Abstract: A network system for authorizing an endpoint node for a communication service includes an operator network and an organization network. The operator network operates to perform a device authorization operation to authorize the endpoint node for a communication session. The organization network operates to facilitate a service authorization operation to authorize the endpoint node for the communication service of the communication session.

Abstract: Authorizing a mobile node for a service includes receiving at an enforcement point a session initiation invitation from the mobile node. The session initiation invitation comprises an authorization token and a session initiation object. Whether the mobile node is authorized to access a service is determined in accordance with the authorization token. The authorization token is sent to an authorization server if the mobile node is authorized to access the service. The session initiation object is sent to a server to initiate the service if the mobile node is authorized to access the service.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling a flow of packets in a data communications device. A first technique involves transferring packets of a particular packet flow based on an initial policy scheme, and planning a scheme change to change the initial policy scheme to a new policy scheme based on conditions within the data communications device existing while transferring the packets of the particular flow based on the initial policy scheme. The first technique further involves providing a change signal to the source of a particular packet flow (e.g., a sending host). The change signal indicates that the data communications device has planned the scheme change. Additionally, the first technique involves processing the scheme change based on either a reply signal from the source or an absence of a reply signal from the source.

Abstract: A method for distributing information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving one or more packets from a communication flow and recognizing a universal generic identification (UGI) associated with the communication flow. The UGI corresponds to an end user that is associated with the communication flow. The UGI is operable to enable a service for the end user in a first network and a second network, the first and second networks being different, whereby either the first network or the second network operates as a home network for the end user.

Abstract: The invention provides a system including methods and apparatus that adjust usage of one or more resources of a data communications channel. The system can negotiate a current resource setting for usage of the resource of the communications channel and can perform communications on the communications channel using the resource. The resource can be, for example, a bandwidth setting of the communications channel. Periodically, the system can renegotiate a new value for the current resource setting upon detecting a negotiation event during performance of communications on the communications channel using the resource. One such negotiation event is an indication that an accrued usage cost of the resource of the communications channel substantially equals or exceeds a cost to renegotiate the current resource setting. Another negotiation event indicates that an actual resource setting of the communications channel substantially equals or exceeds the current resource setting for the communications channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interactivity with broadcast media is provided. The method includes capturing (404) a plurality of audio segments from a plurality of broadcasts. The plurality of broadcasts correspond to a plurality of broadcast channels. Further, the method includes receiving (406) an audio clip from an electronic device (200). The method also includes identifying (408) a broadcast channel corresponding to the audio clip based on the plurality of audio segments and the audio clip.

Abstract: A data communications device has a controller which includes means for intercepting a request signal transmitted from a source to a host computer having a host destination address. The request signal includes the host destination address. The request signal is originally destined for receipt by a host computer that would respond with control information for controlling a manner in which the source transfers a data stream. The controller further includes means for originating a control signal in response to receiving the request signal. The control signal includes the control information for controlling the manner in which the source transfers the data stream. The controller further includes means for providing the control signal to the source to individually control the manner in which the source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams transferred by the source. The source is a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

Abstract: A configuration of a communications device, and a method for its operation are provided for automatically and dynamically adjusting bandwidth of a communications channel. The device and method operate to detect events indicating anticipated changes in bandwidth requirements of the communications channel. Such events may be browser or bandwidth related events, for example, that indicate a forthcoming requirement for increased or decreased bandwidth. The device and method then can extract a bandwidth determination factor if available and then calculate a new value for a bandwidth setting of the communications channel in response to detecting such an event and can adjust a bandwidth characteristic of the communications channel according to the new value of the bandwidth setting such that communications channel can accommodate the anticipated change(s) in the bandwidth requirement.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling a data stream without communicating with a host generating the data stream. A host agent (associated with the host generating the data stream) runs in a computerized data processing device and receives a request signal from a request signal source (e.g., a router seeking direction on how to handle the data stream). In response to the request signal, the host agent generates a control signal which includes the control information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream.

Abstract: A system capable of dynamically reserving bandwidth and adjusting bandwidth reservations for active sessions of data communication in a data communications device is provided. The system generally separates the operation of bandwidth allocation and adjustment from the operation of data transport through the device, thereby allowing bandwidth reservations and adjustments to be made without disturbing sessions of data communication that are actively being transported through the device. The system can accept requests to allocate or reserve bandwidth in a data communications device using bandwidth reservation protocols such as RSVP. The reservation requests create sender state data that can be used to compute resource allocation data. The resource allocation data can be used to label data storage locations in a data storage mechanism according to the required bandwidth reservations.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for providing and obtaining, from a network node (e.g., a router, bridge, hub, switch, etc.), resource usage information describing usage of resources within the network node. In one arrangement, a system includes a source computer which provides a data element, and a network node coupled to the source computer. The network node forms at least a portion of a network with the source computer. The network node is configured to receive the data element from the source computer, determine that the data element is stale based on a parameter within the data element, remove the data element from the network and send a signal to the source computer. The signal includes (i) an indication that the network node has removed the data element from the network, and (ii) resource usage information describing usage of resources within the network node.

