Abstract: In a receiver provider edge (PE) router, a method for supporting protocol independent multicast source-specific mode (PIM-SSM) using multicast resource reservation protocol-traffic engineering (mRSVP-TE) comprising the steps of receiving a protocol independent multicast (PIM) join message, in response to receiving the PIM join message sending a path message to a source PE router, wherein the path message is a multicast resource reservation protocol-traffic engineering (mRSVP-TE) message, and sending the PIM join message to the source PE router, wherein the path message and the PIM join message trigger setup of a data multicast data tree (MDT), creating a PIM state, and receiving multicast data traffic via the data MDT using the PIM state.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processor configured to migrate load from a source process running on the processor to a target process running on a peer processor in a dynamic manner by monitoring an amount of resources used by the source process, wherein the load is migrated when the amount of resources utilized by the source process exceeds a threshold. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a first processor configured to select a source process to migrate a load from the first processor based on available resources on the first processor and the source process; and a second processor configured upon receiving a migration request from the first processor to one of select and start a target process to which to migrate the load based on available resources for the second processor and the target process.

Abstract: In a first edge node coupled to a first site, a method of migrating control of at least one virtual private network (VPN) to a central controller, the method comprising taking over a native border gateway protocol (BGP) peer session with a second edge node coupled to a second site, using a first software agent: taking over and maintaining a BGP peer session with a second edge node connected to a second site, receiving a VPN label from the central controller and sending the VPN label to the second edge node via the BGP peer session, and receiving first VPN routes from the second site via the BGP peer session and sending the first VPN routes to the central controller.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a network node configured to communicate with a plurality of other network nodes via one or more logic links using protocol independent multicast (PIM), wherein the network node is further configured to transmit a PIM message comprising quality of service (QoS) data to at least one of the other network nodes. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving, by a first network node, a first PIM join message comprising QoS data from a second network node, wherein the second network node is downstream from the first network node. Also disclosed is a method comprising: sending, by a first network node, a first PIM message comprising QoS data to a second network node, wherein the second network node is upstream from the first network node.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a proxy configured to couple to a sender and a receiver and to receive data from the sender at a first rate and forward the data to the receiver at a second rate that is less than the first rate. A method comprising detecting a reception speed for each of a plurality of receivers in a multicast group, assigning the receivers to a first group and a second group based on the reception speed of each of the receivers, wherein the first group has a reception speed that is faster than a reception speed of the second group, and sending multicast data intended for all of the receivers to the receivers in the first group and to a proxy at a first rate, wherein the proxy buffers the multicast data and sends the multicast data to the receivers in the second group at a second rate.

Abstract: In a source provider edge (PE) router, a method for supporting protocol independent multicast sparse-mode (PIM-SM) using multicast resource reservation protocol-traffic engineering (mRSVP-TE) comprising the steps of creating a protocol independent multicast (PIM) state, sending a first unicast data message to a rendezvous point (RP) PE router using the PIM state, wherein the first unicast data message is a PIM register message encapsulated as a unicast multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) packet, receiving a PIM join message from the RP PE router, wherein the PIM join message triggers creating a second PIM state, sending a second unicast data message to the RP PE router via a default multicast distribution tree (MDT) using the second PIM state, receiving a PIM register-stop message from the RP PE router, wherein the PIM register-stop message suspends sending the second unicast data message.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processor configured to startup a new process on a peer processor to off-load a load of a local process on the processor in a dynamic manner based on monitoring an amount of resources used by the processor, wherein the startup of the new process on the peer processor is initiated when the amount of resources used by the local process reaches a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for searching a least-cost path between a source node and a destination node in a communication network. A set of costs associated with least-cost paths from the source node to a set of intermediate nodes is first determined. A least-cost path in a reverse direction from the destination node to an intermediate node is also determined. The intermediate node is selected based at least on a first cost associated with the least-cost path from the destination node to the intermediate node, and a second cost associated with a least-cost path from the source node to the intermediate node that was first determined. Accordingly, the least-cost path between the source node and the destination node might then be calculated by using the second cost as heuristic information.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method comprising: receiving, by a first network element, a first communication from a client device, wherein the first communication comprises a multicast channel membership query report and QoS data. The disclosure also includes a method comprising: receiving, by a first network element, a first communication from a client device, wherein the first communication comprises a multicast channel membership query report and QoS data. The disclosure also includes an apparatus comprising: a client device connected to a network element and a network via the first network element, wherein the client device is configured to send a multicast channel membership report indicating the client device wishes to receive a multicast channel communication and indicating requested QoS data relating to the multicast channel communication.

