Abstract: Methods and apparatus for addressing of Virtual Network Functions, VNFs. A registration controller of a VNF instance controls a transmitter to transmit a registration request to a VNF Service Registry, VNF-SR, the registration request identifying a public address of the VNF instance. A receiver of the VNF-SR receives the registration request and a VNF address determiner determines a VNF address for the VNF instance based on the received registration request. A Database Management System, DBMS, stores the determined VNF address in a memory. An event subscriber of a Virtual Network Function Manager, VNFM, controls a transmitter to transmit a subscription request to the VNF-SR, the subscription request comprising an identifier for a VNF. A receiver of a Virtual Configuration Server, VCS, receives a notification from the VNF-SR when a change has occurred in configuration and/or address data stored in the memory of the VNF-SR and relating to one or more VNF instances.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for addressing of Virtual Network Functions, VNFs. A registration controller of a VNF instance controls a transmitter to transmit a registration request to a VNF Service Registry, VNF-SR, the registration request identifying a public address of the VNF instance. A receiver of the VNF-SR receives the registration request and a VNF address determiner determines a VNF address for the VNF instance based on the received registration request. A Database Management System, DBMS, stores the determined VNF address in a memory. An event subscriber of a Virtual Network Function Manager, VNFM, controls a transmitter to transmit a subscription request to the VNF-SR, the subscription request comprising an identifier for a VNF. A receiver of a Virtual Configuration Server, VCS, receives a notification from the VNF-SR when a change has occurred in configuration and/or address data stored in the memory of the VNF-SR and relating to one or more VNF instances.

Abstract: A distributed data storage system uses a data distribution and location algorithm based on distance functions and hyper-spheres in a multi-dimensional space. The distributed data storage system uses the algorithm to maintain, over time, a balanced distribution across a number of computers interconnected by a network of a varying set of data items. Each data item includes one or more key fields. The system also includes an efficient partial-match and exact-match search across a whole set of data items using as search criteria the values of any or all of the sought data item's key field(s).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a specific handling of tel URIs in an IMS terminating network so as to enable routing of calls using telephone numbers (and not SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers) as identifiers of the target users of those calls. Specifically, the present invention introduces a conversion module which is located within the IMS terminating network and is capable of converting SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers into equivalent tel URIs which are then used by a terminating I-CSCF and S-CSCF to query the SLF and/or HSS so that they can route the calls to the target users.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus configured to classifying user traffic flows carried by a network, each user traffic flow being associated with one of a plurality of users. The apparatus comprises a classification unit 7 for classifying each user traffic flow into one of a plurality of traffic classes, a pattern generation unit 13 for generating a user pattern for each user, a grouping unit 14 for grouping the plurality of users into one or more user groups, and for identifying a user pattern within each user group that is representative of all user patterns within the user group, and an optimized classification unit 8 for identifying a user associated with a subsequent user traffic flow, determining the user group to which the user belongs, retrieving the representative user pattern of said user group, and using the traffic classes included in the representative user pattern to classify the subsequent user traffic flow.

Abstract: A distributed data storage system uses a data distribution and location algorithm based on distance functions and hyper-spheres in a multi-dimensional space. The distributed data storage system uses the algorithm to maintain, over time, a balanced distribution across a number of computers interconnected by a network of a varying set of data items. Each data item includes one or more key fields. The system also includes an efficient partial-match and exact-match search across a whole set of data items using as search criteria the values of any or all of the sought data item's key field(s).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a specific handling of tel URIs in an IMS terminating network so as to enable routing of calls using telephone numbers (and not SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers) as identifiers of the target users of those calls. Specifically, the present invention introduces a conversion module which is located within the IMS terminating network and is capable of converting SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers into equivalent tel URIs which are then used by a terminating I-CSCF and S-CSCF to query the SLF and/or HSS so that they can route the calls to the target users.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a more flexible data structure where any IMPU, even those of the SIP URI type, may be shared by more than one IRS in order to simplify the registration of an IMPU for users of a Fixed-Mobile Convergent network. To this end, there is provided a flexible data structure wherein a number n of IMPUs of a user may be distributed in a number m of Implicit Registration Sets, wherein a given IMPU may be shared by more than one IRS, each IRS is associated with an access condition, and the explicit registration of said given IMPU under a given access condition triggers the implicit registration of those IMPUs in the IRS associated with said access condition, while the registration status of IMPUs in any other IRS remain unchanged.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing a virtual private network with an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) device that includes a key derivation module, a tunneling protocol module, a tunnel management module, and a security policies module. The apparatus includes a non-volatile memory configured to store a first routing table that maps host addresses and IMS addresses of security devices allowing access to those hosts, such that when an application running in the IMS device requests communication to a host address, the apparatus initiates a session with the IMS address to which the host address is mapped. The session is initiated by a message that includes a body that contains, for each tunneling protocol supported by the tunneling protocol module, data about the local tunnel endpoint (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issues of remotely controlling multiple LAN-attachable devices (1a-1m) and provides for means and method of controlling the LAN-attachable devices from a CP-terminal (2) through an IMS network (51, 52). Basically, the invention provides for the allocation of unique identifiers to each LAN-attachable device (S-020), the exposure of these identifiers in an appropriate entity under control of a SIP network operator (S-045), fetching these identifiers from the CP-terminal (S050), the submission of control commands from the CP-terminal though the IMS network towards a Remote Gateway (S-055), where the LAN-attachable devices are accessible through a home LAN network, and the submission of corresponding control command from the Remote Gateway towards the LAN-attachable devices (S-060).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus configured to classifying user traffic flows carried by a network, each user traffic flow being associated with one of a plurality of users. The apparatus comprises a classification unit 7 for classifying each user traffic flow into one of a plurality of traffic classes, a pattern generation unit 13 for generating a user pattern for each user, a grouping unit 14 for grouping the plurality of users into one or more user groups, and for identifying a user pattern within each user group that is representative of all user patterns within the user group, and an optimised classification unit 8 for identifying a user associated with a subsequent user traffic flow, determining the user group to which the user belongs, retrieving the representative user pattern of said user group, and using the traffic classes included in the representative user pattern to classify the subsequent user traffic flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism whereby a session established at a particular MGCF between a subscriber of a legacy network and a first user of a referral service can be replaced by another session to be established between the subscriber of the legacy network and a second user of the referral service without disturbing the sessions already established. Therefore, the present invention provides a new method and devices for generating an IMS Telephony Endpoint, which includes a first information field with a telephony Universal Resource Identifier identifying an originating or destination subscriber, as the case may be, and a second information field with information usable to identify the generating MGCF as the particular MGCF holding a session for such served subscriber. Such ITE is submitted towards the IMS and is included in a further referral service request involving such session so that the particular MGCF may be identified.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issues of remotely controlling multiple LAN-attachable devices (1a-1m) and provides for means and method of controlling the LAN-attachable devices from a CP-terminal (2) through an IMS network (51, 52). Basically, the invention provides for the allocation of unique identifiers to each LAN-attachable device (S-020), the exposure of these identifiers in an appropriate entity under control of a SIP network operator (S-045), fetching these identifiers from the CP-terminal (S050), the submission of control commands from the CP-terminal though the IMS network towards a Remote Gateway (S-055), where the LAN-attachable devices are accessible through a home LAN network, and the submission of corresponding control command from the Remote Gateway towards the LAN-attachable devices (S-060).

