Abstract: A network planning tool and method for configuring a connection-oriented packet network over a WDM optical network without an optical control layer, such as a SONET/SDH layer. The optical network includes a plurality of optical fibers interconnected through nodes and the connection-oriented packet network, such an Ethernet network, MPLS network, or pseudowire network, includes two or more terminal devices. The method and tool function by building an association between the components of the physical layer, such as the optical fiber, and their geographic location or path. The connection-oriented packet network is configured by building multi-link trunks (MLTs) between terminal devices, where the MLTs are built by aggregating lightpaths that traverse distinctive geographic paths. The MLTs are planned and configured through aggregating lightpaths that traverse incongruent sets of photonic elements.

Abstract: A multimedia architecture for audio and video content. The architecture includes virtual assets that model, or are associated with, a media presentation and one or more real assets that model, or are associated with, digitally encoded embodiments of the media presentation. The architecture enables automatic selection of content in a format that is optimal for a particular device, shielding a user from the complexities of multiple digital formats.

Abstract: Subscribers request programs from a network based content server and view the requested programs via their customer equipment. The content server receives various programs and breaks the program content for each program into a sequence of program segments, which are logically linked by program association indicia. The content server also receives advertisements and stores the advertisements as advertising segments, which generally contain at least one complete advertisement, but the invention is not limited thereto. Upon receiving a program request from a subscriber, the content server will identify advertising segments to provide along with the program segments for the requested program, and where to place the advertising segments among the program segments.

Abstract: A method and a protection switching arrangement for protection switching of any one of a plurality of optical signals of a multi-wavelength optical signal from the failure of an optical component is provided. The multi-wavelength optical signal which contains the optical signals is itself rerouted by the use of wavelength agnostic rerouting elements, after which a tunable optical filter is used to obtain from the multi-wavelength optical signal the particular optical signal which would have been affected by the failure. In embodiments of the invention where the failed component is a switching fabric, the multi-wavelength optical signal is rerouted away from the failed switching fabric through a redundant switching fabric after which the particular optical signal is obtained with use of the tunable optical filter.

Abstract: The present invention allows Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services to be provided to different types of subscriber devices over different types of networks via a multimedia subsystem, such as an IP multimedia subsystem. A given subscriber may have one subscription supporting IPTV services to different types of subscriber devices. Each of the subscriber devices may register with a given IPTV application server, which will interact with the various subscriber devices using a common session control protocol, such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The IPTV sessions may support delivery of various types of streaming content, such as audio or video content, for broadcast or on-demand services. Different IPTV sessions are used to support broadcast and on-demand services. However, within a given broadcast or on-demand IPTV session, channels may be changed or the streaming media may be controlled within the respective IPTV sessions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network based time-shifting architecture where broadcast content is replicated and delivered toward subscribers at different times in different content streams. In operation, a content source delivers unshifted content over a network to a media server, which replicates the unshifted content to provide multiple content blocks. Each content block represents a time-shifted content block of the unshifted content, and as such each time-shifted content block will have essentially the same content. At different times, each time-shifted content block is delivered over a transmission network toward the same or different subscribers. In one embodiment, the time-shifted content blocks are delivered directly or through an encryption function to a multicast server, which controls delivery of the different time-shifted content blocks to television clients of the subscribers.

Abstract: A network planning tool and method for configuring a connection-oriented packet network over a WDM optical network without an optical control layer, such as a SONET/SDH layer. The optical network includes a plurality of optical fibers interconnected through nodes and the connection-oriented packet network, such an Ethernet network, MPLS network, or pseudowire network, includes two or more terminal devices. The method and tool function by building an association between the components of the physical layer, such as the optical fiber, and their geographic location or path. The connection-oriented packet network is configured by building multi-link trunks (MLTs) between terminal devices, where the MLTs are built by aggregating lightpaths that traverse distinctive geographic paths. The MLTs are planned and configured through aggregating lightpaths that traverse incongruent sets of photonic elements.

Abstract: A depopulated MEMs array based protection switch is provided. The protection switch includes a depopulated protection array for rerouting optical signals using fewer switching elements than a fully populated array, and in some implementations an integrated test array for performing a self-test in service mode, and for testing failed optical components.

Abstract: A technique for photonic switching is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for photonic switching. The method may comprise receiving at least one optical signal at a photonic line card, wherein the at least one optical signal comprises one or more wavelength channels and the photonic line card comprises at least one integrated optical switch. The method may also comprise routing at least one of the one or more wavelength channels through the at least one integrated optical switch to a photonic bus, wherein the photonic bus comprises a plurality of optical paths and each of the plurality of optical paths is capable of carrying multiple wavelength channels.

Abstract: A method and a protection switching arrangement for protection switching of any one of a plurality of optical signals of a multi-wavelength optical signal from the failure of an optical component is provided. The multi-wavelength optical signal which contains the optical signals is itself rerouted by the use of wavelength agnostic rerouting elements, after which a tunable optical filter is used to obtain from the multi-wavelength optical signal the particular optical signal which would have been affected by the failure. In embodiments of the invention where the failed component is a switching fabric, the multi-wavelength optical signal is rerouted away from the failed switching fabric through a redundant switching fabric after which the particular optical signal is obtained with use of the tunable optical filter.

Abstract: A technique for switching all-optical packet switching is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by receiving at least one data packet over a network, disassociating a payload portion from a first header in the data packet, forming a second header based on a first information in the first header, associating the payload portion with the second header to form a modified packet and switching the modified packet based on a second information contained in the first header.