A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Systems and methods use a fiber-based network to provide both network access services such as Internet, television, phone, and wide area networking services as well as distributed data processing services. Distributed computing nodes are provided in broadband gateways at homes and other premises in a fiber-based network to realize a distributed data center architecture. In a specific example, a provider deploys a number of broadband gateways in the homes of homeowners who agree to pay for network access (e.g., Internet, phone, television, etc.) that is received over a fiber-based (preferably point-to-point) network at the broadband gateways in the homes. Those broadband gateways also separately provide distributed workload processing. Providing both network access and distributed workload processing makes the deployment and use of the fiber-based network more economically and technically feasible.

According to one embodiment, a system includes control apparatus and server. Control apparatus includes collector, transmitter, receiver and main controller. Collector collects sensing data concerning control targets in social infrastructure. Transmitter transmits collected sensing data to server. Receiver receives control instruction from server. Main controller controls control targets based on control instruction. Server includes acquisition unit, database, generator and instructor. Acquisition unit acquires sensing data from control apparatus. Database stores sensing data. Generator generates control instruction by processing sensing data. Instructor transmits generated control instruction to control apparatus.

An Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network provides connectivity to one or more customer premises to packet-bases services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, or IP while advantageously providing a mechanism for assuring security and regulation of customer traffic. Upon receipt of each customer-generated information frame, an ingress Multi-Service Platform (MSP) tags the frame with a customer descriptor that specifically identifies the recipient customer. In practice, the MSP tags each frame by overwriting the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier with the routing descriptor. Using the customer descriptor in each frame, a recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch can map the information as appropriate to direct the information to the specific customer. In addition, the customer descriptor may also include Quality of Service (QoS) allowing the recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch to vary the QoS level accordingly.

Techniques are described that allow fast path delivery of content from content data networks directly to metro transport networks so as to bypass Internet service provider (ISP) networks. The metro transport network is positioned between subscriber devices and an Internet service provider network that authenticates the subscriber devices and allocates respective layer three (L3) addresses from an Internet Protocol (IP) network address prefix assigned to the Internet service provider network. Routes within the metro transport network, including an access router, ISP-facing provider edge routers and one or more peering routers, establish an EVPN within the metro transport network. The access router outputs, within the EVPN and to the peering router, an EVPN route advertisement that advertises network address reachability information of the subscriber devices (e.g., the IP network address prefix or MAC/IP address of the subscriber devices) on behalf of the Internet service provider network.

An Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network provides connectivity to one or more customer premises to packet-bases services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, or IP while advantageously providing a mechanism for assuring security and regulation of customer traffic. Upon receipt of each customer-generated information frame, an ingress Multi-Service Platform (MSP) tags the frame with a customer descriptor that specifically identifies the recipient customer. In practice, the MSP tags each frame by overwriting the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier with the routing descriptor. Using the customer descriptor in each frame, a recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch can map the information as appropriate to direct the information to the specific customer. In addition, the customer descriptor may also include Quality of Service (QoS) allowing the recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) or ATM switch to vary the QoS level accordingly.

A disclosed verification method includes: capturing data transmitted to a first site from a node; emulating conversion of the captured data; measuring a conversion time; calculating a first transmission time in a case where the captured data is assumed to be transmitted from the node to a conversion apparatus, a second transmission time in a case where the converted data is assumed to be transmitted from the conversion apparatus to the node, a third transmission time in a case where the converted data is assumed to be transmitted from the node to the first site, and a fourth transmission time in a case where the captured data is assumed to be transmitted from the node to the first site; and determining an effect in a case where the conversion by the conversion apparatus is applied, based on the first to fourth transmission times and the conversion time.

Techniques are described that allow fast path delivery of content from content data networks directly to metro transport networks so as to bypass Internet service provider (ISP) networks. The metro transport network is positioned between subscriber devices and an Internet service provider network that authenticates the subscriber devices and allocates respective layer three (L3) addresses from an Internet Protocol (IP) network address prefix assigned to the Internet service provider network. Routes within the metro transport network, including an access router, ISP-facing provider edge routers and one or more peering routers, establish an EVPN within the metro transport network. The access router outputs, within the EVPN and to the peering router, an EVPN route advertisement that advertises network address reachability information of the subscriber devices (e.g., the IP network address prefix or MAC/IP address of the subscriber devices) on behalf of the Internet service provider network.

Techniques are described that enable MAC (L2) address authentication within an L2 switching network, such as a metro transport network. Moreover, when used in an EVPN, the techniques provide fine grain policy control over the L2 switching network so as to enable carrier networks to specify and control topologies for transporting packet-based communications. Access routers of the EVPN communicate utilizes enhanced EVPN MAC route advertisements that include an additional attribute indicating a request that L2 network address(es) being advertised be validated by a network address authentication device. A route controller relays the EVPN MAC advertisement upon validation of the L2 networks address. Moreover, the route controller may utilize the EVPN MAC route advertisements to distribute MAC-level policies to control topologies and MAC learning within the EVPN and provide services such as per-MAC traffic quota limits.

A system and method for bandwidth management by controlling the bit rate of a signal stream in real time according to available link bandwidth. Applications include multiple-channel video data streams over a limited-bandwidth link such as a Digital Subscriber Line. A video signal is transrated at the head end to multiple streams having different bit rates, by a multirating device which sends the multiple streams over a network, along with metadata containing information about the data structure and parameters of the streams. At the network access edge, a demultirating device uses the metadata to select the stream with the highest video quality whose bit rate does not exceed the available bandwidth of the end-user's access link. This scheme provides multiple unicast signals to different end-users in place of a single multicast signal, supports multiple high-definition channels over a limited bandwidth link, and is compatible with standard encryption methods.