Abstract: A first wireless modem aggregates a wireline backhaul interface with a wireless interface to a second wireless modem in response to receiving signaling indicating availability of wireline backhaul capacity at the second wireless modem. A policy server transmits instructions to a first wireless modem to aggregate a wireline backhaul interface with a wireless interface to a second wireless modem based on availability of wireline backhaul capacity at the second wireless modem.

Abstract: An in-band diagnostic tool and method are described herein that are capable of retrieving subscriber information from one or more nodes located within a layer 2 aggregation network. In one application, the diagnostic tool and method can be used by a customer service representative to retrieve subscriber information (e.g., user privileges, current bandwidth usage, available bandwidth) related to a customer that receives television, Internet etc. from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network (which is an application-specific layer 2 aggregation network).

Abstract: Network-based methods and apparatus are provided for rendering images to an end user. Video images are generated by receiving user input from a remote user; rendering the video in real-time in response to the user input; and transmitting the video to the user. The video may comprise, for example, video game images and the video game is executed by a centralized tendering engine. The rendering can be performed by a rendering engine that is remote from the user. The user input can be obtained, for example, from one or more of a game pad, steering wheel and joystick that is local to the user.

Abstract: An in-band diagnostic tool and method are described herein that are capable of retrieving subscriber information from one or more nodes located within a layer 2 aggregation network. In one application, the diagnostic tool and method can be used by a customer service representative to retrieve subscriber information (e.g., user privileges, current bandwidth usage, available bandwidth) related to a customer that receives television, Internet etc. from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network (which is an application-specific layer 2 aggregation network).

Abstract: The specification describes a multicast system wherein user authentication is performed at a specially provided remote node in the multicast system. This reduces incoming traffic to the primary multicast server, thereby reducing latency in the system.