Abstract: A method for facilitating a sequenced, anonymous communications session in a communications environment is provided in one example that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, an anonymous, sequenced request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The communication session is sequenced to occur at designated periods provided by the end user(s) and/or an administrator, while maintaining end user(s) anonymity.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable memory containing instructions include receiving a DNS request containing information related to user-specific information, device-specific information, and/or authentication information, analyzing the information, determining an appropriate action to take based on analyzing the status, and taking the appropriate action. Actions may include responding with an individualized network layer address or service location address, delaying sending a response message, sending a network layer address or service location address corresponding to a site containing authentication information, and sending a response with a network layer address or service location address with a web address configured to mimic the website related to the requested resource.

Abstract: The present technology considers network devices that include forwarding tables having a number of next-hop entries (e.g., egress ports) where it is possible that the egress port utilization can be load balanced using WCMP groups. In a WCMP group, its members are assigned weights representing an amount of data flow to distribute over a plurality of links for a given destination. This disclosure provides systems and methods to distribute weights assigned to members of WCMP groups while achieving a minimum target for network throughput.

Abstract: Routing around intra-network element (intra-NE) disconnectivity is described. The routing is performed on one or more network element (NEs) of a channelized network. The routing involves performing a shortest-path-search (SPS) to determine a shortest non-disconnected path from a single path-ingress edge to a single path-egress edge. The SPS includes classifying a set of endpoints of each NE in the channelized network as an equivalence class of endpoints, classifying a set of paths-so-far between each NE in the channelized network as an equivalence class of paths-so-far, grouping each equivalence class of paths-so-far by the equivalence class of endpoints that includes a terminal endpoint of the path-so-far that is furthest from the single path-ingress edge, and exploring separately each equivalence class of edges that are incident to each NE when determining the shortest non-disconnected path from the single path-ingress edge to the single path-egress edge.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for routing information flows in networks based on spanning trees and network switching element resources. One or more controllers are used to assign information flows to network switching elements (NSEs) through use of spanning trees derived from link path costs. NSEs generate status information relating to resources they employ to facilitate information flows that is sent to the controller(s). The status information is used to derive link costs, which are then used to generate spanning trees that support routing between the NSEs without any path loops. Information flows are assigned to the NSEs such that the routing paths for the flows use the links in the spanning tree. The link costs and spanning trees are dynamically computed during ongoing operations, enabling the network routing and flow assignments to be reconfigured in response to dataplane events and changes to the information flow traffic.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing device-specific authentication are described. One example method includes receiving, by an input port of a network adapter within the computer system, a stream of network traffic; dividing, by load balancing logic within the network adapter, the received stream of network traffic into a plurality of substreams; and presenting the plurality of substreams to respective interfaces of the network adapter, each network adapter interface being accessible by an operating system executing on the computer system.

Abstract: A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data.

Abstract: A method for controlling network connection includes: receiving a network accessing task generated by the user via a corresponding terminal device, the network accessing task is a task of accessing a target source. Detecting work parameters of each network accessing path, the work parameters of each network accessing path includes a workload of the network accessing path and a network operator providing the network accessing path. Selecting an optimal network accessing path according to the detected work parameters of each network accessing path based on a workload tactics. In additional, controlling the terminal device to connect the network to execute the network task via the optimal network accessing path.

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 apparatus and a method for layer-2 and layer-3 VPN discovery are disclosed. The apparatus is incorporated in a network, and the network includes a first carrier network. The first carrier network includes at least two layer-1 provider edge devices. Layer-1 VPN information is created within the first carrier network. BGP next hop information passes within the first carrier network. The BGP next hop information is for a selected one of the following: a layer-2 VPN-based provider edge device, a layer-3 VPN-based provider edge device, and a layer-2 and layer-3 VPN-based provider edge device. The network also includes a second carrier network within which the BGP next hop information is used for VPN discovery.

Abstract: Methods, servers and systems for communicating signaling information in a telecommunications signaling network implement methods that include receiving a first message encoding signaling information from a source component and processing the message using a fixed pipeline having a plurality of modules, each module having at least one procedure for performing a specific set of tasks. Application level routing operations may be performed to identify a suitable destination component. Information contained in the first message may be used to generate a second message encoding signaling information, which is sent to the identified destination component.

