Abstract: A method determined a routing of data between two network elements of a telecommunications network, which are interconnected via a transmission path. The method includes identifying plurality of layers of a telecommunications model from which the transmission path is comprised, and developing a reachability table by identifying a connection between each transmission element in each layer to other transmission elements in the same or a different layer of the transmission path.

Abstract: A fiber channel switching module can include an integrated trace buffer memory, a crossbar switch and a control processor disposed on a single line replaceable module (LRM). The trace buffer memory may be adapted to capture selected data traffic transiting the switch fabric based on pre-selected triggers. The selected data can be read out of the trace buffer memory and used for selected diagnostics.

Abstract: A method of visualizing network data includes parsing a collection of packets in accordance with a set of categories related to characteristics of the collection of packets, the categories including listings of categorical elements, wherein at least some of the categorical elements are selectable by a user. When a categorical element is selected by a user, the collection of packets is filtered in accordance with the selected categorical element. Alongside each categorical element is a selectable count value that is indicative of the number of discrete communications sessions in which an associated categorical element is present in the collection of packets. When the count value is selected, a session view or views is/are created for each respective session, with content payload available for review and viewing.

Abstract: Passive analysis connection detection architecture that leverages connection-oriented end-to-end stack protocol information. In a TCP/IP implementation, by passively leveraging TCP information, a given system can determine in a more realtime fashion the connectivity state of a TCP pathway. Additionally, other passive information from the TCP/IP stack such as send/receive packet counts can be considered. Based on analysis of TCP path information and/or send/receive packet counts, loss of certain network connectivity can be inferred, which greatly improves the accuracy and responsiveness of detecting network connectivity losses. The disclosed architecture also facilitates improved performance when using proxy systems for network connectivity so as to reduce unnecessary network traffic and to route network systems to other online systems in a more efficient and effective manner.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring outgoing request packets transmitted by a node in a protected network over a link connecting the protected network to an external network. Incoming response packets that originate in the external network and are destined for transmission to the node are also monitored. One or more of the incoming response packets that were not solicited by any of the outgoing request packets are identified responsively to monitoring the outgoing request packets and the incoming response packets. A characteristic that differentiates between the identified incoming response packets and the incoming response packets that were solicited by the outgoing request packets is determined. A guard device in the external network is instructed to inhibit the transmission over the link of subsequent unsolicited response packets based on the characteristic.

Abstract: Virtual switch interconnect for hybrid enterprise servers including a method for network configuration that includes receiving network configuration data and switch state information for a network. The network includes a plurality of switches and links between the switches. The receiving is at a first computer that is coupled to a second computer via the network to offload processing from the first computer to the second computer. The switches include at least one virtual switch. It is detected that a first link and a second link provide two different paths between two of the switches. The first link is selected, at the computer, as a primary link based on contents of the network configuration data. The second link is deactivated in response to the selecting.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus for testing a network. A plurality of packets may be transmitted over the network from one or more source port units. Each transmitted packet may include a packet group identifier (PGID) corresponding to a unique combination of values for a plurality of tracking factors. The packets may be received at one or more destination port units. Each destination port unit may extract the PGID from each received packet and may accumulate traffic statistics for each of the plurality of PGIDs. The accumulated traffic statistics for at least some of the plurality of PGIDs may be aggregated to report summary statistics for a selected tracking factor.

Abstract: A method for testing a ZigBee device included in an IC Card includes associating a predetermined Personal Area Network (PAN) Identifier to the ZigBee device, and providing a test device, for initializing a ZigBee network. The method may include connecting the ZigBee device to the ZigBee network and transmitting the corresponding PAN Identifier to the test device. The method may include returning a fault message, indicative of a failure of connecting and transmitting, if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier. The predetermined PAN Identifier may be stored in a memory portion of the test device and include, in the fault message, the PAN Identifier if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier, in order to identify the ZigBee device as a defective device.

Abstract: There are disclosed processes and systems relating to optimized network traffic generation and reception. Application programs and a protocol stack may share a memory space. The protocol stack may designate available bandwidth for use by an application program. The application programs may store descriptors from which the protocol stack may form payload data for data units.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for duty cycling a network port based on duty cycling of a link communicatively coupled to the port are provided. In this regard, in a network node communicatively coupled to a network link which operates at a plurality of data rates, one or more components of said network node may be cycled through a series of configurations, where a processing capacity and/or a duration of each configuration may be based on the plurality of data rates on the network link. Exemplary components of the node may comprise one or more hybrids, transmitters, receivers, processors, and/or memory elements. The components may be cycled through the series of configurations during each of a series of time intervals. The series of configurations may be based on one or more of a type of data communicated over said network link and an application running on said network node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for discovering a configured tunnel between nodes on a path in a data communications network. In an embodiment, an apparatus is arranged to remotely access at least one node on the path, identify whether a tunnel is configured on the access node and, if so, identify whether the identified tunnel has a fault.