Abstract: In a central controller, a method for managing resources comprising sending a request to a node in a domain controlled by the central controller, wherein the request requests at least a portion of a resource of the node, receiving a response from the node, wherein the response contains information on the availability of the portion of the resource, and storing the information on the availability of the portion of the resource for use in establishing a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) label switched path (LSP).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus comprising a first network node configured to transmit a first message to a second network node, wherein the first message comprises data designating the first network node as a member of a first multicast channel, and wherein the first message comprises data indicating a network address a third network node that is designated as a last hop router (LHR) of the first multicast channel. Also disclosed is a method comprising sending, by a first network node, a protocol independent multicast (PIM) join message, wherein the PIM join message comprises the network address of a PIM channel last hop router (LHR).

Abstract: An Autonomous System domain comprising a topology transparent zone comprising a plurality of topology transparent zone nodes at least some of which are topology transparent zone edge nodes, wherein the topology transparent zone nodes are interconnected with one another via a plurality of internal links, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the topology transparent zone edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.

Abstract: An autonomous system (AS) comprising a topology transparent zone (TTZ) comprising a plurality of TTZ nodes, wherein the plurality of TTZ nodes includes an edge node and an internal node, wherein each of the plurality of TTZ nodes is configured to connect to another TTZ node via an internal link, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the TTZ edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.

Abstract: An Autonomous System domain comprising a topology transparent zone comprising a plurality of topology transparent zone nodes at least some of which are topology transparent zone edge nodes, wherein the topology transparent zone nodes are interconnected with one another via a plurality of internal links, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the topology transparent zone edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.

Abstract: In a network node positioned inside a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) core network, a method of establishing a multicast Virtual Private Network (MVPN) comprising receiving a packet for multicast data from a Virtual Private Network (VPN) via a provider edge (PE) node positioned on the edge of the MPLS core network, wherein the network node is a root node and the PE node is a leaf node of a multicast Label Switched Path (mLSP) established in the MPLS core network, swapping an upstream label in the packet that is assigned to the PE node with a downstream label assigned to a next hop of the mLSP, and forwarding the packet to the next hop.

Abstract: A method for controlling a data flow in a domain of an OpenFlow protocol controlled software-defined network (SDN) comprising receiving a request from a network element for instructions to route the data flow through the OpenFlow SDN, determining a route for the data flow through the OpenFlow SDN, transmitting a unified header to the network element in the OpenFlow SDN, wherein the unified header facilitates transmission of data flows through the OpenFlow SDN that are encoded according to a plurality of network abstraction types, and transmitting instructions for forwarding the data flow along the route through the OpenFlow SDN, wherein the instructions for forwarding the data flow along the route through the OpenFlow SDN comprise one or more match fields, one or more mask values corresponding to the match fields, and one or more actions for the network element in the OpenFlow SDN to perform on the data flow.

Abstract: A network component for supporting packet forwarding in a United Router Farm (URF), the network component comprising a processor configured to receive a packet, encapsulate the packet using a URF header comprising a URF Layer Two (L2) header that indicates Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of current and next hops, an outer label that indicates a tunnel to a destination node in the URF, and an inner label that indicates an egress port on the destination node, and send the packet to a next hop in the URF after encapsulating the packet.

Abstract: A label switched path (LSP) establishing method comprising receiving a first path message from a network node outside of a topology-transparent zone (TTZ) along a path for the LSP, computing a TTZ path through the TTZ from the network component to an egress TTZ edge node along the LSP, sending a second path message to a TTZ internal node along the TTZ path, receiving a first reservation (RESV) message from the TTZ internal node that comprises a label allocated for the egress TTZ edge node, and sending a second RESV message that comprises a label allocated for the network component and the label allocated for the egress TTZ edge node to the network node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example embodiments for Boarder Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling in virtual private network (VPN) communications. For example, a first network element may encode Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) information in a Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) label field that is longer than 24 bits, and transmit a BGP update message comprising a BGP attribute to a second network element. The BGP attribute comprises the NLRI and a specific Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value. The specific SAFI value signals to the second network element, upon reception of the BGP update message by the second network element, that the NLRI label field is more than 24 bits long.

Abstract: A network node for forwarding a data packet to a virtual network. The network node may maintain a table comprising one-to-one mapping information between one or more virtual private network (VPN) labels and one or more identifying labels for a destination virtual network. The network node may receive a data packet from a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. The data packet may comprise one or more VPN labels, at least one of which may be a MPLS Big Label Value that supports one-to-one mapping for more than one million destination virtual network addresses. The MPLS Big Label Value may comprise a destination virtual network address. The network element may map the one or more VPN labels to corresponding identifying labels for the destination virtual network according to the table, and forward the data packet to the destination virtual network.