Abstract: A first routing instance may receive, from a second routing instance, forwarding information identifying a next-hop. The first routing instance may receive, via a component of the first routing instance, network traffic. The first routing instance may determine, based on the network traffic and the forwarding information, an interface to a component of the second routing instance. The first routing instance may provide, to the component of the second routing instance, the network traffic via the interface. The second routing instance may provide the network traffic to the next-hop.

Abstract: A first routing instance may receive, from a second routing instance, forwarding information identifying a next-hop. The first routing instance may receive, via a component of the first routing instance, network traffic. The first routing instance may determine, based on the network traffic and the forwarding information, an interface to a component of the second routing instance. The first routing instance may provide, to the component of the second routing instance, the network traffic via the interface. The second routing instance may provide the network traffic to the next-hop.

Abstract: A device receives packets of a traffic flow, and inspects one or more of the packets of the traffic flow. The device determines, based on the inspection of the one or more packets, a service graph of feature peers for the packets of the traffic flow. The feature peers are associated with a network, and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers. The device configures network devices of the network with the service graph, and the network devices forward the packets of the traffic flow to the feature peers based on the service graph and without changing the traffic flow.

Abstract: One or more devices, in a video content delivery network, store video content for one or more customer premise devices in a hierarchical storage, and provide real time video content from the hierarchical storage, via multicast or unicast, to the one or more customer premise devices. The one or more devices also provide non-real time video content from the hierarchical storage to the one or more customer premise devices during idle time periods associated with the network. The one or more devices further establish a license with the one or more customer premise devices to view video content in multiple formats, and establish a license with the one or more customer premise devices to view video content via multiple customer premise devices.

Abstract: A device is configured to determine that the user device is participating in a conference call with a plurality of other user devices; determine that the user device is muted during the conference call; receive a first sound from the user device while the user device is muted; recognize that the first sound matches a vocal pattern of a user associated with the user device; and un-mute the user device after recognizing that the first sound matches the vocal pattern.

Abstract: A device receives feature peer packets including feature peer state information. The feature peer packets are received from a first set of feature peers provided at a first location and associated with a service graph associated with a user device of a customer. The device receives customer packets including customer state information, and receives a request for the feature peer packets and the customer packets based on movement of the user device to a second location. The device provides, based on the request, the feature peer packets and the customer packets to a storage device at the second location. The storage device provides the feature peer packets and the customer packets to a second set of feature peers provided at the second location. The second set of feature peers establish a relocated service graph for the user device based on the feature peer packets and the customer packets.

Abstract: One or more devices, in a video content delivery network, provide real time video content to one or more devices located at a customer premise. The one or more devices also provide non-real time video content to at least one of the customer premise devices during idle time periods associated with the network and using lower effort Internet protocol (IP) transport. The non-real time video content may be broadcast, at a time after the idle time periods, by at least one of the customer premise devices.

Abstract: A device receives a service graph of feature peers for a packet of an application flow. The feature peers are associated with a network and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers and forwarding requirements for the ordered set of the feature peers. The device generates forwarding instructions based on the service graph. The forwarding instructions include instructions to forward the packet to the ordered set of feature peers. The device provides the forwarding instructions to network devices of the network. The network devices forward the packet of the application flow to the ordered set of feature peers based on the forwarding instructions.

Abstract: An approach provides a communication network that supports one or more network-based Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to resist Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. A first boundary router is configured to provide a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that supports quality of service levels, and interfaces an access network via a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) edge router and a physical access link. A second boundary router is coupled to a public network. The access network connects to the first boundary router, and wherein the first boundary router and the second boundary router are connected by a separate logical connection to prevent denial of service attacks on the physical access link originating from sources outside the VPN.

Abstract: A device receives packets of an application flow, and inspects one or more of the packets of the application flow. The device determines, based on the inspection of the one or more packets, a service graph of feature peers for the packets of the application flow. The feature peers are associated with a network and the service graph includes an ordered set of the feature peers. The device creates a representation of the service graph. The representation includes an ordered set of feature elements that represent the feature peers of the service graph. The device provides the representation of the service graph to a controller device, and the controller device configures, based on the representation, the network with the service graph so that the packets of the application flow traverse the service graph.

