Abstract: A method may include generating, at a host device, a point-to-point over Ethernet active discovery packet. The point-to-point over Ethernet active discovery packet includes a tag that identifies a host device type of the host device.

Abstract: A method may include transmitting, during a point-to-point over Ethernet (PPPoE) discovery stage, a PPPoE active discovery (PAD) packet from a customer premises equipment (CPE) device to an access concentrator. The PAD packet may include a tag that is associated with a device type of the CPE device. The method may include receiving a PPPoE active discovery session (PADS) confirmation packet from the access concentrator. The PADS confirmation packet may be associated with conclusion of the PPPoE discovery stage and establishment of an Ethernet communication session between the CPE device and the access concentrator.

Abstract: Network services systems and methods are provided. A particular system includes an information store including connection information to initiate connections to content sources. The connection information includes an address and a connection rule associated with a video content source. The system includes an access engine to receive a request for an information stream output by the video content source from a user device. The system also includes a services engine to retrieve the connection rule from the information store and to initiate establishment of at least a portion of a point to point protocol communication link between the user device and the video content source in accordance with the connection rule. The system includes a metrics engine to track a metric associated with the point to point protocol communication link and to generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes sending a request from a customer service terminal to a broadband remote access server to retrieve a device identifier of a customer premises equipment device. The device identifier is received by the broadband remote access server via a point to point protocol over ethernet active discovery initiation packet sent from the customer premises equipment device. The computer implemented method includes receiving, at the customer service terminal, a response from the broadband remote access server that includes the device identifier of the customer premises equipment device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data and communicating encrypted data are provided. A method of processing data and communicating encrypted data may include receiving input traffic data at a first interface of a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). The method may also include encrypting management data associated with the input traffic data at the CSU/DSU to produce encrypted management data. The method may further include sending the encrypted management data via a second interface of the CSU/DSU to a remote terminal of a local area network via a data router coupled to the CSU/DSU.

Abstract: A method may include transmitting, during a point-to-point over Ethernet (PPPoE) discovery stage, a PPPoE active discovery (PAD) packet from a customer premises equipment (CPE) device to an access concentrator. The PAD packet may include a tag that is associated with a device type of the CPE device. The method may include receiving a PPPoE active discovery session (PADS) confirmation packet from the access concentrator. The PADS confirmation packet may be associated with conclusion of the PPPoE discovery stage and establishment of an Ethernet communication session between the CPE device and the access concentrator.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of making a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection to a remote network. The method includes detecting the presence of a powered-on network capable device that is connected to a DSL modem; establishing a network connection over a DSL line to the remote network after detecting the presence of the powered on network capable device; terminating the network connection over the DSL line after detecting an absence of network capable devices connected to the DSL modem; and releasing network resources supported by the remote network after the network connection is terminated.

Abstract: Network services systems and methods are provided. A particular system includes an information store including connection information to initiate connections to content sources. The connection information includes an address and a connection rule associated with a video content source. The system includes an access engine to receive a request for an information stream output by the video content source from a user device. The system also includes a services engine to retrieve the connection rule from the information store and to initiate establishment of at least a portion of a point to point protocol communication link between the user device and the video content source in accordance with the connection rule. The system includes a metrics engine to track a metric associated with the point to point protocol communication link and to generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.

Abstract: A system and method for providing managed point-to-point services are disclosed. In one embodiment of a system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure, a services management center may be capable of receiving a request for connection to a video content source. A requesting user may be part of one managed network and the content source may be part of another network. The content source may be able output an information stream. In operation, the center may determine an address for the video content source and initiate the formation of at least a portion of a point-to-point communication link between the requesting user and the video content source. In some embodiments, the center may be able to track a metric associated with communication of the information stream and may generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data and communicating encrypted data are provided. A method of processing data and communicating encrypted data may include receiving input traffic data at a first interface of a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). The method may also include encrypting management data associated with the input traffic data at the CSU/DSU to produce encrypted management data. The method may further include sending the encrypted management data via a second interface of the CSU/DSU to a remote terminal of a local area network via a data router coupled to the CSU/DSU.

