Abstract: A network element and process determines and configures capabilities of network element components. The network element components include a set of control elements where the set of control elements determine capabilities of each of a set of forwarding elements. The method includes initiating communication with a forwarding element in the set of forwarding elements by a control element. The control element requests that the forwarding element to provide a set of logical function block identifiers of supported logical function blocks for the forwarding element. The set of logical function block identifiers is then received from the forwarding element in response to the request. The set of logical function block identifiers are matched with known forwarding element capabilities to determine capabilities of the forwarding element. A forwarding element capability model is then updated with the capabilities of the forwarding element.

Abstract: A method to provide load balancing and routing for a plurality of end systems in a network. The network contains a load balancer (LB) and the method comprises receiving a request frame with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addresses specified. A destination address is associated with a set of target end systems and presence of a nonce option indicates the requesting correspondent node is Identifier Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) capable. The method further comprises directing the request frame to a specific end system from the set of target end systems that share a load balanced address, wherein each target end system has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address, and wherein each end system of the set of target end systems is uniquely addressable using a unique direct path locator prefix and common identifier combination. The request frame is then forwarded to the specific end system.

Abstract: A method to provide load balancing and routing for a plurality of end systems in a network. The network contains a load balancer (LB) and the method comprises receiving a request packet with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addresses specified. A destination address is associated with a set of target end systems and presence of a nonce information indicates the requesting correspondent node is Identifier Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) capable. The method further comprises directing the request packet to a specific end system from the set of target end systems that share a load balanced address, wherein each target end system has a unique direct path locator prefix. The method also comprises overwriting a common IPv6 locator prefix with the unique direct path locator prefix, forwarding the request packet to the specific end system, and notifying a requesting correspondent node the direct path locator prefix for the specific end system.

Abstract: A process is performed by a controller in a split-architecture network. The controller monitors congestion of traffic groups across the split-architecture network and executes the process to provide delay based data rate control to alleviate congestion of the traffic groups. The process includes configuring an ingress switch and egress switch for each traffic group to collect delay measurement data for data packets of each traffic group as they arrive at the ingress switch and egress switch. The delay measurement data is received from the ingress switch and egress switch of each traffic group. A check is made whether a minimum data packet delay for any traffic group exceeds a defined threshold value. A throttling rate is calculated for each traffic group in the split-architecture network, in response to the defined threshold value being exceeded.

Abstract: A method implemented by a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) of an Internet service provider to provide accessibility to a wide area network for a Residential Gateway (RG) upon a failure of a wireline connectivity between the BNG and the RG, the method including receiving a failure detect message indicating a connectivity failure at the BNG from the RG, deciding whether to re-route traffic by the BNG, sending a failure acknowledge message by the BNG to the RG notifying the RG that re-routing has been initiated, sending a traffic re-route request message by the BNG to a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network requesting the PDN GW to re-route traffic, receiving a traffic re-route acknowledgement by the BNG from the PDN GW, and re-routing traffic between the RG and the BNG through the PDN GW by the BNG.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network topology design system, the network topology design system including a processing device. The method to determine placement of a controller within a network with a split architecture where control plane components of the split architecture network are executed by a controller and the control plane components are separate from data plane components of the split architecture network. The placement of the controller is selected to minimize disruption of the split architecture network caused by a link failure, a switch failure or a connectivity loss between the controller and the data plane components.

Abstract: A method performed by a network element for providing micro-mobility in a network to a mobile node including the steps of receiving a registration request message at the mobility anchor point from an access router that is currently coupled to the mobile node, wherein the registration request message includes an endpoint identifier of the mobile node and a local care-of address of the mobile node, establishing a label switch path (LSP) between the mobility anchor point and the access router, storing the endpoint identifier in a binding entry along with the local care-of address, a regional care-of address, the label switch path and an egress interface, advertising the endpoint identifier with associated regional or local care-of address of the mobile node, and forwarding data packets, received at the mobility anchor point from a corresponding node that have the regional or local care-of address, to the mobile node using the LSP.

Abstract: A method provides load distribution that selects one of a set equal cost paths for each flow that minimizes imbalance in the distribution of flows across the set of equal cost paths. The method includes calculating the set of equal cost paths to each destination node, generating a set of next hop discriminators, each next hop discriminator to uniquely identify one of the equal cost next hops, populating the load distribution table by storing, according to a distribution mechanism, in each load distribution table entry one of the next hop discriminators from the set of next hop discriminators, receiving a first PDU from a first flow and performing a lookup of one of the next hop discriminators in the load distribution table by using values at the bit locations of the first PDU directly as an index into a CAM.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element to track IPv6 addresses of devices in a home network, wherein the network element provides DHCPv6 service to the home network and a home network router on the home network assigns IPv6 address to the devices using a prefix provided by the DHCPv6 service, the method including receiving a DHCPv6 request for a prefix delegation from a home network router, sending a DHCPv6 message including an assigned prefix to the home network router, the DHCPv6 message including a request for notification of configured IPv6 addresses, receiving a first ICMP message from the home network router, including a MAC address and corresponding IPv6 address for a configured device, and sending the home network router a second ICMP message to acknowledge recording the IPv6 address for the configured device, enabling the network element to provide services and forward traffic directly to the configured device.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element of an Internet service provider to provide network access through a visited network associated with a visited network owner to a device of a visiting user connecting to the visited networker. The visited network owner is a customer of the Internet service provider. The network element configures the visited network to provide access to resources of a remote home network to the device of the visiting user. The remote home network is in communication with the visited network over a wide area network. Connecting to a virtual gateway controller of the remote home network to obtain configuration information to establish a connection between the device and the remote home network. Establishing a connection between the device of the visiting user and a second access point. Providing access to the resource of the remote home network through the second access point.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing denial-of-service attacks on hosts attached to a subnet, where the attacks are initiated by a remote node over an external network. The method is performed by a router which forwards packets between the external network and the subnet. The router receives a packet for forwarding to a destination address in an address space of the subnet according to the IPv6 protocol and looks up the destination address in a Neighbor Discovery (ND) table. The ND table is populated by operations on the subnet that were completed prior to receipt of the packet. Entries in the ND table store address information of the hosts that have been verified by the router to be active. The router forwards the packet to the destination address if the destination address is stored in the ND table. Otherwise, the packet is discarded.

