Abstract: It is disclosed a method for managing a congestion in a communication network supporting the transmission of multicast data flows. The method comprises, upon detection of a congestion at a transmission interface of a router: identifying a multicast data flow being forwarded through the transmission interface and suffering a packet loss; interrupting the transmission of the data flow through the transmission interface downstream the router and, in case the data flow would be transmitted downstream the router trough the transmission interface only, sending a request to an upstream router for interrupting the transmission of the data flow from the upstream router to the router; and inhibiting, for a given period of time, any request to forward the data flow via the transmission interface.

Abstract: A method for serving an aggregate flow in a communication network node includes a plurality of individual flows. The method includes identifying in the aggregate flow, based on serving resources allocated to the network node, individual flows that may be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance, and serving the identified individual flows with priority with respect to the remaining individual flows in the aggregate flow. The method allows the presence of individual flows that may not be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance due to shortage of serving resources to be notified to an external control entity.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method for managing a congestion in a communication network supporting the transmission of multicast data flows. The method comprises, upon detection of a congestion at a transmission interface of a router: identifying a multicast data flow being forwarded through the transmission interface and suffering a packet loss; interrupting the transmission of the data flow through the transmission interface downstream the router and, in case the data flow would be transmitted downstream the router trough the transmission interface only, sending a request to an upstream router for interrupting the transmission of the data flow from the upstream router to the router; and inhibiting, for a given period of time, any request to forward the data flow via the transmission interface.

Abstract: A method for controlling distribution of media contents over a network, wherein the contents are distributed by making the contents available at surrogate servers. The method includes the steps of identifying additional contents eligible for distribution; defining a set of categories; identifying for each category at least a reference content; associating the additional contents with the predefined categories based on semantics affinity with the reference content, the semantics affinity being calculated as the distance of each of the additional contents to the at least a reference content; selecting at least one of said predefined categories; and making at least one of the additional contents associated with said selected predefined category available for distribution at the surrogate servers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for serving an aggregate flow in a communication network node, the aggregate flow including a plurality of individual flows. The method includes identifying in the aggregate flow, based on serving resources allocated to the network node, individual flows that may be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance, and serving the identified individual flows with priority in respect of the remaining individual flows in the aggregate flow. The method allows the presence of individual flows that may not be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance due to shortage of serving resources to be notified to an external control entity.

Abstract: A method for serving an aggregate flow in a communication network node includes a plurality of individual flows. The method includes identifying in the aggregate flow, based on serving resources allocated to the network node, individual flows that may be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance, and serving the identified individual flows with priority with respect to the remaining individual flows in the aggregate flow. The method allows the presence of individual flows that may not be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance due to shortage of serving resources to be notified to an external control entity.

Abstract: A method of profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising: monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal; and assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network. Also, the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for controlling distribution of media contents over a network, wherein the contents are distributed by making the contents available at surrogate servers. The method includes the steps of identifying additional contents eligible for distribution; defining a set of categories; identifying for each category at least a reference content; associating the additional contents with the predefined categories based on semantics affinity with the reference content, the semantics affinity being calculated as the distance of each of the additional contents to the at least a reference content; selecting at least one of said predefined categories; and making at least one of the additional contents associated with said selected predefined category available for distribution at the surrogate servers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-level, network-based application control (NBAC) architecture for monitoring services provided via a packet-based network. The NBAC architecture includes a Network Trigger System provided at a network level to analyze data flows relating to services to be monitored to detect occurrence of configurable events, and to generate and send event reports; and a Usage Status Engine provided at a control level to configure the Network Trigger System to detect occurrence of events of interest, and to receive and process the event reports from the Network Trigger System to monitor the services.

Abstract: A method for controlling distribution of media contents over a network is provided, wherein the contents are distributed contents available at surrogate servers and remaining contents that are not available at the surrogate servers. The method includes identifying contents eligible for distribution from the remaining contents; defining a set of categories; identifying for each category at least a reference content; associating the identified contents with the predefined categories based on semantics affinity with the reference content, the semantics affinity being calculated as the distance of each of the identified contents to the at least a reference content; selecting at least one of the predefined categories; and making at least one of the identified contents associated with the selected predefined category available for distribution at the surrogate servers.

Abstract: A method and system for disaster recovery in a packet-based network. The network includes a production site and a recovery site coupled together by the packet-based network. Mirroring software on the production site keeps a recovery site up to date to the last transaction occurring on the production site. A recovery control server polls the production site in order to detect a disaster condition or other failure. Upon detection of a problem at the production site, the recovery control server reconfigures the network so those attempts to access the production site are routed to the recovery site.

Abstract: A system for handling transactions in a communication network, wherein the transactions include at least one technology-dependent request for a given content made by a requester to at least one server. The system operates based on an access content list including permit/deny access clauses regulating access of the requesters to the contents by the server. A processing module, configured for detecting the technology-dependent request, and extracting therefrom information identifying the requester making the request and the content requested, is provided. A corresponding technology independent access content entry, adapted to be checked against the access content list to derive permit/deny information concerning the request detected, can thus be generated. The request is handled as a function of the permit/deny information derived and thus, e.g., forwarded toward the server or either dropped or forwarded to an alternative destination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-level, network-based application control (NBAC) architecture for monitoring services provided via a packet-based network. The NBAC architecture includes a Network Trigger System provided at a network level to analyze data flows relating to services to be monitored to detect occurrence of configurable events, and to generate and send event reports; and a Usage Status Engine provided at a control level to configure the Network Trigger System to detect occurrence of events of interest, and to receive and process the event reports from the Network Trigger System to monitor the services.

Abstract: A method of profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising: monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal; and assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network. Also, the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user.

Abstract: A method for serving an aggregate flow in a communication network node includes a plurality of individual flows. The method includes identifying in the aggregate flow, based on serving resources allocated to the network node, individual flows that may be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance, and serving the identified individual flows with priority with respect to the remaining individual flows in the aggregate flow. The method allows the presence of individual flows that may not be served without substantial detriment to perceived performance due to shortage of serving resources to be notified to an external control entity.

Abstract: A system for handling transactions in a communication network, wherein the transactions include at least one technology-dependent request for a given content made by a requester to at least one server. The system operates based on an access content list including permit/deny access clauses regulating access of the requesters to the contents by the server. A processing module, configured for detecting the technology-dependent request, and extracting therefrom information identifying the requester making the request and the content requested, is provided. A corresponding technology independent access content entry, adapted to be checked against the access content list to derive permit/deny information concerning the request detected, can thus be generated. The request is handled as a function of the permit/deny information derived and thus, e.g., forwarded toward the server or either dropped or forwarded to an alternative destination.

Abstract: A method and system for disaster recovery in a packet-based network. The network includes a production site and a recovery site coupled together by the packet-based network. Mirroring software on the production site keeps a recovery site up to date to the last transaction occurring on the production site. A recovery control server polls the production site in order to detect a disaster condition or other failure. Upon detection of a problem at the production site, the recovery control server reconfigures the network so those attempts to access the production site are routed to the recovery site.

Abstract: A system for updating a data set through a geographical communication network. The data set is stored in a recovery storage unit located in a recovery data centre and has to be updated with data blocks generated by a processing system located in a primary data centre.