Abstract: In one example aspect, a method performed by a network node for configuring a network slice is provided, the method comprising, in response to a request to configure a network slice, configuring network resources for providing the network slice, and configuring a state of the network slice to a first state, wherein in the first state the network slice is disabled.

Abstract: A configuration controller (60) is provided to make changes to configuration of a communications network (10) having VNFs used in providing services to UEs. If the change could affect a service using a first VNF (30), if made while that VNF is in use, a substitute VNF (32) is instantiated corresponding to that first VNF. The first UE is transferred to use the substitute VNF instead of the first VNF. The proposed change to the configuration is made with respect to either one of these VNFs, while the service to the first UE is maintained using the other one of these VNFs. If needed all VNFs and a service area can be substituted. Thus, such configuration changes no longer need to await a quiet period when few or no UEs are attached, and enable the configuration changes to be made more rapidly, responsive to changing circumstances.

Abstract: In one example aspect, a method performed by a network node for configuring a network slice is provided, the method comprising, in response to a request to configure a network slice, configuring network resources for providing the network slice, and configuring a state of the network slice to a first state, wherein in the first state the network slice is disabled.

Abstract: A configuration controller (60) is provided to make changes to configuration of a communications network (10) having VNFs used in providing services to UEs. If the change could affect a service using a first VNF (30), if made while that VNF is in use, a substitute VNF (32) is instantiated corresponding to that first VNF. The first UE is transferred to use the substitute VNF instead of the first VNF. The proposed change to the configuration is made with respect to either one of these VNFs, while the service to the first UE is maintained using the other one of these VNFs. If needed all VNFs and a service area can be substituted. Thus, such configuration changes no longer need to await a quiet period when few or no UEs are attached, and enable the configuration changes to be made more rapidly, responsive to changing circumstances.

Abstract: A method, an Element Manager (EM), a Network Manager (NM), an EM node, and a NM node configured to deploy virtualized Managed Elements (vMEs) in a network. The method includes receiving, from an NM, information that includes a set of Virtualized Network Function (VNF) identifications (IDs), each VNF ID of the set of VNF IDs representing an instantiated VNF, each instantiated VNF corresponding to a desired vME, receiving, from the NM, instructions to deploy the network in accordance with the information, creating a set of Managed Object Instances (MOIs) based on the information, receiving notification when a VNF is instantiated and begins execution, the notification including a corresponding VNF ID, and if the corresponding VNF ID matches a VNF ID from the set of VNF IDs, enabling an operational state of an MOI from the set of MOIs corresponding to the matched VNF ID.

Abstract: Resources (10, 20, 30) of a communications network (40), are used to provide services, some are superordinate services (A, B) which depend on contributory services (C, D, E, F). Key performance indicators R-KPI are received based on measurements from the resources, of contributory services contributing to a corresponding key performance indicator KPI of the corresponding superordinate service. A selection (120) is made of the received R-KPIs which correspond to the normal operation of the superordinate service and a characteristic division is generated (130) of relative contributions of the R-KPIs to the KPI of the corresponding superordinate service for the times that the service was operating normally. This can be used as a basis for identifying differences with other R-KPIs to determine anomalies in behavior of contributory services for root cause analysis or in managing the network. Convergence evaluation and validation can be used to improve accuracy of the characteristic division.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, information about events that occur at nodes (27) is sent to event-based management applications (31) in operations and maintenance servers (21). Event reports (23) comprising such event information are replaced or accompanied in data packets by event summaries (33). The summaries (33) can be used to route the data packets to the correct event-based management application (31) with less processing time and resources than if the event reports (23) are used for routeing, because information about the events can be obtained from the summaries (33) more easily than from the event reports (23). Routeing using the summaries (33) may be done in a fast path. Some event-based management applications can use the summaries (33) instead of the event reports (23), which can also save processing time and resources, and such event-based management applications may be performed in a fast path.

