Abstract: Various embodiments are a method for negotiating datapath treatment for traffic sourced from a first communications network over an end-to-end path in respect of a path segment provided for the traffic in a second communications network, the path segment being requested for a first node of the second communications network and being targeted to a second node of the second communications node. The method comprises: for the first node, notifying that a datapath capability for the path segment is one for selection for the second node; communicating datapath capabilities associated with the first node; selecting, for the second node, a datapath capability from the datapath capabilities so communicated; communicating the datapath capability so selected for the second node back to the first node; and wherein the path segment is established using a signaling protocol of the second communications network. Various embodiments are also be implemented in a corresponding communications node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing call signaling messages during burst overloading and sustained overloading of a communications switch include processing that begins by receiving a plurality of call signaling messages, which may be call set-up messages, connect messages, call proceeding messages, call release messages, release complete messages, and/or link layer information. The processing then continues by comparing a queue occupancy level of a call processing queue with a first queue occupancy threshold. If the queue occupancy level compares unfavorably with the first queue occupancy threshold (e.g., the queue is storing more messages than desired), call signaling messages are enqueued into the call processing queue based on the types of the call signaling messages. For example, dispensable call signaling messages are enqueued in a LIFO manner while indispensable and essential messages are enqueued in a FIFO manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring a communication traffic transfer rate control mechanism are provided. The traffic transfer rate control mechanism may control a rate of transfer of communication traffic from a first communication traffic management device to a second communication traffic management device, for example. A communication traffic storage history, which is indicative of an effect of the transfer rate control mechanism, is compiled by determining amounts of communication traffic stored in at least one communication traffic queue of at least one of the communication traffic management devices, at each of a number of monitor times. An indication of the determined amounts of communication traffic is provided, and may be analyzed to determine whether the transfer rate control mechanism actually achieves a desired effect. The transfer rate control mechanism or control parameters thereof may then be adjusted if the desired effect is not currently being achieved.

Abstract: In a method of performing the asynchronous delivery of messages from a server to a client, the server receives the messages for the client from a message source. The server and client communicate over a packet network using an asymmetric protocol that requires request messages to be originated from the client to the server. At least one request message is sent in advance from the client to the server, and these request messages are stored at the server. When the server receives a message for the client from the message source, it forwards the message to the client as a response to a stored request message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of calculating a service disruption in a communication network comprising network elements, including nodes connected via links and at least one originating node. Each node is able to detect a failure in an adjacent network element. Upon detection of a failure, a first timestamp is generated. The detecting node generates a release signal which is transmitted, together with the first timestamp, to an originating node which releases the affected connection. The originating node establishes a new connection and initiates a new call. Upon establishing a new connection, a node affected by the failure, which forms a part of the new connection, records a second timestamp. The second timestamp is chosen to reflect, as closely as possible, the actual time of restoration of service in the network. Service disruption is measured as a difference between the first and second timestamps.

Abstract: Communication traffic management systems and methods are disclosed. A threshold status of a communication traffic queue of a second communication traffic management device which is capable of receiving communication traffic from a first communication traffic management device is determined, by comparing a depth of the queue to a corresponding threshold for instance. A rate of transfer of communication traffic to the second device, and possibly to particular queues of the second device from corresponding queues of the first device, is controlled based on the threshold status. Transmission of communication traffic from the queues of the second device may thus be in accordance with one communication traffic management scheme, whereas the content of each queue of the second device is controlled according to another communication traffic management scheme used by the first device to transfer communication traffic from its queues, to thereby provide for complex combined communication traffic management.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of a selecting an egress connection from egress connections at a node for a call being established in a network along a path being associated with the node. Each connection has sufficient bandwidth to carry the call and terminates at a same destination point in said path. The system and method comprise utilizing at least a bandwidth load balance value for each connection in a set of the connections to select the egress connection from the set. An administrative factor score may be used to further define members of the set.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of a selecting an egress connection from egress connections at a node for a call being established in a network along a path being associated with the node. Each connection has sufficient bandwidth to carry the call and terminates at a same destination point in said path. The system and method comprise utilizing at least a bandwidth load balance value for each connection in a set of the connections to select the egress connection from the set. An administrative factor score may be used to further define members of the set.

Abstract: A method of providing a shared application infrastructure simultaneously to multiple independent virtual private networks with potentially overlapping IP addresses, involves connecting to an underlying layer 1, 2 or 3 virtual private network offering one or more virtual private networks, determining which virtual private network traffic is being received from or sent into, maintaining logically separate routing tables per VPN to allow overlapping addresses, and providing an application which provides a logical instance of the service to each VPN.

