Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing an optical communication link includes the step of identifying a profile of the link by measuring, at the transmitter, optical back-reflections from optical pulses forwarded to a receiver. The profile is stored at the transmitter. Periodically during operation, such as during key exchange, more optical pulses are forwarded to the receiver, and the back reflections are collected as periodic profiles. The periodic profiles are compared against the stored profiles. Eavesdroppers, such as those who cut the fiber, tap the fiber, or implement a man in the middle attack, may be easily identified because the losses caused by their interference with the fiber will be evident in the periodic profiles.

Abstract: Described is a method for reliable transmission of sensor data and sensor commands. The method is particularly useful for shared packet networks and lossy wireless networks where the rate of packet drops can be significant. A network access node receives a data packet that includes the sensor data and multicasts the data packet towards an aggregation node. Each data packet preferably is transmitted over a unique network path. The number of multicast data packets is determined according to one or more network parameters such as network congestion, packet drop probability, the priority and class of service of the data packet, and the number of unique network paths between the network access node and an aggregation node. The first data packet to arrive at the aggregation node is forwarded to the application node and subsequently received data packets with identical sensor data are discarded.

Abstract: Described are a method and a sensor aware network for dynamic processing of sensor data. Network context data are inserted into data packets from sensors or local sensor networks coupled to the sensor aware network. Sensor aware nodes in the sensor aware network can read the context data and can respond by performing specific network actions. The sensor data and network context data are provided to one or more application nodes. The sensor data and network context data can be stored in a database and later searched according to the network context data. Advantageously, sensor data flows can be treated differently by the sensor aware network, the application and the user, depending on the type of sensor data and the actual data values. Thus critical responses to certain sensor data flows can be implemented more efficiently than otherwise possible using conventional network configurations.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a common network service interface to one or more application programs. A network service interface provides application programs with a high level, application specific view of the communication network, and functional access to management plane and control plane functions and protocols. The system generates an abstracted, “virtualized” view of the network and network services that is specific to an individual application program, and that is provided within the execution scope of that application program. Thus the view of the network is contextualized for the application program, and supports network service designations at a functional level relevant to the application user's view of the application services and network elements in the communication network.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a common network service interface to one or more application programs. A network service interface provides application programs with a high level, application specific view of the communication network, and functional access to management plane and control plane functions and protocols. The system generates an abstracted, “virtualized” view of the network and network services that is specific to an individual application program, and that is provided within the execution scope of that application program. Thus the view of the network is contextualized for the application program, and supports network service designations at a functional level relevant to the application user's view of the application services and network elements in the communication network.

Abstract: Application program network service requests are translated into specific actions that are then performed through the management plane and/or control plane. The translations and resulting actions are responsive to previously defined policies for the communication network, and may further reflect processing of previous service requests by the same or another application program. The amount of resources available for use by a given application program may be predefined based on a globally defined network policy. Each service request obtained from an application program may be translated into multiple actions performed using various specific protocols and/or interfaces provided by either the management plane, the control plane, or both the management and control planes. Reports of network activity, status and/or faults for a requesting application program may be tailored to the requesting program's view of the network, and passed directly and exclusively to the requesting program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the transportation of medical images on a communication network includes a medical image transport service (MITS) that may be used to notify clients of the status of scheduled requests. The MITS may be configured to provide numerous notifications, such as the scheduled time for delivery, changes in scheduled time for delivery, delays associated with delivery at the scheduled time, and likely resolutions to network or other delays attendant to the requested transaction. The notifications may be sent in-band on the network or out-of-band on a parallel network. Where the notification relates to a delayed transaction, the notification message may contain the reason for the delay, the source of the delay, its location, and if other images can still be retrieved. The notification may also include a likely resolution of the problem and an estimate of when the problem will be resolved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the transportation of medical images on a communication network includes a medical image transport service (MITS) that may be used to set policy associated with the delivery of medical images on the network. The MITS may be configured to schedule transactions in an equitable manner taking into account the relative priority of the various contending medical image transactions and mediate delivery of images associated with the transactions. The MITS may include a data management service configured to interact with clients to handle transfers on the network, and a network resource manager configured to interface with network devices performing the transport services to enable network resources such as routes, paths, and bandwidth, to be reserved on the network. An administration client enables policy to be set on the MITS to enable operation of the transport service to be controlled.

Abstract: A network element with network element storage and independent intelligence may be configured to provide temporary mass storage to facilitate the transfer of large files across an optical network. The network element may also be provided with intelligence to enable the network element to maintain a higher level understanding of the data flows. Using network element storage enables network elements involved in data transmission across the network to temporarily store data being transferred on the network. This allows parcels of data to be transmitted part way through the network when a complete path through the network is not available. It also allows data to be aggregated at strategic locations on the network, such as at the location of a transmission bandwidth mismatch, to enable the data to be transmitted over the high capacity optical resource at a higher rate, thus more efficiently utilizing the bandwidth on the higher bandwidth resource.