Abstract: A system and method for bypassing an access point in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) for direct point-to-point data transfers are provided. A user device in the wireless LAN is equipped with a primary local wireless interface establishing a wireless communication link with an access point of the wireless LAN, a secondary local wireless interface used for direct point-to-point (P2P) file transfers, and a P2P file transfer application. When the P2P application desires to transfer a data file to another user device within the wireless LAN, the user device determines whether the other user device is within a coverage area of the secondary local wireless interface and whether the file transfer meets one or more alternate transfer criterion. If so, the data file is transferred to the other user device via a direct P2P wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point of the wireless LAN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for virtual private networks (VPNs) is described. A computer implemented method comprises determining a set of endpoints for a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel, determining a key (the key corresponding to a VPN), dynamically establishing the GRE tunnel with the set of endpoints and the key, and processing a set of GRE traffic for the VPN.

Abstract: A system and method for relocating a subnet to a remote location includes a tether router coupled to an anchor router via a link. The tether router is coupled to a plurality of nodes, each node corresponding to a network address of a plurality of network addresses allocated to a user. The plurality of network addresses is allocated to the user by a lease broker. The link may include a private tunnel for traversing a mechanism that otherwise hinders communication from the tether router to the anchor router, such as a network address translation (NAT) mechanism.

Abstract: A method of receiving communications at a data processing device includes receiving a packet from a virtual channel associated with a physical communication link. The packet is associated with a link virtual channel, and is stored in a storage location with the link virtual channel. Multiple internal virtual channels can be associated with the link virtual channel. A pointer to the storage location is enqueued in one of a plurality of FIFOs associated with one of the internal virtual channels. Each FIFO of the plurality of FIFOs stores pointers associated with a different internal virtual channel, allowing receiver arbitration logic to reorder between internal virtual channels based on internal resource availability and current priorities among virtual channels. This reduces the likelihood of communication deadlock and supports multiple classes of service.

Abstract: A system for ensuring quality of service (QoS) in a virtual private network and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a logical bearer network, which is formed by connecting label switch paths configured with preserving bandwidth to routers, and is dedicated to transmit QoS service data; and a bearer control network, which is used to maintain logical bearer network, allocate route, mark service priority, and route service data to opposite end. The method includes the steps of: A. constructing a logical bearer network to transmit QoS service data by configuring label switch paths with preserved bandwidth; B. providing a centralized resource controller to manage resources of the logical bearer network; C. if QoS service data is to be transmitted, marking service priority in QoS field of the routing labels of multi-protocol label switch data packets, and routing service data to the opposite end.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an implementation for a multi-hop wireless backhaul network. These embodiments can advantageously be deployed in dense urban areas and/or co-located with wireless access nodes, such as base-stations of a cellular wireless communication system. Preferably wireless links between constituent network nodes are set-up hierarchically. A basic result of this is that peer-to-peer (child-to-child) communication is generally prohibited and circuits are forced to conform to a topology. The multi-hop wireless backhaul network may be used to carry delay sensitive, high-density last mile circuit traffic over Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) broadband radio links. Moreover, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of path-healing for re-routing of circuit traffic from circuits that have experienced catastrophic failures.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for facilitating communication between two devices from two different VSANs by propagating each device's presence from a first VSAN to the other device's different VSAN using a network address translation (NAT) mechanism. For instance, a first device, such as a host H1, from VSAN_A is allowed to access data from a second device, such as disk D1, of VSAN_B by propagating D1's presence into VSAN_A and H1's presence into VSAN_B. This awareness is accomplished by propagating an identifier for each device into the edge VSAN of the other device, as well as into any transit VSAN. So as to not duplicate identifiers in any one of the VSANs, a device's presence is propagated into a particular VSAN by assigning an unused domain for use by such device in the particular VSAN.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting data from a transmitting device (121) to a receiving device (125). The transmitting device transmits a first data frame (200) to a receiving device a first time (3100). Then it consecutively transmits the first data frame to the receiving device second through Nth times (3101-310N), each of second through Nth first data frame transmissions being made a first predetermined time period (350) after a respective previous first data frame transmission. After this, the transmitting device transmits a second data frame (200) to the receiving device a second predetermined time period (360) after the Nth first data frame transmission. In this method, N is an integer greater than 1, and the second predetermined time period is less than the first predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for managing network nodes, such as the nodes of a network, which communicate via connectivity services of a service provider. An exemplary method includes discovering status and configuration information for each set of nodes grouped by the service provider; and assigning a name to each set of nodes.