Abstract: A method and system for use in identifying customer premises equipment (CPE) in a distributed network are presented. The method utilizes a unique identifier provided by a CPE device to a host server during the discovery stage of PPPoE communications in a distributed network. The server receives the unique identifier and stores the identifier for use in identifying and managing CPE devices attached to a service provider's network. The host server is configured to receive an active discovery packet from a communications device. The active discovery packet has a tag comprising a device identifier field. The device identifier includes chipset and firmware information regarding remote DSL CPE.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data and communicating encrypted data are provided. A method of processing data and communicating encrypted data may include receiving input traffic data at a first interface of a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). The method may also include determining management data associated with the input traffic data. The method may also include encrypting the management data at the CSU/DSU to produce encrypted management data. The method may further include sending the encrypted management data via a second interface of the CSU/DSU to a remote terminal of a local area network for viewing by user via a data router coupled to the CSU/DSU.

Abstract: An enhanced data communication node is disclosed. The data communication node can be coupled to a local area network and a wide area network for transferring data traffic between the two networks according to a first protocol, for example, a frame relay protocol. The data communication node includes a network reporting element capable of monitoring management information of an intermediate network coupled into a data communication path to the wide area network. The management information includes service level information of the intermediate network and equipment fault information of a bridging device coupled to the data communication node and the intermediate network. The bridging device encapsulates data according to a second protocol, for example, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) protocol. The encapsulating is transparent to the transfer of data between the local area network and the wide area network by the data communication node.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting computer port inactivity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a router that has a first interface to communicate with a first connection at an end-user computer and a second interface to communicate with a second connection at a distributed computer network. The system includes detection logic responsive to the first interface to detect inactivity at the end-user computer and further includes blocking logic responsive to the detection logic. The blocking logic is operable to selectively initiate a blocking signal to disable communicating data received at the second interface to the end-user computer via the first interface. The detection logic and the blocking logic are embedded within a port of the router.

Abstract: An enhanced network management system is disclosed. The network management system is configured to receive management information via multiple virtual connections from multiple data communication nodes. The management information includes service level information for a transparent connection, for example, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection carrying encapsulated frame relay packets between two networks, for example a wide area network and a local area network. The transparent connection is intermediate to the wide area network and the local area network. The management information further includes equipment failure information of customer equipment, for example, a bridging node used to encapsulate the frame relay packets. Thus, using the collected management information, a network outage caused by customer equipment failure can be differentiated from a service provider service level event.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an idle or inactive data port connection on a personal computer (PC) and blocking external access, e.g., Wide Area Network (WAN) access to an end-user PC is presented. The system provides for added security for unattended PCs having broadband connections. The idle time period for detection/blocking logic initiation of a blocking signal to disable communications, e.g., Ethernet port access to the PC, may be for a fixed time period or may be determined by a user of the end-user PC.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a communication node coupled to a first data network and a second data network is disclosed. The first data network is a wide area data network. The communication node includes a first data interface to the first data network, a second data interface to the second data network, a data processor responsive to the first data interface and to the second data interface, and an encryption module coupled to the data processor. The first data interface is a telephony type interface and the second data interface is a packet data interface. The data processor receives input traffic data carried over the first data interface and generates management performance data based on measurements with respect to the input traffic data. The encryption module receives the management performance data to produce encrypted management performance data to be communicated to the second data network via the second data interface.

Abstract: A method and system for use in identifying customer premises equipment (CPE) in a distributed network are presented. The method utilizes a unique identifier provided by a CPE device to an access concentrator during the discovery stage of PPPoE communications in a distributed network. The access concentrator receives the unique identifier and stores the identifier in a database for use in identifying and managing CPE devices attached to a service provider's network. A system for identifying a communications device includes an access server and a database server. The access server is configured to receive an active discovery packet from a communications device. The active discovery packet has a tag comprising a device identifier field. The device identifier field is embedded in the tag by a module in the communications device, e.g., CPE device.

Abstract: A method and system for use in identifying customer premises equipment (CPE) in a distributed network are presented. The method utilizes a unique identifier provided by a CPE device to a host server during the discovery stage of PPPoE communications in a distributed network. The server receives the unique identifier and stores the identifier for use in identifying and managing CPE devices attached to a service provider's network. The host server is configured to receive an active discovery packet from a communications device. The active discovery packet has a tag comprising a device identifier field. The device identifier includes chipset and firmware information regarding remote DSL CPE.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing a telephone docking apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wireless wide area network telephone, e.g., PCS telephone, and a wireless local area telephone interface. In addition, the disclosed PCS telephone docking apparatus includes battery chargers, a speakerphone, a visual display, a USB interface, and a media reader/writer interface. To receive or make a PCS telephone call from the cordless telephone, a user places their PCS telephone in the PCS telephone docking apparatus, and uses the wireless local area telephone to receive or make calls. Text messages and images may also be transferred to/from the PCS telephone and external devices when using the PCS telephone docking apparatus.