Abstract: A packet processing system comprises a packet processing graph comprising classifier nodes including a root classifier node and leaf classifier nodes. The root classifier node is connected to each of the classifier nodes through a respective packet processing path in the graph. Each classifier node stores node match data indicative of at least one match to be applied by the respective classifier node. The classifier nodes comprise first and second classifier nodes arranged in a first packet processing path of said plurality of packet processing paths. The first classifier node stores node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from a plurality of packet header field types, including first and second, different packet header field types. The second classifier node stores node match data indicative of a match corresponding to content from at least one packet header field type, including the first packet header field type.

Abstract: The disclosures relates to a method of provisioning a subscriber profile into a subscriber data store of an IP Multimedia System (IMS) capable telecommunications network, the subscriber profile being for a subscriber which is a visiting subscriber with respect to the IMS-capable telecommunications network, the subscriber data store being for use in IP Multimedia System (IMS) call processing, the method comprising: receiving a request to allocate an IMS Access Point Name (APN); and in response to receiving the request to allocate the IMS APN, triggering a provisioning of the subscriber profile into the subscriber data store.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to software-defined networks, and particularly, but not exclusively to programmable packet data processing systems, methods and computer readable products for use therein.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of operating a service provider network node in a service provider network, comprising: establishing an interface between a control plane processing part and a data plane processing part for routing of control packets at the data plane processing part; at the control plane processing part, generating a control packet for routing through the service provider network; and at the control plane processing part, sending the control packet to the data plane processing part via the interface, to cause the data plane processing part to route the control packet through the service provider network using the one or more routing tables maintained by the data plane processing part in response to receiving the control packet from the control plane processing part via the interface.

Abstract: A network node has a graceful restart mode in which the node: sends a graceful restart notification to one or more neighbouring nodes; attempts to re-establish an adjacency with the neighbouring node(s); receives link state data from at least one of the neighbouring node(s), the received data being sent in response to said attempt; derives pre-restart link data from the received data, the derived data identifying formerly active links, including the node, for routing traffic before the restart; routes network traffic in accordance with routing information stored in the router; detects one or more links, of the formerly active links, which are currently inactive; continues with graceful restart after said detection; determines one or more links, of the formerly active links, which are currently active; and exits the graceful restart mode in response to successful re-establishment of adjacencies with a respective neighbouring node for each of the currently active link(s).

Abstract: Processing data in a communications system comprising a plurality of servers is provided. First data received from a communications device is directed to a given server in the plurality of servers. A server identifier identifying the given server is transmitted to the communications device. Subsequent data is received from the communications device. The subsequent data comprises the server identifier and a further parameter. The given server is selected on the basis of at least the server identifier and some of the subsequent data received from the communications device is directed to the given server. In the event of a need to redirect subsequent data to a server other than the given server, a different server is selected on the basis of at least the further parameter and further of the subsequent data received from the communications device is directed to the selected different server.

Abstract: A media gateway and method with a media session manager function, a media processor function, and a media session state datastore function. The functions are provided by one or more instantiations which allow for independent scalability of the functions in the media gateway.

Abstract: In one aspect, a control plane Interworking Function (IWF-C) is used to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session in a data communications network. A create session request is received, for example from a Mobile Management Entity (MME). A create session management context request is generated by the IWF-C and transmitted to a Session Management Function (SMF). A create session management context request response is received from the SMF. A create session request response is generated by the IWF-C and sent, for example to the MME. In other aspects, control plane policy interworking and user plane interworking is provided between components of 4G and 5G networks.

Abstract: A network node comprises a core processing part to perform a core processing function, an ingress processing part to receive incoming signaling messages, an egress processing part to output signaling messages for transmission from the network node, and a message manipulation function to manipulate signaling messages. In a first configuration, the message manipulation function is comprised in the ingress processing part, and in a second configuration the message manipulation function is comprised in the egress processing part. In the first configuration, an egress characteristic is determined, indicative of how an outgoing signaling message is to be outputted, and an incoming signaling message is manipulated based on the egress characteristic. In the second configuration, an ingress characteristic is determined, indicative of how an incoming signaling message has been received, and an outgoing signaling message is manipulated based on the ingress characteristic.

Abstract: In one aspect, a control plane Interworking Function (IWF-C) is used to establish a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session in a data communications network. A create session request is received, for example from a Mobile Management Entity (MME). A create session management context request is generated by the IWF-C and transmitted to a Session Management Function (SMF). A create session management context request response is received from the SMF. A create session request response is generated by the IWF-C and sent, for example to the MME. In other aspects, control plane policy interworking and user plane interworking is provided between components of 4G and 5G networks.

Abstract: A method of processing call establishment requests, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving call establishment definition data relating to a called party identifier; b) receiving a call establishment request from a calling party, the call establishment request comprising the called party identifier; c) determining that a user terminal associated with the called party identifier is engaged in a call with a remote party; d) determining that call establishment definition data is associated with the called party identifier; and e) in response to steps b) c) and d), processing the call establishment request to connect the calling party to the called party.