Abstract: There is provided a method (100) for root cause analysis of service quality degradation in a communications network. The method comprises receiving (102) measurements from a plurality of nodes in the communication network, determining (104) identifiers for the received measurements, using (106) the identifiers for the received measurements to determine a network topology; and performing (108) root cause analysis based on the determined topology and the measurements linked with said topology.

Abstract: Causes of service quality degradation in a communication network are determined for automated root cause analysis by identifying occurrence of degradation in service quality within a user session; identifying an underperforming resource of the communication network during occurrence of said identified degradation in service quality; in response to determining that the underperforming resource has at least one dependant resource, identifying any underperforming dependant resources during occurrence of said identified degradation in service quality; and outputting a plurality of causes of the service quality degradation including the identity of each of the identified underperforming resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of quality of service monitoring of at least one service in a communication network. The method comprises a first and a second modes. The first mode comprises detecting degradation in quality of service in a communication network by selecting (80) a set of terminal service sessions for providing terminal service session reports; collecting (82) terminal service session information from the selected terminal service sessions; and determining (84) the quality of service in the communication network from the terminal service sessions monitored in the first mode.

Abstract: Resources (10, 20, 30) of a communications network (40), are used to provide services, some are superordinate services (A, B) which depend on contributory services (C, D, E, F). Key performance indicators R-KPI are received based on measurements from the resources, of contributory services contributing to a corresponding key performance indicator KPI of the corresponding superordinate service. A selection (120) is made of the received R-KPIs which correspond to the normal operation of the superordinate service and a characteristic division is generated (130) of relative contributions of the R-KPIs to the KPI of the corresponding superordinate service for the times that the service was operating normally. This can be used as a basis for identifying differences with other R-KPIs to determine anomalies in behavior of contributory services for root cause analysis or in managing the network. Convergence evaluation and validation can be used to improve accuracy of the characteristic division.

Abstract: Causes of service quality degradation in a communication network are determined for automated root cause analysis by identifying occurrence of degradation in service quality within a user session; identifying an underperforming resource of the communication network during occurrence of said identified degradation in service quality; in response to determining that the underperforming resource has at least one dependant resource, identifying any underperforming dependant resources during occurrence of said identified degradation in service quality; and outputting a plurality of causes of the service quality degradation including the identity of each of the identified underperforming resources.

Abstract: Streams of monitoring data relating to part of a communications network, are manipulated automatically by looking up a corresponding indexed value in a stored index, and selectively replacing that attribute value with the corresponding indexed value. The selective replacement is based on a characteristic of the stream of monitored data, or the network being monitored. The selection or the indexed values can be adapted dynamically. Such selective replacement at the attribute field level can enable the data to be enriched with embedded information or be compressed more efficiently with less processing overhead by exploiting knowledge of the data format and the network configuration. It is compatible with hardware implementations. The embedded information can enable subsequent processing of the monitored data to be speeded up.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, information about events that occur at nodes (27) is sent to event-based management applications (31) in operations and maintenance servers (21). Event reports (23) comprising such event information are replaced or accompanied in data packets by event summaries (33). The summaries (33) can be used to route the data packets to the correct event-based management application (31) with less processing time and resources than if the event reports (23) are used for routeing, because information about the events can be obtained from the summaries (33) more easily than from the event reports (23). Routeing using the summaries (33) may be done in a fast path. Some event-based management applications can use the summaries (33) instead of the event reports (23), which can also save processing time and resources, and such event-based management applications may be performed in a fast path.

Abstract: There is provided a method (100) for root cause analysis of service quality degradation in a communications network. The method comprises receiving (102) measurements from a plurality of nodes in the communication network, determining (104) identifiers for the received measurements, using (106) the identifiers for the received measurements to determine a network topology; and performing (108) root cause analysis based on the determined topology and the measurements linked with said topology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of quality of service monitoring of at least one service in a communication network. The method comprises a first and a second modes. The first mode comprises detecting degradation in quality of service in a communication network by selecting (80) a set of terminal service sessions for providing terminal service session reports; collecting (82) terminal service session information from the selected terminal service sessions; and determining (84) the quality of service in the evaluate quality of service communication network from the terminal service sessions monitored in the first mode.