Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for traffic classification that integrate a plurality of different types of traffic classifiers in parallel so that there is little or no adverse effects on data path performance. The systems and methods also integrate a plurality of complementary tiered classifiers to improve or enhance the results of a primary classification technique. Results from the individual parallel and tiered traffic classifiers can be analyzed to determine an output classification. The resulting output traffic classification can be used to determine a preferred or desirable link between nodes on a network where the network includes parallel links or network paths between the nodes. The disclosed systems and methods may be particularly advantageous where the different network paths have different characteristics such as latency, capacity, congestion, cost, bandwidth, etc.

Abstract: A traffic split transmission (“TST”) system capable of transmitting a data flow via multiple communication networks is disclosed. The TST system, in one aspect, includes a receiver, a link selector, a split unit, a tag module, and a delay module. The receiver obtains a data flow containing one or more packets with a destination at a user terminal (“UT”). The link selector fetches link characteristics associated with the current status of available links. The split unit splits the data flow into a first and a second packets. The tag module generates tags for the first and the second packets. The delay module is configured to delay transmission of a selected packet(s) so that the first packet and the second packet can arrive at UT at approximately the same time.

Abstract: A process and/or apparatus capable of providing alternative communication channels for facilitating network communication is disclosed. The process, in some embodiments, maintains a primary link which facilitates network communication between various attached devices and content providers. After identifying a cellular and wireless capable (“CWC”) device, a hybrid function of the CWC device is activated for providing one or more overlay channels between through the CWC device creating a secondary link for communications between the various attached devices and content providers. The process is then capable of offloading network traffic between the primary link and the secondary link, for example, based on the types of the network traffic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a cloud hosted application able to manage virtual network (“VN”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a process of managing VN using virtual machines (“VMs”) receives a message or request from a user requesting a new VN to be built. The request is sent from a dashboard to a network orchestrator via a communication network. The orchestrator is a VN manager able to facilitate building a VN based on users' input. In one aspect, the orchestrator provides a set of templates that represent VN devices or components to users for facilitating construction of VN. After configuring a VN, a cloud capable of hosting the network is selected. The network or VN is subsequently launched using at least a portion of computing resources allocated in the cloud.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A process capable of automatically establishing a secure overlay network (“SON”) across different clouds is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, receives a first request from a first node in a first cloud for establishing a SON. After receiving a second request for connecting to the SON from a second node in a second cloud, a first connection is established connecting between the first node and the second node utilizing a network security protocol such as Internet Protocol Security (“IPSec”). After receiving a third request for connecting to the SON from a third node in a third cloud, a second connection is used to connect between the first node and the third node. A third connection is used to connect between the second node and the third node. Each subsequent request for connecting to the SON from a new node results in new connections between the new node and each existing node in the SON forming a full-mesh.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A process and/or apparatus capable of facilitating network communication via a directly accessible network interface controller (“NIC”) in a virtualized environment is disclosed. The process, in some embodiments, is able to receive a packet stream traveling from a virtual machine (“VM”) to a direct-access configured NIC (“DCN”). After forwarding from an embedded switch (“eSwitch”) of the DCN to a virtual switch (“vSwitch”) residing in a hypervisor or VM monitor in accordance with at least a portion of content of the packet stream, a processed packet stream is generated by the hypervisor in response to the packet stream. The processed packet stream is subsequently transmitted from the vSwitch to the eSwitch for facilitating the processed packet stream to reach its destination.

Abstract: A method and/or network system is able to perform an in-service software upgrade (“ISSU”) using virtualization technology while ongoing network service is maintained. After receipt of an upgrade signal such as a command of software upgrade, a new or second virtual machine (“VM”) is created in response to the upgrade signal. After downloading the new version of program to the second VM while maintaining the first version of program running on the first VM, the process for providing network management begins to migrate from the first version of program to the new version of program. The process simultaneously facilitates ISSU for a data-path module such as a line card to convert from the previous version of software to the new version of the software.

