Abstract: A method for exchanging packets between two nodes of a packet-switched communication network. Each packet comprises a marking field and a reflected marking field. Each node sets the value of the marking field in its outgoing packets to be transmitted to the other node. This value is alternately switched between two alternative marking values every N outgoing packets. While incoming packets are received from the other node, each node also sets the value of the reflected marking field of its outgoing packets according to the value of the marking field of the incoming packets. An observer placed between the two nodes may count the packets whose marking field is equal to any of the marking values and/or the packets whose reflected marking field is equal to any of the marking values, and use N and such counts to provide a packet loss measurement.

Abstract: A method for enabling a performance measurement on packet flow transmitted through a communication network. A marking value is periodically switched in the packets with a marking period Tm. The packet flow is then divided into blocks of duration Ts (synchronization period). Each synchronization period comprises an integer number of marking periods. Two or more measurement points on the path of the packet flow may provide a performance parameter for each marking period and associate thereto a synchronization information generated based on their local clocks and relating to the synchronization period containing the marking period to which the performance parameter relates; and a sequence information indicating the marking period's position within the synchronization period. A management server may identify performance parameters provided by different measurement points and relating to a same marking period based on the synchronization information and the sequence information.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for processing packets transmitted in a packet-switched communication network includes a sampling module that identifies amongst the received packets a plurality of samples distributed in a statistically uniform way amongst at least two non-overlapping sample sequences. Each sample sequence is then subjected to at least one identification rule, thereby identifying in the sample sequence at least one sub-sequence of samples fulfilling the at least one identification rule. The identification rule comprises a condition on the value of at least one identification field of the packets. Then, at least one parameter indicative of a behavior of the at least one sub-sequence of samples is provided.

Abstract: A cellular system includes cell sites, each having multiple cells. Each cell identifies a radio coverage area and includes communication equipment. A method for managing the cellular system includes determining, among the cell sites, a candidate cell site to be at least partially deactivated. The candidate cell includes at least one associated cell with a load factor below a threshold. Replacement cells are selected from other cell sites, where the replacement cells are adjacent to the candidate cell. A target geographical area enclosing the area of the candidate cell and that of the replacement cells is identified, and a transmission parameter for the target geographical area is determined. Communication equipment associated with the replacement cells is selected and configured based on the transmission parameter. Then the candidate cell monitors the transmission parameter in the target geographic area, and at least partially deactivates based on the monitoring.

Abstract: In a method for exchanging packets between first and second nodes of a packet-switched network, each packet comprises two fields settable to an idle value or measurement value. The first node transmits to the second node first packets having a filed set to measurement value. Upon reception of each first packet, the second node transmits back to the first node a second packet having a field set to measurement value. Upon reception of each second packet, the first node transmits to the second node a third packet having another field set to measurement value. A packet loss measurement is calculated as a difference between the number of first packets and the number of third packets.

Abstract: A method for controlling a bandwidth over a communication link connecting first and second client network elements. The first element is configured to send to the second element data traffic including at least a best effort traffic flow of packets. The method includes: at the first element, marking a number of best effort packets with a control code, the control code taking values within a predetermined ordered control sequence of values, and sending the marked packets to the second element through the link; at the second element, checking the control code of each marked best effort packet and, in case of detection of a missing value of the control code, sending to the first element a packet containing a feedback code indicative of an adjustment of the bandwidth; and, at the first element, upon reception of the feedback code, adjusting the bandwidth.

Abstract: A method for authorizing automatic login of a user to a reserved area of an information resource includes, at a first user device, connecting to a web server for retrieving the information resource, and sending to an authentication server an identifier of the information resource and an identifier of the user. At the authentication server, based on the identifiers of the information resource and of the user, an authorization request is sent to a second user device associated with the user, and which stores access credentials for logging in the reserved area. At the second user device, the user is notified of the authorization request, and upon confirmation of the authorization request by the user on the second user device, access credentials are made available to the web server. At the web server, automatic login to the reserved area is performed based on the access credentials.

Abstract: An electric energy supply management method includes having a certifier system define a reference electric power profile for an electric apparatus, and having the certifier system provide a device coupled to the electric apparats and to a socket that delivers electric energy provided by an electric energy supplier. The device is associated only to the electric apparatus through the reference electric power profile. The method also includes having a user of the electric apparatus couple the electric apparatus to the socket through the device, and having the device check that the electric apparatus is coupled to the socket by comparing a measured electric power profile of the electric apparatus to the reference electric power profile. If the check has a positive outcome, the method has the device collect measurements about the electric power used by the electric apparatus and certify them as energy consumptions of the electric apparatus.

Abstract: A remote support communication system comprises a user terminal unit and an operator terminal unit. Said user terminal unit comprises a camera module configured to shoot video images of an object in order to acquire an ordered sequence of video frames forming a corresponding first video and a video transmission module configured to transmit the video frames to the operator terminal unit. Said operator terminal unit comprises a display and drawing module configured to display the video frames and allow an operator to generate digital graphic components to be superimposed on respective video frames; a graphic transmitter module configured to transmit said graphic components to the user terminal unit.

Abstract: A self-organizing system for mobile communication optimization includes circuitry that collects external data related to an external event resulting the gathering of user equipment in a geographic area. The circuitry obtains special and time identifiers for the external based on the external data in order to forecast data traffic due to the external event. The circuitry then generates a corresponding critical issues report identifying potential critical issues based on the data traffic forecast, and generates and enforces a network communication update based on the critical issues report.