Abstract: A mobile radio system comprises first through N-th radio base stations, where N represents a positive integer which is greater than one. On a start-up sequence of an n-th radio base station, a base station control apparatus transmits an n-th individual identifier as a station identifier to the n-th radio base station to allocate the n-th individual identifier to the n-th radio base station, where n is a variable between one and N, both inclusive. The base station control apparatus transmits a transmission message signal having the n-th individual identifier as a transmission individual identifier to the n-th radio base station to carry out a link connection between the base station control apparatus and the n-th radio base station. In the n-th radio base station, an ATM reception section compares the transmission individual identifier with the n-th station identifier to abandon the transmission message signal when the transmission individual identifier is not coincident with the n-th station identifier.

Abstract: A networking system including virtually addressed devices is described. A network device has one or more virtual addresses assigned to its loopback interface. Once so assigned and the loopback interface enabled, data and commands directed to any of the assigned virtual addresses is sent through the device's protocol stack. The device is then structured to act on the data and commands destined for the virtual address.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical network is described. The network includes a number of nodes connected by a number of links. A method according to the present invention provisions a virtual path between a first and a second one of the plurality of nodes by: identifying the first and the second nodes, discovering a physical path from the first node to the second node, and establishing the virtual path. The method discovers a physical path from the first node to the second node by automatically identifying nodes forming the physical path. The method establishes the virtual path by configuring a set of connections between the nodes forming the physical path.

Abstract: A method for routing a packet. The method includes receiving the packet from a first network into a network interface card (NIC), where the NIC is operatively connected to a host and the host includes a first virtual network stack and a second virtual network stack. The method further includes sending the packet to a first virtual network stack, where the first virtual network stack includes a first filter, a first network layer, and a first transport layer. In addition, the first filter, the first network layer, and the first transport layer are isolated from the second virtual network stack. If the packet is permitted through the first filter in the first virtual network stack, then the packet is sent to a first virtual NIC.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, generating a minimum quantity of route target attributes is described. According to a method embodiment, a minimal set of unique permutations of data flows between sites of one or more Virtual Private Network (VPNs) is computed by comparing permutations of data flows to and from each site of a customer (i.e., variations of connectivity between sites) and identifying which permutation of data flows are unique while ignoring any duplicate permutations of data flows. Unique route target attributes are then generated, each route target attribute corresponding to a particular one of the unique permutations of data flows. Typically, the quantity of unique route target numbers generated is equal to the minimum quantity of unique permutations of data flows.

Abstract: A method used for routing a data packet in a router having a first table used for recording a plurality of destination IP address and second table used for recording destination MAC address, wherein the plurality of destination IP address are different. The method includes: receiving a data packet and retrieving a destination IP address from the data packet; looking up an indication value corresponding to the destination IP address from the first table; selecting a destination MAC address from the second table according to the indication value as a nexthop for the data packet; and transmitting the data packet to the nexthop.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing dynamic routing support for Half-Duplex Virtual Routing and Forwarding (HDVRF) environments. The method, apparatus and computer program function to configure a forwarding Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) table for a router with information to forward incoming packets to a central location within a hub and spoke environment. The method, apparatus and computer program also function to populate a routing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) table for the router with routing information received from ingress interfaces of the router. The method, apparatus and computer program function further forwards packets received on egress interfaces of the router according to the forwarding VRF table.

