Abstract: A network acceleration device includes a persistent, in-memory cache of network content. For example, the cache may store content in a manner that allows a software process to map virtual memory to specific, known regions of an underlying physical memory. Upon detecting a failure of a process executing within the network device, the network acceleration device may restart the software process and remap data structures of the cache to the known regions of the physical memory without necessarily requiring that the cache content be reloaded from a non-volatile memory, such as a hard drive. In this manner, the network acceleration device may accelerate download speeds by avoiding timely cache content restoration in the event of a software process failure.

Abstract: Mechanisms for providing a network adapter and functionality for performing link aggregation within a network adapter are provided. With these mechanisms, a network adapter is provided that includes a plurality of physical network ports for coupling to one or more switches of a data network and a link aggregation module, within the network adapter, and coupled to the plurality of physical network ports. The link aggregation module comprises logic for aggregating links associated with the plurality of physical network ports into a single virtual link. The link aggregation module interfaces with a virtual Ethernet bridge (VEB) of the network adapter to send data to the VEB and receive data from the VEB.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a digital device comprises adaptive streaming logic to control a manual setting of play parameters that are used to adjust a display resolution of the incoming content and a data rate at which the streaming content is downloaded to the content interface unit. Hence, very low resolution content or greatly varying resolution which can be annoying to a viewer caused by excessive network congestion can be avoided or mitigated.

Abstract: A method and system to allow congestion charging signals to be generated and congestion charges to be applied on an inter-domain basis, on an aggregated basis and not on a per flow basis. Each network domain charges its neighboring domain for any ECN marks that it forwards to them. Since a flow will collect marks as it progresses across the network the last network domain (typically an Internet service provider (ISP) located at the edge of the network domains) will levy a charge based on a higher number of marks than any of the charges levied by other domains involved in the transmission of the flow, and this higher charge can be passed on to the end user, preferably as a single aggregated charge per subscriber per accounting period. Each network domain (whether an edge ISP or other domain such as an intermediate ISP) will forward traffic to other network domains and consequently can produce a single aggregated charge per connected domain.

Abstract: A route control architecture allows a network operator to flexibly control routing between the traffic ingresses and egresses in a computer network, without modifying existing routers. An intelligent route service control point (IRSCP) replaces distributed BGP decision processes of conventional network routers with a route computation that is flexible and logically centralized but physically distributed. One embodiment supplements the traditional BGP decision process with a ranking decision process that allows route-control applications to explicitly rank traffic egresses on a per-destination, per-router basis. A straightforward set of correctness requirements prevents routing anomalies in implementations that are scalable and fault-tolerant.

Abstract: A wireless router employing a technique to couple a plurality a host services or host systems and a plurality of wireless networks. A method to route data items between a plurality of mobile devices and a plurality of host systems through a common wireless router. A point-to-point communication connection is preferably established between a first host system and a common wireless router, a mobile network message at a mobile device is generated, the mobile network message is transmitted via a wireless network to the common wireless router which in turn routes a data item component of the mobile network message to the appropriate host service.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer special purpose processor architecture and method is described. Embodiments include a plurality of special purpose processors coupled to a central processing unit via a host bridge bus, a direct bus directly coupling each of the plurality of special purpose processors to at least one other of the plurality of special purpose processors and a memory controller coupled to the plurality of special purpose processors, wherein the at least one memory controller determines whether to transmit data via the host bus or the direct bus, and whether to receive data via the host bus or the direct bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for managing congestion in a network. For a receiving node, a congestion status associated with a node in the network is determined. The congestion status is advertised to at least one other node in the network. For a sending node, a congestion status associated with a receiving node in the network is received. The congestion status corresponds to a measured node condition at the receiving node. A call is routed to the receiving node based on the received congestion status.

Abstract: A source host comprising a processing resource that supports a kernel space and a user space. A socket layer is supported by the kernel space and allows a measurement application residing in the user space to instruct a protocol layer to form a plurality of UDP test packets for transmission, from the source host, to a destination node in a communications network. The plurality of test packets employ source-based routing and an alternative congestion control algorithm is implemented by the protocol layer to that supported by the communications network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing and providing content and services on a network system. Aspects of the invention include location-based determination of network content and services that may be provided to client computers. Other aspects of the invention include authorization and authentication components that determine access rights of client computers. Additional aspects include systems and methods for redirecting client computers to different network content. The disclosed systems and methods may be used in numerous network system applications.