Abstract: Measures are provided for use in establishing a telephony session between first and second telephony devices in a telephony network. Telephony network equipment in the telephony network receives, from the first telephony device over a signalling link, a telephony session establishment request. The telephony network equipment receives, from the first telephony device over a data link that is separate to the signalling link, a message comprising data useable by the telephony network equipment to identify the second telephony device. The telephony network equipment correlates the received telephony session establishment request and the received message. The telephony network equipment transmits, to the second telephony device, a telephony session establishment request on the basis of the correlating. The first telephony device is associated with a multi-persona user having a first persona associated with a first telephony identifier and a second persona associated with a second telephony identifier.

Abstract: A method of serving a network resource usage record file is disclosed. The method can comprise: storing network resource usage records in a distributed database, the network resource usage records relating to network resource usage in a telecommunications network; sending a file list identifying a network resource usage record file over a file retrieval interface without having constructed the network resource usage record file; receiving, over the file retrieval interface, a request for the network resource usage record file; constructing, in response to the receiving of the request, the network resource usage record file, the network resource usage record file comprising one or more network resource usage records obtained from the distributed database; and serving, over the file retrieval interface, the network resource usage record file.

Abstract: A controller node receives a list of a first plurality of flows programmed on a network switch. The controller node extracts a flow cookie value from a flow cookie data field of each flow in the first plurality of flows on the received list and calculates a session identifier on the basis of the extracted cookie values. At least one add flow command is transmitted from the controller node to the network switch to program a second plurality of flows on the network switch. The at least one add flow command comprises flow cookie values in the flow cookie data fields of each of the flows in the second plurality of flows which are set equal to the calculated session identifier. At least one delete flow command is transmitted from the controller node to the network switch to delete programming of the first plurality of flows on the network switch.

Abstract: A method of determining trigger conditions for scaling a scalable unit of network function comprising identifying a primary set of metrics associated with usage of an instance of the unit of network function as a primary indicator of occurrence of a load state thereof, and determining usage points when the primary indicator indicates that the load state occurs. Deriving a secondary set of the metrics, different to the primary set, as a secondary indicator of occurrence of the load state of the instance at each of a group of one or more of the usage points when the primary indicator indicates that the load state occurs, and measured data corresponding to values of the metrics in the secondary set of metrics at each of the group of usage points. Storing a trigger condition for scaling the unit of network function based on the secondary set and the measured data.

Abstract: Traffic is processed in a virtualised environment comprising: (i) a physical underlay network; (ii) a first overlay network (an overlay of the physical underlay network and associated with a first set of network addresses, IP1); (iii) a second overlay network (an overlay of the first overlay network and associated with a second set of network addresses, IP2); and (iv) virtualised applications each having an execution environment and being associated with at least one network address in each of the first and second sets of network addresses, IP1 and IP2. In the execution environment of a first virtualised application: (i) traffic communicated from the first virtualised application to the first overlay network is encapsulated; and/or (ii) traffic communicated from the first overlay network to the first virtualised application is decapsulated. Tenant separation processing is performed outside the execution environments of the virtualised applications.

Abstract: Measures for providing timer services in a network including a cluster of nodes responsible for providing timer services to clients. At a given node in the cluster, a request to provide a timer is received from a client. Configuration of a primary replica of the requested timer on a first node in the cluster to pop after a first time has elapsed is initiated. A first timer replication message is transmitted to a second node in the cluster, the first timer replication message indicating that the second node should configure a first backup replica of the requested timer. A second timer replication message is transmitted to a third node in the cluster, the second timer replication message indicating that the third node should configure a second backup replica of the requested timer. Popping of the primary, first backup or second backup timer replicas includes initiating callback of a given client.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing a received data packet are provided. The method involves determining whether the received data packet is to be recorded and applying to the packet a virtual LAN identification tag from a first group of one or more predetermined virtual LAN identification tags if it is determined that the packet is to be recorded. A recording management system is also provided, including an apparatus and a forwarding network element. The forwarding network element is arranged to inspect as received data packet and determine a virtual LAN identification tag of the packet. The forwarding network element is further arranged to cops the data packet if the virtual LAN identification tag of the packet is in the first group and to send the copy of the data packet to a recording element.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to virtualization and have particular application to lifecycle management of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs). Preferred embodiments provide a method for managing VNFs in a communications network that comprises management and orchestration (MANO) entities and a deployment management entity which is functionally separate from the MANO entities.

Abstract: Data is processed in a telecommunications network. First and second notifications are received, via an input interface, from first and second Charging Trigger Functions, CTFs, in the telecommunications network. The first and second notifications relate to network resource usage in the telecommunications network. A scalable transformation function is used to transform data derived from the first and second notifications into a first usage detail report in a first detail report format and a second usage detail report in a second, different detail report format. The first and second usage detail reports are output, via an output interface, to at least one recipient system.