Abstract: The non-linear behavior of power amplifier is linearized using a pre-distorter that is adaptive to changes in the behavior of the power amplifier and uses an artificial neural network. According to embodiments presented here, the pre-distorter's artificial neural network is model-trained from time to time to learn the inverse of the transfer function of the power amplifier by using a second pre-distorter modeling system. The second modeling system determines the parameters of the inverse of the transfer function of the power amplifier using a least square method by using the (un-distorted) output signal samples of the power amplifier. Using the output of the second system as output to train the neural network enables the neural network to more successfully linearize the power amplifier's behavior. Furthermore, the trained artificial neural network as the pre-distorter can be implemented in hardware and presents a small form factor.

Abstract: A novel system and a new data communication method are invented in a software-defined (SDN) network to provide delivery of certain types of critical data flows with certain QoS and/or extra security requirements in a congested network. The method of invention allows such critical data not to traverse the data plane, as it normally would, but instead to go from the ingress switch directly to the egress switch, thereby always in two hops using the control channels. By shortcutting all other switches along the traditional data path computed by normal routing, it potentially provides guaranteed throughput, lower latency/jitter or higher level of security.

Abstract: An ingress forwarder receives the IP packet and strips off the entire packet header and replaces it with the simple flow header assigned by the controller, and looks up its flow-table to determine from which port to forward the packet. All other forwarders along the path up to the egress forwarder perform the forwarding action simply by inspecting the flow header. The egress forwarder, before forwarding to the egress port, replaces the flow header with the original layer-2/3/4 header. Doing so, the host behavior remains unchanged while the routing/forwarding within the cloud of SDN is performed based on only the flow header.

Abstract: Sensitive data is sent through insecure network regions across different software defined networks (SDNs) over an encrypted path without requiring encryption applications at the source or destination hosts. One or more special-purpose encryptors are strategically placed within each SDN, which can act as an encryptor or decryptor, of both the data packet content and the header. Using the controller and a special encryption service application, the encrypted IP packets are forwarded from an encryptor, closest to the source, towards a decryptor, closest to the destination, utilizing a tagging method. Each encryptor has a static and globally unique tag. Each controller advertises to other controllers its encryptor information: IP of the encryptor, the IP block of the users the encryptor is responsible for and the unique encryptor tag(s). Each forwarder along the flow path is instructed by its respective controller how to forward packets towards the destination according to the tag.

Abstract: A system and method that rely on a centralized and trusted control mechanism for a software-defined network (SDN) to dynamically assign routes between two end points, and to simultaneously change their real IP addresses to fake IP addresses to establish short-lived obfuscated communications paths with a goal of preserving anonymity. The SDN controller determines the short-lived routes from a feasible route-set and new fake IP addresses from a reserved address pool for the source and destination hosts. It provisions only the switches along the route with rules so that a switch can forward packets of the data flow to another switch without needing to know the actual IP addresses of the communicating endpoints, and hence, providing strict anonymity even when the switches are compromised.

Abstract: An ingress forwarder receives the IP packet and strips off the entire packet header and replaces it with the simple flow header assigned by the controller, and looks up its flow-table to determine from which port to forward the packet. All other forwarders along the path up to the egress forwarder perform the forwarding action simply by inspecting the flow header. The egress forwarder, before forwarding to the egress port, replaces the flow header with the original layer-2/3/4 header. Doing so, the host behavior remains unchanged while the routing/forwarding within the cloud of SDN is performed based on only the flow header.

Abstract: Random route hopping in a Software Defined Network (SDN) allows traffic flows to change routes frequently to obfuscate data paths or to meet specific performance requirements. Using the route hopping method and additional capabilities built into an SDN controller according to this invention, the controller determines multiple feasible routes for specific flows, called jumper flows, so that the active flow can randomly be assigned to different routes after a switch-over time period expires, or by a special randomization logic within the switch managed by the controller, or manually programmed by a system administrator.

Abstract: Controller(s) in a software defined network (SDN) are able to determine a control path towards each network switch by performing a switch-originated discovery and using an in-band control network that is an overlay on the data network. A topology tree is maintained, where each controller being the root of the tree, and where messages from the root to any switch may pass through neighboring switches to reach that switch (and vice-versa). Each switch in the SDN attempts to connect to the controller when it does not have a readily configured control connection towards the controller. Once the controller learns about the presence of a new switch and at least one or more paths to reach that switch through a novel discovery process, it can select, adjust and even optimize the control path's route towards that switch.

Abstract: Controller(s) can determine a control path towards each network switch using a novel controller-originated discovery process based on an in-band control network that is an overlay on the data network. The controller attempts to connect to each switch when it does not have a readily configured control connection towards the switch. Once the controller learns about the presence of a new switch and at least one or more paths to reach that switch through aforementioned discovery process, it can select, adjust and even optimize the control path's route towards that switch. During the controller-originated control network discovery process, the controller also learns about the to connectivity between all switches. Thereby, as a by-product of the discovery process, it uncovers the entire data network topology in parallel.

Abstract: Sensitive data is sent through insecure network regions across different software defined networks (SDNs) over an encrypted path without requiring encryption applications at the source or destination hosts. One or more special-purpose encryptors are strategically placed within each SDN, which can act as an encryptor or decryptor, of both the data packet content and the header. Using the controller and a special encryption service application, the encrypted IP packets are forwarded from an encryptor, closest to the source, towards a decryptor, closest to the destination, utilizing a tagging method. Each encryptor has a static and globally unique tag. Each controller advertises to other controllers its encryptor information: IP of the encryptor, the IP block of the users the encryptor is responsible for and the unique encryptor tag(s). Each forwarder along the flow path is instructed by its respective controller how to forward packets towards the destination according to the tag.

Abstract: A novel system and a new data communication method are invented in a software-defined (SDN) network to provide delivery of certain types of critical data flows with certain QoS and/or extra security requirements in a congested network. The method of invention allows such critical data not to traverse the data plane, as it normally would, but instead to go from the ingress switch directly to the egress switch, thereby always in two hops using the control channels. By shortcutting all other switches along the traditional data path computed by normal routing, it potentially provides guaranteed throughput, lower latency/jitter or higher level of security.

Abstract: A system and method that rely on a centralized and trusted control mechanism for a software-defined network (SDN) to dynamically assign routes between two end points, and to simultaneously change their real IP addresses to fake IP addresses to establish short-lived obfuscated communications paths with a goal of preserving anonymity. The SDN controller determines the short-lived routes from a feasible route-set and new fake IP addresses from a reserved address pool for the source and destination hosts. It provisions only the switches along the route with rules so that a switch can forward packets of the data flow to another switch without needing to know the actual IP addresses of the communicating endpoints, and hence, providing strict anonymity even when the switches are compromised.