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing a virtual private network with an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) device that includes a key derivation module, a tunneling protocol module, a tunnel management module, and a security policies module. The apparatus includes a non-volatile memory configured to store a first routing table that maps host addresses and IMS addresses of security devices allowing access to those hosts, such that when an application running in the IMS device requests communication to a host address, the apparatus initiates a session with the IMS address to which the host address is mapped. The session is initiated by a message that includes a body that contains, for each tunneling protocol supported by the tunneling protocol module, data about the local tunnel endpoint (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a more flexible data structure where any IMPU, even those of the SIP URI type, may be shared by more than one IRS in order to simplify the registration of an IMPU for users of a Fixed-Mobile Convergent network. To this end, there is provided a flexible data structure wherein a number n of IMPUs of a user may be distributed in a number m of Implicit Registration Sets, wherein a given IMPU may be shared by more than one IRS, each IRS is associated with an access condition, and the explicit registration of said given IMPU under a given access condition triggers the implicit registration of those IMPUs in the IRS associated with said access condition, whilst the registration status of IMPUs in any other IRS remain unchanged.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a specific handling of tel URIs in an IMS terminating network so as to enable routing of calls using telephone numbers (and not SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers) as identifiers of the target users of those calls. Specifically, the present invention introduces a conversion module which is located within the IMS terminating network and is capable of converting SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers into equivalent tel URIs which are then used by a terminating I-CSCF and S-CSCF to query the SLF and/or HSS so that they can route the calls to the target users.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and application server for dynamically allocating an application server within an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) receives a user request and queries a central database to determine whether the user is allocated to an application server. If so, the S-CSCF forwards the request to the allocated application server. If the user is not already allocated to a server, the S-CSCF allocates the user to an application server and forwards the request to the newly allocated application server. The S-CSCF or the newly allocated application server sends a request to the central database to record the allocation.

Abstract: A controller (GK) of a communication system (SYS) including in each of a plurality of geographically distant zones (ZA, ZB, ZC) a zone-specific controller (GK) and one or more subscriber terminals (EP) comprises a controller characteristics memory (CCM) for storing at least a private network identifier (PNID), a private network configuration memory (PNCM) for storing the private network configuration, a private network configuration determing means (PMDM) for communicating with other controllers (GK) of the communication system to determine the private network configuration and a call router for routing a call setup message received from a subscriber terminal (EP-A3) in one zone (ZA) to another subscriber terminal (EP-B2) of another zone (ZB).

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a public network, to which a first endpoint device is connected, and a data network, to which second endpoint devices and a multimedia controller are connected. The networks are interconnected via a remote access server which provides data connectivity for the first endpoint device but which has a limited bandwidth. Codecs with corresponding bandwidth are selected for communication between the endpoints. The multimedia controller receives a communication request that comprises information related to the codecs desired by the endpoint device for said communication. The multimedia controller sends an address detection message towards the endpoint device involved in said communication and checks the address information in the answer to said address detection message. Final codecs for the communication are selected depending on if the answer contains an address of a network element, which can limit the bandwidth for said communication.

Abstract: A controller (GK) of a communication system (SYS) including in each of a plurality of geographically distant zones (ZA, ZB, ZC) a zone-specific controller (GK) and one or more subscriber terminals (EP) comprises a controller characteristics memory (CCM) for storing at least a private network identifier (PNID), a private network configuration memory (PNCM) for storing the private network configuration, a private network configuration determing means (PMDM) for communicating with other controllers (GK) of the communication system to determine the private network configuration and a call router for routing a call setup message received from a subscriber terminal (EP-A3) in one zone (ZA) to another subscriber terminal (EP-B2) of another zone (ZB).