Abstract: The system of the invention provides a unique address assignment mechanism and technique that allows an address server such as a DHCP server to receive requests for network addresses from computer systems or other requesting devices. Based on an identity of the requesting computer system, or on another criteria, the address server can select an address for use on the network from either a set of local addresses or one or more sets of guest addresses. If the address server identifies the requesting computer system as a guest computer system, then a guest address selected from at least one set of guest addresses is assigned and provided to that computer system, whereas if the address server identifies the requesting computer system a local computer system then the address server selects and assigns a local address (from the set of local addresses) to the requesting local computer system.

Abstract: A technique routes packets in a data communications device having multiple output ports. The technique involves obtaining, from a network, data having an associated quality of service (QoS). The technique additionally involves choosing one of the multiple output ports of the data communications device based on the associated QoS of the data, a pre-established policy, and network efficiency information for the multiple output ports. The technique further involves transmitting the data to the network through the chosen one of the multiple output ports.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which enable a data communications device to be programmed to automatically and dynamically modify allocation of resources upon the occurrence of specific events or times without have to break active sessions of data communications. Resource allocations can be made by bandwidth reservations provided to a data communications device via a network policy or via individual bandwidth reservation messages. The bandwidth allocation information can specify a session of data communication and future bandwidth modification information, such as a time or event, that will cause the data communications device to modify an amount of bandwidth reserved for the specified session of data communications. In operation, a data communications device receives bandwidth allocation information indicating future bandwidth allocation modification information associated with a session of data communication.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for controlling a flow of packets in a data communications device. A first technique involves transferring packets of a particular packet flow based on an initial policy scheme, and planning a scheme change to change the initial policy scheme to a new policy scheme based on conditions within the data communications device existing while transferring the packets of the particular flow based on the initial policy scheme. The first technique further involves providing a change signal to the source of a particular packet flow (e.g., a sending host). The change signal indicates that the data communications device has planned the scheme change. Additionally, the first technique involves processing the scheme change based on either a reply signal from, the source or an absence of a reply signal from the source.

Abstract: A server installation, which includes multiple servers, services a client request using a filter index that is different than a destination address associated with the client request. This enables clients to generate client requests for a server installation in a conventional manner without regard to whether a server installation is formed by one server or multiple servers. Accordingly, when a server installation is scaled by increasing the number of servers for redundancy, load distribution or capacity reasons, reconfiguration of the clients utilizing the servers is unnecessary. In one arrangement, the data resides in a data structure having (i) a device identifier that uniquely identifies the server host among multiple server hosts, and (ii) a filter index which is different than the device identifier.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for transferring data using a device driver that is arranged to prevent improper operation of a non-primary routine (e.g., an administrative operation) from causing improper operation of a primary routine (e.g., a data transfer operation). Accordingly, the primary routine can continue to operate properly after a failure of the non-primary routine. In one arrangement, a data communications device transfers data. The data communications device includes a port that couples to a network, and a processor coupled to the port. The data communications device further includes memory, coupled to the processor, that stores a device driver. The device driver has a first set of instructions that directs the processor to perform a data transfer routine that moves data between memory and the port, and a second set of instructions that directs the processor to perform an administrative routine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for scheduling delays of data in a data communications device within a network. A network policy can be obtained and analyzed to determined various delay categories associated data having various attributes. The delay categories having associated delay values can be used to configure a number of storage locations preferably interconnected in a series. Each storage location has an associated delay. When data arrives, an attribute of the data allows a determination to be made of which delay category and therefore what delay is associated with the data. The data is then deposited into a storage location having an associated delay that generally corresponds to the delay associated with the data. The delay of data is adjusted over time for each storage location, preferably by shifting the data from one storage location to the next.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for measuring resource usage of a computer when processing a data element, using a usage field assigned to the data element. In one arrangement, the computer includes multiple resources, memory and a controller which is coupled to the multiple resources and the memory. The controller operates in accordance with an application stored in the memory to process data elements using different combinations of the multiple resources. In particular, the application configures the controller to assign a usage field to a data element, process the data element using a combination of the multiple resources, and adjust contents of the assigned usage field to identify particular resources of the combination in order to measure resource usage of the computer and detect patterns of resource usage when processing the data element.

Abstract: A system including a method and apparatus are provided for controlling fault conditions in a computer controlled device such as a data communications device. The invention can preferably be provided in a process restarter mechanism within an operation system. In operation, the process restarter system detects improper execution (i.e., detects a processing failure) of a set of instructions and initiates execution of the set of instructions in response to the operation of detecting. The system then repeats the operation of detecting and initiating according to a first restart sequence and then repeats the operation of detecting and initiating according to a second restart sequence. The second restart sequence initiates execution of the set of instructions in a different sequence than the first restart sequence.