Abstract: An apparatus and a method are configured to host subscription data of communication elements of a communication network attached to virtualized network functions on the basis of a stored indication, and storing an indication for the virtualized network functions indicating whether the virtualized network functions are de-instantiated. A message directed to a virtualized network function is received and processed, and the method then checks whether the virtualized network function is indicated to be still instantiated or not. If the results of the checking is that the virtualized network function is de-instantiated, a simulation process is conducted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which obtain an indication related to a de-instantiation of at least one virtualized network function providing services to a communication network. The obtained indication is used for determining or recognizing the virtualized network function being de-instantiated and for avoiding conducting a communication attempt to the virtualized network function to be de-instantiated.

Abstract: There are provided measures for handling a signaling message on a data plane in a software-defined architecture. Such measures may exemplarily comprise establishing, in a control plane entity, an instruction for reacting to a specific incoming signaling message on the data plane with a corresponding outgoing message on the data plane, providing the established instruction from the control plane entity to a data plane entity for instructing the data plane entity to react to the specific incoming signaling message with the corresponding outgoing message in accordance with the established instruction, and reacting, in the data plane entity, upon detection of the specific incoming signaling message on the data plane, to the specific incoming signaling message on the data plane in accordance with the provided instruction.

Abstract: The present invention addresses method, apparatus and computer program product for enabling improved coexistence of Software Defined Network, Network Function Virtualization, and legacy networks. Thereby, information about characteristics of available core network nodes is obtained, it is determined, upon receiving a signaling request from a network node, which type of network node the signaling network node is, among at least a legacy network node, a virtualized network node and a software defined networking network node, and at least one network node to be used as gateway is selected from the available core network nodes, according to the determined type of signaling/originating network node and a policy set in advance for minimizing traffic load.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided, by which control in a virtual network is performed, in which resources of a network are modeled, wherein the control of the virtual network is carried out according to a first network protocol. Moreover, a network interface is provided between the virtual network and the network the resources of which are modeled. A control part of a network resource is provided in the virtual network, the control part and the network resource requiring a second network protocol for exchanging control signaling. Control information according to one of the first and second network protocols, which are destined to the network element, is encapsulated in control signaling of another one of the first and second network protocols, and the control signaling is sent to the on the network interface to a network control element, which de-capsulates the encapsulated control information from the received control signaling, and forwards the detected control information to the network resource.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided by which a second network is associated to or disassociated from a network element (e.g., an eNB) which is connected to a first network, and an association configuration information is sent to the network element, the association configuration information comprising a combination of a first network identification identifying the first network and a second network identification identifying the second network. Based on this association configuration, for example load balancing using both the first and the second network may be carried out.

Abstract: The present invention addresses method, apparatus and computer program product for enabling session transfer by Tunnel Endpoint Identifier renumbering in GPRS Tunneling Protocol peer. A new Tunnel Endpoint Identifier value is allocated for the existing session, information about relocating the existing session including the new Tunnel Endpoint Identifier value for the existing session is communicated to the peer network elements of the relocated resource, tunnel endpoint change procedure towards counterpart network elements is performed, and the existing session is removed from the original resource and processing is continued in the relocated resource.

Abstract: A mechanism for improving a reliability of a virtual network and resources used. At a virtual network operator level, a request for providing resources for the virtual network is sent towards an infrastructure provider level. The request includes an indication regarding a required availability and reliability level which is to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network. At an infrastructure provider level the request is processed in order to determine the required availability and reliability level, and it is checked whether the required availability and reliability level is achievable for the resources to be provided for the virtual network. A result (confirmation or denial) of the check is sent back to the virtual network operator level.

Abstract: A method comprising determining that at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated, preparing an indication related to the instantiation of the at least one virtualized communication function or application, and causing transmission of the prepared indication to at least one of a network element of the communication network, a network function of the communication network, a communication function, an application and a database to which network elements, network functions, communication functions or applications in the communication network have access.

Abstract: A processing entity (10) requests an SDN control entity (20) of a virtual network system to perform a specific function for an application processed by the processing entity (10), and indicates an identification of a virtual network operator associated with the application to the SDN control entity (20). The SDN control entity (20) receives the request and performs (S2) the specific function based on the identification of the virtual network operator.

