Huawei Technologies Co., Limited

Chengchao Liang

Nimal Gamini Senarath

Remziye Irem Bor-Yaliniz

Hang Zhang

Xu Li

Wei Tan

Wei Lu

Mohammad Moshiur Rahman

Wenqi Sun

Remziye Irem Bor Yaliniz

Methods and system for supporting traffic steering through a service function chain, the service function chain comprising at least one data processing function. An aspect of the disclosure provides for a method for steering traffic of a packet data unit (PDU) performed by a session management function. The method includes receiving PCC rules from a policy control function, the PCC rules including information comprising at least one of service function chain information; final delivery indication; and selective traffic steering information and associated parameters. The method further includes configuring at least one user plane function (UPF) according to the information. In some embodiments the configuring the at least one UPF includes instructing a first UPF to detect traffic according to the packet detection rules and route the received packet according to the forwarding action rules.

Systems and methods for supporting traffic steering through a service function chain

The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and systems supporting in-order packet delivery during application relocation or UP (User Plane) path management events such as DNAI (Data Network Access Identifier) changes. In-order packet delivery may be enforced, ensured or supported by using an indication that in-order packet delivery is requested or required for a particular traffic flow of a UE during a user plane path management event. The methods may be performed by apparatuses implementing an application function (AF), a policy control function (PCF), a session management function (SMF), or UP entities such as PDU session anchors, of the communication network, or systems implementing a combination thereof. The SMF may configure UP entities to transmit packets and flow end markers to support in-order packet delivery and provide flow end marker information to the UP entities. The UP entities may signal path changes using flow end markers.

Method, apparatus and systems for supporting packet delivery

A network management entity configured to: deactivate a Network Slice Instance without releasing network resources previously allocated to the Network Slice Instance; and subsequent to deactivating the Network Slice Instance, activating the Network Slice Instance using the network resources previously allocated to the Network Slice Instance. A Network Slice Management Function (NSMF) perform slice specific Lifecycle Management (LCM) for a Network Slice Instance (NSI) based on Communication Service Instance (CSI) requirements is also disclosed. Customer Service Management Function (CSMF) for receiving service requirements from a Service Manager (SM) and transmitting the CSI requirements a Network Slice Management Function (NSMF) is also disclosed.

Lifecycle management for NSI and CSI

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for service based architecture (SBA) for data analytics management (DAM). Configuration specifications are provided for configuring DAM entities for infrastructure management by infrastructure managers (InfMs), customer service managers (CSMs) for network slice subnet instance (NSSI), network slice instance (NSI) and service instance (SI) management, content and forwarding managers (CFM) for content and content cache management. Also provided are methods and apparatus for data analytics service provisioning regardless of DAM architecture.

Data analytics management (DAM), configuration specification and procedures, provisioning, and service based architecture (SBA)

Method and system for performance assurance in a network slice subset instance (NSSI) or a network slice instance (NSI) of a network. The method comprises receiving, at a network management function (OAM) of the network, a trigger indicating a network performance deficiency; based on the trigger, determining, by a data analytics (DAM) function of the OAM (OAM DAM) in coordination with a network analytics function of one of the core network and a radio access network (RAN), an NSI/NSSI modification; and implementing, by the OAM, a change in at least one of: NSI/NSSI policies, configurations in at least one of core network functions, the RAN and network resources, in accordance with the NSF NSSI modification.

Method and system of performance assurance with conflict management in provisioning a network slice service

A system for managing a network comprising an Operator Domain. The system comprises a hierarchical system of management functions; and a respective service catalogue associated with each management function. The service catalogue storing information of services that can be provided by the management function to at least one higher level management function.

Service provision steps using slices and associated definitions

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of network slice management performed by a Communication Service Management Function (CSMF). The method includes receiving service requirements and receiving capability exposure information. The method further includes transmitting network slice requirements in accordance with the service requirements and capability exposure information. In some embodiments the capability exposure information is received from a Network Slice Management Function (NSMF). In some embodiments the network slice requirements are transmitted to the NSMF. Other aspects are directed to methods implemented by an NSMF and a Network Sub-Slice Management Function (NSSMF). Other aspects are directed to the network functions themselves.

Methods and systems for network slicing

Method and system for performance assurance in a network slice subset instance (NSSI) or a network slice instance (NSI) of a network. The method comprises receiving, at a network management function (OAM) of the network, a trigger indicating a network performance deficiency; based on the trigger, determining, by a data analytics (DAM) function of the OAM (OAM DAM) in coordination with a network analytics function of one of the core network and a radio access network (RAN), an NSI/NSSI modification; and implementing, by the OAM, a change in at least one of: NSI/NSSI policies, configurations in at least one of core network functions, the RAN and network resources, in accordance with the NSI/NSSI modification.

There is provided a method and network management function for allocating a slice instance of a communications network. The method includes obtaining, by a management function, requirements for the slice instance and checking, by the management function, a feasibility of the slice instance requirements in view of one or more of network resources and network capabilities. The method further includes preparing, by the management function, a network environment for the slice instance in view of the slice instance requirements and commissioning, by the management function, the slice instance. The method may additionally or alternatively include terminating, modifying and/or deactivating the slice instance.

Network slice provisioning and operation

A communication service manager (CSM) apparatus for monitoring a communication network is provided. The CSM receives configuration instruction message from a higher-level device, and creates or modifies a set of tasks based on the configuration instruction message. The CSM is thus configured to interact with data provider devices to obtain specific information, process the information, and report the results of the processing operations toward a specified device or database. The data provider devices monitor network operations and may include network functions and data analytics manager (DAM) functions. A format for configuration instruction messages, for configuring the CSM, is also provided.

Methods and functions of network performance monitoring and service assurance

A method comprises communicating a specification of a network slice instance (NSI) that identifies a network function (NF), and operating the identified NF in accordance with the specification.

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Ottawa, Canada

Chengchao Liang