Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A network element (20), such as a PDSN or home agent, upon determining (11) a need to effect a call management operation, then determines (12) whether to constrain the facilitation of that call management operation. When determining that the call management operation should be constrained, the network element can facilitate (14) that call management operation while imposing an artificial facilitation constraint. For example, the rate at which the call management operation is executed with respect to a plurality of existing calls can be specified.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A method and system for a mobile station to identify to a wireless network agent, an access point into a wireless network. The mobile station obtains an indication of an access point into the wireless network and inserts the indication into a mobile registration message. The access point identifier identifies an access point into the wireless network. Then, the mobile station sends the mobile registration message to the wireless network agent via the access point identified by the access point identifier. The wireless network agent receives the mobile registration message and provides the access point identifier to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server uses the access point identifier to provide location-based services to the mobile station.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A packet data serving node (200) that receives (101) from a mobile station (408) that already has an existing home agent-facilitated data session an indication of a present need to conduct an interactive real-time session is able to establish (102) a non-home agent-facilitated interactive real-time session for that mobile station notwithstanding and apart from the existing home agent-facilitated data session. By one approach this can comprise treating traffic as corresponds to the non-home agent-facilitated interactive real-time session as simple Internet Protocol traffic while treating traffic as corresponds to the existing home agent-facilitated data session as mobile Internet Protocol traffic. If desired, different Internet Protocol address can be used to facilitate such treatment alternatives. By one approach, the aforementioned packet data serving node assigns the Internet Protocol that the mobile station uses in conjunction with the non-home agent-facilitated interactive real-time session.

Abstract: Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, one provides (101) a schema that specifies, at least in part, constraints with respect to structure and content to be imposed with respect to corresponding schema-based documents. This schema is then used (102) to specify a computable specification for a command line interface to be used with a particular corresponding component. By one approach this computable specification comprises at least one facility specification. This facility specification in turn comprises, at least in part, at least one of an operating parameter (or parameters) as pertain to the particular corresponding component and/or a method (or methods) that are capable of being effected via the particular corresponding component. This computable specification is then used (103) to derive at least one of a corresponding command line interface implementation for the particular corresponding component and/or a graphical user interface for a corresponding management application.

Abstract: A first and a second, different wireless access technology are supported (101 and 102) via an access gateway (200). The first wireless access technology, for example, can serve to facilitate provision of a wireless communication session with a given mobile station (104). Using (105) a received first identifier that correlates the mobile station to the first wireless access technology and a received second identifier that correlates the mobile station to the second wireless access technology, this access gateway can then, when appropriate, effect (106) a handover of that wireless communication session for that mobile station from the first wireless access technology to the second wireless access technology.

Abstract: A network element can monitor (105) communication resource usage by, for example, a first end user. A determination (106) can then be had as to whether this first end user's communication resource usage exceeds a predetermined individual level of usage for that first end user (as distinguished, for example, from an upper limit as might be generically applied across an entire user population). When the first end user's communication resource does exceed this predetermined individual level of usage, automatic limitations regarding the first end user's communication resource usage can be imposed (108) while nevertheless continuing to facilitate the end user's communication resource usage.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol access gateway (200) characterized by having automatically and dynamically maintained end user profile information can receive (101) information (subsequent to otherwise authenticating an end user's ability to engage in a communication session) regarding content being sought by the end user via a communication session. That access gateway can then facilitate determination (102) regarding whether this end user is authorized to receive such content.

Abstract: A network element receives data intended for another destination and develops corresponding accounting information. This network element then process this accounting information with respect to at least one filter criterion as correlates to a target accounting information recipient to provide corresponding filtered accounting information. The network element then forwards this filtered accounting information to the target accounting information recipient.

Abstract: Applications on a mobile radio device selectively communicate over a wireless network based on a dormancy of the air interface. Middleware is provided between the applications and drivers of the mobile radio device for facilitating communication sessions based on the dormancy status of the air interface. The middleware effects selective communication sessions, in one embodiment, by informing applications of the state of the air interface and, in another embodiment, to allow and disallow one or more communication sessions.

Abstract: A wireless access gateway (70) obtains (11) substantially current information regarding its own performance capacity. That information is communicated to a network element (90). In a preferred approach, the wireless access gateway integrally combines (12) the substantially current information with at least one call management message to provide a composite message, which composite message is then transmitted (14). The network element then preferably automatically makes determinations (82) regarding selection of a particular wireless access gateway to support a given call as a function, at least in part, of the substantially current information regarding wireless access gateway performance capacity.

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for seamlessly roaming between different wireless access technologies. In an exemplary embodiment, a universal wireless access gateway (UWAG) may include a shared component and a first environment access module (EAM) that communicates with the shared component to enable access to a first network using a first wireless access technology. Additionally, the UWAG may include a second EAM that communicates with the shared component. The second EAM and shared component may enable access to a second network using a second wireless access technology that differs from the first wireless access technology. An exemplary data structure including various pointer blocks and data blocks may also be provided for switching between different wireless access technologies.

Abstract: When a network element detects (100) Point-to-Point Protocol renegotiation as corresponds to a client node, that network element then automatically accesses (102) context information as pertains to a previous Point-to-Point Protocol session for that client node. The network element then facilitates (103) that Point-to-Point Protocol renegotiation and determines (104) freshly presently context information as corresponds to that client node. These teachings then contemplate comparing (105) at least some of the freshly presented context information with the access context information to provide a comparison result. When this comparison result (106) corresponds to a least a first category of result (for example, when the comparison comprises a match between these corresponding categories of information) the network element then automatically processes (107) a registration as corresponds to the client node without also requesting revocation of a previously established registration state for the client node.

Abstract: An apparatus (30), upon receiving a data packet at a network element interface (31), which data packet corresponds to a given network element, can use an accounting information processor (33) to develop specific accounting information regarding network usage on behalf of the given network element. For example, discrete accounting information can be developed to indicate whether data packets are blocked for forwarded as per the operations of a data packet filter (32). As another example, discrete accounting information can be developed to indicate the quantity of data packets as are handled for each of a plurality of different quality of service levels as ascertained by a quality of service-based data packet processor (34).

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.

Abstract: A network element (20), such as a PDSN or home agent, upon determining (11) a need to effect a call management operation, then determines (12) whether to constrain the facilitation of that call management operation. When determining that the call management operation should be constrained, the network element can facilitate (14) that call management operation while imposing an artificial facilitation constraint. For example, the rate at which the call management operation is executed with respect to a plurality of existing calls can be specified.

Abstract: A system and methods are shown for traffic shaping and congestion avoidance in a computer network such as a data-over-cable network. A headend of the data-over-cable system includes a traffic shaper configured to calculate a packet arrival rate from a cable modem and a traffic conditioner configured to calculate an average queue size on an output interface to an external network. For example, the traffic shaper compares the packet arrival rate to three packet arrival thresholds including a committed rate threshold, a control rate threshold and a peak rate threshold. If the calculated packet arrival rate falls between the committed threshold and control rate threshold, the traffic shaper applies a link layer mechanism, such as a MAP bandwidth allocation mechanism, to lower the transmission rate from the cable modem.