Abstract: Node merging methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating simplified representations of network topology. A first topology representative of a given network is determined, and at least one pair of nodes of the first topology is merged into a single node based on measures associated with respective edges connecting the nodes of the node pair to at least one neighbor node common to that pair. The merging step is repeated for one or more additional pairs of nodes to produce a reduced network topology meeting one or more desired criteria, and a visualization or other representation of the reduced network topology is generated.

Abstract: A distributed hash table is implemented to store routing information on a network. Node IDs exchanged in connection with implementation of a link state routing protocol are used as keys in the distributed hash table, and routes are stored at one or more nodes on the network. When a route is learned, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should store the route. When a route is needed, the route is processed against the set of keys to determine which nodes should have the route information. The manner in which the route is processed against the set of keys is the same in both instances, so that the DHT may be used to store and retrieve route information on the network. The DHT may be implemented to store MAC addresses, IP addresses, MPLS labels, or other information of interest to enable routes to be stored and learned by network elements on the network.

Abstract: To provide a packet forwarding device which minimizes degradation in packet forwarding performance at the time of execution of filtering there is provided a technique in which a destination decision processing unit of a destination decision and filtering unit decides whether to execute filtering on the basis of at least one of an input interface, an input port number, an output interface, and an output port number of an input packet and a plurality of pieces of information constituting the header of the packet. A filtering unit executes filtering only for a packet for which execution of filtering is decided. The packet forwarding device with the destination decision and filtering unit need not execute filtering for all packets and can minimize degradation in packet forwarding performance caused by filtering.

Abstract: A packet, cell or other data segment received in a physical layer device from a link layer device via an interface bus is processed to determine a port address for the data segment in the physical layer device. The port address, which may be an MPHY address, is determined using a combination of a first address value obtained from a link layer address portion of the data segment and a second address value obtained from a payload portion of the data segment. The data segment is stored in a memory location identified by the port address. The memory location may comprise a particular queue of the physical layer device.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems for, and methods of transporting digital signals and radio-frequency (“RF”) signals are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intelligent network (e.g., a combination router) and corresponding method are provided for transporting RF signals to, for example, an RFID antenna and transporting digital signals to, for example, a controller. In a preferred embodiment, the intelligent network is implemented with a manager unit for controlling a plurality of network devices to facilitate the efficient management of RFID-enabled devices. The network devices may include a combination router/switch, which has the capability of switching both digital data and RF data, RFID readers, RFID reader/writer pads, and other devices. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the intelligent network allows enhanced flexibility in controlling systems for interrogation of RFID antennae.

Abstract: A method and system of network communication receive load balancing. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising determining communication path cost information by a computer system (the computer system coupled to plurality of clients over a network), configuring communications from the plurality of clients to the computer system such that the communications are distributed across a plurality of teamed communication ports (the distribution proportional to communication path cost information associated with each communication port), and receiving message packets distributed across the plurality of teamed communication ports.

Abstract: A method and Resource Allocation Manager Entity for obtaining an improved resource allocation plan for the network. Traffic requests currently exist in a network, each of which having a source, a destination and at least one Quality of Service (QoS) requirement being represented by a QoS value. For each traffic request, at least one potential path consisting of a plurality of links is computed. An iteration matrix is generated having the potential path on first axis, the links on second axis and the QoS requirement on third axis. The iteration matrix is filled by, for each of potential path, distributing the QoS value of the QoS requirement over the links for enabling a gradient space calculation method on the iteration matrix. The gradient space calculation method is applied to the iteration matrix until an iteration marker thereof indicates that the iteration matrix contains the improved resource allocation plan.

Abstract: A multiplexing apparatus for multiplexing audio data into transport stream (TS) packets includes a first encoding section encoding the audio data by a first encoding method; a second encoding section encoding the audio data by a second encoding method, which is a variable-length encoding method and which differs from the first encoding method, for attaching a timing value indicating a timing used when audio data is decoded in units of predetermined audio data; a packetization section packetizing the audio data encoded by the first encoding section and the audio data encoded by the second encoding section into TS packets and for attaching the same ID to a plurality of packetized TS packets; a determination section determining a TS packet to be multiplexed from among the plurality of TS packets packetized by the packetization section; and a multiplexing section multiplexing the TS packet determined by the determination section.