Openwave Mobility Inc.

Patrick McGleenon

Matt Halligan

Aiden McGurn

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.

Software defined network and a communication network comprising the same

Provided herein is a method of managing connections in a communication network. A first and second packet are received from a third entity intermediate to a first and second entity in the communication network. The first packet and the second packet are used to establish a third transport protocol socket and a fourth transport protocol socket at a fourth entity. Header field re-valuing information is established based at least in part on first header field value information obtained from the first packet and/or second header field value information obtained from the second packet. Header field values in a subsequent received packet are re-valued based on the header field re-valuing information, either prior to the subsequent packet being input to the third transport protocol socket or the fourth transport protocol socket or subsequent to the subsequent packet being output from the third transport protocol socket or the fourth transport protocol socket.

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Newry, United Kingdom

Patrick McGleenon