Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card.

Abstract: In a communication apparatus, a receive data processor receives data and retrieves a group data record corresponding to the received data out of a group data memory. A forwarding processor forwards the received data according to the group data record retrieved by the receive data processor. The group data memory stores group data records which associate protection group identifiers with path selection data. The protection group identifiers each identify a protection group that provides logical paths constituting a redundant logical path for transporting a group of data, and their corresponding path selection data specifies which logical path to use to forward data in that protection group.

Abstract: A communication system includes a synchronous interface coupled to a switch fabric; cells for switching; and a 1+1 protection unit with a primary and back-up line cards.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Split Multi Link Trunk (SMLT) for Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) Over Ethernet is presented. All ports on an ATA server are assigned a same Media Access Control (MAC) address. When the first switch receives a packet destined to the second switch the first switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of the packet and forwards the packet to the target over one of the second plurality of links, and when the second switch receives a packet destined to the first switch the second switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of the packet and forwards the packet to the target over one of the second plurality of links.

Abstract: A method for SIP presence server failover, the method including setting an expiration time of a SIP application session on a first SIP server having a first SIP presence server to match the expiration time of a SIP request that is associated with the SIP application session, setting a SIP request attribute set representing a plurality of attributes of the SIP request, replicating the SIP application session together with the attribute set to a second SIP server having a second SIP presence server, migrating the SIP application session to the second SIP server for activation thereat, detecting an event indicating that the SIP application session has been migrated, and upon detection of the event, reestablishing at the second SIP presence server the SIP request associated with the SIP application session and using the attribute set.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that support a routing using a tree-like or graph topology that supports multiple links per node, where each link is designated as an Up, Down, or Lateral link, or both, within the topology. The system may use a segmented MAC architecture which may have a method of re-purposing MAC IP addresses for inside MACs and outside MACs, and leveraging what would normally be the physical signaling for the MAC to feed into the switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a controlled failover of a BGP speaker is provided. A user sends, to a network element, a request to switch a designation of an active Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) speaker of the network element from a first BGP speaker to a second BGP speaker. After receiving the request, the network element pauses operation of a transport for BGP. Routing data, which describes a state of a first routing information base (RIB) maintained by the active BGP speaker, is transferred from the first BGP speaker to the second BGP speaker. Thereafter, the first BGP speaker may instruct the second BGP speaker to become the active BGP speaker. After the second BGP speaker becomes the active BGP speaker, the second BGP speaker resumes operation of the BGP transport.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for routing of data transmitted from a mobile electronic device to a first host of a plurality of hosts in a communication network using a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is provided. It is determined, at a network element having a same address as a first host of a plurality of network hosts, that the first host has failed via receipt of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) rerouted data, the BGP rerouted data originally transmitted to the first host from a communication device. A negative acknowledgement (NACK), identifiable as having been transmitted by the network element, is transmitted to the communication device to trigger the communication device to transmit data that was to be transmitted to the first host to another of the plurality of network hosts.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for projecting billing of a specified server configuration. In some embodiments, the projected billing is determined by identifying a set of allocated resources for the server configuration. In some embodiments, the set of resources include an amount of allocated RAM, network bandwidth, disk storage, processing power, etc. The set of resources are then projected over a billing period. Some embodiments determine a projection for the configuration as each component of the configuration is specified within a graphical user interface. Additionally, some embodiments determine a projection for the configuration after the entire configuration is specified within the graphical user interface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a primary tail-end node (PTE) of a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tunnel selects a backup tail-end node (BTE) from one or more BTEs that are configured to forward traffic to a same multicast network as the PTE. The PTE then determines a branching node of the P2MP tunnel to reach the PTE and the selected BTE, and notifies the branching node of the selected BTE. In response, the branching node establishes a backup tunnel to the selected BTE, and redirects P2MP traffic onto the backup tunnel to the selected BTE in response to a detected failure of the PTE.

