Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for mitigating problems in subscriber profile management. One method may include creating a distribution of subscriber profile sizes. The method may also include collecting a distribution of subscriber profile sizes observed within a pre-defined interval of a network. The method may further include performing an analysis of the distribution. In addition, the method may further include determining a corrective action based on the analysis. Further, the method may include determining whether the corrective action is needed. When it is determined that the corrective action is needed, the method may include applying the corrective action to the network. When it is determined that the corrective action is not needed, the method may include collecting another distribution of subscriber profile sizes.

Abstract: A method of object management comprises on a managed object instance, in response to receiving a request for a trace session from a trace user, determining the trace session associated with the managed object instance; generating a trace recording session in the trace session, the trace recording session indicating an event occurring after the request is received, the trace recording session being associated with the trace session; generating a trace record at least partially based on trace message in the trace recording session, the trace record being associated with the trace recording session; and generating a trace report at least partially based on the trace record, the trace report being associated with the managed object instance. In this way, the duty of the management plane and control/signalling plane will be separated and the architecture and interaction between management entities and network functions will be simplified.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for virtualized network function (VNF) component (VNFC) level performance management are provided. One method includes collecting virtualized resources measurements, identifying virtualized network function components that the virtualized resources measurements belong to, and associating the collected virtualized resources measurements with an application function (MF).

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for handling managed object priorities in a network, such as 5G are provided. One method includes receiving a constraint on a priority of a managed object, assigning a priority value satisfying the received constraint to an instance of the managed object, identifying a supporting resource for the managed object with the assigned priority value, and assigning a priority for the supporting resource, using the assigned priority value as a constraint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may include transmitting a scaling request. The scaling request comprises a request for virtualized network function expansion or virtualized network function contraction. The scaling request is transmitted to a second network node. A first domain is directed to application level details. A second domain is directed to virtualization level details. The scaling request comprises: (1) a relative target capacity that is generic to both the first domain and the second domain, (2) an absolute target capacity that is specific to the first domain, or (3) a relative target capacity that is specific to virtualized network function level targets. The method may also include receiving a notification that a virtualization network function has been updated based on the transmitted scaling request.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for virtualized network function (VNF) decomposition are provided. An embodiment of the invention includes to first decompose the Network Function into smaller blocks: application, platform, and resources (i.e., compute, network, and storage), then manage the decomposed application and platform parts by separate entities (e.g., EM/VNFM). This decomposition may be applied to the Network Elements (i.e., the current building blocks of telecommunication networks) and to the VNFs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for moving VNF instances between network service instances are provided. One method includes, when a real network service is being instantiated, transmitting or receiving a move virtualized network function (VNF) operation to move at least one virtualized network function (VNF) instance from a source network service to a target network service.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, computer programs, computer program products and computer-readable media regarding managing the graceful termination of a virtualized network function (VNF) instance. The method comprises receiving a request for a graceful termination of a virtual network function instance, transmitting the request for the graceful termination of the virtual network function instance to an element manager, checking, whether a confirmation that the virtual network function instance to be terminated has been taken out of service, is received, and if the confirmation is received, terminating the virtual network function instance.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing user data privacy are described. Upon identification of a user device as a candidate for performing data collection relating to network performance experienced by the device, a network operator on whose behalf the data collection is to be performed is identified, and user consent information associated with the user device is examined to determine if a user of the device has given consent for data collection on behalf of the network operator. If the user has given consent, the user device is configured for data collection.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for multi-tiered virtualized network function (VNF) scaling are provided. One method includes detecting a need to scale at least one virtualized network function component (VNFC) implemented as a container, monitoring resource utilization by containers and determining remaining capacity within a current virtual machine hosting the containers, and deciding an allocation of the container to a virtual machine based at least on the resource utilization and the remaining capacity. When it is determined that the remaining capacity is low, the method may further include vertical scaling of the current virtual machine by allocating additional virtualized resources to the current virtual machine, and/or horizontal scaling of the current virtual machine by instantiating a new virtual machine and deploying the container to the newly instantiated virtual machine.

Abstract: The Fault Management (FM) in the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environment may benefit from various methods. For example methods for fault escalation or de-escalation may be beneficial. A method can include requesting a change in a severity of a virtualized resource alarm. The method can also include deciding to change a severity of a virtualized resource alarm. The requesting the change in the severity can be based on the identified reason.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from the appropriate selection of monitored parameters. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from virtual network function indicator selection mechanisms that can be applied by a virtual network function manager. A method can include preparing an indicator declaration for an indicator value of a virtualized network function descriptor. The method can also include providing, in the indicator declaration, an indication of importance of the indicator value.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from methods, apparatuses, and systems for data collection. For example, wireless communication systems of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) may benefit from data collection in network management layer coverage and capacity optimization. For example, a method may include sending performance measurement job activation indicating that minimization of drive test data is to be collected (in an alternative, the job can be configured to indicate that non-MDT data is to be collected). The method may also include receiving performance measurements in response to the job activation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for coordinated scheduling of network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) maintenance are provided. One method includes receiving, by a network function virtualization entity, a request for scheduled maintenance of a network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI). The method may also include determining whether one or more resources required for the maintenance of the NFVI are reserved, and sending an approval or rejection of the request for maintenance based on the determination of whether the resources are reserved.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive an initial user equipment message from a target cell, transmit an initial context setup request message to the target cell including one or more service indicators, receive an initial context setup response message from the target cell, and calculate a drop ratio associated with a double S1 connection based upon a number of abnormal radio access bearer releases subtracted from a number of radio access bearer releases associated with the successful double S1 connection divided by a total number of radio access bearer releases. The one or more service indicators are determined based upon the received initial user equipment message.

Abstract: There are provided measures for conflict resolution in a network virtualization scenario, wherein a virtualized network function is utilized by a first virtualized network service managed by a first network component and a second virtualized network service managed by a second network component. The measures comprise requesting, by the first network component, an alteration of the virtualized network function, transmitting information indicative of the alteration of the virtualized network function to the second network component, and determining when the alteration of the virtualized network function impacts the second virtualized network service.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for moving VNF instances between network service instances are provided. One method includes, when a real network service is being instantiated, transmitting or receiving a move virtualized network function (VNF) operation to move at least one virtualized network function (VNF) instance from a source network service to a target network service.

Abstract: According to an embodiment there is provided a method comprising; collecting a first type of measurement and a second type of measurement, said first and second types of measurement being used together by an entity; and causing values of said first type of measurement to be sent with associated values of said second type of measurement to be sent.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for virtualized network function (VNF) decomposition are provided. An embodiment of the invention includes to first decompose the Network Function into smaller blocks: application, platform, and resources (i.e., compute, network, and storage), then manage the decomposed application and platform parts by separate entities (e.g., EM/VNFM). This decomposition may be applied to the Network Elements (i.e., the current building blocks of telecommunication networks) and to the VNFs.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, computer programs, computer program products and computer-readable media regarding managing the graceful termination of a virtualized network function (VNF) instance. The method comprises receiving a request for a graceful termination of a virtual network function instance, transmitting the request for the graceful termination of the virtual network function instance to an element manager, checking, whether a confirmation that the virtual network function instance to be terminated has been taken out of service, is received, and if the confirmation is received, terminating the virtual network function instance.