Abstract: Measures for processing data in a packet-switched network. A first device is configured to snoop control packets of a predetermined control plane protocol in the network. The predetermined control plane protocol is operated by a plurality of other devices in the network to obtain Layer 2 information on the basis of known Layer 3 information. The first device does not operate the predetermined control plane protocol in the network. At the first device, in response to identifying that a given snooped packet was generated according to the predetermined control plane protocol. Layer 3 information associated with a second device in the plurality is extracted from the given snooped control plane protocol packet on the basis of known Layer 2 information associated with the second device. The second device is connected to the first device.

Abstract: Measures for processing data in a packet-switched network. At a first device in the network, an echo request packet is transmitted into the network. The echo request packet comprises a predetermined identifier. An echo response packet is received from a second device in the network. In response to the received echo response packet comprising the predetermined identifier, the received echo response packet is identified as a packet generated on the basis of an echo request packet originated from the first device, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address comprised in the received echo response packet is determined to be an IP address of the second device.

Abstract: Measures for processing data in a packet-switched network. At a first device in the network, a packet transmitted from a second device in the network is received. The received packet comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) address for a third device in the network. On the basis of the IP address for the third device comprised in the received data packet, lookup in an IP routing table of the second device is initiated to obtain a next-hop address for the received packet. The obtained next-hop IP address is determined to be an IP address of a device connected to the first device.

Abstract: Measures for routing data packets in a data center network are provided. A packet forwarding function in a server in a data center network is configured to forward data packets to/from virtual systems hosted on that server. The packet forwarding function is configured to make forwarding decisions for received data packets based on the destination internet protocol (IP) address of the received data packet, and forward the data packet at least on the basis of the forwarding decision.

Abstract: Measures for establishing connectivity in a data center network are provided. A virtual connection is created between a virtual system hosted on a server in a data center network, and a packet forwarding function in that server. Additionally, an entry is populated in a packet forwarding data store in the server, which includes an internet protocol (IP) address of the virtual system and an associated identifier for the created virtual connection. The packet forwarding data store is accessed by the packet forwarding function when making forwarding decisions for received data packets.

Abstract: Measures for controlling communication access in a data center network are provided. A packet forwarding function in a server in a data center network is configured to access an access control data store when making forwarding decisions for received data packets which are being routed to/from virtual systems hosted on that server. In response to receipt, at the server, of a setup notification relating to setup of a virtual machine on the server, one or more entries are populated in the access control data store. The entries comprise an internet protocol (IP) address of the virtual system and at least one associated IP address of one or more other communication endpoints.

Abstract: A telephony user device capable of establishing a communications session for communication of data in a data communications network, the telephony user device including a processing system configured to provide a reconfigurable graphical user interface, establish a telephone call with a voicemail system, establish a separate communications session, separate from the telephone call, for the transfer of data to/from the telephony user device, on the basis of one or more call party details associated with the telephone call, and reconfigure at least a part of the graphical user interface in accordance with configuration data received via the separate communication session, the configuration data relating to and/or being derived from the voicemail system.

Abstract: Measures for operating a data link, including handling transfer of operation from a primary to a backup device in the link without taking down and re-establishing the link.

Abstract: Measures for detecting unusual communication session events in a telecommunications network. A Markov model for events occurring in communication sessions conducted in the network is maintained. The maintaining includes assigning a probability of occurrence metric to a plurality of event sequences in the conducted communication sessions. In response to a given sequence of communication session events being assigned a probability of occurrence metric which exceeds a predetermined threshold, an unusual communication session event alert in association with the given sequence is triggered.

Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details. The communications session is separate from the telephone call, for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two user devices.

Abstract: Measures for the communication of data with respect to at least two different user devices in a data communications network. Establishing a communications session for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two different user devices, receiving, on the basis of user input at one of the at least two different user devices, an identifier identifying one or more downloadable resources, generating a transmissible identifier based at least in part on the received identifier, the transmissible identifier being operable to initiate the download of the one or more downloadable resources using the transmissible identifier, and to associate a predetermined identity with the download, and enabling the download of the one or more downloadable resources to another of the at least two different user devices using the transmissible identifier.

Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for data with respect to at least two user devices in a packet switched communications network in parallel to a voice session via a circuit switched network. Call party details of a telephony call are received. The telephony call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details and depending on the capabilities of the user devices. The communications session is separate from the telephone call, for the communication of data to and/or from at least two user devices.

Abstract: A method of controlling a user device in a telecommunications network having a first part and a second, different part is provided. The method includes, at the user device, receiving a first communication session setup request to set up a given communication session, the first communication session setup request being directed to a first communication interface, receiving a communication notification in relation to the same given communication session, the communication notification being directed to a second communication interface, establishing the given communication session via the first communication interface via the first part of the telecommunications network, and after having established the given communication session via the first communication interface, activating an alert function to alert a user of the user device to the availability of the second communication interface at least on the basis of having received the communication availability notification.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network including at least a user device and a network node separated by at least a packet-switched part of the telecommunications network, the user device including a primary jitter buffer having a constant packet play-out rate, the network node including a secondary jitter buffer, incoming packets destined for the user device are received and passed through the secondary jitter buffer of the network node downstream towards the primary jitter buffer of the user device. The departure times of packets passing through the secondary jitter buffer of the network node downstream towards the primary jitter buffer of the user device are monitored. On the basis of the monitoring and one or more known characteristics of the primary jitter buffer, an estimate of a current state of the primary jitter buffer is maintained. Operation of the secondary jitter buffer is dynamically controlled according to the maintained estimate.

Abstract: Nodes in a tree data structure are associated with respective node keys. At least some of the nodes are associated with at least one respective node rank. The structure is searched to attempt to identify a preferred prefix-matching node on the basis of attempting to find a prefix-matching node that has a prefix match with a search key and which has a preferred node rank relative to a node rank associated with a node which may have a longer prefix match. If the prefix-matching node is identified, a dependent node rank identifier associated with the prefix-matching node is used to determine that the prefix-matching node has the preferred node rank. The dependent node rank identifier indicates at least a node rank of a node which may have a longer prefix match than the prefix-matching node. The prefix-matching node is selected, if identified, as a preferred prefix-matching node.

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: Call party details of a telephone call involving first and second telephony user devices are received. The call party details include first and second identities associated with the first and second telephony user devices respectively. A client-server connection request is received from, and a client-server connection is established with, one of the user devices. A session for the communication of data to and/or from the user devices is established separately from the telephone call on the basis of the first and second identities. The receipt of pre-configured user data by the one of the user devices is enabled via the client-server connection. The pre-configured user data has been specified by a user of another of the user devices prior to the establishment of the telephone call as data for receipt by other user devices during telephone calls conducted by the user.

Abstract: Measures for processing data in a telecommunications network. At a first network node in a cluster of network nodes, a communication session setup request requesting setup of a communication session with a subscriber device in a plurality of subscriber devices is received. In response to receipt of the communication session setup request, registration data relating to the subscriber device is retrieved from a shared registration data store. The communication session setup request is routed according to the retrieved registration data. The retrieved registration data relating to the subscriber device was previously stored in the shared registration data store by a second network node in the cluster of network nodes in relation to a registration procedure conducted for the subscriber device by the second network node, the second network node being a different network node to the first network node in the cluster of network nodes.

Abstract: Measures for processing data in a telecommunications network. At a cache, a subscriber configuration data request requesting subscriber configuration data for a subscriber device is received from a network node in a cluster of network nodes. In response to receipt of the subscriber configuration data request, it is determined that a shared cache store does not contain subscriber configuration data for the subscriber device. In response to the determination, subscriber configuration data for the subscriber device is retrieved from a subscriber configuration network node. The subscriber configuration data for the subscriber device retrieved from the subscriber configuration network node is transmitted to the network node.

Abstract: Measures for processing communication status messages in a telecommunications network which includes a plurality of signaling nodes responsible for processing signaling information in the telecommunications network and a charging node responsible for processing billing information in the telecommunications network. A communication status message is received from a signaling node in the plurality. The received communication status message includes first communication status information. Second communication status information is generated on the basis of at least the first communication status information. One or more communication status messages are transmitted to the charging node. The one or more transmitted communication status messages include the first communication status information and the second communication status information.