Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)

Cormac Mullally

Bagher Zadeh

Michael Lundkvist

Brian Sweeney

David Quinlan

Dermot Melia

A network node modifies an association between the 3GPP defined Network Functions (NFs) and one or more cloud-native services thereby changing how those NFs are realized by the cloud-native services. To accomplish this, the node () 'decouples' the NFs from the cloud-native services such that the NFs are unaware of the underlying cloud-native services that realize them and orchestrates the cloud-native services executing in the cloud that will realize those NFs. Additionally, the node automatically deploys, upgrades, scales, and heals the cloud-native services, as well as exposes the NFs and their interfaces, thereby facilitating the management of fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security (FCAPS).

Separation of network function and its realization

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically assigning cell identifier values in a communication network and to a method and apparatus for managing the assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to the management and assignment of cell identifier values that are required to be unique between adjacent cells, in a border region within a communication network in which cells from two or more cell sets are present. The present invention provides a novel method and apparatus for assigning cell identifier values in a communication network and for managing the assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network. Embodiments of the invention enable the automatic assignment of cell identifiers in a communication network, such as the assignment of physical cell identities (PCI) and scrambling codes (SC) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. The need for manual administration in border areas between cell sets managed by different Operation Support Systems (OSSs) can therefore be reduced or eliminated.

Method and apparatus for assigning cell identifier values and method and apparatus for managing assignment of cell identifier values in a communication network

The telecommunications network, which includes a plurality of existing cells each having an assigned identifier from a set of identifiers, calculates a value for each existing cell, wherein the value represents the likelihood of an identifier conflict if a new cell is deployed near that existing cell. The value may therefore provide a network operator with an indication of the likelihood of an identifier conflict if a new cell is deployed in a particular area, such that the network operator may proactively avoid identifier conflicts.

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Athlone, Ireland

Cormac Mullally