Abstract: System and methods for modifying streaming data based on radio frequency information is provided. As radio transceivers transition move to a shared resource or cloud model and the existing radio transceivers are split into a baseband unit and a remote radio head, radio frequency (RF) information including power levels, encoding, data rates, and bandwidth can be provided to video optimization server. The RF information can be provided more frequently to allow real-time modifications to streaming video data. Existing protocols are reactionary in nature and perceive changing channel conditions indirectly. By providing RF information from the baseband unit on a low latency channel, modifications to the video stream can be made before an impact would be noticed at the protocol level. Also, policy information can be used to influence the changes made to streaming data in addition to the RF information.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided that allow an application layer client in a mobile device to manage multiple interfaces in a communication network. The multiple interfaces can include WiFi, cellular, Femto, WiMAX, Bluetooth, infrared, Ethernet, and other types of interfaces for communication in a network. The client on the mobile device can use intelligence and rules to determine how and when request fragments are communicated over the various interfaces available to the client. The intelligence can include parameters such as performance information for a particular interface and subscriber preferences. Based on this information the client can decide to use a combination of the interfaces to obtain multimedia content and render the content for display on the mobile device. By using a combination of interfaces and tracking the advantages and disadvantages of each interface, the client can make intelligent decisions in providing multimedia content to the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a load balancer receives a message from a tunnel termination gateway (TTG) associated with a mobile device. The load balancer may receive messages from a plurality of TTGs. A gateway node in a plurality of gateway nodes in which to send the message is determined. The load balancer then assigns a NSAPI for use by the gateway node. For example, the NSAPI may be associated with a tunnel that is generated between the TTG and GGSN. The load balancer ensures that the assigned NSAPI is not currently in use at the gateway node. Thus, no overlapping of NSAPIs may occur even though the load balancer is processing messages from multiple TTGs for multiple gateway nodes.

Abstract: Network operators have deployed multiple network devices to provide stable data services amid a rapid increase in data traffic. One way to balance data load among the multiple network devices is by distributing the user equipments across the multiple network devices using an explicit detach with reattach required procedure. However, the explicit detach with reattach required procedure can disrupt on-going data services of user equipments. This disclosure provides systems and methods of an enhanced explicit detach with reattach required procedure that reduces disruption of on-going data services due to the explicit detach with reattach required procedure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing content control in a mobile network using an out-of-band signaling channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, content control may be performed on a network device by collecting usage data for media consumption and caching from a mobile device via an out-of-band channel; receiving the usage data at an intermediate device via the out-of-band channel; building a predictive user profile based on the usage data; determining a schedule for downloading content from one or more media servers based on at least the predictive user profile; and sending instructions to perform one of time-shifting or pre-positioning to the one or more media servers according to the schedule for downloading content via an out-of-band channel.

Abstract: Network operators are striving to find ways to provide stable video services amid a rapid increase in video data traffic. In order to provide stable video services with constrained network resources, network operators attempted to deploy multiple communication networks in parallel. However, network operators failed to effectively balance data traffic across parallel communication networks. This disclosure provides systems and methods for effectively balancing data traffic across parallel communication networks.

Abstract: Techniques for providing access to cloud services via a plurality of different network interfaces of a client device. In accordance with one example, during establishment of a communication session between the cloud computing system and the client device, an interface-independent identifier is provided to the client device via a first of the plurality of different network interfaces. Following determination to establish the communication session via the second network interface, the cloud computing system is configured to maintain a virtual environment associated with the communication session for a period of time. A message is received, via a second of the plurality of different network interfaces, from the client device that includes the interface-independent identifier.

Abstract: A system for efficiently reauthenticating a client of a network. In a specific embodiment, the system includes an authentication server and a Security GateWay (SGW) in communication with the client. The SGW includes reauthentication information associated with the client. In a more specific embodiment, the authentication server includes an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server. The SGW further includes one or more routines for employing the reauthentication information to reauthenticate the client. The AAA server performs initial authentication of the client to enable client access to the network, which yields the reauthentication information. The reauthentication information includes one or more keys and/or counters, such as an authorization key, an encryption key, and a master key, which is/are predetermined by the AAA server.

Abstract: A system for enhancing functionality of a network. In a specific embodiment, the system employs strategic communications between a network controller and a security gateway. The strategic communications occur via a feedback communications channel between the network controller and the security gateway. The feedback communications channel facilitates transferring security information, such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and other information, between the network controller and the security gateway. The security information may facilitate enabling the SGW to make intelligent decisions as to how to treat a client communications session. In the specific embodiment, the feedback communications channel includes an intervening Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server that is coupled between the UMA and the network controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving authorization data at a local node of a network. The authorization data indicates a particular network address of a different node in the network and an authenticated user ID of a user of the different node. Resource profile data is retrieved based on the user ID. The resource profile data indicates all application layer resources on the network that the user is allowed to access. The particular network address is associated at the local node with the resource profile data for the user. A request from the particular network address for a requested application layer resource on the network is blocked based on the resource profile data associated with the particular network address.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving authorization data at a local node of a network. The authorization data indicates a particular network address of a different node in the network and an authenticated user ID of a user of the different node. Resource profile data is retrieved based on the user ID. The resource profile data indicates all application layer resources on the network that the user is allowed to access. The particular network address is associated at the local node with the resource profile data for the user. A request from the particular network address for a requested application layer resource on the network is blocked based on the resource profile data associated with the particular network address.

