Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicatively couple virtual private networks to virtual machines within distributive computing networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to provision a virtual machine from a virtual private network, determining a host for the virtual machine within a distributive computing network, creating the virtual machine within the host, communicatively coupling the virtual machine to a virtual local area network switch within the distributive computing network, configuring a portion of a router to be communicatively coupled to the virtual machine via the virtual local area network switch by specifying an address space within the router associated with at least one of the virtual machine or the virtual private network communicatively coupled to the router, and communicatively coupling the portion of the router to the virtual private network.

Abstract: A method and system are described to multicast with an adaptive dual state. The system receives multicast traffic over a membership tree including a first plurality of nodes connected in a first topology destined for a plurality of multicast members of a first multicast group. Next, the system determines a rate of multicast traffic that exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the receiving the multicast traffic. Next, the system generates a dissemination tree including a second plurality of nodes connected in a second topology to reduce a number of hops to communicate the multicast traffic to the plurality of multicast members of the first multicast group. Finally, the system forwards the multicast traffic to the plurality of multicast members of the first multicast group over the dissemination tree.

Abstract: Distribution of content between publishers and consumers is accomplished using an overlay network that may make use of XML language to facilitate content identification. The overlay network includes a plurality of routers that may be in communication with each other and the publishers and consumers on the Internet. Content and queries are identified by content descriptors that are routed from the originator to a nearest router in the overlay network. The nearest router, for each unique content descriptor, generates a hash identification of the content descriptor which is used by remaining routers in the overlay network to provide the appropriate functions with respect to the content descriptor. In particular, this allows all routers in the overlay network except the nearest router to properly route content without processing every content descriptor.

Abstract: A method includes sending a unicast transmission including at least a portion of media content to a media device in response to determining, at a media distribution computing device, that a request for a media stream to be provided to the media device does not indicate a scheduled recording of the media content associated with the media stream and joining the media device to a multicast group associated with the media stream without sending the unicast transmission to the media device in response to determining, at the media distribution computing device, that the request indicates the scheduled recording of the media content.

Abstract: A method of providing content comprises making the content available on a central server, and surveying a plurality of peers for a portion of the content. The portion of the content from one of the peers is obtained when the portion of the content is available from the one of the peers, and obtained from the central server when the portion of the content is not available from the plurality of peers.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a first node of a data network, a message indicating a failure of a communication link of the data network. The message is received at the first node from a second node of the data network. The method includes determining an alternate route from the first node to a data source of the data network. The alternate route includes a third node as an upstream node of the first node. The method includes determining whether the third node is a downstream node of the first node prior to sending a first join message from the first node to the third node, and sending the first join message from the first node to the third node conditioned on determining that the third node is not a downstream node of the first node.

Abstract: Systems and methods of multicast configuration are provided. A particular method includes detecting a failure in the data network at a first node of a data network. The method also includes determining an alternate route from the first node to a data source of the data network. The alternate route includes a second node as an upstream node. The method further includes determining whether the alternate route would create a loop in the data network. The method includes setting a state of the first node to a waiting-to-join the second node state when the alternate route would create a loop.

Abstract: A method for processing media content requests includes receiving, at a multimedia distribution computing device, a request for a media stream to be provided to a media device. The method includes determining, at the multimedia distribution computing device, whether media content of the media stream is for time-shifted viewing. The method includes sending a unicast transmission including at least a portion of the media content to the media device when the media content is not determined to be for time-shifted viewing. The method includes joining the media device to a multicast group associated with the media stream without sending the unicast transmission to the media device when the media content is determined to be for time-shifted viewing.

Abstract: A system for resource provisioning for content delivery of multiple services is disclosed. The system may be configured to offer multiple services, wherein at least one first offered service is delivery of prerecorded content and at least one second offered service is content delivered according to a deadline. In at least one embodiment, the first offered service may be video content, and the second offered service may be broadcast television content. The system may also be configured to deliver at least a portion of the first offered service in advance of use of that portion of the first offered service such that resource demand in connection with delivery of service content of the second offered service at peak delivery may be reduced. As such, fewer resources are needed to provide uninterrupted service of the first and second offered services.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data identifying new media content items to be added to a media distribution system that provides media content on demand to a plurality of endpoints. The media distribution system includes a plurality of distribution nodes, and each of the distribution nodes is coupled to a subset of the endpoints. Historical demand is determined during a particular time period for existing media content items that include content available via at least one of the distribution nodes before the data was received. The method includes forecasting demand for media content items, including new media content items and existing media content items, based on the historical demand. Each media content item is assigned to, and stored at, at least one corresponding distribution node based at least partially on a cost function and the forecasted demand.

