Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, an access node sends a message to the user interface device directing the user interface device to switch from a content stream to a targeted information stream at a specified time. Responsive to the message, the access node receives a request from the user interface device to join a targeted multicast group associated with the targeted information stream. Without requiring receipt of a subsequent request from the user interface device to leave a content multicast group associated with a content stream, the access node causes the user interface device to be dropped from the content multicast group prior to the specified time. The access node then delivers the targeted information stream to the user interface device via the targeted multicast group.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording programming content in a signal distribution system are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, an interrupt is received, which may be associated with an incoming telephone call, email message, alarm or other type of message, and a corresponding interrupt indicator is presented on a user interface screen of a device such as television, laptop computer, mobile telephone, etc. Also presented on the user interface screen of the device is an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the device absent activation of the pause control. Various trick play functions, such as pause, play, forward and rewind, may be provided utilizing the recorded portion of the programming content.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to a set-top box or other user interface device of signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, a detection server of the system detects at least one cue associated with a first media stream, and generates timing information from the detected cue. The timing information is signaled to the interface device. An advertisement server of the system generates a second media stream containing targeted information for delivery to the user interface device. The user interface device switches from the first stream to the second stream based on the timing information. The timing information may also be signaled by the detection server to the advertisement server, for use in controlling generation of the second stream.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information.

Abstract: A subscriber or other user is provided with access to a subscription service of a signal distribution system at a location remote from a home location of the user. The subscription service comprises a plurality of selectable channels available to the user at the home location. The user is assigned one of a plurality of program streams utilizable for delivery of content from the head end equipment servicing the remote location to an interface device at the remote location. By way of example, the program streams may be part of existing unicast infrastructure in the head end equipment. The head end equipment obtains content for a first channel of the subscription service available to the user at the home location, and inserts the content for the first channel into the assigned program stream to thereby make that content accessible to the user at the remote location via the interface device.

Abstract: Link delay is determined in a network comprising a plurality of nodes by identifying pairs of nodes associated with a given link, and, for each of the identified pairs, setting up a virtually-concatenated group (VCG) between the nodes of that pair. The VCGs are utilized to make delay measurements, and the delay measurements are processed to determine delay of the given link. In an illustrative embodiment, the VCGs comprise two-member VCGs with the members being routed on opposite sides of a logical ring. For a given one of these two-member VCGs, a differential delay measurement is made at a particular one of the associated nodes by comparing frame indicator fields for concurrently arriving frames. A system of equations is generated based on the differential delay measurements made utilizing the VCGs, and the system of equations is solved to obtain information utilizable to determine delay of the given link.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying one or more errors and/or one or more stranded resources in a connection-oriented or circuit-switched network. By way of example, a technique for identifying at least one of an error and a stranded resource in at least a portion of a connection-oriented or circuit-switched network comprises the following steps/operations. Field data is obtained directly from one or more elements of the network. At least a portion of the obtained field data is examined to determine an existence of at least one of an error and a stranded resource with respect to one or more element-level constructs. Data synthesized from at least a portion of the obtained field data is analyzed to determine an existence of at least one of an error and a stranded resource with respect to one or more network-level constructs.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generation of spanning trees that support provision of performance-guaranteed services over a circuit-switched network such as, for example, an optical-based network. For example, a technique for generating a spanning tree for use in forwarding Ethernet-based data in a circuit-switched network comprises the following steps/operations. Input information is obtained. The input information comprises a representation of the network, a set of Ethernet-enabled nodes in the network, and a set of demands. A spanning tree is computed based on at least a portion of the input information such that the spanning tree substantially satisfies one or more performance requirements (e.g., one or more bandwidth requirements) associated with the set of demands. Advantageously, in one embodiment, such techniques may provide for generation of spanning trees for use in supporting bandwidth-guaranteed Ethernet services such as E-LAN over a SONET (and SDH) network.

Abstract: A system for and method of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network tuning. In one embodiment, the system includes a hot zone clearing subsystem that recursively identifies label switched paths (LSPs) to be rerouted from a defined hot zone subject to edges to be avoided. In that embodiment, the system further includes an LSP ordering subsystem, which is coupled to the hot zone clearing subsystem, that orders the LSPs to be rerouted to yield a migration sequence. The migration sequence is employable to reduce a load of the hot zone.

Abstract: A system and method for rerouting circuits on a SONET, SDH or similar ring without disrupting service. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a route design subsystem adapted to identify, for the circuits, alternative routes that are subject to an alignment constraint and increase an objective value associated with the ring and (2) a path migration subsystem, associated with the route design subsystem, adapted to determine a hitless migration sequence that allows the alternative routes to be employed.

