Abstract: A method (200) of operating a hybrid access telecommunications network (100), said telecommunications network comprising a client device (110) and a core network (130) connected therebetween via a plurality of network paths, each network path being established by a different access network (120), the method comprising the steps of: sending (210) and then receiving (220), over each of the plurality of network paths, a lightweight packet train between the client device and the core network; measuring dispersion of each received packet train; determining a relative network performance of the plurality of network paths using said measured dispersions (230); and configuring the telecommunications network so as to send subsequent network communications between the client device and the core network over the plurality of network paths in dependence on the determined relative network performance of the plurality of network paths (250).

Abstract: A computer system comprising a plurality of computers, each computer comprising at least one processor, respectively, such that the computer system comprises a plurality of processors, and an orchestration system comprising an orchestrator. The orchestration system is configured to: forecast a traffic load of the plurality of processors to obtain a forecast traffic load: determine, in dependence on the forecast traffic load, a clock frequency for each of the plurality of processors so as to decrease a power consumption of the computer system; and using the orchestrator, instruct adjustment of the clock frequency for each respective processor of the plurality of processors to the clock frequency determined for the respective processor. This patent application further relates to a telecommunications network comprising a computer system, and an orchestration system.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a plurality of computers. each computer comprising at least one processor, respectively, such that the computer system comprises a plurality of processors, and an orchestration system comprising an orchestrator. The orchestration system is configured to: forecast a traffic load of the plurality of processors to obtain a forecast traffic load: determine, in dependence on the forecast traffic load, a clock frequency for each of the plurality of processors so as to decrease a power consumption of the computer system; and using the orchestrator, instruct adjustment of the clock frequency for each respective processor of the plurality of processors to the clock frequency determined for the respective processor. This patent application further relates to a telecommunications network comprising a computer system, and an orchestration system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enabling digital content from a content provider (12, 5 14) to be provided via a communication network (10) from intermediate digital content stores (16) to user-devices (18). According to one aspect, the method comprises the content provider (12, 14) providing digital content encrypted using a cryptographic encryption key to an intermediate digital content store (16), the cryptographic encryption key being a public key of a key-pair and having an associated private key. In response to a request from a user-device (18) to the content provider (12, 14) for the digital content, a cryptographic session key is shared between the content provider (12, 14) and the requesting user-device (18). The content provider (12, 14) provides to the intermediate digital content store (16) the cryptographic re-encryption key and indications of the requested digital content and of the user-device (18).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for policing data being sent from a plurality of sending devices (11, 12, 12a, 21, 22) to one or more receiving devices (12, 12b, 19, 29) via a network device (15, 25) in a communication network (10, 20), where at least one sending device (11, 12a, 22) is configured to perform a sender-side policing function in respect of data to be sent via the network and to apply a verification mark to verify that it has done so, and at least one sending device (12, 21) is not so configured. According to one aspect, the network device (15, 25) receives data from one of the plurality of sending devices (11, 12, 12a, 21, 22), inspects the data to determine whether a verification mark has been applied thereto, and if not, performs an in-network policing function. If so, the network device does not perform the in-network policing function, instead performing no policing function or an alternative policing function in respect of the data in question.

Abstract: A connection (5) to a first network (3, 13) is connected by way of a first routing processor (4) to a switching processor (14), which has a connection (35) to a network address translation processor (17) providing access to one or more hosted functions (22). Connections (6, 25) separate from the network address translation processor (17) are made to one or more hosted functions (9, 16, 23), incompatible with the NAT process, and also to a second network (2). This allows connections not requiring NAT to avoid the delays incurred by that process. Data packets are routed to the network address translation processor (17) or the first routing processor (4) in accordance with header information in the packet identifying a transmission control processor (17) and the second interface (35).

Abstract: A small-form programmable pluggable device 80 is used to establish communication between a configurable “bare-metal” server 50 having no existing configuration software installed, and a provisioning server 60 capable of downloading software to the configurable server 50 to allow the configurable server 50 to be configured to perform a specific function. The pluggable device carries sufficient programming to access the required software 63 and deliver it to the configurable server 50. This allows the configurable server to be delivered to its end-user before configuration, and configuration to be performed by the network operator in situ, but without a site visit, by delivery and plug-in of the small-form device 80, which is typically of a suitable size to be mailed.