Abstract: MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) fast re-routing using LDP (Label Distribution Protocol) is described. A first network element in an MPLS network receives a first label advertised from a second network element in the MPLS network. The first network element computes a shortest path tree (SPT) to reach a destination network element under a potential failure condition. The second network element is a nexthop of the first network element in the computed SPT and is not upstream from the potential failure condition in the computed SPT. The first network element determines that a third network element in the MPLS network is a Point of Local Repair (PLR) when the potential failure condition is realized. The first network element distributes a second label to the third network element for a backup LDP Label Switched Path (LSP) that will serve as a backup path when the potential failure condition is realized. The first network element installs a swap action from the second label to the first label.

Abstract: A distributed-forwarding router platform contains a master and a standby route processing manager (RPM). The master RPM uses dynamic internal routing codes to facilitate the replication of multicast packets within the router. As internal routing codes are assigned, the assignments are shared with the standby RPM. Should the standby RPM have to take over as the master RPM, the new master consults the internal routing codes assigned by the previous master as the new master builds multicast state, insuring that the internal routing codes the new master assigns are consistent with those used by the prior master. This allows the multicast forwarding plane to remain available during RPM failover, without a shutdown or unstable period while the new master RPM propagates internal routing codes. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

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: A virtual router spans a number of physical routing devices. One of the physical routing devices is designated as master, and the other physical routing devices are designated as backups to the master. A failover protocol that includes both a non-dampened state and a dampened state can be implemented. According to the failover protocol, an attempt to designate one of the backups as master in place of the current master is permitted while the virtual router is in the non-dampened state, while such an attempt is suppressed while the virtual router is in the dampened state.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in response to at least one of a link failure and node failure of a protected label switched path (LSP), network traffic is switched onto a protection path according to a fast re-reroute (FRR) scheme. A HELLO session is established with the remote node that is not immediately adjacent to the network element, including exchanging one or more HELLO messages with the remote node, each HELLO message having a time-to-live (TTL) value of greater than one if IP forwarding is used. The TTL value of the HELLO message is set to one if the HELLO message is sent via tunnel. In response to a request to restart, a resource reservation protocol (RSVP) traffic engineering (TE) graceful restart (GR) procedure is performed using information obtained from the one or more HELLO messages exchanged with the remote node during the HELLO session.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for routing traffic in networks represented by logical topologies, such as Multi Chassis Port Channel (MCPC) or Multi Chassis Ether Channel (MCEC) topologies, is provided. By modifying a port priority vector (PPV) to include an additional “Switch ID” field that identifies a designated bridge ID or a local switch ID, depending on whether the corresponding port is used as an MCT, a routing protocol designed to avoid loops in routing paths, such as STP, may avoid blocking MCT ports.

Abstract: A querier election method, a router, and a network system are disclosed. The method includes: a querier starts a sticky-querier-timer; the querier enters the sticky-querier state if the sticky-querier-timer expires; and the querier starts a sticky-query-timer, where the sticky-query-timer is configured to periodically trigger the querier to send a sticky-query message to network devices. With the present invention, the stability of the querier and the network stability can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template.

Abstract: A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of processing modules, one of which is designated to be the primary processing module and the others are designated to be secondary processing modules. During operation, state is maintained in the primary processing module and at least one of the secondary processing modules. A switchover controller causes outputs from the secondary modules to be discarded. When the switchover controller receives an indication that the primary processing module has failed, it designates one of the secondary processing modules to be the primary processing module. Because the newly designated primary processing module already has current state information at switchover, the module is able to operate with minimal delay.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-nodal APS (MN-APS) protection switching for a virtual private LAN service (VPLS) using a redundant pair of PE (provider edge) nodes is provided. In the event of an APS switchover, the previously active node of the redundant pair sends explicit requests to the other provider edge nodes to flush their MAC address entries that they had previously learned through the previously active node, facilitating quicker re-convergence and reduction of black-holing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are directed to dynamically mirroring a connection between network devices. Mirroring is managed by forwarding a packet between a first network device and a second network device. In one method, the first network device receives the packet from a client and communicates the packet to the second network device. A forwarding device, pre-determined from the first and second network devices, forwards the packet to a server. The first network device receives a response from the server, and communicates it to the second network device. The forwarding device forwards the response packet to the client. In one configuration, the first network device and forwarding device is an active device, and the second network device is a standby device. In another configuration, the first network device is a standby device, and the second network device and forwarding device is an active device.

