Abstract: Cross-layer information associated with a software defined networking-based (SDN-based) communication network is collected. One or more updates are sent to one or more network elements in the SDN-based communication network to control one or more local decisions made at the one or more network elements. The one or more updates are based on at least a portion of the collected cross-layer information. Preferably, the collecting and sending steps are performed by a controller implementing an SDN management plane associated with the SDN-based communication network.

Abstract: Cross-layer information associated with a software defined networking-based (SDN-based) communication network is collected. One or more updates are sent to one or more network elements in the SDN-based communication network to control one or more local decisions made at the one or more network elements. The one or more updates are based on at least a portion of the collected cross-layer information. Preferably, the collecting and sending steps are performed by a controller implementing an SDN management plane associated with the SDN-based communication network.

Abstract: The performance of randomized load balanced or selective, randomized load balanced networks is enhanced by using ingress traffic engineering in addition to randomized traffic splitting. By first using the capacity of all links leading to the final destination of traffic, the remaining capacity is freed up for best effort traffic. Traffic splitting rules that enhance the performance of randomized load balanced networks in terms of packet missequencing and other quality of service criteria are also described.

Abstract: A new approach for a transport protocol for sensor data collection, such as a smart grid is described. In one embodiment of the invention, each server avoids keeping security and communication state per client through the notion of a secure “state-token”. The state token is issued with each server message and is subsequently attached to corresponding client messages delivered to the server. An implementation is provided in which the server encrypts and authenticates the associated session state, and then gives the resulting encryption for the client to temporarily store and return to the server with a next message. In this way, a server does not keep session state after sending the encryption back to a client and can quickly restore session state when the next message from the client arrives.

Abstract: An apparatus includes processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured to receive total energy usage information that is related to a thermostatically controlled appliance and receive ambient temperature information related to the thermostatically controlled appliance. The processor derives a physical model for the thermostatically controlled appliance and other than the thermostatically controlled appliance, the physical model dependent on ambient temperature. The processor solves a Hidden Markov Model based on the total energy usage information and the physical model to obtain an energy usage model for the thermostatically controlled appliance and other than the thermostatically controlled appliance. Based on the total energy usage information, ambient temperature information, and the energy usage model, the processor determines energy use by the thermostatically controlled appliance.

Abstract: Improved techniques are disclosed for detecting instability events in data communications systems that support inter-administrative domain (inter-domain) routing. For example, a technique for detecting an instability event in a communications system supporting inter-administrative domain routing includes the following steps. At an inter-domain router, one or more features are extracted from one or more messages obtained from at least another router in the communications system. The one or more extracted features include a path length feature, a path edit distance feature, or a combination thereof. Then, the inter-domain router detects whether an instability event has occurred in the communications system based on the one or more extracted features such that an action can be effectuated. By way of example, the one or more messages may include one or more border gateway protocol update messages and the inter-domain router may be a border gateway protocol router.

Abstract: A new approach for a transport protocol for sensor data collection, such as a smart grid is described. In one embodiment of the invention, each server avoids keeping security and communication state per client through the notion of a secure “state-token”. The state token is issued with each server message and is subsequently attached to corresponding client messages delivered to the server. An implementation is provided in which the server encrypts and authenticates the associated session state, and then gives the resulting encryption for the client to temporarily store and return to the server with a next message. In this way, a server does not keep session state after sending the encryption back to a client and can quickly restore session state when the next message from the client arrives.

Abstract: A lightweight probabilistic mechanism used to estimate the number of active flows, which estimate is used to determine the probability of admitting a new flow into the network. In one embodiment, a method for controlling admission of new flows at a node in a network of nodes interconnected by links includes: (a) for each of a plurality of incoming packets arriving at the node, each incoming packet corresponding to an active flow traversing the node: (a1) randomly selecting a packet from an output buffer of the node; (a2) determining whether the incoming packet is from the same active flow as the randomly-selected packet; and (a3) updating an estimate of the number of active flows traversing the node based on the determination of step (a2); and (b) determining whether to admit or drop part or all of a new flow at the node based on the estimated number of active flows traversing the node.

Abstract: The need to monitor real time network services has prompted service providers to use new measurement technologies, such as service-specific probes. A service-specific probe is an active probe that closely mimics the service traffic so that it receives the same treatment from the network as the actual service traffic. Service-specific probes are end-to-end and their deployment depends on solutions that address questions such as minimizing probe traffic, while still obtaining maximum coverage of all the links in the network. A polynomial-time probe-path computation algorithm is provided as well as a 2-approximate solution for merging probe paths when the number of probes exceeds a required bound k. The algorithms are evaluated using ISP topologies generated via Rocketfuel. For most topologies, it is possible to cover more than about 98% of the edges using just about 5% of the nodes as terminals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for enabling a buffer-less or substantially buffer-less core network using a packet-level forward error correction (FEC) coding scheme. The system includes an ingress edge router configured to receive data packets destined to at least one egress edge router via an access link from an end-host. The ingress edge router is connected to the at least one egress edge router via a core network, where the core network is buffer-less or substantially buffer-less. Also, the ingress edge router is configured to apply a forward error correction (FEC) encoding scheme to the data packets at a packet level and transmit the encoded data packets to the core network.

