Abstract: Logistics are optimized for delivering a product within a product distribution network. A computer receives order data, the order data includes order information and a delivery location of a product ordered by a user. The order data further includes an order history of the user including order returns or cancelations. Using data analytics, the order data is analyzed to determine a logistics plan for the delivery of the product. A probability of return of the product is calculated, and a probability of re-order of the product is calculated. As part of the logistics plan and based on the analyzing of the order data, a recommended storage facility is generated for a second delivery location resulting from a re-routing of the delivery of the product, in response to the order being canceled.

Abstract: One embodiment can provide a method and system for monitoring the performance of a network. During operation, the system can collect, from a network device, traffic data associated with a network; analyze the traffic data to discover dependencies among a plurality of applications and services accessed by client devices within the network; and identify, based on the discovered dependencies, a first server providing a first application and at least a second server providing a service that facilitates delivery of the first application. The system can further perform active measurement on the identified first server and at least the second server, thereby facilitating monitoring of performance of the first application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: determining, by a computer device, user behavior with an application; determining, by the computer device, a criticality of the application to a user; and changing, by the computer device, a hardcoded timeout parameter of the application into a dynamic timeout parameter based on the determined user behavior and the determined criticality of the application.

Abstract: Some embodiments described in this disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for managing a network, e.g., by performing virtual topology adaptation for resource optimization. In some embodiments, a system can monitor traffic on the network to identify heavily loaded and/or lightly loaded links in the network. In response to identifying a lightly loaded link, the system can shift traffic from the lightly loaded link to one or more other links in the network. After the traffic has been shifted, the system can move circuitry associated with the lightly loaded link into a low-power state. In response to identifying a heavily loaded link, the system can activate a new link in the network by moving circuitry associated with the new link from a low-power state into a high-power state. After the new link has been activated, the system can shift traffic from the heavily loaded link to the new link.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides a guaranteed level of availability in a communication network. During operation, the system receives a connection request that includes a specified reliability. Next, the system determines multiple candidate routes through a network to satisfy the connection request, wherein each of these candidate routes passes through a set of links that form a path through the network. The system then examines the candidate routes to identify a route that meets the specified reliability. The system only accepts the connection request if a route that meets the specified reliability is found.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that guarantees a stated failure-recovery time in an optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network. The system operates by first receiving a request at an ingress node of the WDM network to establish a connection from a source to a destination through the WDM network, wherein the request includes the stated failure-recovery time. The system then calculates a chain of restorable cycles within the WDM network between the ingress node for the source and an egress node for the destination, wherein each cycle in the chain of restorable cycles can guarantee the stated failure-recovery time. Finally, the system selects a section of each restorable cycle to be a primary path between the source and the destination through the restorable cycle.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates optical switching. The system starts by receiving a plurality of optical input signals. The system then divides each of the plurality of optical input signals into a plurality of wavebands that can be carried on a single optical fiber, wherein each waveband includes a predetermined subset of the wavelengths in the optical signal. Once the optical input signals have been divided into wavebands, the wavebands are then routed through a waveband switch. After being routed through the waveband switch, the wavebands are combined to form a plurality of optical output signals, where each optical output signal can possible include wavebands from different optical input signals. Additionally, some of the wavebands can be divided into wavelengths, and the wavelengths can be routed through a wavelength switch or a traffic grooming switch.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides a guaranteed level of availability in a communication network. During operation, the system receives a connection request that includes a specified reliability. Next, the system determines multiple candidate routes through a network to satisfy the connection request, wherein each of these candidate routes passes through a set of links that form a path through the network. The system then examines the candidate routes to identify a route that meets the specified reliability. The system only accepts the connection request if a route that meets the specified reliability is found.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that guarantees a stated failure-recovery time in an optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network. The system operates by first receiving a request at an ingress node of the WDM network to establish a connection from a source to a destination through the WDM network, wherein the request includes the stated failure-recovery time. The system then calculates a chain of restorable cycles within the WDM network between the ingress node for the source and an egress node for the destination, wherein each cycle in the chain of restorable cycles can guarantee the stated failure-recovery time. Finally, the system selects a section of each restorable cycle to be a primary path between the source and the destination through the restorable cycle.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for switching signals between optical fibers. Upon receiving a plurality of optical input signals, the system divides each of the optical input signals into N input slices, wherein each input slice carries 1/Nth of the data for a given input signal. Next, the system distributes the N input slices to N switching circuits. This allows the N input slices to be switched in parallel to N corresponding output slices. Next, the system forms a plurality of optical output signals, wherein a given optical output signal is formed by receiving N output slices from the N switching circuits, and splicing the N output slices together to form the given optical output signal.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for routing signals through an optical network, wherein the optical network includes a plurality of optical cross-connects coupled together by a plurality of optical fiber links. Note that each of the optical cross-connects includes a plurality of non-blocking switches, and each optical fiber link can carry signals on a plurality of wavelengths. Upon receiving a request to establish a path, the system identifies a plurality of paths between the source and the destination through the optical network. Each switch in an optical cross-connect is associated with one or more wavegroups (wherein each wavegroup includes signals from one or more wavelengths). Note that each path through the optical network is comprised of wavelength/fiber links that belong to the same wavegroup, and that wavelength/fiber links that belong to the same wavegroup are routed through a non-blocking switch that is associated with the wavegroup.

Abstract: On embodiment of the present invention provides a system for switching wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical signals. This system operates by receiving a plurality of optical input signals, and performing wavelength-division demultiplexing on each of the plurality of optical input signals to produce wavelength-specific input signals. These wavelength-specific input signals are grouped into a plurality of wave groups, wherein each wave group can include wavelength-specific input signals for more than one wavelength. The system then feeds these wavelength-specific input signals into a plurality of non-blocking switches, so that each non-blocking switch receives wavelength-specific input signals belonging to a specific wave group. Next, the system switches the wavelength-specific input signals within the plurality of non-blocking switches to produce wavelength-specific output signals that also belong to specific wave groups.