Abstract: A technique for buffering packets in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) infrastructure is disclosed. A method implementation of the technique is performed by an SDN network device and comprises receiving (S304) a configuration message from an SDN controller, the configuration message defining at least one characteristic characterizing packets to be buffered, receiving (S306) a packet, triggering (S308) inserting the packet into a buffer if the packet matches the at least one characteristic, and triggering (S310) sending a notification message to the SDN controller notifying the SDN controller that the packet is inserted into the buffer.

Abstract: A technique for buffering packets in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) infrastructure is disclosed. A method implementation of the technique is performed by an SDN network device and comprises receiving (S304) a configuration message from an SDN controller, the configuration message defining at least one characteristic characterizing packets to be buffered, receiving (S306) a packet, triggering (S308) inserting the packet into a buffer if the packet matches the at least one characteristic, and triggering (S310) sending a notification message to the SDN controller notifying the SDN controller that the packet is inserted into the buffer.

Abstract: A technique for packet ingress processing and packet egress processing in an OpenFlow, OF, switch is presented. A method aspect directed to packet ingress processing comprises receiving a packet at an OF port. The packet is associated with one of multiple logical flow entities, such as logical ports, allocated to the OF port. In a next step, the logical flow entity associated with the received packet is determined. Then, metadata for the packet is tagged with an identifier for the logical flow entity associated with the packet. The tagging controls handling of the packet at egress processing. The packet handling, in turn, may include a selective dropping or passing of the packet.

Abstract: Techniques of executing commands in forwarding nodes are discussed. Control messages are recursively included within each other and distributed in a data plane formed by a network of the forwarding nodes. A given control message can include a command which is executed by a respective forwarding node. The given control message further includes a further control message to be sent to a further forwarding node by the respective forwarding node. The control messages are created by a control node which is configured for controlling operation of the network of forwarding nodes.

Abstract: A method for connecting, by a central control unit (CCU), a booting switch to a network. The network includes switches controlled by the CCU using control data packets that are transmitted via communications paths in the network. User packets are transmitted through the network using the same communications paths. A switch uses forwarding rules stored in a pipeline to forward packets in the network. A local port in each switch provides access to the pipeline. The paths in the network for the control data packets are established by storing forwarding rules configured by the CCU in the pipelines of the switches. At least one switch contains a connecting port via which the booting switch is connected to the network. The forwarding rules in the booting switch are stored by the CCU using a temporary path, which contains the existing path and a connecting path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a load sharing vector indicating a plurality of communication targets for load sharing in a communication network. The method comprises providing a target distribution vector comprising a first number of entries indicating a first communication target, and comprising a second number of entries indicating a second communication target, and generating the load sharing vector upon the basis of active entries of the target distribution vector, the active entries indicating the communication target of the first or the second communication target which is available for load sharing in the communication network.

Abstract: Techniques of executing commands in forwarding nodes are discussed. Control messages are recursively included within each other and distributed in a data plane formed by a network of the forwarding nodes. A given control message can include a command which is executed by a respective forwarding node. The given control message further includes a further control message to be sent to a further forwarding node by the respective forwarding node. The control messages are created by a control node which is configured for controlling operation of the network of forwarding nodes.

Abstract: A method for connecting, by a central control unit (CCU), a booting switch to a network. The network includes switches controlled by the CCU using control data packets that are transmitted via communications paths in the network. User packets are transmitted through the network using the same communications paths. A switch uses forwarding rules stored in a pipeline to forward packets in the network. A local port in each switch provides access to the pipeline. The paths in the network for the control data packets are established by storing forwarding rules configured by the CCU in the pipelines of the switches. At least one switch contains a connecting port via which the booting switch is connected to the network. The forwarding rules in the booting switch are stored by the CCU using a temporary path, which contains the existing path and a connecting path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a load sharing vector indicating a plurality of communication targets for load sharing in a communication network. The method comprises providing a target distribution vector comprising a first number of entries indicating a first communication target, and comprising a second number of entries indicating a second communication target, and generating the load sharing vector upon the basis of active entries of the target distribution vector, the active entries indicating the communication target of the first or the second communication target which is available for load sharing in the communication network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a load sharing vector indicating a plurality of communication targets for load sharing in a communication network. The method comprises providing (101) a target distribution vector comprising a first number of entries indicating a first communication target, and comprising a second number of entries indicating a second communication target, and generating (103) the load sharing vector upon the basis of active entries of the target distribution vector, the active entries indicating the communication target of the first or the second communication target which is available for load sharing in the communication network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a load sharing vector indicating a plurality of communication targets for load sharing in a communication network. The method comprises providing (101) a target distribution vector comprising a first number of entries indicating a first communication target, and comprising a second number of entries indicating a second communication target, and generating (103) the load sharing vector upon the basis of active entries of the target distribution vector, the active entries indicating the communication target of the first or the second communication target which is available for load sharing in the communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system of communicating from a first node of a first telecommunications network towards a second node of a second telecommunications network is executed by the first node and comprises dynamically assigning a group identifier to at least one circuit usable by the first node during communicating and sending the group identifier towards the second node.

Abstract: Method and device for determining a signaling address of a mobile services switching center in a cellular communication system offering both circuit switched and packet switched services are disclose. The method is based on that, instead of using information on the location of a terminal equipment, information on the equipment of the system being used for reaching a terminal equipment is used for determining the mobile services switching center, in the service area of which the terminal equipment is located. The signaling address is determined on the basis of the knowledge of such information. For this purpose, for instance, allocation tables or sorting trees are used, which allocate the sought for signaling address to one or more equipment or to an information identifying one or more equipment.

Abstract: Method and device for determining a signaling address of a mobile services switching center in a cellular communication system offering both circuit switched and packet switched services. The method is based on that, instead of using information on the location of a terminal equipment, information on the equipment of the system being used for reaching a terminal equipment is used for determining the mobile services switching center, in the service area of which the terminal equipment is located. The signaling address is determined on the basis of the knowledge of such information. For this purpose, for instance, allocation tables or sorting trees are used, which allocate the sought for signaling address to one or more equipment or to an information identifying one or more equipment.