Abstract: A machine-implemented method for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component, in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, comprises: receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection; responsive to the metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in the data cache component; selecting said at least one of the plurality of data items where the at least one of the plurality of data items has the second characteristic matching the first characteristic; and passing the selected one of the plurality of data items from the data cache component using the relatively lower-latency path.

Abstract: A machine-implemented method for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component, in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, comprises: receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection; responsive to the metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in the data cache component; selecting said at least one of the plurality of data items where the at least one of the plurality of data items has the second characteristic matching the first characteristic; and passing the selected one of the plurality of data items from the data cache component using the relatively lower-latency path.

Abstract: Measures, including methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable storage media, associated with network orchestration. A model of a physical resources part of a network and a model of a virtualised resources part of the network are obtained. The physical/virtualised resources part of the network includes a plurality of physical resources/at least one virtualised network function and represents dependencies between different physical/virtualised resources in the physical/virtualised resources part of the network. At least one optimisation operation is performed using the models of the physical and virtualised resources parts of the network to identify an optimised mapping of the at least one virtualised network function onto at least one of the plurality of physical resources. The at least one virtualised network function is instantiated on the at least one of the plurality of physical resources based on the identified optimised mapping.

Abstract: Measures, including methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable storage media, associated with network orchestration. A model of a physical resources part of a network and a model of a virtualised resources part of the network are obtained. The physical/virtualised resources part of the network includes a plurality of physical resources/at least one virtualised network function and represents dependencies between different physical/virtualised resources in the physical/virtualised resources part of the network. At least one optimisation operation is performed using the models of the physical and virtualised resources parts of the network to identify an optimised mapping of the at least one virtualised network function onto at least one of the plurality of physical resources. The at least one virtualised network function is instantiated on the at least one of the plurality of physical resources based on the identified optimised mapping.

Abstract: A machine-implemented method for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component, in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, comprises: receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection; responsive to the metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in the data cache component; selecting said at least one of the plurality of data items where the at least one of the plurality of data items has the second characteristic matching the first characteristic; and passing the selected one of the plurality of data items from the data cache component using the relatively lower-latency path.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer programs for selecting a codec for use by a communications device for a session over a network, having a transcoding resource, are provided. It is determined whether the transcoding resource is available for the communications session and, if the transcoding resource is available, a subset of codecs available to the communications device is used in a signalling process used to determine a codec for the session. The subset is selected based on an operative condition affecting the communications device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer programs for selecting a codec for use by a communications device for a session over a network, having a transcoding resource, are provided. It is determined whether the transcoding resource is available for the communications session and, if the transcoding resource is available, a subset of codecs available to the communications device is used in a signalling process used to determine a codec for the session. The subset is selected based on an operative condition affecting the communications device.