Abstract: Provided is a server system, a collective server apparatus, and a MAC address management method that enables to change a MAC address and a flexible assignment of a MAC address. A server system according to the present invention includes a plurality of network control units that control communication performed with another device via a network, an address storage unit that stores a MAC address to be assigned to the network control unit, an assignment change processing unit that changes an assignment of the MAC address stored in the address storage unit and writes in the address storage unit, and an assignment execution unit that specifies the assignment stored in the address storage unit to each of the network control units.

Abstract: A method for electing a master blade in a virtual application distribution chassis (VADC), includes: sending by each blade a VADC message to each of the other blades; determining by each blade that the VADC message was not received from the master blade within a predetermined period of time; in response, sending a master claim message including a blade priority by each blade to the other blades; determining by each blade whether any of the blade priorities obtained from the received master claim messages is higher than the blade priority of the receiving blade; in response to determining that none of the blade priorities obtained is higher, setting a status of a given receiving blade to a new master blade; and sending by the given receiving blade a second VADC message to the other blades indicating the status of the new master blade of the given receiving blade.

Abstract: A system and method for resilient communication services under multi-chassis APS protected routers, including one or more of the following: an add-drop multiplexer; a working chassis; a plurality of working lines of communication between the add-drop multiplexer and the working chassis; a protection chassis; a plurality of protection lines of communication between the add-drop multiplexer and the protection chassis; and a multi-chassis APS control link between the working chassis and the protection chassis, wherein a plurality of active entities in the working chassis having state information send their state information to parallel inactive entities in the protection chassis by way of the multi-chassis APS, the active entities send changed state information to parallel inactive entities through the multi-chassis APS control link upon a state change in the active entities, and the inactive entities that were down request current state information from the active entities through the multi-chassis APS control

Abstract: A mobile communication network includes a plurality of access nodes that can serve different roles in support of a communication session with a mobile station. An access node can serve as a connecting node that receives access requests the mobile station, as an anchor node to anchor a radio packet connection with a core network for the communication session; or as a primary node to store session information for the communication session. One or more monitoring entities monitor the availability of the access nodes and broadcast notification messages to other access nodes when an access node failure is detected. The broadcast message includes the identity of the failed access node. Other access nodes may take action to restore connections and recover session information maintained by the failed access node.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) card, a standby VoIP card, and a VoIP control card communicating with the VoIP card and the standby VoIP card. Control of a current communication connection is switched from the VoIP card to the standby VoIP card by the VoIP control card when the VoIP card has failed to function. Control of the current communication connection is switched to the standby VoIP card allowing the standby VoIP card to maintain the current communication connection.

Abstract: A mobile communication network includes a plurality of access nodes that can serve different roles in support of a communication session with a mobile station. An access node can serve as a connecting node that receives access requests the mobile station, as an anchor node to anchor a radio packet connection with a core network for the communication session; or as a primary node to store session information for the communication session. When the communication session is established, the anchor node for the communication session may select another access node to serve as the primary node. Session information can be stored at both the anchor node and primary node so that data can be delivered to the mobile station if either one of the anchor node and primary node are available.

Abstract: The present invention provides an active/standby data center that avoids the delay associated with a cached DNS entry to switch from the active data center to the standby data center. When the active data center becomes unavailable, the standby data center advertises the same address as the primary data center so the change over occurs quickly. When the IP address of the primary data center is no longer visible to the standby data center, the standby data center begins to advertise.

Abstract: A cable modem termination system (CMTS) provides for ordered switchover of the cable modems it serves when a primary module of the CMTS fails. When the primary module in the CMTS fails, a backup module takes over service of the cable modems. The backup module restores the service flows of the cable modems based on a restoration order determined by session recovery priorities that are related to quality of service levels required by the service flows. In particular, service flows that are engaged in VoIP “911” calls are restored first. Service flows engaged in other VoIP calls are next restored. Lastly, service flows engaged in regular data sessions are restored.

Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform efficient dynamic frequency selection between basic service sets in the same channel for wireless LAN using a 5 gigahertz frequency band. Provided also are a method and an apparatus to perform efficient channel selection corresponding to basic service sets in the same channel regardless of negotiation capability of a second device by performing negotiation corresponding to a channel to be used by a first device and a channel to be used by a second device and selecting a channel to be used by the first device based on a negotiation result.

