Abstract: A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for balancing loads among a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) from a central dispatcher, wherein the dispatcher receives data packets and maps the data packets to VMs selected from the plurality of VMs, using a weighted hash function, having an associated weighting for each VM and forwarding each packet to a VM accordingly, wherein a load balancer decrements a weighting for a VM, responsive to an indication of the load on the VM exceeding a first load threshold. Weightings can correspond to a number of bins associated with each VM. Weightings are adjusted in response to receiving invite and disinvite messages from the VMs, representing their respective loads.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses various mechanisms for supporting multipath communications, including mechanisms for supporting retransmissions for multipath communications. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may be provided within the context of multipath transport connections, such as Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connections. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may support retransmission of lost or delayed packets of a multipath transport connection in a manner tending to avoid a timeout of the multipath transport connection.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for balancing loads among a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) from a central dispatcher, wherein the dispatcher receives data packets and maps the data packets to VMs selected from the plurality of VMs, using a weighted hash function, having an associated weighting for each VM and forwarding each packet to a VM accordingly, wherein a load balancer decrements a weighting for a VM, responsive to an indication of the load on the VM exceeding a first load threshold. Weightings can correspond to a number of bins associated with each VM. Weightings are adjusted in response to receiving invite and disinvite messages from the VMs, representing their respective loads.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses various mechanisms for supporting multipath communications, including mechanisms for supporting retransmissions for multipath communications. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may be provided within the context of multipath transport connections, such as Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connections. The mechanisms for supporting retransmission for multipath communications may support retransmission of lost or delayed packets of a multipath transport connection in a manner tending to avoid a timeout of the multipath transport connection.

Abstract: A tone advisor, a tone assisting system and a method of associating tones with callers. In one embodiment the method includes: (1) monitoring calls to and from a user, (2) obtaining information based on the calls and (3) categorizing a caller associated with at least one of the calls into a contact group according to the information and (4) assigning a genre of tones to the contact group.

Abstract: A gigabit passive optical network or other type of optical communication network comprises an optical line terminator that transmits data in a downstream direction to multiple optical network units. The optical network units transmit data in an upstream direction to the optical line terminator. In one aspect of the invention, the optical line terminator is operative to allocate upstream bandwidth among the optical network units, to measure usage of the allocated upstream bandwidth by the optical network units, to process the measured usage to determine a predicted variation in usage of upstream bandwidth by the optical network units, and to alter the allocation of the upstream bandwidth based on the predicted variation.

Abstract: A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.

Abstract: A method of operating a packet network includes the step of selecting one of a plurality of candidate gateways to connect a multimedia communication session between the packet network and a TDM network. The packet network has a source node of the multimedia communication session, and the TDM network has a destination of the multimedia communication session. The candidate gateways interconnect the packet network and the TDM network. The selecting step includes comparing end-to-end congestions for bearer traffic between the source node and different candidate gateways of the plurality.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first node configured to receive the data packets from a plurality of source nodes of the data network and to selectively route some of the received data packets to a link via a port of the first node. The apparatus also includes a link-input buffer that is located in the first node and is configured to store the some of the received data packets for transmission to the link via the port. The first node is configured to power off hardware for transmitting received data packets to the link in response to a fill level of the link-input buffer being below a threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first node configured to receive the data packets from a plurality of source nodes of the data network and to selectively route some of the received data packets to a link via a port of the first node. The apparatus also includes a link-input buffer that is located in the first node and is configured to store the some of the received data packets for transmission to the link via the port. The first node is configured to power off hardware for transmitting received data packets to the link in response to a fill level of the link-input buffer being below a threshold.

Abstract: A content distribution network (CDN) comprising content storage nodes (CSNs) or caches having storage space that preferentially stores more popular content objects.

Abstract: A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for prioritizing session initiation protocol (“SIP”) messages. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method of prioritizing SIP messages in a network, the method comprising receiving SIP messages in a first order from one or more other servers of the network, wherein each of the received SIP messages comprises one or more priority indicators, scheduling the received SIP messages into a second order based on one or more of the priority indicators, and processing the scheduled SIP messages in the second order.

Abstract: A gigabit passive optical network or other type of optical communication network comprises an optical line terminator that transmits data in a downstream direction to multiple optical network units. The optical network units transmit data in an upstream direction to the optical line terminator. In one aspect of the invention, the optical line terminator is operative to allocate upstream bandwidth among the optical network units, to measure usage of the allocated upstream bandwidth by the optical network units, to process the measured usage to determine a predicted variation in usage of upstream bandwidth by the optical network units, and to alter the allocation of the upstream bandwidth based on the predicted variation.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a list of willingness-to-pays for optical data capacities to an optical network. The optical network has a set of gateway nodes connected directly to nodes of a data network. The optical network is configured to transmit data communications on a plurality of wavelength channels. Each willingness-to-pay represents a value for an optical data capacity between a corresponding pair of the gateway nodes of the optical network.

Abstract: A tone advisor, a tone assisting system and a method of associating tones with callers. In one embodiment the method includes: (1) monitoring calls to and from a user, (2) obtaining information based on the calls and (3) categorizing a caller associated with at least one of the calls into a contact group according to the information and (4) assigning a genre of tones to the contact group.