Abstract: Call Control entities in a network communicate between themselves by amending call processing messages to include encrypted network information. As such, a call may be established whose path through the network is dependent on the paths of other calls. Information of a scope larger than a Call Controller normally possesses can, as a result of this communication, be made available to Call Controllers for constraining call establishment. This information could relate to other calls and connections associated with those other calls. The information may also relate to gateways in and to adjacent networks and the Call Controllers in the adjacent networks that are related to the current Call Controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device connected to a network receives at a network interface a first network size indicator for a first network and a second network size indicator for a second network. A difference between the first network size indicator and the second network size indicator is determined and a switching probability is calculated if the difference between the network size indicators is greater than a predetermined network size difference threshold. The device may then migrate from the first network to the second network based on the switching probability.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for communicating among stations in a network. A station in the network can determine costs between that station and a headend through a number of other stations. The station can select a low cost path from among the possible paths. Cost data from the determination can be transmitted from the station to other stations in the network for use in selecting low cost paths at those stations.

Abstract: A storage controller is implemented for controlling a storage system. The storage controller may be implemented using a distributed computer system and may include components for servicing client data requests based on the characteristics of the distributed computer system, the client, or the data requests. The storage controller is scalable independently of the storage system it controls. All components of the storage controller, as well as the client, may be virtual or hardware-based instances of a distributed computer system.

Abstract: A network node for communicating data packets secured with a security protocol over a communications network includes a host information handling system (IHS) and one or more external security offload devices coupled by a secure data link. The host IHS communicates state information about data packets, and the external offload security device provides stateless secure data encapsulation and decapsulation of packets using a security protocol. An external network interface controller or internal network interface controller communicates encapsulated data packets over the communications network to a final destination. Encapsulation and decapsulation of packets by the external security offload device reduces network latency and reduces the computational load on the processor in the host IHS. Maintaining state information in the host IHS allows hot-swapping of external security offload devices without information loss.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for sharing Diameter binding data. The method includes receiving, by a first Diameter signaling router (DSR), a first Diameter message requiring processing. The method also includes selecting, by the first DSR, a processing element to perform the required processing from a plurality of processing elements. The method further includes routing, by the first DSR, the received first Diameter message to the selected processing element. The method further includes creating, by the first DSR, a binding record associating the selected processing element with information associated with the received first Diameter message. The method further includes communicating, by the first DSR, the binding record to a second DSR.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes monitoring a performance of at least one of a plurality of layer-2 network paths connecting a layer-2 network switch device to another layer-2 network switch device and selecting an optimal one of the plurality of layer-2 network paths over which to forward data traffic based on a path selection heuristic and the monitored performance of the at least one of the plurality of layer-2 network paths. At least a portion of the exemplary method may be performed by a layer-2 network switching system. In certain embodiments, the selecting of the optimal one of the plurality of layer-2 network paths over which to forward the data traffic is based on at least one of a latency parameter, a congestion parameter, and a cost parameter associated with the at least one of the plurality of layer-2 network paths. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for monitoring capability to process web traffic. At various times, a web proxy announces a most specific route that is received by multiple clients configured to send web traffic for an address to a received most specific route to the address. The web proxy processes web traffic received from one of the clients as a result of announcing the route. When the web proxy determines a decrease in processing capability of the web proxy, the web proxy ceases to announce the most specific route such that one or more of the clients direct web traffic for the address to an alternative less specific route.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for controlling interconnections between nodes using virtual nodes are described. A physical node—such as a router, bridge, switch, etc. —stores a virtual cost associated with a virtual link that links virtual nodes of the physical node. A first physical port and a second physical port of the physical node are designated as belonging to a first virtual node and a third physical port of the physical node is designated as belonging to the second virtual node. The first physical port is associated with a first network partition and the second physical port is associated with a second network partition. The physical node transmits a routing information packet that includes the virtual cost.