Abstract: Methods of tuning a receive window. A receiving device and a sending device may be in communication over a network. The receiving device may advertise a receive window to the sending device. The size of the receive window may be adjusted over time based on one or more connection parameters, application parameters and/or operating system parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the work load on a distributed system comprising a plurality of stages are provided. The capacity of a present stage is monitored, using either various resources of the present stage or rates of work completion and work receipt of the present stage. Information indicating the capacity of a succeeding stage are obtained and communicated to the present stage. The monitored capacity information of the present stage and the communicated information of the succeeding stage, either alone or in combination, are used to determine if a throttling action is necessary to control the load of work at the present stage. A provided throttling technique inserts an appropriate delay before the present stage to allow the present stage to process an amount of work without saturating the capacity of the present stage. This technique is applied at each stage of the distributed system to control the work load of the overall system by controlling the work load at each stage.

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 method for controlling uplink transmissions from a user device to an access point in a wireless telecommunications system is described. Each access point defines a communications cell, and the method comprises monitoring interference in an uplink channel at an access point, performing interference control actions at the access point when monitored interference exceeds a first predetermined level, monitoring occurrences of such control actions at the access point, and if a number of such occurrences exceeds a predetermined level, performing interference control actions with reference to a plurality of cells at a central controller of the telecommunications system, which central controller is operable to control a plurality of access points.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a packet in a network device, selecting one of a group of ingress buffers, where each ingress buffer is associated with a different one of a group of processors, distributing the packet to the selected ingress buffer; and scheduling the packet, based on a congestion state of a queue in an egress buffer associated with the packet, to be processed by the processor associated with the selected ingress buffer to provide a network service.

Abstract: A method is described in which, in response to notice of a configuration event yet to happen within a network that is part of a link-based computing system, a component within said link based computing system: a) identifies networking configuration information changes to be made by components within the link-based computing system; and, b) sends instances of program code to each one of the components. Each instance of program code is to be executed by a specific component that it was sent to. Each instance of program code is customized to implement the particular one or more networking configuration information changes to be made at the specific component it was sent to.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adapting bandwidth utilization over fabric links. In one embodiment of the method, a transmitting device transmits data at a first non-zero rate to a memory for storage therein during a first period of time. The transmitting device then transmits data at a second non-zero rate to the memory for storage therein during a second period of time. The second period of time is subsequent to the first period of time, and the second non-zero rate is greater than or less than the first non-zero rate. This method may find application in switching network where the transmitting device is contained in a switching fabric, the memory is a FIFO buffer contained in a line card coupled to the switching fabric via a data link, and where the transmitter transmits data via the data link to the FIFO buffer for storage therein.

Abstract: A method of identifying traffic flows is provided in a traffic generating node, where each traffic flow is being associated with an application process running on the traffic generating node. The method is configured to perform a mapping operation, such that an application process is being linked to a signature that uniquely identifies a traffic flow and an associated socket, and such that the obtained linked information is maintained in a list. The mapping operation is configured to be executed in response to recognising a change to a socket associated with the application process at the traffic generating node. Based on accumulated mapping information, one or more processing element located at the traffic generating node, or at another node, may classify and/or control traffic flows associated with any of the application processes of the traffic generating node.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for pacing network traffic among a plurality of compute nodes connected using a data communications network. The network has a plurality of network regions, and the plurality of compute nodes are distributed among these network regions. Pacing network traffic among a plurality of compute nodes connected using a data communications network includes: identifying, by a compute node for each region of the network, a roundtrip time delay for communicating with at least one of the compute nodes in that region; determining, by the compute node for each region, a pacing algorithm for that region in dependence upon the roundtrip time delay for that region; and transmitting, by the compute node, network packets to at least one of the compute nodes in at least one of the network regions in dependence upon the pacing algorithm for that region.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing switched broadband. The disclosed systems and methods may include creating a traffic signature corresponding to a network element connected to a network, the network element having a network element ID and being addressable on the network by the network element ID. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include optimizing a quality of service for the network element based on the created traffic signature.

