Abstract: Embodiments relate to proactively probing the packet queues of elements in a physical or virtual network to predict and prevent the occurrence of congestion points. An aspect includes receiving a first feedback request at a central controller connected to a plurality of switches in a network. The first feedback request includes a request to periodically probe a status of queues of switches in the network. A second feedback request is then transmitted to one or all the switches in a path leading to a designated destination. Responses to the second feedback request are received at the central controller from a designated proxy switch, which aggregated the responses into a single data packet. Accordingly, the responses extracted from the single data packet at the central controller are used to preventing future congestion points.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to proactively probing the packet queues of elements in a physical or virtual network to predict and prevent the occurrence of congestion points. An aspect includes receiving a first feedback request at a central controller connected to a plurality of switches in a network. The first feedback request includes a request to periodically probe a status of queues of switches in the network. A second feedback request is then transmitted to one or all the switches in a path leading to a designated destination. Responses to the second feedback request are received at the central controller from a designated proxy switch, which aggregated the responses into a single data packet. Accordingly, the responses extracted from the single data packet at the central controller are used to preventing future congestion points.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting encoded data in a network is presented. The method begins with a source node of a network encoding a first generation of data using linearly-independent encoding vectors to produce an encoded first generation. Next, packets containing the encoded first generation are created. The packets are then transmitted over a subgraph of nodes with multiple paths to a destination node. A determination is made at a receiving node that an insufficient amount of packets of the encoded first generation have been received in order to decode the encoded first generation. A repair request is sent from the receiving node to nodes upstream to indicate a need for more packets of the encoded first generation without specifying a particular packet. In response to the repair request, at least one node upstream from the receiving node sends a packet with encoded first generation data.

Abstract: The number of redundant content items provided to a user by a multi-source feed reader is automatically reduced. Each content item obtained by the multi-source feed reader from each feed to which the users subscribes is analyzed prior to being made available to the user. More specifically, the content items are analyzed to determine whether they are based on source content from different feeds. Each content item is searched for attributes indicating a source on which it is based. Where it is determined that a content item from a first feed is based on source content from a second feed, it is further determined whether the user subscribes to the second feed which the source content is from. If so, the specific received content item from the first feed is not provided to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for aggregating communication channels. In one exemplary embodiment an aggregation device is required only on one side of the set of communication channels being aggregated. Advantageously, no modifications to the source and/or destination of data transfers are required for operation of the invention. In one embodiment utilized for data transfers in the downstream direction, object download requests can be fulfilled by sending a sequence of partial download requests through the set of communication channels being aggregated, and forwarding the resulting partial data objects received to the original requester in the proper order. In another embodiment utilized for upstream data transfers, traffic is bifurcated to travel along a set of communication channels, and the bifurcated traffic is reassembled either at the network layer or the transport layer.

Abstract: Streaming media network parameters are measured using an electronic system and displayed directly to a user or transmitted via an electronic interface such as an existing system network conduit, either in or out-of-band. A scalable hardware and/or software compute engine filters and reduces network parameters to simplify tracking the instantaneous and long term streaming media performance of the network. Hence, the entire set of active media streams is continuously monitored concurrently, thereby providing the ability to detect impairments as well as predict impending impairments. In one example, an existing packetized network conduit containing streaming media is tapped to concurrently and objectively analyze the streaming media streams, producing statistics (such as delay factor and media loss rate) and alarm-type events according to predetermined rules. Tapping the existing packetized network in multiple points provides comparison points and assists in pinpointing the source(s) of the impairment(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that include flow control mechanisms that provide a receiving device with the ability to reclaim buffers that have been previously advertised to a sending device. Data structures and communication methods are described that facilitate the communication of flow control messages between sending and receiving devices that allow an advertised window to be reduced, and buffers to be released, by a sending device in response to a flow control message from the receiving device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are provided for rate control and management of service requests. A token bucket is employed in conjunction with a capacity sharing scheme to manage processing of service requests. Each token represents the capacity reserved for a particular source of requests. Excess tokens may be shed, with the excess tokens representing available excess capacity. Similarly, a projected time at which the service request(s) may be released may be computed in the event the bucket does not contain the required quantity of tokens to process the request.

