Abstract: A method for controlling media presentation is disclosed. In some implementations, the method is performed at a first electronic device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The first electronic device displays a webpage including a control element, such as a “play” button. The webpage originates from a webpage server. The first electronic device receives a user input, such as a mouse click, selecting the control element. In response to the user input, the first electronic device sends a media control request to a media server. The media control request is configured to cause the media server to control presentation of first media content at a second electronic device associated with the user, wherein the second electronic device is different from the first electronic device, and wherein the media server is different from the webpage server.

Abstract: A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, the network clients connecting to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method includes obtaining configuration instructions for the router by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services, sending configuration instructions from the control system to the router, and configuring the router in accordance with the configuration instructions.

Abstract: A local system including at least two VLANs may be connected to a local layer 2 switch to a wider network by providing a connection between the local switch and a router port and a single logical layer 3 interface may be assigned to the VLANs. A VLAN tag may be assigned to each connected VLAN. Outgoing data including the user's address, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN may be communicated to the router. The address of the user and the VLAN tag may be copied to a forwarding table, and the outgoing data may be forwarded to the wider network for delivery to the intended recipient. Incoming date intended for delivery to the user may be received at the assigned layer 3 interface and forwarded to the local switch for delivery to the user.

Abstract: A system includes network elements and a network provisioning and control system by which connection of network elements to a broadband network is controlled. The network provisioning and control system includes a configuration rendering engine that operates to configure the network elements connected to the network. Network element configuration templates are stored in the network provisioning and control system, each template including predetermined configuration data and conditional configuration data. A network element connected to the network and requiring configuration is detected and a template relating to the specific network element to be configured is determined. The system is interrogated. A configuration statement for the network element based on the selected template is determined using the predetermined configuration data and the determined, discrete values of the conditional configuration data. The network element is configured using the configuration statement.

Abstract: Amethod of framing data for transmission to or from one of a number of users connected to a VLAN data network, comprising dividing the data into frames including a header and a payload, the header comprising a portion of one of two selectable values assigned according to whether the data is to be transmitted from or to a user, wherein the header comprises a VLAN tag including a Tag Protocol ID (TPID) portion and a Tag Control Information (TCI) portion, a first TPID value being assigned to data to be transmitted from the user and a second, different, TPID value being assigned to data to be transmitted to a user.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention comprises a method of operating a network for providing services to subscribers, the network including a configuration system comprising: a core system comprising primary and secondary cores, each core being separately capable of controlling operation of the system; at least one cell connected to the core system; and at least one network element connected to the cell, each network element supporting a number of subscribers for provision of the services; the method comprising: operating the configuration system using the primary core; monitoring operation of the primary core for a failure event preventing the primary core from properly controlling operation of the configuration system; on detection of a failure event, transferring control of operation of the configuration system to the secondary core; following correction of the failure event such that the primary core again becomes capable of properly controlling operation of the configuration system, configuring the secondary core

Abstract: A method of configuring a router to provide DHCP IP address services to a number of network clients sending messages to the router to request IP addresses, the network clients connecting to a network via the router which is under the control of a control system, the method includes obtaining configuration instructions for the router by sending messages from the router to the control system to request configurations for DHCP services, sending configuration instructions from the control system to the router, and configuring the router in accordance with the configuration instructions.

Abstract: A method of managing transmission of a fragmented datagram in a network having end devices and intermediate routing or switching devices in which fragmentation of the datagram takes place at an upstream intermediate device. The method includes receiving and temporarily storing a first datagram fragment at a downstream intermediate device, the fragment including data allowing classification of the fragments of the datagram; and receiving and temporarily storing subsequent fragments of the same datagram at the downstream device. Once all datagram fragments are received, all of the fragments are classified and transmitted on based on the classification data of the first fragment. However, if a predetermined time period has elapsed and at least one fragment is missing, an action other than transmission on to a subsequent device is initiated.

Abstract: A local system including at least two VLANs may be connected to a local layer 2 switch to a wider network by providing a connection between the local switch and a router port and a single logical layer 3 interface may be assigned to the VLANs. A VLAN tag may be assigned to each connected VLAN. Outgoing data including the user's address, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN may be communicated to the router. The address of the user and the VLAN tag may be copied to a forwarding table, and the outgoing data may be forwarded to the wider network for delivery to the intended recipient. Incoming date intended for delivery to the user may be received at the assigned layer 3 interface and forwarded to the local switch for delivery to the user.

Abstract: A method of forwarding a series of data packets in a data flow in a network, wherein the data packets having N predetermined parameters where N>1 and ranges of values of the N parameters defining an N-dimensional parameter space, and wherein the data flow is one selected from a series of aggregated data flows, the method comprising: defining at least one parameter-based rule applicable to the series of aggregated data flows in the N-dimensional space; applying the or each rule to the aggregated data flows so as to define a series of non-overlapping N-dimensional hyper-cubes in the N-dimensional space, each containing at least one data flow from the aggregated data flows; determining discrete values of the N parameters for the data flow containing the series of related packets, defining a point in the N-dimensional space; and forwarding the related packets in accordance with the rule applicable in the hyper-cube in which the point is located.

