Abstract: A method for managing multicast traffic through a switch operating in the layer 2 of the OSI model, and routers and switches involved in the method. In one implementation a router sends to a switch a message containing identification of specific equipment which has requested specific multicast traffic, and also containing a specification of the specific traffic, and when the switch receives data carrying multicast traffic, based on the destination and origin addresses of the data, and based on the identification of the specific equipment and of the specification of the specific multicast traffic that it has received in the message, the switch deduces if the data carry the specific traffic that has been requested by the specific equipment, and decides through which of its ports it transmits the data.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for the on-line distribution of digital files with advertisements, advertisement management systems, digital rights management systems, and a user computing devices are provided. In some implementations, a method involves transmitting a digital file to a computing device upon receiving a request originating from the computing device to download the digital file to the computing device, the digital file having a set of executable instructions and transmitting one or more advertisements associated with the digital file to the computing device. In one implementation the set of executable instructions when executed in the computing device are useable to detect if one or more of the associated advertisements have not been received or properly played in the computing device.

Abstract: A method for managing multicast traffic through a switch operating in the layer 2 of the OSI model, and routers and switches involved in the method. In one implementation a router sends to a switch a message containing identification of specific equipment which has requested specific multicast traffic, and also containing a specification of the specific traffic, and when the switch receives data carrying multicast traffic, based on the destination and origin addresses of the data, and based on the identification of the specific equipment and of the specification of the specific multicast traffic that it has received in the message, the switch deduces if the data carry the specific traffic that has been requested by the specific equipment, and decides through which of its ports it transmits the data.

Abstract: A method for filtering in a network interface of a computer system multicast packets in a manner that reduces or obviates altogether the processing of unwanted multicast packets by the processing unit of the computer system. Filtering in the network interface is accomplished by the network interface accessing multicast traffic request information originating in the computer system and comparing the accessed information with the multicast destination address and IP source address of packets received in the network interface.

Abstract: A router having one or more downstream interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast data packets to at least one multicast group address and multiple hosts that request data from the multicast group address and sources. In one implementation the router has a management system agent and an associated management system agent database and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host information in the management system agent database derived from one or more data requests made by the hosts.

Abstract: A method and equipment for transmitting data packets in a data network originating from a mobile node. In one embodiment a method involves the mobile node transmitting immediately after a handover from a first router to a second router data packets having a source address that includes a local level 3 source address in the OSI model.

Abstract: Methods for transmitting packets using a Mobile IP protocol between a mobile node and a first node in a data network after the mobile node has transmitted data packets to the first node via a first router from a first CoA or CCoA address and by a first security association with the first node. One method includes the mobile node, sending to the first node via a second router using a second CoA or CCoA address, data packets that include an identifier of the mobile node that enables the first node to identify the mobile node as the sender of the data packets during an initial time period after transmission of the data packets via the second router has started, and during the initial time period, the mobile node authenticates the data packets it transmits to the first node using the first security association with the first node.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to transmit over a data network, advertising content inserted in multimedia content associated with an event.

Abstract: In one implementation a method of transmitting a multimedia file over a data network is provided that involves receiving from a device in a data network a first message in a first protocol that request first data associated with the multimedia file, the first data being useable by the device to establish a streaming session that involves a transmission of the multimedia file. The first message includes identifying data of a referring site. The method also involves transmitting to the device the first data and optionally the identifying data of the referring site and then receiving from the device a second message in a second protocol for the purpose of creating a streaming session associated with the multimedia file. A streaming session is then created for transmitting the multimedia file to the device.

Abstract: Processes for the on-line distribution of digital files with advertisements, advertisement management systems, digital rights management systems, and a user computing devices are provided. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method involves establishing communication between a first site and a user computing device by use of a link on a referring site and receiving in the first site referring site information that identifies the referring site. The link of the referring site being associated with a digital file stored on the first site, or otherwise made available through the first site, is transmitted in its entirety, or in part, to the user computing device along with one or more associated advertisements upon the first site receiving a request originating from the computing device to download all or a portion of the digital file to the computing device.

Abstract: In one implementation a method is provided that involves receiving in a network interface of a first router one or more PIM type messages from one or more second routers requesting one or more types of multicast traffic, storing in the first router a record for each network interface and each type of multicast traffic information that individually identifies the one or more second routers requesting the type of multicast traffic, and determining in the first router whether to transmit from the interface the one or more types of multicast traffic by use of the record. A method is also provided that involves individually tracking in an upstream PIM router the join membership of one or more individual downstream PIM routers that are coupled to a network interface of the upstream PIM router via a multi-access network without disabling Join message suppression in all the individual downstream PIM routers.

Abstract: Establishing a first communication between a programmable electronic device and a first site for an online purchase of a software product followed by establishing a second communication between the programmable electronic device and a second site for the purpose of enabling a use of the software product in the programmable electronic device. In one implementation, the software product is transmitted to the programmable electronic device during the first communication, while in another implementation the software product is transmitted to the programmable electronic device after the use enabling process made during the second communication is complete. In one implementation, the use enabling process involves the activation of a use license associated with the software product.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing multicast traffic in a data network, and network equipment using said method. Hosts (1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 4c) receive from a network interface of a router (9) traffic sent by sources (12, 13) in a multicast group. The hosts and the router communicate with one another by means of a multicast host-router communications protocol by means of which the hosts send to the router messages to request multicast traffic from sources in a multicast group. The router (9) receiving one of said messages obtains in said message identifying data which identify the host that has sent said message, and said router (9) stores in specific records for each network interface of the router, host and multicast group information about the sources the traffic of which has been requested by said host in said messages sent to the router (9).

Abstract: A device, system and method for controlling the flow of multicast data packets from sources sending data to hosts requesting the data. In one implementation, a router is situated in a data network between sources that send multicast data packets directed to a multicast group and hosts requesting to receive the multicast data packets. The router has one or more network interfaces in the direction of the hosts and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host at least one data record arising from one or more data requests made by the hosts which includes multicast group and source information. The router stores executable instructions to receive messages originating from a host, update the status of the data sources for that host and implement the actions according to one or a combination of Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 disclosed herein.

Abstract: A device, system and method for controlling the flow of multicast data packets from sources sending data to hosts requesting the data. In one implementation, a router is situated in a data network between sources that send multicast data packets directed to a multicast group and hosts requesting to receive the multicast data packets. The router has one or more network interfaces in the direction of the hosts and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host at least one data record arising from one or more data requests made by the hosts which includes multicast group and source information. The router stores executable instructions to receive messages originating from a host, update the status of the data sources for that host and implement the actions according to one or a combination of Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 disclosed herein.