Abstract: There is described an apparatus for a base station in a radio access network. The apparatus is configured to detect a change in a radio network congestion status associated with a cell or cell sector of the base station that is being used to serve a mobile device, the change being a change to a given one of a plurality of possible radio congestion levels. The apparatus starts a packet modification process to modify one or more packets in each of one or more uplink data flows from the mobile device to a core network of the radio access network, the one or more packets in each of the one or more uplink data flows being modified by the packet modification process to signal, to a server in the core network, the change in congestion status to the given one of the plurality of possible radio congestion levels.

Abstract: A method of data replication in a distributed storage system of a mobile communications network is disclosed. The distributed storage system comprises a plurality of geographically separated storage locations. The method comprises, at a first storage location: receiving a first request for data stored in the distributed storage system; determining, based on the first request, further, different, data to be stored at the first storage location; determining a second, different, storage location, of the plurality of storage locations, at which the determined further data is stored; sending, to the determined second storage location, a replication request for replicating the determined further data; receiving, in response to the replication request, the further data; and storing the further data such that the further data is replicated at the first storage location in advance of a further request for the further data being received at the first storage location. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods, apparatus, and computer programs relating to a Software Defined Network (SDN) for use in a communication network. The SDN acts as an entity in a first service chain of entities through which a data flow is routable by another SDN in the communication network. The first service chain comprises one or more service applications each for performing a service on data from the data flow at a logical layer in the communication network associated with that service application. The SDN routes data from the data flow received at the SDN through a second service chain comprising one or more SDN service applications. An SDN service application of the second service chain is for performing a service on data from the data flow at a higher logical layer within the communication network than is a service application of the first service chain.

Abstract: There are provided apparatuses and methods for providing user information stored at an access network to a content provider, the access network for providing a user device with access to the internet, the user information relating to a user of an application module stored on the user device, the user device for requesting and receiving content from a said content provider. A request for an identifier for the user device to use when requesting content from a content provider is received at an access network, which generates and transmits an identifier to the user device. A request from the content provider for user information is received at the access network, the request comprising the generated identifier. The access network obtains user information based on the identifier and transmits, to the content provider, the obtained user information.

Abstract: A method of data replication in a distributed storage system of a mobile communications network is disclosed. The distributed storage system comprises a plurality of geographically separated storage locations. The method comprises, at a first storage location: receiving a first request for data stored in the distributed storage system; determining, based on the first request, further, different, data to be stored at the first storage location; determining a second, different, storage location, of the plurality of storage locations, at which the determined further data is stored; sending, to the determined second storage location, a replication request for replicating the determined further data; receiving, in response to the replication request, the further data; and storing the further data such that the further data is replicated at the first storage location in advance of a further request for the further data being received at the first storage location. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for a base station in a radio access network. The apparatus is configured to detect a change in a radio network congestion status associated with a cell or cell sector of the base station that is being used to serve a mobile device, the change being a change to a given one of a plurality of possible radio congestion levels. The apparatus starts a packet modification process to modify one or more packets in each of one or more uplink data flows from the mobile device to a core network of the radio access network, the one or more packets in each of the one or more uplink data flows being modified by the packet modification process to signal, to a server in the core network, the change in congestion status to the given one of the plurality of possible radio congestion levels.

