Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a connection system operable to sink and source supply power are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits within a connector that resides in a networking enabled device may be operable to determine whether the networking enabled device is to operate as a powered device or as a power supplying device. Based on a result of the determination, the one or more circuits may be operable to couple power pins of the connector to either a first power rail of the networking enabled device or a second power rail of the networking enabled device. The determination of whether the networking enabled device is to operate as a powered device or as a power supplying device may be based on a voltage on a sense pin of the connector and/or based on mechanical characteristics of the connector.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a single connection for efficient delivery of power and multimedia information are provided. In this regard, power supplied and/or received over a network link may be controlled based on multimedia content communicated over the network link. The multimedia content may be converted to and/or from Ethernet frames for communication over the network link utilizing audio video bridging. The multimedia content may be raw video or may be formatted according to, for example, HDMI or DisplayPort specifications. The power supplied may be controlled by selecting one of a plurality of power classes. The selection of power class may be based on resolution of the multimedia content, whether the multimedia comprises audio and/or video, and/or based on latency targets.

Abstract: A gateway network device may establish secure connections to a plurality of remote network devices using tunneling protocols to distribute to the remote network devices multimedia content received from one or more content providers. The consumption of the multimedia content may originally be restricted to local network associated with the gateway network device. The secure connections may be set up using L2TP protocol, and the L2TP tunneling connections may be secured using IPSec protocol. Use of multimedia content may be restricted based on DRM policies of the content provider. DRM policies may be implemented using DTCP protocol, which may restrict use of the multimedia content based on roundtrip times and/or IP subnetting. Each content provider may use one or more VLAN identifiers during communication of the multimedia content to the gateway network device, and the gateway network device may associate an additional VLAN identifier with each secure connection.

Abstract: In various embodiments of a method and system for utilizing native Ethernet as a virtual memory interconnect, a first networking device may be operable to transcode a memory read command and/or a memory write command to memory access information and encapsulate the memory access information within in one or more fields of an Ethernet frame. The memory access information may be communicated over an Ethernet link to a second networking device where it may be utilized to access memory that is associated with the memory read command and/or the memory write command. For example, the memory access information may indicate an address of the memory to be accessed, whether a read operation and/or a write operation is to be performed, whether the frame comprises data to be written to the memory, and/or whether a locally administered address space is utilized.

Abstract: A gateway network device may establish secure connections to a plurality of remote network devices using tunneling protocols to distribute to the remote network devices multimedia content received from one or more content providers. The consumption of the multimedia content may originally be restricted to local network associated with the gateway network device. The secure connections may be set up using L2TP protocol, and the L2TP tunneling connections may be secured using IPSec protocol. Use of multimedia content may be restricted based on DRM policies of the content provider. DRM policies may be implemented using DTCP protocol, which may restrict use of the multimedia content based on roundtrip times and/or IP subnetting. Each content provider may use one or more VLAN identifiers during communication of the multimedia content to the gateway network device, and the gateway network device may associate an additional VLAN identifier with each secure connection.

Abstract: One or more processors and/or one or more circuits may be operable to configure one or more virtual machines and a hypervisor for controlling the one or more virtual machines. The virtual machines and the hypervisor may be distributed across a plurality of network devices. A sub-hypervisor may be configured within each of the virtual machines utilizing the hypervisor. Load information of the network devices may be communicated to the hypervisor utilizing the sub-hypervisors. The virtual machines may include threads, may be load balanced utilizing the hypervisor, dynamically configured utilizing the hypervisor based on changes in the network devices, and scaled by the distribution of the virtual machines across the network devices. Information from the processing of data may be received in the virtual machines. The network devices may include a plurality of: servers, switches, routers, racks, blades, mainframes, personal data assistants, smart phones, desktop computers, and/or laptop devices.

