Abstract: Drone base stations (DBSs) create a radio access network (DRAN) that provides a quick on-demand coverage in areas either for lost coverage due to disasters (providing an emergency communications network (ECN)) or for specific military, governmental and IoT application needs. DRAN Control Functions may be modeled as Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) to operate and control a flying DRAN that comprises a plurality of DBSs, providing near real-time configuration control functions. These unique functions apply to the combined drone and base station sub-components of each DBS. Unique configuration control actions are determining the number of drones, optimal 3D drone positioning, and the inter-drone graph topology by maximizing served cellular user clusters, while factoring in user slices, remaining drone flight times and RF interference.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: An application service provider (ASP) subscribes to a slice of the network of the mobile operator to offer its users on mobile devices a better-quality transport service. For example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for, say, a premium network slice dedicated for the use of its premium users that are on mobile devices. When a premium user accesses the application (and gets authorized by it), the application sends identifiers of the application/user to the Slice Identifier Function (SIF) of the mobile operator, which in turn directs the configuration of the core network components as well as the RAN attached to said user's mobile device according to the application's slice policies. As another example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for the default network slice for a differentiated treatment. When SIF identifies the application, it gives its users a higher QoS/priority than other users within the same slice.

Abstract: A new control function is defined for the control plane of a 5G mobile network to enable the operator's mobile user, who is using a premium network slice, to access application services on the public Internet, by operator sign-on only when accessing the application on said slice. This unique single sign-on capability allows the user to bypass the service authentication after operator authenticates the mobile device by the user session establishment procedure. The new function registers a plurality of service applications, which sign-up for single sign-on capability. It also coordinates the mapping and storage of credentials of the user across the mobile operator's service and the service provider's application for each of said plurality of service applications, and transfers user credentials to the application so that the user's sign-in step is bypassed.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: Drone base stations (DBSs) create a radio access network (DRAN) that provides a quick on-demand coverage in areas either for lost coverage due to disasters (providing an emergency communications network (ECN)) or for specific military, governmental and IoT application needs. DRAN Control Functions may be modeled as Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) to operate and control a flying DRAN that comprises a plurality of DBSs, providing near real-time configuration control functions. These unique functions apply to the combined drone and base station sub-components of each DBS. Unique configuration control actions are determining the number of drones, optimal 3D drone positioning, and the inter-drone graph topology by maximizing served cellular user clusters, while factoring in user slices, remaining drone flight times and RF interference.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: An application service provider (ASP) subscribes to a slice of the network of the mobile operator to offer its users on mobile devices a better-quality transport service. For example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for, say, a premium network slice dedicated for the use of its premium users that are on mobile devices. When a premium user accesses the application (and gets authorized by it), the application sends identifiers of the application/user to the Slice Identifier Function (SIF) of the mobile operator, which in turn directs the configuration of the core network components as well as the RAN attached to said user's mobile device according to the application's slice policies. As another example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for the default network slice for a differentiated treatment. When SIF identifies the application, it gives its users a higher QoS/priority than other users within the same slice.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: A new control function is defined for the control plane of a 5G mobile network to enable the operator's mobile user, who is using a premium network slice, to access application services on the public Internet, by operator sign-on only when accessing the application on said slice. This unique single sign-on capability allows the user to bypass the service authentication after operator authenticates the mobile device by the user session establishment procedure. The new function registers a plurality of service applications, which sign-up for single sign-on capability. It also coordinates the mapping and storage of credentials of the user across the mobile operator's service and the service provider's application for each of said plurality of service applications, and transfers user credentials to the application so that the user's sign-in step is bypassed.

Abstract: Disclosed within are a system and method for efficient slicing of an SDN-based 5G core network by using service-specific aggregate tunnels along key tunnel interfaces between network functions.

Abstract: Disclosed within are a system and method for efficient slicing of an SDN-based 5G core network by using service-specific aggregate tunnels along key tunnel interfaces between network functions.

Abstract: A special controller and a special node design for wireless communications are disclosed for generating a control messaging exchange on a wireless control channel between a controller and each mesh node: (a) to alter the wireless network topology, comprised of interconnected nodes, for load distribution, (b) to select better quality wireless links for control and data channel communications, and (c) to take away the burden of frequent route calculations from each node, making packet forwarding more efficient and optimal.

Abstract: A programmable switch for use in a Software Defined Network (SDN) is disclosed that supports multiple open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) between the switch and various types of controllers, where each such API supports a different function set and possibly uses different IP protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

Abstract: A special controller and a special node design for wireless communications are disclosed for generating a control messaging exchange on a wireless control channel between a controller and each mesh node: (a) to alter the wireless network topology, comprised of interconnected nodes, for load distribution, (b) to select better quality wireless links for control and data channel communications, and (c) to take away the burden of frequent route calculations from each node, making packet forwarding more efficient and optimal.

Abstract: Virtual CPE (vCPE) of a plurality of enterprises is sliced according to each enterprise's user-group profiles. Several apparatuses are hosted by a service provider within a control center, which are remotely located: (a) to store different user-group profiles of each enterprise in a policy server, and (b) to remotely control the slicing of various components of the vCPE according to user-group profiles. Several interconnected components are also hosted by the enterprise as the vCPE including a local RAN and associated local core network, a network switch connecting a LAN and various WAN connections, virtualized network functions as well as the local core network, and a control agent apparatus that receives directives from the remote control center and applies these directives onto aforementioned enterprise apparatus components to achieve slicing. The vCPE is sliced per user-group, wherein each slice acts as a separate transport-technology-agnostic virtual network segment within the enterprise.

Abstract: An implementation is developed to dynamically change the topology of a mesh network connectivity comprised of many mesh nodes and route IP packets across the network in a wireless network, wherein an IP tunnel and a control connection are established between a pair of mesh nodes using a mesh application (called, Mesh App). The Mesh App has several key functions such as collecting local wireless user equipment IP addresses from the local Core Network, and remote IP addresses and routing information from its neighbor Mesh Apps, enabling routing of data traffic hop by hop across the network. Furthermore, it changes the UEs in the ‘reject list’ forcing the disconnection of certain UEs and backhaul modems so as to alter the topology or the network, and distributing the topology change information to its neighbors.

Abstract: In Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications, the broadcast data towards the vehicles must use the network resources efficiently while the unicast data must arrive reliably with ultra-low-latency. Furthermore, the connections must remain network-attached while vehicles move rapidly. A system/method are described through which a vehicle with a special communications module and internal computer can connect to one or more 5G vehicular network slices (VNS) with multiple Radio Access Technologies (multi-RAT) in order to efficiently communicate with local or remote transportation information databases and applications, road safety and emergency infrastructures. The infrastructure of this disclosure uses the network-slicing feature of a 5G mobile network to carve out a vehicular data and control planes specialized to offer the vehicular service only.

Abstract: IP packets are routed across mesh and relay nodes in a wireless network via an IP tunnel that is established between a pair of mesh nodes terminating on the disclosed system, also referred to as Mesh App. The Mesh App has several key functions beyond terminating IP tunnels, such as: (1) collecting local wireless user equipment IP addresses from the local Core Network, (2) remote IP addresses and routing information from its neighbor Mesh Apps, and (3) routing user's data packets according to its routing table across the IP tunnel. This tunnel is simultaneously used as a control channel to allocate frequency sub-bands to backhaul and radio access user equipment across neighbor mesh nodes to minimize self-backhaul interference.