Abstract: In one example, an indication that a user equipment participating in a Packet Data Network (PDN) session hosted by a Serving Gateway (SGW) and a PDN Gateway (PGW) is transitioning from a first Mobility Management Entity (MME) to a second MME is obtained. An indication that the SGW is co-located with the PGW and an identification of the SGW are obtained. Based on the indication that the SGW is co-located with the PGW and the identification of the SGW, it is determined that the SGW is reachable from the second MME. In response to determining that the SGW is reachable from the second MME, the SGW is selected to host the PDN session after the user equipment transitions from the first MME to the second MME.

Abstract: Presented herein are efficient techniques through which a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) may retrieve information for a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to support graceful mobility for various inter-Radio Access Technology (inter-RAT) mobility scenarios. In one example, a method includes determining, by an AMF, an inter-RAT mobility event for a user equipment; identifying, by the AMF, an MME associated with the inter-RAT mobility event based, at least in part, on MME information contained in a network database; and transferring context information for the user equipment between the AMF and the MME. In one instance, the network database may be a Network Repository Function (NRF) for a 3GPP Fifth Generation mobile network and the MME information may be associated with an MME network function type stored in the NRF.

Abstract: A solution for selecting an optimal user Plane entity (with Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS)) per UE during seamless roaming. In one embodiment, a method is provide that is performed by a control plane entity in a mobile core network that supports inter public land mobile network (PLMN) roaming among two or more PLMNs. The method includes obtaining a create session request from an entity in a second PLMN to which a user equipment has roamed from a first PLMN; selecting a particular user plane entity among a plurality of user plane entities based on one or more user equipment related parameters; and establishing a session with the particular user plane entity to serve user plane traffic in the mobile core network for the user equipment.

Abstract: A solution for selecting an optimal user Plane entity (with Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS)) per UE during seamless roaming. In one embodiment, a method is provide that is performed by a control plane entity in a mobile core network that supports inter public land mobile network (PLMN) roaming among two or more PLMNs. The method includes obtaining a create session request from an entity in a second PLMN to which a user equipment has roamed from a first PLMN; selecting a particular user plane entity among a plurality of user plane entities based on one or more user equipment related parameters; and establishing a session with the particular user plane entity to serve user plane traffic in the mobile core network for the user equipment.

Abstract: When a packet data session is established for a user equipment (UE), a comparative assessment of load information factors from different sets of load information factors associated with a plurality of user plane function (UPF) instances may be performed. Each set of load information factors of a UPF instance may include predicted load information factors indicative of a predicted load at the UPF instance. A UPF instance may be selected for the packet data session of the UE based on the comparative assessment. The comparative assessment may additionally consider a predicted load contribution of the packet data session to be established for the UE. A data analytics function may utilize a model (e.g. a multiple linear regression model) to calculate predicted load contribution factors, where the model is derived based on historical usage data from previous sessions of one or more UEs, for example, data from charging data records (CDRs).

Abstract: A broker network may be configured to serve as an intermediary between one or more radio providers and one or more mobile service providers for reservation of remote radio units (RRUs) for use in a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) environment. The broker network may receive, from a mobile network, a message indicating a request for identification of RRUs of at least one radio provider. The broker network may send, to the mobile network, one or more messages including a plurality of identifiers which identify a plurality of RRUs, and a geographic location and capabilities associated with each RRU. After receiving a selection of an RRU, the broker network may send to the RRU a message which triggers communication with a virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU) for a remote configuration of parameters in the selected RRU, so that it may be used to facilitate communication with UEs in the mobile network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile network includes at least one Information Centric Networking (ICN) enabled mobile base station configured to support ICN transport protocol, and at least one ICN enabled evolved packet core (EPC) device configured to support ICN transport protocol, where the ICN enabled EPC device is operative to assign an ICN based identity to a user equipment (UE) according to an attach request, wherein the attach request indicates that the UE supports the ICN transport protocol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a first configuration information for configuring a user plane device of the first network slice associated with the control plane device, generating a first configuration identifier based on the first configuration information, sending, to the user plane device of the first network slice, the first configuration identifier and the first configuration information, receiving, from the user plane device of the first network slice, a second configuration identifier, wherein the second configuration identifier is generated by the user plane device of the first network slice based on the first configuration information received from the control plane device, and verifying, by comparing the first configuration identifier and the second configuration identifier, that the user plane device of the first network slice is configured using the first configuration information.

Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein enable blockchain programming in NB-IoT devices. In various implementations, a method of blockchain authentication is performed by a computing device including one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory. In various implementations, the method includes maintaining a blockchain for a machine-to-machine network, wherein the machine-to-machine network is a narrowband internet of things network. In some implementations, the method includes receiving a request for a first set of data from the blockchain by a second device. In some implementations, the method includes determining based on the request, the first set of data from the blockchain by traversing a series of blocks from the blockchain. In some implementations, the method includes packaging the first set of data from the blockchain according to a protocol into a packaged data unit and transmitting the packaged data unit to the second device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that leverage inband metadata techniques for use in a mobile core network in order to create relevant third generation 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) control plane interfaces between virtual control plane and virtual user plane elements that can be used to instruct the virtual entities to perform various functions, collect telemetry and other data from the virtual entities and signal maintenance messages between control plane and user plane entities. One control plane interface can be used to perform holistic performance analysis functionalities and identify the better performing path and accordingly use primary path and warm paths for control plane exchanges.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a secure and scalable approach for (a) exchanging, between a first network and a second network, provisioning requirements of a user device, (b) executing a smart contract that includes the provisioning requirements, and (c) connecting the user device to one of the networks. The method comprises connecting the user device to a first network, and connecting the first and second networks through a scalable blockchain network. The method further comprises sending a smart contract, by the first network to the second network, through the blockchain network. The second network either accepts or rejects the contract. If the second network accepts, then the user device connects to the second network and the second network provides network services to the user device. The provided network services comply with the conditions or parameters of the smart contract.

