Abstract: Gateway routers for real-time networks have the ability to collect delay, loss, and jitter statistics on a per-connection basis. It is possible to use this information not only to monitor the quality of individual voice calls and other real-time connections, but also to evaluate the overall performance of the underlying network. This paper describes a method for monitoring and managing the performance of a real-time data network that supports voice, video and other real-time services. In the described embodiments, the RTCP mechanisms of RTP for sender and receiver reporting be used to relay performance information to one or more network monitoring sites for analysis and interpretation. In addition, gateway routers are organized and managed within a hierarchy that allows the monitoring function to localize it view of network conditions within the hierarchy; and the monitoring of network performance can occur on various time scales.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for providing instant services in an Internet Protocol network. One of the methods comprises the steps of provisioning a first communication session between a first user terminal and a predetermined network device and provisioning a second communication session between a second user terminal and the predetermined network device. The exemplary method further includes receiving an activation request to establish an active communication session between the first user terminal and the second user terminal and, responsively, bridging the first communication session to the second communication session on the predetermined network device.

Abstract: A system for increasing call capacity of an internet telephony system in an emergency mode, such as where there is a surge of call requests in a particular region. A management system in the internet telephony system may detect the presence of an actual or potential state of congestion of call traffic and/or signaling traffic. In order to admit a higher rate of call traffic to the telephony system, action is taken to reduce the workload of the signaling system, in order to allow the telephony system to focus more on serving call requests. For example, the signaling system may reduce the rate of signaling request messages processed with respect to requested and ongoing calls and/or reduce the amount of processing involved in handling such messages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing call capacity in a packet switched telephony system in an emergency mode. The telephony system includes a management system, which detects an emergency, such as a surge in incoming media streams, a surge in traffic elsewhere in the system, a potential surge in traffic, and/or a convention emergency situation such as a natural disaster that may cause a surge in traffic. The management system alerts an internet telephony machine, such as a gateway, to the congestion problem. The internet telephony machine responds by switching to a lower bandwidth coder, thereby outputting each incoming media stream at a lower output rate, and thereby effectively increasing the capacity of the receive and handle calls.

Abstract: A system for Distibuted Network Address Translation (“DNAT”). DNAT is used with small office/home office (“SOHO”) networks or other legacy local networks that have multiple network devices using a common external network address to communicate with an external network. The system includes a port allocation protocol to allocate globally unique ports to network devices on a local network. Individual network devices on a SOHO networks replace local source ports with the globally unique ports. The globally unique ports are used in a combination network address with a common external network address such as an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, to identify multiple network devices on a local network to an external network such as the Internet, an intranet, etc. DNAT helps overcome the large computation burdens encountered when network address translation is done by a router and helps extend the life of older versions IP using 32-bit addressing.

Abstract: A system and method for an Options Based Address Reuse (“OBAR”) is provided. The system includes a first network having a host device with a host address and a host port, and a second network external to the first network and having a server device. The also comprises a combination network address for identifying the host device to the server device. The combination network address includes the host address, the host port, and an option. Similarly, the method involves sending a packet from the host device to the server device through a router, and adding the option to the packet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing security with RSIP are disclosed. In a first security system and method, authentication is provided with a combination of a userid and HMAC parameters. The userid parameter identifies the sender and the HMAC parameters are used with a shared key that only the sender and recipient know. Integrity is also provided by the HMAC parameters. Replay protection is provided by a replay counter, and reflection attacks are prevented by the fact that in the RSIP protocol, each entity plays the role of either a host or a gateway, and each RSIP control message can be sent by either a host or a gateway, but not both. Liveness is provided by a combination of the replay counters, userids, host and gateway cookies, and the shared key. The use of cookies allows the shared key to be used between two different sessions, even if the replay counter is reset.

Abstract: A method and protocol for Distributed Network Address Translation (“DNAT”) is provided. DNAT is used to overcome the limited address 32-bit address space used for versions of the Internet Protocol (“IP”). DNAT is used with small office or home office networks or other legacy local network that have multiple network devices using a common external network address to communicate with an external network. The protocol includes a port allocation protocol to allocate globally unique ports to network devices on a local computer network. The globally unique ports are used in a combination network address with a common external network address such as an IP address, to identify multiple network devices on a local network to an external network such as the Internet, an intranet, or a public switched telephone network.

Abstract: A Medium Access Control (“MAC”) Layer protocol and a method for contention resolution using the protocol is provided for networks with multiple priority traffic. The protocol is used where a physical layer connected to a transmission medium uses a carrier modulation scheme with multiple frequencies. Stations on the network that desire access to the transmission medium use a carrier modulation scheme with multiple frequencies. Stations that desire access simultaneously transmit a single frequency selected at random from a set of physical layer frequencies during an open-contention-interval. At the same time, the stations listen to a combined frequency signal and analyzes it for frequency content. The station whose own frequency matches the highest frequency signal in the combined signal gains access to a transmission medium. In the event of a collision, a restricted-contention-interval is used only for the colliding stations.

Abstract: Methods and system for locating network services with distributed network address translation. Digital certificates are created that allow an external network device on an external network, such as the Internet, to request a service from an internal network device on an internal distributed network address translation network, such as a stub local area network. The digital certificates include information obtained with a Port Allocation Protocol used for distributed network address translation. The digital certificates are published on the internal network so they are accessible to external network devices. An external network device retrieves a digital certificate, extracts appropriate information, and sends a service request packet to an internal network device on an internal distributed network address translation network. The external network device is able to locate and request a service from an internal network device.

Abstract: A complete collision avoidance contention resolution protocol is provided for networks with stations communicating over a shared access communication medium. The protocol is used where a physical layer connected to the communication medium uses a carrier modulation scheme with multiple frequencies. Stations on the network that desire access to the communication medium use a carrier modulation scheme with multiple frequencies. Stations that desire access simultaneously transmit a single frequency selected at random from a set of physical layer frequencies during an open-contention-interval. At the same time, the stations listen to a combined frequency signal and analyzes it for frequency content. If one station whose own frequency matches the highest frequency signal in the combined signal, the station gains access to a communication medium. If more than one station have the same highest frequency signal in the combined signal, no station gains access to the medium.