Abstract: An illustrative network management system obtains sensor data from one or more sensors at a network facility at which network equipment of a communication network is deployed. The sensor data includes image data representing imagery of the network facility. The system determines a utilization of a utility at the network facility based on the sensor data and performs, based on the utilization, a management operation for the communication network. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for the discovery and connection of Mesh Distributed Units (“MDUs”), which may establish a mesh topology and perform wireless backhaul of data between a core network and a User Equipment (“UE”). Multiple MDUs in an MDU network may be connected to establish an MDU route. One or more connected MDUs may broadcast an indication that the MDU is available to connect, one or more performance metrics, or an MDU performance score based on performance metrics. This broadcast may iteratively repeat in order to refine the mesh network topology in an ongoing process.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide for the tracking and/or calculating of performance metrics associated with a network by marking traffic and determining performance characteristics of the marked traffic. Such performance characteristics or metrics may include throughput, latency, jitter, and/or other metrics. The marking may be performed on “user” traffic, which may be traffic that is generated or sent via the network by an application or service (e.g., a voice call service, a content streaming service, etc.), as opposed to “synthetic” or “test” traffic, which is traffic that is generated or sent for the purposes of testing performance of the network (e.g., traffic related to a “speed test” or the like).

Abstract: A base station may allocate wireless communication resources to configure a synthetic wireless communication signal for use as a radar signal. The synthetic wireless communication signal may be configured according to a wireless communication protocol of a wireless communication network that is associated with the base station. The base station may transmit, from an antenna and toward an area associated with the base station, the synthetic wireless communication signal. The base station may detect a reflected signal that is associated with the synthetic wireless communication signal. The base station may process the reflected signal to generate radar data; and perform an action associated with the radar data and the area.

Abstract: A device of a network may receive a session configuration message for an application session associated with an application of a user equipment (UE) that provided the session configuration message. The device of a network may identify, from the session configuration message, a quality of service (QoS) profile for the application session. The device of a network may determine that the application is authorized to use a network slice of the network that satisfies one or more QoS thresholds of the QoS profile. The device of a network may identify resources of the network that can be configured to satisfy the one or more QoS thresholds. The device of a network may instantiate the resources for communication of application data of the application session. Instantiating the resources may enable the UE to communicate the application data via the network slice using the resources.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for enhanced authentication techniques that leverage network-based location determination of UEs, such as mobile telephones or other devices that communicate with a wireless network. For example, a wireless network may monitor, determine, or otherwise maintain information regarding the geographic location of User Equipment (“UEs”) that are associated with the wireless network. Some embodiments may utilize such network-monitored location information to verify that a participant device, associated with a given UE, is located within a particular proximity of the UE when performing an authentication process to receive services or resources.

Abstract: A method may include transmitting multiple antenna beams to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and determining a location of the UAV. The method may also include identifying a network slice to service the UAV, assigning the identified network slice to the UAV and performing antenna beam management for the UAV while the UAV is in flight.

Abstract: A device may receive a request to establish a session for a wireless communication device over a wireless network; identify the wireless communication device as an unmanned aerial vehicle; modify operating parameters of a radio access network (RAN), with which the wireless communication device has a radio resource control (RRC) link, to optimize communication between the access network and the unmanned aerial vehicle. The wireless network includes the RAN.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for the network-implemented detection of locations that exhibit excessive density of individuals, and/or for the detection of individuals who do not maintain a minimum level of distance between each other. Location information of one or more User Equipment (“UEs”) may be monitored and compared to policy information to determine that the locations exhibit at least a threshold level of population density. Further, remedial measures may be taken when such situations are detected, such as alerting devices that are located within, or are heading towards, such locations.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide for the tracking and/or calculating of performance metrics associated with a network by marking traffic and determining performance characteristics of the marked traffic. Such performance characteristics or metrics may include throughput, latency, jitter, and/or other metrics. The marking may be performed on “user” traffic, which may be traffic that is generated or sent via the network by an application or service (e.g., a voice call service, a content streaming service, etc.), as opposed to “synthetic” or “test” traffic, which is traffic that is generated or sent for the purposes of testing performance of the network (e.g., traffic related to a “speed test” or the like).

