Charter Communications Operating, LLC

Jody Lee Beck

Willard Andrew Gray

A connection between two UEs is identified by a single connection identifier. Different streams are transmitted over different wireless links with potential redundancy between streams. Initially a first WiFi link is used to communicate with the second UE. After the first UE decides it will handoff to a second WiFi AP it establishes a connection with a cellular AP and then communicates a second stream corresponding to the same connection. The first and second streams initially communicate the same content. The first WiFi link is terminated, but the second stream continues to communicate content. The first UE then establishes a second WiFi connection with a second WiFi AP and communicates a third content stream of the first connection to second UE via second WiFi link. The third stream initially communicates information also communicated over second stream. The cellular link is terminated. The second WiFi link is used to communicate content.

Handover methods and apparatus which support use of a cellular link as part of a handover between WiFi access points

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may enable distributed prefix signing by including a signature in a transitive Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) attribute of a new prefix announcement, and sending the new prefix announcement to peer components. The peer components may query an address and routing parameter area (ARPA) record to obtain nameserver information for an entity associated with the received prefix announcement in response to determining that the received prefix announcement includes a transitive BGP attribute that includes the signature, retrieve a public key from a Domain Name System (DNS) text record, and determine whether the signature included in the transitive BGP attribute of the received prefix announcement is valid based on the public key retrieved from the DNS text record.

Border gateway protocol (BGP) hijacks prefix signing using public/private keys

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments disclosed herein may provide a protocol and architecture for decentralization of content delivery. Various embodiments may provide a client based method for content delivery from content delivery networks (CDNs) via tiered caches of content hosted by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In various embodiments, content delivery protocol (CDP) messages may enable clients to discover local cache network topologies and request content from a CDN based on a discovered local cache network topology. In various embodiments, security may be provided for the content delivery by the use of key encryption and/or file hashing.

Protocol and architecture for the decentralization of content delivery

A wireless terminal communicates test packets via alternative wireless access points, e.g., a WiFi access point, a 4G access point, a 5G access point, to a test server to evaluate alternative wireless links. Test scores are generated for each of the wireless links being evaluated based the performance of previous test packets transmitted over the link. In some embodiments, the controlled rate of test packet transmission over a wireless link is a function of WT speed and/or link score. Link test scores may be, and sometime are, conditionally cost adjusted based on the type of communications network, e.g., scores for more expensive networks, e.g., 4G cellular, are reduced to favor more inexpensive networks such as WiFi. The wireless terminal selects one or more of the alternative wireless connections to use for communication with a communications session end point based on the link scores.

Methods and apparatus for testing alternative wireless connections and selecting a wireless connection

A first communications device may use one or a plurality of communications connections in parallel for a communications session between the first communications device and the second communications device. The first device makes decisions as to the number of connections to use, the level of error correcting code to use, and/or the level of packet redundancy to use based on test scores corresponding to one or more communications session connections. The first communications device generates a first test score corresponding to a first communications session connection based on a test performed over a first test path between the first communications device and a test server, said first communications session connection and the first test path sharing a common link, e.g., a common wireless link between the first device and an access point. The first device may generate and use an overall connection score corresponding to a plurality of session connections.

Methods and apparatus for determining a number of connections to use at a given time and/or the level of error correcting coding to use based on connection scores

Methods and systems for service integrated domain name servers are described. A method for out of path border gateway protocol (BGP) validation includes receiving, at a network component, a prefix announcement. The network component denies acceptance of the prefix announcement. A BGP monitor at the network component sends the prefix announcement to an out of path validation controller. The out of path validation controller evaluates the prefix announcement against one or more validation tests, sends a validation notification based on the one or more validation tests, and programs the network component for a validated prefix announcement.

Method and apparatus for out of path border gateway protocol validation

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments disclosed herein may provide a protocol enabling anycast based discovery of local resources. Various embodiments may provide a lightweight decentralized directory system that pairs local demands with local resources in a network. Various embodiments may provide a routing (or bridging) protocol that brokers communication between endpoints in Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks. Various embodiments may broker any type services, such as virtual network services, physical services, etc. Various embodiments may pair local demands with local resources in a network without requiring any central network infrastructure and/or requiring a Domain Name System (DNS) server. Various embodiments may support low latency and high bandwidth applications through the pairing of local demands with local resources in a network.

Protocol for anycast based discovery of local resources

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may enable distributed prefix signing by publishing a public key in a Domain Name System (DNS) text record, using a private origination key to generate a signature for a new prefix announcement, including the signature in a transitive Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) attribute of the new prefix announcement, and sending the new prefix announcement to peer components. The peer components may query an address and routing parameter area (ARPA) record to obtain nameserver information for an entity associated with the received prefix announcement in response to determining that the received prefix announcement includes a transitive BGP attribute that includes the signature, retrieve a public key from a Domain Name System (DNS) text record, and determine whether the signature included in the transitive BGP attribute of the received prefix announcement is valid based on the public key retrieved from the DNS text record.

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments disclosed herein may provide Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security measures along autonomous system (AS) paths. Various embodiments may provide transparency as to the local security measures implemented along an AS path. Various embodiments may enable routing along secure paths. Various embodiments may enable the selection of AS paths based on a comparison of the security implemented along the AS paths. Various embodiments may reduce the impact of BGP attacks.

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Parker, CO, United States of America

Jody Lee Beck