Abstract: A service provider unit automatically diagnoses problems in an Ethernet network that are associated with layers 1, 2, and/or 3 and determines whether there is a problem associated with an Ethernet gateway switch EGS. Further diagnostics can be performed to determine the layer, type, and/or location of the problem(s) based on whether there is a problem with the EGS. The diagnostic process followed depends on the types of problem(s) in the network. Once the problems have been diagnosed, an operator can be notified of the location and/or type of problem.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for improved zone merge operations are disclosed. Two connected switches are arbitrated as an initiator and a receiver. The merge operation is initiated only by the initiator on an initiator/receiver inter-switch link. The initiator may initiate a merge request and the receiver may perform the computation of the difference between the old and the new zone. Either the whole configuration or only the differences are communicated between the switches. The merges may be done on a connected switch basis, not on a connected port basis. Only the principle ports in the principle inter-switch-link perform the merge operation. All the remaining ports, i.e. the non-principle ports, adopt the merge result of the principle ports. The zone information may also be cached on each switch such that merge calculations need not be performed again when a merge operation with the same configuration occurs in the future.

Abstract: A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module may include one or more statistics modules. The diagnostic module may include a routing module configured to route messages to the statistics modules. The messages may be derived from network messages from an aggregated link.

Abstract: Techniques to test performance of terminals and access points in CDMA data (e.g., cdma2000) systems. A framework of protocols and messages is provided to support systematic performance testing of terminals and to ensure interface compatibility. The framework comprises a Forward Test Application Protocol (FTAP) for testing forward channels and a Reverse Test Application Protocol (RTAP) for testing reverse channels. Techniques are also provided to (1) test different types of channels (e.g., traffic channels as well as auxiliary channels), (2) test bursty data transmissions, (3) support “persistence” testing (i.e., continued testing over connection and disconnection), (4) force the settings of certain auxiliary channels (e.g., so that the error rate of the channels may be determined), and (5) collect, log, and report various statistics that may be used to derive performance metrics such as throughput and packet error rate.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting data paths among nodes of a clustered storage system is provided. A data path selection module is operatively interconnected with one or more test modules executing on a client computer of the clustered storage system. When invoked, the data path selection module performs an auto discovery process to identify the configuration of the cluster and identifies an appropriate data path to be utilized for either local/remote access to a specified data container.

Abstract: A method of implementing online maintenance in communication network, includes: recording, in any communication device of the communication network, communication data going through the communication device itself when the communication device has detected online a maintenance request; collecting, by an online maintenance server set in the communication network, online the communication data recorded in all the communication devices, and analyzing the communication data to find out a fault reason of the communication network. In the method, communication devices are triggered via a maintenance request to objectively record communication data, and an online maintenance server is set for analyzing the collected communication data to find out the fault reason. In this way, the communication procedure and maintenance procedure are separately performed, which is convenient for the communication service provider to solve problems.

Abstract: An automatic technique for generating signatures for malicious network traffic performs a cluster analysis of known malicious traffic to create a signature in the form of a state machine. The cluster analysis may operate on semantically tagged data collected by connection or session and normalized to eliminate protocol specific features. The signature extractor may generalize the finite-state machine signatures to match network traffic not previously observed.

Abstract: Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising an upper sequencer that sequentially designates packets transmitted to and from the device under test, by executing a test program for testing the device under test; a packet data sequence storing section that stores a data sequence included in each of a plurality of types of packets; and a lower sequencer that reads, from the packet data sequence storing section, a data sequence of a packet designated by the upper sequencer and generates a test data sequence used for testing the device under test.

Abstract: A switch matrix for selectively connecting at least one of N signal inputs to at least one of M signal outputs, N and M being integers greater than two, includes a cluster of N input switches arranged about each of the M signal outputs resulting in at least M clusters of N input switches, each input switch having a switch input and a switch output, the switch outputs being connected to respective signal outputs, the clusters and the input switches in the clusters being arranged to permit adjacent switch inputs of adjacent clusters to be connected to form input switch nodes; and a steering switch for each of the signal inputs. The steering switch selectably connects a signal input to an input switch node, wherein the combination of the steering switches and the input switches are operable to connect a desired signal input to a desired signal output.

