Abstract: There is provided a method for sharing bandwidth consumption information in a communication system having a first user plane function (UPF), a second UPF and a third UPF, each of which serves an access point name (APN). The method includes (a) receiving by the first UPF from the second UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the second UPF, (b) receiving by the first UPF from the third UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the third UPF, (c) sending from the first UPF to the second UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the first UPF and the third UPF, and (d) sending from the first UPF to the third UPF, information indicating the bandwidth being consumed by the first UPF and the second UPF. Thus, each of the first, second and third UPFs is aware of a total bandwidth being consumed for the APN.

Abstract: A method for facilitating an on-demand multimedia priority service (MPS) for a data transport services (DTS) session to receive end to end prioritization within 5G Core (5GC) and radio access network (RAN) is provided. The method includes: propagating an MPS On-Demand indication to 5GC network functions and RAN via (a) Policy Control Function sending an MPS On-Demand indication to Session Management Function (SMF) when a authorized user initiates such a service usage, (b) SMF recording the on session demand status and sending the MPS On-Demand indication to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and (c) AMF, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, upgrading the user for multimedia priority services in the 5G core based on policy, and sending to user equipment (UE), an MPS indicator in downlink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messaging to indicate that the UE may use MPS access identity to receive radio access prioritization.

Abstract: A control plane signaling method for reducing energy consumption of O-RAN radio units used in O-RAN CUS and including an O-DU controlling an O-RU via control-plane messaging where a sleep period is extended using a 16-bit binary number that is formed by two reserved octets in Section Type 0, or via an inactivity timer is used to trigger transitions between different sleep states and active states, or via and a bitmap is formed by a reserved octet in Section Type 0 and is used to signal the O-RU to directly transition to different sleep modes.

Abstract: System and Methods for configuring shared spectrum cellular systems with Physical Resource Block Blanking and related operations for the control and data channels and reference signals within the carrier channel bandwidth. The systems are configured for protection in the carrier bandwidth to avoid victim interference mitigation.

Abstract: There is provided an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) that includes a fronthaul interface over which an O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) and an O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) communicate with one another and exchange O-RAN standard defined user-plane (U-plane) packets and control-place (C-Plane) packets. The fronthaul interface carries control and management information via management-plane (M-Plane) message exchange, and timing synchronization is achieved in accordance with synchronization-plane (S-Plane) procedures, and the O-RAN accommodates communications via 2G and 3G based mobile networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for for efficient information exchange between UE and gNB to enable AI/ML based CSI Compression for CSI feedback enhancement.

Abstract: An method for expediting Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) scanning for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server includes: transmitting, by a software tool, VLAN ethernet trunk frames including VLAN Identifier (ID) 1 to VLAN ID 4095, to an ethernet interface of a radio unit (RU), the ethernet interface being connected via an ethernet switch to a distributed unit (DU), wherein the DHCP server is located at the DU; selectively forwarding, by the ethernet switch to the DU, only a VLAN ethernet trunk frame having VLAN ID value X predefined by operator of the O-RAN system; selectively responding, by the DU, in response to receiving the VLAN ethernet trunk frame having VLAN ID value X, by sending a DHCP response message to the RU; and identifying, by the RU from the DHCP response message, the VLAN ID value X corresponding to the DHCP server.

Abstract: System and methods for implementations of sub-band correlation computation among all scheduled users to efficiently pair users across any group of Physical Resource Blocks.

Abstract: A method of uniquely identifying a user equipment (UE) connected to a radio access network (RAN) includes: providing a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC) component associated with the RAN; configuring, by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a default data radio bearer (DRB) for the UE to maintain Internet Protocol (I) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) connectivity with the RAN; and using, by the RIC, one of NG uplink (UL) user plane (UP) Transport Layer Information or S1 UL UP Transport Layer Information of the default DRB for uniquely identifying the UE for the entire time the UE is connected to the RAN. The unique identification for the UE is retained across at least one of i) multiple connectivity sessions for the UE, ii) multiple mobility sessions for the UE, and iii) multiple context sessions for the UE.

