Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for reducing latency in core network processing in the telecommunications networks. A method includes receiving, by a network function (NF) at registration time with a network function repository function (NRF), resource metrics and a network address for each NF registered with the NRF, invoking, by the NF, one or more network addresses to request updated resource metrics from an associated NF, starting, by the NF, a response timer for each invoked network address, stopping, by the NF, the response timer for each invoked network address upon receipt of an updated resource metrics from the associated NF, determining, by the NF, a round-trip time for each associated NF having a start time and a stop time, and determining, by the NF, a ranking for each NF based on at least one of the round-trip time and the updated resource metrics.

Abstract: A device management resource detects an anomaly event associated with a first communication device based on analysis of first feedback from multiple network entities supporting conveyance of communications associated with the first communication device. The device management resource selects an operational state of the first communication device based on the detected anomaly event. The device management resource then notifies each of the network entities of the selected operational state of the first communication device. Each of the network entities collects and forwards different feedback data associated with the first communication device depending on the selected operational state of the first communication device.

Abstract: A wireless network environment includes a communication management resource operative to manage wireless connectivity provided by multiple different wireless networks, each of which supports a different wireless communication protocol to provide wireless access to communication devices in a network environment. The communication management resource monitors a performance of the multiple wireless networks. In response to detecting an inability of a first wireless network of the multiple wireless networks to provide wireless coverage in a geographical region, the configuration management resource adjusts operation of a second wireless network to provide expanded wireless coverage in the geographical region.

Abstract: A wireless network environment includes communication management hardware such as disposed in customer premises equipment. The communication management hardware detects a request communication from a mobile communication device, the request communication transmitted from the mobile communication device to a wireless base station. In response to detecting the request communication, the customer premises equipment monitors for reply communication from the wireless base station. The communication management hardware detects failure of the wireless base station to respond to the request communication. In response to detecting the failure, the communication management hardware operates in a relay mode to provide the mobile communication device connectivity with the wireless base station.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring, reporting, and managing operational status and configuration of a smart amplifier which includes a radio frequency amplifier unit and transponder. A smart amplifier includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier unit, a transponder including a transponder component integrated with a telemetry agent, and a controller. The RF amplifier unit configured to process a signal received via a cable access network. The transponder is configured to collect telemetry data from the received signal and stream the collected telemetry data to a service processing platform. The controller configured to remotely configure the RF amplifier unit based on information received from the service provider processing platform, the information based on the streamed telemetry data.

Abstract: In a CBRS system, a spectrum access system (SAS) ensures access by incumbents to specified CBRS channels by establishing temporary whisper zones as needed based on information about incumbent locations and channel usage received from an incumbent tracking system. The SAS relies on environmental sensing capability (ESC) sensors located within the whisper zones to detect actual incumbent use of the specified channels. Upon such detection, the SAS controls the allocation of CBRS channels to non-whisper-zone base stations to ensure incumbent access within dynamic protection zones (DPZs). Establishing temporary whisper zone only when needed and ensuring incumbent access within DPZs based on detection of actual incumbent use result in efficient allocation of the CBRS spectrum for commercial use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for automatically switching virtual private networks.

Abstract: A content delivery network (CDN) includes UE gateways, a service switch (SS) mesh network, and server gateways. The CDN nodes maintain cache lists of mappings identifying corresponding upstream system nodes for content items available at content servers connected to the server gateways. When a CDN node receives an upstream service instance request for a specific content item by a corresponding UE connected to a UE gateway, upon determining that a mapping for the specific content item is in its cache list, the CDN node forwards the upstream service instance request to the corresponding upstream system node as part of a process of defining a downstream data path for the specific content item from the corresponding content server to the corresponding UE. The CDN enables service-level content delivery at lower levels of latency than conventional DNS-based systems.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a local storage device (“LSD”) in a broadband communication network is disclosed. The LSD is within a local area network of at least one user device. At least one item of digital content is received by the LSD from at least some of a plurality of digital content providers, via the network, during an off peak time period of the network. The item of digital content is selected by a respective content provider for download to a respective user based on the respective user. The received digital content is stored in the local storage device. A selected one of the stored digital content is provided from the LSD to a user device in response to a request from the user device. A system for providing digital content and an LSD, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods performed by a processor of a computing device for managing functionality of the computing device to interact with field equipment may include determining by the processor a location of field equipment based on information obtained by the processor proximate to the field equipment, determining by the processor a location of the computing device based on geolocation information, determining whether the location of the field equipment based on information obtained by the processor proximate to the field equipment and the location of the computing device based on geolocation information are within a threshold distance, verifying the location of the field equipment in response to determining that the location of the field equipment based on information obtained by the processor proximate to the field equipment and the location of the computing device based on geolocation information are within the threshold distance, and enabling functionality of the computing device to interact with the field equipment i