Abstract: A system includes network elements and a network provisioning and control system by which connection of network elements to a broadband network is controlled. The network provisioning and control system includes a configuration rendering engine that operates to configure the network elements connected to the network. Network element configuration templates are stored in the network provisioning and control system, each template including predetermined configuration data and conditional configuration data. A network element connected to the network and requiring configuration is detected and a template relating to the specific network element to be configured is determined. The system is interrogated. A configuration statement for the network element based on the selected template is determined using the predetermined configuration data and the determined, discrete values of the conditional configuration data. The network element is configured using the configuration statement.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention comprises a method of operating a network for providing services to subscribers, the network including a configuration system comprising: a core system comprising primary and secondary cores, each core being separately capable of controlling operation of the system; at least one cell connected to the core system; and at least one network element connected to the cell, each network element supporting a number of subscribers for provision of the services; the method comprising: operating the configuration system using the primary core; monitoring operation of the primary core for a failure event preventing the primary core from properly controlling operation of the configuration system; on detection of a failure event, transferring control of operation of the configuration system to the secondary core; following correction of the failure event such that the primary core again becomes capable of properly controlling operation of the configuration system, configuring the secondary core

Abstract: A method of configuring a network comprising: creating, in the configuration system core, an overall configuration tree that describes all services available to the subscribers; and the location of each individual subscriber in the network and the particular services to which it subscribes; providing each cell with a local configuration tree comprising that part of the overall configuration tree that describes all services available to the subscribers connected to network elements in that cell; and the location of each individual subscriber in that cell and the particular services to which it subscribes; and configuring each network element according to the local configuration tree in its respective cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a router or switch in a broadband network operating through packet flow forwarding. The router provides a CPU switched software flow (12) and a hardware switched accelerated flow (10) in accordance with Hierarchical Flow Forwarding (HEF) by utilizing a mutual flow table (20) partitioned into at least a hardware part (22), an intermediate part (24) and a software part (26) for flow forwarding. The table is examined on a regular basis determined by a time period, and sorted by the ratio of number of packets per time period. It is filled up with the highest ratios in the hardware part (22, 22a), the intermediate ratios in the intermediate part (24, 22a, 26a) and the lowest ratios in the software part (26). Those packet flows that qualified for the intermediate flow (22a, 26a) in a previous examining remain in their memory space if they still qualify for the intermediate part (24).

Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement and a method with dynamic port configuration of network equipment for communication in a broadband network. A central managing database in connection with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server is keeping templates with recordings of network equipment parameters for their physical port settings and deployed services. Hence, enabling dynamic updating of port settings by conveying parameter recordings from the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server. The parameter settings are updated in the intermediate means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a configuration interface (fa) in an administrators master control device (MD) in a network for at least one of a data- and telecommunication utilizing a protocol for communication between the master control device and connected remote devices (RD) for configuration. It comprises providing the configuration interface (fa) with fields comprising a communication interface (fa1) to be utilized, a remote device (RD) to be configured, and which feature to be configured at the remote device. The interface further comprises storing of configuration information in the configuration interface (fa) regarding the master control device (MD) and the interaction with a remote device (RD), thus abstracting the configuration of remote devices to reside locally in the master control device (MD) in view of the administrator, achieving configuration of two devices from one location overcoming desynchronized configuration between the devices.

Abstract: A method and a system in a data packet network (10) is provided for controlling access to media channels (16), to for instance a television user through multicasting. It provides to a host (STB) for a user requested denied multicast stream (16) services and information through an alternate channel (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for control and supervision of residential control in a broadband network (10). It comprises at least one of the following features port control, class of service assurance, forced direction for network login, abuse and anti-spoof protection, provided by hardware and software broadband network (10) dedicated means (22, 24, 26, 28, 30). Thereby the system is providing services differentiation for customers to the network (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a router or switch in a broadband network operating through packet flow forwarding. The router provides a CPU switched software flow (12) and a hardware switched accelerated flow (10) in accordance with Hierarchical Flow Forwarding (HFF) by utilizing a mutual flow table (20) partitioned into at least a hardware part (22), an intermediate part (24) and a software part (26) for flow forwarding. The table is examined on a regular basis determined by a time period, and sorted by the ratio of number of packets per time period. It is filled up with the highest ratios in the hardware part (22, 22a), the intermediate ratios in the intermediate part (24, 22a, 26a) and the lowest ratios in the software part (26). Those packet flows that qualified for the intermediate flow (22a, 26a) in a previous examining remain in their memory space if they still qualify for the intermediate part (24).

Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement and a method with dynamic port configuration of network equipment (20) for communication in a broadband network (10). A central managing database (26) in connection with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server (24) is keeping templates with recordings of network equipment parameters for their physical port (21) settings and deployed services. Hence, enabling dynamic updating of port settings by conveying parameter recordings from the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server (24). The parameter settings are updated in the intermediate means (20).