Abstract: There is provided an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) that includes a fronthaul interface over which an O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) and an O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) communicate with one another and exchange O-RAN standard defined user-plane (U-plane) packets and control-place (C-Plane) packets. The fronthaul interface carries control and management information via management-plane (M-Plane) message exchange, and timing synchronization is achieved in accordance with synchronization-plane (S-Plane) procedures, and the O-RAN accommodates communications via 2G and 3G based mobile networks.

Abstract: A method for reducing peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a multi-layer precoder matrix (PM)-combined demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol includes one of: a) performing, at a distributed unit (DU), a modified orthogonal cover code (M-OCC) method to reduce the PAPR of the multi-layer PM-combined DMRS, wherein the M-OCC method comprises; i) multiplying a PM with a specified multiplication factor in frequency domain to obtain a modified PM, and ii) subsequently multiplying at least one of multiple downlink (DL) layers with the modified PM; or alternatively b) performing, at a distributed unit (DU), a modified cyclic delay diversity (M-CDD) method to reduce the PAPR of the multi-layer PM-combined DMRS, wherein the M-CCD method comprises; i) multiplying at least one of multiple frequency-domain downlink (DL) layers with a specified linear phase shift to obtain phase-shifted DL layers, and ii) subsequently multiplying the phase-shifted DL layers with the PM.

Abstract: A method for stale user context detection and removal is implemented at one of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Centralized Unit (gNB-CU) or Distributed Unit (gNB-DU). In a first variant which utilizes the gNB-CU, the gNB runs a configurable periodic timer for initiating the stale UE detection procedure, i.e., the gNB configures, for every UE context stored in its database, a special Event A1 with the low a1-Threshold=?120 dBm, reportInterval=512 ms, and reportAmount=2. In a second variant which utilizes the gNB-CU, stale UE detection mechanism can be based on a periodic Event A1 configured during initial User admission procedure, i.e., the gNB configures a special Event A1 with the low a1-Threshold=?120 dBm, reportInterval=1 minute, and reportAmount=infinity. In a further variant, stale UE contexts can be identified at the gNB-DU based on periodic Channel State Information (CSI) reports.

Abstract: In a method of operating a Radio Access Network (RAN) to optimize a handover between two gNBs, in addition to exchanging the respective AMF region IDs between the two gNBs, all supported GUAMIs of each gNB shall be exchanged as part of the Xn setup procedure, thereby enabling each gNB to know the supported GUAMIs of the peer gNB. Before initiating the Xn handover, source gNB shall check whether the target gNB supports the AMF which currently serves the UE. If supported, the source gNB shall proceed with the Xn-based handover. If the AMF is not supported by the target gNB, the source gNB shall initiate the NGAP handover. In addition, whenever there is any change in supported GUAMIs (addition/deletion/modification), each gNB shall initiate a New Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) Configuration Update procedure towards the peer gNB with the changed list of GUAMIs.

Abstract: Described are implementations for HARQ-disabling in IoT-NTN deployment AND disabling HARQ-ACK feedback. Signaling mechanisms include configurations for HARQ process ID(s), NPDCCH monitoring, a New Data Indicator (NDI) bit in Downlink Control Information (DCI), and a HARQ-ACK feedback transmission in the uplink.

