Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an HLS transcoder inserts a plurality of encoder boundary points (EBPs) into an HLS formatted content item, a processor places hints about locations of the inserted EBPs, and an inputter inputs the HLS formatted content item into an on-demand encapsulation process. Related systems, apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method, system, and apparatus is described for providing multimedia content from a server to a plurality of media devices, the method including providing a computing device an HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) playlist for playing in an adaptive bitrate client, the playlist including a list of at least two segments, each of the segments having an associated duration field, for each segment in the playlist, assigning a timestamp which is equal to the sum the durations of each previous segment in the playlist, calculating a calculated duration of the playlist by subtracting a time stamp of the first segment in the playlist from the time stamp of the last segment in the playlist, determining a real duration of the playlist by subtracting a first presentation time stamp (PTS) of the first segment in the playlist from the last presentation time stamp (PTS) of the last segment in the playlist, computing a playlist drift by subtracting the calculated duration of the playlist from the real duration of the

Abstract: One embodiment of a method and system for providing multimedia content from a server to at least one client device is described. The method and system include storing a content asset in a storage unit, storing a master manifest in memory, the master manifest including information required to locate at least one format specific manifest for the content asset, the at least one format specific manifest including information for locating the content asset in a specific content format and processing the master manifest by a processor which reads the master manifest from memory, locates the at least one format specific manifest using the master manifest, and adapts the content to a desired target format on the basis of the located format specific manifest, the desired target format being appropriate for consumption by the at least one client device. Related hardware, methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an HLS transcoder inserts a plurality of encoder boundary points (EBPs) into an HLS formatted content item, a processor places hints about locations of the inserted EBPs, and an inputter inputs the HLS formatted content item into an on-demand encapsulation process. Related systems, apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method, system, and apparatus is described for providing multimedia content from a server to a plurality of media devices, the method including providing a computing device an HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) playlist for playing in an adaptive bitrate client, the playlist including a list of at least two segments, each of the segments having an associated duration field, for each segment in the playlist, assigning a timestamp which is equal to the sum the durations of each previous segment in the playlist, calculating a calculated duration of the playlist by subtracting a time stamp of the first segment in the playlist from the time stamp of the last segment in the playlist, determining a real duration of the playlist by subtracting a first presentation time stamp (PTS) of the first segment in the playlist from the last presentation time stamp (PTS) of the last segment in the playlist, computing a playlist drift by subtracting the calculated duration of the playlist from the real duration of the

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes assigning at a server, priority levels to channels associated with video broadcast content, transmitting the assigned priority levels to a network device transmitting the video broadcast content to receivers, and updating the assigned priority levels based on channel information received at the server. A policy is applied to the video broadcast content based on the assigned priority levels when network congestion occurs. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A technique dynamically restores original attributes of a Traffic Engineering Label Switched Path (TE-LSP) that are provided in a source domain for a destination domain when traversing one or more intermediate domains that may translate the TE-LSP attributes in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a head-end node requests an interdomain TE-LSP having one or more original TE-LSP attributes (e.g., priority, bandwidth, etc.) using a signaling exchange. The head-end node may also request restoration of the original TE-LSP attributes upon entrance into the destination domain. Intermediate domains (e.g., border routers of the domains) receiving the request may translate the original TE-LSP attributes into corresponding intermediate domain TE-LSP attributes. When the request reaches the destination domain, the intermediate domain TE-LSP attributes of the requested TE-LSP are restored into the original TE-LSP attributes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes assigning at a server, priority levels to channels associated with video broadcast content, transmitting the assigned priority levels to a network device transmitting the video broadcast content to receivers, and updating the assigned priority levels based on channel information received at the server. A policy is applied to the video broadcast content based on the assigned priority levels when network congestion occurs. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hierarchical tunnel that encapsulates a plurality of child tunnels along a shared path segment is used. The shared path segment extends from a head-end node across one or more intermediate nodes to a tail-end node. A state of a child tunnel of the plurality of child tunnels encapsulated within the hierarchical tunnel is refreshed by the head-end node sending one or more refresh messages along the child tunnel that include a request that the one or more intermediate nodes remove the state of the child tunnel without sending error messages, and sending one or more encapsulated refresh messages within the hierarchical tunnel that cause the tail-end node to continue propagation of refresh messages along the child tunnel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hierarchical tunnel that encapsulates a plurality of child tunnels along a shared path segment is used. The shared path segment extends from a head-end node across one or more intermediate nodes to a tail-end node. A state of a child tunnel of the plurality of child tunnels encapsulated within the hierarchical tunnel is refreshed by the head-end node sending one or more refresh messages along the child tunnel that include a request that the one or more intermediate nodes remove the state of the child tunnel without sending error messages, and sending one or more encapsulated refresh messages within the hierarchical tunnel that cause the tail-end node to continue propagation of refresh messages along the child tunnel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node (e.g., a grooming node) determines a set of attribute groups (AGs) of existing child tunnels through the network, where an AG is a group of one or more compatible attributes among child tunnels, e.g., excluding bandwidth. The grooming node also determines a set of corresponding child tunnels that belong to a particular AG and that follow a shared path segment through the network, and may establish an hierarchical tunnel that encapsulates the set of corresponding child tunnels along the shared path segment. In another embodiment, a node requests that the one or more intermediate nodes of the hierarchical tunnel each remove the state of a child tunnel without sending any error messages, and sends refresh messages encapsulated within the hierarchical tunnel in a manner that allows a tail-end node to continue any necessary propagation of refresh messages along the child tunnel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distinguishing a node failure from a link failure are provided. By strengthening the assumption of independent failures, bandwidth sharing among backup tunnels protecting links and nodes of a network is facilitated as well as distributed computation of backup tunnel placement. Thus a backup tunnel overlay network can provide guaranteed bandwidth in the event of a failure.

