Abstract: A method for distributing information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user and selectively communicating information associated with the communication flow to a network element so that the network element may correlate a source with the communication flow.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method includes creating a first session object by a first traffic processor of a first network element operating in an active mode, the first session object being associated with a communication session between an end user terminal and an information provider. The method further includes sending a state synchronization message associated with the first session object from the first traffic processor. The state synchronization message includes a transport layer address associated with a second traffic processor of a second network element operating in a standby mode. The state synchronization message is adapted to be received by the second traffic processor and cause the second traffic processor to create a second session object, the second session object tracking the communication session between the end user terminal and the information provider.

Abstract: Resolving a Layer 3 address includes maintaining an address resolution table at each slave processor of a number of slave processors. The slave processors have a master processor, and the master processor and the slave processors are associated with a unified address. An address resolution table includes one or more Layer 2-Layer 3 address mappings. An address resolution request requesting a Layer 2 address corresponding to a Layer 3 address is sent from a slave processor. The address resolution request uses the unified address. An address resolution response comprising the Layer 2 address is received at the master processor. The master processor sends the response to the slaves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing correlation of billing entries for a mobile communications network is provided. A correlating network element in a bearer path determines a plurality of billing entries for a flow. One or more of the billing entries may be received from other network elements and includes traffic altering information for a flow. The correlating network element correlates the plurality of billing entries using state information included in the billing entries. The state information is used to determine information in billing entries that may be related, such as billing entries for a single flow. Also, the correlating network element uses the traffic altering information to determine a data volume sent for the flow. A correlated billing entry may then be generated using the data volume for the flow. The correlated billing entry is then sent to a billing system from the correlating network element.

Abstract: A method for providing single point-of-presence for a network element includes receiving a packet at a network processor, determining if the packet is to be directed to a particular one of a plurality of traffic processors if a source address of the packet is associated with a subscriber terminal, and determining if the packet is to be directed to the particular one of the plurality of traffic processors if a destination address of the packet is associated with the subscriber terminal. The method further includes distributing the packet to the particular one of the plurality of traffic processors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing availability information of a virtual machine to a load balancer are disclosed. The availability information of the virtual machine may be normalized information from performance metrics of the virtual machine and performance metrics of the physical machine on which the virtual machine operates. The normalized availability of a virtual machine is provided by a feedback agent executing on the virtual machine. Alternatively, the normalized availability of a virtual machine is provided by a feedback agent executing on a hypervisor executing multiple virtual machines on a common set of physical computing hardware.

Abstract: Maintaining a content category cache includes storing the content category cache at a gateway. The content category cache includes content category mappings, where a content category mapping associates content with one or more categories describing the content. A request requesting content for a user is received. One or more categories associated with the requested content are determined from a content category mapping of the content category cache. The requested content is filtered in accordance with the categories.

Abstract: A method for communicating in a wireless application protocol (WAP) network environment is provided that includes receiving a request packet at a WAP gateway and positioning an identifier into the request packet. A content switch then identifies the identifier and correlates the identifier to a source that generated the request packet. An internet protocol (IP) address associated with the source is positioned in the request packet before communicating the request packet to a next destination.

Abstract: A wireless intrusion detection system (WIDS) is disclosed for monitoring both authorized and unauthorized access to a wireless portion of a network. The WIDS consists of a collector and one or more nodes that communicate via an out of band means that is separate from the network. Unauthorized access points and unauthorized clients in the network can be detected. The WIDS can be used to monitor, for example, a network implemented using the 802.11 protocol. In addition, the WIDS can be used by one company to provide a service that monitors the wireless network of another company.

Abstract: A compacting machine (10) includes a support structure (12). A feed hopper (14) is carried by the support structure (12) the feed hopper (14) being configured to receive waste material to be compacted, the feed hopper (14) having a discharge opening (20). A comminuting station (18) is arranged downstream of, and in communication with, the discharge opening (20) of the feed hopper (14) to comminute material received from the feed hopper (14) into granules of a predetermined size A compacting station (22) is arranged downstream of the comminuting station (18), the compacting station (22) defining a compacting station (58) in which granules discharged from the comminuting station (18) are compacted. The compacting station (22) further includes a compacting member (50) treated to reduce friction and heat generation as the material is compacted in the compacting zone (58).

Abstract: A method for protecting firewall load balancers from a denial of service attack is provided. Packets are received by the firewall load balancer. Each packet has a source and a destination. The firewall load balancer is equipped with a connection database that can contain entries about the packets. Upon receipt of a packet, the connection database is queried to determine whether or not there is an entry for the received packet. If an entry is found in the database, the packet is forwarded to its destination. Otherwise, if the packet was received from a firewall, then a new connection entry for the packet is built and is saved to the connection database and the packet is forwarded on to its destination. If the packet does not have an entry (match) in the connection database and the packet was not received from a firewall, then the packet is forwarded to a firewall.

Abstract: A method for relaying information in a network environment is provided that includes establishing primary and secondary packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user and communicating traffic pattern information associated with the primary and secondary PDP links to a client services packet gateway (CSPG), the traffic pattern information providing data associated with how traffic flows propagating via each of the primary and secondary PDP links are to be treated in a network.

Abstract: A method for monitoring information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow initiated by an end user. The information associated with the communication flow is then selectively communicated to a plurality of client-aware network elements.

Abstract: A method for loadbalancing in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a request from an end user for a communication session at a central node. The method further includes identifying a selected one of a plurality of network nodes to facilitate the communication session for the end user based on feedback information provided by the selected network node. The feedback information is communicated from the selected network node and processed before making a decision to establish the communication session between the selected network node and the end user.

Abstract: An improved client network address translation (“NAT”) system is provided. Methods are provided for initializing connection control blocks with the client NAT addresses when a storage pool of connection control blocks are allocated. This avoids the costly overhead as connections are created and destroyed. Unlike the prior art solutions, once the connection control blocks of the present invention are allocated, they remain in effect until the storage subpool is deleted. Secondly, in order to provide as large a pool of client NAT addresses as possible, methods are provided for using intervals to allocate and reclaim client NAT addresses as subpools are allocated and freed.

Abstract: A method for tracking information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a packet included within a request that is associated with an end user and communicating the packet to a selected one of a plurality of gateways. An object may be built that correlates an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the end user to the selected gateway such that the object may be used to direct subsequently received packets associated with the end user to the selected gateway. Subsequently received packets may be directed based on end-user IP address information included in the subsequently received packets.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for server farm load balancing and resource allocation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of load balancing can include: arranging servers into service groups; receiving an access request with information related to a differentiation between the service groups; selecting one of the service groups based on a mapping comparison to the information; and selecting one of the servers within the selected service group based on a hardware utilization comparison. The servers can include GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Gateway Support Node (GGSN) or Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) servers, for example. The information can include an Access Point Name (APN) or Calling Station ID, for example.

Abstract: A screen sharing function enables a main executable application, which typically uses more than one monitor, to switch to single-monitor usage as necessary to allow a user to directly interact with other applications that the main executable application invokes. A system including multiple display monitors for displaying multiple user interface image windows associated with corresponding multiple executable applications employs an image format determination system. The image format determination system includes an input processor for receiving command data representing a command to initiate execution of a function of a second application and display of an associated second image window in response to user entry of a command via a first image window associated with a first application.