Abstract: A data flow manager distributes data of a data stream of a user equipment via at least a first communication link and a second communication link, wherein the second communication link is independent of the first communication link. The data flow manager includes: a network interface configured to receive a first status signal indicating a first link quality of the first communication link and a second status signal indicating a second link quality of the second communication link; and a processor configured to perform load-balancing by selecting a prioritization link from the first communication link or the second communication link independent of the first link quality and the second link quality provided that the first link quality is above a first quality threshold and the second link quality is above a second quality threshold.

Abstract: A packet conversion device includes: a first single path interface arranged for data packet transmission over one communication path or a first multipath interface arranged for data packet transmission over at least two communication paths, wherein the data traffic transmitted over the first single path interface or the first multipath interface is non-Multipath-Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (non-MP-DCCP) data traffic; a second multipath interface arranged for data packet transmission over at least two communication paths, wherein the data traffic transmitted over the second multipath interface is MP-DCCP data traffic; and a packet conversion module arranged to convert non-MP-DCCP data traffic to MP-DCCP data traffic according to a protocol conversion and/or to convert MP-DCCP data traffic to non-MP-DCCP data traffic according to a further protocol conversion for further transmission.

Abstract: A multipath receiver includes: a reorder queue configured to queue data packets received over multiple paths; and a reorder queue controller configured to reorder the data packets in the reorder queue according to a reorder criterion. The reorder queue controller is configured to allow Multi-Access Protocol Data Unit (MA PDU) Sessions based on Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS). The reorder queue controller is configured to choose to activate a reordering of the data packets. The reorder queue controller is configured to negotiate the activation of the reordering of the data packets with peers of an MA PDU Session based on an ATSSS use case, wherein in case reordering is activated, the data packets are queued in a reorder queue. The reorder criterion is based on a sequence numbering of the data packets of the MA PDU Session based on the ATSSS use case.

Abstract: A system includes a user equipment (UE), a multi-connectivity (MC) termination point, and a service provider. The UE is connectable to the MC termination point through a first MC path and a second MC path. The first MC path comprises a first access network and the second MC path comprises a second access network. The MC termination point is configured to send, to the service provider, access specific information on behalf of the UE and/or the first MC path. The service provider is configured to send, to the MC termination point, service information associated with the first access network.

Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency of a multipath (MP) communication network includes: providing at least a first communication path and a second communication path for exchanging data packets between a sender entity and a receiver entity; determining timing information about the first communication path and about the second communication path; calculating a latency difference ?L by using the timing information of the first communication path and of the second communication path; and delaying data packets sent over the communication path with the shorter latency value by a time interval TDelay that has at least the length of the latency difference ?L.

Abstract: A method ensures secure communication of a Zero Touch Connectivity-Device (ZTC-Device) in a communication system. The ZTC-Device is configured to communicate with a ZTC-Backend of the communication system by establishing a communication link to the ZTC-Backend via a foreign Wi-Fi hotspot of the communication system. The method includes: locating, by the ZTC-Device, the foreign Wi-Fi Hotspot; identifying the Wi-Fi Hotspot; retrieving a type of trustiness of the Wi-Fi Hotspot based on the identity of the Wi-Fi Hotspot; providing the ZTC-Device and/or the ZTC-Backend with the type of trustiness; and setting, by the ZTC-Device and/or the ZTC-Backend, a security level of the communication link based on the type of trustiness.

Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency of a multipath (MP) communication network includes: providing at least a first communication path and a second communication path for exchanging data packets between a sender entity and a receiver entity; determining timing information about the first communication path and about the second communication path; calculating a latency difference ?L by using the timing information of the first communication path and of the second communication path; and delaying data packets sent over the communication path with the shorter latency value by a time interval TDelay that has at least the length of the latency difference ?L.

Abstract: A multipath receiver includes: a reorder queue configured to queue data packets received over multiple paths; and a reorder queue controller configured to reorder the data packets in the reorder queue according to a reorder criterion. The reorder queue controller is configured to allow Multi-Access Protocol Data Unit (MA PDU) Sessions based on Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS). The reorder queue controller is configured to choose to activate a reordering of the data packets. The reorder queue controller is configured to negotiate the activation of the reordering of the data packets with peers of an MA PDU Session based on an ATSSS use case, wherein in case reordering is activated, the data packets are queued in a reorder queue. The reorder criterion is based on a sequence numbering of the data packets of the MA PDU Session based on the ATSSS use case.

Abstract: A packet conversion device includes: a first single path interface arranged for data packet transmission over one communication path or a first multipath interface arranged for data packet transmission over at least two communication paths, wherein the data traffic transmitted over the first single path interface or the first multipath interface is non-Multipath-Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (non-MP-DCCP) data traffic; a second multipath interface arranged for data packet transmission over at least two communication paths, wherein the data traffic transmitted over the second multipath interface is MP-DCCP data traffic; and a packet conversion module arranged to convert non-MP-DCCP data traffic to MP-DCCP data traffic according to a protocol conversion and/or to convert MP-DCCP data traffic to non-MP-DCCP data traffic according to a further protocol conversion for further transmission.

Abstract: A compatibility layer, in particular a shim layer, is configured to provide flexible choice of network protocols in a multi-path environment. The compatibility layer includes a first set of communication interfaces that is associated to a first communication link, a second set of communication interfaces that is associated to a second communication link, an access unit configured to get access to a library of network protocols, and a converting unit. The converting unit is configured to convert data packets received from a network entity via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to at least one of the network protocols; and/or the converting unit is configured to convert data packets received from a communication network via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to one standard network protocol.

