Abstract: These various embodiments comprise or are suitable for implementation by a high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform that is configured to be installed at a traffic-aggregation point for a communications network having a plurality of attachment points at its edge. These teachings provide for receiving (via, for example, a packet-receiving interface) at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point and then extracting session context state data from at least a majority of these data packets. By one approach, this session context state data comprises, at least in part, information pertaining to a location as pertains to a calling party (such as the point of network attachment for that calling party). This session context state data is then used to update a local session context state database.

Abstract: These teachings provide for receiving (101) TCP packets as comprise a part of a packet data flow that itself comprises, at least in part, a mobile data flow. These TCP packets are then used (102) to detect when the mobile data flow as comprises a mobile data session has been dropped by a corresponding mobile network.

Abstract: These teachings provide for monitoring TCP sessions in a mobile data network and developing corresponding performance metrics to aid in monitoring session quality. The performance metrics can be used to form a corresponding indicator of aggregated session quality that can be used to facilitate the monitoring of TCP session quality.

Abstract: An IP sub-network includes a gateway and a plurality of sub-network processors in communication with the gateway. An IP address is associated with each sub-network processor, the IP address having a sub-network address portion corresponding to the sub-network and a host address portion corresponding to the sub-network processor. Each sub-network processor generates a transaction identifier for each signaling message that is communicated by the gateway to the signaling network. The transaction identifier is based on the IP address and can be generated by separating the sub-network address portion of the IP address and concatenating the host address portion with a numerical value, which corresponds to a predetermined, non-random ordering scheme. A signaling message can be routed to a sub-network processor by concatenating the sub-network address portion with the host address portion used as part of the transaction identifier.

Abstract: An IP sub-network includes a gateway and a plurality of sub-network processors in communication with the gateway. An IP address is associated with each sub-network processor, the IP address having a sub-network address portion corresponding to the sub-network and a host address portion corresponding to the sub-network processor. Each sub-network processor generates a transaction identifier for each signaling message that is communicated by the gateway to the signaling network. The transaction identifier is based on the IP address and can be generated by separating the sub-network address portion of the IP address and concatenating the host address portion with a numerical value, which corresponds to a predetermined, non-random ordering scheme. A signaling message can be routed to a sub-network processor by concatenating the sub-network address portion with the host address portion used as part of the transaction identifier.