Abstract: A broadband gateway, which enables communication with a plurality of devices, handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider. The broadband gateway may operate as a home gateway to negotiate with one or more visited gateways, a common authorized service area or domain (ASD) for providing services to the visited gateways. The home gateway may establish one or more corresponding communication links with the visited gateways based on the negotiated common ASD. The home gateway communicates corresponding content for the services to the visited gateways via the established corresponding communication links. The home gateway communicates information about gateway functionalities required for the services to the visited gateways.

Abstract: A dynamic readjustment of an energy efficient network control policy parameters in an optical network unit based on a Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) protocol. The access link between the OLT and ONU has distinct properties that can be used to enhance the energy efficiency control policy on the network facing side of the ONU. In one embodiment, an adjustment mechanism can be based on the receipt, by an optical interface in an ONU, of a control command from an upstream OLT, wherein the control command is configured to provide a limitation on an available time period during which the ONU can communicate with the OLT over an optical fiber cable.

Abstract: A social networking system offers a variety of device service and support functions via automated social network (SNET) group associations. Such functions can include, for example, device registration and warranty services, update and upgrade services, maintenance and testing services, resource utilization reporting services, cloning services, usage tutorials and user group interactions, targeted advertising, etc. In various embodiments, support services may be offered upon automated docking of a social device with a SNET group, such as a manufacturer's SNET group. Selection of available services may be automated based on device profile data. Alternatively, services may be manually selected through a user interface provided by a member device or support service. In other embodiments, all or portions of a first device may be cloned on a second device, either on a persistent or temporary basis.

Abstract: A service provisioning enabled management in Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) switching subsystem. The delivery of network services to each of a plurality of subscribers coupled to an optical network unit (ONU) can be defined individually by the service provider. The service-specific functions within the ONU can be configured based on knowledge of the levels of provisioning of network services.

Abstract: Communication devices may determine routes for packets based on packet marking, routing parameters and/or costs associated with routes. A route may be selected and the packets may be communicated via the selected route. The parameters may comprise service class, real time compression, packet preemption, quality measurements, tier bypass and/or power usage information. The costs may comprise capacity, efficiency and/or performance information for power usage, bandwidth, memory and/or processing. The marking may comprise traffic type, user device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency requirements and/or power usage information. Endpoint devices, software applications and/or service providers may insert the marking into packets. Routes may be determined and/or selected based on shortest path bridging, audio video bridging, the marking, the routing parameters and/or the costs. Parameters and/or costs may be received and/or discovered from communication devices.

Abstract: A technique in which an outgoing signal is encoded to have multiple signal levels to modulate a light source, in which respective signal levels are indicative of different signal states of more than one bit. The multi-level signal is transmitted on a passive optical network (PON) having passive splitters to split the modulated light to transmit the light having multiple signal levels to a plurality of destinations via the PON.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for evaluating deployment of femtocells as part of a cellular network are provided. In this regard, a communication device may be operable to communicate information to a femtocell management entity that may be utilized to determine whether a specified location is suitable for installation of a femtocell. The communication device may be operable to receive from the femtocell management entity, data that indicates whether the specified location is suitable for the installation of the femtocell. The femtocell management entity may utilize the communicated information and/or additional information associated with one or installed femtocells, and/or one or more other communication devices that are within a vicinity of the specified location to determine whether the specified location is suitable for installation of the femtocell.

Abstract: Automotive area networks (AAN) have a substantially fixed network topology, meaning that the physical media used for communications between devices included in the AAN is known. For example, the physical connections within an AAN, sometimes provided by wiring harnesses, can include fixed lengths of twisted pairs of wire (“twisted pairs”). Pre-compensation parameters related to characteristics of the twisted pairs can be determined at the factory, and loaded into the memory of devices connected to the AAN. These pre-compensation parameters are used to improve the fast wake up and link acquisition times of connected devices. Various characteristics of the physical communication channel are measured or estimated as a function of mechanical, ingress, climactic, and environmental variations (MICE), and used to update the pre-compensation parameters.

Abstract: In an Ethernet network comprising link partners that are coupled via an Ethernet link, an energy efficient network (EEN) communication control policy may be established above a MAC layer. The EEN control policy may determine a power level mode of operation for the link partners. Power level mode control data may be communicated from hardware, software and/or firmware of upper layer protocols to PHY devices. The control data may specify when, where and/or how long to implement the power level mode. The control data may be communicated via a “magic” packet comprising start and/or end of frame delimiters and bits that indicate the power level mode. The PHY devices may detect, parse and/or interpret the “magic” packet and may enter and/or exit a lower power mode of operation. The PHY devices may respond to by generating a magic packet and sending the packet to upper layers.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for controlling access and utilization of femtocells via a network based service are provided. In this regard, a femtocell management entity communicatively coupled to a network and operable to manage one or more femtocells may be accessed via an end-user communication device. In this manner, the femtocell(s) may be managed via the end-user device such as one of the cellular enabled communication devices. The femtocell management entity may enable establishing one or more SLAs between the femtocell(s) and the cellular enabled communication device(s). The SLA(s) may enable the cellular enabled communication device(s) to establish one or more cellular communication channels with the femtocell(s). The SLA(s) may determine when the cellular communication channels may be established. The SLA(s) may determine how a femtocell owner/operator may be compensated for providing cellular service. The femtocell(s) may be accessed utilizing Internet Protocol.

