation and duplication of packets that make up a flow received at an ingress element are forwarded to each of egress traffic and computation processor resources, such that egress traffic operations and traffic analysis operations may be performed concurrently without introducing jitter or delay in either bifurcated processing path. The traffic analysis includes maintaining flow statistics, flow stateful information and classifying the flow as a particular application traffic type. The optimum traffic profile for this application traffic type is then selected and applied to the individual flow. The traffic analysis data is forwarded to ingress and egress processing elements in real time, and ingress and egress traffic processing operations are dynamically adjusted in view of the traffic analysis data.