Abstract: A method of optimizing traffic steering (TS) radio resource management (RRM) decisions for handover of individual user equipment (UE) in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) includes: providing an O-RAN-compliant near real time RAN intelligent controller (near-RT RIC) configured to interact with O-RAN nodes; and utilizing an artificial intelligence (AO-based TS application xApp in the near-RT RIC to optimize TS handover control and maximize UE throughput utility. The TS xApp is configured utilizing a virtualized and simulated environment for O-RAN, which virtualized and simulated environment for O-RAN is provided by ns-O-RAN platform. The optimization problem to be solved is formulated as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), and a solution to the optimization problem is derived by using at least one reinforcement learning (RL) technique.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling Narrowband Internet of Things (NBIOT) transport over fronthaul (FH) interface between distributed unit (DU) and radio unit (RU) for at least one of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and 5G New Radio (NR) network, which method includes: receiving, by an RU capable of at least one of NBIOT inband mode and NBIOT guardband mode, i) at least one of LTE and NR in-phase and quadrature (IQ) samples associated with a first endpoint, and ii) NBIOT ICI samples associated with a second endpoint; and configuring the RU functionality to be able to combine, in at least one of frequency domain and time domain, i) the at least one of LTE and NR in-phase and quadrature (IQ) samples associated with a first endpoint, and ii) the NBIOT ICI samples associated with a second endpoint.

Abstract: A method of processing multiple consecutive Narrowband Internet of Things (NBIOT) cells by a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a mobile network includes one of: a)1) shifting at least one first NBIOT cell relative to an adjacent second NBIOT cell to align all sub carriers of the first and second NBIOT cells to be mutually orthogonal; and a)2) using a first single fast Fourier transform (FFT) or first single inverse fast Fourier transform (iFFT) by the RAN to process both the first and second NBIOT cells; or b1) for a sequence of NBIOT cells, every third NBIOT cell is grouped into a single group, wherein all sub carriers of the NBIOT cells in the single group are mutually orthogonal; and b2) using the first single FFT or the first single iFFT by the RAN to process multiple NBIOT cells in the single group formed from the every third NBIOT cell.

Abstract: A method is presented which enables a controlled mechanism of applying the required set of settings, e.g., for cloud-based network infrastructure, by means of “profiles”. Infrastructure Management Service (IMS) applies one or more of Compute profile, Networking profile, Storage profile, Accelerator profile, and Application (“App”) profile to cloud infrastructure. The following set of procedures are defined to achieve the profile-based infrastructure management: a) profile definition; b) cloud-infrastructure-preparation based on profile(s); c) cloud audit and monitoring; and d) cloud preparation based on capability. Applying of a profile can involve one or more of: updating the BIOS settings, e.g., using Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) commands; updating the GRUB settings; updating the system/kernel parameters; updating interfaces (e.g., alias, bonding, etc.); creating required resources (e.g.

Abstract: A method of call handling when multiple namespaces are present for a call of a priority or emergency call type initiated by a subscriber of a wireless network includes: obtaining, by an originating Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), a predetermined precedence order for the multiple namespaces; retrieving, by the originating P-CSCF, each namespace and associated priority from the subscriber's Registration Context; inserting, by the originating P-CSCF, a SIP Resource-Priority header for each namespace and associated priority; and inserting, by the originating P-CSCF, an additional SIP Resource-Priority header with an additional specified namespace (Multiple Namespace Precedence Order (MNPO)) and priority value identifying the predetermined precedence order for the multiple namespaces.

Abstract: A method of enabling enhanced Management Plane functions on the fronthaul interface between Open Radio Access Network Radio Unit (O-RU) and O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) includes: identifying four subfields within 16-bit Extended Antenna Carrier Id (Eaxc-ID) field using a first set of four specified bitmasks including DU_Port_ID bitmask, BandSector_ID bitmask, CC_ID bitmask, and RU_Port_ID bitmask; and providing a second set of specified bitmasks including at least one of band-bitmask, sector-bitmask, channel-type-bitmask, and layer-antenna-port-bitmask, wherein: i) band bitmask defines which bits within the BandSector_ID bitmask subfield are used to indicate band; ii) sector bitmask defines which bits within the BandSector_ID bitmask subfield are used to indicate sector-id; iii) channel-type bitmask defines which bits within the RU_Port_ID bitmask subfield are used to indicate channel type; and iv) layer-antenna-port bitmask defines which bits within the RU_Port_ID bitmask subfield are used to indicate one o