Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods implemented in an access gateway of a network for hybrid access to a promises equipment. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining channel state information for both fixed-line and radio interfaces from a premises equipment coupled to the network by both fixed and radio interfaces, wherein a fixed-line path between the access gateway and the premises equipment includes the fixed-line interface coupled to one or more metal or optical fiber lines and a radio path between the access gateway and the premises equipment includes one or more radio interfaces utilizing one or more radio bearers to reach the premises equipment. The method further comprises scheduling transmission of packets of one or more data flows utilizing the fixed-line and radio paths toward the premises equipment based on at least the channel state information.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device that receives a packet at an access gateway function from a residential gateway, detects an Ethertype for the received packet, detects a version for the received packet, looks up session and state information for the packet as a result of the detecting of the Ethertype and the version indicating that the packet is a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) user plane (UP) encapsulation, and processes the packet according to policies for FMC UP encapsulation.

Abstract: A method implemented by a user equipment (UE) in a cellular communication network to support incremental deployment of identifier locator network protocol (ILNP) breakout. The method includes receiving an advertisement for a first access point name (APN) and a second APN from a source eNodeB, where the first APN is associated with a user plane packet gateway (P-GWu) that is implemented at the source eNodeB, and where the second APN is associated with a packet gateway (P-GW) in a core of the cellular communication network, establishing a first PDN session associated with the first APN, establishing a second PDN session associated with the second APN, sending traffic destined for a first Correspondent Node (CN) that is determined to be ILNP capable via the first PDN session, and sending traffic destined for a second CN that is determined not to be ILNP capable via the second PDN session.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNodeB) in a cellular communication network to support incremental deployment of identifier locator network protocol (ILNP) breakout in the cellular communication network. The method includes advertising a first access point name (APN) and a second APN to a user equipment (UE), where the first APN is associated with a user plane packet gateway (P-GWu) that is implemented at the source eNodeB, and where the second APN is associated with a packet gateway (P-GW) in a core of the cellular communication network.

Abstract: A method is for redirecting data traffic destined for user equipment in a cellular network with packet data convergence protocol function local to connection points of the cellular network. The method includes obtaining a prefix and identifier for the user equipment, configuring a secondary connection point to provide a prefix of a primary connection point, the identifier for the user equipment and radio bearer information for the user equipment, and redirecting data traffic for the user equipment to the secondary connection point using network address translation to utilize a prefix of the secondary connection point and the identifier of the user equipment as the destination address for the data traffic.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device to minimize multicast traffic loss or duplication in response to an update to multicast group membership in a network where multicast group membership changes can disrupt multicast traffic delivery to other members of the multicast group. The method receives a registration for the multicast group including a member since version number that is greater than the version number currently advertised by the root for a multicast distribution tree (MDT) that serves the multicast group. The root advertises a new MDT identifier (ID) with a new version number for the MDT that serves the multicast group in the network, and switches distribution of multicast group traffic from the current version of the MDT that serves the multicast group to the new version of the MDT that serves the multicast group after a pre-determined time.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device that receives a packet at an access gateway function from a residential gateway, detects an Ethertype for the received packet, detects a version for the received packet, looks up session and state information for the packet as a result of the detecting of the Ethertype and the version indicating that the packet is a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) user plane (UP) encapsulation, and processes the packet according to policies for FMC UP encapsulation.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network device for multicasting packets in a network. The method reduces an overall number of hops that copies of a packet traverse in the network to serve a set of multicast destination nodes. The method includes receiving a packet, determining a first subset of multicast destination nodes that is a subset of the set of multicast destination nodes that is reachable on a shortest path through a first outgoing interface, determining a second subset of multicast destination nodes that is a subset of the set of multicast destination nodes that is reachable on a shortest path through a second outgoing interface, determining whether the first subset of multicast destination nodes is a proper subset of the second subset of multicast destination nodes, and removing the first outgoing interface from consideration in response to determining that the first subset is a proper subset of the second subset.