Abstract: Method and system for a first network device communicating with a second network device are provided. A first duration is compared with a stored maximum pause delay value and the first duration is set as a new maximum pause delay value when the first duration is greater than the maximum pause delay value. The new maximum pause delay value is compared with a programmed pause delay threshold value that indicates a duration after which the first network device will stop sending frames, after the pause frame is received by the first network device. A pause threshold value and the programmed pause delay threshold value are adjusted based on the comparison between the new maximum pause delay value and the programmed pause delay threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an apparatus, method and software configured to modify a transmission control protocol packet so as to become a user datagram protocol datagram, or to modify a user datagram protocol datagram so as to become a transmission control protocol packet. An embodiment uses a mapping between TCP packet format, such as TCP wire packet format, and an UDP-encapsulated TCP packet format, such as UDP-encapsulated TCP wire packet format, allowing direct re-use of any TCP protocol implementation. TCP frames can be modified into valid UDP datagrams before being transmitted, and inverse modifications can be done when receiving datagrams from the network.

Abstract: The transmission of broadcast data, such as financial data and news feeds, is accelerated over a communication channel using data compression and decompression to provide secure transmission and transparent multiplication of communication bandwidth, as well as reduce the latency. Broadcast data may include packets having fields. Encoders associated with particular fields may be selected to compress those particular fields.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for configuring a cache memory device to include a cache portion and a thinly-provisioned, direct attached storage portion. Data is stored on the thinly-provisioned, direct attached storage portion. At least a portion of the thinly-provisioned, direct attached storage portion is relinquished, thus generating a relinquished portion. The relinquished portion is reassigned to the cache portion.

Abstract: A technique for operating a wireless communication device includes transmitting a first downlink rate in a first control message. The first downlink rate is based on a latency of an inter-processor communication link associated with the wireless communication device. First downlink data at the first downlink rate is then received for a first time period. Following the first time period, second downlink data is received at a second downlink rate that is higher than the first downlink rate.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to managing network communications and improving network security. In a communication protocol, an improved method of generating a value that encodes information received in an incoming message, and a corresponding way of validating an incoming message with an encoded value, improves network security. A technique for directing a network device to delay communications includes sending an instruction designating an initial window size of zero to the device. Another technique uses a TCP fast retransmit protocol. The techniques can be used to provide layer four switching, change to layer seven switching when desired, and then change back to layer four switching to improve security in a layer four switching device. Levels of trust can also be used to selectively perform aspects of the invention.

Abstract: A “Universal Rate Control Mechanism with Parameter Adaptation” (URCMPA) improves real-time communication (RTC) sessions in terms of delay, loss, throughput, and PSNR. The URCMPA automatically learns network characteristics including bottleneck link capacity, inherent queuing delay, inherent packet loss rates, etc., during RTC sessions. The URCMPA uses this information to dynamically adapt rate control parameters in a utility maximization (UM) framework. The URCMPA operates reliable RTC sessions across a wide range and combination of networks near full throughput rates while maintaining low operating congestion levels (e.g., low queuing delay and low packet loss). Examples of networks applicable for use with the URCMPA include, but are not limited to, combinations of mobile broadband (e.g., 3G, 4G, etc.), WiMAX, Wi-Fi hotspots, etc., and physical networks based on cable, fiber, ADSL, etc.

