Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving at least one first input indicating at least one network condition associated with a first user device having a user associated therewith. The first user device has a first bearer channel established between the first user device and a gateway, and the first bearer channel has a first quality of service level. The method further includes determining whether to modify the first user device to a second quality of service level based upon the received at least one first input, and sending a first request to a first network element instructing the first network element to modify the first user device to the second quality of service level.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include communicating information between a plurality of network function virtualized (NFV) based applications; and creating at least one service chain using at least two of the plurality of NFV-based applications based on the information communicated between the plurality NFV based applications. In some instances, the information can be communicated using border gateway protocol (BGP) exchanges between the NFV-based applications. In some instances, the information can include at least one of: next-hop address information for one or more ingress points of a particular NFV-based application; one or more capabilities by which a particular NFV-based application can receive data on one or more ingress points; and a method by which one or more egress points of a previous NFV-based application in a particular service chain is to perform load balancing for a subsequent NFV-based application in the particular service chain.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and can include obtaining, within a radio access network, a channel state for a data channel associated with a mobile terminal; including the channel state in a differentiated services (diffserv) marking within an Internet Protocol (IP) header of at least one IP packet associated with the mobile terminal; and transmitting the at least one IP packet including the IP header having the diffserv marking toward a packet data network.

Abstract: A first virtual machine is established in a virtual private service chain to provide a first network service to virtual private service chain traffic. A second virtual machine is also established the virtual private service chain to provide a second network service to the virtual private service chain traffic. The virtual private service chain traffic is encrypted for transmission within the virtual private service chain from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine, wherein the encryption uses a key shared by the first and second virtual machines.

Abstract: A data flow is received from a mobile network relating to a mobile subscriber. Subscriber data is received for the subscriber identifying a service path corresponding to the subscriber and at least one service policy corresponding to the subscriber, the service path including a set of network service nodes in a plurality of network service nodes. Packets of the data flow are routed according to the service path, the packets corresponding to a request for a resource. At least one packet is appended with service header data identifying the service policy. Each service node performs at least one service based on received request data, each service node in the set of service nodes performing a service defined in a service subscription of the subscriber. At least one particular service node in the set of network service nodes performs a particular service based at least in part on the service policy.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request for a service from a requestor, an determining at least a first network element and at least a second network element required to satisfy the request from among a plurality of network elements. The method further includes triggering a coordinating of a work flow between the first network element and the second network element responsive to the request. The method still further includes translating communication messages exchanged between the first network element and the second network element from a first communication protocol format and a second communication protocol format.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method is provided for enabling in-band data exchange between networks. The method can comprise receiving, by a first enveloping proxy located in the first network, at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; receiving the data from a network element located in the first network; encoding the data into at least one custom SSL record; and transmitting the at least one regular SSL record and the at least one custom SSL record to an enveloping proxy. In another embodiment, a method can comprise receiving at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record and at least one custom SSL record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; extracting the data from the at least one custom SSL; transmitting the at least one regular SSL record.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method is provided for enabling in-band data exchange between networks. The method can comprise receiving, by a first enveloping proxy located in the first network, at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; receiving the data from a network element located in the first network; encoding the data into at least one custom SSL record; and transmitting the at least one regular SSL record and the at least one custom SSL record to an enveloping proxy. In another embodiment, a method can comprise receiving at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record and at least one custom SSL record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; extracting the data from the at least one custom SSL; transmitting the at least one regular SSL record.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method is provided for enabling in-band data exchange between networks. The method can comprise receiving, by a first enveloping proxy located in the first network, at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; receiving the data from a network element located in the first network; encoding the data into at least one custom SSL record; and transmitting the at least one regular SSL record and the at least one custom SSL record to an enveloping proxy. In another embodiment, a method can comprise receiving at least one regular secure sockets layer (SSL) record and at least one custom SSL record for a SSL session established between a client and a server; extracting the data from the at least one custom SSL; transmitting the at least one regular SSL record.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving a first data packet of a data flow at a first classifier in which the first data packet includes a first identifier. The method further includes determining a second classifier associated with the first identifier in which the second classifier is further associated with at least one service chain of a service chain environment. The method still further includes forwarding the first data packet to the second classifier. The second classifier is configured to receive the first data packet, determine a particular service chain of the at least one service chain to which the first data packet is to be forwarded, and forward the first data packet to the particular service chain.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving a radio signal stream, segmenting the radio signal stream based on a control word in the radio signal stream, mapping the segmented radio signal stream to a service class, transporting the segmented radio signal stream in packets through channels over a backhaul link, and maintaining the order of the radio signal stream over the backhaul link. In more particular embodiments, the backhaul link may use a DOCSIS link, the radio signal stream can be received using a Common Public Radio Interface, and the radio signal stream may include sub-streams transported through segmented channels over the backhaul link.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving network utilization data associated with an access network, determining an expected network utilization for a predetermined time period based upon the network utilization data, and determining pricing information for the predetermined time period based upon the expected network utilization. The pricing information includes at least one price rate for communication between at least one application and at least one client device utilizing the access network. The method further includes sending the pricing information to the at least one application.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first network element, a first data packet of a data flow, wherein the data flow is associated with a subscriber. The method further includes receiving subscriber information associated with the subscriber, and encapsulating the subscriber information with the first data packet to form an encapsulated data packet. The method still further includes determining a service chain including one or more services to which the encapsulated data packet is to be forwarded, and forwarding the encapsulated data packet to the service chain.