Abstract: A throttle device for varying the pressure of a fluid in a plurality of parallel outlets includes a fluid collector having at least an internal chamber, an inlet and a plurality of outlets for the fluid, and a control element displaceably mounted in the internal chamber of the fluid collector and comprises a plurality of orifices, the cross-section of which can be varied by a relative movement of the control element in relation to the fluid collector. The control element is a sleeve, wherein the orifices are disposed in the sleeve such that they correspond to the outlets of the fluid collector, wherein between the sleeve and the fluid collector seals are provided, such that in a region between of an outside surface of the sleeve and an inside surface surrounding the internal chamber of the fluid collector no fluid communication takes place between the orifices of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method comprising determining that at least one virtualized network function providing services related to a communication network is to be de-instantiated, preparing an indication related to the de-instantiation of the at least one virtualized network function, and causing transmission of the prepared indication to at least one of a network element of the communication network, a network function of the communication network and a database to which network elements or network functions of the communication network have access.

Abstract: Handover in software defined networking The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, computer programs, computer program products and computer-readable media usable for handover in software defined networking, for example X2 and/or S1-MME handover at source eNB and target eNB. The method includes requesting, by a first entity in a first plane, a first entity in a second plane to report a parameter to the first entity in the first plane, receiving, at the first entity in the first plane, the reported parameter, and forwarding, by the first entity in the first plane, the parameter to a second entity in the first plane.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided by which an apparatus (e.g., an MME) establishes a connection session in a network which involves a network resource (e.g., SGW) to be selected, and selects at least one of a control plane (e.g., SGW-C) and a user plane (e.g., SGW-U) of the network resource.

Abstract: There are provided measures for handling a signaling message on a data plane in a software-defined architecture. Such measures may exemplarily comprise establishing, in a control plane entity, an instruction for reacting to a specific incoming signaling message on the data plane with a corresponding outgoing message on the data plane, providing the established instruction from the control plane entity to a data plane entity for instructing the data plane entity to react to the specific incoming signaling message with the corresponding outgoing message in accordance with the established instruction, and reacting, in the data plane entity, upon detection of the specific incoming signaling message on the data plane, to the specific incoming signaling message on the data plane in accordance with the provided instruction.

Abstract: The present invention addresses a method, apparatus and computer program product for enabling PMM/ECM IDLE buffering within software defined network architecture. Thereby, it is indicated that a user plane idle state is active, a buffer for a user plane idle procedure is allocated in a user plane node, and a communications protocol controller is notified about received packets at the user plane node, wherein only the first received packet is to be indicated to the communications protocol controller while any subsequent received packet is appended to the allocated buffer.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided by which a second network is associated to or disassociated from a network element (e.g., an eNB) which is connected to a first network, and an association configuration information is sent to the network element, the association configuration information comprising a combination of a first network identification identifying the first network and a second network identification identifying the second network. Based on this association configuration, for example load balancing using both the first and the second network may be carried out.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided by which control in a virtual network is performed, in which resources of a network are modeled, wherein a network element is configured to be controlled by a first application control element, the method comprising establishing control information indicating at least one second application control element which is to be enabled to configure and/or control the network element, and sending the control information to a network control element. This network control element forwards the configuration information to a network element controller controlling the network element to accept configuration messages from the second application control element.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided, by which control in a virtual network is performed, in which resources of a network are modeled, wherein the control of the virtual network is carried out according to a first network protocol. Moreover, a network interface is provided between the virtual network and the network the resources of which are modeled. A control part of a network resource is provided in the virtual network, the control part and the network resource requiring a second network protocol for exchanging control signaling. Control information according to one of the first and second network protocols, which are destined to the network element, is encapsulated in control signaling of another one of the first and second network protocols, and the control signaling is sent to the on the network interface to a network control element, which de-capsulates the encapsulated control information from the received control signaling, and forwards the detected control information to the network resource.

Abstract: A method for operating a tachograph having an application controller and a safety controller. A memory is associated with the application controller and a further memory is associated with the safety controller. An encrypted program code having at least one associated signature is made available to the safety controller. The encrypted program code is decrypted by means of the security controller and verified by the at least one signature. It is detected whether the decrypted program code (EPC) is intended for the application controller and/or for the security controller. Depending on what is detected, the program in the memory and/or the further program in the further memory is at least partially replaced by the decrypted program code and, depending on a result of the verification, the at least partially replaced program and/or the at least partially replaced further program is released for executing.