Network nodes that establish sessions using existing connections identified in a central database

A first network node comprising:

• at least One processor;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and comprising computer readable program code embodied in the at least one memory that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to be configured to:
• add information, which identifies connections established to other network nodes, to a central database that forms a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• respond to a request to establish a communication session to a second network node by interrogating the central database to identify any existing Connections between the first and second network nodes;
• when an existing connection is identified, to establish the communication session with the second network node using the existing connection;
• respond to no existing connection being identified by the central database by communicating a session setup message to the second network node to initiate setup of a session and associated connection between the first and second network nodes;
• and
• respond to a session acknowledgement response from the second network node indicating that the session and associated connection have been setup by adding the connection as a record in the central database.

A first network node comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and comprising computer readable program code embodied in the at least one memory that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to be configured to:
• add information, which identifies connections established to other network nodes, to a central database that forms a repository Of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• respond to a request to establish a communication session to a second network node by interrogating the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and second network nodes;
• when an existing connection is identified, to establish the communication session with the second network node using the existing connection;
• respond to another request to establish a communication session to a third network node by interrogating the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and third network nodes that are recorded in the central database;
• and
• respond to an existing direct connection between the first and third network nodes being identified by the central database and an existing indirect connection between the first and third network nodes via the second network node being identified by the central database by selecting one of the existing direct connection and the existing indirect connection to use for the communication session to the third network node.

A first network node comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and comprising computer readable program code embodied in the at least one memory that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to be configured to:
• add information, which identifies connections established to other network nodes, to a central database that forms a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• respond to a request to establish a communication session to a second network node by interrogating the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and second network nodes;
• when an existing connection is identified, to establish the communication session with the second network node using the existing connection;
• and
• add a Service, SRV, record in a Domain Name System, DNS, that includes the central database to identify a new connection established to another network node.

A method comprising:

• performing operations as follows on at least one processor of a first network node:
• communicating information, which identifies a connection established between the first network node and another network node, from the first network node to a central database that forms a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• in response to a request at the first network node to establish a communication session to a second network node, communicating an interrogation message from the first network node to the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and second network nodes;
• in response to an existing connection being identified, establishing the communication session between the first and second network nodes using the existing connection, and
• communicating from the first network node to the central database a Quality of Service, QoS, value per established connection to another network node that indicates a level of QoS being provided by the first network node for communications using said connection.

A method comprising:

• performing operations as follows on at least one processor of a first network node:
• communicating information, which identifies a connection established between the first network node and another network node, from the first network node to a central database that forms a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• in response to a request at the first network node to establish a communication session to a second network node, communicating an interrogation message from the first network node to the central database to identify any existing Connections between the first and second network nodes;
• in response to an existing connection being identified, establishing the communication session between the first and second network nodes using the existing connection;
• in response to another request at the first network node to establish a communication session to a third network node, communicating an interrogation message from the first network node to the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and third network nodes;
• and
• in response to an existing direct connection between the first and third network nodes being identified by the central database and an existing indirect connection between the first and third network nodes via the second network node being identified by the central database, selecting one of the existing direct connection and the existing indirect connection to use for the communication session to the third network node.

A method comprising:

• performing operations as follows on at least one processor of a first network node:
• communicating information, which identifies a connection established between the first network node and another network node, from the first network node to a central database that forms a repository of information indicating connections between network nodes;
• in response to a request at the first network node to establish a communication session to a second network node, communicating an interrogation message from the first network node to the central database to identify any existing connections between the first and second network nodes;
• in response to an existing connection being identified, establishing the communication session between the first and second network nodes using the existing connection;
• and
• adding a Service, SRV, record in a Domain Name System, DNS, that includes the central database to identify a new connection established from the first network node to another network node.