Abstract: Data-processing systems including processor datapaths that efficiently support computationally advantageous routing operations are disclosed. Data-processing methods based on such systems are also disclosed. An exemplary data-processing system includes a register file, a routing unit, a switch, and an arithmetic logic unit. The arithmetic logic unit may include a bitwise function unit, pipeline register, and an accumulator. The switch may have N data inputs and logM(N) switching stages. M may equal 2 or 4. In the case of log2(N) stages, each switching stage has N/2 switching cells. The routing unit may include a control logic that generates a control signal, and various logics that respectively operate on various bit groups of the control signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for label switched routing in fibre channel networks. Techniques are provided for implementing label switching based on particular characteristics of fibre channel networks. By using label switching, mechanisms such as traffic engineering, security, and tunneling through networks that do not support fibre channel frames can be implemented.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method to use private IP addresses to designate host devices or nodes in different networks for communication purposes are described. Various embodiments of the invention address the problem of a shortage of public IP addresses under IPv4 architecture. In one embodiment of the invention, dynamic NAT penetration capabilities are provided which consequently expand the capability of running peer-to-peer applications on the Internet.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically building an Ethernet virtual local area network (VLAN) interface in a network device. The techniques allow dynamic building of a second VLAN interface over a first VLAN interface statically built over an Ethernet port configured to support dynamic VLANs in a network device. A network device may receive a plurality of Ethernet packets from subscriber devices and dynamically build a second VLAN interface over the first VLAN interface for each of the subscribers. Once the second VLAN interface is built, the network device dynamically builds interface columns over the second VLAN interface for each protocol associated with the Ethernet packets. The network device may then authenticate a user associated with the plurality of Ethernet packets. Once the user has logged out of the network device, the network device may tear down the interface columns while persistently maintaining the corresponding second VLAN interface.

Abstract: A system and method for improving network performance when communicating between a first site network and a second site network via an IP-based transport network. The site networks include a LAN, a plurality of host/media gateways (MGWs) connected to the LAN, and pairs of first and second Site Edge Routers (SERs) connected to the LAN for handling traffic from different host/MGWs. The SERs are configured as redundant backup pairs in which each SER in a given pair backs up the other SER in the pair. Each SER is connected to a different Provider Edge (PE) router in the transport network via a dedicated link that has sufficient spare capacity to carry traffic coming from both of the SERs in a given pair of SERs in case one of the SERs fails. The SERs provide preferred routing prefixes to the PE routers, thereby guaranteeing symmetric paths for bidirectional traffic.

Abstract: Transmission signals in a transport network are multiplexed from traffic streams respectively representing paths. Each path is identified with a path tag and forwarding information is provided in each network element. Failed paths in the network are restored in that the source network element crossconnects the affected traffic stream to an alternate output port and subsequent network elements receiving this unexpected traffic stream at an input port check the received path tag, determine an appropriate output port based on the tag and the forwarding information, and establish an internal cross-connection between the input port and corresponding output port.

Abstract: A communication system sets a media session between a first media gateway and a second gateway through a media gateway controller. The first media gateway receives a control address of the second media gateway from the media gateway controller. The first media gateway allocates media processor resources from a pool of media processor resources at the first media gateway and communicates transport information associated with the allocated media processor resources to the second media gateway. The first media gateway also receives transport information associated with allocated media processor resources of the second media gateway. The media session is then set up between the first media gateway and the second media gateway, using the allocated media processor resources of the media gateway and the allocated media processor resources of the second media gateway.

Abstract: A computer system has an aggregated plurality of hybrid network resources. The hybrid resources support both offloaded connections with a first set of clients and conventional connections with a second set of clients. The conventional and offloaded connections are established through a common physical connection to a network. A unique protocol address is assigned to each of two or more active ones of the resources. A virtual layer2 device is exported for each of the two or more active resources. The assigned protocol addresses are exposed to a protocol stack residing in the operating system of the computer system. Each of the assigned protocol addresses are exposed through and associated with the virtual device exported for the one of the active resources to which the protocol address is assigned. One or more of the conventional connections are established with the second set of clients through the active resources and their respective virtual devices.

