Abstract: In a Fifth Generation (5G) network having an enhanced SBA (eSBA) architecture, a message with a header used to signal binding information (e.g. HTTP custom header for 3gpp-Sbi-Binding) may be received at a recipient NF (service) instance in a direct communication or via a service communication proxy (SCP) in an indirect communication. A binding indication comprising an address of an NF (service) instance may be obtained from the header. One or more alternative binding indications comprising one or more alternative addresses of one or more alternative NF (service) instances may also be obtained from the header. The one or more alternative NF (service) instances may be equivalent NFs (services) of the same NF (Service) Set as the NF (service) instance. The address may be used for communication of messages to the NF (service) instance, and the one or more alternative addresses may be used for load balancing or backup failure.

Abstract: In a Fifth Generation (5G) network having an enhanced SBA (eSBA) architecture, a message with a header used to signal binding information (e.g. HTTP custom header for 3gpp-Sbi-Binding) may be received at a recipient NF (service) instance in a direct communication or via a service communication proxy (SCP) in an indirect communication. A binding indication comprising an address of an NF (service) instance may be obtained from the header. One or more alternative binding indications comprising one or more alternative addresses of one or more alternative NF (service) instances may also be obtained from the header. The one or more alternative NF (service) instances may be equivalent NFs (services) of the same NF (Service) Set as the NF (service) instance. The address may be used for communication of messages to the NF (service) instance, and the one or more alternative addresses may be used for load balancing or backup failure.

Abstract: A computing device may be configured to provide a shared N4 termination function for a plurality of Session Management Function (SMF) instances of an SMF Set and interface with one or more User Plane Function (UPF) instances. To achieve this, the computing device may operate a server configured with a Remote Procedure Call (RPC)-based protocol (e.g. gRPC Remote Procedure Call or “gRPC”) for a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) message service for serving a plurality of client stubs respectively situated at the plurality of SMF instances. The server may perform processing associated with each client stub by receiving an RPC-based protocol message which indicates a request, unpacking the RPC-based protocol message for obtaining PFCP message request data, and operating or interfacing with a PFCP message handling client for sending a PFCP message having the PFCP message request data to an indicated one of the UPF instances.

Abstract: A computing device may be configured to provide a shared N4 termination function for a plurality of Session Management Function (SMF) instances of an SMF Set and interface with one or more User Plane Function (UPF) instances. To achieve this, the computing device may operate a server configured with a Remote Procedure Call (RPC)-based protocol (e.g. gRPC Remote Procedure Call or “gRPC”) for a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) message service for serving a plurality of client stubs respectively situated at the plurality of SMF instances. The server may perform processing associated with each client stub by receiving an RPC-based protocol message which indicates a request, unpacking the RPC-based protocol message for obtaining PFCP message request data, and operating or interfacing with a PFCP message handling client for sending a PFCP message having the PFCP message request data to an indicated one of the UPF instances.

Abstract: In a Fifth Generation (5G) network having an enhanced SBA (eSBA) architecture, a message with a header used to signal binding information (e.g. HTTP custom header for 3gpp-Sbi-Binding) may be received at a recipient NF (service) instance in a direct communication or via a service communication proxy (SCP) in an indirect communication. A binding indication comprising an address of an NF (service) instance may be obtained from the header. One or more alternative binding indications comprising one or more alternative addresses of one or more alternative NF (service) instances may also be obtained from the header. The one or more alternative NF (service) instances may be equivalent NFs (services) of the same NF (Service) Set as the NF (service) instance. The address may be used for communication of messages to the NF (service) instance, and the one or more alternative addresses may be used for load balancing or backup failure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Fifth Generation (5G) standards specify use of a Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) (i.e. a concealed identity) for a user equipment (UE) during initial registration, where the SUCI is derived from a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) of the UE. Given the identity concealment and use of different identities on different interfaces in a 5G network, maintaining subscriber state with a stateless network architecture may be challenging. Accordingly, one or more techniques and mechanisms are provided herein for subscriber management with a stateless network architecture in a 5G network, even without the need to maintain intermediate states of a UE in an external data store. The one or more techniques and mechanisms may be provided in relation to processing of Next Generation (NG) Application Protocol (NGAP) signaling messages at an access and mobility management function (AMF), and in particular, in relation to a registration procedure for the UE.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in reducing signal latency in a mobile network with use of localized Unified Data Management (UDM) entities are described. For example, the technique may employ a plurality of localized UDMs, where each localized UDM is associated with a unique location area. A localized UDM provides for storage of, in a localized Unified Data Repository (UDR), subscriber profile data associated with a subscriber of user equipment (UE). The subscriber profile data stored in the localized UDR may be a replica or copy of at least a subset of subscriber profile data for the subscriber stored in a UDR of a “centralized” UDM. Query access to the localized UDR may be provided for network functions (NFs) or subscriber/UEs. The replica or copy of subscriber profile data may be stored in the localized UDR for those subscribers having use in the location area.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for modifying a network service of a requesting network member. A request, received from the requesting member, can include an identification of a sponsoring network member for a requested network service modification. A group can be generated and associated with the requesting member and with the sponsoring member. The group may also include a group policy referencing the requested network service modification. The sponsoring member can be provided with an activation key for activating the network service modification and a first network policy can be applied to the requesting member and a second network policy can be applied to the sponsoring member.

