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 device 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: A first modular Ethernet connector and a coupled corresponding second modular Ethernet connector may communicate data based on Ethernet standards. The Ethernet connectors may be configurable and comprise at least twelve contact positions. Different connector configurations may support widely different data rates. The Ethernet connectors may fit within a handheld device and/or may be sized to fit greater than twenty-four connectors in a 1 RU faceplate of a 19 inch rack. A variable number of conductor and/or ground contact positions may be unpopulated or populated with contacts of various materials. The Ethernet connectors may be configured with a properly fitting latching mechanism, with connector shielding and/or to ground cable shielding. The Ethernet connectors may be sized and fitted for secure coupling. The Ethernet connectors may be coupled to a twisted pair cable. Differential pair conductors are terminated adjacently. The Ethernet connectors may comprise POE, a PHY and/or an antenna.

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 device 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: Aspects of a system for proxy A/V 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.

Abstract: While transmitting a first Ethernet frame from the first buffer onto an Ethernet link, a first Ethernet device may stop transmitting the first frame prior to completing transmission of the frame. The first Ethernet device may then transmit a second frame from a second buffer onto the Ethernet link. The first Ethernet device may resume transmission of the first frame from the first buffer onto the Ethernet link. A second Ethernet device may receive, via the Ethernet link, a first portion of a first Ethernet frame and store the first portion of the first Ethernet frame in a first buffer. The second Ethernet device may then receive, via the Ethernet link, a second Ethernet frame and store the second Ethernet frame in a second buffer. The second Ethernet device may then receive, via the Ethernet link, a second portion of the first Ethernet frame and append it to the contents of the first buffer.

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 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 network resource allocation based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to receive a usage pattern associated with each of the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to determine resource allocation information for each of the one or more endpoint devices based on the received usage pattern associated with each of the one or more endpoint devices.

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: 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: One or more processors and/or one or more circuits in a user device may be operable to communicate a request for desired content to content and service providers. Bids may be received, responsive to the request, for providing the desired content to the user device and/or other devices. The request may initiate a parallel bidding process between the content and service providers. Bids to provide and/or deliver the desired content may be received from content and/or service providers by the user device. A profile of the end user device may be configured for automatically generating the capability and/or requirements in the request, and may be stored in the end user device. The end user device may include a handheld wireless device. Delivery of the content may be at a desired price and/or at a desired time. The request for content may be submitted via a website.

Abstract: Link partners coupled via an Ethernet link comprise memory buffers and/or PHY devices and the memory buffers may be operable to buffer packets that are pending delivery via the PHY devices. Latency requirements may be determined by inspecting OSI layer 2 or higher OSI layer information. Markings within packets may be inspected for latency requirements. An order of communicating buffered packets may be determined based on latency requirements. Corresponding packet headers may be ordered based on the latency requirements. Packet delivery may be scheduled based on the latency requirements. A specified time and/or a specified quantity of buffered data, which may be statically or dynamically programmable and/or configurable, may trigger determination of latency requirements. Packets may be delivered after an indication that prior packets have been delivered. Latency requirements may depend on a device that may generate and/or render the packets.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for packetizing data for servicing traffic end-to-end are provided. In this regard, a networking subsystem may receive, from an application, one or more values of one or more parameters associated with data generated by the application. The networking subsystem may packetize the data into one or more packets. The networking subsystem may translate the received one or more values into one or more corresponding OSI layer 2 tags. The networking subsystem may tag the one or more packets with the corresponding OSI layer 2 tags and transmit the tagged packet(s) to one or more link partners. The link partners may thus process and forward the tagged packet(s) by inspecting only OSI layer 2 information of the tagged packet(s). The one or more corresponding OSI layer 2 tags may indicate, for example, quality of service required by, and/or protocols associated with, the data.

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 communication device may be operable to configure a power management profile for the communication device and/or for one or more devices communicatively coupled to the communication device based on determined location corresponding to the communication device. The power management profile may comprise one or more operational parameters for a plurality of power sources, and may be utilized to control power usage in the communication device and/or the one or more devices. The communication device may be integrated into or be coupled with a hybrid vehicle. The location determination may be performed based on GNSS functions. The power management profile may enable creating and/or modifying operation control data for chargeable power storage devices based on location related data. The operation control data for the chargeable power storage devices may pertain to consumption of power from and/or recharging of the chargeable power storage devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for determining and controlling user experience in a network may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. One or more parameters associated with a content type may be received from the one or more endpoint devices by the management entity. The management entity may utilize the received one or more parameters associated with the content type to determine configuration information for the one or more endpoint devices. The content type may specify a type of media content that is handled by the one or more endpoint devices.

Abstract: Communication devices may determine routes for packets based on packet marking, routing parameters and/or costs associated with routes. A route may be selected and the packets may be communicated via the selected route. The parameters may comprise service class, real time compression, packet preemption, quality measurements, tier bypass and/or power usage information. The costs may comprise capacity, efficiency and/or performance information for power usage, bandwidth, memory and/or processing. The marking may comprise traffic type, user device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency requirements and/or power usage information. Endpoint devices, software applications and/or service providers may insert the marking into packets. Routes may be determined and/or selected based on shortest path bridging, audio video bridging, the marking, the routing parameters and/or the costs. Parameters and/or costs may be received and/or discovered from communication devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for network communications utilizing shared scalable resources are provided. In this regard, networking state information for one or more of a plurality of communication devices may be communicated to a network management device. The network management device may be operable to aggregate the networking state information. The plurality of communication devices may receive aggregated networking state information from the network management device. The plurality of communication devices may route packets based on the received aggregated networking state information. The network management device may be dynamically or manually selected from the plurality of communication devices. The plurality of communication devices may be associated with a sharing domain, and one or more communication devices may be dynamically added to and/or removed from the sharing domain.

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 virtual machine running on an endpoint device may encode a mark comprising routing parameters within one or more packets of a packet stream to indicate services and/or costs to be utilized in processing and/or communicating the packet stream. The virtual machine may communicate the packet stream to another network device. The routing parameters within the marks may indicate device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency and/or power usage. The routing parameters may comprise costs that may indicate capacity, efficiency and/or performance of power usage, bandwidth, absolute and/or relative latency, frame-drop eligibility, memory and processing. The packet stream is received and inspected to identify the marks and/or routing parameters. A virtual machine may be initialized and/or configured to process and/or communicate the packet stream based on the routing parameters. Routing may utilize based SPB, TRILL, and/or AVB.