Abstract: A test packet transmitting apparatus transmits respective test packets including different pieces of identification information to a repeating installation. The repeating installation makes a predetermined number of copies of each test packet received from the test packet transmitting apparatus to be transmitted to a test packet receiving apparatus, and determines the predetermined number of copies as a population to measure a communication quality. The test packet receiving device counts the received test packets according to each type of identification information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating an effect of a simulated communication network to media data. The method includes encoding media data to produce a plurality of packets, each packet being associated with a packet index number, a packet size and a packet transmission time. The packet index number, packet size and packet transmission time for each of the plurality of packets can be input to a communication network simulator to create trace packets corresponding to the plurality of packets. The communication network simulator output indicates at least one effect of the simulated communication network to input trace packets.

Abstract: A load test method for a network system in which a plurality of node devices exchange packets via a first switch device by way of a second switch device, includes transmitting a plurality of first packets to the first switch device by a first node device, the plurality of first packets being addressed to the first node device via the second switch device, transmitting a plurality of second packets to the first switch device by a second node device, the plurality of second packets being addressed to the first node device via the first switch device, storing the first packets and the second packets in a queue buffer and thereafter transferring the first packets and the second packets to the first node device by the first switch device, and monitoring state information based on the number of packets waiting to be exchanged in the second switch device.

Abstract: A system for maintaining or optimizing a mobile phone network, the system includes a plurality of data feed inputs including at least one performance data feed input to receive performance data relating to performance of said mobile phone network over a first time period and at least one configuration data feed input to receive configuration data relating to configuration of said mobile phone network over a second time period; and a radio performance optimization system coupled to said plurality of data feed inputs, said radio performance optimization system including a rules engine to operate on said performance data and on said configuration data in accordance with a set of hierarchical rules and to output one or more tasks for network optimization, a said task including a definition of a potential fault, exception or optimization of said network to be investigated by a service engineer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for real time simultaneous monitoring of logical circuits. In accordance with an example method, first status information is requested for a first logical connection at a host end of a logical circuit comprising the first logical connection. The logical circuit connects a host device to a remote device and traverses a first local access and transport area, an inter-exchange carrier, and a second local access and transport area. The first local access and transport area is at the host end of the logical circuit, and the second local access and transport area is at a remote end of the logical circuit. A logical identifier of the logical circuit is identified based on the first status information. A second logical connection at the remote end of the logical circuit is identified based on the logical identifier of the logical circuit. Second status information for the second logical connection is requested after identifying the second logical connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into a “service marketplace” system that matches users with potential information or service providers and establishes a real-time communications connection between the user and a selected information provider. In one embodiment, an alternate is selected for the user when the service provider that the user is trying to connect with cannot be reached. In an alternative embodiment, the alternates can be used in conjunction with the service provider that does connect with the user in order to provide a second opinion or possibly deeper background information. In one embodiment, the service providers can either be a live person at the other end of the connection or a recording.

Abstract: A control packet is broadcast over a route, containing first and second metric values of different transmission characteristics of the route. At a local node, control packets from multiple nodes are received and examined for their source. If the packets are received from upstream nodes, the metrics of the received packets are updated, the second metric is weighted and summed with the first metric to produce a number of combined metrics and a minimum value of the combined metrics is detected. One of the routes having the detected value is selected as a route to an upstream node. If the control packets are received from downstream nodes, the second metric is weighted and summed with the first metric to produce a number of combined metrics and a smaller values of combined metrics are detected corresponding in number to usable antennas and routes of the detected values are selected.

Abstract: A method and system for using key performance indicators of a transport channel to determine key quality indicators associated with information transported there through.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of testing a broadband internet connection including the steps of transmitting test signals via a broadband internet connection to a cellular network core, the test signals representative of those sent by an access point base station, measuring and recording a property relating to the transmission of the test signals, comparing the property to a minimum acceptable level and thereby determining whether the broadband internet connection is suitable for providing an access point base station.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a packet filter (or “trap”) is installed on one or more interfaces of a router, switch (intermediary) or other node in an IP network that identifies multimedia packets for a particular media stream. A packet replicator (or “cloner”) duplicates the identified packets allowing the original packets to continue through the IP network. A forwarder (“tunneler”) encapsulates and sends the cloned media packets to a central facility where the tunneled media stream is further analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of decoding tokenized Session Initiated Protocol. A token from a tokenized Session Initiated Protocol packet is received. A decoding table is accessed and the corresponding entry for the token is determined. The token is executed according to the corresponding entry. This may be done for all tokens in a tokenized Session Initiated Packet. Once the tokens have been executed according to their entries in a decoding table, the decoded tokenized Session Initiated Protocol packet is provided.