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing channel diversity in a MIMO system, e.g. a massive MIMO system, are described. Some selected sounding reference signal values are applied to control base station transmission for antennas, e.g., randomly or semi-randomly selected antennas, to which they do not actually correspond. The wireless terminal perceives this change as a change in channel conditions, which is subsequently reported in channel status information (CSI) to the base station. This results in increased channel diversity, which is beneficial to the base station scheduler.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring a main or security processor in a customer premises equipment (CPE) with an encrypted seed for password-of-the-day (PoTD) processing is described. A CPE includes a modem processor, a main processor, and a PoTD component included on the main processor. The main processor receives, via the modem processor from a user device, an access request to the CPE. In response to the access request, the PoTD component accesses an encrypted seed stored on the main processor, generates a PoTD from the encrypted seed, and provides an access response based on comparison of the generated PoTD with a PoTD provided via the user device. A security processor can be used in lieu of the main processor. The PoTD component is then included in the security processor and the encrypted seed is then stored on the security processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing backhaul communications. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: determining, by a first wireless base station of a first wireless network, whether a first backhaul connection path between the first wireless base station and a core network entity of a first service provider includes a communications link which is part of a second network being operated by a different service provider; determining, by the first wireless base station, data transmission latency between the first wireless base station and the core network entity using the first backhaul connection path; establishing, by the first wireless base station, a second backhaul connection path between the first wireless base station and the core network entity, said second backhaul connection including a wireless connection to a second wireless base station which is part of the first wireless network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filtering lawfully intercepted encrypted traffic are described. A communications service provider network includes a mediation device and a security device. The mediation device receives a provisioned intercept request including a target IP address and one or more unique identifies corresponding to the target. The security device acquires certificates and private keys corresponding to one or more content distribution networks of interest for which intercepted traffic is to be partially or fully discarded. The mediation device receives filtering requests specifying filtering rules to be applied. Intercepted traffic is processed by the mediation device operating in conjunction with the security device to attempt decryption and identify the corresponding CDN network for the intercepted traffic.

Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time detection and reporting of trains is described. A system includes two train detection units (TDUs) for each railroad track intersecting a municipality boundary. Each TDU including a proximity sensor to sense a presence of an object on the railroad track, a camera to capture an image of a detected object when the object is within a detection zone, a radar to measure speed when the detected object is classified as a train, and a processor to classify the detected object, generate a timestamp corresponding to when the train entered and exited the detection zone, and determine a train length from the speed and time delta between entrance timestamp and exit timestamp. A train detection controller to receive at least the train length and a TDU identification from one of the two TDUs, and determine estimated time of arrivals for the train at different municipality locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a spectrum access controller (SAC) which protects a protected entity from excessive interference are described. A spectrum access controller (SAC) divides the coverage contour of the entity to be protected into geospatial zones called protection zones. Each protection zone is protected against interference from a neighboring area called an interference neighborhood. Each interference neighborhood is divided into interference zones based on their interference potential or distance from the protection zone. Potential interferers are grouped based on their location in the interference zones or interference potential. The interference quota for the protection zone is divided among the potential interferers in each group/zone. The quota may be divided unequally among groups/zones, e.g., based on their overall interference potential or proximity to the protection zone, or number of interferers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for converged wired and wireless access optimization are described. An access system includes a wired access system, a wireless access system deployed on the wired access system, and a resource controller in communication. The resource controller determines whether traffic usage data collected from the wired access system and the wireless access system breaches one or more congestion thresholds, determines which of the wired access system and the wireless access system is a breaching access system; determines, for the breaching access system, a contributory percentage of the traffic usage data with respect to a breached congestion threshold, and initiates resource reduction at a lower priority access system when the contributory percentage of the breaching access system is same or less than a non-breaching access system, where the lower priority access system is one of the wired access system or the wireless access system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing spectrum in a wireless communications system. In an exemplary method embodiment, a wireless base station: (i) receives user equipment capability information from a first user equipment device; (ii) determines whether to allocate licensed or unlicensed spectrum to the first user equipment device based on the received user equipment capability information; and (iii) communicates a first spectrum allocation grant to the first user equipment device identifying the allocated spectrum for use by the first user equipment device. In various embodiments, the licensed and unlicensed spectrum are divided into bandwidth parts that are scored or ranked based on the quality and/or quantity of the spectrum bandwidth part.

Abstract: A mobile network operator (MNO) base station, e.g., an eNB, instructs a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) user equipment (UE) to monitor to detect signals from base stations in its MVNO network and to report back the results. If the UE reports to the MNO base station, that it has detected signals from base stations, e.g. CBSDs, in its MVNO, the MNO base station applies one or more rules included in a stored Service Profile Identifier, corresponding to the UE, the applying of the one or more rules causes the MNO base station to disconnect or deny service to the UE. Alternatively, when it is determined that the UE did not detect a signal from a base station, e.g. a CBSD, in its MVNO, then the MNO base station provides communications service to the UE.

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: communicating resource grants to individual customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, the resource grants including at least a first resource grant to a first CPE device and a second resource grant to a second CPE device, the first resource grant giving the first CPE device the right to use a first set of resource blocks on a recurring basis, said second resource grant giving the second CPE device the right to use a second set of resource blocks on a recurring basis; monitoring the use of resource blocks granted to the first and second CPE devices during a first period of time; using stored resource utilization information to determine resource grants which are to be shared by the first and second CPE device.