Abstract: A method for adaptive and intelligent Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) workload placement includes monitoring operation of a network with resources including one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and microservices; responsive to a request for a service in the network, decomposing the service into interconnected functional atoms, with the functional atoms located in one or more network domains including one or more of different data centers in the network and a user device associated with the service, wherein the functional atoms are decompositions of the VNFs and the microservices into a smaller level of functionality than the VNFs and microservices, wherein the functional atoms are based on isolability, observability, and measurability; and instantiating the service in the network based on the determined placement of the functional atoms.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining sensor data from sensors of a primary device, determining a sensor pattern based on the sensor data, generating a response based on the sensor pattern, and sending a signal over a network to a secondary device to trigger an action of the secondary device. The signal may be based on the sensor pattern.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining sensor data from sensors of a primary device, determining a sensor pattern based on the sensor data, generating a response based on the sensor pattern, and sending a signal over a network to a secondary device to trigger an action of the secondary device. The signal may be based on the sensor pattern.

Abstract: A method may include detecting a position of a first probe based on a placement of the first probe relative to a first zone on a surface of a device, obtaining a first target position for the first probe in the first zone, comparing the position of the first probe to the first target position, and generating a first haptic response to guide the first probe toward the first target position when the position of the first probe is outside a first predetermined tolerance relative to the first target position. The first haptic response may vary with the position of the first probe.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric includes horizontal optical waveguides including a first set and a second set, the first set is configured to receive a first plurality of wavelengths from the one or more external switches and the second set is configured to send a second plurality of wavelengths to the one or more external switches; wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set, wherein the wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set to an associated vertical optical waveguide of vertical optical waveguides; and controllable optical switches associated with the vertical optical waveguides, wherein the controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide to a horizontal optical waveguide of the second set.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to carrying synchronization through Ethernet, Optical Transport Network (OTN), and other asynchronous protocols. In one exemplary embodiment, timing markers or symbols are used in packets to enable a downstream device to recover timing based upon a time differential between markers or symbols. Advantageously, enabling Ethernet, OTN, etc. to carry synchronous information will de-risk switching from SONET/SDH to Ethernet and/or OTN for service providers. The present disclosure also includes frame decomposition scheme of the Ethernet stream. Ethernet packets are broken into fixed bandwidth and excess bandwidth. The fixed bandwidth is subdivided into fixed (negotiated) flits, with each flit corresponding to a specific user or combination of users like a private tunnel. This offers service providers a method to provide deterministic and more secure bandwidth over Ethernet to multiple clients.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric includes horizontal optical waveguides including a first set and a second set, the first set is configured to receive a first plurality of wavelengths from the one or more external switches and the second set is configured to send a second plurality of wavelengths to the one or more external switches; wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set, wherein the wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set to an associated vertical optical waveguide of vertical optical waveguides; and controllable optical switches associated with the vertical optical waveguides, wherein the controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide to a horizontal optical waveguide of the second set.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric, including: a first set of horizontal optical waveguides receiving a plurality of wavelengths; a plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set of horizontal optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set of horizontal optical waveguides to an associated vertical optical waveguide of a plurality of vertical optical waveguides; and a plurality of controllable optical switches associated with the plurality of vertical optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide of the plurality of vertical optical waveguides to a horizontal optical waveguide of a second set of horizontal optical waveguides, and wherein the second set of horizontal optical waveguides output a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes specific referential tables for forwarding decisions while maintaining current mechanisms of Ethernet addressing and QoS marking. The referential tables are utilized for forwarding decisions based on any and/or multiple fields within the packets simultaneously, such as, for example, incoming port number, incoming MAC, incoming VLAN, outgoing MAC, outgoing VLAN, P-bits, DSCP, MPLS label, TCP/UDP port numbers, IP, SIP, HTTP, and the like. A user can define the forwarding criteria based on any combination/permutation fields in the packet. Advantageously, the present invention removes the need to introduce explicit tunnel labels in the Ethernet frame in order to maintain the desired QoS within the network removing explicit labeling requirements.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems to remove the dependence on the IP layer (OSI layer three) in Video-on-Demand (VoD) transport networks. The present invention replaces the IP layer with Ethernet layer two addressing and even layer one, allowing connectivity in access/aggregation networks without IP layer three capabilities. The present invention enables STBs to communicate with VoD controllers, servers, and the like at layer two and/or layer one, eliminating the need for layer three routing capabilities in access/aggregation networks.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes control plane signaling to dynamically configure flexible, existential ports. The ports are referred to as existential as their nature can change over time depending on the present need of the network, and because the ports are flexible and reconfigurable to a plurality of bit rates and protocols. The present invention removes the constraints of provisioning individual ports and connections, such as from a network management system, and integrates the concept of flexible ports with signaling and control plane methods utilized for routing in modern networks. Advantageously, the present invention extends service providers' investments in equipment, and reduces operating expenses in providing systems that are able to dynamically deal with various network configurations and with low touch by automatically performing provisioning. The methods and systems of the present invention can be extended to other networks utilizing flexible ports, such as wireless radios and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for video processing, such as transcoding, storage, quality testing, and the like, in network edge devices. The present invention embeds various video processing capabilities within a network to provide advantages, such as superior per-user video handling, reduced network bandwidth, increased service offerings, and the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Ethernet synchronization systems and methods that combines Synchronous Ethernet (Sync-E) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) IEEE 1588 algorithms. The present invention includes systems and methods for Ethernet networks and node configurations that include a set of rules on node placement, such as Boundary Clock (BC) nodes and Sync-E nodes, a clock selection algorithm, a holdover algorithm, and the like. Advantageously, the present invention provides an architecture that allows practical and real-world useful clock propagation through placement of BCs and Sync-E nodes for best performance. Practical experience and theoretical design are embodied in the present invention to define a very specific set of rules on how to build a network capable of providing accurate and reliable synchronization. The present invention includes clock selection that unifies Sync-E and 1588 algorithms.