Abstract: Techniques are described for reducing the amount of data traffic carried on inter-chassis links within a multi-chassis router. A multi-chassis router is described in which the packet forwarding engines (PFEs) of each chassis receive and modify forwarding structures, generated in accordance with various load-balancing protocols, to exhibit a chassis-local link preference. Each of the PFEs may implement a selection bias for forwarding paths that egress from the multi-chassis router at the member chassis that includes the ingress PFE.

Abstract: A data streaming system and method typically use a server arranged to stream one of a plurality of encoded data streams to a client. Each of the plurality of data streams may be an independent representation of a common data source encoded at a different resolution to the other of the plurality of data streams. The server can include a transmitter and a first buffer. The transmitter can be arranged to transmit data packets of the encoded data stream to the client via the first buffer. The transmitter can be arranged to monitor the content of the first buffer and switch to transmit another of the plurality of data streams in the event that predetermined criteria are detected from the first buffer.

Abstract: A method of web services throttling in a web application server environment, where a number of web services servers communicate with web services clients over a network. A request is received from a web services client which contains an account ID related to the web services client. An ID reader resident on one of the web services servers reads the account ID; and a value related to the account ID in a counter, resident on the one of the services servers, is incremented. The method also involves communicating with the remaining web services servers to increment the value in a plurality of counters, each of which is resident on one of the remaining web services servers. The web services servers compare the count value related to the account ID to a throttling limit value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing communications network congestion are provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a radio access network (RAN) interface configured to receive RAN congestion indicators, a congestion correlator module configured to correlate RAN congestion indicators to service congestion indicators, a database comprising a set of congestion based policy rules, a policy controller module configured to apply the congestion-based policy rules to achieve a policy decision, and a policy enforcement control point interface configured to transmit network control instructions to enforce the policy decisions.

Abstract: A multicasting system provides congestion control for multicasting using a dynamic layer scheme, where the aggregate sending rates of layers decline over time. Multicast packets are transmitted to layers that are joined by at least one host. A host maintains a reception rate by joining additional layers as the sending rates decline, a host reduces the reception rate by not joining additional layers as fast as the sending rates decline, thus allowing rate reduction even if the sender does not receive leave messages sent from a host.

Abstract: A method for characterising a data flow to be transferred over a network path of a network, whereby the network path has at least one network device susceptible of network congestion. The method includes the step of determining a footprint measure of the data flow. The footprint measure is indicative of a possible difference between the total amount of incoming data and the total amount of outgoing data in the network device over a time interval having a duration of one or more time units, whereby that time unit is so chosen that individual data units of the data flow are distinguishable at byte level by the network device. The invention also relates to a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A datacast system, and associated apparatus and method for automatically managing a data object or objects within a hierarchical carousel structure by enabling, among other functions, the dynamic allocation of bandwidth to each carousel within the structure. The dynamic bandwidth allocation enables a server platform to redistribute the bandwidth allocated to a carousel or set of data objects to adjust to desired changes in object transmission policies or priorities of a datacast application.

Abstract: Media-aware and TCP-compatible bandwidth sharing may be provided. In various embodiments, a network node may periodically update a virtual congestion level for a transmission stream in a network. The transmission stream may comprise at least one video stream and at least one data stream. The network node may then calculate, based at least in part on the virtual congestion level, a random packet marking probability or a random packet drop probability. In turn, the network node may either drop or mark transmission packets according to the calculated marking and dropping probability. The network node may further calculate an optimal video transmission rate for the at least one video stream and adjust a video transmission rate for the at least one video stream accordingly. Rate-distortions parameters for the at least one video stream may influence the optimal video transmission rate calculation for the at least one video stream.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer program and method for packet buffer management in an IP network system. The apparatus includes at least one link queue buffer, a shared buffer, a buffer state detector, and a buffer manager. The at least one link queue buffer is allocated a buffer of a packet stored in a memory. The shared buffer is excessively allocated when exceeding a minimum buffer threshold value. The buffer state detector determines whether a buffer value stored in a link queue buffer of a corresponding link exceeds a preset minimum buffer threshold value. The buffer manager sets the shared buffer to be included in the link queue buffer if the stored buffer value exceeds the preset minimum buffer threshold value.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for workload balancing. A message is received on a channel. A thread in a thread pool is selected to process the message. In response to determining that the message has been processed and a response has been sent on the channel by the thread, it is determined whether a total number of threads in the thread pool is greater than a low water mark plus one and whether the channel has more than a maximum number of threads blocked on a receive, wherein the low water mark represents a minimum number of threads in the thread pool. In response to determining that a number of threads in the thread pool is greater than the low water mark plus one and that the channel has more than the maximum number of threads blocked on a receive, the thread is terminated.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a plurality of clients and a server capable of assigning the plurality of clients to at least one group for the transfer of content to the server and/or from the server. The server is capable of assigning at least one of the clients based upon a size of the content, a transfer speed, and a probability of transferring the content without experiencing an interruption in the transfer. In this regard, the server can also be capable of collecting statistical data relating to the transfer speed and probability to thereby determine the transfer speed and probability. After assigning the clients to the group(s), at least one of the clients can be capable of downloading content from, or uploading content to, the server based upon the group(s).

