Abstract: A network method utilizing Session Initiation Protocol to establish a network path between network elements in a network includes generating a request for a network service in Session Initiation Protocol, wherein the request is one of manually and automatically configured, and wherein the request is directed to the network; obtaining network resources responsive to the request, wherein the network resources comprise network parameters required to obtain and provision the network path; and configuring the network resources responsive to the request. The network includes a plurality of network elements operable to receive Session Initiation Protocol requests. Optionally, the plurality of network elements include a plurality of optical network elements, wherein the network route includes wavelengths between a first and second optical network element in the network.

Abstract: A transport layer protocol such as the Stream Control Transmission Protocol uses a new traffic control technique instead of the TCP slow start algorithm. The procedure assumes that the network on which it is implemented has a fixed bandwidth assigned for the connection, and that the allotted bandwidth roughly matches the traffic load. Based on this, under message loss conditions it is only necessary to ensure that signaling traffic emitted into the network by the sender is no greater than the fixed bandwidth that has been allocated to the connection. That is, retransmissions take bandwidth away from a fixed allocation that has been made for the connection, but do not cause the connection itself to reduce the overall traffic it generates into the network; rather, it maintains the same traffic level. This technique prevents congestion in the network from increasing when message loss occurs; at the same time it does not reduce bandwidth for the association as rapidly as the slow start procedure.

Abstract: Typically, paths in a network are set up via direct provisioning performed by an Element Management System/Network Management System/Operations Support System, i.e. a platform supporting multiple Wavelength Division Multiplexed spans in order to provide Network Management services/a system responsible for managing at least part of the network, and communicating with agents in order to help keep track of network resources, statistics, and performance. Alternatively, paths in the network are set up via automated nodal software that is capable of performing routing under EMS/NMS/OSS command. A relatively recent protocol, Session Initiation Protocol, has evolved for use in conjunction with multimedia devices in order to locate and connect devices together.

Abstract: Equipment generates a discovery message containing its address/node identification (ID) and/or other information. Adjacent equipment (e.g., physically adjacent equipment) monitors control overhead bytes (section trace (J0) bytes, Data Communication Channel (DCC) control overhead, General Communication Channel (GCC) control overhead, etc.) for this message, but does not generate a corresponding response message as called for in the standards/implementation agreements. Rather, it records the address/node ID and/or other information in order to identify its neighbor, and uses an alternative mechanism to either record the adjacency separately (e.g., at a Network Management System (NMS) in order to populate or verify its topology database) or communicate an out-of-band control message to the neighbor (e.g., using the received address/node ID as the destination address for the out-of-band control message, which carries its own address/node ID and link information).

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a real-time firewall processor includes a controller and a filter. The controller specifies a filtering characteristic based on a control protocol from a call server serving a firewall between a source and a destination networks. The filter is coupled to the controller to filter a packet in a call transmitted from the source network based on the filtering characteristic, the filter accepting the packet if the packet satisfies the filtering characteristic and rejecting the packet otherwise.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for scalable advertising of an abstracted form of an arbitrary network of nodes and links to external nodes or networks. One or more phantom hub nodes can be used that are connected to at least one node, forming one or more virtual network topology representing the internal connectivity of the network.