This Next Generation Service Overlay Network (NGSON) standard describes a framework of Internet Protocol (IP)-based service overlay networks and specifies context-aware [e.g.@ such as required quality of service (QoS) level; type of service such as real time versus data; nature of data stream such as I-frame versus B-frame; and type of terminal such as TV monitor versus personal digital assistant]@ dynamically adaptive (e.g.@ using locally derived information to discover@ organize@ and maintain traffic flows in the network within a local area network)@ and self-organizing networking capabilities (e.g.@ developing network structures based on the needs of the customers and the capabilities of existing network structures)@ including advanced routing and forwarding schemes@ that are independent of underlying networks. The NGSON architecture provides advanced service and transport-related functions to support contextaware@ dynamically adaptive@ and self-organizing networks. This standard specifies a functional architecture for NGSON. The functional architecture consists of a set of functional entities (FEs)@ their functions@ reference points@ and information flows to illustrate service interaction and media delivery among FEs and external components. NGSON may operate with different underlying networks such as IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)@ next generation network (NGN)@ peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay@ or Web to transmit NGSON signaling messages and/or media among its users and services. Specifications of underlying networks are outside scope of this standard. Purpose The purpose of this standard is to enable network operators@ service/content providers@ and end users to provide and consume composite services by the deployment of context-aware@ dynamically adaptive@ and self-organizing networking capabilities.