Abstract: A message display terminal for displaying content existing on a network comprises reception means which receives an HTTP response message, a first display area for displaying a message body, a second display area for displaying other information, and display control means which lets the second display area display advertisement data.

Abstract: A distributed DNS network includes a central origin server that actually controls the zone, and edge DNS cache servers configured to cache the DNS content of the origin server. The edge DNS cache servers are published as the authoritative servers for customer domains instead of the origin server. When a request for a DNS record results in a cache miss, the edge DNS cache servers get the information from the origin server and cache it for use in response to future requests. Multiple edge DNS cache servers can be deployed at multiple locations. Since an unlimited number of edge DNS cache servers can be deployed, the system is highly scalable. The disclosed techniques protect against DoS attacks, as DNS requests are not made to the origin server directly.

Abstract: An electronic communication network supports delivery of video program Internet protocol packets and includes a source device, a first recipient device, and a second recipient device. The source device transmits both first and second video program Internet protocol packets. The first recipient device is assigned as positive acknowledgment leader by the source device and the second recipient device that is assigned as negative acknowledgement leader by the source device. The first recipient device is operable to transmit to the source device a positive acknowledgment of receipt of the first video program Internet protocol packet. The second recipient device is operable to transmit to the source device a negative acknowledgment of non-receipt upon not receiving the first video program Internet protocol packet.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for providing quality of service (QoS) for a network data connection. The network data connection uses a network protocol selectable from a plurality of network protocols. A QoS module can receive a request for a generic QoS and apply this to the network protocol using a specific QoS associated with the protocol. The QoS module may include features for automatic management of QoS and a user interface for changing data connection parameters.

Abstract: A media gateway is coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP) network through a router. The router and the media gateway communicate through a slim protocol that allows the media gateway to reserve connections over the IP network that have certain minimum bandwidth and latency attributes. The router handles the obtaining of the requested IP circuit for the client. The media gateways only need to execute a relatively simple client application and do not have to be independently capable of obtaining IP-QoS information from the IP network.

Abstract: A system for centrally controlling packet network communications may include an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate data packets over a packet network with multiple network communications devices, a processing unit in communication with the I/O unit and configured to communicate with the network communications devices via respective node segments, and a memory in communication with the processing unit and configured to store a table. The processing unit may be configured to receive and store network performance information of node segments generated by the network communications devices. The network performance information may be stored in the table in association with indicia representative of the node segments, respectively. The processing unit may further be configured to control network communications by the network communications devices over the node segments based on the network performance information stored in the table.

Abstract: The idea of the present invention is to provide a challenge-response mechanism to acquire work scope split range information from the application's Work Scope Split component of the over-utilized resource. By using the work scope split range information, the provisioning system is able to add a new resource, install a new application for that new resource, configure the new and the over-utilized resource's application, and reconfigure the load-balancer in accordance with the work scope split range information. The present invention adds scalability to complex and stateful application programs and allows dynamic provisioning of resources for these application programs.

Abstract: A method and system for scanning in a wireless device having a wireless network interface card (NIC) is presented. The system has a scanning history table for storing scanning results and a scanning engine that adjusts the scanning period based upon a history of scanning results and commands the NIC to scan for available networks after the period has expired. The engine receives scan results from the NIC, stores the scan results in the scanning history table, determines a scanning period based upon a history of scan results, sets the scanning period, and commands the NIC to scan for available networks after the scanning period has expired. The engine is programmed to set the scanning period using an exponential function and to reset the scanning period to a default period if the scan results are different from a prior scan result or if a triggering event is received.