Abstract: A connection (5) to a first network (3, 13) is connected by way of a first routing processor (4) to a switching processor (14), which has a connection (35) to a network address translation processor (17) providing access to one or more hosted functions (22). Connections (6, 25) separate from the network address translation processor (17) are made to one or more hosted functions (9, 16, 23), incompatible with the NAT process, and also to a second network (2). This allows connections not requiring NAT to avoid the delays incurred by that process. Data packets are routed to the network address translation processor (17) or the first routing processor (4) in accordance with header information in the packet identifying a transmission control processor (17) and the second interface (35).

Abstract: A small-form programmable pluggable device 80 is used to establish communication between a configurable “bare-metal” server 50 having no existing configuration software installed, and a provisioning server 60 capable of downloading software to the configurable server 50 to allow the configurable server 50 to be configured to perform a specific function. The pluggable device carries sufficient programming to access the required software 63 and deliver it to the configurable server 50. This allows the configurable server to be delivered to its end-user before configuration, and configuration to be performed by the network operator in situ, but without a site visit, by delivery and plug-in of the small-form device 80, which is typically of a suitable size to be mailed.

Abstract: A line card for use in a router or packet switch is disclosed. A problem with conventional routers or packet switches is that they can take over a second to fully react to a network state update from another router or packet switch. Such network state packets are used in dynamic routing protocols intended to route packets around a failed or overloaded router. In operating in according with dynamic routing protocols, conventional routers or packet switches react to such network state packets by updating the routing tables used by the line cards to send packets, or data extracted from packets, to the egress port (often on a different line card in the router or network switch) appropriate for the destination address found in the packet. Any packets which arrive between the network state packet's arrival and the completion of the ensuing routing table update on the line cards, can be misrouted—which can cause them to be delayed or dropped by the network.

Abstract: A line card for use in a router or packet switch is disclosed. A problem with conventional routers or packet switches is that they can take over a second to fully react to a network state update from another router or packet switch. Such network state packets are used in dynamic routing protocols intended to route packets around a failed or overloaded router. In operating in according with dynamic routing protocols, conventional routers or packet switches react to such network state packets by updating the routing tables used by the line cards to send packets, or data extracted from packets, to the egress port (often on a different line card in the router or network switch) appropriate for the destination address found in the packet. Any packets which arrive between the network state packet's arrival and the completion of the ensuing routing table update on the line cards, can be misrouted—which can cause them to be delayed or dropped by the network.

Abstract: A method by which silicon nanostructures may be selectively coated with molecules or biomolecules using an electrochemical process. This chemical process may be employed as a method for coating many different nanostructures within a circuit, each with a different molecular or biomolecular material. The density of devices within a circuit of devices that can be coated with different molecules is limited only by the ability to electronically address each device separately. This invention has applications toward the fabrication of molecular electronic circuitry and toward the fabrication of nanoelectronic molecular sensor arrays.

Abstract: A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may include an initial processing module and a spectra processing module. According to one embodiment, the spectra processing module generates stick spectra and supplies the stick spectra to an external processor. The stick spectra comprise a peak intensity, resolution, and a location in the spectra for each detected peak. The initial processing module may contiguously sample the ion detection signals at a rate matched to the capabilities of the ion detector (up to at least 1.5 GHz) over a full spectral range. The spectra processing module may receive the processed signals and generate spectra from the processed signals at a rate matched to the time response of the separation techniques (up to 200 spectra/second).

Abstract: A method by which silicon nanostructures may be selectively coated with molecules or biomolecules using an electrochemical process. This chemical process may be employed as a method for coating many different nanostructures within a circuit, each with a different molecular or biomolecular material. The density of devices within a circuit of devices that can be coated with different molecules is limited only by the ability to electronically address each device separately. This invention has applications toward the fabrication of molecular electronic circuitry and toward the fabrication of nanoelectronic molecular sensor arrays.