Abstract: A data traffic analyzer is configured for detecting bursty data traffic on a data path. The data traffic analyzer measures data traffic parameters of the data path and analyzes the data traffic parameters of the data path to detect a bursty traffic pattern based on comparing the data traffic parameters to a time interval threshold TLimit which defines gaps between bursty data traffic. The measured traffic parameters include: i) a data traffic volume and/or a protocol data unit (PDU) count transmitted on the data path; and ii) a time stamp TLPU characterizing the last path usage (LPU) of the data path.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data packets of at least one communication service from a first network entity to at least one destination network entity includes: establishing a quick user datagram protocol internet connection tunnel between the first network entity and a second network entity; transmitting the data packets from the first network entity to the second network entity via the quick user datagram protocol internet connection tunnel, wherein the data packets are encapsulated within quick user datagram protocol internet connection packets, and wherein the quick user datagram protocol internet connection packets are transmitted from the first network entity to the second network entity via multiple paths; extracting the data packets from the received quick user datagram protocol internet connection packets in the second network entity; and forwarding the extracted data packets from the second network entity to a respective destination network entity.

Abstract: A method and a system including a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes a multipath traffic scheduler and the receiving device includes a reordering module. The multipath traffic scheduler is configured to schedule packets for transmission over at least two paths, each transmitted packet including a sequence identifier. The reordering module is configured to receive packets through the at least two paths, and reorder the received packets sequentially based on the sequence identifier. The multipath traffic scheduler comprises a send-buffer configured to temporarily store the transmitted packets for a predetermined amount of time, and the transmitting device is configured resend a transmitted packet not being received by the receiving device. The transmitting device is configured to adjust a number of allowed re-transmissions or adjust a dimension of the send-buffer for adjusting transmission reliability of the system.

Abstract: A compatibility layer, in particular a shim layer, is configured to provide flexible choice of network protocols in a multi-path environment. The compatibility layer includes a first set of communication interfaces that is associated to a first communication link, a second set of communication interfaces that is associated to a second communication link, an access unit configured to get access to a library of network protocols, and a converting unit. The converting unit is configured to convert data packets received from a network entity via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to at least one of the network protocols; and/or the converting unit is configured to convert data packets received from a communication network via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to one standard network protocol.

Abstract: A method for selecting a route for outgoing data traffic includes receiving, by a communication terminal, at least one user equipment route selection policy rule, which comprises a traffic descriptor and at least one route selection component. The communication terminal detects a traffic-related information item which is related to at least one outgoing data unit. The communication terminal selects a user equipment route selection policy rule from the at least one received user equipment route selection policy rule, where a traffic descriptor of the selected user equipment route selection policy rule is associated with the detected traffic-related information item on the basis of a matching table that is stored in the communication terminal. The communication terminal selects a route for the at least one outgoing data unit on the basis of a route selection component of the selected user equipment route selection policy rule.

Abstract: A method for enabling communication between a first network entity and a second network entity via at least two network flows includes: providing at least a first network flow and a second network flow of the first network entity; measuring, by a measuring unit associated with the first network entity, condition values of each of the at least two network flows; comparing the measured condition values of the at least two network flows to entries of a condition matrix; based on comparing the measured condition values to the entries of the condition matrix, selecting a mode for the first network entity out of an aggregation mode, a reliability mode, and a single-connectivity mode; and activating the selected mode.

Abstract: A method for transmitting multiple data streams of different communication services over a multipath transmission system includes: providing data to be transmitted, wherein the data to be transmitted comprises first data and second data; detecting, out of a plurality of communication services, a first communication service the first data belongs to and a second communication service the second data belongs to; mapping the first data to a first data stream and the second data to a second data stream based on the first and second detected communication services; scheduling transfer of the first data stream and the second data stream based on the first classification parameter assigned to the first and second communication services; and scheduling transmission of the first data and the second data to the destination communication device based on the at least one second classification parameter assigned to the first and second communication services.

Abstract: A multipath capable communication device includes: a first communication path and a second communication path configured to provide data traffic to be transmitted; at least one control unit; a multipath scheduler configured to distribute data traffic to the first communication path and/or to the second communication path based on a first path metric; a first traffic shaper configured to limit the total bandwidth allocated to the communication device to a first adjustable bandwidth limiting value; and a second traffic shaper configured to limit the bandwidth allocated to the first communication path to a second adjustable bandwidth limiting value and/or a third traffic shaper configured to limit the bandwidth allocated to the second communication path to a third adjustable bandwidth limiting value. The at least one control unit is configured to control the multipath scheduler, the first traffic shaper, and the second traffic shaper and/or third traffic shaper.

Abstract: A detection unit for discovering cascaded multi-connectivity scenarios in a communication network includes: an interface configured to communicate with the communication network, wherein one or multiple multi-connectivity devices of the network are designed to send type-of-transmission signals to the interface; and an evaluation unit programmed with a cascaded multi-connectivity detection algorithm, wherein the evaluation unit is provided with the type-of-transmission signals and analyzes the occurrence and/or a possible occurrence of cascaded multi-connectivity usage within the communication network based on the type-of-transmission signals.

Abstract: A communication system includes: a policy entity for an Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting (ATSSS) Overlay; a mobile core; a User Equipment (UE); and a multi-connectivity provider having a multi-connectivity termination point. The ATSSS Overlay is configured to provide multi-connectivity without an ATSSS user plane function. The policy entity is configured to communicate ATSSS Overlay specific rules with the UE and/or to the multi-connectivity termination point.