Abstract: A method for processing media content requests includes receiving, at a multimedia distribution computing device, a request for a media stream to be provided to a media device. The method includes determining, at the multimedia distribution computing device, whether media content of the media stream is for time-shifted viewing. The method includes sending a unicast transmission including at least a portion of the media content to the media device when the media content is not determined to be for time-shifted viewing. The method includes joining the media device to a multicast group associated with the media stream without sending the unicast transmission to the media device when the media content is determined to be for time-shifted viewing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicatively couple virtual private networks to virtual machines within distributive computing networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to provision a virtual machine from a virtual private network, determining a host for the virtual machine within a distributive computing network, creating the virtual machine within the host, communicatively coupling the virtual machine to a virtual local area network switch within the distributive computing network, configuring a portion of a router to be communicatively coupled to the virtual machine via the virtual local area network switch by specifying an address space within the router associated with at least one of the virtual machine or the virtual private network communicatively coupled to the router, and communicatively coupling the portion of the router to the virtual private network.

Abstract: Systems and methods of multicast configuration are provided. A particular method includes detecting a failure in the data network at a first node of a data network. The method also includes determining an alternate route from the first node to a data source of the data network. The alternate route includes a second node as an upstream node. The method further includes determining whether the alternate route would create a loop in the data network. The method includes setting a state of the first node to a waiting-to-join the second node state when the alternate route would create a loop.

Abstract: A method of providing video-on-demand content includes receiving a request from a set-top box, and determining the video-on-demand content is not stored locally. The request includes a content identifier for the video-on-demand content. The method further includes identifying a peer likely to have the video-on-demand content, receiving at least a first portion of the video-on-demand content from the peer, and providing the video-on-demand content to the set-top box.

Abstract: A method of receiving content includes joining an in-progress multicast stream to receive a first portion of a content. The method further includes sending a request to a peer for a catch-up portion of the content, the request including a deadline for delivery of the content, and receiving the catch-up portion of the content from the peer prior to the deadline.

Abstract: Distribution of content between publishers and consumers is accomplished using an overlay network that may make use of XML language to facilitate content identification. The overlay network includes a plurality of routers that may be in communication with each other and the publishers and consumers on the Internet. Content and queries are identified by content descriptors that are routed from the originator to a nearest router in the overlay network. The nearest router, for each unique content descriptor, generates a hash identification of the content descriptor which is used by remaining routers in the overlay network to provide the appropriate functions with respect to the content descriptor. In particular, this allows all routers in the overlay network except the nearest router to properly route content without processing every content descriptor.

Abstract: Distribution of content between publishers and consumers is accomplished using an overlay network that may make use of XML language to facilitate content identification. The overlay network includes a plurality of routers that may be in communication with each other and the publishers and consumers on the Internet. Content and queries are identified by content descriptors that are routed from the originator to a nearest router in the overlay network. The nearest router, for each unique content descriptor, generates a hash identification of the content descriptor which is used by remaining routers in the overlay network to provide the appropriate functions with respect to the content descriptor. In particular, this allows all routers in the overlay network except the nearest router to properly route content without processing every content descriptor.

Abstract: Systems and methods to distribute media content are provided. A particular method includes receiving first link weighting factors and second link weighting factors at a router of a node of a multicast network and determining a primary path to a next hop node based on the first link weighting factors. Additionally, the method includes determining a backup path from a router of the primary path to the next hop node based on the second link weighting factors. The backup path does not overlap any primary path between two nodes of the network. Further, the method includes receiving a data packet from a parent node and routing a copy of the data packet from the router to the next hop node via the backup path, when a network link related to the router has failed. The method also includes routing data packets via a re-configured multicast tree that excludes the failed link.

Abstract: A method of providing content comprises making the content available on a central server, and surveying a plurality of peers for a portion of the content. The portion of the content from one of the peers is obtained when the portion of the content is available from the one of the peers, and obtained from the central server when the portion of the content is not available from the plurality of peers.

Abstract: A method of providing video content is disclosed that includes receiving video content associated with a television stream from a video source at a server of a video distribution network. The method also includes sending a primary multicast video stream corresponding to the video content to a video distribution network entity via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The primary multicast video stream is associated with a first bandwidth. Further, the method includes sending a secondary multicast video stream to the video distribution network entity via the IP network. The secondary multicast video stream is associated with a second bandwidth. The primary multicast video stream and the secondary multicast video stream are accessible to a set-top box device via the video distribution network entity in response to a channel change request that indicates the television stream.