Abstract: A method for categorizing a downloading of a resource to a user device from a resource server in a data network is provided. Data of one or more Layer 7 protocol requests from the client device is received at an intermediate server in the data network. The intermediate server forwards the data of each of the one or more Layer 7 protocol requests to the resource server and receives data of one or more Layer 7 protocol responses from the resource server, each Layer 7 protocol response corresponding to a respective one of the Layer 7 protocol requests. The intermediate server categorizes the downloading of the resource to the client device as being one of one or more pre-defined download categories, based on a count of the one or more Layer 7 protocol responses and the determined sizes or estimated sizes of the one or more Layer 7 protocol responses.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for congestion monitoring in a data network. The method comprises: determining, at a server in the data network, that a user device has initiated a data session with the data network; monitoring, at the server, a plurality of data flows associated with the data session to determine an average bandwidth of the plurality of data flows; and determining a congestion status of the data session based on the average bandwidth and one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method for categorizing a downloading of a resource to a user device from a resource server in a data network is provided. Data of one or more Layer 7 protocol requests from the client device is received at an intermediate server in the data network. The intermediate server forwards the data of each of the one or more Layer 7 protocol requests to the resource server and receives data of one or more Layer 7 protocol responses from the resource server, each Layer 7 protocol response corresponding to a respective one of the Layer 7 protocol requests. The intermediate server categorizes the downloading of the resource to the client device as being one of one or more pre-defined download categories, based on a count of the one or more Layer 7 protocol responses and the determined sizes or estimated sizes of the one or more Layer 7 protocol responses.

Abstract: There are provided apparatuses and methods for providing user information stored at an access network to a content provider, the access network for providing a user device with access to the internet, the user information relating to a user of an application module stored on the user device, the user device for requesting and receiving content from a said content provider. A request for an identifier for the user device to use when requesting content from a content provider is received at an access network, which generates and transmits an identifier to the user device. A request from the content provider for user information is received at the access network, the request comprising the generated identifier. The access network obtains user information based on the identifier and transmits, to the content provider, the obtained user information.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods, apparatus, and computer programs relating to a Software Defined Network (SDN) for use in a communication network. The SDN acts as an entity in a first service chain of entities through which a data flow is routable by another SDN in the communication network. The first service chain comprises one or more service applications each for performing a service on data from the data flow at a logical layer in the communication network associated with that service application. The SDN routes data from the data flow received at the SDN through a second service chain comprising one or more SDN service applications. An SDN service application of the second service chain is for performing a service on data from the data flow at a higher logical layer within the communication network than is a service application of the first service chain.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for congestion monitoring in a data network. The method comprises: determining, at a server in the data network, that a user device has initiated a data session with the data network; monitoring, at the server, a plurality of data flows associated with the data session to determine an average bandwidth of the plurality of data flows; and determining a congestion status of the data session based on the average bandwidth and one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device is described. In one embodiment, a method for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device is described. The method for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device involves intercepting a webpage at a network device, where the webpage is transmitted from a web server and is destined to a user agent, scanning the webpage at the network device to discover links that are embedded in the webpage, obtaining an object that is identified by one of the links at the network device, and transmitting the object from the network device to the user agent as soon as the object is obtained at the network device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for enforcing a traffic policy at a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) that controls the flow of traffic in a wireless communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method involves learning the topology of the wireless communications network, defining a virtual PEP (VPEP) within the topology of the wireless communications network, the VPEP comprising a location component that is remote from the PEP, associating a traffic policy with the VPEP, associating a traffic flow with the VPEP if the traffic flow has a characteristic that corresponds to the location component of the VPEP, and enforcing, at the PEP, the traffic policy that is associated with the VPEP against the traffic flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system for enforcing a traffic policy at a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) that controls the flow of traffic in a wireless communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method involves learning the topology of the wireless communications network, defining a virtual PEP (VPEP) within the topology of the wireless communications network, the VPEP comprising a location component that is remote from the PEP, associating a traffic policy with the VPEP, associating a traffic flow with the VPEP if the traffic flow has a characteristic that corresponds to the location component of the VPEP, and enforcing, at the PEP, the traffic policy that is associated with the VPEP against the traffic flow.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device is described. In one embodiment, a method for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device is described. The method for delivering embedded objects in a webpage to a user agent using a network device involves intercepting a webpage at a network device, where the webpage is transmitted from a web server and is destined to a user agent, scanning the webpage at the network device to discover links that are embedded in the webpage, obtaining an object that is identified by one of the links at the network device, and transmitting the object from the network device to the user agent as soon as the object is obtained at the network device. Other embodiments are also described.