Abstract: A high-speed communication system according to the present invention includes: a plurality of nodes disposed on a communication path; and a plurality of communication connections established between the plurality of nodes. The plurality of nodes exchange a plurality of pieces of performance model information between the nodes, the plurality of pieces of performance model information representing communication performances achievable by each of the plurality of communication connections. Each of the plurality of nodes executes communication control based on any one of the plurality of pieces of performance model information.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a weight-based scheduling system that incorporates end-user application awareness and can be used with scheduling groups that contain data streams from heterogeneous applications. Individual data queues within a scheduling group can be created based on application class, specific application, individual data streams or some combination thereof. Application information and Application Factors (AF) are used to modify scheduler weights to differentiate between data streams assigned to a scheduling group. Dynamic AF settings may adjust relative importance of user applications to maximize user Quality of Experience (QoE) in response to recurring network patterns, one-time events, application characteristics, protocol characteristics, device characteristics, service level agreements, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by an application manager for automatically establishing a network connection between components of an application within a distributed cloud, the method including: establishing application components in the distributed cloud; selecting a first application component; identifying network characteristics from the network policy file associated with the first application component; determining a network connection between the first application component and a second application component according to the network characteristics associated with the first application component; associating the network connection with the first application component; and establishing the network connection between the first and second application components.

Abstract: A system and method is described for use with a data grid cluster to support death detection. A network ring is formed by connecting a plurality of process nodes in the data grid, wherein each node in the network ring watches another node. A death of a first process node in the network ring can be detected by a second process node, when the second process node notices that its connection to the first process node has closed. The first process node then informs other process cluster nodes in the network ring that the first node is dead. In accordance with an embodiment, machine level death detection can also be supported in the data grid cluster by using an Internet Protocol (IP) monitor.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method that, for a given pair of nodes that wish to intercommunicate with a high QoS measure, converts a portion of the contention-based network into a contention-less subnetwork by sending a reservation message and a confirmation message between the given pair of nodes. All nodes that are on the paths used for communicating between the pair of nodes are protected from interference by causing all nodes that potentially can interfere to enter a non-transmitting state.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of transmitting data over TCP/IP through HTTP. The method includes establishing a connection between a client and a server through at least two proxies; generating a tunnel message in the client; sending the tunnel message to the server; choosing a delay value T based on a maximum transmission rate of the tunnel message; and determining a size Q of a dummy data packet by Q = ? i = 1 N - 1 ? ? MSS i , where MSSi is a maximum segment size in TCP connections between the i-th proxy and the (i+1)-th proxy, and N is the number of proxies. The method also includes sending, from the client, a dummy data packet of size Q in T seconds after the last transmission of non-dummy data via the HTTP tunnel; receiving the tunnel message by the server; and disabling usage of Nagle's algorithm and TCP delayed acknowledgement algorithm for the TCP connection in the client and server.

Abstract: Network addresses are dynamically allocated to devices based on demand. A first network address allocation is initially assigned to a subdivision of a network including multiple computing devices. A router for the subdivision is configured to implement the first network address allocation. Data indicating a reconfiguration of the computing devices is obtained. A second network address allocation is subsequently assigned to the subdivision of the network based at least in part on the reconfiguration of the computing devices. The router for the subdivision is reconfigured to implement the second network address allocation.

Abstract: Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to shape virtual machine communication traffic. The cloud computing platform includes virtual machines and a controller. The controller limits the traffic associated with the virtual machines to enable the virtual machines to achieve desired communication rates, especially when a network servicing the virtual machines is congested. The controller may drop communication messages associated with the virtual machines based on a drop probability evaluated for the virtual machines.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for operating memory includes a first node coupled to a second node by a network, the system configured to perform a method including receiving the remote transaction message from the second node in a processing element in the first node via the network, wherein the remote transaction message bypasses a main processor in the first node as it is transmitted to the processing element. In addition, the method includes accessing, by the processing element, data from a location in a memory in the first node based on the remote transaction message, and performing, by the processing element, computations based on the data and the remote transaction message.

