Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communications system for processing control messages for a session in a packet-based network within the communications system. A first indicator is set in a control message for handling a session within the communications system through the packet-based network. The control message is sent to a destination within the packet-based network. The control message is provided priority processing within the packet-based network based on the presence of the first indicator. A second indicator is set in a header of a packet used to transport the control message, such that nodes within the packet based network, which do not examine the control message, provide priority processing of the packet in sending the packet through the packet-based network to the destination.

Abstract: A gateway cluster has a number of gateways for different types of communication protocols. The respective gateways convert network messages to normalized messages by querying the categories, data, and network types of the normalized data for the mobile systems from which the network messages were generated. A database system stores normalized data in categories. The normalized data include data relating to the mobile systems and network types for the data. A unified mobility manager is coupled to and in communications with the gateway cluster and the database system. The unified mobility manager receives and processes the normalized messages, performs operations based on the normalized messages and on the categories, the data, and the network types of the normalized data, and formulates normalized responses responsive to the normalized messages. The normalized responses are converted to network responses at the gateways, and the network responses are sent to the respective mobile systems.