Abstract: A method of sharing of network resources between at least two access gateways, each of the at least two access gateways providing network connectivity to user equipment, includes assessing whether a first access gateway can to share a portion of available network resources, assessing whether a second access gateway requires additional network resources to provide network connectivity to user equipment, and establishing a wireless connection between the first access gateway and the second access gateway. The first access gateway provides the portion of available network resource as additional network resources for the second access gateway.

Abstract: A telecommunication system monitors, for a plurality of services, a number of service requests from users and quality of service perceived by the users while using the services. A self-organizing network module determines a correlation between at least one configuration parameter, the number of service requests and the quality of service perceived, and, based on the correlation, a target number of service requests, and a target quality of service, determines an updated value for the at least one configuration parameter. Then the self-organizing network module commands the telecommunication system to implement reconfiguration thereof based on the updated value of the at least one configuration parameter.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method and system for recognizing coffee capsules used by a capsule coffee machine, wherein a vibration sensor is arranged within the capsule coffee machine to detect vibrations of a machine component (e.g. the pump, or the capsule holder, or the hydraulic circuit connecting the pump with the capsule holder) rigidly connected with the coffee capsule fitted in the machine during the brewing of a coffee beverage. As the brewing is started, the vibration sensor detects the vibrations to which the machine component (and all the other machine components rigidly connected thereto during the brewing, including the variable-mass coffee capsule) is subjected, and generates a vibration signal corresponding thereto. The vibration signal is then processed for determining at least one parameter thereof. The coffee capsule is then recognized based on the value of the determined parameter(s).

Abstract: A method for managing data packets transmitted by a first user equipment to be received by a second user equipment through a radio network includes having the radio network comprising a radio transceiver station receive data packets transmitted by the first user equipment. For each data packet received, checking whether the data packet comprises a request for a data packet tunneling. For each data packet comprising a request for data packet tunneling, providing the data packet to a relay protocol entity at a Radio Link Control protocol layer. The relay protocol entity is configured for generating at least one tunneling data packet, said generating at least one tunneling data packet comprises inserting at least a portion of the transmitted data packet into the at least one tunneling data packet and transmitting the tunneling data packet to the second user equipment.

Abstract: A method for enabling a round-trip packet loss measurement in a packet-switched communication network wherein a first node and a second node exchange packets comprising a packet loss field settable to an idle value or one or more measurement values. The first node performs a generation step whereby first packets having their set to a measurement value are transmitted to the second node. For each received first packet, the second node transmits back a second packet having its set to a measurement value. The first node then performs a reflection step whereby, for each received second packet, it transmits to the second node a respective third packet having its set to a measurement value. The time lapsing between start of the generation step and start of the reflection step has a predefined and substantially constant duration.

Abstract: A method of providing a service to a requesting Infrastructure Element belonging to plurality of Infrastructure Elements interconnected as a data network is proposed. The method includes operating a computing system for receiving a service request requesting a service from the requesting Infrastructure Element. The service request includes an indication of one or more performance requirements. The method also includes converting the service request to a service graph, which includes at least one task to be accomplished by complying with the performance requirements to provide the service. At least one Infrastructure Element currently capable of accomplishing the task complying with the performance requirements is selected, and the selected Infrastructure Element for accomplishing the task is configured. The method further includes causing the selected Infrastructure Element to accomplish the task to provide the service to the requesting Infrastructure Element.

Abstract: A method for managing a full duplex mobile telecommunication network, includes measuring power of uplink and down link transmission from adjacent base stations and a user equipment, respectively. The method also includes comparing the measured powers of the uplink and downlink transmission, and if the power of the uplink transmission is lower than the power of the downlink transmission, the base station allocates dedicated uplink resources to the uplink transmission. The dedicated uplink resources are radio resources reserved only for uplink transmissions and are not usable for downlink transmissions. The dedicated uplink resources are assigned to the user equipment.

Abstract: A method for distributing packets of a data traffic over aggregated radio links connecting a node of a packet-switched wireless communication network to a further node of the packet-switched wireless communication network includes, at an indoor unit of the node, configuring at least one set of distribution rules indicating, for each of a first radio link and a second radio link of the aggregated radio links, an association between the radio link and a subset of values of a priority parameter carried within the packets. The method also includes, upon reception of a packet of the data traffic, distributing the packet over the first radio link or the second radio link on the basis of the priority parameter value carried within the packet and the associations.

Abstract: A method for enabling a round-trip packet loss measurement between two nodes of a packet-switched communication network exchanging packets comprising a packet loss field settable to an idle value or one or more measurement values. The first node transmits to the second node first packets having the packet loss field set to a measurement value. Upon reception of each first packet, the second node transmits back to the first node a respective second packet having the packet loss field set to a measurement value. Upon reception of each second packet, the first node transmits back to the second node a respective third packet having the packet loss field set to a measurement value. A measurement point placed between the two nodes may count the number of first packets and the number of third packets and use them to provide a round-trip packet loss measurement.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for collecting data for evaluating the quality of experience of a service provided to a user over a communications network. The method comprises: providing an agent on a user device; by the agent, collecting rough measurement data indicative of parameters related to an operation of the device during an instance of service fruition, providing derived measurement data from the rough data and sending them to a server; at the server, determining an ending of the instance and checking, based on the derived data, forwarding conditions indicating at least one condition to be satisfied in order for the server to send a questionnaire to the user device, comprising questions related to the instance of service fruition; after the ending of the instance, in case the conditions are satisfied, sending the questionnaire from the server to the device; and collecting by the agent a user feedback.