Abstract: A method of providing router redundancy within a distributed network of routers, wherein messages are routed within the network based on virtual router identifiers, involves organizing the routers into one or more redundancy groups; assigning a physical identifier to each router in each of the redundancy groups; assigning one or more virtual identifiers to each redundancy group; selecting one of the routers of a particular redundancy group as a currently active router associated with a particular virtual identifier assigned to that redundancy group; advertising among the distributed network of routers for each redundancy group the physical identifier for the active router and information enabling other routers to determine the virtual identifier with which the currently active router is associated; and forwarding messages destined for a particular virtual router identifier to the currently active router based on the physical identifier of the currently active router.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating and utilizing link connection type characteristics in a communications network begins by determining the connection type characteristics for a link within the network. The connection type characteristics preferably include the partitioning of the available bandwidth of the link. The connection type characteristics for the link are advertised to at least one node in the network. The connection type characteristics are then used to perform network functions such as selecting routing paths for new connections. When a change occurs in the link that results in altered connection type characteristics for the link, the altered connection type characteristics are determined and advertised in a similar manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for negotiating datapath treatment for traffic sourced from a first communications network over an end-to-end path in respect of a path segment provided for said traffic in a second communications network, the path segment being requested for a first node of the second communications network and being targeted to a second node of the second communications node. The method comprises: for the first node, notifying that a datapath capability for the path segment is one for selection for the second node; communicating datapath capabilities associated with the first node; selecting, for the second node, a datapath capability from the datapath capabilities so communicated; communicating the datapath capability so selected for the second node back to the first node; and wherein the path segment is established using a signaling protocol of the second communications network. The invention may also be implemented in a corresponding communications node.

Abstract: Communication traffic management systems and methods are disclosed. A threshold status of a communication traffic queue of a second communication traffic management device which is capable of receiving communication traffic from a first communication traffic management device is determined, by comparing a depth of the queue to a corresponding threshold for instance. A rate of transfer of communication traffic to the second device, and possibly to particular queues of the second device from corresponding queues of the first device, is controlled based on the threshold status. Transmission of communication traffic from the queues of the second device may thus be in accordance with one communication traffic management scheme, whereas the content of each queue of the second device is controlled according to another communication traffic management scheme used by the first device to transfer communication traffic from its queues, to thereby provide for complex combined communication traffic management.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring a communication traffic transfer rate control mechanism are provided. The traffic transfer rate control mechanism may control a rate of transfer of communication traffic from a first communication traffic management device to a second communication traffic management device, for example. A communication traffic storage history, which is indicative of an effect of the transfer rate control mechanism, is compiled by determining amounts of communication traffic stored in at least one communication traffic queue of at least one of the communication traffic management devices, at each of a number of monitor times. An indication of the determined amounts of communication traffic is provided, and may be analyzed to determine whether the transfer rate control mechanism actually achieves a desired effect. The transfer rate control mechanism or control parameters thereof may then be adjusted if the desired effect is not currently being achieved.

Abstract: A method of managing a content routed network, involves distributing published documents through said network for delivery to subscribers; maintaining data logs pertaining to said published documents at different points in the network; and correlating the data logs to obtain information about the operation of the network.

Abstract: Advertising available resource information for a link in a communication network is provided. The network uses a source routing protocol. The source routing protocol uses the available resource advertisements for identifying a path for a call routed through the node in the network. The method advertises the available resource information for the node to adjacent nodes linked to the node in the network when the node receives a request for a connection to be routed over the link, the request seeking resources exceeding available resources for the link, but not exceeding the last advertised resources for the link.

Abstract: In a method of managing a content-based network, which is typically XML-based, and optionally may be overlaid on an underlying network having a plurality of network elements interconnected by links, a link state protocol maintains each network element's topological view of the overlay network from the underlying network. A subscription management protocol ensures dissemination of published content within the content-based network independently of the link state protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for emulating VPLS within an ATM network. Provider Edge devices are configured for the VPLS connections. Each provider edge device advertises its configured VPLS IDs to other provider edge devices by propagating an information group up the PNNI hierarchy, the information group containing an association between an ATM address of the provider edge device and the VPLS ID. Information groups are propagated back down the PNNI hierarchy, so that each lowest level node learns all ATM addresses to be associated with each VPLS ID. For each pair of provider edge devices supporting the same VPLS ID, one of the provider edge devices establishes a virtual circuit between the pair. In this way, a mesh of virtual circuits is established between provider edge devices, and a VPLS-like service can be offered to users without having to implement MPLS.

Abstract: A method of signalling a message using a terminal address across multiple network entities is provided. At least two contiguous network entities are associated with addressing spaces for which message addresses are not routable by way of the terminal address and are not otherwise routable by way of a single address. The method stores a terminal address of either an originating or terminating network entity. At every network border between any two contiguous network entities wherein an immediately succeeding network entity does not provide an address through which the message is routable, it is determined whether the address is to be stored and replaced with another address. If so, the address is stored so as to permit its subsequent retrieval. Once the address has been stored, the another address is assigned to be the address and the message is routed in the succeeding network using the another address.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for permitting fully detailed advertising of reachability information for some addresses in a network while efficiently summarizing reachability information for other addresses. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented as part of a process used by logical nodes for advertising reachability information for members of a group of nodes represented by the logical node. The invention may be used with any network that involves the aggregation of nodes and nodal elements (such as reachability information) into logical nodes, including, without limitation, networks using the PNNI and IP protocols.