Abstract: Methods and a system of capture and regeneration of a network data using a virtual software switch are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes capturing a network data using a virtual software switch, a processor, and a memory. The network data is captured to perform a network visibility analysis and the network data is communicated to at least one port of the virtual software switch. The method includes forming a stored network data in a memory. The method also includes regenerating the stored network data to form a reconstructed data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication information acquisition creation system 50 used for evaluating a network switch 4 which includes multiple communication ports 41.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling a provider to perform a tracing procedure to determine the existence forwarding problems within its network are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting a forwarding problem within an autonomous system includes initiating a message from a source node. The message is sent to a message destination that is an external address relative to the autonomous system. The method also includes forwarding the message from the source node along a path to the external address which includes an intermediate node and a destination node. The message is received on the destination node through a first path segment of the path. Finally, the message is removed from the path at the destination node, and a response that indicates that the intermediate node does not have a forwarding problem is sent along the first path segment to the source node.

Abstract: A computer system automatically recovers from a split segment condition in which a contiguous layer 2 network segment, comprising a plurality of contiguous paths each directly coupling one or more members of a team of network resources of the computer system to a core switch of a layer 2 network, is split into two or more noncontiguous segments each comprising a contiguous set of one or more of the plurality of paths. The computer system includes a team of network resources having one or more members that couple it to each one of the plurality of paths. A teaming driver binds the drivers of each member of the team and is coupled to the segment through the members of the team.

Abstract: There are disclosed a system, a test module and a method for testing a network device. One or more test modules may be plugged into respective ports of the network device in replacement of respective pluggable transceiver modules. Each test module may include at least one of a traffic generator and a traffic receiver to transmit and receive, respectively, test traffic via the network device.

Abstract: A fabric simulation device implementing a method for generating a simulated fabric of a simulated storage area network. In operation, the fabric simulation device logs into a physical storage area network as an unofficial physical fiber channel switch connected to the simulated storage area network, and maintains a fabric testing relationship between the physical storage area network and the simulated storage area network based on being logged into the physical storage area network as the unofficial physical fiber channel switch.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring communications of an individual in a packet network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network monitor having a communications interface coupled to a packet network, and a controller. The controller can be programmed to receive a request from a third party to monitor communications associated with an individual, convey to the third party information monitored on a group of one or more permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) of the packet network associated with the individual, detect an update in the group of one or more PVCs, determine new set of one or more PVCs associated with the individual, and convey to the third party information monitored from the new set of one or more PVCs.

Abstract: A system may forward to a network device an advertisement label mapping message that requests an establishment of an active performance monitoring (APM) control channel. Further, the system may process a reply label mapping message that is sent from the network device in response. The system may establish the APM control channel and a pseudowire associated with the APM control channel.

Abstract: Techniques for watermarking and distributing are provided. Content is broken into frames, each frame includes a watermark. Resources request the content and each frame of each resource's acquired version of the content includes a watermark. The frames of each resource's acquired version of the content form unique watermark sequences or unique keys. Each watermark sequence or key is uniquely associated with a particular resource. Each resource is also provided one or more delivery plans for acquiring that resource's uniquely watermark and sequenced version of the content over the network.

Abstract: A method to detect a defective or missing filter at a customer's side between a first connection having a first frequency spectrum and a second connection having a second frequency spectrum and using the same physical transmission medium as the first connection between said customer and a central office equipment (DSLAM), comprises the steps of generating and transmitting at least one first type signal within said first frequency spectrum simultaneously performing quality measurements on said second connection in said second frequency spectrum, analyzing said quality measurements for thereby concluding the presence or not of the correct functionality and presence of said filter. An apparatus for performing the method is as well disclosed.