Abstract: A switching fabric, within a network switching device, may comprise a plurality of dedicated interface modules to enable the switching fabric to interface with a plurality of switching support subsystems. The switching support subsystems may comprise a memory subsystem, a content address memory (CAM) subsystem, a packet processing subsystem, and a physical layer (PHY) subsystem. The switching fabric may be operable to determine capacity and/or capability of each of the plurality of switching support subsystems; and to configure each of the plurality of dedicated interface modules based on the determined capacity and/or capability of a corresponding switching support subsystem. The switching fabric also comprises an inter-switch interface module to enable coupling the network switching device to a plurality of other network switching devices, to form a multi-device switching mesh that enable sharing of resources and/or aggregation of switching capabilities of the network switching devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for traffic management via virtual machine migration include detecting an abnormal traffic pattern in traffic communicated by a first virtual machine that utilizes a first set of network resources. Responsive to the detection of the abnormal pattern, a second virtual machine that utilizes a second set of network resources may be initialized. The second virtual machine may take over functions performed by the first virtual machine and initialization of the second virtual machine is based on an analysis of the traffic. The second virtual machine may be initialized utilizing stored virtual machine state information in instances that the abnormal traffic is a result of a malicious attack. The second virtual machine may be initialized utilizing current virtual machine state information in instances that the abnormal traffic is not a result of a malicious attack.

Abstract: Network Interface Controller (NIC) logic may receive a packet comprising a routing parameter indicating a service or cost to be utilized in processing the packet. The NIC logic may determine a selected virtual machine (VM) running on a network device to process the packet according to the routing parameter. The NIC logic may communicate the packet across a network after the packet has been processed by the selected virtual VM. Or, the NIC logic may initialize a VM in the network device to process the packet according to the routing parameter. The NIC logic may receive multiple packets and determine a second selected VM or initialize a second VM to process the multiple packets according to the respective routing parameters of the multiple packets. The routing parameters may indicate device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency, power usage or any combination thereof.

Abstract: One or more processors and/or one or more circuits may be operable to configure one or more virtual machines and a hypervisor for controlling the one or more virtual machines. The virtual machines and the hypervisor may be distributed across a plurality of network devices. A sub-hypervisor may be configured within each of the virtual machines utilizing the hypervisor. Load information of the network devices may be communicated to the hypervisor utilizing the sub-hypervisors. The virtual machines may include threads, may be load balanced utilizing the hypervisor, dynamically configured utilizing the hypervisor based on changes in the network devices, and scaled by the distribution of the virtual machines across the network devices. Information from the processing of data may be received in the virtual machines. The network devices may include a plurality of: servers, switches, routers, racks, blades, mainframes, personal data assistants, smart phones, desktop computers, and/or laptop devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for Ethernet Switching, Conversion, and PHY optimization based on link length in Audio/Video Systems are provided. In this regard, the length of a link over which a first communication device communicates with a second communication device may be determined and Ethernet PHY's residing in the communication devices may be configured based on the determination. One or both of the communication devices may comprise an Ethernet switch operable to switch packetized audio and/or video content. The packetized audio and/or video may be switched between the configured Ethernet PHY and one or more other Ethernet PHYs. Audio and/or video data may be received via the one or more corresponding Ethernet PHYs, the received audio and/or video data may be reformatted to be compatible with an audio and/or video interface, and the reformatted audio and/or video data may be transmitted via the audio and/or video interface.