Abstract: Fifth Generation (5G) standards specify use of a Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) (i.e. a concealed identity) for a user equipment (UE) during initial registration, where the SUCI is derived from a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) of the UE. Given the identity concealment and use of different identities on different interfaces in a 5G network, maintaining subscriber state with a stateless network architecture may be challenging. Accordingly, one or more techniques and mechanisms are provided herein for subscriber management with a stateless network architecture in a 5G network, even without the need to maintain intermediate states of a UE in an external data store. The one or more techniques and mechanisms may be provided in relation to processing of Next Generation (NG) Application Protocol (NGAP) signaling messages at an access and mobility management function (AMF), and in particular, in relation to a registration procedure for the UE.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for modifying a network service of a requesting network member. A request, received from the requesting member, can include an identification of a sponsoring network member for a requested network service modification. A group can be generated and associated with the requesting member and with the sponsoring member. The group may also include a group policy referencing the requested network service modification. The sponsoring member can be provided with an activation key for activating the network service modification and a first network policy can be applied to the requesting member and a second network policy can be applied to the sponsoring member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in reducing signal latency in a mobile network with use of localized Unified Data Management (UDM) entities are described. For example, the technique may employ a plurality of localized UDMs, where each localized UDM is associated with a unique location area. A localized UDM provides for storage of, in a localized Unified Data Repository (UDR), subscriber profile data associated with a subscriber of user equipment (UE). The subscriber profile data stored in the localized UDR may be a replica or copy of at least a subset of subscriber profile data for the subscriber stored in a UDR of a “centralized” UDM. Query access to the localized UDR may be provided for network functions (NFs) or subscriber/UEs. The replica or copy of subscriber profile data may be stored in the localized UDR for those subscribers having use in the location area.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing service calls over a network may include a signal routing engine with a maintained forwarding table for various network functions and micro-services in a services back end for the network. The signal routing engine can include a call conversion service for converting REST API calls to an internal network call protocol for increasing network function processing speeds, decreasing bandwidth usage, and improving network responsiveness and manageability.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for modifying a network service of a requesting network member. A request, received from the requesting member, can include an identification of a sponsoring network member for a requested network service modification. A group can be generated and associated with the requesting member and with the sponsoring member. The group may also include a group policy referencing the requested network service modification. The sponsoring member can be provided with an activation key for activating the network service modification and a first network policy can be applied to the requesting member and a second network policy can be applied to the sponsoring member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in reducing signal latency in a mobile network with use of localized Unified Data Management (UDM) entities are described. For example, the technique may employ a plurality of localized UDMs, where each localized UDM is associated with a unique location area. A localized UDM provides for storage of, in a localized Unified Data Repository (UDR), subscriber profile data associated with a subscriber of user equipment (UE). The subscriber profile data stored in the localized UDR may be a replica or copy of at least a subset of subscriber profile data for the subscriber stored in a UDR of a “centralized” UDM. Query access to the localized UDR may be provided for network functions (NFs) or subscriber/UEs. The replica or copy of subscriber profile data may be stored in the localized UDR for those subscribers having use in the location area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in reducing signal latency in a mobile network with use of localized Unified Data Management (UDM) entities are described. For example, the technique may employ a plurality of localized UDMs, where each localized UDM is associated with a unique location area. A localized UDM provides for storage of, in a localized Unified Data Repository (UDR), subscriber profile data associated with a subscriber of user equipment (UE). The subscriber profile data stored in the localized UDR may be a replica or copy of at least a subset of subscriber profile data for the subscriber stored in a UDR of a “centralized” UDM. Query access to the localized UDR may be provided for network functions (NFs) or subscriber/UEs. The replica or copy of subscriber profile data may be stored in the localized UDR for those subscribers having use in the location area.