Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a message comprising a node's data value from the node, determining whether a local data value has been assigned, and adopting the node's data value as the local data value when the local data value has not been assigned. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a plurality of ports each configured to couple to a node via a link, a memory configured to store a port data value associated with at least some of the ports, and a processor coupled to the memory and the ports, wherein the processor is configured to access a node's data value in a message and adopt the node's data value as the port data value.

Abstract: A network comprising an ingress layer processor (LP) coupled to a connection carrying a composite communication comprising a plurality of component communications, a composite connection coupled to the ingress LP and comprising a plurality of parallel component connections, wherein the composite connection is configured to transport the component communications using the component connections, and an egress LP coupled to the composite connection and configured to transmit the composite communication at a connection point. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a connection carrying a plurality of component communications, reading a communication distinguishing fixed point (CDFP) from at least some of the component communications, and accessing a table associating at least some of the CDFPs with at least one component connection.

Abstract: A network comprising a plurality of trees each comprising at least one ingress leaf node, at least one interior node, and at least one egress leaf node, wherein at least some of the ingress leaf nodes and the egress leaf nodes are common to the trees, and wherein the ingress leaf node is configured to transport data to the egress leaf node using any of the trees is disclosed. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising selecting one of a plurality of trees associated with information contained within a frame, directing the frame to the selected tree, and maintaining a filtering database (FDB) entry in an interior node in the unselected tree or trees.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of ingress ports coupled to a plurality of upstream nodes, the ingress ports having an incoming data rate; and a plurality of egress ports coupled to the ingress ports and an aggregated link comprising a plurality of links, the aggregated link having a bandwidth capacity, wherein at least some of the upstream nodes reduce their data transfer rates to a rate greater than zero when the incoming data rate is greater than or about equal to the aggregated link's bandwidth capacity. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising varying a plurality of transmission rates at a rate greater than zero, wherein the transmission rates correspond to a plurality of nodes that send data over an aggregated link.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of ingress ports, a routing logic coupled to the ingress ports, and a plurality of egress ports coupled to the routing logic, wherein the routing logic is configured to transport a plurality of data frames associated with a plurality of data flows from the ingress ports to the egress ports, and wherein the apparatus associates at least some of the data flows with a bandwidth. Included is a network component configured to implement a method comprising distributing a plurality of data flows to a plurality of links in a link aggregation group (LAG) using bandwidth information associated with the data flows.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first data structure comprising a first virtual local area network identifier (VID) and a first forwarding type, comparing the first VID and a first forwarding type with a second VID and a second forwarding type in a second data structure, and reporting a misprovisioned data structure if the first VID is the same as the second VID and the first forwarding type is not the same as the second forwarding type. Also disclosed is a method comprising implementing a network protocol to forward provisioning information in a plurality of VID Tables corresponding to a plurality of nodes, and analyzing the provisioning information to detect misprovisioned nodes.

Abstract: A packet communications network that transports a plurality of traffic over a plurality of server transport paths from a source to a destination, the network comprising: using a load distribution method to distribute each instance of traffic to an individual transport path, thereby avoiding reordering at the destination; enabling all the transport paths to carry the traffic; allowing the network to provision a preferred traffic distribution through a policy setting; and redistributing the traffic when a condition on one of the transport paths changes. Also disclosed is a composite transport group component comprising: a processor configured to implement a method comprising: receiving a server trail failure notification message; and performing a dynamic redistribution of traffic over a plurality of server trails, thereby transporting substantially all of the traffic associated with a class of traffic transported over the server trail associated with the server trail failure notification message.

Abstract: A communications network comprising a plurality of nodes supporting connection-oriented traffic and connectionless traffic, wherein management traffic between the nodes is propagated as connectionless traffic having a common management identifier. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising logic that supports connection-oriented traffic and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)-based connectionless traffic, wherein the logic propagates management messages as VLAN-based connectionless traffic having a unique VLAN identifier (VID). Included is a communications network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising provisioning a unique VID for management messages, and selectively propagating management messages with the unique VID.

Abstract: A communications network comprises a first node and a second node. The communications network further comprises an unpaired switched-path between the first and second nodes. Connectivity of the unpaired switched-path is tested by the first node transmitting a probe message along the unpaired switched-path and waiting to receive a probe message response as connectionless traffic from the second node. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising logic that selectively verifies connectivity of a unidirectional communication path based on a probe message transmitted as connection-oriented traffic along the unidirectional communication path and a time limit in which to receive a probe message response as connectionless traffic. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method.

Abstract: An efficient and user-friendly application service access method utilizing network dynamic conditions and application traffic requirements. This method allows applications to register their servers' location information and traffic requirements with the network and provides an optimal connection to application service without specifying an application server location for an end user and based on network conditions and application requirements.