Abstract: A process and/or apparatus capable of facilitating network communication via a directly accessible network interface controller (“NIC”) in a virtualized environment is disclosed. The process, in some embodiments, is able to receive a packet stream traveling from a virtual machine (“VM”) to a direct-access configured NIC (“DCN”). After forwarding from an embedded switch (“eSwitch”) of the DCN to a virtual switch (“vSwitch”) residing in a hypervisor or VM monitor in accordance with at least a portion of content of the packet stream, a processed packet stream is generated by the hypervisor in response to the packet stream. The processed packet stream is subsequently transmitted from the vSwitch to the eSwitch for facilitating the processed packet stream to reach its destination.

Abstract: A process capable of automatically establishing a secure overlay network (“SON”) across different clouds is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, receives a first request from a first node in a first cloud for establishing a SON. After receiving a second request for connecting to the SON from a second node in a second cloud, a first connection is established connecting between the first node and the second node utilizing a network security protocol such as Internet Protocol Security (“IPSec”). After receiving a third request for connecting to the SON from a third node in a third cloud, a second connection is used to connect between the first node and the third node. A third connection is used to connect between the second node and the third node. Each subsequent request for connecting to the SON from a new node results in new connections between the new node and each existing node in the SON forming a full-mesh.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A process capable of automatically establishing a secure overlay network (“SON”) across different clouds is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, receives a first request from a first node in a first cloud for establishing a SON. After receiving a second request for connecting to the SON from a second node in a second cloud, a first connection is established connecting between the first node and the second node utilizing a network security protocol such as Internet Protocol Security (“IPSec”). After receiving a third request for connecting to the SON from a third node in a third cloud, a second connection is used to connect between the first node and the third node. A third connection is used to connect between the second node and the third node. Each subsequent request for connecting to the SON from a new node results in new connections between the new node and each existing node in the SON forming a full-mesh.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment (“CPE”) using a point-to-point (“PTP”) connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function (“NF”) in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop (“HTH”) link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.

Abstract: A method and/or network system is able to perform an in-service software upgrade (“ISSU”) using virtualization technology while ongoing network service is maintained. After receipt of an upgrade signal such as a command of software upgrade, a new or second virtual machine (“VM”) is created in response to the upgrade signal. After downloading the new version of program to the second VM while maintaining the first version of program running on the first VM, the process for providing network management begins to migrate from the first version of program to the new version of program. The process simultaneously facilitates ISSU for a data-path module such as a line card to convert from the previous version of software to the new version of the software.

Abstract: A method and/or network system is able to perform an in-service software upgrade (“ISSU”) using virtualization technology while ongoing network service is maintained. After receipt of an upgrade signal such as a command of software upgrade, a new or second virtual machine (“VM”) is created in response to the upgrade signal. After downloading the new version of program to the second VM while maintaining the first version of program running on the first VM, the process for providing network management begins to migrate from the first version of program to the new version of program. The process simultaneously facilitates ISSU for a data-path module such as a line card to convert from the previous version of software to the new version of the software.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a cloud hosted application able to manage virtual network (“VN”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a process of managing VN using virtual machines (“VMs”) receives a message or request from a user requesting a new VN to be built. The request is sent from a dashboard to a network orchestrator via a communication network. The orchestrator is a VN manager able to facilitate building a VN based on users' input. In one aspect, the orchestrator provides a set of templates that represent VN devices or components to users for facilitating construction of VN. After configuring a VN, a cloud capable of hosting the network is selected. The network or VN is subsequently launched using at least a portion of computing resources allocated in the cloud.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a cloud hosted application able to manage virtual network (“VN”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a process of managing VN using virtual machines (“VMs”) receives a message or request from a user requesting a new VN to be built. The request is sent from a dashboard to a network orchestrator via a communication network. The orchestrator is a VN manager able to facilitate building a VN based on users' input. In one aspect, the orchestrator provides a set of templates that represent VN devices or components to users for facilitating construction of VN. After configuring a VN, a cloud capable of hosting the network is selected. The network or VN is subsequently launched using at least a portion of computing resources allocated in the cloud.