Abstract: A network element is described. In one embodiment includes receiving a packet from the host in the first domain at the network element in the first domain, the packet including a destination address to the host in the second domain, the destination address being formed by replacing an Interface Identifier of an IP address by a second domain label and a shortened Media Access Control (MAC) address, the second domain label identifying the second domain. A routing label and the shortened MAC address are attached to the received packet, and the packet is sent on a label switched path indicated by the label to the second domain.

Abstract: In response to a Mobile Access Router (MAR) initially attaching to a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) domain through a first Access Router (AR) in the domain, a Mobility Anchor Point (MAP) in the MPLS domain establishes a plurality of Label Switched Paths (LSPs) for the MAR. For example, the MAP establishes an active LSP to the MAR through the AR to which the MAR has initially attached, and further establishes an inactive LSP for the MAR to each of one or more other ARs in the MPLS domain. An inactive LSP established at a given AR for a given MAR is activated when/if that MAR attaches to the AR. Correspondingly, the present invention includes method and apparatus teachings related to the MAP, ARs and the MAR, as regards establishing inactive LSPs, activating inactive LSPs, and extending an activated LSP to the MAR.

Abstract: A network element disposed in a network, where the network element implements a process to manage load distribution across a plurality of network interfaces of the network. The network element redirects traffic flow directed toward the plurality of network interfaces in response to changes in configuration of the plurality of network interfaces, where each traffic flow is a set of protocol data units (PDUs), having an ordered delivery requirement, and where the PDUs are transmitted across the network between a source node and a destination node. The redirection process minimizes data traffic flow disruption when the load distribution is determined using a set of load distribution tables instead of a hashing algorithm.

Abstract: A method to provide load distribution that selects one of a set equal cost paths for each flow that minimizes imbalance in the distribution of flows across the set of equal cost paths, the method including calculating the set of equal cost paths to each destination node, generating a set of next hop discriminators for the set of equal cost paths, each next hop discriminator in the set of next hop discriminators to uniquely identify one of the equal cost next hops, populating the load distribution table by storing, according to a distribution mechanism, in each load distribution table entry one of the next hop discriminators from the set of next hop discriminators, receiving a first PDU from a first flow and performing a lookup of one of the next hop discriminators in the load distribution table by using values at the bit locations of the first PDU directly as an index into a CAM.

Abstract: A method performed by a network element for providing micro-mobility in a network to a mobile node including the steps of receiving a registration request message at the mobility anchor point from an access router that is currently coupled to the mobile node, wherein the registration request message includes an endpoint identifier of the mobile node and a local care-of address of the mobile node, establishing a label switch path (LSP) between the mobility anchor point and the access router, storing the endpoint identifier in a binding entry along with the local care-of address, a regional care-of address, the label switch path and an egress interface, advertising the endpoint identifier with associated regional or local care-of address of the mobile node, and forwarding data packets, received at the mobility anchor point from a corresponding node that have the regional or local care-of address, to the mobile node using the LSP.

Abstract: A packet inspection system is provided with data inspection logic for inspecting subscriber packet traffic. The system includes a pre-rating classification table associated with the data inspection logic. The pre-rating classification table includes a table having one or more entry for static or slowly changing rating aspects of traffic applications and/or one or more entries identifying a dynamic changing rating aspects of a traffic application. A server with a rating engine is also provided.

Abstract: A method of signalling a message using a terminal address across multiple network entities is provided. At least two contiguous network entities are associated with addressing spaces for which message addresses are not routable by way of the terminal address and are not otherwise routable by way of a single address. The method stores a terminal address of either an originating or terminating network entity. At every network border between any two contiguous network entities wherein an immediately succeeding network entity does not provide an address through which the message is routable, it is determined whether the address is to be stored and replaced with another address. If so, the address is stored so as to permit its subsequent retrieval. Once the address has been stored, the another address is assigned to be the address and the message is routed in the succeeding network using the another address.

Abstract: A method of signalling a message using a terminal address across multiple network entities is provided. At least two contiguous network entities are associated with addressing spaces for which message addresses are not routable by way of the terminal address and are not otherwise routable by way of a single address. The method stores a terminal address of either an originating or terminating network entity. At every network border between any two contiguous network entities wherein an immediately succeeding network entity does not provide an address through which the message is routable, it is determined whether the address is to be stored and replaced with another address. If so, the address is stored so as to permit its subsequent retrieval. Once the address has been stored, the another address is assigned to be the address and the message is routed in the succeeding network using the another address.

Abstract: A method and system for on-the-fly transitioning of a class in an object-oriented environment receives a request for an instance of a class, wherein the class includes attributes that it is a class and further includes an interface class associated with the class. The requested instance checks with a class manager to determine if it has been superceded and transitions if necessary until it determines that it is the most recent instance of the class. The most recent instance is returned and then saved to the system upon the first occurrence. Upon a subsequent occurrence of a requested instance determining it has been superceded, the requested instance returns the saved most recent instance of the class. The requested instance transitions to the superceding instance by converting all attributes, associations and operations of the requested instance to the superceding class's attributes, associations and operations.