Abstract: Roughly described, a database query router is installed transparently in a network between database client systems and a database server cluster. One subset of the servers is designated to handle read queries only and a second subset is designated to handle write queries. The query router receives, through a network port, the database queries made by a client system, and directed to the IP address and port assigned to the query router. The query router determines whether the query is a read or a write query, and forwards read queries to servers in the first subset and write queries to servers in the second subset of servers. By installing the query router transparently in the network, no modifications are required to the software in either the client systems or the database servers in order to add query routing functionality to a client/server database environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that optimizes transmission bandwidth of a broadband transmission system such as a cable television, satellite system, or wireless information service. Requests for content items from users are employed to add or delete content items from a list. Content items in the list are ranked relative to the number of requests received or by rate of request. Package groups are created with most requested content items being broadcast more frequently than less requested content items. Transmit groups are produced from package groups and placed in a broadcast queue. A transmit process transmits groups retrieved from the queue.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a transmission control protocol TCP data transmission method, a TCP offload engine, and a system, which relate to the field of communications, and can reduce data migration between the TCP offload engine and a CPU, and at the same time reduce parsing work on data by the CPU, so as to achieve the effects of reducing resources of the CPU for processing TCP/IP data and reducing transmission delay. The method includes: a TCP offload engine receives TCP data sent by a remote device; performs TCP offloading on the TCP data; identifies the TCP offloaded data, and sends, according to an identification result, the TCP offloaded data to a CPU or a storage device corresponding to storage position information issued by the CPU. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to TCP data transmission.

Abstract: In one example, a device includes one or more processing units configured to send, via a network, a request to retrieve at least a portion of media content, wherein the media content conforms to dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), and wherein the request comprises a request that the at least portion be delivered according to a file delivery service, and, in response to the request, to receive streaming data for the at least portion of the media content in accordance with the file delivery service over the network. The device may prepopulate a browser cache with the received data, such that a browser can, in effect, stream data using the file delivery service. The device may initially retrieve data of the media content using unicast, until a switch point of the data received via the file delivery service is reached.

Abstract: A method for receiving a single message includes a receiving communication adapter receiving a first sub-unit in a single message. A transmitting communication adapter partitions the single message into sub-units. The method further includes storing the first payload in the memory of a receiving device, appending a first completion code into the first sub-unit, and sending a first notification to a receiving entity of the first completion code. The receiving entity processes the first payload based on the first determination. The receiving communication adapter receives a second sub-unit of the multiple sub-units after the first payload is processed by the receiving entity. The method further includes storing the second payload in the memory of the receiving device. The receiving entity determines that the first sub-unit is completely stored based on the first completion code, and that the second sub-unit is completely stored based on a second completion code.

Abstract: A network monitoring control apparatus includes: a traffic information acquisition unit to acquire traffic information of a network component included in a network; a decision information switching unit to set decision information for the network component based on a comparison result between the traffic information and one of a congestion decision threshold and a congestion recovery decision threshold of the network component; and a management information acquisition unit to acquire management information of the network component based on the decision information.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments involve real-time commenting in experience-sharing sessions. An exemplary method involves: (a) a server system facilitating an experience sharing session between a sharing device and one or more viewing devices, wherein the server system receives media in real-time from the sharing device and transmits the media to the one or more viewing devices in real-time, wherein the media comprises video; (b) during the experience sharing session, the server system receiving one or more comments from one or more of the viewing devices; (d) the server system filtering the received comments in real-time based on filter criteria; and (e) the server system initiating real-time delivery, to the sharing device, of one or more of the received comments that satisfy the filter criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for splitting a network traffic flow in a data network are described. A flow of traffic between a source node and a destination node in the data network is split into a set of data paths. A data path includes one or more data links between nodes in the data network. A submap of the data network that excludes at least one data link is used to determine the set of flow paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing silence frames in a stream of media includes receiving a stream of media from a user and suppressing at least one silence frame from the received stream of media. The suppressed silence frame includes an initial silence frame situated before a first media frame and/or a silence frame situated between two successive media frames.

Abstract: A content processing device is configured to selectively receive a media signal via a network. The content processing device is further configured to receive a bandwidth check request. The content processing device is further configured to receive a first status indicator, and determine if the streaming media signal is likely to be in use based on the first status indicator.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments disclose systems and methods for assessing usage of a resource, such as hardware, software, or firmware, in a computer system. For example, some embodiments contemplate a model in which an enterprise application derives its license cost based upon the actual business value provided by the licensed resource to the enterprise. If an enterprise has purchased software that it uses very heavily, then the license cost may increase. Conversely, if the enterprise uses the software rarely, then the license cost may decrease. This usage granularity may allow an enterprise executive to purchase a software license without fear that the software will be inefficiently utilized. A licensor may similarly use the system to charge more accurate fees.

