Abstract: A method for initiating a session within a publish/subscribe network, comprises: publishing a first topic by a first user interface of a first device, the topic identifying the first user interface and including an address-identifier identifying a second user interface of another device, triggering a request to start a session, starting a first media endpoint (43, 44) by publishing the media endpoint to the network by using a second topic for the media end point representing the media end point and describing the capabilities of the media endpoint, and linking the first media endpoint with a second media endpoint (45, 46) of the second user interface (42), when the second user interface has accepted the session.

Abstract: A residential gateway has a first, wired data connection and a second, wireless data connection. At least the second data connection connects to a network node which at least temporarily maintains simultaneous connections to at least one residential gateway and at least one mobile station. The residential gateway is communicatively connected to a load balancing controller. A method of operating the residential gateway for controlling load balancing comprises the residential gateway sending a registration request to the load balancing controller. The registration request comprises an identification of the residential gateway and an identification of the network node to which the residential gateway is communicatively connected. The residential gateway receives a listening address from which it receives load balancing control messages, and listens for load balancing control messages from the listening address.

Abstract: The apparatus is adapted for connecting a home network with a service provider network via a broadband connection for providing Internet services and comprises a media relay for receiving a data stream of the home network in accordance with a first protocol and sending the data stream in accordance with a second protocol to the service provider network for an outgoing connection, and vice versa for an incoming connection.

Abstract: The network for multimedia control comprises User Interfaces, Session Controllers and Media Endpoints as functional entities for initiating a session, the entities having each publisher and/or subscriber functionality and communicating on topics. The network is in particular a Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems (DDS) network and the entities act as Domain Participants of the DDS network for providing multimedia signalling control as a domain of the DDS network.

Abstract: A residential gateway has a first, wired data connection and a second, wireless data connection. At least the second data connection connects to a network node which at least temporarily maintains simultaneous connections to at least one residential gateway and at least one mobile station. The residential gateway is communicatively connected to a load balancing controller. A method of operating the residential gateway for controlling load balancing comprises the residential gateway sending a registration request to the load balancing controller. The registration request comprises an identification of the residential gateway and an identification of the network node to which the residential gateway is communicatively connected. The residential gateway receives a listening address from which it receives load balancing control messages, and listens for load balancing control messages from the listening address.

Abstract: A method for initiating a session within a publish/subscribe network, comprises: publishing a first topic by a first user interface of a first device, the topic identifying the first user interface and including an address-identifier identifying a second user interface of another device, triggering a request to start a session, starting a first media endpoint (43, 44) by publishing the media endpoint to the network by using a second topic for the media end point representing the media end point and describing the capabilities of the media endpoint, and linking the first media endpoint with a second media endpoint (45, 46) of the second user interface (42), when the second user interface has accepted the session.

Abstract: The apparatus is adapted for connecting a home network with a service provider network via a broadband connection for providing Internet services and comprises a media relay for receiving a data stream of the home network in accordance with a first protocol and sending the data stream in accordance with a second protocol to the service provider network for an outgoing connection, and vice versa for an incoming connection.

Abstract: The network for multimedia control comprises User Interfaces, Session Controllers and Media Endpoints as functional entities for initiating a session, the entities having each publisher and/or subscriber functionality and communicating on topics. The network is in particular a Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems (DDS) network and the entities act as Domain Participants of the DDS network for providing multimedia signalling control as a domain of the DDS network.