Abstract: A method performed by a health service configured to update a domain name system (DNS) to enable clients, which use the DNS, to allocate service requests to a plurality of service instances which provide the service wherein each service instance comprises a microservice architecture is presented. The health service requests outcome data from at least one of the service instances, and calculates a status indicator for the service instance, wherein the status indicator is calculated based on results from internal recursive checks performed throughout the microservice architecture of the service instance and heuristic calculations performed on service request performance data. After calculating the status indicator, the health service triggers a dynamic update to the DNS according to the calculated status indicator.

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: A method performed by a health service configured to update a domain name system (DNS) to enable clients, which use the DNS, to allocate service requests to a plurality of service instances which provide the service wherein each service instance comprises a microservice architecture is presented. The health service requests outcome data from at least one of the service instances, and calculates a status indicator for the service instance, wherein the status indicator is calculated based on results from internal recursive checks performed throughout the microservice architecture of the service instance and heuristic calculations performed on service request performance data. After calculating the status indicator, the health service triggers a dynamic update to the DNS according to the calculated status indicator.

Abstract: Network slicing allows a network operator to divide up their network into different network slices. The operator can assign specific users or classes of users to 5 each slice. Network functions (NFs) comprising a network slice may be placed in different locations in a network (for example, nearer the network edge), may be configured or tuned for different traffic profiles, and/or may be implemented by different vendors from those in other slices. A network, configured to perform network slicing, receives information from a Session Management Function, SMF, relating to a 10 given packet data session belonging to a given network slice. Based on the information received from the SMF, the network signals to a UPF instance that the given packet data session belongs to the given network slice.

Abstract: A method performed by a node of a communications network such as a virtual routing function or policy enforcement node comprises receiving at least one packet, such as an internet protocol packet having an associated address and obtaining one or more metrics. The method involves dynamically configuring a longest-prefix match process on the basis of at least the metric(s). The dynamically configured longest-prefix match process is used with the associated address to identify an action and the identified action is applied to the packet.

Abstract: A method performed by a node of a communications network such as a virtual routing function or policy enforcement node comprises receiving at least one packet, such as an internet protocol packet having an associated address and obtaining one or more metrics. The method involves dynamically configuring a longest-prefix match process on the basis of at least the metric(s). The dynamically configured longest-prefix match process is used with the associated address to identify an action and the identified action is applied to the packet.

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: 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: 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: 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: Measures for use in operating a subscriber device in a network. An audio call communication session is conducted between the subscriber device and an audio call client of a remote user device. The audio call communication session includes the transfer of audio data between the subscriber device and the audio call client of the remote user device. During the audio call communication session, transmittal, to a user interface associated with a user of the remote user device, of information associated with switching communication from the audio call client of the remote user device to a web browser client is caused. A real-time media data communication session is established between the subscriber device and the web browser client. Real-time media data is transferred between the subscriber device and the web browser client instead of audio data between the subscriber device and the audio call client of the remote user device.

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: 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: A telephony equipment migration arrangement is provided. The telephony equipment migration arrangement includes legacy telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays, at least one transport cable, with one or more connectors, to provide external carrier connectivity, replacement telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays remote from the legacy telephony equipment, and at least one remote coupling cable, with one or more connectors, connected to the replacement telephony equipment. The connector(s) of the remote coupling cable are mounted in a location having a predetermined locational relationship with the equipment bay in which the legacy telephony equipment is located, and the transport cable is communicatively coupled to the remote coupling cable.

Abstract: Measures for use in operating a subscriber device in a network. An audio call communication session is conducted between the subscriber device and an audio call client of a remote user device. The audio call communication session includes the transfer of audio data between the subscriber device and the audio call client of the remote user device. During the audio call communication session, transmittal, to a user interface associated with a user of the remote user device, of information associated with switching communication from the audio call client of the remote user device to a web browser client is caused. A real-time media data communication session is established between the subscriber device and the web browser client. Real-time media data is transferred between the subscriber device and the web browser client instead of audio data between the subscriber device and the audio call client of the remote user device.

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: 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: A telephony equipment migration arrangement is provided. The telephony equipment migration arrangement includes legacy telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays, at least one transport cable, with one or more connectors, to provide external carrier connectivity, replacement telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays remote from the legacy telephony equipment, and at least one remote coupling cable, with one or more connectors, connected to the replacement telephony equipment. The connector(s) of the remote coupling cable are mounted in a location having a predetermined locational relationship with the equipment bay in which the legacy telephony equipment is located, and the transport cable is communicatively coupled to the remote coupling cable.

Abstract: A telephony equipment migration arrangement is provided. The telephony equipment migration arrangement includes legacy telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays, at least one transport cable, with one or more connectors, to provide external carrier connectivity, replacement telephony equipment located in one or more equipment bays remote from the legacy telephony equipment, and at least one remote coupling cable, with one or more connectors, connected to the replacement telephony equipment. The connector(s) of the remote coupling cable are mounted in a location having a predetermined locational relationship with the equipment bay in which the legacy telephony equipment is located, and the transport cable is communicatively coupled to the remote coupling cable.

Abstract: Telecommunications equipment includes first and second signal processing modules each including one or more line interface units, the first and second signal processing modules being arranged to be activated dependent on a failover state of the first and second signal processing modules. The telecommunications equipment further includes a plurality of external connectors and a plurality of isolation transformers arranged in one or more signal paths connected to the external connectors. Additionally, a first equipment housing includes at least the first and second signal processing modules and at least one further equipment housing includes at least the external connectors and isolation transformers.