Abstract: This disclosure relates to managing sessions in a mobile communication network, for instance, a 5G network. The disclosure proposes a first entity for a decentralized session management, which may be performed together by a plurality of first entities. The first entity receives a first transaction indicating information of a first session-management-related message, and sends it to other first entities. Further, it receives second transactions from the other first entities, wherein each second transaction indicates information of a second session-management-related message. Then, the first entity composes a first transaction set including the first transaction and/or the second transactions, and performs a distributed consensus protocol with the other first entities, to obtain a consensus result indicating whether the first entity or one of the other first entities is entitled to propose the first transaction set or second transaction set.

Abstract: The application provides a switch device and a software defined network (SDN) controller. The switch device includes a storage unit configured to store control flow entries, each control flow entry comprises at least one service field associated with at least one processing action, a receiver configured to receive a data plane packet, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the SDN controller, a packet-in message, and a processor configured to determine whether at least one information field of the data plane packet or of the packet-in message matches the at least one service field of a control flow entry, and instruct the transmitter to transmit the packet-in message according to the processing action associated with the matched service field, if the at least one information field matches the at least one service field.

Abstract: A network entity controls an end-to-end service. The end to end service is provided across an operator network domain and a service provider domain. The network entity is configured to determine an adjustment for a network function in the domain of the network entity based on performance indicator data of the other domain and requirements of the end-to-end service. The performance indicator data of being real-time performance indicator data of the end-to-end service. The network entity is configured to send an instruction to adjust the network function in accordance with the determined adjustment.

Abstract: A forwarding device for a SDN system is provided. The forwarding device is configured to determine a response rule match for received data packets and for generating a response packet according to the response rule and comprises a storage module and a response packet generating module. The storage module is configured to store at least one response rule and the response packet generating module is configured to generate a response packet according to the response rule in case of a response rule match, wherein the response packet generating module is configured to generate the response packet based on information which is identified in the response rule.

Abstract: An embodiment first network node has a data flow table identifying forwarding rules to be applied to incoming data packets. The first network node is configured to allow for manipulation of the data flow table via control messages received via a control connection to a controller. The first network node is further configured to determine an occurrence of a network event or compliance with a condition specified by the controller. The first network node is further configured: to establish a control connection to a second network node in case that the network event occurs or the condition is met and to exchange control messages with the second network node via the control connection.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a data packet forwarding unit configured to forward data packets within a software defined network on the basis of a set of data packet forwarding rules, the data packet forwarding unit comprises a memory configured to store the set of data packet forwarding rules and a set of access rules and an access control entity configured to control the access to the set of data packet forwarding rules on the basis of the set of access rules.

Abstract: The application provides a switch device and a software defined network (SDN) controller. The switch device includes a storage unit configured to store control flow entries, each control flow entry comprises at least one service field associated with at least one processing action, a receiver configured to receive a data plane packet, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the SDN controller, a packet-in message, and a processor configured to determine whether at least one information field of the data plane packet or of the packet-in message matches the at least one service field of a control flow entry, and instruct the transmitter to transmit the packet-in message according to the processing action associated with the matched service field, if the at least one information field matches the at least one service field.

Abstract: An embodiment first network node has a data flow table identifying forwarding rules to be applied to incoming data packets. The first network node is configured to allow for manipulation of the data flow table via control messages received via a control connection to a controller. The first network node is further configured to determine an occurrence of a network event or compliance with a condition specified by the controller. The first network node is further configured: to establish a control connection to a second network node in case that the network event occurs or the condition is met and to exchange control messages with the second network node via the control connection.

Abstract: A forwarding device for a SDN system is provided. The forwarding device is configured to determine a response rule match for received data packets and for generating a response packet according to the response rule and comprises a storage module and a response packet generating module. The storage module is configured to store at least one response rule and the response packet generating module is configured to generate a response packet according to the response rule in case of a response rule match, wherein the response packet generating module is configured to generate the response packet based on information which is identified in the response rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redirecting service or device discovery (SD) messages in a software-defined network (SDN) is provided. The SDN comprises a plurality of network nodes, one or more SD serving nodes, and a server. The one or more network nodes of the plurality of network nodes are instructed by the server to redirect received broadcast or multicast SD messages as unicast or multicast SD messages to one or more selected SD serving nodes.

Abstract: A method of managing a communication network comprising a control plane and a network plane, the network comprising nodes and physical connections of the nodes, each of a plurality of nodes being a logical network device, supporting a control plane portion in the control plane and a network plane portion in the network plane, in which method, the control plane portions of the logical network devices form a logical network in a peer to peer fashion, and control data necessary for administering the communication network and/or for managing users of the communication network is contained in at least one database distributed between at least a plurality of control plane portions of the network devices forming the logical network.