Abstract: An optical switch fabric, including: a first set of horizontal optical waveguides receiving a plurality of wavelengths; a plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set of horizontal optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set of horizontal optical waveguides to an associated vertical optical waveguide of a plurality of vertical optical waveguides; and a plurality of controllable optical switches associated with the plurality of vertical optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide of the plurality of vertical optical waveguides to a horizontal optical waveguide of a second set of horizontal optical waveguides, and wherein the second set of horizontal optical waveguides output a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: Network elements in IMS or other SIP systems are configured to pre-authenticate SIP requests either as proxy or by snooping. One or more of these network elements are pre-loaded with a local database copy of the user profiles as typically contained in the HSS inside of the IMS control structures. A master database, such as the one typically contained in the HSS, is distributed to all network elements using database distribution methods. Advantageously, pre-authentication solves bottleneck issues in the SIP mechanism by allowing an end user device to use fully authenticated SIP requests. This prevents the requirement to perform authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) all the way back to the core IMS network, alleviating lag and scaling issues. Additionally, network elements including can become aware of the services requested through SIP requests, and track these requests for optimization. Specifically, resources requested based upon SIP requests can be cached.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a network, a network element, a system, and a method providing an efficient allocation of protection capacity for network connections and/or services. These may be for services within a given Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Virtual Machine (VM) instance flow. Network ingress/egress ports are designed to be VM instance aware while transit ports may or may not be depending on network element capability or configuration. A centralized policy management and a distributed control plane are used to discover and allocate resources to and among the VPNs or VM instances. Algorithms for efficient allocation and release of protection capacity may be coordinated between the centralized policy management and the distributed control plane. Additional coupling of attributes such as latency may provide more sophisticated path selection algorithms including efficient sharing of protection capacity.

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: Systems and methods for self-healing Ethernet topologies which are compatible with PBT, which use standards-based protocols, which do not self-configure, and which use Ethernet OAM are provided. Interconnected nodes are configured with a primary and secondary path which is determined by VLANs, MPLS label, Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) VLAN ID (VID), Frame Relay (FR), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Virtual Circuits (VCs), and the like. One or more head-end nodes are designated for terminating each path and for performing cross-connects between the primary and secondary paths. IEEE 802.1ag Continuity Check Messages (CCM) are transmitted by all nodes on both the primary and secondary routes. Responsive to a loss of a predetermined number of CCM messages, traffic is switched to the secondary route. In non-fault conditions, both the paths for the primary and secondary routes can carry traffic.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides radio frequency (RF)-based OTN systems and methods. This includes a framework to carry services over RF-based links without using SONET/SDH or asynchronous radio. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure utilizes an OTN framework over RF. Additionally, the present disclosure can also apply to other non-OTN frameworks such as an extended Ethernet frame with forward error correction (FEC) over RF-based links. The present disclosure combines existing OTN FEC with a radio FEC or with an over-the-air FEC to reduce the OTN FEC. Additionally, the present disclosure utilizes unused overhead to communicate RF data rates between radios.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a network, a network element, a system, and a method providing an efficient allocation of protection capacity for network connections and/or services. These may be for services within a given Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Virtual Machine (VM) instance flow. Network ingress/egress ports are designed to be VM instance aware while transit ports may or may not be depending on network element capability or configuration. A centralized policy management and a distributed control plane are used to discover and allocate resources to and among the VPNs or VM instances. Algorithms for efficient allocation and release of protection capacity may be coordinated between the centralized policy management and the distributed control plane. Additional coupling of attributes such as latency may provide more sophisticated path selection algorithms including efficient sharing of protection capacity.