Huawei Technologies Co., Limited

Apple Inc.

Nortel Networks Corporation

Blackberry Corporation

Huawei Technologies Canada Co., Ltd.

Huawei Technologies,co., Ltd.

Research in Motion Corporation

Rockstar Bidco, LP

Other

Nimal Gamini Senarath

Hang Zhang

Shalini Suresh Periyalwar

Wen Tong

Derek Yu

Peiying Zhu

Sophie Vrzic

Kelvin Kar-Kin Au

Aaron Callard

Philippe Leroux

Alex Stephenne

Ngoc Dung Dao

Xu Li

Hamidreza Farmanbar

Ho Ting Cheng

Chengchao Liang

David G Steer

Bill W Gage

Karl D Mann

Israfil Bahceci

Halim Yanikomeroglu

Remziye Irem Bor-Yaliniz

Liqing Zhang

Ngoc-Dung Dao

Jianglei Ma

Mo-Han Fong

Jaya Rao

Robert Matyas

Mohammad Moshiur Rahman

Kelvin Kar Kin Au

Vahid Tarokh

Mehdi Arashmid Akhavain Mohammadi

Yoon Chae Cheong

Petar Djukic

Kaveh Shafiee

Meisam Mirahsan

Parsya Larijani

Rainer Schoenen

Ian Marsland

Ziyang Wang

Curtis S Dodd

Remziye Irem Bor Yaliniz

Shalini Peliyalwar

Adnan Abu-Dayya

Mohammadhadi Baligh

Geng Wu

Wei Tan

Sheng Sun

William Anthony Gage

Leo L Strawczynski

Wei Lu

Koon Hoo Teo

Wenqi Sun

Hongyi Li

Farideh Khaleghi

Ramy Gohary

Reinhard Balogun

Jing Dang

Hossein Khoshnevis

Ibrahim Aydin

David G Gonzalez

Kari Mann

Paul Coverdale

Parsyna R Larijani

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 method and system for responding to demand-based charging in a communication network, such as a 5G wireless communication network. Service providers and/or infrastructure providers adjust network usage pricing dynamically based on demand. Customers such as Virtual Network operators respond to pricing adjustments by adjusting their network usage, service requirements, and/or by re-negotiating the pricing structure. Network usage can be adjusted by controlling network traffic generated in response to activity of end-user devices of the Virtual Network.

Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling customer traffic in a network under demand-based charging

A method for managing network slice enabled traffic on a communications network is disclosed. The network slice is instantiated on the communications network for providing connectivity resources to a network operator using the communications network. The method comprises measuring a traffic level indicative of the traffic enabled by the network slice; and adjusting the traffic enabled by the network slice in accordance with the traffic level and a network operator enabled function associated with the network slice.

Systems and methods for managing network traffic with a network operator

Systems and methods described for providing capacity and coverage hole analysis in next generation wireless networks (e.g. 5G networks). Provided is a network function comprising a network interface for receiving data from, and transmitting data to, a plurality of network functions connected to a within a communication network; a processor; and a non-transient memory for storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the network function to receive a request for capacity and coverage hole (CCH) information from a capacity and coverage hole analysis (CCHA) consumer, collect the CCH information responsive to the request; and determine a capacity and coverage hole profile that is indicative of at least one of a network coverage sufficiency and coverage service quality based at least in part on the CCH information.

Systems and methods for managing capacity and coverage in communication networks

The present application provides a system and method for accelerated network service and/or network slice provisioning in response to customer requests or requirements. The provided system and method incorporate a network service/network slice instance that is responsible for constructing and maintaining status and models associated with the dynamics of network services. A modelling function can be operated based on collected network service information to maintain a model relating to network service dynamics, and transmit indications, such as predictions of future requirements, to a corresponding network management service. The indications can be used for creation, modification, and termination of the network service, or for advanced preparation of such actions.

System and method for accelerated provision of network services

Interference costs on virtual radio interfaces can be modeled as a function of loading in a wireless network to estimate changes in spectral efficiency and/or resource availability that would result from a provisioning decision. In one example, this modeling is achieved through cost functions that are developed from historical and/or simulated resource cost data corresponding to the wireless network. The cost data may include interference data, spectral efficiency data, and/or loading data for various links over a common period of time (e.g., a month, a year, etc.), and may be analyzed and/or consolidated to obtain correlations between interference costs and loading on the various links in the network. As an example, a cost function may specify an interference cost on one virtual link as a function of loading on one or more neighboring virtual links.

Service provisioning using abstracted network resource requirements

A system for managing a network comprising at least one network slice instance including at least one network slice subnet instance. The system comprises a network slice management function associated with each network slice instance, the network slice management function configured to expose one or more management functions to a customer such that the customer can effect limited management of its associated network slice instance; and a network slice subnet management function associated with each network slice subnet instance, the network slice management function configured to expose one or more management functions to a customer such that the customer can effect limited management of its associated network slice subnet instance.

Service provision for offering network slices to a customer

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

The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating efficient handoff and data throughput in mobile broadband communication systems. Methods implemented by a system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention include selectively enabled soft handoff, performing Layer 2 bearer functions at the base station and using the mobile device to coordinate soft handoff and interference avoidance without the need for a centralized coordination function.

Method and system for soft handoff in mobile broadband systems

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

Growing community of inventors

Ottawa, Canada

Nimal Gamini Senarath