Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for selecting a software defined wide area network (SD-WAN) link using network slice information are disclosed. One method occurs at an SD-WAN controller implemented using at least one processor, the method comprises: receiving a packet containing packet header information including at least one internet protocol (IP) address; determining, using the packet header information, a link selection rule for selecting an SD-WAN link for transmission, wherein the link selection rule uses transmission characteristics associated with the packet, wherein the transmission characteristics are discerned using network slice information associated with the packet; selecting, using the link selection rule, the SD-WAN link; and transmitting the packet via the SD-WAN link.

Abstract: A method for establishing message priority in network slices based on quality of service (QoS) parameters includes receiving, by a network slice configuration service provider entity and from a network slice management service provider entity, a network slice creation notification message containing at least a QoS profile corresponding to a created network slice, utilizing the QoS profile to derive a service based interface (SBI) message priority (SMP) associated with the network slice, and providing the SMP to a requesting access and mobility management function (AMF) entity in response to receiving a network slice selection request message from the AMF entity, wherein the AMF entity assigns the SMP level value to network traffic directed to the network slice.

Abstract: A method for resolving priorities among network function (NF) instances includes, at a priority resolver implemented using at least one processor, providing a priority resolution application programming interface (API) that allows NF instances to request priority resolution. The method further includes receiving, via the API and from a plurality of NF instances, requests for priority resolution. The method further includes using a priority resolution algorithm to determine a relative priority for each of the NF instances. The method further includes generating and transmitting to each of the NF instances a priority resolution response including the relative priority determined for the NF instance.

Abstract: A method for optimizing network traffic distribution using timeslot-based tracked producer network function (NF) performance during producer NF selection is performed at a service communications proxy (SCP) including at least one processor. The method includes tracking a performance characteristic of producer NFs across different timeslots. The method further includes receiving, from a consumer NF, a service based interface (SBI) service request. The method further includes identifying eligible producer NFs capable of handling the SBI service request. The method further includes selecting, from the eligible producer NFs, in a manner that at least partially overrides priorities of the eligible producer NFs, and based on the tracked performance characteristic across the different timeslots, a producer NF to handle the SBI service request. The method further includes forwarding the SBI service request to the producer NF.

Abstract: A method for establishing message priority in network slices based on quality of service (QoS) parameters includes receiving, by a network slice configuration service provider entity and from a network slice management service provider entity, a network slice creation notification message containing at least a QoS profile corresponding to a created network slice, utilizing the QoS profile to derive a service based interface (SBI) message priority (SMP) associated with the network slice, and providing the SMP to a requesting access and mobility management function (AMF) entity in response to receiving a network slice selection request message from the AMF entity, wherein the AMF entity assigns the SMP level value to network traffic directed to the network slice.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for determining time related parameter values for a communications network are disclosed. One method for determining time related parameter values for a communications network occurs at network function (NF) repository function (NRF) comprising at least one processor. The method comprises: receiving, from a first network function (NF), a service request message; determining, using network information and/or NF information, a time related parameter value associated with the service request message; and generating and sending, to the first NF, a service response message indicating the time related parameter value.

Abstract: A method for supporting multiple locations in a preferred-locality attribute NF discovery and selection includes receiving, from producer NFs, NF registration messages including NF profiles with locality attributes and registering the producer NFs by storing the NF profiles including the locality attributes in an NF registration database local to an NRF. The method further includes receiving, from a requesting NF, an NF discovery request having query parameters for discovering producer NFs, the query parameters including a preferred-locality attribute identifying a plurality of different preferred producer NF locations. The method further includes retrieving NF profiles from the NF registration database having locality attributes that match any of the preferred producer NF locations. The method further includes generating an NF discovery response including the NF profiles retrieved from the NF registration database. The method further includes forwarding the NF discovery response to the requesting NF.

Abstract: A method for providing service based interface (SBI) support for network elements (NEs) not supporting SBI service operations includes receiving SBI configuration parameters for an NE not supporting SBI service operations. The method further includes establishing a connection with the NE not supporting SBI service operations. The method further includes registering, with a network function (NF) repository function (NRF) and using the SBI configuration parameters, the NE not supporting SBI service operations. The method further includes monitoring, over the connection, status of the NE not supporting SBI service operations. The method further includes updating, with the NRF, the status of the NE not supporting SBI service operations.

Abstract: A method for supporting multiple locations in a preferred-locality attribute NF discovery and selection includes receiving, from producer NFs, NF registration messages including NF profiles with locality attributes and registering the producer NFs by storing the NF profiles including the locality attributes in an NF registration database local to an NRF. The method further includes receiving, from a requesting NF, an NF discovery request having query parameters for discovering producer NFs, the query parameters including a preferred-locality attribute identifying a plurality of different preferred producer NF locations. The method further includes retrieving NF profiles from the NF registration database having locality attributes that match any of the preferred producer NF locations. The method further includes generating an NF discovery response including the NF profiles retrieved from the NF registration database. The method further includes forwarding the NF discovery response to the requesting NF.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for selecting a software defined wide area network (SD-WAN) link using network slice information are disclosed. One method occurs at an SD-WAN controller implemented using at least one processor, the method comprises: receiving a packet containing packet header information including at least one internet protocol (IP) address; determining, using the packet header information, a link selection rule for selecting an SD-WAN link for transmission, wherein the link selection rule uses transmission characteristics associated with the packet, wherein the transmission characteristics are discerned using network slice information associated with the packet; selecting, using the link selection rule, the SD-WAN link; and transmitting the packet via the SD-WAN link.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband Internet of things (IoT) devices. The method includes operations performed by a network node including at least one processor. The operations include receiving, on a first interface, a request for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband IoT devices supporting a specified service. The operations further include generating, by the network node, a message for service-specific group message delivery for transmission on a second interface, the message including a NB-IoT service information parameter for identifying a narrowband IoT service provided by the narrowband IoT devices supporting the specified service. The operations further include transmitting, from the network node and on the second interface the message for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband IoT devices.

Abstract: A method for group device triggering for IoT devices includes receiving, from a requesting node, a device trigger request message. The method further includes determining that the device trigger request message requests group IoT device triggering. The method further includes, in response to determining that the device trigger request message requests group IoT device triggering, resolving an external group identifier in the device trigger request message to individual international mobile station identifiers (IMSIs) corresponding to target IoT devices of the device trigger request message. The method further includes signaling a downstream node to trigger the target IoT devices.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband Internet of things (IoT) devices. The method includes operations performed by a network node including at least one processor. The operations include receiving, on a first interface, a request for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband IoT devices supporting a specified service. The operations further include generating, by the network node, a message for service-specific group message delivery for transmission on a second interface, the message including a NB-IoT service information parameter for identifying a narrowband IoT service provided by the narrowband IoT devices supporting the specified service. The operations further include transmitting, from the network node and on the second interface the message for service-specific group message delivery to narrowband IoT devices.