Abstract: A method of sending a data stream of video images between a server and at least one client device in a communication network, employing a rate setting for the sending of data over the communication network, the method comprising the following steps: obtaining (910) an item of information Pc representing a speed of variation over time for a rate setting, said item of information depending on at least one characteristic of the state of the traffic over the communication network, comparing (920) said item of information Pc so obtained with a scheduled time Ev for a set of video image data to send, adapting (930) the rate setting delivered by the server on the basis of at least the result of the comparing step, compressing said set of video image data to send using a compression mode which depends on the adapted rate setting, sending said set of video image data so compressed.

Abstract: A computing device determines impactful content in transmittable content. The computing device assigns the impactful content in the transmittable content to one or more impactful block units. Each impactful block unit comprises a determined numbers of characters. The computing device extracts the one or more impactful block units from the transmittable content. The computing device places the one or more impactful block units at the end of the transmittable content. The computing device transmits the transmittable content to a plurality of intended recipients. Each character, or a small packet set of sequential characters, of the determined number of characters of the one or more impactful block units is transmitted using a time delay for a particular intended recipient and a pacing method. The one or more impactful block units are to be received substantially simultaneously by the plurality of intended recipients.

Abstract: An application bandwidth monitor may be configured to determine the amount of data communication channel bandwidth being utilized by each active data communication application within a data communication device. A user interface may be configured to report this information and to receive information indicative of a desired bandwidth allocation among the active applications. An application bandwidth controller may be configured to control the maximum bandwidth that may be utilized by each active data communication application, based on this user information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for congestion control in computer networks achieve high burst tolerance, low latency and high throughput with shallow-buffered switches. A method for controlling congestion includes transmitting a set of data packets on a network connection from a first computing device to a second computing device, identifying each data packet in the set of data packets that experienced congestion on the network connection, sending, by the second computing device to the first computing device, a sequence of bits that represents the number of data packets in the set of data packets that were identified as having experienced congestion, and adjusting a rate of transmitting data packets on the network connection based on the sequence of bits sent to the first computing device.

Abstract: Applications executed out of router memory may acquire additional bandwidth that is not being used by other applications, in order to speed up network traffic. Scavenging may occur up to a point where current congestion is detected, at which point any scavenged bandwidth is relinquished and the application returns to its prescribed limit. After current congestion is mitigated, scavenging may occur up to a limit below the point where congestion was detected. After a predetermined interval, additional scavenging may occur beyond this limit until a preset bandwidth limit is reached.

Abstract: Systems (360), methods (240), and machine-readable and executable instructions (368) are provided for selecting a server. Server selection can include receiving a first query (114 and 242) at a management server (106) from a local server (104). Server selection can also include triggering a reply race (116, 244) by sending a number of query notifications from the management server (106) to a number of actor servers (108-1, 108-2, and 108-3), wherein each of the number of actor servers (108-1, 108-2, and 108-3), in response to receiving the query notifications (116), sends a response (118) to the local server (104) and wherein a first actor server (108-1) from the number of actor servers (108-1, 108-2, and 108-3) is selected (120) by the local server (104). Server selection can further include resolving, at the management server (116), future queries (246) from the local server by referencing a first report that was received (126) from the first actor server.