Abstract: System and method for providing a layer 2 switch in the access network that switches based upon one or more carrier tags identifying customer traffic. Customer traffic conforming to any variety of different layer 1 or layer 2 protocols may be encapsulated and identified according to carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may determine how to handle the traffic by interpreting and manipulating the carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may be capable of switching TDM input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic, and switching packetized input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic. Handling classification values may also be processed by the layer 2 switch to affect prioritization of handling of encapsulated traffic.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and reporting an error in communications with customer premise equipment. A preferred embodiment comprises monitoring the communications link between an access device and customer premise equipment located on customer premises. If a communications link fails, or some other condition occurs, an error signal is transmitted to the access network to notify downstream network elements of the error condition. In one embodiment, an access device is communicatively coupled to a demarcation device via an Ethernet link. If a loss of link occurs on the Ethernet link, an error signal, such as an alarm indicator signal, is transmitted through the network.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. Time-division multiplexed (TDM) signals are transported as carrier-tagged flows between customer premise equipment that communicates using TDM signals and a service edge that communicates using TDM signals.

Abstract: A device receives, by using a first communication technique, a message from a first user device. The device identifies a profile associated with the first user device or a user of the first user device. The device further identifies, in the profile, a relevant rule, based on the message, and a second user device that is designated as a primary user device of the user associated with the profile. By using a second communication technique, the device transmits a request for instructions to the second user device based on the relevant rule, and receives the instructions from the second user device. The instructions specify a third user device selected by the user. The device generates a command based on the relevant rule. The device transmits, by using a third communication technique, the command to the third user device.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for managing access communications between the service edge of a communications service provider and a customer. Access communications are carried in the form of carrier-tagged flows, the communications traffic being appended with carrier tags having significance to handling of the traffic through access network elements. A building aggregation system is provided which couples to customer premise equipment and interfaces customer flows to carrier-tagged flows used in the access network.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames.

Abstract: An access device includes a first port configured to communicatively couple to a network node via a communications link, with the communications link having a plurality of information flows. At least one of the flows is configured as a maintenance and control flow and at least one of the flows is configured to carry customer data. The access device has a second port configured to communicatively couple to one or more demarcation devices via another communications link, and the demarcation device(s) is communicatively coupled to one or more customer premise equipment (CPE). A processing unit is configured to respond to commands received in the maintenance and control flow and to transmit access device information on the maintenance and control flow.

Abstract: A computing device, in a video content delivery network, intercepts requested video content prior to delivery of the requested video content to a customer premise device of the network, and receives subscription and authentication information of a customer associated with the customer premise device. The computing device receives video content provider information, and validates the requested video content based on the subscription and authentication information and the video content provider information. The computing device receives capability information associated with the customer premise device, and receives bandwidth information associated with the network. The computing device determines a quality of video content, to provide to the customer premise device, based on the customer premise device capability information and the network bandwidth information, and provides, to the customer premise device, video content with the determined quality.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a network system includes a boundary router, a second router, and an upstream link of the second router coupled between to the output port of the boundary router and an input port of the second router. The second router includes an admission control function and a data plane. In response to a request to reserve resources for a flow through the second router, the admission control function performs admission control for both the upstream link and its downstream link. In a preferred embodiment, the second router performs admission control for the upstream link only if the second router is a receiving edge router for the flow. Because the second router performs admission control for its upstream link, the boundary router transmits the request toward an upstream router without performing admission control for the link.

Abstract: A device communicates with feature peers, associated with a network, to obtain information associated with the feature peers, and receives a customer packet. The device also determines, based on the feature peer information, which of the feature peers support a feature associated with the customer packet, and determines service providers associated with the determined feature peers. The device further selects, from the determined feature peers, a set of feature peers for the customer packet to traverse when the service providers associated with the determined feature peers are also associated with the device. The device then provides a tunnel header and a feature header in the customer packet to create a modified customer packet, and forwards, based on the tunnel and feature headers, the modified customer packet to one of the feature peers in the selected set of feature peers.