Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wireless network optimization. Wireless network traffic is optimized by receiving redirected traffic based on one or more configuration rules; and applying the redirected traffic to a protocol optimizer that optimizes the wireless network traffic based on one or more optimization rules. A management interface is optionally provided to manage the network optimization appliance. A process monitor is optionally provided to monitor one or more process threads to determine if the process threads have stalled. The process monitor can monitor other components and can be monitored by at least one other component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wireless network optimization. Wireless network traffic is optimized by receiving redirected traffic based on one or more configuration rules; and applying the redirected traffic to a protocol optimizer that optimizes the wireless network traffic based on one or more optimization rules. A management interface is optionally provided to manage the network optimization appliance. A process monitor is optionally provided to monitor one or more process threads to determine if the process threads have stalled. The process monitor can monitor other components and can be monitored by at least one other component.

Abstract: An aspect of this invention is a computer-executable method for distributing one or more features associated with information to be transported by a communications network that includes a plurality of end nodes interconnected via a plurality of network nodes. The method includes receiving one or more features associated with information to be transported by the communications network, wherein the one or more features are specified at an end node of the plurality of end nodes for receipt by a network node of the plurality of network nodes; responsive to the one or more received features, configuring at least a portion of the communications network to perform actions on information based upon the features; receiving the information using the plurality of network nodes; and based at least on the received features and the configuring, performing one or more actions with the information.

Abstract: An aspect of this invention is a computer-executable method for distributing one or more features associated with information to be transported by a communications network that includes a plurality of end nodes interconnected via a plurality of network nodes. The method includes receiving one or more features associated with information to be transported by the communications network, wherein the one or more features are specified at an end node of the plurality of end nodes for receipt by a network node of the plurality of network nodes; responsive to the one or more received features, configuring at least a portion of the communications network to perform actions on information based upon the features; receiving the information using the plurality of network nodes; and based at least on the received features and the configuring, performing one or more actions with the information.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for bandwidth-efficient virtual machine image delivery. Responsive to a request to generate a virtual machine (VM) in a node using an existing virtual machine image (VMI) file, a set of file chunks that constitute the VMI file is identified. The set of file chunks are retrieved from within a set of distributed nodes by establishing an optimized plan for retrieving the set of file chunks in a bandwidth-efficient manner. Responsive to retrieving the set of file chunks from within the distributed nodes, the set of file chunks are reassembled into the VMI file for generation of the VM.