Abstract: An illustrative workload management system obtains resource utilization data representing utilization of network equipment of a communication network, obtains utilities data representing information about utilities at network facilities at which the network equipment is deployed, and assigns, based on the resource utilization data and the utilities data, a workload among the network equipment deployed at the network facilities. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an scheduling service is provided. The scheduling service includes calculation of a priority value, on a per end device basis, based on throughput information and tuning parameter values. The priority value may also be calculated based on a radio access network slice weight. The scheduling service may calculate a schedule for transmission of data to an end device based on the priority value, available network resources, and a quality of service profile associated with a quality of service flow of the end device.

Abstract: A device may receive channel data associated with a channel provided between a network and a user device, and may calculate, based on the channel data, key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of key performance indicators for the channel. The device may multiply the plurality of key performance indicators by factors to generate factored key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of factored key performance indicators. The device may apply weights to the plurality of factored key performance indicators of the factored key performance indicator data to generate factored weighted key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of factored weighted key performance indicators. The device may calculate a quality indicator for the channel based on the factored weighted key performance indicator data, and may perform one or more actions based on the quality indicator for the channel.

Abstract: A system described herein may provide a technique for the discovery and connection of Mesh Distributed Units (“MDUs”), which may establish a mesh topology and perform wireless backhaul of data between a core network and a User Equipment (“UE”). Multiple MDUs in an MDU network may be connected to establish an MDU route. One or more connected MDUs may broadcast an indication that the MDU is available to connect, one or more performance metrics, or an MDU performance score based on performance metrics. This broadcast may iteratively repeat in order to refine the mesh network topology in an ongoing process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio beam management for a wireless network are described. An illustrative system includes a memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to determine that a user equipment (UE) device is located at a geographic location, determine a prioritization of beams associated with the geographic location, and direct the UE device to apply the prioritization of beams associated with the geographic location for beam scanning at the geographic location. The prioritization of beams may be generated based on historical beam signal strengths at the geographic location. In certain examples, an analytics engine applies a machine learning algorithm to generate the prioritization of beams based on inputs that include historical beam signal strengths reported by UE devices at the geographic location.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an scheduling service is provided. The scheduling service includes calculation of a priority value, on a per end device basis, based on throughput information and tuning parameter values. The priority value may also be calculated based on a radio access network slice weight. The scheduling service may calculate a schedule for transmission of data to an end device based on the priority value, available network resources, and a quality of service profile associated with a quality of service flow of the end device.

Abstract: A system may be configured to identify that a user device is connected to a first radio access network (“RAN”), via a first technology; and to identify that the user device is capable of accessing a second RAN, via a second technology. The system may further be configured to instruct the user device to concurrently connect to the second RAN and the first RAN, send or receive a first type of traffic via the first RAN, and send or receive a second type of traffic via the second RAN.

Abstract: A device may receive channel data associated with a channel provided between a network and a user device, and may calculate, based on the channel data, key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of key performance indicators for the channel. The device may multiply the plurality of key performance indicators by factors to generate factored key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of factored key performance indicators. The device may apply weights to the plurality of factored key performance indicators of the factored key performance indicator data to generate factored weighted key performance indicator data that includes a plurality of factored weighted key performance indicators. The device may calculate a quality indicator for the channel based on the factored weighted key performance indicator data, and may perform one or more actions based on the quality indicator for the channel.

Abstract: A device may determine one or more parameters relating to a network. The device may detect a trigger to alter a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) configuration for the network based on the one or more parameters relating to the network. The device may determine an alteration to the HARQ configuration based on detecting the trigger to alter the HARQ configuration. The device may communicate with a distributed unit or a centralized unit of the network to cause the alteration to the HARQ configuration.

Abstract: A device may determine that a user device, connected to a first packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with a first area, is located in a second area associated with a second PGW. The first PGW may be associated with a provider network. The second PGW may be associated with the provider network. The user device may not be connected to the second PGW. The device may cause the user device to be disconnected from the first PGW and connected to the second PGW. The user device may remain connected to the provider network when disconnecting from the first PGW and connecting to the second PGW.