Abstract: A maximum-flow based route precomputation algorithm includes at least a route generation phase and a route selection phase, and determines one or more routes between at least a given pair of nodes in a network. In the route generation phase, a maximum-flow algorithm is applied to a first set of information characterizing links between the given pair of nodes in the network. The output of the maximum-flow algorithm is utilizable to generate a second set of information characterizing corresponding admissible flows. In the route selection phase, one or more routes are determined based on the second set of information using, for example, a shortest widest path (SWP) algorithm. The route generation and route selection phases may be repeated for each of a plurality of node pairs of the network.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, an access node sends a message to the user interface device directing the user interface device to switch from a content stream to a targeted information stream at a specified time. Responsive to the message, the access node receives a request from the user interface device to join a targeted multicast group associated with the targeted information stream. Without requiring receipt of a subsequent request from the user interface device to leave a content multicast group associated with a content stream, the access node causes the user interface device to be dropped from the content multicast group prior to the specified time. The access node then delivers the targeted information stream to the user interface device via the targeted multicast group.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, a user interface device comprises at least first and second software clients and a video buffer. The first software client receives packets associated with a first media stream, and the second software client receives packets associated with a second media stream containing the targeted information. The first software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the first media stream to the video buffer. The second software client delivers at least a portion of the packets associated with the second media stream to the video buffer while one or more packets of the first media stream are still in the video buffer. The user interface device switches from the first media stream to the second media stream based on timing information which may be received from an external detection server.

Abstract: A subscriber or other user is provided with access to a subscription service of a signal distribution system at a roaming location remote from a home location of the user. The subscription service comprises a plurality of selectable channels available to the user at the home location. In one aspect of the invention, a request for initiation of a roaming session is received, and responsive to initiation of the roaming session, at least one user interface is generated for presentation on a device at the remote location. The generated user interface is configured to provide access at the remote location to one or more of the channels available to the user at the home location, and represents an at least partial alteration of a normal user interface that would otherwise be presented on the device at the remote location in the absence of the roaming session.

Abstract: Packet-aware transport architecture and techniques for implementing same that enhance data volume by scaling effectively to rapid data growth are disclosed. For example, a technique for determining a route for a demand in a circuit-switched network comprises the following steps/operations. The demand to be routed in the circuit-switched network is obtained. The circuit-switched networks implements a packet ring (PR) model such that one or more demands are routable on one or more virtual data rings in the circuit-switched network. An Ethernet-Over-SONET (EOS) communication channel in the circuit-switched network suitable for accommodating the demand is specified. The EOS communication channel or one of the one or more virtual data rings is then identified as the new route for the demand.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information.

Abstract: Virtually-concatenated data traffic is routed in a network comprising at least first and second nodes. The first and second nodes may comprise a source-sink node pair, an ingress-egress node pair, or any other pair of network nodes. For a given traffic demand, a plurality of routes for routing the traffic demand through the network are determined. Each of the routes corresponds to a member of a virtually-concatenated group, such that different portions of the traffic demand are assigned to different members of the virtually-concatenated group.

Abstract: Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to a set-top box or other user interface device of signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, a detection server of the system detects at least one cue associated with a first media stream, and generates timing information from the detected cue. The timing information is signaled to the interface device. An advertisement server of the system generates a second media stream containing targeted information for delivery to the user interface device. The user interface device switches from the first stream to the second stream based on the timing information. The timing information may also be signaled by the detection server to the advertisement server, for use in controlling generation of the second stream.

Abstract: A method for data path provisioning in a reconfigurable data network is disclosed. A data path between a source IP router and a destination IP router is determined taking into account the IP-subnets of the network interfaces of the IP routers included in the path. In one embodiment, the requirement that two IP routers can send packets via their connected interface if and only if the two interfaces are on the same subnet (i.e., the subnet constraint) is completely honored during the data path determination. In another embodiment, the data path is determined while allowing some number of violations of the subnet constraint. A transform network graph is computed and is used to determine the data path taking into account the IP-subnets.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for restoration of virtually-concatenated data traffic in a data transmission network. A virtually-concatenated group is formed comprising: (i) a plurality of primary members each associated with a corresponding data stream, and (ii) at least one backup member. Each of the plurality of primary members and the backup member of the virtually-concatenated group may be assigned a corresponding one of a plurality of data transmission routes between first and second nodes of the network. Responsive to a failure of a given one of the plurality of primary members, the backup member is utilized for restoring at least a portion of the data traffic of the given member. The invention also provides a modified link capacity adjustment scheme (LCAS) protocol which substantially reduces the time required to report changes in member status information from a sink node to a source node, thereby substantially reducing the amount of time required to perform a restoration operation.