At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.p.

Mark Anthony Elias

Sherry Soja-Molloy

Robert Paul Lowmaster

Michael J Satterlee

Neil A Jacobson

Brad J Bledsoe

Michael Taylor

Jae-Sun Chin

Example methods and apparatus to form secure cross-VPN (virtual private network) communication sessions in multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)-based networks are disclosed. An example method comprises sending a first border gateway protocol route advertisement to a first provider edge router associated with a first one of two multiprotocol label switched-based virtual private networks in response to receiving a cross-virtual private network link setup request from an application server, the route advertisement comprising a flow-spec parameter, and the setup request identifying a communication path between two user devices associated with the first and second multiprotocol label switched-based virtual private networks, sending a second border gateway protocol route advertisement to a second provider edge router associated with the second multiprotocol label switched-based virtual private network, and restricting a communication session between the two user devices of the first and second multiprotocol label switched-based virtual private networks to a first protocol for a threshold period of time based on a restriction parameter shared by the communication path.

Methods and apparatus to form secure cross-virtual private network communication sessions

Methods, systems, and products simplify installation of terminating plugs to cables. A wiring plug helps a user arrange individual wires on the cable to a wiring diagram of a terminating plug, such as an RJ-56 plug. The wiring plug has individual passages prearranged to the wiring diagram, such that the individual wires may simply be inserted into the correct passages. The passages are also sized in diameter and length, such that each wire may be cut to the correct length for crimping to the terminating plug.

Pre-forming a twisted-pair electrical cable

Methods and apparatus to implement voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phones are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes detecting removal of a first user-replaceable network interface from a first port of a phone, the first network interface to communicate with a gateway using a first VOIP; detecting insertion of a second user-replaceable network interface into the first port of the phone, the second network interface to communicate with the gateway using a second VOIP, the second VOIP being different from the first VOIP; receiving a driver for the second network interface via a second port defined in the housing of the phone, the driver to enable the second network interface to communicate with the gateway using the second VOIP, the driver being received after a boot procedure to initialize the phone; and initializing the second network interface based on the driver.

Methods and apparatus to implement voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phones

Example methods and apparatus to form secure cross-VPN (virtual private network) communication sessions in multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)-based networks are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a communication session initiation request from a first device associated with a first MPLS-based VPN, determining whether the communication session initiation request is directed to a second device associated with a second MPLS-based VPN, sending a cross-VPN link setup request to a route reflector to enable a cross-VPN communication path over which the first and second devices are permitted to communicate when the communication session initiation request is directed to the second device associated with the second VPN, and facilitating a communication session between the first and second devices via the communication path enabled by the route reflector.

Systems and methods for advertising routing updates are disclosed. An example method includes forwarding a proposed routing update from a provider edge router to first and second customer edge routers when a route reflector determines that the proposed routing update having a first route target represents a desirable routing configuration for the provider edge router; and when the route reflector determines that the proposed routing update represents an undesirable routing configuration for the provider edge router: forwarding a first substitute routing update from the provider edge router to the first customer edge router different from the proposed routing update and including a second route target different from the first route target; and forwarding a second substitute routing update from the provider edge router to the second customer edge router different from the proposed routing update and including a third route target different from the first route target.

System for advertising routing updates

A set-top box device comprising a recall channel stack module and an output module. The recall channel stack module is configured to store a plurality of last channels displayed. The output module is in communication with the recall channel stack module, and is configured to output a last channel menu listing the plurality of last channels displayed based on a last channel request.

System and method for recalling multiple last television channels viewed

A cell-based router comprising a controller to receive provisioning information including a transport rate of at least one frame-based router among a group of frame-based routers in a communication network, adjust cell transmission rate to avoid packet losses at the frame-based routers, where cell-based traffic is routed to a bidirectional cell and frame based switch according to updated bandwidth comprising the adjusted cell transmission rate, where the bidirectional cell and frame based switch is coupled to the cell-based router and the frame-based routers.

Method and apparatus for reshaping cell-based traffic

Methods and apparatus to form secure cross-virtual private network communications sessions

Methods and apparatus to implement voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phones are disclosed. A disclosed example VoIP phone comprises a phone housing, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) processor located in the phone housing, and a bay defined in the phone housing and dimensioned to receive a user-replaceable network interface.

A method of installing a plug on a cable having insulated wire pairs includes stripping insulation from a cable end to expose the wires and arranging the wires into a plug configuration. A wiring block having a back end leading to a cavity and a front end having pass through holes respectively leading to wire troughs extending between the cavity and front end is provided. The cable end is inserted through the back end such that the wires are inserted into the wire troughs corresponding with the plug configuration and such that the ends of the wires protrude out through the pass through holes. The protruding wire ends are cut off after being pulled until the cable insulation adjacent to the cable end seats itself inside the cavity. The cable is removed from the block such that the cable end can be inserted into a plug to be crimped thereto.

Method for pre-forming a twisted-pair electrical cable

A system for advertising routing updates is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a route reflector having a controller element that generates from a routing update a plurality of dissimilar routing advertisements transmitted in whole or in part to one or more provider edge routers operating in a packet-switched communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A teleconference system for coordinating a prearranged teleconference includes a memory that stores established parameters for contacting teleconference participants. The teleconference system also includes a caller that systematically hunts and automatically calls out to designated teleconference participants over a communications network based upon the established parameters, without the need for the designated participants to call in to the teleconference.

Call out and hunt functions for teleconferencing services

A system and method are disclosed for routing packet traffic. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Provider Edge (PE) router having a routing element that routes packet traffic between a plurality of autonomous systems according to one or more Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables each having a plurality of Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) Autonomous System (AS) numbers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

System and method for routing packet traffic

A management system manages multiple multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) virtual private networks (VPNs), the VPNs having overlapping IP addresses. The system includes a storage storing a file that associates a host name with an IP address and a route distinguisher. The host name corresponds to a network element within one of the customer VPNs. The system also includes a label obtaining system that obtains at least one label for the host name based upon the associated IP address and route distinguisher. The system also has a packet construction system that creates packets destined for the network element using the obtained label(s).

Scalable management system for MPLS based service providers

A system and method are disclosed for overlaying a hierarchical network on a full mesh network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element of a full mesh network () having a controller programmed to overlay () in part a hierarchical network on the full mesh network with an isolation protocol.

Growing community of inventors

Eastpointe, MI, United States of America

Mark Anthony Elias