Described is a method performed by a downloadable agent, the method comprising: collecting WAN performance information, wherein the downloadable agent is executable on a computing device coupled to a LAN of a broadband subscriber, wherein the LAN is coupled by another device to a WAN; and transmitting the WAN performance information to a machine; wherein the machine is operable to: store and analyze the performance information to generate an analysis result; and report the analysis result to at least one of the broadband subscriber and its service provider. Described is a corresponding system which comprises a database; and a server coupled to the database, the server operable to: receive WAN performance information from a downloadable agent; store the information in the database, analyze the information to generate an analysis result; and report the analysis result to at least one of the broadband subscriber and the broadband subscriber's service provider.

At least one distribution node with a plurality of input/output interfaces is provided in an automation communication network. Data is exchanged via telegrams with priority levels. The distribution node interrupts transmission of a telegram having a first priority level if a telegram with a second, higher priority level is received. The distribution node terminates the interrupted telegram, which forms a first fragment defined by sending first fragmentation information at the end of the first fragment. A part that has not been sent forms a second fragment. The distribution node stores the second fragment together with second fragmentation information. After sending the telegram having the second, higher priority level, the distribution node sends the second fragment together with the second fragmentation information. A node, for which the telegram having the first priority level is intended, assembles the first and second fragments on the basis of the first and second fragmentation information.

A switch device for connecting a plurality of field devices to one single master port of a master device, the master device providing a gateway between the field devices and an upper level network and being configured to control a communication between the upper level network and the field devices, the switch device comprising: a physical master-side port for connecting the switch device to the single master port and for establishing a master communication channel between the same; and a plurality of physical field device-side ports for connecting the switch device to the field devices and for establishing a plurality of field device communication channels between the respective field devices and the switch device; wherein the switch device is configured to transfer data between the master device (3) and the field devices through the master communication channel and the field device communication channels using a single communication protocol for an automation network.

A switch device for connecting a plurality of field devices to one single master port of a master device, the master device providing a gateway between the field devices and an upper level network and being configured to control a communication between the upper level network and the field devices, the switch device comprising: a physical master-side port for connecting the switch device to the single master port and for establishing a master communication channel between the same; and a plurality of physical field device-side ports for connecting the switch device to the field devices and for establishing a plurality of field device communication channels between the respective field devices and the switch device; wherein the switch device is configured to transfer data between the master device (3) and the field devices through the master communication channel and the field device communication channels using a single communication protocol for an automation network.

Systems and methods for content selection with first and second recommendation engines are disclosed herein. The system can include a memory include a content library database and a model database. The system can include a user device having a first network interface and a first I/O subsystem. The system can include one or more servers that can include a packet selection system and a presentation system. These one or more servers can: receive response data from the user device; provide received response data to a first recommendation engine; alert a second recommendation engine when a selected next node is a placeholder node; retrieve at least one statistical model relevant to selection of next node content; and select next node content based on an output of the at least one statistical model.

A hub is connected to first and second networks where first-type and second-type frames are transmitted following first and second communication protocols. The hub sequentially receives each of the first-type and second-type frames, and stores data in first and second reception buffers. If the destination of data stored in the first and second reception buffers is the first network, the hub stores the data in a first transmission buffer. If the destination is the second network, the hub stores the data in a second transmission buffer. If the first transmission buffer is a priority transmission buffer, the hub transmits priority data in the first transmission buffer with priority over non-priority data in the second transmission buffer, which is a non-priority transmission buffer.

A hub is connected to first and second networks where first-type and second-type frames are transmitted following first and second communication protocols. The hub sequentially receives each of the first-type and second-type frames, and stores data in first and second reception buffers. If the destination of data stored in the first and second reception buffers is the first network, the hub stores the data in a first transmission buffer. If the destination is the second network, the hub stores the data in a second transmission buffer. If the first transmission buffer is a priority transmission buffer, the hub transmits priority data in the first transmission buffer with priority over non-priority data in the second transmission buffer, which is a non-priority transmission buffer.

Systems and methods for content provisioning are disclosed herein. The system can include memory having a content database, a task database, and a user profile database. The system can include a user device having a first network interface and a first I/O subsystem. The system can include a server that can: receive a user identifier from the user device; retrieve user information from the user profile database, which user information identifies one or several attributes of the user; retrieve user task data from the task database, which user task data identifies a plurality of tasks for completion by the user; automatically generate prioritization data for the plurality of tasks identified by the user task data; select a task based on the prioritization data; and send content relating to the selected task to the user device.

Systems and methods for content provisioning are disclosed herein. The system can include memory having a content database, a task database, and a user profile database. The system can include a user device having a first network interface and a first I/O subsystem. The system can include a server that can: receive a user identifier from the user device; retrieve user information from the user profile database, which user information identifies one or several attributes of the user; retrieve user task data from the task database, which user task data identifies a plurality of tasks for completion by the user; automatically generate prioritization data for the plurality of tasks identified by the user task data; select a task based on the prioritization data; and send content relating to the selected task to the user device.

An apparatus includes an agent to facilitate communication in one of two or more modes, where a first of the two or more modes involves communication over links including a first number of lanes and a second of the two or more modes involves communication over links including a second number of lanes, and the first number is greater than the second number. The apparatus further includes a memory including data to indicate which of the two or modes applies to a particular link and a multiplexer to reverse lane numbering on links including either the first number of lanes or the second number of lanes.