Abstract: A system for advertising routing updates is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a route reflector having a controller element that generates from a routing update a plurality of dissimilar routing advertisements transmitted in whole or in part to one or more provider edge routers operating in a packet-switched communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering routing updates is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Route Reflector (RR) having a route reflection element that routes to one or more network elements a routing update according to a filter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for routing packet traffic. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Provider Edge (PE) router having a routing element that routes packet traffic between a plurality of autonomous systems according to one or more Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables each having a plurality of Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) Autonomous System (AS) numbers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Access Point (AP) having a switching element that assigns a computing device to a VLAN according to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A first interface is connected to a first network element having a first Internet Protocol (IP) address. A second interface is connected to a second network element having a second IP address. Traffic is passed between the first interface and the second interface, and performance data is measured based on the traffic. A packet, that is addressed to the second IP address and includes a predetermined port identifier, is received by the first interface. In response to determining that the packet is addressed to the second IP address and includes the predetermined port identifier, the packet is inhibited from being passed to the second interface, and a response that includes the performance data is outputted via the first interface.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for updating a virtual private network (VPN) in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to an MPLS network. The controller can be programmed to generate one or more messages conforming to a border gateway protocol (BGP) for updating a VPN operating in the MPLS network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phones are disclosed. A disclosed example VoIP phone comprises a phone housing, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) processor located in the phone housing, and a bay defined in the phone housing and dimensioned to receive a user-replaceable network interface.

Abstract: A management system manages multiple multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) virtual private networks (VPNs), the VPNs having overlapping IP addresses. The system includes a storage storing a file that associates a host name with an IP address and a route distinguisher. The host name corresponds to a network element within one of the customer VPNs. The system also includes a label obtaining system that obtains at least one label for the host name based upon the associated IP address and route distinguisher. The system also has a packet construction system that creates packets destined for the network element using the obtained label(s).

Abstract: A wiring block for forming an end of a cable having insulated twisted wires for installation of a plug on the cable in which the insulation of the cable end is stripped. A back of the block leads to a cavity arranged within the block. The block back receives the cable such that a portion of the cable adjacent to the cable end sits inside the cavity. A front of the block has holes leading to troughs extending through the block between the cavity and the block front. The troughs receive the wires at the cable end such that the wires are arranged in a proper configuration with the wire ends protruding out from the block through the holes.

Abstract: A digital subscriber link (DSL) network providing an interconnection to a virtual private network using multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) includes a DSL source, an L2TP access concentrator (LAC) to aggregate DSL source traffic, a broadband remote access server (B-RAS) to aggregate DSL Internet traffic as well as to function as a LAC for MPLS-destined sessions, an L2TP network server (LNS) to aggregate and authenticate Internet-bound DSL traffic and to switch sessions designated for MPLS-enabled locations, and an MPLS-enabled LNS to terminate the sessions and transmit the sessions to MPLS VPN customers.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for overlaying a hierarchical network on a full mesh network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element of a full mesh network (402) having a controller programmed to overlay (200, 400, 400) in part a hierarchical network on the full mesh network with an isolation protocol.

Abstract: A network management center (100) has a controller (102) coupled to an MPLS (Multi-protocol Label Switching) network (108) coupled to groups of customer network sites (104). The controller is programmed to provision (202) MPLS network elements to logically link the network management center with all customer network sites. Said elements are provisioned to restrict sharing of network information between groups of customer network sites. The controller is also programmed to monitor (206) customer network sites for faults therein.

Abstract: A communication network (100) has a plurality of cell-based routers (104), a plurality of frame-based routers (108), and a bidirectional cell and frame based switch (110) coupled to the cell-based routers, and frame-based routers. Each of the cell-based routers is programmed to reshape (204) traffic bandwidth to avoid packet losses at the frame-based routers, and route (206) cell-based traffic to the bidirectional cell and frame based switch according to the updated bandwidth.