Abstract: A method for delivering targeted advertisement data to opt-in subscribers in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed, the system comprising selecting an advertising target group of opt-in IPTV subscribers based on an advertiser's advertising target request; and multicasting an advertisement from an IPTV advertising server to the advertising target group. A system for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of routing data packets is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a first Internet Protocol (IP) data packet at a first access port of an access line card within a data router. The method also includes transmitting the first IP data packet from the first access port to a network line card within the data router, via a first trunk port of the access line card. The first access port is coupled to the first trunk port and not coupled to at least one other access port. The method further includes receiving a second IP data packet at a second trunk port of the access line card from the network line card. In addition, the method includes transmitting the second IP data packet from the second trunk port to a second access port of the access line card.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for distributing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content over a national IP backbone using GRE tunneling in a point-to-point ring topology. A logical path is defined that connects multiple hub offices, each including at least two routers, in a ring network topology. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnels are used over an existing Internet Protocol (IP) backbone to establish connectivity between adjacent hub offices. A direction for content flow is defined. The direction of flow may be determined by selecting a designated router. The routers of the hub offices selectively join to upstream routers. This direction may be reversed by changing the direction of in which routers join. IPTV content is distributed over the defined path using the GRE tunnels. The necessity of forwarding the content is determined at each hub office.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a qualified impression count in a communication network, the method comprising receiving at a server, impression quality factors data comprising subscriber device state data indicative of a degree of active advertising data viewing, subscriber device type data indicative of a type of subscriber device receiving the advertising data and subscriber type data indicative of a type of subscriber viewing the advertising data; sorting the impression quality factors data into impression quality factors categories data; applying weights to the sorted impression quality factors categories data; accumulating the weighted impression quality factors categories data into the impression quality factors categories; applying unique curves to at least two of the accumulated impression quality factors categories data to generate curve adjusted impression quality factors categories data; correlating the curve adjusted impression quality factors categories data with advertising quality criteria

Abstract: A system and method for establishing communications between packet-switched networks is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller element to transmit a packet along a logical tunnel established through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network. The packet is encoded with a Virtual Circuit (VC) label by a local Ethernet network operating independent from the ISP network. The VC-label of the encoded packet is substantially undetectable by one or more network elements of the ISP network while in route through the logical tunnel. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for managing communications is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller element to transmit a packet along a logical tunnel established through an internet service provider, wherein the route of the packet is managed according to a MPLS label of the packet and a VRF routing table. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for delivering targeted advertisement data to opt-in subscribers in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system is disclosed, the system comprising selecting an advertising target group of opt-in IPTV subscribers based on an advertiser's advertising target request; and multicasting an advertisement from an IPTV advertising server to the advertising target group. A system for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for router recovery. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a designated router (DR) (108) having a controller programmed to detect (308) a querier router (QR) (110) routing content to gateways (114) by way of a LAN (112), transmit a notice message to the QR and the LAN announcing the DR's presence, transmit a (310) query message on the LAN, receive (312) from a gateway a first request for content in response to the query message, transmit (314) to a data center a second request for the content, transmit (320, 326) the content received from the data center to the gateway thereby prompting the QR to cease (324, 338) transmitting content to said gateway, and repeat (340) a portion of the foregoing steps until the QR relinquishes transmission of content to said gateways. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of routing data packets is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a first Internet Protocol (IP) data packet at a first access port of an access line card within a data router. The method also includes transmitting the first IP data packet from the first access port to a network line card within the data router, via a first trunk port of the access line card. The first access port is coupled to the first trunk port and not coupled to at least one other access port. The method further includes receiving a second IP data packet at a second trunk port of the access line card from the network line card. In addition, the method includes transmitting the second IP data packet from the second trunk port to a second access port of the access line card.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for distributing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) content over a national IP backbone using GRE tunneling in a point-to-point ring topology. A logical path is defined that connects multiple hub offices, each including at least two routers, in a ring network topology. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnels are used over an existing Internet Protocol (IP) backbone to establish connectivity between adjacent hub offices. A direction for content flow is defined. The direction of flow may be determined by selecting a designated router. The routers of the hub offices selectively join to upstream routers. This direction may be reversed by changing the direction of in which routers join. IPTV content is distributed over the defined path using the GRE tunnels. The necessity of forwarding the content is determined at each hub office.