Abstract: A first virtual machine is established in a virtual private service chain to provide a first network service to virtual private service chain traffic. A second virtual machine is also established the virtual private service chain to provide a second network service to the virtual private service chain traffic. The virtual private service chain traffic is encrypted for transmission within the virtual private service chain from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine, wherein the encryption uses a key shared by the first and second virtual machines.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include communicating information between a plurality of network function virtualized (NFV) based applications; and creating at least one service chain using at least two of the plurality of NFV-based applications based on the information communicated between the plurality NFV based applications. In some instances, the information can be communicated using border gateway protocol (BGP) exchanges between the NFV-based applications. In some instances, the information can include at least one of: next-hop address information for one or more ingress points of a particular NFV-based application; one or more capabilities by which a particular NFV-based application can receive data on one or more ingress points; and a method by which one or more egress points of a previous NFV-based application in a particular service chain is to perform load balancing for a subsequent NFV-based application in the particular service chain.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request from a first network element associated with a first network for establishing a first communication session between the first network element to a first user device associated with a second network. The request includes a first user identifier used to identify a first user associated with the first user device within the first network. The method further includes translating the first user identifier to a second user identifier in which the second user identifier is used to identify the first user within the second network. The method still further includes sending a first query including the second user identifier to a second network element, and receiving a first response message including quality of service information indicated by a policy associated with the second user identifier.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and can include obtaining, within a radio access network, a channel state for a data channel associated with a mobile terminal; including the channel state in a differentiated services (diffserv) marking within an Internet Protocol (IP) header of at least one IP packet associated with the mobile terminal; and transmitting the at least one IP packet including the IP header having the diffserv marking toward a packet data network.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving a first data packet of a data flow at a first classifier in which the first data packet includes a first identifier. The method further includes determining a second classifier associated with the first identifier in which the second classifier is further associated with at least one service chain of a service chain environment. The method still further includes forwarding the first data packet to the second classifier. The second classifier is configured to receive the first data packet, determine a particular service chain of the at least one service chain to which the first data packet is to be forwarded, and forward the first data packet to the particular service chain.

Abstract: A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first network element, a first data packet of a data flow, wherein the data flow is associated with a subscriber. The method further includes receiving subscriber information associated with the subscriber, and encapsulating the subscriber information with the first data packet to form an encapsulated data packet. The method still further includes determining a service chain including one or more services to which the encapsulated data packet is to be forwarded, and forwarding the encapsulated data packet to the service chain.

Abstract: A data flow is received from a mobile network relating to a mobile subscriber. Subscriber data is received for the subscriber identifying a service path corresponding to the subscriber and at least one service policy corresponding to the subscriber, the service path including a set of network service nodes in a plurality of network service nodes. Packets of the data flow are routed according to the service path, the packets corresponding to a request for a resource. At least one packet is appended with service header data identifying the service policy. Each service node performs at least one service based on received request data, each service node in the set of service nodes performing a service defined in a service subscription of the subscriber. At least one particular service node in the set of network service nodes performs a particular service based at least in part on the service policy.