Abstract: A system for collecting data from a communications network includes customer premises equipment (“CPE”) for monitoring and storing response data. A CPE data collection module uses a Web-based service to collect information from the CPE and process the information to determine line quality and any errors that may exist on either the WAN side or the LAN side of the communications network, and further determine the root cause based on built-in business rules for trouble shooting customer service. The CPE conducts per-tone diagnostics on the WAN side of the communications network and obtains WAN side data. The CPE obtains response data from devices on the LAN side. Both WAN side data and LAN data may be transmitted substantially in real-time or stored and transmitted periodically to the CPE data collection module upon requests originated from the CPE data collection module.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method for dynamically troubleshooting voice quality. The method comprises generating a request to intercept a predetermined data stream on a network, acquiring a replicated copy of the intercepted data stream responsive to the request and analyzing the replicated copy of the intercepted data stream.

Abstract: A method and system to identify an overload state in a remote network device within a communications network in which a local network device can send at least one message to the remote network device. The method comprises detecting at least one message transmission timeout for the message sent from the local network device to the remote network device, the message transmission timeout corresponding to a retransmission of the message from the local network device to the remote network device. The number of message transmission timeouts for the message or several messages is counted, with the method further comprising comparing the number of message transmission timeouts to a predetermined timeout threshold so that an overload state for the remote network device can be inferred when the number of message transmission timeouts exceeds the predetermined timeout threshold.

Abstract: An Ethernet physical layer test system and method, wherein a signal pattern generator is utilized to generate repeatedly a signal pattern frame required by the test items of the Ethernet physical layer according to a transmission procedure of a medium access controller; meanwhile, the signal pattern generator generates a control signal for switching a multiplexer, so as to control the transmission of a signal pattern frame. The Ethernet physical layer receives the signal pattern frame and outputs a test packet to a measurement instrument via a twisted-pair, for testing and analyzing quality of signals output by the Ethernet physical layer. Through the application of this Ethernet physical layer test system and method, the time required for testing the Ethernet physical layer can be effectively reduced, thus simplifying the complexity of an algorithm in testing the Ethernet physical layer.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a next-hop dead gateway is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for detecting the next-hop dead gateway includes sending an Internet Protocol (IP) packet by a host to a next-hop gateway associated with the host, receiving the IP packet by the host from the next-hop gateway upon reviewing a routing table and the destination field in the IP header associated with the IP packet, determining whether the IP packet is received from the next-hop gateway within a first predetermined time interval, if so, declaring the next-hop gateway as alive, and if not, declaring the next-hop gateway as dead. In some embodiments, source and destination fields in IP header associated with the IP packet include IP address associated with the host. The method may further include encapsulating the IP packet with a data link layer protocol associated with the host and the next-hop gateway.

Abstract: A technique for breaking a loop caused by looping alternate paths associated with a prefix in a communications network. One or more non-looping alternate paths associated with the prefix that exclude a first node in the communications network are identified. One or more alternate paths from nodes in the loop that are associated with the prefix are identified. An identified path that intersects with an identified non-looping path is established as an alternate path associated with the prefix at a node in the loop.

Abstract: A system and computer-readable medium for designing a network are disclosed. A network is designed by a system having modules configured to perform steps that generate the network wherein nodes originate and terminate traffic to keep delay related to node-to-node delay-sensitive communication below a threshold. The computer-readable medium stores instructions for controlling a computing device to design the network. The instructions comprise obtaining an initial network topology including links and traffic routing based on a volume of traffic, allocating a maximum delay to each link in the network topology in proportion to a square root of an imputed cost for each of the links, sizing a bandwidth required for each of the links based on a current traffic routing and at least one of a maximum delay allocated to the link, determining link lengths and rerouting traffic according to shortest paths with respect to the determined link lengths.

Abstract: A switch fabric for a modular router may be tested without connecting the switch fabric portion of the router to the other modular portions of the router. The switch fabric may generate test data units and insert the test data units into one or more elements of the switch fabric. The switch fabric may operate with the inserted test data units. A control component may receive data units from the switch fabric after operation of the switch fabric and analyze the received data units to determine whether the received data units correspond to the inserted test data units.

Abstract: An audio and/or visual transmission quality device estimates transmission quality as perceived by a user based on observation and processing of objective metrics. The device preferably includes a primary integrator to generate an instantaneous estimate of user annoyance based on occurrence of frame loss events in a received signal. The device further preferably includes secondary integrators to process the instantaneous estimate of user annoyance in selected time intervals and generate a plurality of time-varying estimates of user annoyance valid over the selected time intervals. The device may further include a plurality of scaling modules to scale the plurality of time-varying estimates and generate a corresponding plurality of estimates of transmission quality as perceived by the user. The device may further include a modulation network to modify a sensitivity of the primary integrator to the occurrence of frame loss events in the received signal.