Abstract: In one embodiment, while being connected to the network, a security issue may be detected and associated with the device. The device may be placed on a blacklist for the security issue. The blacklist is a list that is used to deny service for the device when it attempts to connect. Thus, the device is disconnected from the network. Identification information for the device is added to the blacklist at the authentication server. If the device attempts to reconnect to the network, the request is received at the authentication server. The authentication server can then check the blacklist and deny the request for access to the network if the identification information is on the blacklist. This denial is determined without sending the request to the HLR. Accordingly, the HLR is protected in that requests from a device that may be considered a security issue are not sent to the HLR.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a security gateway receives an IPSec Initiation (IPSec INIT) request from a client. The security gateway may communicate with a AAA server to authenticate the client. After authentication, the security gateway intercepts a URR Discovery request from the client. The security gateway determines registration information for a response to the registration request. The registration information may be information on where the client can locate a D-GANC. A response is generated using the determined information and sent to the client. The response to the discovery request is performed without communicating with a P-GANC. Accordingly, a security gateway is used to authenticate the client and also to respond to the discovery request. This does not require that a P-GANC function be deployed in a network. Thus, cost and processing power may be saved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques for authorizing a mobile device are provided. A registration request is received for the mobile device. The registration request may include location identifier information. For example, a cell ID may be provided. Static location information is then determined based on the location identifier information. The static location information may be spatial coordinates. The registration request is then authorized based on the static location information. For example, a cell ID may be received and then spatial coordinates may be determined based on the cell ID. The registration request is then authorized based on the spatial coordinates. A response to the registration request is then sent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing correlation of billing entries for a mobile communications network is provided. A correlating network element in a bearer path determines a plurality of billing entries for a flow. One or more of the billing entries may be received from other network elements and includes traffic altering information for a flow. The correlating network element correlates the plurality of billing entries using state information included in the billing entries. The state information is used to determine information in billing entries that may be related, such as billing entries for a single flow. Also, the correlating network element uses the traffic altering information to determine a data volume sent for the flow. A correlated billing entry may then be generated using the data volume for the flow. The correlated billing entry is then sent to a billing system from the correlating network element.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing network traffic from an access server to a service gateway include receiving, at a load balancer, sticky table data that indicates an association between a particular subscriber IP address and a particular subscriber-aware service gateway in a gateway cluster. An input data packet is received with an input source address and an input transport-layer destination. If it is determined that the input transport-layer destination indicates a type of payload that uses a service gateway, then the particular service gateway associated with the particular subscriber is determined based on the sticky table and IP address in the input source address. An output data packet is directed to the particular service gateway using a link-layer or networking-layer destination address. These techniques allow a load balancer to be located anywhere on the network and to bypass a subscriber-aware service gateway for some data traffic.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing control plane traffic, from an end node in a packet switched network to a cluster of service gateway nodes that host subscriber-aware application servers, include receiving a control plane message for supporting data plane traffic from a particular subscriber. A particular service gateway node is determined among the cluster of service gateway nodes based on policy-based routing (PBR) for the data plane traffic from the particular subscriber. A message based on the control plane message is sent to a control plane process on the particular service gateway node. Thereby, data plane traffic and control plane traffic from the same subscriber are directed to the same gateway node, or otherwise related gateway nodes, of the cluster of service gateway nodes. This approach allows currently-available, hardware-accelerated PBR to be used with clusters of subscriber-aware service gateways that must also monitor control plane traffic from the same subscriber.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for server farm load balancing and resource allocation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of load balancing can include: arranging servers into service groups; receiving an access request with information related to a differentiation between the service groups; selecting one of the service groups based on a mapping comparison to the information; and selecting one of the servers within the selected service group based on a hardware utilization comparison. The servers can include GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Gateway Support Node (GGSN) or Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) servers, for example. The information can include an Access Point Name (APN) or Calling Station ID, for example.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing correlation of billing entries for a mobile communications network is provided. A correlating network element in a bearer path determines a plurality of billing entries for a flow. One or more of the billing entries may be received from other network elements and includes traffic altering information for a flow. The correlating network element correlates the plurality of billing entries using state information included in the billing entries. The state information is used to determine information in billing entries that may be related, such as billing entries for a single flow. Also, the correlating network element uses the traffic altering information to determine a data volume sent for the flow. A correlated billing entry may then be generated using the data volume for the flow. The correlated billing entry is then sent to a billing system from the correlating network element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first access request is received from a mobile device. The access request may be received through a first access medium for a virtual access point name (APN). A session is created with a service using a first real access point name (APN) for the mobile device. A second access request is received through a second type of access medium. The request may be received through a second virtual APN. A session is determined that is active for the mobile device through the first access medium and the second access request is assigned the first real APN even though the request is received through a second access medium. The continuity of the connection may then be maintained because the first real APN is still being used. In this case, a handoff of the connection from the first access network to the second access network is performed while the connection to the service is maintained through the first real APN.