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: 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: Hypervisor functions, which may control operations of one or more virtual machines, may be distributed across a plurality of network devices. State information may be stored for the virtual machines on network devices for fault tolerance and resilience. The virtual machines may retrieve stored state information to recover from a fault. The hypervisor may control the storage of the state information. Resources of the network devices may be allocated for fault tolerance and resilience of the virtual machines based on network device parameters, which may include storage capacity, processor usage, access time, communication bandwidth, and/or latency. The state information may include program content, cache content, memory content, and/or register content information, may be stored on a continuous, periodic, or an aperiodic basis, and may be shared among the network devices to enable the processing of data by the virtual machines when a fault occurs, and may be incrementally updated.

Abstract: A network device and an adjacent network device may autonegotiate for utilization of an OSI layer 2 protocol for exchanging control information. The network device may generate and/or communicate to the adjacent network device, Ethernet frames comprising the control information based on the OSI layer 2 protocol. OSI layer 2 capabilities status and/or MAC address of the adjacent network device may be received and/or stored during auto-negotiation. An Ethertype and/or LLDP Ethertype may be set within the Ethernet frames to indicate utilization of the OSI layer 2 protocol. Payload within the Ethernet frames may be populated with control information that is encapsulated in a non-standardized or standardized discovery protocol frame and/or a LLDPDU. The control information may comprise device capabilities and/or communication parameters. Subsequent Ethernet frames comprising other content may be communicated to the adjacent network device based on the control information.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for customized data delivery and network configuration via aggregation of device attributes are provided. In this regard, a first network device may receive device attributes from a plurality of devices that are communicatively coupled to the first network device. The first network device may aggregate the received device attributes and communicate the aggregate attributes to a source network device. The first network device may receive customized content from the source network device, wherein the customization is based on the aggregate device attributes. The first network device may communicate the customized content to the plurality of devices. The first network device may comprise, for example, a set-top box, a wired access point, and/or wireless access point. The device attributes of a device may comprise settings, capabilities, and/or user preferences of the device.

Abstract: Latency requirements for Ethernet link partners comprising PHY devices and memory buffers, may be determined for packets pending transmission. Transmission may be interrupted for a first packet having greater latency than a second packet, and the second packet may be transmitted. The second packet may be interrupted for transmission of a third or more packets. Packets are inspected for marks and/or for OSI layer 2 or higher OSI layer information to determine the latency requirements prior to completion of transmission of the first packet. The second packet is transmitted after a first portion of the first packet and/or prior to a second portion. Delimiters are inserted among the first and/or second packets for interrupting transmission. A PHY layer, MAC layer and/or higher OSI layer of the second link partner may receive, buffer and/or parse the packets and/or packet portions and/or may reconstruct the first packet and/or the second packet.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for content selection, delivery and payment may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to select one or more parameters associated with a particular content type from the management entity. The particular content type may specify a type of media content that is handled by the one or more endpoint devices. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to receive configuration information from the management entity based on the selected one or more parameters associated with the particular content type. The one or more endpoint devices may be configured utilizing the received configuration information. The one or more endpoint devices may be operable to pay for the received configuration information.

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 sate 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: Aspects of a method and system for managing an energy efficient network utilizing Audio Video Bridging are provided. In this regard, an Audio Video Bridging timeslot may be designated for handling an energy efficient networking (EEN) transaction and the EEN transaction may be performed during the designated timeslot. Exemplary EEN transactions comprise scheduling a data rate transition, transitioning to a different data rate, training a link partner, and exchanging training related information. It may be determined whether the timeslot may be reserved for conveying an AVB stream prior to designating the time slot for an EEN transaction. In instances that the timeslot may be unreserved, the timeslot may be reserved for EEN transaction(s). Information exchanged during the designated timeslot may enable scheduling a data rate transition and/or training on a network link. In this regard, a subsequent timeslot may be designated for the data rate transition and/or the training.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a centralized vehicular electronics system utilizing Ethernet optimized for use in an aircraft are provided. In this regard, one or more processors and/or circuits in an aircraft may be operable to receive one or more Ethernet packets over one or more Ethernet links, generate a plurality of signals based on the received packets, wherein the plurality of signals comprise a plurality of signal formats suitable for conveyance to a plurality of electronic components in the aircraft, and output the plurality of signals to a plurality of electronic components in the aircraft. The electronic component(s) may comprise a display and/or audio output. The signals may be formatted in accordance with video and/or audio standards. The electronic component(s) may comprise an Ethernet port and the circuit(s) and/or processor(s) may be operable to communicate packets between the Ethernet port and the one or more Ethernet links.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for vehicular power distribution utilizing power over Ethernet in an aircraft are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits and/or processors may be operable to receive supply power that is formatted in accordance with one or more aviation standards, condition the received supply power, and provide the conditioned supply power to one or more electronic components that are communicatively coupled to the Ethernet cable. The one or more circuits and/or processors may be built into and/or mounted on a seat in the aircraft. The one or more circuits and/or processors may provide the conditioned supply power to the one or more electronic components based on a power classification of the one or more electronic components.