Abstract: A computerized method for managing interworking protocols applies policies that aid in provisioning a first interface, having a first protocol, a transport network having a second protocol, a virtual circuit within the transport network; and a second interface, having the same protocol as the first.

Abstract: A server cloud manager (SCM) for controlling logical servers and physical resources that form a virtualized logical server cloud. The SCM includes multiple core components and one or more interface components. The core components serve as a shared foundation to collectively manage events, validate and authorize server cloud users and agents, enforce predetermined requirements and rules and store operation data. The one or more interface components enable communication with external entities and includes an SCM proxy manager that enables communication with one or more SCMs of other server clouds. A server cloud system including a first server cloud that includes a first server cloud manager (SCM) and a first logical server, and a second server cloud that includes a second SCM. The first and second SCMs are configured to cooperate to manage operation of the first logical server.

Abstract: A method routes packets in a wireless network which includes a control node and a multiplicity of individual nodes. The method includes: inserting a routing logical address into each packet which is transmitted between a sending node and a destination node, wherein the routing logical address contains the full routing information required to route the packet from the sending node to the destination node along a communication path prescribed by the routing logical address; detecting any unsuccessfully transmitted packets; detecting a faulty node in the communication path prescribed by the routing logical address in response to detecting an unsuccessfully transmitted packet; and changing the routing logical address of the unsuccessfully transmitted packet to a new routing logical address which prescribes a new communication path which does not include the detected faulty node.

Abstract: A method for providing BGP route updates in an MPLS network is disclosed. The route update is performed at a router having a forwarding information table containing BGP routes and an internal label, and an adjacency table containing BGP/VPN labels and said internal label. The internal label corresponds to at least one IGP route and has an adjacency associated therewith. The method includes updating the adjacency associated with the internal label following an IGP route change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a node that includes a distributed hash table generation means that generates a distributed hash table which indicates the next node to which a message is to be transferred, using a link state routing protocol, a link state information that exchange unit sends and receives link state information, and a tree delivery control unit that determines the transfer destination of the link state information so that the link state information is delivered along a tree where the source node of the link state information is a root.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling packet based communications using MPLS protocol between routing devices located on different networks. A network management system is used to provide a conduit for MPLS protocol information to flow between a routing device on one network and a routing device on another network to set up packet based MPLS communications between the networks. The flow of MPLS protocol information through the network management system enables the assignment of MPLS labels to packet communication between the routing devices on different networks without the need for using a Control protocol. The network management system may include systems such as an operations support system and an element management system.

Abstract: An enhanced Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network is optimized through bundling subchannel traffic in DWDM channels at network nodes and “hubbing” the DWDM channels at nodes receiving a relatively higher volume of aggregate traffic than other nodes. The optimization can eliminate low rate links and supporting network equipment. The bundling and hubbing may also be used independently from one another. The DWDM network may be enhanced with SONET, SDH, Ethernet, ATM, or other technology. The DWDM network may be a BLSR, UPSR, point-to-point, mesh, or other network configuration.

Abstract: A system for routing a data packet between N elements includes N network interfaces respectively connected to the N elements, with N being an even integer, and an on-chip packet-switched communication network arranged in a ring structure. The packet-switched communication network includes N routers respectively connected to the N interfaces, and N pairs of opposite uni-directional ring links. Each pair of ring links couples two adjacent routers in the ring structure, and each ring link provides two virtual channels. There are N/2 pairs of opposite uni-directional crossing links, with each pair of crossing links coupling two diametrically opposite routers in the ring structure.

Abstract: Performance counters are provided for virtualized network interfaces of communications networks, while minimizing the use of hardware resources. A virtualized network interface includes physical resources, as well as logical resources. Dedicated performance counters are provided for the physical resources of the virtualized network interface, as well as for logical partitions coupled to that interface, while non-dedicated performance counters are provided for the logical resources. This enables the provision of performance counters for virtualized network interfaces, while minimizing hardware resources consumed by those interfaces.