Abstract: A data center (14) receives a request (22) for content from a browser (12) on a client (11). The data center determines whether the requested content is available at the data center. The content is available when the content is both present at the data center and current. The content may be expired and marked as non-available in response to an expiration command (24). When the requested content is available at the data center, the data center returns the requested content to the data center. When the requested content is locally unavailable at the data center, the requested content is retrieved from an origin server (18). The retrieval of the content from the origin server may be delayed based on the processing load at the origin server. When retrieval of the content is delayed, the request is prioritized and placed in a queue for handling by the origin server based on the priority of the request.

Abstract: A system for mirroring dropped packets by extending port mirroring. Networking devices, such as firewalls and routers drop some packets during data transmission due to various security issues, congestion and errors in the packets. The dropped packets are mirrored at a user-specified destination port by extending port mirroring. The mirrored packets can then be further analyzed by external traffic analyzers. The analysis can be helpful in finding out any mismatch between firewall rules and security policies at firewalls. Moreover, the analysis can also be helpful in finding out the extent of loss of useful data in dropped packets at forwarding devices such as routers, bridges, switches, firewalls etc.

Abstract: An adaptive method and system for dynamically facilitating access to higher quality content in the event transport of the higher quality content requires a greater allocation of network resources when compared to transport of the same content at a lower quality.

Abstract: An application proxy is disposed between a user device and an application server. The application server supports an application that is available on the user device. The user device registers with the application proxy for the application. The user device is prevented from transmitting application update request messages to the application server. The application proxy transmits application update request messages to the application server on behalf of the user device. The application proxy receives application update response messages from the application server. The application proxy determines, based on the application update response messages from the application server, whether to send an application update notification message toward the user device. In this manner, application update traffic normally transmitted via the network between the user device and the application proxy is reduced. The application update request and response messages may be polling messages, keep-alive messages, and the like.

Abstract: An adaptive bit rate system for use in transmitting data at adaptable bit rates. The bit rate may be adjusted according to historical behaviors and/or past operational settings, such as but not limited to adjusted a request bit rate to a different bit rate depending the historical behavior.

Abstract: An improved communication method for sending media between a sending node and receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, then a reduced bit rate representation of the media is transmitted for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. Media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive on the other hand is transmitted when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available.

Abstract: A distributed system for analyzing traffic flow on a communications network architecture where a computer provides information over a data network to a concentrator, which provides a bridge between the computer and the end user terminals. The interface between the terminals and the concentrator is provided through access points for each workstation. The system to analyze the traffic is distributed into three components that perform, respectively, classification of the traffic flow, processing of the results of the classification, and handling of the processed results.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for regulating pinhole preservation traffic generated or received by firewall or network address translator (NAT) session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent clients (UACs) are disclosed. One method includes, maintaining a list of contact information for a plurality of SIP UACs registering from behind at least one of a firewall and a NAT. The method further includes iterating through the list to generate SIP messages to the different UACs such that the SIP messages to the different UACs are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect to each other, wherein the SIP messages to the different UACs trigger responses from the UACs such that the responses are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect each other.

Abstract: A visual media viewing system comprises a server (102) and a viewing unit (106), connected via a network (104). The server (102) includes an image processor (108) and a data storage device (110) for storing visual media data. The viewing unit (106) includes a screen (112) for viewing at least a portion of a piece of visual media and a data storage device (120) for storing visual media data. Both of the respective data storage devices (110,120) are arranged to store data (124) corresponding to the same piece of visual media, locally. The image processor (108) is arranged to select a portion of the piece of visual media automatically and to generate a control data set (126) corresponding to the location of the portion of the visual media within the visual media data (124) and any operations performed thereupon.

Abstract: A load balancer includes a configuration information receiving unit that receives configuration information having address information of all the servers to which a request is directed and the type of service provided by each server, a load balance setting unit that configures so that a request transmitted from a client is transmitted to one of the servers corresponding to a service type specified in a message in accordance with the configuration information, and a band setting unit that calculates the number of the servers for each service type in accordance with the configuration information and assigns a band of a line to each service in accordance with the calculated number.

Abstract: A system and method for providing quality of service (QoS) service over a mobile IP network with dynamic domains, multiple or distributed QoS managers per domain and/or with network congestion feedback being used to establish an estimated total domain bandwidth which is used for regulating access to a domain.