Abstract: A system for hierarchical management of devices may include memory and a processor. The processor may configure first devices of a first network with device operating policies to perform operations based at least on attributes of the first devices, where the operating policies prevent device interference. The processor may discover a second network of second devices managed by a second management entity and may negotiate with the second management entity to determine a primary management entity for the networks. The processor may receive device operating policies and attributes of the second devices when the second management entity is not the primary management entity. The processor may provide an adjusted device operating policy for a second device to the second management entity when the second device causes interference with a first device, the adjusted second device operating policy being based at least on attributes of the second device.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for providing emergency-related services via a broadband gateway are provided. In this regard, a broadband gateway may receive one or more emergency notification messages, generate one or more alert messages in response to the received emergency notification message(s), and communicate the alert message(s) to the electronic device(s). Accordingly, each of the one or more alert messages may be formatted for communication to a corresponding one or corresponding ones of the one or more electronic devices. The emergency notification message(s) may be generated by an emergency services provider in response to an emergency. The emergency services provider may send a notification message to the broadband gateway device upon determining that the broadband gateway device, a person associated with the broadband gateway device, and/or a location associated with the broadband gateway device meets particular criteria.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for adaptive multimedia delivery via a broadband gateway are provided. A broadband gateway may be operable to determine which one or more of a plurality of devices is communicatively coupled to the broadband gateway. Content may be requested from, and/or scheduled to be delivered to, one or more of the devices. The gateway may be operable to select a provider from which to request the content based on results of the determining. The provider may be selected based on a bandwidth of a link between the broadband gateway and the one or more devices to which the content is to be delivered. The gateway may be operable to select one of a plurality of versions of the content based on results of the determining and requesting the selected version of the content from the selected content provider.

Abstract: A broadband gateway, which enables communication with a plurality of devices, handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider. The broadband gateway may operate as a home gateway to negotiate with one or more visited gateways, a common authorized service area or domain (ASD) for providing services to the visited gateways. The home gateway may establish one or more corresponding communication links with the visited gateways based on the negotiated common ASD. The home gateway communicates corresponding content for the services to the visited gateways via the established corresponding communication links. The home gateway communicates information about gateway functionalities required for the services to the visited gateways.

Abstract: In automotive networking applications, data about vehicle's environment can be used in conjunction with a control policy to manage the performance and power usage of a networked device. The control policy can dynamically adjust the balance between link power and performance of the device's communications interface by taking into account the vehicles current situation and user preferences, e.g. location, destination, speed, sensor status, or the like. Controlling the balance between link power and performance of networked devices can be important in maximizing power savings without unacceptably decreasing network performance.

Abstract: A proxy device for a network of devices may include memory, a device status module, a data intercept module, a network interface, and an emulation module. The memory may be configured to store an emulation policy for emulating a device in a network, where the policy includes a status criterion that indicates a status of the device for which the policy applies. The device status module may be configured to monitor the status of the device. The data intercept module may be configured to intercept action requests directed to the device. The network interface may be configured to forward the intercepted action requests to the device when the status of the device fails to satisfy the status criterion. The emulation module may be configured to emulate the device, and respond to the action request without accessing the device, when the status of the device satisfies the status criterion.

Abstract: Communication devices may determine routes for packets based on packet marking, routing parameters and/or costs associated with routes. A route may be selected and the packets may be communicated via the selected route. The parameters may comprise service class, real time compression, packet preemption, quality measurements, tier bypass and/or power usage information. The costs may comprise capacity, efficiency and/or performance information for power usage, bandwidth, memory and/or processing. The marking may comprise traffic type, user device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency requirements and/or power usage information. Endpoint devices, software applications and/or service providers may insert the marking into packets. Routes may be determined and/or selected based on shortest path bridging, audio video bridging, the marking, the routing parameters and/or the costs. Parameters and/or costs may be received and/or discovered from communication devices.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a broadband gateway may enable a guest or visitor to access content available to the broadband gateway. The content may be received by the broadband gateway through one or more of a plurality of network access service providers that may provide separate physical layer access to the broadband gateway. After a visitor's device is connected to the broadband gateway, the broadband gateway may classify the device. Based on the classification, the device may be authorized to access a portion of the content received. Once the authorization process is complete, the appropriate content may be made available and transferred to the device. The authorization process may include the authentication of a device identifier and/or a user identifier. The authorized access may be time-limited, but may be renewed or enabled when a request is received within a determined period of time.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for controlling data distribution via cellular communications with an integrated femtocell and set-top-box (IFSTB) device are provided. In this regard, a cellular enabled communication device may detect when it is within cellular communication range of a femtocell. Upon detection of the femtocell, the cellular enabled communication device may communicate instructions to a content source instructing the content source to deliver multimedia content to the femtocell. In instances that multimedia content is already being delivered to the cellular enabled communication device prior to the detection, the instructions from the cellular enabled communication device may instruct the content source to redirect the multimedia content to the femtocell. In this regard, the multimedia content may be delivered from the content source to the cellular enabled communication device via the femtocell.

Abstract: It may be determined via monitoring whether a first link partner and/or a second link partner coupled via an Ethernet link has trained or refreshed circuitry and/or has updated at least one parameter. Based on the determination, a corresponding link partner may be trained, refreshed and/or updated. One or more of an echo canceller, a far-end crosstalk canceller and a near-end crosstalk canceller for one or more channels may be configured based on the training, refreshing and/or updating. One or more channels may be silent and/or one or more may be active. Link partners may communicate via one or more of in-band signaling, out-of-band signaling to determine which link partner may monitor and/or which may control or initiate operation. The controlling link partner may be assigned a master mode of operation. Training, refreshing and/or updating for the monitoring link partner may be based on a timer.