Abstract: To provide a communication apparatus which is used in a VoIP telephone system and which can make connections with the minimum partners even in case an access cannot be made to a server managing a call connection. In case a call control unit 401 of a communication apparatus 4 acquires a telephone number by a call-initiate and requests the communication connection with a communication partner apparatus corresponding to said telephone number for the server, the call control unit 401 requests a communication connection addressed to an IP address corresponding to said telephone number, when no response is obtained from said server and when the IP address corresponding to said telephone number is stored in a correspondence storage unit 403b, so that the call control unit 401 performs a call connection processing directly with the connection partner thereby to make a communication connection by the VoIP.

Abstract: A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size.

Abstract: Techniques are described that allow a network device, such as a router, to dynamically build VLAN interfaces based on subscriber information strings included within packets. In particular, the network device comprises an interface controller and a forwarding controller, where the forwarding controller receives the packet over an Ethernet port and forwards the received packet to the interface controller. The packet includes both Ethernet tagging information and a subscriber information string. The interface controller comprises an Ethernet module that dynamically builds a primary virtual local area network (VLAN) sub-interface (PVS) based on the Ethernet tagging information. The Ethernet module also dynamically builds a subscriber VLAN sub-interface (SVS) based on the subscriber information string. The SVS allows the network device to distinguish between subscribers residing on the same VLAN, and, therefore, to provide subscriber specific services.

Abstract: A system for selectively updating an address of a mobile node capable of roaming in a home communication network and at least one visited network. The system including a database for storing at least one data entry which is a mapping between a humanly-readable identifier indicating the mobile node and a machine-readable identifier indicating a physical address at which the mobile node can be reached. A home agent in the home network has a connection to the database, and is operable to receive an update message from the mobile node when the mobile node roams into the visited network. Also there are units for determining whether the machine-readable identifier of the at least one entry in the database should be updated, wherein the database is updated if the update message additionally includes the humanly-readable identifier.

Abstract: A datagram network is operated by placing a group address in the source address field of the datagram. Nodes within the datagram network forward the datagram in dependence on the contents of the source address field. This provides many of the scalability advantages offered by Multiprotocol Label Switched (MPLS) networks without introducing the overheads caused by connection set-up in MPLS networks. The method can also easily provide different quality of service levels to different types of packets and is especially useful in providing Virtual Private Networks across a shared internetwork such as the public Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerating Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) route convergence in an autonomous system. A virtual link identifier is assigned to each link of a set of communication links that are established between a BGP host and one or more network elements in one or more networks. For a particular link of the set of communication links, one or more routes that are reachable on the link are determined. The BGP host stores an association of the one or more routes with a BGP identifier of the BGP host and the virtual link identifier that is assigned to the particular link. The BGP host advertises the one or more routes to a BGP peer in a message, where the message includes the BGP identifier and the virtual link identifier.

Abstract: In a network apparatus including a forwarding unit corresponding to a base point for conducting packet transmission/reception with an external network, and plural control units for operating plural applications that are arranged to access virtual interfaces of the control units that correspond to actual interfaces of the forwarding unit so that the network apparatus appears from the outside to be functioning as a single unit. A routing process of generating a routing table is executed at a master control unit corresponding to one of the control units, and if the routing table of the master control unit is updated, a routing table of the forwarding unit is updated by a routing synchronization process that operates independently from the routing process. One or more routing tables of one or more slave control units corresponding to the control units other than the master control unit are updated through the forwarding unit.

Abstract: A new type of Provider Edge (PE) device is used to support BGP-based IP-VPNs. Each VRF instance in a PE device is associated with a dedicated IP address (Service IP address). Each service IP address is dedicated to a VRF in a PE device. The service IP address is distributed by BGP for VPN route association. Customer/VRF IP packets can be sent to a VRF instance in the egress PE device using service IP header encapsulation (with IP Destination Address=Service IP address of egress PE's VRF & IP Source Address=Service IP address of ingress PE's VRF). This obviates the need for explicit tunnels in the core.

