A system and method for determining a network path through a network that is managed by a software defined network (TsSDN) controller incorporating time management are disclosed. In some embodiments, the SDN controller can determine that a data packet originating from a transmitting device and directed to a receiving device is associated with one of: time-sensitive, timeaware or best effort characteristic. The controller can then determine a network path for transport of the data packet from the transmitting device to the receiving device with a guaranteed end to end delay to satisfy the characteristic. The end to end delay considers latency through each layer the data packet transitions through after being conjured at an application layer of the transmitting device. The data packet is then transmitted from the transmitting device via the network path to the receiving device.

A counter router (20) assigns predetermined information specifying a terminal (40) and a sequence number according to the predetermined information to a packet which is received and destined for the terminal (40). Further, the counter router (20) transfers the packet to which the predetermined information and the sequence number are assigned, to a subscriber accommodation router (10) via a relay device. Further, the subscriber accommodation router (10) stores, in an aggregation server (30), the predetermined information and the sequence number which are assigned to the packet transferred from the counter router (20).

An exemplary communication method and system is disclosed. The system may be configured to create a mesh network of nodes for routing and/or rerouting data communications depending on the integrity of or demands on the system to improve efficiency and transmission confidence. The system may be configured to redundantly, simultaneously send data transmissions on different transmission interfaces using different transmission protocols.

A method of defining priority of a number of data packets within a queue includes generating a policy. The policy defines a first multiplexed channel of a plurality of multiplexed channels. The first multiplexed channel having a first priority. The policy also defines a second multiplexed channel of the plurality of multiplexed channels. The second multiplexed channel having a second priority. The first priority is defined as being of a higher priority relative to the second priority. The method further includes receiving the number of data packets over the plurality of multiplexed channels associated with a session based at least in part on the policy.

A message router partially decodes messages to determine how to route the messages. The message router receives a message and identifies a field of the message as a candidate field for including an envelope identifier that indicates an envelope type of the message. The envelope type of the message indicates where information, such as where to route the message, is stored within the message. The message router attempts to decode the candidate field to determine whether the candidate field includes the envelope identifier, and responsive to the candidate filed including the envelope identifier, the message router determines the envelope type of the message. The message router routes the message according to the envelope type.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for modifying a data connection. One apparatus (500) includes a processor (505), a first interface supporting (705) a first data connection with a 5G core network over a first access and a second interface that communicates with a UE over a second access. The processor (505) receives (710) a request to establish a second data connection with the UE and determines (715) whether the second data connection can be mapped into one of a plurality of QoS flows established over the first data connection. The processor (505) sends (720) a request to establish a new QoS flow over the first data connection upon determining that the second data connection cannot be mapped into an existing QoS flow of the first data connection and relays (725) traffic between the second data connection and the new QoS flow over the first data connection.

A method, an operator network (101) and nodes (120, 140, 160) for managing trafficare disclosed. The network exposure node (160) receives (A010) a Packet Flow Description (PFD) rule for a server application (190). The PFD rule comprises one or more protocol parameters for classification of traffic using a protocol related to said one or more protocol parameters. The one or more protocol parameters comprise for example an indication relating to common names (CNS), an indication relating to a domain name system (DNS) domain name, a server name indication (SNI), an indication relating to fraud prevention, an indication relating to a server IP address. The network exposure node (160)transmits (A020) the PFD rule to the session node (140), which transmits (A040), towards the user data node (120), a management request comprising the PFD rule. The user data node (120) receives (A080), from the client application (115), traffic destined to the server application (190). The user data node (120) classifies (A090) the traffic in accordance with the PFD rule. The user data node (120) enforces (A100) actions for the classified traffic. Corresponding computer programs (603, 803, 003) and computer program carriers (605, 805, 1005) are also disclosed.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to define a strand upstream of a direction based traffic (DBT) link. In a method, a strand is defined upstream of a DBT link. The method includes extending the strand so as to include one or more links upstream of the DBT link. The strand is extended by determining whether a link is to be added to the strand based upon evaluation of a termination criteria. The termination criteria is at least partially based upon a relationship of a function class of the link to the function class of one or more other links. In an instance in which the termination criteria is satisfied, the method ceases further extension of the strand.

A system and method for transferring content streams in a peer-to-peer network is provided. The system may first process and manipulate, through resizing, compression and frame limitations, a source content stream through a stream processor and into a destination canvas before being sent to a peer connection. The source content may be manipulated differently for a plurality of peer connections through associated stream processors. The system may further dynamically connect to a plurality of peers of a network and requests a list of requirements for selecting a preferable stream broadcaster. The selection may use the bandwidth available for streaming and the geolocation of the participants.

A smart network interface card (SNIC) is provided. The SNIC may connect to an interconnect module (ICM) having at least two internal data paths. The SNIC and ICM determine a division of work between them. In general, NICs may be standard NICs, advanced NICs (ANICs), or smart NICs (SNICs). The ICM may perform a different amount of processing for network packets received from different devices based on the division of work previously identified. Some SNICs may preprocess network packets with respect to switching and routing processing to allow the ICM to bypass that functionality. Packets received from devices providing a division of work (e.g., SNICs) may receive reduced processing for functions offloaded to the SNIC. SNICs may utilize either a switching and routing group or a virtual bypass group such that data may bypass selected processing typically performed by the ICM.