Abstract: A network device such as a network function (NF) entity or an application function (AF) entity in a communication network monitors network traffic for a plurality of peer-to-peer transactions associated with an application, where each peer-to-peer transaction includes communications between a user and a peer in the communication network. The network device also determines a set of geographic locations corresponding to one or more peer endpoints for the plurality of peer-to-peer transactions based on the network traffic, and determines an optimal midpoint between the set of geographic locations. The network device further deploys an edge node in the communication network to serve a subsequent peer-to-peer transaction for the application based on the optimal midpoint.

Abstract: Methods are provided to preemptively reconfigure a mobile network to respond to external emergencies. The method is performed at a network device of a service provider which provides access to a mobile network for wireless device. The method includes obtaining a message indicating an occurrence of a disaster. The message includes at least an emergency type and location information. The method further includes determining, based on the emergency type, a reconfiguration policy for reconfiguring the mobile network in an area indicated by the location information and reconfiguring the mobile network based on the reconfiguration policy. The method further includes authenticating a disaster application function and a notification message informing about an occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein enable programming user plane gateway controllers over enhanced N9 interfaces. In various implementations, a method of gateway controlling is performed by a computing device including one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory. In various implementations the method includes determining, by a first packet gateway controller connected to a first session manager device, that a user equipment moved to a geographical area that is served by a second session manager device. In some implementations, the method includes receiving, by the first packet gateway device, a set of information for a second packet gateway device. In some implementations, the method includes transmitting, by the first packet gateway device, a session establishment request via a first network interface to the second packet gateway controller using segment routing via a second network interface.

Abstract: A broker network may be configured to serve as an intermediary between one or more radio providers and one or more mobile service providers for reservation of remote radio units (RRUs) for use in a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) environment. The broker network may receive, from a mobile network, a message indicating a request for identification of RRUs of at least one radio provider. The broker network may send, to the mobile network, one or more messages including a plurality of identifiers which identify a plurality of RRUs, and a geographic location and capabilities associated with each RRU. After receiving a selection of an RRU, the broker network may send to the RRU a message which triggers communication with a virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU) for a remote configuration of parameters in the selected RRU, so that it may be used to facilitate communication with UEs in the mobile network.

Abstract: In one example, a User Plane Function (UPF) in a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (V-PLMN) that includes a first network and a second network obtains network traffic from user equipment via the first network. The UPF provides the network traffic obtained via the first network to a data network with an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocated to the network traffic obtained from the user equipment. In response to a handover of the user equipment from the first network to the second network, the UPF obtains the network traffic from the user equipment via the second network. The UPF provides the network traffic obtained via the second network to the data network with the IP address.

Abstract: A network function (NF) entity in a communication network receives User Plane Function (UPF) registration information for a plurality of UPFs, the registration information including a respective network attribute for each UPF. The NF entity associates each UPF with a corresponding network based on the respective network attribute, and map one or more User Equipment (UE) to the corresponding network based on a security policy to create a UE-to-network table. The NF further receives a request to establish a session for a subsequent UE, the request including a subsequent UE identifier, and determine an access permission for the subsequent UE to access the corresponding network based on the subsequent UE identifier and the UE-to-network table. The NF selects one UPF from the plurality of UPF to service the session for the subsequent UE based on the access permission, and an association between the one UPF and the corresponding network.

Abstract: In one example, a Network Functions Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) obtains a radio service descriptor defining communication parameters for a radio in a virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN). Based on the radio service descriptor, the NFVO determines whether a virtual Distributed Unit (vDU) that is configured in accordance with the communication parameters and a virtual Centralized Unit (vCU) that is configured in accordance with the communication parameters are already instantiated in the vRAN. If it is determined that the vDU or the vCU is not already instantiated, the NFVO automatically instantiates the vDU or the vCU in the vRAN.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile network includes at least one Information Centric Networking (ICN) enabled mobile base station configured to support ICN transport protocol, and at least one ICN enabled evolved packet core (EPC) device configured to support ICN transport protocol, where the ICN enabled EPC device is operative to assign an ICN based identity to a user equipment (UE) according to an attach request, wherein the attach request indicates that the UE supports the ICN transport protocol.

Abstract: In one example, a Network Functions Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) obtains a radio service descriptor defining communication parameters for a radio in a virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN). Based on the radio service descriptor, the NFVO determines whether a virtual Distributed Unit (vDU) that is configured in accordance with the communication parameters and a virtual Centralized Unit (vCU) that is configured in accordance with the communication parameters are already instantiated in the vRAN. If it is determined that the vDU or the vCU is not already instantiated, the NFVO automatically instantiates the vDU or the vCU in the vRAN.