Abstract: A technique is provided for one or more network nodes to deterministically select data flows to preempt. In particular, each node employs a set of predefined rules which instructs the node as to which existing data flow should be preempted in order to admit a new high-priority data flow. The rules are precisely defined and are common to all nodes configured in accordance with the present invention. Illustratively, a network node not only selects a data flow to preempt, but additionally may identify other “fate sharing” data flows that may be preempted. As used herein, a group of data flows has a fate-sharing relationship if the application instance(s) containing the data flows functions adequately only when all the fate-shared flows are operational. In a first illustrative embodiment, after a data flow in a fate-sharing group is preempted, network nodes may safely tear down the group's remaining data flows.

Abstract: A technique triggers packing of path computation requests (PCRs) for traffic engineering (TE) label switched paths (LSPs) that are sent from one or more label-switched routers (LSRs) to a path computation element (PCE) of a computer network. According to the novel technique, incoming PCRs are packed into sets in response to a certain event, and one or more TE-LSPs (paths) are computed for each PCR of a particular set based on the PCRs of that set. Specifically, the PCE detects an event in the network (“network event”) indicating that an increase in the number of incoming PCRs has occurred, or that an increase is likely to occur due to, e.g., a change in a network element. Once the network event has been detected, the PCE packs the incoming PCRs into configured-length sets, such as, e.g., for a specified time interval or a certain number of PCRs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computing the paths of MPLS Traffic Engineering LSPs across Autonomous System and/or area boundaries. A distributed path computation algorithm exploits multiple path computation elements (PCEs) to develop a virtual shortest path tree (VSPT) resulting in computation of an end-to-end optimal (shortest) path. In some implementations, the VSPT is computed recursively across all the Autonomous Systems and/or areas between the head-end and tail-end of the Traffic Engineering LSP.

Abstract: A virtual overlay backup network is established to provide Fast Reroute capability with guaranteed bandwidth protection to a network that employs end-to-end circuits such as label switched paths (LSPs). In some implementations, backup bandwidth is allocated from an available backup bandwidth pool, as defined herein, available on each link. Complete bandwidth protection may be provided rapidly upon detection of a failure while available backup bandwidth is shared between independent failures. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by provisioning backup tunnels to protect all links and nodes, wherein total available backup bandwidth on any link is not exceeded by the requirements of backup tunnels protecting any single node but backup tunnels protecting different nodes may share bandwidth.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preemption of Traffic Engineering LSPs such that preemption decisions are made in a coordinated fashion along the path of a new LSP and computation of a new path for a preempted LSP can take advantage of knowledge of newly unavailable links. The efficiency of the preemption mechanism is greatly increased and the undesirable effects of heterogeneous preemption decisions are limited. The amount of signaling may also be significantly reduced. In one implementation, these advantages are achieved by exploiting an upstream preemption feedback mechanism that uses an incremental timer to delay preemption decisions until feedback is available.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node (e.g., a grooming node) determines a set of attribute groups (AGs) of existing child tunnels through the network, where an AG is a group of one or more compatible attributes among child tunnels, e.g., excluding bandwidth. The grooming node also determines a set of corresponding child tunnels that belong to a particular AG and that follow a shared path segment through the network, and may establish an hierarchical tunnel that encapsulates the set of corresponding child tunnels along the shared path segment. In another embodiment, a node requests that the one or more intermediate nodes of the hierarchical tunnel each remove the state of a child tunnel without sending any error messages, and sends refresh messages encapsulated within the hierarchical tunnel in a manner that allows a tail-end node to continue any necessary propagation of refresh messages along the child tunnel.

Abstract: A technique dynamically restores original attributes of a Traffic Engineering La-bel Switched Path (TE-LSP) that are provided in a source domain for a destination domain when traversing one or more intermediate domains that may translate the TE-LSP attributes in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a head-end node requests an interdomain TE-LSP having one or more original TE-LSP attributes (e.g., priority, bandwidth, etc.) using a signaling exchange. The head-end node may also request restoration of the original TE-LSP attributes upon entrance into the destination domain. Intermediate domains (e.g., border routers of the domains) receiving the request may translate the original TE-LSP attributes into corresponding intermediate domain TE-LSP attributes. When the request reaches the destination domain, the intermediate domain TE-LSP attributes of the requested TE-LSP are restored into the original TE-LSP attributes.

Abstract: Fast Reroute capability is added to an IP network to guarantee fast recovery to IP traffic in case of link or node failure without the need to deploy a full mesh of MPLS Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (LSPs). In one implementation, to protect a link, a 1-hop primary LSP is configured for the protected link and in addition a backup tunnel is configured to protect the 1-hop primary LSP. To protect a node, 2-hop primary LSPs are established for the link pairs traversing the node and backup tunnel(s) are configured to protect these 2-hop primary LSPs.