Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing video quality of programming by content type. A method for analyzing video quality includes receiving, at a service provider system, video containing a source event. The system can sample the video at a least processed sampling point in the service provider system. An event feature set characterizing the source event is determined using the sampled video. The event feature set includes unique features that are same and unique features that are substantially same in videos including future occurrences of the source event. The system assesses the quality of one or more sampled videos taken at other delivery path points in the service provider system. The quality assessed using a source event no reference quality evaluator trained using at least the event feature set. The system outputs a quality metric for each of the one or more sampled videos taken at the other delivery path points.

Abstract: Implementing network constraint exceptions on a per device basis is disclosed. A network manager determines that a subscriber device associated with a subscriber network is to be granted an exception to a network constraint of the subscriber network. An aggregation device that is coupled to a set of subscriber networks including the subscriber network is sent aggregation device instructions to grant the exception to packets associated with the subscriber device that flow through the aggregation device. A network gateway device that serves as a network gateway for the subscriber network is sent gateway device instructions to associate packets associated with the subscriber device with information for identifying the packets as being associated with the subscriber device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for managing uplink resource grants in wireless networks. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: operating a first wireless base station in a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation including managing uplink resource grant schedules for a plurality of wireless devices connected to the wireless base station; receiving, by the first wireless base station operating in the first mode of operation, a transmission power down command from a resource management system; and determining in response to receiving the transmission power down command, by the first wireless base station, whether to switch from operating in the first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation, said operating in the second mode of operation including ceasing managing uplink resource grant schedules for said plurality of wireless devices connected to the wireless base station.

Abstract: A network server selects a gateway, from among a plurality of alternative candidate gateways, to use for downlink wireless communication to an end node (EN) based on additional factors in addition to RSSI. Exemplary additional factors include: SNR, gateway loading, message loading, backhaul network loading, device type, application type, application priority, operator preferences, device/application black-lists, white-lists, and red-lists, number of devices, number of transmitting devices in a given time interval, operator rules and priorities. In some embodiments, the network server calculates a composite weighted metric (CWM) for each of the alternative candidate gateways which may be used for downlink, subject to operator policy rules, and selects to use a gateway based on the results, e.g. selects the gateway with the highest CWM.

Abstract: A same wireless access profile is installed on each of multiple mobile communication devices. The wireless access profile includes outer identity information and anonymous inner identity information for each service. The anonymous inner identity information includes a credential used by each of the multiple mobile communication devices to use the service. To use the service such as access a remote network, a respective mobile communication device communicates an anonymous username and password assigned to the service to a policy server during first level authentication. The policy server stores a network address of the authenticated mobile communication device. During second level authentication, the policy server receives an identity of the mobile communication device from a network gateway. The policy server provides access control information (assigned to the service) to the network gateway.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a (e.g., 5G) wireless network has a (e.g., CBSD) base station and any suitable number of instances of user equipment (UE). For each group of one or more UEs, one of the UEs is designated as a primary UE that stores UE context information for the other (secondary) UEs in the UE group. To connect to a secondary UE, the base station can retrieve the UE context information from the secondary UE's associated primary UE without having to retrieve the secondary UE's context information from the core network, thereby reducing backbone bandwidth usage and delays in connecting the secondary UE, especially when many secondary UE request connections within a short time interval.

Abstract: A wireless system is shared amongst a hierarchal tier of entities. A communication management resource receives notification that a second-tier priority entity has been allocated use of a second wireless spectrum as a replacement to first wireless spectrum. In one embodiment, the first wireless spectrum is revoked from the second-tier priority entity based on use of the first wireless spectrum by a first-tier priority entity (such as incumbent entity). The communication management resource controls a wireless transmit power level of a third-tier priority entity in the hierarchy to provide protected use of the second wireless spectrum by the second-tier priority entity. According to one configuration, the communication management resource controls a power level of wireless communications transmitted by a wireless base station operated by the third-tier priority entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to HARQ feedback, e.g. delayed HARQ ACK/NACK, and uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing, in unlicensed spectrum are described. A base station transmits an UCI request to a UE, including: a request for ACK/NACK feedback corresponding to a set of HARQ identified processes, a request for channel state information report, and/or a scheduling request. The UCI request includes information which is used, by the UE, in determining the time and air link resources on which to send the UCI. The HARQ processes are communicated in a first Channel Occupancy Time (COT), while the ACK/NACK feedback is communicated in a later COT.

Abstract: Lawful intercept is supported by providing a network communications device target identifiers in encrypted form. Received encrypted target identifiers are stored in a non-volatile storage device. Before communications interception occurs, one or more encrypted target identifiers are loaded into active memory which is secure and not accessible by a network device operating system administrator. A decryption request is sent to a security device and the result loaded into the secure active memory. Plain text target identifier(s) returned by the security device are loaded directly into the active memory without being stored in the operating system administrator accessible storage device. In the case of a reset resulting in the contents of the active memory being lost, the active memory is repopulated by sending decryption requests using the stored encrypted target identifiers to indicate to the security device the target identifiers which need to be decrypted and reloaded into active memory.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for overlaying themed imagery onto real-world objects in a head-mounted display device (HMDD). A computing device receives, from an HMDD, depth data that identifies distances from the HMDD to surfaces of a plurality of objects in a user space. The computing device detects at least one object in the user space based at least in part on the depth data. The computing device determines a classification of video content being presented on a display system of the HMDD. The computing device selects, based on the classification, a particular image theme from a plurality of different image themes, the image theme comprising one or more image textures. The computing device sends, to the HMDD, at least one image texture for overlaying the at least one object during presentation of the at least one object on the display system of the HMDD in conjunction with the video content.