Abstract: A network configuration that supports latency-equalization (LEQ) routing by effectively “storing” packets on communication links, rather than at end points. A suitable network configuration is found by (i) identifying a candidate pool of routers through which the participating client terminals and application servers can exchange packets intended for LEQ routing and (ii) analyzing the delay inventory corresponding to the network paths connecting the client terminals and application servers, through those routers. Based on the analysis, M routers from the candidate pool are selected to serve as hub nodes. Each participating client terminal is assigned m of these M hub nodes and, thereafter, directs and receives its packets intended for LEQ routing through one of these m hub nodes.

Abstract: A network configuration that supports latency-equalization (LEQ) routing by effectively “storing” packets on communication links, rather than at end points. A suitable network configuration is found by (i) identifying a candidate pool of routers through which the participating client terminals and application servers can exchange packets intended for LEQ routing and (ii) analyzing the delay inventory corresponding to the network paths connecting the client terminals and application servers, through those routers. Based on the analysis, M routers from the candidate pool are selected to serve as hub nodes. Each participating client terminal is assigned m of these M hub nodes and, thereafter, directs and receives its packets intended for LEQ routing through one of these m hub nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing a distributed polling system in a network comprising a plurality of nodes. The method includes identifying bandwidth constraints on polling traffic for each of the plurality of nodes. Selecting, from a plurality of unpolled nodes within the plurality of nodes, at least one poller node according to a maximum number of unpolled nodes assignable to each of the at least one poller node without violating bandwidth constraints, and respectively assigning the unpolled nodes as pollee nodes to the at least one poller node. The apparatus includes a central manager and a plurality of pollee nodes coupled to at least one poller node via at least one routing path. At least one aggregating node is coupled to the at least one poller nodes, where the aggregating node is further coupled to the central manager.

Abstract: A lightweight probabilistic mechanism used to estimate the number of active flows, which estimate is used to determine the probability of admitting a new flow into the network. In one embodiment, a method for controlling admission of new flows at a node in a network of nodes interconnected by links includes: (a) for each of a plurality of incoming packets arriving at the node, each incoming packet corresponding to an active flow traversing the node: (a1) randomly selecting a packet from an output buffer of the node; (a2) determining whether the incoming packet is from the same active flow as the randomly-selected packet; and (a3) updating an estimate of the number of active flows traversing the node based on the determination of step (a2); and (b) determining whether to admit or drop part or all of a new flow at the node based on the estimated number of active flows traversing the node.

Abstract: The performance of randomized load balanced or selective, randomized load balanced networks is enhanced by using ingress traffic engineering in addition to randomized traffic splitting. By first using the capacity of all links leading to the final destination of traffic, the remaining capacity is freed up for best effort traffic. Traffic splitting rules that enhance the performance of randomized load balanced networks in terms of packet missequencing and other quality of service criteria are also described.

Abstract: Improved techniques are disclosed for detecting instability events in data communications systems that support inter-administrative domain (inter-domain) routing. For example, a technique for detecting an instability event in a communications system supporting inter-administrative domain routing includes the following steps. At an inter-domain router, one or more features are extracted from one or more messages obtained from at least another router in the communications system. The one or more extracted features include a path length feature, a path edit distance feature, or a combination thereof. Then, the inter-domain router detects whether an instability event has occurred in the communications system based on the one or more extracted features such that an action can be effectuated. By way of example, the one or more messages may include one or more border gateway protocol update messages and the inter-domain router may be a border gateway protocol router.

Abstract: An improved system and method for network fault and anomaly detection is provided based on the statistical behavior of the management information base (MIB) variables. The statistical and temporal information at the variable level is obtained from the sensors associated with the MIB variables. Each sensor performs sequential hypothesis testing based on the Generalized Likelihood Ratio (GLR) test. The ouputs of the individual sensors are combined using a fusion center, which incorporates the interdependencies of the MIB variables. The fusion center provides temporally correlated alarms that are indicative of network problems. The detection scheme relies on traffic measurement and is independent of specific fault descriptions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing a distributed polling system in a network comprising a plurality of nodes. The method includes identifying bandwidth constraints on polling traffic for each of the plurality of nodes. Selecting, from a plurality of unpolled nodes within the plurality of nodes, at least one poller node according to a maximum number of unpolled nodes assignable to each of the at least one poller node without violating bandwidth constraints, and respectively assigning the unpolled nodes as pollee nodes to the at least one poller node. The apparatus includes a central manager and a plurality of pollee nodes coupled to at least one poller node via at least one routing path. At least one aggregating node is coupled to the at least one poller nodes, where the aggregating node is further coupled to the central manager.