Abstract: A communications network, comprising a plurality of nodes supporting connection-oriented traffic and connectionless traffic, wherein management traffic between the nodes is propagated as connectionless traffic having a unique management traffic Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier (VID), and wherein at least one node is configured to perform a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) exchange operation to enable detection of inconsistent provisioning of the Management VID in at least one node. Also disclosed is a communications network component, comprising logic that enables connection-oriented traffic and VLAN-based connectionless traffic, wherein the logic propagates management messages as VLAN-based connectionless traffic having a management VID, and wherein the logic enables detection of inconsistent management VIDs in a network.

Abstract: A communications network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising sending a fault message including degradation data, wherein the degradation data indicates a bandwidth reduction associated with a partial fault is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a fault message comprising degradation data associated with a fault, determining whether an available bandwidth is less than a bandwidth reserved for a plurality of connections associated with the fault, and modifying the bandwidth reserved for the connections if the available bandwidth is less than the bandwidth reserved for the connection.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first interface configured to transmit or receive backbone traffic, a second interface configured to transmit or receive non-backbone traffic, and a third interface in communication with the first interface and second interface, the third interface configured to multiplex or demultiplex the backbone traffic and the non-backbone traffic is disclosed, wherein the backbone traffic is traffic that will be, is, or has been B-tagged. Also disclosed is a node comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first data stream comprising backbone traffic, receiving a second data stream comprising non-backbone traffic, and multiplexing the first data stream with the second data stream.

Abstract: A communications network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising processing a frame, wherein the frame comprises a forwarding type associated with the frame. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a frame associated with a destination address, a VID, and a forwarding type, determining whether the forwarding type associated with the frame is consistent with a forwarding type associated with the VID, and forwarding the frame to a port associated with the destination address if the forwarding type associated with the frame is consistent with the forwarding type associated with the VID.

Abstract: A communications network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first data structure comprising a first VID and a first forwarding type, determining whether the first data structure supersedes a second data structure comprising a second VID and a second forwarding type, and replacing the second data structure with the first data structure if the first data structure supersedes the second data structure is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining the consistency of a table in a plurality of nodes, comprising receiving a registration of a table comprising a VID and a forwarding type, and distributing the table to a plurality of nodes associated with the registration.

Abstract: A network switch comprising a first ingress port configured to receive a first type of traffic, a second ingress port configured to receive a second type of traffic, a first egress port configured to communicate the first type of traffic, and a second egress port configured to communicate the second type of traffic. Included is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising partitioning the traffic into traffic of a first type and traffic of a second type, dedicating a first portion of a total number of ports of a node for communicating the first type of traffic, dedicating a second portion of the total number of ports of the node for communicating the second type of traffic, and dedicating a third portion of the total number of ports of the node for communicating both the first type of traffic and the second type of traffic.

Abstract: A communications network comprising components configured to implement a method comprising analyzing a path between a first end point and a second end point, and identifying a partial fault along the path is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for communicating information within a network, the method comprising: defining a path traversing a plurality of nodes, receiving a fault report from an intermediate node, determining whether the fault report affects the path, and responsive to the determination that the fault report affects the path, transmitting the fault report to an upstream or downstream node in the path.

Abstract: A telecommunications network comprising components configured to implement a method comprising: receiving a reservation from a customer, reserving a network resource specified in the reservation, initiating the establishment of a reserved connection through a network, the reserved connection parameters based on the reservation, subsequent to the establishment of the reserved connection, detecting a data stream transmitted from the customer, and allowing the data stream to be transported over the network using the reserved connection. Also disclosed is a method for reserving bandwidth on a network, the method comprising: submitting a reservation request specifying a bandwidth requirement and a start time, receiving a confirmation that the reservation has been accepted, and transmitting a data stream to a network at the start time, wherein the data stream is transported over the network using no more than the bandwidth specified in the reservation request.

Abstract: A system is disclosed, that provides dynamic bandwidth sharing among a plurality of client nodes, which share network link resources in a communication network. Upon receipt of a bandwidth adjustment request from a requesting client node, the system adjusts bandwidth when network link capacity meets the bandwidth adjustment request, or when total amount of bandwidth offered to trade by any peers of the requesting client node meets the bandwidth adjustment request.

Abstract: A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node, determining whether a second node is associated with the content, and facilitating the transfer of the content from the second node to the first node when the second node is associated with the content, wherein the second node is an interior node. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node in a network, determining whether the content is being distributed to a second node in the network, calculating a path between the second node and the first node when the content is being distributed to the second node, and establishing a connection along the path such that the content is distributed from the second node to the first node.