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: 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: Aspects of a method and system for a centralized vehicular electronics system utilizing Ethernet with audio video bridging are provided. In this regard, electronic devices in a vehicle may be communicatively coupled via one or more Ethernet links and information may be communicated between the electronic devices over the Ethernet link(s) utilizing audio video bridging. At least one of multimedia, control, diagnostic, and sensory information between the electronic devices. Accordingly, resources on the one or more Ethernet links may be reserved via AVB to give priority to one of multimedia, control, diagnostic, and sensory information. Information communicated between the devices may be secured utilizing MACsec and related protocols. The electronic devices may comprise two or more network ports and may be enabled to forward packets between the two or more ports. The Ethernet links may comprise optical and/or copper cabling.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for vehicular power distribution utilizing power over Ethernet are provided. In this regard, power may be distributed via one or more Ethernet links to one or more devices of a vehicular electronics network, where the Ethernet links may also communicate multimedia and/or control information to and/or from the devices. Power may be distributed to devices of the vehicular electronics network in accordance with power over Ethernet standards. At least one component in the vehicular electronics network may operate as power supplying equipment (PSE). At least one component in the vehicular electronics network may operate as a powered device (PD). At least one component in the vehicular electronics network may operate as a powered device. An amount of power distributed to one or more of the devices may be determined based on a power classification of the one or more devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for managing an energy efficient network utilizing Audio Video Bridging are provided. In this regard, an Audio Video Bridging timeslot may be designated for handling an energy efficient networking (EEN) transaction and the EEN transaction may be performed during the designated timeslot. Exemplary EEN transactions comprise scheduling a data rate transition, transitioning to a different data rate, training a link partner, and exchanging training related information. It may be determined whether the timeslot may be reserved for conveying an AVB stream prior to designating the time slot for an EEN transaction. In instances that the timeslot may be unreserved, the timeslot may be reserved for EEN transaction(s). Information exchanged during the designated timeslot may enable scheduling a data rate transition and/or training on a network link. In this regard, a subsequent timeslot may be designated for the data rate transition and/or the training.

Abstract: Aspects of a system for proxy AN 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: Aspects of a system for utilizing A/V bridging and A/V bridging extensions to replace Display Port and/or analog ports on a computing system may include a LAN subsystem that enables transmission of at least video data from a computing device, such as a computer workstation, to a multimedia monitor coupled to the computing device via an Ethernet interface connector. The transmission may enable rendering of the video data on the multimedia monitor. The computing device may be coupled to a docking station or to a port replicator. The docking station may be coupled to the Ethernet interface connector via an Ethernet connector. The port replicator may be coupled to the Ethernet interface connector via an Ethernet connector. The LAN subsystem may enable access to the Ethernet interface connector to enable transmission and generation of line encoded bits based on the video data via the Ethernet interface connector.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for managing network resources in audio/video bridging enabled networks are provided. In this regard, network resources reserved via AVB may be allocated for administrative and/or control traffic. Additionally, administrative and/or control data may be assigned highest priority for routing in the network. In this regard, priority of traffic may be determined via one or more bits of a VLAN tag associated with the traffic. For each AVB stream registered in the network, there may be a corresponding portion of the reserved network resources allocated for administrative and/or control data. The portion of reserved network resources allocated for administrative and/or control data may be based on past, present, or expected network statistics. Portions of the reserved resources not allocated for administrative and/or control data may be utilized for communicating one or more multimedia streams.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for Ethernet and multimedia functions into a LAN subsystem are provided. In this regard, an integrated network interface which may comprise one or more Ethernet interfaces, and one or more high definition (HD) multimedia interfaces may be enabled to transmit and/or receive HD multimedia content over a network. Audio/Video Bridging and/or Audio/Video Bridging extensions may be utilized for the transmission and/or reception of HD multimedia content over a network. The integrated network interface may be enabled to transmit and/or receive physical layer signals adhering to protocols such as Ethernet and DisplayPort and may be configurable to select the type of signals to be transmitted or received. In this regard, aspects of the invention may enable converting Ethernet frames to DisplayPort micro-packets and visa-versa.