Abstract: A network device functioning as an ingress tunnel router facilitates multicast traffic forwarding and mobility in a network with mobile devices by receiving data traffic to broadcast to a multicast group, querying a locator identifier separation protocol (LISP) mapping system to get a list of routing locators (RLOCS) for members of the multicast group, constructing a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) bitmap of the RLOC, and forwarding data traffic for the multicast group using the BIER bitmap. Whereas a network device functioning as an egress tunnel router supports handover processes by receiving a join for a multicast group from a subscriber node, registering interest in the multicast group with the LISP mapping system, receiving data traffic using a BIER bitmap identifying the egress tunnel router, and forwarding the multicast group data traffic to the subscriber node.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device in a cellular communication network. The method to improve handover processing by a source evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNodeB) where the source eNodeB forwards traffic destined for a user equipment (UE) that is transferring its connection to a target eNodeB to enable mobility within the cellular communication network without anchor points. The method including receiving a handover request from the UE identifying the target eNodeB, sending a handover message to the target eNodeB, determining the UE is unavailable to the source eNodeB, and redirecting traffic for the UE to the target eNodeB.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device in a network including a plurality of network devices. The method implements multicast forwarding configuration resulting in reduced state for the network by utilizing unicast tunneling between a root, replication points and leaves that implement each multicast distribution tree. The method selects a multicast group to determine forwarding configuration for the selected multicast group, prunes a shortest path tree for the selected multicast group to generate a source group tree, and determines whether the network device is a root or a replication node for the source group tree. The method further checks whether a downstream leaf or replicating node is adjacent to the network device, and where the selected branch does not have an adjacent replication node or leaf, identifies the next replicating node or leaf on the selected branch, and configures the network device to forward multicast group traffic using a unicast tunnel.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNodeB) in a cellular communication network to support incremental deployment of identifier locator network protocol (ILNP) breakout in the cellular communication network. The method includes advertising a first access point name (APN) and a second APN to a user equipment (UE), where the first APN is associated with a user plane packet gateway (P-GWu) that is implemented at the source eNodeB, and where the second APN is associated with a packet gateway (P-GW) in a core of the cellular communication network.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network device in a cellular communication network with a distributed data plane serving gateway (S-GWu) at an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNodeB). The method enables an ingress tunnel router to forward traffic between devices connected to the cellular communication network via location identifier separation protocol (LISP) to enable mobility within the cellular communication network without anchor points.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device to minimize multicast traffic loss or duplication in response to an update to multicast group membership in a network where multicast group membership changes can disrupt multicast traffic delivery to other members of the multicast group. The method receives a registration for the multicast group including a member since version number that is greater than the version number currently advertised by the root for a multicast distribution tree (MDT) that serves the multicast group. The root advertises a new MDT identifier (ID) with a new version number for the MDT that serves the multicast group in the network, and switches distribution of multicast group traffic from the current version of the MDT that serves the multicast group to the new version of the MDT that serves the multicast group after a pre-determined time.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device in a cellular communication network. The method to improve handover processing by a source evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNodeB) where the source eNodeB forwards traffic destined for a user equipment (UE) that is transferring its connection to a target eNodeB to enable mobility within the cellular communication network without anchor points. The method including receiving a handover request from the UE identifying the target eNodeB, sending a handover message to the target eNodeB, determining the UE is unavailable to the source eNodeB, and redirecting traffic for the UE to the target eNodeB.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a beverage dispensing system including at least one beverage dispensing container, a computing device and a base unit upon or within which, in use, the at least one container is positioned. The at least one container includes a reservoir of beverage, a communication element for storing data indicative of contents of the beverage dispensing container, a manually actuatable dispensing valve selectively controlling flow of beverage from the reservoir to a container outlet, and pressurizing means for pressurizing beverage against the dispensing valve such that when the dispensing valve is opened beverage flows from the reservoir and out the container outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is executed by a network device in a source packet in routing (SPRING) network. The method is to establish a multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree where the network device is selected as a rendezvous point for the multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree. The method includes advertising the rendezvous point with a multicast group identifier and multicast segment identifier via a control plane protocol, receiving at least one interest registration from receivers of the multicast group via the control plane protocol, and constructing the multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree with the rendezvous point as a root and each of the receivers as leaves using unicast tunnels and replication points.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device operating as a content node for securely distributing a content object over an information centric networking (ICN) network. The method implements a unique obscured retrieval sequence. The method includes receiving an interest for a chunk of the content object from a client device, where the chunk is identified with an obscured chunk identifier, translating the obscured chunk identifier into a general chunk identifier for the content object, and sending the chunk of the content object to the client device.

Abstract: According to another embodiment of the invention, TWAMP path discovery is performed to determine a sequence of IP addresses of a forward direction TWAMP E2E path to be traversed by two different TWAMP test sessions between a Sender and a Reflector. Then, additional TWAMP test request packets are transmitted for the different TWAMP test sessions; and TWAMP test reply messages are received responsive to respective ones of the TWAMP test request packets. Responsive to the TWAMP test reply messages, a PM is determined that is specific to the different sequences of IP addresses of the forward direction TWAMP E2E paths traversed by the two different TWAMP test sessions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is executed by a network device in a source packet in routing (SPRING) network. The method is to establish a multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree where the network device is selected as a rendezvous point for the multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree. The method includes advertising the rendezvous point with a multicast group identifier and multicast segment identifier via a control plane protocol, receiving at least one interest registration from receivers of the multicast group via the control plane protocol, and constructing the multipoint to multipoint multicast distribution tree with the rendezvous point as a root and each of the receivers as leaves using unicast tunnels and replication points.