Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.

Abstract: A method includes examining a first data packet transmitted to a first network equipment from a second network equipment. A data flow type of the first data packet is determined. If the data flow type is determined to be the first type of data flow, determining a delivery throughput of the first data packet to the first network equipment over a data flow path. The determined delivery performance of the first data packet is compared to an expected peak data throughput capacity for a data packet transmitted to the first network equipment from the second network equipment. Transmission of data packets to the first network equipment is paced if the comparison of the determined delivery performance and the expected peak data throughput capacity indicates a congestion exists over the data flow path.

Abstract: A method includes identifying one or more elephant flows operated by a plurality of user equipment (UE) terminals located in a first coverage area, comparing the one or more elephant flows to threshold characteristics, determining whether the coverage area is congested, causing handover of the plurality of UE terminals from the first coverage area when the one or more elephant flows exceed the threshold characteristics and the first coverage area is congested.

Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a data flow between a user equipment in a radio access network (RAN) and a content provider, measuring a delivery performance between the user equipment and a transport manager by inspecting a plurality of data packets in the data flow, and inferring control information associated with the data flow using the measured delivery performance. The transport manager is connected between the RAN and the content provider.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering content to user devices before the content is selected or requested (e.g. a pre-delivery of content) within predetermined delivery windows and/or during suitable pre-delivery conditions are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods receive an indication that content is available for pre-delivery from a content server to a user device over a network, select a delivery window that satisfies one or more pre-delivery policy conditions associated with pre-delivery of content to the user device, and cause the content to be delivered to the user device upon commencement of the selected delivery window.

Abstract: A method includes identifying one or more elephant flows operated by a plurality of user equipment (UE) terminals located in a first coverage area, comparing the one or more elephant flows to threshold characteristics, determining whether the coverage area is congested, causing handover of the plurality of UE terminals from the first coverage area when the one or more elephant flows exceed the threshold characteristics and the first coverage area is congested.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing and pacing data flows are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may select a data flow for management, the data flow being transmitted from a first network equipment to a second network equipment, determine, at a third network equipment, a delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment, detect network congestion based on the determined delivery performance of the data flow being transmitted to the second network equipment, and pace, at the third network device and based on the detected network congestion, delivery of the data flow to the second network equipment by reducing a rate at which the data flow is delivered to the second network equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering fractions of content to user devices before the content is selected or requested (e.g., a pre-delivery of content) are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods receive an indication that content is available for pre-delivery from a content server to a user device over a network, determine a fraction (e.g., size) of the content available for pre-delivery that satisfies one or more predicted content playback conditions, and causes the determined fraction of the content available for pre-delivery to be delivered to the user device.

Abstract: An intelligent agent monitors operation of at least one software virtualized network (VN). Context information associated with the VN is used to analyze a state of the VN. At least one configuration change is caused to the VN in response to analysis of the state of the VN. A change is identified to the state of the VN caused by the configuration change. A determination is made as to whether or not the change to the state of the VN is an improvement to operation of the VN. A response to the determination is made by causing at least one other configuration change to the VN.

Abstract: A brokering device that manages multimedia information includes an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network, and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: A baffle arrangement disposed within the exhaust flue of a fuel-burning water heater promotes heat transfer from exhausted combustion by-products to the water storage chamber. The baffle arrangement has an elongate planar base and plural exhaust-directing fins spaced along opposite sides of the base. Each fin is a planar body extending perpendicularly from the base at an acute upward angle from a longitudinal centerline to a respective side of the base. The fins deflect combustion by-products laterally outwardly within the flue to promote heat transfer. The fins are of selected configurations generally increasing in surface area upwardly along the planar base for selectively controlling pressure drop within the exhaust flue. Hanger tabs project outwardly from the upper end of the base to suspend the baffle arrangement within the flue. The planar base, hanger tabs and exhaust-directing fins are formed integrally from a unitary body of sheet metal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering content sources and/or delivering content to applications resident on mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods transmit information identifying one or more applications resident on a mobile device to a server, receive, from the server, information associated with content items available for retrieval from a content server and associated with the identified one or more applications, and cause the mobile device to retrieve at least one of the content items available for retrieval from the content server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downloading data by conditionally using idle network capacity are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods downloads into a buffer a first portion of media content in accordance with a first content streaming mode that permits downloading of media content data even when there is no idle network capacity, and upon determining that the buffer has been filled to a threshold level, downloads into the buffer a second portion of the media content in accordance with a second content streaming mode that permits downloading of media content data, e.g., only when there is idle network capacity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-delivering content to user devices are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may assign a user device to a group of user devices that receive content from a common network edge cache, identify one or more differences between content delivered to the user device and content delivered to the group of user devices via the common network edge cache, select a piece of content to deliver to the user device based on the identified one or more differences of content, and cause delivery of the selected piece of content to the user device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling pre-delivery of content to user devices, such as mobile devices, from remote content servers (e.g., content delivery nodes over a network) are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods receive an indication that a content item at a remote content server is available for pre-delivery to a mobile device over a mobile network, determine the mobile device is associated with sufficient content delivery credit to pre-deliver at least a fraction of the content item to the mobile device, and cause the at least fraction of the content item to be pre-delivered to the mobile device based on the determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering fractions of content to user devices before the content is selected or requested (e.g., a pre-delivery of content) are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods receive an indication that content is available for pre-delivery from a content server to a user device over a network, determine a fraction (e.g., size) of the content available for pre-delivery that satisfies one or more predicted content playback conditions, and causes the determined fraction of the content available for pre-delivery to be delivered to the user device.

Abstract: A brokering device that manages multimedia information includes an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network, and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: A brokering device that manages multimedia information includes an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network, and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.