Abstract: A switching fabric, within a network switching device, may comprise a plurality of dedicated interface modules to enable the switching fabric to interface with a plurality of switching support subsystems. The switching support subsystems may comprise a memory subsystem, a content address memory (CAM) subsystem, a packet processing subsystem, and a physical layer (PHY) subsystem. The switching fabric may be operable to determine capacity and/or capability of each of the plurality of switching support subsystems; and to configure each of the plurality of dedicated interface modules based on the determined capacity and/or capability of a corresponding switching support subsystem. The switching fabric also comprises an inter-switch interface module to enable coupling the network switching device to a plurality of other network switching devices, to form a multi-device switching mesh that enable sharing of resources and/or aggregation of switching capabilities of the network switching devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for managing an energy efficient network utilizing Audio Video Bridging are provided. Communications on an Ethernet link may be scheduled into a plurality of recurring time slots, where the scheduling comprises reserving resources of the Ethernet link utilizing the Audio Video Bridging suite of protocols. One or more occurrences of one or more of the recurring time slots may be designated for carrying out an energy efficient networking transaction on the link. The energy efficient networking transaction may be carried out during the designated one or more occurrences of the one or more of the recurring time slots. The energy efficient networking transaction may comprise communicating information for scheduling a change in the data rate on the network link. The energy efficient network transaction may comprise communicating information for implementing the change in the data rate.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for predictive leasing of network services and applications based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. A user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices may be received by the management entity, wherein the management entity may utilize the user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices and a usage pattern associated with the one or more endpoint devices to determine leasing information for the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to communicate the determined leasing information to the one or more endpoint devices. The leasing information may comprise leasing services and/or applications to the one or more endpoint devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for predictive leasing of network services and applications based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. A user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices may be received by the management entity, wherein the management entity may utilize the user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices and a usage pattern associated with the one or more endpoint devices to determine leasing information for the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to communicate the determined leasing information to the one or more endpoint devices. The leasing information may comprise leasing services and/or applications to the one or more endpoint devices.

Abstract: Network Interface Controller (NIC) logic may receive a packet comprising a routing parameter indicating a service or cost to be utilized in processing the packet. The NIC logic may determine a selected virtual machine (VM) running on a network device to process the packet according to the routing parameter. The NIC logic may communicate the packet across a network after the packet has been processed by the selected virtual VM. Or, the NIC logic may initialize a VM in the network device to process the packet according to the routing parameter. The NIC logic may receive multiple packets and determine a second selected VM or initialize a second VM to process the multiple packets according to the respective routing parameters of the multiple packets. The routing parameters may indicate device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency, power usage or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and apparatus for a configurable connector for Ethernet are provided. In this regard, a configurable Ethernet connector residing in an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communication devise to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the twisted pair(s). Conductors of each of the twisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurable Ethernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector may provide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. The information may indicate presence or absence of various components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector.

Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system for low-latency networking are provided. Latency requirements of traffic to be communicated along a network path comprising one or more Ethernet links may be determined. A maximum size of Ethernet frames utilized for communicating the traffic may be determined based on the latency requirements. The maximum size of the Ethernet frames may be determined based on a data rate of one or more Ethernet links along the network path. A single device may utilize different maximum packet sizes for different ports/links on which it communicates. One or more messages indicating the determined maximum size may be communicated among devices along the network path to coordinate maximum packet sizes.

Abstract: Communication devices may determine routes and/or may select a route for communicating data between a first communication device and a second communication device. The selected route may require the least power consumption. The determined routes may be ranked based on an amount of power required for routing the data. The data may be routed among devices based on the ranking. Power consumption of a device may be determined based on a bandwidth associated with the device. Route selection may be based on availability of power for power sources of the communication devices. The selection of routes may be based on a current power consumption and/or a history of prior power consumption of the communication devices. The selection of a route which may require least power consumption may be optimized based on the availability of bandwidth.

Abstract: Aspects of a system for proxy NV bridging on an Ethernet switch may include an AV switch enables reception of incoming PDUs from a legacy device via an AV block network, wherein each incoming PDU contains an AV stream identifier (which consists of a destination address and may also consist of a traffic class designation and/or higher level protocol identifiers). The destination address may identify a destination AV device within the AV block network. The AV switch may enable generation of outgoing PDUs by inserting or modifying a corresponding traffic class designation within each of the incoming PDUs. The AV switch may enable transmission using a specific traffic shaping process of each of the outgoing PDUs to a destination AV device within the AV block network based on the AV stream identifier and corresponding QoS parameters.