Abstract: Measuring quality-of-experience (QoE) for virtual reality (VR) streaming content is disclosed. A network computing device receives a client-side VR stream capture and a client pose data set that are generated by a client computing device based on a VR content and one or more induced network impairments (e.g., latency, packet loss, and/or jitter, as non-limiting examples). Using the same VR content and the client pose data set, the network computing device generates a source VR stream capture that is not subjected to the one or more induced network impairments. The network computing device performs a frame-by-frame comparison of the client-side VR stream capture and the source VR stream capture. Based on the frame-by-frame comparison, the network computing device generates a QoE metric that indicates a degree of degradation of the client-side VR stream capture relative to the source VR stream capture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting communications resources which will be needed at a venue and then controlling the amount of available resources dynamically are described. In various embodiments real time or near real time video of areas of the venue are used to predict the number of people in a portion of a venue and/or the direction of movement. Along with other information such as the type of event and/or event schedule collected information is supplied to a set of trained resource requirement models which are used to predict future resource needs at a venue, e.g., while an event is ongoing. Commands are sent to dynamically vary the amount of communications resources provided to one or more portions of the venue. Resources which can be varied included but are not limited to fixed wired WAN bandwidth, WiFi bandwidth, cellular bandwidth, network based on-demand services, transcoding services, firewall services, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing an enhanced proximity services.

Abstract: Systems and network devices configured to use Stateless Address Auto-Configuration (SLAAC) to provide different internet protocol (IP) address information to user equipment (UE) devices that are connected to the same local area network (LAN). A network device (e.g., default router, etc.) may determine whether a UE device is eligible to receive special treatment based on a link-layer address of the UE device. The network device send the UE device an unicast router advertisement that includes a special prefix in response to determining that the UE device is eligible to receive special treatment. The network device may send the UE device an unicast router advertisement that includes a base prefix for the LAN in response to determining that the UE device is not eligible to receive special treatment.

Abstract: A network environment includes a communication management resource, a first wireless station, and a second wireless station. The communication management resource initially allocates a first wireless channel to the first wireless station; the first wireless channel is selected from multiple available wireless channels. The communication management resource detects that a second wireless station is a substitute to the first wireless station. For example, the second wireless station is substituted as a replacement to the first wireless station. In response to the detecting that the second wireless station is a substitute to the first wireless station, the communication management resource allocates the first wireless channel to the second wireless station.

Abstract: A 5G network having a multi-path transport protocol (MPTP) proxy external to the user plane function (UPF). The session management function (SMF) provides address information of the external MPTP proxy to user equipment (UE) and distributes access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS)-related rules to the UE, the UPF, and the external MPTP proxy. The external MPTP proxy receives, from the UPF, (i) 3GPP uplink data transmitted by the UE via a 3GPP radio access network (RAN) and (ii) non-3GPP uplink data transmitted by the UE via a non-3GPP RAN, combines the 3GPP and non-3GPP uplink data to form network uplink data for a data network. The external MPTP proxy also divides received network downlink data into 3GPP downlink data and non-3GPP downlink data, and provides the 3GPP and non-3GPP downlink data to the UPF for transmission to the UE via the 3GPP RAN and the non-3GPP RAN, respectively.

Abstract: Timing synchronization information is communicated to a plurality of indoor communications devices supporting NB-IoT, e.g., indoor CBSDs supporting NB-IoT, from an outdoor communications device, e.g. a cellular base station supporting NB-IoT signaling using guard bands of a communications channel. An indoor device receiving the timing synchronization information from the outdoor device via NB-IoT signaling may, and sometimes does, process and forward synchronization information to other indoor devices, e.g. other CBSDs, which may be out of direct range of the outdoor device. In some embodiments, a plurality of outdoor base stations supporting NB-IoT receive timing reference information for distribution from the same NPT server coupled to a single reference source, e.g. an atomic clock.

Abstract: A communication system includes a wireless base station and a channel allocation management resource. The wireless base station receives allocation of a first wireless channel from a communication management resource. Via the first wireless channel, the wireless base station establishes a first communication layer in which to communicate with first wireless communication devices using the allocated first wireless channel. The wireless base station establishes a second communication layer in which to communicate with second wireless communication devices using the allocated first wireless channel. Via the first communication layer and the second communication layer, the wireless base station provides the first wireless communication devices and that the second wireless communication devices access to a respective remote network.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe methods, systems and devices for distributing trigger-based function execution in a mesh network. Various embodiments include detecting a trigger and determining whether the detected trigger matches one of a plurality of network events included in a trigger list accessible to the detecting node. In addition, whether a node associated with the detected trigger is available may be determined in response to determining the detected trigger matches one of the plurality of network events included in the trigger list. The node associated with the detected trigger may be configured to execute application logic for initiating at least one action from the mesh network in response to the detected trigger being detected. A trigger detection indicator associated with the detected trigger may be transmitted in response to determining the node associated with the detected trigger is a node other than the detecting node that is available.