Abstract: Techniques for managing network traffic in a virtual consolidated appliance so as to avoid interruptions in existing network connections during reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance are provided. In one aspect, a method for operating a virtual consolidated appliance having a plurality of servers is provided. The method includes the following steps. An assignment for load balancing is computed based on a status of the virtual consolidated appliance. A reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance is discovered. A new assignment is computed for load balancing based on a new status of the virtual consolidated appliance based on the reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance. Existing network connections are redirected according to the assignment during the reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance. New network connections are served according to the new assignment.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for bandwidth-efficient virtual machine image delivery. Responsive to a request to generate a virtual machine (VM) in a node using an existing virtual machine image (VMI) file, a set of file chunks that constitute the VMI file is identified. The set of file chunks are retrieved from within a set of distributed nodes by establishing an optimized plan for retrieving the set of file chunks in a bandwidth-efficient manner. Responsive to retrieving the set of file chunks from within the distributed nodes, the set of file chunks are reassembled into the VMI file for generation of the VM.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for broadcasting data to a plurality of receiver devices. A data broadcast transmission rate and a level of error correction to be used when broadcasting data are determined based on prior feedback received from the plurality of receiver devices. The feedback comprises channel condition information specifying conditions of one or more connections of a channel over which data was previously broadcast to the receiver devices. Data to be broadcast to the plurality of receivers is encoded in accordance with the determined level of error correction. The encoded data is broadcast at the determined data broadcast transmission rate over the channel to the plurality of receiver devices.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for broadcasting data to a plurality of receiver devices. A data broadcast transmission rate and a level of error correction to be used when broadcasting data are determined based on prior feedback received from the plurality of receiver devices. The feedback comprises channel condition information specifying conditions of one or more connections of a channel over which data was previously broadcast to the receiver devices. Data to be broadcast to the plurality of receivers is encoded in accordance with the determined level of error correction. The encoded data is broadcast at the determined data broadcast transmission rate over the channel to the plurality of receiver devices.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for transmitting a multicast session to a plurality of receivers over a wireless network. A forward error correction (FEC) overhead and a transmission rate are determined for transmission of a next data block of the multicast session based on received channel conditions. The next data block is multicast using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate. Responsive to an indication of common missing packets from the next data block from more than one receiver in the plurality of receivers, the common missing packets are multicast to the plurality of receivers using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate. Responsive to an indication of uncommon missing packets from the data block from one or more receivers, for each receiver in the one or more receivers, the uncommon missing packets identified by the receiver are unicast using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for broadcasting data to a plurality of receiver devices. A data broadcast transmission rate and a level of error correction to be used when broadcasting data are determined based on prior feedback received from the plurality of receiver devices. The feedback comprises channel condition information specifying conditions of one or more connections of a channel over which data was previously broadcast to the receiver devices. Data to be broadcast to the plurality of receivers is encoded in accordance with the determined level of error correction. The encoded data is broadcast at the determined data broadcast transmission rate over the channel to the plurality of receiver devices.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for transmitting a multicast session to a plurality of receivers over a wireless network. A forward error correction (FEC) overhead and a transmission rate are determined for transmission of a next data block of the multicast session based on received channel conditions. The next data block is multicast using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate. Responsive to an indication of common missing packets from the next data block from more than one receiver in the plurality of receivers, the common missing packets are multicast to the plurality of receivers using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate. Responsive to an indication of uncommon missing packets from the data block from one or more receivers, for each receiver in the one or more receivers, the uncommon missing packets identified by the receiver are unicast using the determined FEC overhead and transmission rate.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for bandwidth-efficient virtual machine image delivery. Responsive to a request to generate a virtual machine (VM) in a node using an existing virtual machine image (VMI) file, a set of file chunks that constitute the VMI file is identified. The set of file chunks are retrieved from within a set of distributed nodes by establishing an optimized plan for retrieving the set of file chunks in a bandwidth-efficient manner. Responsive to retrieving the set of file chunks from within the distributed nodes, the set of file chunks are reassembled into the VMI file for generation of the VM.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for bandwidth-efficient virtual machine image delivery. Responsive to a request to generate a virtual machine (VM) in a node using an existing virtual machine image (VMI) file, a set of file chunks that constitute the VMI file is identified. The set of file chunks are retrieved from within a set of distributed nodes by establishing an optimized plan for retrieving the set of file chunks in a bandwidth-efficient manner. Responsive to retrieving the set of file chunks from within the distributed nodes, the set of file chunks are reassembled into the VMI file for generation of the VM.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assigning gateways for heterogeneous wireless mobile networks. A method includes exchanging routing and connectivity information between a plurality of nodes. Each node is respectively included in a corresponding one of a plurality of mobile ad hoc networks. The information excludes global positioning satellite information. The method further includes determining, for a given node, whether a particular set of gateway functionalities of the given node are redundant with respect to one or more other nodes, based on topology information derived from the information. The method also includes dynamically assigning the given node as a gateway or a non-gateway by respectively turning on or turning off the particular set of gateway functionalities of the given node when the particular set of gateway functionalities of the given node are respectively determined to be non-redundant or redundant with respect to the one or more other nodes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wireless network optimization. Wireless network traffic is optimized by receiving redirected traffic based on one or more configuration rules; and applying the redirected traffic to a protocol optimizer that optimizes the wireless network traffic based on one or more optimization rules. A management interface is optionally provided to manage the network optimization appliance. A process monitor is optionally provided to monitor one or more process threads to determine if the process threads have stalled. The process monitor can monitor other components and can be monitored by at least one other component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wireless network optimization. Wireless network traffic is optimized by receiving redirected traffic based on one or more configuration rules; and applying the redirected traffic to a protocol optimizer that optimizes the wireless network traffic based on one or more optimization rules. A management interface is optionally provided to manage the network optimization appliance. A process monitor is optionally provided to monitor one or more process threads to determine if the process threads have stalled. The process monitor can monitor other components and can be monitored by at least one other component.

Abstract: Techniques for managing network traffic in a virtual consolidated appliance so as to avoid interruptions in existing network connections during reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance are provided. In one aspect, a method for operating a virtual consolidated appliance having a plurality of servers is provided. The method includes the following steps. An assignment for load balancing is computed based on a status of the virtual consolidated appliance. A reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance is discovered. A new assignment is computed for load balancing based on a new status of the virtual consolidated appliance based on the reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance. Existing network connections are redirected according to the assignment during the reconfiguration of the virtual consolidated appliance. New network connections are served according to the new assignment.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for broadcasting data to a plurality of receiver devices. A data broadcast transmission rate and a level of error correction to be used when broadcasting data are determined based on prior feedback received from the plurality of receiver devices. The feedback comprises channel condition information specifying conditions of one or more connections of a channel over which data was previously broadcast to the receiver devices. Data to be broadcast to the plurality of receivers is encoded in accordance with the determined level of error correction. The encoded data is broadcast at the determined data broadcast transmission rate over the channel to the plurality of receiver devices.

Abstract: Techniques for content management in wireless mobile networks are provided. In one aspect, a method of managing content stored on a plurality of mobile nodes in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is provided. The method includes the following step. The content is bound to one or more geographical locations such that, at any given time, the content is stored on at least one of the nodes at the geographical location.