Abstract: A voice over internet protocol telephone system is described in which services for handling calls invoking account codes are distributed to voicemail servers in the system. If the voicemail server associated with a particular user does not have services for handling account code calls, then the request is forwarded to another voicemail server in accordance with a predefined procedure.

Abstract: A technique is provided for dynamically discovering shared risk node group (SRNG) memberships of a plurality of interconnected edge devices in a computer network. According to the technique, each edge device “learns” the identities of its directly-attached peer devices situated in neighboring routing domains, e.g., by establishing an interior or exterior gateway routing protocol session with each peer. Thereafter, each edge device advertises the identities of its learned peers to the other interconnected edge devices. Preferably, the peer identities are distributed in novel “peer-router” extended community attributes transported in Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) messages. After an edge device has learned the identity of its own peers and received the identities of the other edge devices' peers, the device can automatically detect SRNG memberships in the computer network. Specifically, edge devices that advertise the same peer are determined to participate in the same SRNG.

Abstract: Registering with a call manager includes connecting to a first call manager and a second call manager. The endpoints register with the first call manager and send keep-alive signals to the first call manager and the second call manager. If a failure is detected in the first call manager, the system initiates a failover process. The endpoints re-register with the first call manager when the first call manager regains operability.

Abstract: A core router adapted to back up a nominal output router. This kind of core router of a first autonomous subsystem is connected to a nominal output router of the first autonomous system adapted to route traffic whose destination is a second autonomous system, the first autonomous system further including a back-up output router adapted to route traffic whose destination is the second autonomous system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for efficient routing in a multiple hop wireless communication network. The routing method comprise the steps of providing link status information by acquiring link status quality between nodes in the network, updating a routing element (101) with said link status information, determining an appropriate route according to said link status information with respect to traffic content, and routing traffic according to said determined appropriate route.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for monitoring and optimizing network performance to a wireless device that includes determining network performance information of a wireless router and communicating data packets containing the network performance information between said wireless router and a packet network switch. The data packets are communicated from said packet network switch to a network management device. The network management device is configured to instruct the said packet network switch to adjust at least one of encoding/decoding rate and power amount to optimize said network performance to said wireless device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for an Internet protocol (IP) address resolution process during an original switch stack fragmentation, by employing a secondary communication link. A method for IP address resolution of a fragmented switch stack over a secondary communication link (e.g., an I2C bus) can include detecting a first switch stack fragment by a first stack master, detecting a second switch stack fragment by a second stack master, disabling all switches of the first switch stack fragment and the second switch stack fragment, connecting the first stack master and the second stack master to a stack management module via a secondary communication link, and electing one stack fragment to use the IP address of the original switch stack based on at least one election criteria.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of selecting a root node for a spanning tree. Spanning trees are simulated with different nodes as the root node. An optimality criterion is calculated for each simulated spanning tree. Another embodiment relates to a network management apparatus that includes a processor, memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data, an internal communication system, and at least one port. The memory includes a) processor-executable code configured to simulate spanning trees with different nodes as the root node, and b) processor-executable code configured to calculate an optimality criterion for each simulated spanning tree. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gateway unit for mutually connecting subscriber network, public switched telephone network (PSTN) and packet communication network, comprising subscriber network interface connected to subscriber network, PSTN interface connected to line exchange network, exchange unit exchange-connecting communication path among subscriber network, PSTN and packet communication network, control unit controlling connecting state of communication path at exchange unit, signal conversion unit converting form of signal transmitted and received between exchange unit and packet communication network into forms suitable for communication protocol of packet communication network and communication protocol of subscriber network, respectively, switching unit for route-controlling to transmit signal which is output from signal conversion unit toward destination in packet communication network, and information communication unit mediating information communications among subscriber network interface, PSTN interface, control unit, sign

Abstract: Grouping pseudowires based on hardware interfaces and configured control paths enables improved pseudowire failover performance. Signaling status changes (e.g., from standby to active status) is facilitated by using group IDs for the pseudowire groups, thereby enabling improved failover performance when there is disruption in the network.