Abstract: A method for supporting a GMPLS hierarchy through multiple routing instances in a network having multiple regions is disclosed. Each region has associated therewith a separate routing instance. The method includes initiating creating a link between two regions at an edge device of a first region and selecting a path between the two regions. A message is forwarded from the edge device to a network device coupled to a second region and a response is received from the network device at the edge device. A new LSP linking the two regions is inserted into a routing database for a routing instance associated with the second region.

Abstract: One or more multiport systems are used to facilitate servicing of asynchronous communications events. A multiport system, such as an open collector multiport system, receives from one of a plurality of source components an asynchronous communications event directed to a target component coupled to the plurality of source components. The multiport system is controlled to provide, at any given time, a communications path between a plurality of ports of the multiport system to service the asynchronous communications event. One or more multiport systems are used to forward the event from the source to the target.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved architecture for credit based flow control. Briefly, the memory space within the receiving switch is separated into two parts, a statically allocated portion and a dynamically allocated portion. Packets are first placed in the dynamically allocated portion, and the credits are returned immediately. When the dynamically allocated portion has no additional space, the packets are then stored in the memory portion statically allocated to the specific virtual circuit. Credits are returned when the packets are removed from the statically allocated memory portion. This scenario allows the immediate return of credits when there is space available in the dynamically allocated memory portion. It also allows improved sharing of the overall memory since more of the overall memory can be made available to a particular virtual circuit.

Abstract: In a communications network, a cluster switch is provided, where the cluster switch has plural individual switches. An abstraction layer is provided in the cluster switch, such that an interface having a set of ports is provided to upper layer logic in the cluster switch. The set of ports includes a collection of ports of the individual switches. Control traffic and data traffic are communicated over virtual tunnels between individual switches of the cluster switch, where each virtual tunnel has an active channel and at least one standby channel.

Abstract: A messaging protocol that facilitates a distributed cache coherency conflict resolution in a multi-node system that resolves conflicts at a home node. The protocol may perform a method including supporting at least three protocol classes for the messaging protocol, via at least three virtual channels provided by a link layer of a network fabric coupled to the caching agents, wherein the virtual channels include a first virtual channel to support a probe message class, a second virtual channel to support an acknowledgment message class, and a third virtual channel to support a response message class.

Abstract: Extending the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to provide redundancy and avoid loops in the topology of a service domain associated with a data transport service provided using a provider core network is disclosed. At each of a plurality of provider edge (PE) devices participating in the service, each participating PE being connected to the other participating PE's by a full mesh of mesh connections through the provider core network, a virtual core port is defined that encompasses all of the ports on the PE that are associated with a mesh connection from the PE to one or more other PE's participating in the service. Each participating PE is configured to associate the virtual core port with a virtual core bridge representing the core of the service domain. It is ensured that the virtual core bridge becomes and remains the root bridge.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs packets switching in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. After receiving a packet, the system obtains a first set of results by performing a first lookup based on a first set of values derived from the packet. The system also obtains a second set of results by performing a second lookup based on a second set of values derived from the packet. Next, the system merges the first set of results and the second set of results, and produces a merged value. The system then obtains a subsequent result by performing a subsequent lookup with the merged value. If the packet is a downstream packet, the system derives a logical identifier corresponding to one or more remote nodes from the subsequent result. The system then incorporates the logical identifier into the packet and transmits the packet to one or more remote nodes.

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: A method of determining a path through a network. Structures in a network are grouped into structure groups, each structure group comprising at least two nodes. Virtual circuit information for every pair of nodes in the structure groups is determined, and connections between the structure groups is determined. A least cost path is determined from a first node to a second node using the virtual circuit information and connection information.