Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for delivering content to one or more content destination nodes. A method includes receiving content utility prediction information for a content item, selecting a content distribution mode for the content item using the content utility prediction information, and propagating the content item toward at least one of the content destination nodes using the selected content distribution mode and, optionally, with a defined priority, sequence, or schedule. The content utility prediction information is associated with the content destination nodes, and is indicative of a level of utility of the content item to the content destination nodes. The content distribution mode may include any content distribution mode, such as broadcast, switched broadcast, multicast, unicast, and the like. The content utility prediction information is received from one or more content prediction nodes.

Abstract: Communication traffic congestion management systems and methods are disclosed. Communication traffic is analyzed to determine its type, and a traffic congestion management function to be applied to the received communication traffic is selected based on the determined type and a level of communication traffic congestion. Congestion levels may be determined from congestion feedback signals provided by downstream communication components to which a traffic flow controller outputs communication traffic. A traffic congestion management function may be selected and applied on a packet-by-packet or other block-specific basis, or to an entire stream of communication traffic.

Abstract: A Session Admission Control (SAC) for negotiating admission control in a multi-services communications network including multicast services is described. The module distributes the admission process between a centralized decision function (SAC-PDP) and a distributed decision function (SAC-M) in a fashion that solves admission control scaling problems. The mechanism for interaction between the SAC-PDP and SAC-M is defined. Mechanisms are defined for the SAC-PDP to discover or learn the network capacity against which the admission control decisions will be made. Systems are also described for incorporating SAC-M in multicast replication points in the network, allowing multicast replication points to participate in the admission control process.

Abstract: Instead of implementing per flow measurement at every interface of every IGMP Router or Snooping Proxy in the aggregation network, as in the prior art “per flow measurement” approaches, the present invention relates to a scheme where the IGMP Router or Snooping Proxy tracks the multicast subscription of each host (for IGMPv3) or subnet (for IGMPv1 and IGMPv2) and stores the information such as host id, the time the host joined a channel, the duration of the channel delivery, etc. in a database. This database (MIB) can then be pulled by a network management tool using SNMP or WSDM MUWS. According to the invention a mechanism for multicast host authorization is also provided.

Abstract: At a remote site, a satellite route is installed to augment the capacity of a terrestrial route. A specialized forwarding unit is introduced at both ends of these parallel satellite and terrestrial routes. The forwarding unit identifies what type of traffic needs a higher performance forward, and forwards the traffic accordingly. For example, latency-sensitive traffic can be forwarded over the terrestrial route and the latency insensitive traffic can be forwarded over the satellite route.

Abstract: One or more content sequences are created from a store of video content, which could simply be broadcast content which has been captured and stored at a server within a network. The content sequences are generated according to the viewer's specified, or demonstrated, viewing preferences. The viewer preferences are captured form entry by the user themselves, or by observation of their viewing habits. Multiple ‘users’ per household and multiple content sequences per viewer are possible. A content sequences is then streamed to the viewer, and looks to him/her just like a TV channel: when one program ends, another starts automatically. It is also possible for a viewer to select an item within the content sequence using an interactive program controller.

Abstract: A broadband access connection carried over a wireline link is backed-up by a wireless connection to create a high availability communication channel. This protection system comprises a wireline link processor for connecting a user site to a provider network over a broadband access connection and a wireless link processor for connecting the user site and the provider network over a backup connection. A link monitoring mechanism supervises operation of the wireline link and generates a fault signal upon detection of a specified under-performance, failure, or overloading condition of the broadband wireline access connection. A data switching mechanism switches the user traffic received over the user interface between the wireline and the wireless link according to the fault signal. A method for protecting the wireline link is also provided.