Abstract: A system for maintaining routing capabilities in a router having a failed control plane provides an active control plane in the router in communication with at least one external node, the active control plane running at least one routing process. A backup control plane may be interconnected with the active control plane, so that the active control plane may periodically transmit synchronization signals to the backup control plane. The backup control plane may update its state based on these synchronization signals. Moreover, the backup control plane may be programmed to take over the routing process of the active control plane if the active control plane fails.

Abstract: In the terminal affiliation switchover system of the invention, in the case of allocation of an IP address to one terminal in a VPN#1 in response to an IP address allocation request, a DHCP server module 121 changes registry information in a DHCP table 122 provided for the VPN#1 and simultaneously makes the change of the registry information reflected in registry of a DHCP table 222 provided for a VPN#2 via a DHCP server module 221. Similarly in the case of allocation of an IP address to one terminal in the VPN#2 in response to an IP address allocation request, the DHCP server module 221 changes the registry information in the DHCP table 222 for the VPN#2 and simultaneously makes the change of the registry information reflected in the registry of the DHCP table 122 for the VPN#1 via the DHCP server module 121.

Abstract: A ring control protocol is used to establish a separate control plane for a plurality of physically dual homed devices to enable collections of dual homed devices to be represented by a single pair of addresses into the attached routed Ethernet network. The gateway devices analyze the passing ring control packets to create direct mappings for data packets to the routed Ethernet network. Thus, although the dual homed devices are treated as a ring from a control perspective, the data path is implemented to be direct so that data packets continue to flow directly from the dual homed devices to each of the attached gateway devices. In one embodiment, each of the gateway devices implements a virtual switch and advertises the MAC address of the virtual switch into the routed Ethernet network rather than the MAC addresses of each of the attached Ethernet Switch Units.

Abstract: At least one substitute path is provided in place of a plurality of existing paths of a network to reallocate traffic carried by the plurality of existing paths. The total bandwidth needed to carry the traffic of the plurality of existing paths is determined. A proposed route is generated from the available links in the network. A portion of the bandwidth of a proposed route may be allocated to the needed bandwidth when the bandwidth of a proposed route is greater than or equal to the needed bandwidth. When the bandwidth of the proposed route is less than the needed bandwidth, at least one further route is generated, and the needed bandwidth is divided among the proposed route and the at least one further route such that a minimum number of further routes are generated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning, by a distributed gateway protocol circuit in a first network switching device, a shared Media Access Control (MAC) address to a shared Internet Protocol (IP) address, the shared MAC address and the shared IP address enabling connected network devices to reach a distributed IP gateway in a network; and sending, by a layer 2 forwarding circuit in the first network switching device, an instruction via a peer data link to a peer layer 2 forwarding circuit in a second network switching device in response to the distributed gateway protocol circuit claiming active control of the distributed IP gateway, the instruction enabling the second network switching device to operate as part of the distributed IP gateway based on concurrent use of the shared MAC address and the shared IP address by the first network switching device and the second network switching device.

Abstract: A managed port circuit includes a detection circuit that is disposed in a communication channel between a first local port and a second local port and a controller that is coupled to the detection circuit and is operable to configure the detection circuit in a detection configuration in which the first and second local ports are connected to the controller and a second pass through configuration in which the first and second local ports are connected to each other via the communication channel, the controller being further operable to determine when an end device is connected to one of the first and second local ports when the detection circuit is in the detection configuration.

Abstract: A method for communication between IP devices is provided. The method includes: receiving a dynamic routing protocol control packet sent by each of actual physical routers in a virtual router; obtaining a virtual IP address according to the dynamic routing protocol control packet; and using the virtual IP address as a next hop address and sending information to be sent to an external network to the virtual router. Further, a system and a router for communication between IP devices are also provided. Through the technical solutions of the present invention, when the master router is transited, the conversion of the internal dynamic routing protocol matches with the transiting of the master router performed by the virtual. Thus, it is ensured that the transited master router can receive the information sent by the internal router in a short time.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of fault recovery by a switch in a local area network. A link failure is detected at a port of the switch. In response to the link failure detection, a medium access control (MAC) address table of the switch is cleared. Clearing the address table causes a discovery process to fill the table to begin immediately. In addition, a link on another port of the switch may be dropped to propagate the link failure.