Abstract: There is provided a method of scheduling requests from a plurality of services to at least one data storage resource. The method comprises receiving, on a computer system, service requests from said plurality of services. The service requests comprise metadata specifying a service ID and a data size of payload data associated with said service request, and at least some of said service IDs have service throughput metadata specifying a required service throughput associated therewith. The method further includes arranging, in a computer system, said requests into FIFO throttled queues based on said service ID and then setting a deadline for processing of a request in a throttled queue. The deadline is selected in dependence upon the size of the request and the required service throughput associated therewith. Then, the deadline of each throttled queue is monitored and, if a request in a throttled queue has reached or exceeded the deadline the request is processed in a data storage resource.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for comparing first and second descriptions of a web service includes computing a distance between each type used as a parameter in the first description and each type used as a parameter in the second description. A distance is calculated between methods in each of two or more pairs of methods. Each pair includes a method in the first description and a method in the second description. The calculating is performed by comparing the parameters of the first set of methods and the second set of methods using the computed distances between types. To the calculated distance between each pair of methods is added the distance between the names of the compared methods and the distance between the returned types of the compared methods. For each method in the first description, the method in the second description with the lowest calculated distance is output.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the collaborative management of digital media. A plurality of users respectively use their mobile devices to provide a corresponding plurality of digital media data to a media server node, which then displays it within a display. Instructions in the form of control data are then received from the mobile devices, which are then used to perform collaborative management of the displayed digital media data. Various collaborative sequencing and editing operations are performed by the users to create a composite digital media file, which is then transferred to one or more of the user's mobile devices.

Abstract: A path control apparatus of the present invention includes: a status change detecting unit that detects a status change of a network; a path calculating unit that decides a path in accordance with the status of the network; and a calculation execution node deciding unit that compares a shortest path tree, which is established before occurrence of a change in the status of the network calculated by the path calculating unit, with a shortest path tree, which is established after the occurrence of the change in the status of the network calculated by the path calculating unit, and creates information required for determining whether a node apparatus in the network needs a path update, when the change occurs in the status of the network.

Abstract: Resources are organized into collections to facilitate more efficient and reliable resource access. Namespace managers communicate with one another to form a federation namespace infrastructure. The infrastructure efficiently routes, migrates, and processes namespace requests, such as, for example, namespace registration requests from providers requesting to manage portions of namespaces and lookup requests from consumers requesting access to managed resources. Resources are registered in and made accessible from multiple different namespaces. Resources are identified using nested queries that filter results at multiple levels of a hierarchical namespace.

Abstract: A device provides layer two (L2) services between customer networks that are coupled by one or more intermediate computer networks. The device comprises a routing process that receives label information for a label switched path (LSP) through the intermediate networks. The device further comprises a L2 service that receives L2 service information from a device associated with second customer networks. In accordance with the label information, the device transports L2 communications between the first and second customer networks through the one or more intermediate networks. By utilizing label information in this manner, the device may minimize the impact of providing L2 services through the intermediate networks.

Abstract: Methods, servers and systems for communicating signaling information in a telecommunications signaling network may involve using a topology tree categorizing network nodes into groups, receiving a first message encoding signaling information from a source, decoding the received first message into an internal representation of the message, determining if the internal representation identifies a destination component in the topology tree, performing application level routing operations by hierarchy to determine if information contained in the internal representation identifies a destination component in the topology tree, packaging the information contained in the internal representation into a second message encoding signaling information, and sending the second message encoding signaling information to the identified destination component.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus that makes improved routing decisions is provided that includes a receiver, a retriever, a proximity engine, and a transmitter. The receiver may be configured to receive a request from a source. The retriever may be configured to retrieve a plurality of providers capable of servicing the request. The proximity engine may be configured to rank the plurality of providers based on weights indicative of a network distance. The weights may correspond to a first Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) community attribute associated with the source and at least a second BGP community attribute associated with at least one of the providers in the plurality of providers. The transmitter may be configured to transmit the request to the provider in the plurality of providers with the highest ranking.

