Abstract: Methods and apparatus for synchronizing packet streams and in particular to the synchronization of transcoded and/or transrated Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packet streams, e.g., transcoded and/or transrated RTP packet streams carrying audio and/or video data. In one embodiment, a packet processing device receives packets of a first RTP packet stream and a first RTCP packet stream and generates a second RTP packet stream from the first RTP packet stream and generates a second RTCP packet stream from the first RTCP packet stream. The second RTP packet stream including packets with timestamps different than packets of the first RTP packet stream. The second RTCP packet stream including NTP timestamps received in or based on the NTP timestamps of the first RTCP packet stream and associated with RTP timestamps corresponding to content in the second RTP packet stream which was generated by transrating or trancoding content in the first RTP packet stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods, apparatus and systems for collecting metrics and/or traffic routing using SDN principles. In an exemplary method embodiment, the method includes the steps of: operating a SBC to: (i) receive a session initiation signal used to initiate a first media session; (ii) send to an SDN controller session identification information identifying a first RTCP packet stream corresponding to the first media session and causing said SDN controller to control a first open flow switch to establish an entry in a table to cause the first open flow switch to send a copy of the RTCP packets corresponding to the first RTCP packet stream to the SBC while also communicating the RTCP packets corresponding to the first RTCP packet stream towards the intended first RTCP packet stream destination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods, apparatus and systems for collecting metrics and/or traffic routing using SDN principles. In an exemplary method embodiment, the method includes the steps of: operating a SBC to: (i) receive a session initiation signal used to initiate a first media session; (ii) send to an SDN controller session identification information identifying a first RTCP packet stream corresponding to the first media session and causing said SDN controller to control a first open flow switch to establish an entry in a table to cause the first open flow switch to send a copy of the RTCP packets corresponding to the first RTCP packet stream to the SBC while also communicating the RTCP packets corresponding to the first RTCP packet stream towards the intended first RTCP packet stream destination.