Abstract: A method of tracking user terminals in a mobile communication network includes, at a tracking node, determining that a user terminal is located in a first tracking area, storing data associated with the first tracking area, the data comprising a number of observations of all user terminals at the first tracking area at a first time, receiving a page response from the user terminal located in one of the first tracking area and a second tracking area, and in an event that the user terminal remains located at the first tracking area, updating the data to include a number of page responses received at the first tracking area after a first time interval, and in an event that the user terminal is located at the second tracking area, updating the data to include a number of page responses received at the second tracking area after the first time interval.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for communicating, from one network node to another network node, congestion information. Advantageously, the congestion information may be communicated at a per-packet level so that the node receiving the congestion information may meter the network usage of a user based, at least in part, upon the level of network congestion experienced by each packet sent or received by the user.

Abstract: A method for optimising the distribution of data objects between caches in a cache domain of a resource limited network. User requests for data objects are received at caches in the cache domain. A notification is sent from each cache at which a request received to a cache manager. The notification reports the user request and identifies the requested data object. At the cache manager, object information including the request frequency of each requested data object and the locations of the caches at which the requests were received are collated and stored, and objects for distribution within the cache domain are identified on the basis of the object information. Instructions are sent from the cache manager to the caches to distribute data objects stored in those caches between themselves. The data objects are distributed between the caches using transmission capacity of the network that would otherwise be unused.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for communicating, from one network node to another network node, application data together with priority information so that the receiving network node may use the priority information in scheduling the transmission of the application data to the intended receiver of the application data.

Abstract: A method of tracking user terminals in a mobile communication network includes, at a tracking node, determining that a user terminal is located in a first tracking area, storing data associated with the first tracking area, the data comprising a number of observations of all user terminals at the first tracking area at a first time, receiving a page response from the user terminal located in one of the first tracking area and a second tracking area, and in an event that the user terminal remains located at the first tracking area, updating the data to include a number of page responses received at the first tracking area after a first time interval, and in an event that the user terminal is located at the second tracking area, updating the data to include a number of page responses received at the second tracking area after the first time interval.

Abstract: A method of allocating user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network. The method comprises maintaining at a Domain Name System, DNS, server, one or more DNS resource records for each available user plane node or group of neighbouring user plane nodes, a DNS resource record containing a measure of a route quality or cost between the associated user plane node(s) or group(s) and each of one or more further user plane nodes or further groups of neighbouring user plane nodes of the packet core network to which said associated user plane node(s) or groups is(are) connected. A connection establishment request is processed at a mobility management control entity within the packet core network, with a DNS query being sent to a DNS server, the query containing one or more user plane node selection criteria. The query is received at the DNS server and, on the basis of the or each criterion, one or more DNS resource records satisfying the criteria/criterion identified.

Abstract: A method for optimising the distribution of data objects between caches in a cache domain of a resource limited network. User requests for data objects are received at caches in the cache domain. A notification is sent from each cache at which a request received to a cache manager. The notification reports the user request and identifies the requested data object. At the cache manager, object information including the request frequency of each requested data object and the locations of the caches at which the requests were received are collated and stored, and objects for distribution within the cache domain are identified on the basis of the object information. Instructions are sent from the cache manager to the caches to distribute data objects stored in those caches between themselves. The data objects are distributed between the caches using transmission capacity of the network that would otherwise be unused.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of selective paging in cellular mobile networks, in particular to a method, an apparatus, and a network node for use in selectively paging a user equipment (UE) in a plurality of cells in which the UE is estimated to be located. Accordingly, a method in a network node in a wireless communication network for use in paging a UE in a plurality of cells is provided. The method comprises: determining, for the plurality of cells, the number of observations that is made of the UE in each of a number of sets of cells among said plurality of cells; determining a paging sequence for the UE in the plurality of cells based on said determined number of observations in each of said sets of cells; and enabling paging of the UE in the plurality of cells according to the determined paging sequence.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for communicating, from one network node to another network node, congestion information. Advantageously, the congestion information may be communicated at a per-packet level so that the node receiving the congestion information may meter the network usage of a user based, at least in part, upon the level of network congestion experienced by each packet sent or received by the user.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for communicating, from one network node to another network node, application data together with priority information so that the receiving network node may use the priority information in scheduling the transmission of the application data to the intended receiver of the application data.

Abstract: A method for balancing loads in a system having multiple processing elements (800) includes executing a plurality of load balancing algorithms in a dry run on load data from the system (810, 820, 830, 840), recording the results of each of the load balancing algorithms (815, 825, 835, 845), evaluating the results of each of the load balancing algorithms (850), selecting a load balancing algorithm providing the best results (855) and implementing the results of the selected algorithm on the system (860).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for generating a distribution function. To that end preference vectors are defined for each instance something is distributed to from which elements are selected by means of an arbitration vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for generating a distribution function. To that end preference vectors are defined for each instance something is distributed to from which elements are selected by means of an arbitration vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and means for roaming in a cellular radio communication system with a pool of core network nodes, e.g. an MSC-pool (201). A Subscriber Identification Service Node (SISN) is used to handle roaming from a service area supported by a previous MSC/VLR (205) in the MSC-pool to a service area supported by a new MSC/VLR (303) arranged outside of the MSC-pool. The SISN (301) receives an identity request from the new MSC/VLR (303) and forwards it to the previous MSC/VLR (205). The SISN receives a response from the previous MSC/VLR and relays it to the new MSC/VLR. This means that the SISN helps the new MSC/VLR (303) to retrieve data from the right MSC/VLR within the MSC-pool (201).