Abstract: Apparatus for rating download events is described. The apparatus includes a network interface and a processor. The processor, via the interface, monitors one or more download events in which content is downloaded by one or more users. In response to the monitoring, the processor identifies at least one quantitative property of the download events. Based on the property, the processor assigns a rating to the download events that is indicative of an estimated user-perceived quality of the download events. The processor then generates an output indicative of the rating. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system that includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive, at a first time, a packet transmitted from a source communication terminal over a communication network en route to a target communication terminal, before the packet passes through a particular portion of the communication network, and to receive the packet at a second time, after the packet has passed through the particular portion of the communication network. The processor is configured to delay the packet, subsequently to the packet being received at the second time, by a delay duration that is a decreasing function of a duration between the first time and the second time, and to send the delayed packet, subsequently, via the network interface, en route to the target communication terminal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system that includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive, at a first time, a packet transmitted from a source communication terminal over a communication network en route to a target communication terminal, before the packet passes through a particular portion of the communication network, and to receive the packet at a second time, after the packet has passed through the particular portion of the communication network. The processor is configured to delay the packet, subsequently to the packet being received at the second time, by a delay duration that is a decreasing function of a duration between the first time and the second time, and to send the delayed packet, subsequently, via the network interface, en route to the target communication terminal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system for providing visual content to a user, the system includes: a memory unit for storing information representative of a large image; an input for receiving a request to view a first portion of the large image; an encoder for processing the large image in order to generate macro-blocks and for generating an MPEG compliant video stream representative of the first portion of the large image; wherein the generating includes processing the macro-blocks that form the first portion; and a transmitter for transmitting over a cable network to the user the MPEG compliant video stream.

Abstract: One or more packets associated with a wakeup event for a mobile user device is/are delayed, thereby extending the duration of the wakeup event. Because the duration of the wakeup event is extended, the start of the next wakeup event for the mobile user device is delayed by a time interval, and therefore the signaling load on the mobile network is reduced during this time interval compared to the signaling load that would have been on the mobile network if the start of the next wakeup event had not been delayed. If the delayed packet(s) is/are data packet(s), then the disclosure presents a solution which involves data to solve a problem relating to signaling.

Abstract: A method for communication includes monitoring communication traffic in a wireless data network that serves wireless communication terminals. Control messages, relating to setting-up of voice calls over the wireless data network for the wireless communication terminals, are identified in the communication traffic. Precedence is given to the identified control messages, relative to other communication traffic that is not related to setting-up of voice calls. The communication traffic is controlled selectively in accordance with the precedence.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system that includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive, at a first time, a packet transmitted from a source communication terminal over a communication network en route to a target communication terminal, before the packet passes through a particular portion of the communication network, and to receive the packet at a second time, after the packet has passed through the particular portion of the communication network. The processor is configured to delay the packet, subsequently to the packet being received at the second time, by a delay duration that is a decreasing function of a duration between the first time and the second time, and to send the delayed packet, subsequently, via the network interface, en route to the target communication terminal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a device, the method may include: receiving a first signature and first control metadata; the first control metadata is indicative of at least one control plane message that was exchanged between a RAN and a core network and was intercepted by a probe; the at least one control plane message relates to a first entity that belongs to or is coupled to the RAN; processing information packets received by a policy enforcer to provide information packet signatures, the information packets undergone an address translation process before being received by the policy enforcer; and enforcing a policy associated with the first entity, the enforcing affects an information packet that is associated with an information packet signature that equals the first signature; wherein the address translation process does no corrupt the first signature.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a device, the method is for evaluating a state of a radio access network (RAN), and may include parsing control plane massages that are exchanged between the RAN and a core network that is coupled to the RAN; and determining, by an edge bandwidth manager, a current state of the RAN based on the control plane massages.

Abstract: A method includes, in a wireless data network, monitoring communication conditions at an intermediate location between a wireless communication terminal and a network element that provides voice-call services over the network to the wireless communication terminal. Upon detecting that the communication conditions are expected to cause the wireless communication terminal to send a notification to the network element, an early notification is sent to the network element on behalf of the terminal. Another method includes detecting a notification in which a terminal notifies a network element of degraded reception performance. A modification, which the network element is expected to perform in a transmission characteristic to the terminal in response to the notification, is predicted. In-flight communication traffic, which is en-route to the terminal and whose transmission characteristic is not yet modified in response to the notification, is intercepted.

Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product. The method may include: allocating or receiving allocated bit rates to a plurality of streaming media flows, each streaming media flow comprises a plurality of chunks and is expected to flow over a last mile channel that is bandwidth limited; receiving a plurality of chunk requests from clients that are hosted on user devices, each chunk request indicates a requested bit rate for streaming a media chunk that belongs to the streaming media flow; changing at least one chunk request to comply with an allocated bit rate, if the requested bit rate does not comply with the allocated bit rate, to provide at least one new chunk request; and sending the at least one new chunk request to a media streamer that is expected to stream the streaming media flow to the user device.

Abstract: Apparatus for rating download events is described. The apparatus includes a network interface and a processor. The processor, via the interface, monitors one or more download events in which content is downloaded by one or more users. In response to the monitoring, the processor identifies at least one quantitative property of the download events. Based on the property, the processor assigns a rating to the download events that is indicative of an estimated user-perceived quality of the download events. The processor then generates an output indicative of the rating. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for providing programs, the method includes: (i) providing a program multiplex to multiple users device; (ii) considering a removal of at least one program from the multiplex in response to program viewing parameters; (iii) allowing at least one user to respond to a possible removal of the program; and (iv) determining whether to remove the al least one program in response to received user removal responses. A user device that includes a transceiver unit that is connected to a controller, wherein the device is adapted to receive a program multiplex, to receive an indication that at least one program is to be removed from the multiplex, and to selectively transmit a program removal response.

Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product. The method may include: receiving a plurality of chunk requests from clients that are hosted on user devices; generating, in response to a first chunk request of the plurality of chunk requests, a first set of chunk requests for receiving different bit rate versions of the first chunk; sending to a media streamer the first set of chunk requests; receiving, from the media streamer, the different bit rate versions of the first chunk; generating a first new chunk, based on bit rate allocated for streaming of a media flow to the first client; wherein the first new chunk comprises a plurality of frames selected from at least two bit rate versions of the first chunk; and assisting in streaming to the first client, the first new chunk.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring a media stream that is streamed over a network at a given media bit-rate in a sequence of traffic bursts. Respective data volumes of one or more traffic bursts of the sequence are estimated, and the given media bit-rate is derived from the estimated data volumes.

Abstract: A device, computer program product and a method, the method may include: Extracting first size information about sizes of different frames of a first segment of an encrypted first streaming media flow that has a first CBR. Extracting second size information about sizes of different frames of a second segment of a second streaming media flow that has a second CBR that equals the second CBR. The extracting of the first and second size information and the determining of the relationship are executed without decrypting the first and second encrypted streaming media flows. Determining, based on first and second size information and on the first and second type information, a relationship between qualities of the first and second streaming media flows based on the first and second size information. Extracting first type information indicative of which frame of the first segment is the first reference frame and which frames of the first segment are the first non-reference frames.

Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product. The method may include: allocating or receiving allocated bit rates to a plurality of streaming media flows, each streaming media flow comprises a plurality of chunks and is expected to flow over a last mile channel that is bandwidth limited; receiving a plurality of chunk requests from clients that are hosted on user devices, each chunk request indicates a requested bit rate for streaming a media chunk that belongs to the streaming media flow; changing at least one chunk request to comply with an allocated bit rate, if the requested bit rate does not comply with the allocated bit rate, to provide at least one new chunk request; and sending the at least one new chunk request to a media streamer that is expected to stream the streaming media flow to the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for triggering media stream modifications and for modifying media streams accordingly. The method includes a first step of determining, by an apparatus, an opportunity to modify a compressed media stream, by a media stream modifier, to provide a modified media stream that includes additional video content; and a second step of generating modification information representative of said determination, to be further transmitted to the media stream modifier.

Abstract: A method includes, in a wireless data network, monitoring communication conditions at an intermediate location between a wireless communication terminal and a network element that provides voice-call services over the network to the wireless communication terminal. Upon detecting that the communication conditions are expected to cause the wireless communication terminal to send a notification to the network element, an early notification is sent to the network element on behalf of the terminal. Another method includes detecting a notification in which a terminal notifies a network element of degraded reception performance. A modification, which the network element is expected to perform in a transmission characteristic to the terminal in response to the notification, is predicted. In-flight communication traffic, which is en-route to the terminal and whose transmission characteristic is not yet modified in response to the notification, is intercepted.

Abstract: A method for communication includes monitoring communication traffic in a wireless data network that serves wireless communication terminals. Control messages, relating to setting-up of voice calls over the wireless data network for the wireless communication terminals, are identified in the communication traffic. Precedence is given to the identified control messages, relative to other communication traffic that is not related to setting-up of voice calls. The communication traffic is controlled selectively in accordance with the precedence.