Abstract: A data communication system, comprising an access control agent arranged on a network to allocate network resources on one or more UE (user equipment) devices on the network according to one or more parameters, the access control agent being remote from the UE.

Abstract: A multimedia delivery network, comprising network resource allocation means for allocating bandwidth to a network session between a UE (user equipment) device on the network and a delivery server, wherein the allocation means is adapted to reserve a nominal bandwidth for the network session when the session is opened, which permits delivery of data from the delivery server to the UE at a nominal service rate, and wherein the delivery server is adapted to increase the bandwidth of the session, to a higher bandwidth once the session has been opened, so as to permit delivery of data from the delivery server to the UE at a burst delivery rate higher than the nominal rate.

Abstract: A method is provided of providing a content-on-demand service to a user terminal in a system comprising a plurality of content-on-demand servers and a packet-switched network. The method comprises the steps of: a first of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service delivery to the user terminal, said first server sending a message that resource reservation was insufficient, a further of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service provision to the user terminal, said further server sending a message that resource reservation is sufficient, and said further server providing the content to the user terminal via the packet-switched network.

Abstract: A method, in a communications network, of collecting profile data related to at least a first type of service a user is supplied with and making that data available to at least a second different type of service the user is supplied with over the network.

Abstract: A method for distributing content data packages 7 originated by users of a super peer-to-peer network is proposed, wherein the content data packages 7 are to be cached in caching nodes CN1,CN2,CN3,CN4 of said network. The network comprises a plurality of caching nodes CN1,CN2,CN3,CN4 and user nodes 5 of said users and a plurality of data lines that extend between adjacent of said nodes and the users are being grouped in user groups and listed in a user group list. Content data traffic is to be delivered on traffic connections between user nodes 5 of the network.

Abstract: A multimedia delivery network, comprising network resource allocation means for allocating bandwidth to a network session between a UE (user equipment) device on the network and a delivery server, wherein the allocation means is adapted to reserve a nominal bandwidth for the network session when the session is opened, which permits delivery of data from the delivery server to the UE at a nominal service rate, and wherein the delivery server is adapted to increase the bandwidth of the session, to a higher bandwidth once the session has been opened, so as to permit delivery of data from the delivery server to the UE at a burst delivery rate higher than the nominal rate.

Abstract: A method is provided of providing a content-on-demand service to a user terminal in a system comprising a plurality of content-on-demand servers and a packet-switched network. The method comprises the steps of: a first of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service delivery to the user terminal, said first server sending a message that resource reservation was insufficient, a further of the content-on-demand servers seeking to reserve packet-switched network resources to enable service provision to the user terminal, said further server sending a message that resource reservation is sufficient, and said further server providing the content to the user terminal via the packet-switched network.

Abstract: A data network comprising a node serving a local area, the node comprising an FCC/Retr (fast channel change/retransmission) server having a means for installing a location based FCC/Retr service profile, wherein the service profile is self-discovered by the module. Methods for configuring the profile are discussed.

Abstract: A method of configuring and managing a user equipment client in an IPTV network (or cable or Internet TV) is disclosed, comprising installing a personalised service profile at the UE which is representative of fast channel change/retransmission service configuration data or other data available to the UE by virtue of at least its location, the service profile including a list of channels available for FCC/Retr and, for each channel, the address from which that service is achievable.

Abstract: A method is provided of providing digital assets in a network comprising a central controller connected to a plurality of servers. Each asset comprises at least one of video data and audio data. Each server serves a group of user terminals by storing a respective selected set of the assets and providing an asset from the selected set to a user terminal on request. The method comprises, for at least one of the servers, selecting which assets to store by the steps of: (a) for each of the group of user terminals served by the server receiving a recommendation as to a set of assets predicted as most likely to be desired by the individual user terminal, said recommendations being adapted to the individual users of said individual user terminals; (b) determining from the recommendations, a list of the most likely to be requested assets for the group of user terminals; and (c) updating the assets stored in the server so that the listed most likely to be requested assets are stored in the server.

Abstract: A method for distributing content data packages 7 originated by users of a super peer-to-peer network is proposed, wherein the content data packages 7 are to be cached in caching nodes CN1,CN2,CN3,CN4 of said network. The network comprises a plurality of caching nodes CN1,CN2,CN3,CN4 and user nodes 5 of said users and a plurality of data lines that extend between adjacent of said nodes and the users are being grouped in user groups and listed in a user group list. Content data traffic is to be delivered on traffic connections between user nodes 5 of the network.

Abstract: A notification system for providing notifications to a user equipment (UE) from a plurality of sources using at least two different protocols, over a network, comprising a notification agent arranged to receive notifications from said plurality of notification sources and which are intended for the UE, the notification agent including means for receiving the notifications using a plurality of protocols according to the protocol of the individual sources and for communicating notification to the UE using a single protocol and thereby moving core processing of the notification outside the UE.

Abstract: A data communication system, comprising an access control agent arranged on a network to allocate network resources on one or more UE (user equipment) devices on the network according to one or more parameters, the access control agent being remote from the UE.

Abstract: A managed multimedia delivery network (1) for providing a multimedia service with resilient service quality is disclosed. The network comprising a plurality of caching nodes (3) for caching multimedia data segments; an edge caching node (4) for colleting requested multimedia data segments from the caching nodes (3) and for serving a user equipment (2) with the collected multimedia data; and a service gateway (5) for providing cache information to the edge caching node (4) indicating how to obtain the requested multimedia data segments from the caching nodes (3). The edge caching node (4) comprises a service quality monitoring unit for monitoring the collection of the data segments from the caching nodes (3) and for requesting cache information from the service gateway (5) when the collection of data segments impacts the service quality.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guaranteed quality multimedia service over managed peer-to-peer networks (also known as super peer-to-peer, sP2P, networks). A managed peer-to-peer network (1) for providing a guaranteed quality multimedia service is disclosed. The network comprises at least one caching node (3) for caching multimedia data segments; an edge caching node (4) for serving a user equipment (2) with multimedia data; and an admission logic (5) for checking whether a service request from the user equipment (2) is admitted for a required quality of service, wherein only service requests resulting in media sessions for which the required quality of service can be guaranteed are admitted.

Abstract: A method for caching content data packages in caching nodes 2 of a network 1 comprising a plurality of nodes 2,8 and a plurality of data lines 5 that extend between adjacent of said nodes 2,8, wherein content data traffic is to be routed on traffic connections between a content data library server 7 and user nodes 8 is proposed.

Abstract: A method is provided of storing a media asset in a streaming node of a media-on-demand network. The network comprises a library node connected to a plurality of streaming nodes. The method comprises determining a popularity estimate for the asset at each of a plurality of the streaming node. The popularity estimates are aggregated to provide an aggregate popularity estimate for the asset over multiple streaming nodes. A determination is made whether the aggregate popularity estimate exceeds a predetermined threshold. Upon the threshold being exceeded, the asset is stored in one of the streaming nodes for use in addressing a request for the asset.