Abstract: User defined routing rules are managed within a primary/backup architecture through continuous replication between home servers and their corresponding presence servers in an automatic manner. User set-up rules are stored and published by a designated presence server to home servers on which the user can register including the user's home registrar and any backup registrars. Changes to the rules may be disseminated and synchronized through comparison of versions and exchange of batches between the presence server and registrars.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a root of a directed acyclic graph (DAG) may determine transmission of critical traffic from a first device to a second device in a computer network using the DAG, and may also determine a maximum tolerable delay of the critical traffic. As such, the root may compute, based on a known topology of the computer network, a constrained shortest path first (CSPF) point-to-point (P2P) path from the first device to the second device to meet the maximum tolerable delay. The root may then inform the first device of the P2P path to the second device to cause the first device to use the P2P path for the critical traffic.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating an interval to each of multiple locations within a network topology, where each interval indicates a range of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the corresponding location. Each allocated interval is associated with a computing service that provides information about network services near the location associated with the allocated interval. The intervals are allocated into intermediate nodes, where each intermediate node includes at least two of the intervals. The intervals, associated computing services, and intermediate nodes are then organized into a modified B+ tree structure that facilitates the discovery of one of the network services near the allocated interval.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for routing a service request to an appropriate web service. A first service request is routed from a first web service to a second web service. Routing factors associated with the second web service are monitored. A determination is made as to whether the routing factors indicate that the second web service is no longer appropriate for handling service requests. If the routing factors indicate that the first web service is no longer appropriate for handling service requests, then a second service request is routed from the first web service to a third web service. The first web service, the second web service, and the third web service are included in a composite service.

Abstract: A pervasive realtime framework supports the execution of realtime software applications with high-level functions that significantly reduce the effort and time needed to develop realtime software applications in a new operating environment paradigm in which realtime connections between network nodes are pervasive. The pervasive realtime framework handles the complex tasks of connecting to communicants, virtual areas, and other network resources, as well as switching those connections in response to user inputs and thereby enables software application developers to focus on developing high-level realtime software application functionality.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for a content broker assisting distribution of content, are disclosed. One method includes obtaining, by one or more content distribution servers, at least one of user device parameter information or storage element parameter information of a user device and one or more storage elements associated with the user device, and assisting, by the one or more content distribution servers, at least one content provider in preloading at least a portion of a content onto at least one of the one or more storage elements associated with the user device based on the at least one of the user device parameter information or the storage element parameter information.

Abstract: Known network management systems for managing traffic signals in a network store node/link parameter signals and traffic parameter signals and calculate solutions defining intermediate nodes/links situated between sources and destinations for transporting said traffic signals from said sources to said destinations via said intermediate nodes/links and calculate route information per solution. By storing node/link parameter signals and traffic parameter signals for several situations (like several predictions in the future) and calculating solutions for each situation and then selecting a solution per situation, the network management system will manage the network more advantageously, especially when solutions are compared with each other, and when a solution is selected per situation in dependence of comparison results (comprising similarities/differences between solutions of different situations).

Abstract: A load balancing routing method for networks is disclosed. The routing method includes following steps. A network topology graph and a plurality of expected bandwidth demands corresponding to a plurality of source-destination pairs are received by a network server. A plurality of link criticalities of a plurality of links established according to the source-destination pairs is calculated by the network server according to the network topology graph and the expected bandwidth demands. A plurality of expected loads of the links is calculated by the network server according to the link criticalities. A plurality of cost values is calculated according to a plurality of residual capacities of the links and the corresponding expected loads. A better transmission path corresponding to each of the source-destination pairs is selected by the network server according to the weighted sum of the cost values corresponding to the links in the source-destination pair.

Abstract: In a network, a user can configure host-level policies usable for load balancing traffic to servers of a domain. A global server load balancing (GSLB) switch provides load balancing to the servers, and is configured with the GSLB host-level policies. Users can define a host-level policy (alternatively or additionally to a globally applied GSLB policy) and apply the host-level policy to hosts in domains configured on the GSLB switch. Thus, the user can enable different policies for different hosts. This allows the user to have the flexibility to control metrics used for selection of a best address for querying clients, as well as the metric order and additional parameters used in the GSLB process, at the host level.

Abstract: A method of transmitting media to a client by an infrastructure device in a packet-switched network includes receiving a media stream at the infrastructure device. The method also includes determining an adaptation strategy according to at least one of one or more pieces of network information associated with the packet-switched network, one or more pieces of client information associated with the client, or one or more policies. The method further includes adapting the media stream according to the adaptation strategy to produce an output media stream.

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

Abstract: A method for populating location wiremap databases. In particular implementations, a method includes establishing a link layer connection with a client on a switch port, where the switch port is associated with a port identifier and is mapped to a location; identifying one or more connection attributes of the connection, where the connection attributes comprise a network layer address of the client; and transmitting the port identifier and the network layer address of the client to a location server.

