Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message from a network element to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session for a particular subscriber. The remote data plane element is designated to host a data plane function for a particular mobile network subscriber and the data plane resource comprises at least one of memory space and processor allocation. The method further includes discovering nodes capable of supporting the control plane functions; discovering nodes capable of supporting the data plane functions for the session; and performing a system-specific internal configuration to support separation of the data plane functions and the control plane functions.

Abstract: Techniques are presented herein for optimizing and load balancing network traffic exchanged between devices in a network environment. At a first device in a cluster of devices in a network, a packet is received from a second device in the cluster. The packet comprises identifier information that is assigned to the first device. The identifier information is reassigned to the second device in the cluster such that subsequent packets with the identifier information are sent directly to the second device. A mapping table is updated to indicate that the identifier information is reassigned to the second device.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message from a network element to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session for a particular subscriber. The remote data plane element is designated to host a data plane function for a particular mobile network subscriber and the data plane resource comprises at least one of memory space and processor allocation. The method further includes discovering nodes capable of supporting the control plane functions; discovering nodes capable of supporting the data plane functions for the session; and performing a system-specific internal configuration to support separation of the data plane functions and the control plane functions.

Abstract: Techniques are presented herein for optimizing and load balancing network traffic exchanged between devices in a network environment. At a first device in a cluster of devices in a network, a packet is received from a second device in the cluster. The packet comprises identifier information that is assigned to the first device. The identifier information is reassigned to the second device in the cluster such that subsequent packets with the identifier information are sent directly to the second device. A mapping table is updated to indicate that the identifier information is reassigned to the second device.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session. The method also includes receiving a response at a network element acknowledging the message. Data plane traffic is managed at the remote data plane element based on enforcement rules. The enforcement rules are provisioned in a table element at the remote data plane element, and the table element reflects a portion of a master table element included in the network element.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session. The method also includes receiving a response at a network element acknowledging the message. Data plane traffic is managed at the remote data plane element based on enforcement rules. The enforcement rules are provisioned in a table element at the remote data plane element, and the table element reflects a portion of a master table element included in the network element.

Abstract: A switch apparatus and method according to the invention provides a carrier-class switching platform with a highly optimized data path and distributed signaling stacks to achieve high-density differential voice services. Incoming voice calls of any media type (TDM voice/fax, VoIP, VoATM, VoFR) are packetized and adapted for egress transmission of the same or another media type according to the service plan profile of the parties, and/or the instantaneous availability or cost of bandwidth resources. All calls are switched in an ATM switching core with QoS characteristics that can also be determined based on service plan profile. A call server handles call setup and management functions, as well as call signaling. Advantageously, the call server provides signaling relay functions to further support and enable the media conversion of voice calls.