Abstract: Network-based content distribution is improved by controlling the flow of multimedia data and streaming characteristics to ensure real-time, consistent delivery. An adaptive media distribution system includes at least one original source of a media channel, a plurality of content playback devices, and one or more stream controllers disposed between the original sources and the playback devices. Each media channel provides audio and/or video content on one or more switchable streams, each stream being encoded with different characteristics such as bitrate. The stream controllers receive streams and determine how the streams should be allocated to the playback devices so as to provide consistent delivery of the content in accordance with playback demand and the stream attributes or information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for connecting clients with a server. The method includes: the client obtains random number seed information; the client calculates out a random delay time according to the random number seed information and a random function after the client is disconnected from the server, wherein the random delay time is a delay time for reconnection between the client and the server; and the client sends a connection request to the server upon expiry of the random delay time. Therefore, when the server is restarted or breaks down, each client delays the connection according to the random delay time calculated by them respectively, thereby preventing plenty of clients from requesting to connect to the server simultaneously and avoiding service interruption of the server.

Abstract: An apparatus translates a destination address of a first packet that is transferred from an external communication device in an external network to an internal communication device in an internal network through the external network, from an external-network address that has been assigned to the internal communication device using an addressing scheme for the external network, to an internal address that has been assigned to the internal communication device using an addressing scheme for the internal network. The apparatus transmits, to another apparatus, address information including the external-network address and identifier information for identifying the external communication device where the another apparatus is configured to translate a source address of a second packet that is transferred from the internal communication device to the external communication device, from the internal address to the external address.

Abstract: A resource distribution method capable of lending surplus resources among a plurality of services and reducing the maintenance cost of the surplus resources is provided. Computer resources in the standby system have a dead standby state in which at least an application is not installed. A plurality of services or a plurality of users share the computer resources in the standby system. As a result, improvement of the utilization factor of idle computer resources and server integration are implemented, and the cost required to maintain the computer resources is reduced. Furthermore, load prediction is conducted as regards individual services by using past operation history. Idle computer resources secured from services having surplus and maintained are thrown in according to a result of the prediction.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a communication controller coupling a device comprising a processor with a bus. The method comprises: receiving a plurality of types of data packets via the bus and processing received data packets before making available said received data packets to the device processor. The processing of received data packets comprises: evaluating each received data packet in accordance with predetermined criteria; rejecting any of the received data packets that fails to meet the predetermined criteria; identifying non-rejected data packets having high priority; identifying said non-rejected other data packets having lower priority; providing a high priority data path to the processor for the high priority data packets; providing at least one additional data path to the processor for the other data packets; and providing a high priority alert to the device processor to the presence of high priority data packets at the high priority channel.

Abstract: A content monitor includes a processor that at least receives requests from a plurality of clients for content, instructs each client to retry their respective request at a first later time if the request is received before a first time, counts the requests to determine if a number of the requests exceeds a threshold if the request is received before a second time, instructs each client to retry their respective request at a second later time if the counted number of requests does not exceed a first threshold, instructs each client to join a multicast group to receive the content when the number of requests exceeds the first threshold, and counts a number of late clients joining the multicast group after a first portion of the content has been sent to the multicast group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to home devices such as set-top boxes, and more particularly to methods providing autonomous file transfers to and from such home devices. There is provided a method for spreading notifications pertaining to the completion of file transfers in time. The method is based on the concept of imposing different delay times on different devices, which delay times must be observed prior to notifying the server of a file transfer completion.

Abstract: A network device includes a memory with a first queue and a second queue. A timing module generates a first priority timing signal or a second priority timing signal based on a clock signal. The clock signal is shared between the network device and other network devices in a non-arbitrary network. The network device includes a deblocking shaper or a blocking shaper. The deblocking shaper (i) forwards first protected data from the first queue, and (ii) generates a deblocking signal based on a first frame signal and the first priority timing signal. The blocking shaper (i) forwards one of second protected data and unprotected data from the second queue, and (ii) generates a first blocking signal based on a second frame signal and the second priority timing signal. A selector module selects the first frame or the second frame based on the deblocking signal and the first blocking signal.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for distributing media content. A plurality of media files are identified for distribution. A determination is made whether any of the plurality of media files is unavailable remotely. In response to a determination that a portion of the plurality of media files is unavailable remotely, a portion of the plurality of media files is placed in an archive. A playlist identifying the plurality of media files is placed in the archive. A set of links to each of the plurality of media files that are available remotely are placed in the archive, wherein the archive is used to distribute the media content.