Abstract: An authoritative domain name system server includes a memory configured to store a set of instructions, and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions. The processor obtains a first Internet Protocol address of a client system associated with a request for a domain name, and assigns a location of the authoritative domain name system server as an ingress region. The processor assigns the egress override as an egress region when the first Internet Protocol address matches the prefix of the egress override, otherwise obtains an egress table, determines a longest prefix match of the first Internet Protocol address, obtains a distance matrix for distances from the ingress location to a plurality of egress regions, and selects the egress region based on the distance matrix and the longest prefix match in the egress table.

Abstract: Methods and systems for load balancing and failover among gateway devices are disclosed. One method provides for assigning communication transaction handling to a gateway. The method includes receiving a request for a license from a computing device at a control gateway within a group of gateway devices including a plurality of gateway devices configured to support communication of cryptographically split data. The method also includes assigning communications from the computing device to one of the plurality of gateway devices based on a load balancing algorithm, and routing the communication request to the assigned gateway device.

Abstract: A network node for communicating data packets secured with a security protocol over a communications network includes a host information handling system (IHS) and one or more external security offload devices coupled by a secure data link. The host IHS communicates state information about data packets, and the external offload security device provides stateless secure data encapsulation and decapsulation of packets using a security protocol. An external network interface controller or internal network interface controller communicates encapsulated data packets over the communications network to a final destination. Encapsulation and decapsulation of packets by the external security offload device reduces network latency and reduces the computational load on the processor in the host IHS. Maintaining state information in the host IHS allows hot-swapping of external security offload devices without information loss.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a network aware (NA) global load balancing (GLB) component configured to associate with a local data center (DC), couple to an end user via a network, select a server in the DC or in one or more remote DCs coupled to the network based on application resource information and network resource information, and select a route in the network based on the application resource information and the network resource information.

Abstract: Capacity management is described. In an implementation, a method includes executing a module on a computing device to monitor use of a product during a measurement interval to determine a maximum capacity of the product used during the measurement interval and whether a capacity failure point is reached during the measurement interval. A learned capacity limit is set based on the monitoring for determining whether one or more of a plurality of clients, if any, are to receive a list which references at least the monitored product, wherein the learned capacity limit is set such that when the capacity failure point is not reached, the learned capacity limit is set according to the maximum capacity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for online brand continuity. Online brand continuity can include a number of Internet or intranet access points via which one or more network addresses can be advertised. A client can be provided with availability of a business image application via at least one of the Internet or intranet access points.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a server on a communication network. The system and method involving the progressive receipt of time-based media at the server as the time-based media is transmitted by a sender over the communication network and the discovery at least a partial delivery route to a recipient of the time-based media as the time-based media is being received. The time-based media is progressively transmitted as the media is available and as the partial delivery route over the communication network to the recipient is discovered.

Abstract: A parallel multiprocessor system includes a packet-switching communication network comprising a plurality of processor nodes operating concurrently in parallel. Each processor node generates messages to be sent simultaneously to a plurality of other processor nodes in the communication network. Each message is divided into a plurality of packets having a common destination processor node. Each processor node has an arbiter that determines an order in which to forward the packets onto the network toward their destination processor nodes and a network interface that sends the packets onto the network in accordance with the determined order. The determined order operates to substantially avoid sending consecutive packets from a given source processor node to a given destination processor node and to randomize the destination processor nodes of those packets presently traversing the communication network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for using the mobility support features of IPv6 to allow client and server nodes to communicate without the continuing intervention of a load-balancing node that selected the server node. A load-balancing node intercepts a TCP SYN packet addressed to a virtual IP address. The load-balancing node selects a server node from among multiple server nodes, and sends the packet toward the server node. The server node sends an IPv6 packet toward the client node. The packet contains a Binding Update option that specifies the virtual IP address as a Home Address. This information causes the client node to replace destination addresses in outgoing IP packets so that packets that the client node would have sent toward the virtual IP address are sent toward the selected server node's IP address instead. Consequently, the IP packets are routed toward the selected server node instead of the load-balancing node.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and system for indicating underutilized network devices that provide services in a data communications network. The method includes: receiving network traffic data; filtering the network traffic data to eliminate data for predefined connections; producing, from the filtered network traffic data, a graph representing a connection between a first device and a second device within the data communications network; analyzing the graph to identify a set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network; and indicating an underutilized network device by producing an output dependent on traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network.