Abstract: A method of warning target objects (TOs) of an approaching reference object (RO) includes receiving, by a back-situation awareness function (BSAF) application, RO notification (RON) messages from the RO containing RO related state information, generating, by the BSAF application, a geo-sector (GS) area including a number of GS segments between a current location of the RO and a destination object (DO) specifying a destination location of the RO, calculating, by the BSAF application, for each of the GS segments of the GS area an expected time of arrival (ETA) of the RO at a respective one of the GS segments, and disseminating the calculated GS segment specific ETA values to the TOs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enhancing road safety via on-demand virtualized road traffic sign generation. A method for generating information for display in a target object (TO) includes: receiving at least one notification message from one or more TOs; generating a situation map for a relevance zone (RZ) based on information in the at least one notification message; encoding an action matrix in a notification message, wherein the action matrix is derived based on the situation map; and transmitting the notification message to the TOs in the RZ. A system includes one or more road side units (RSUs) configured to establish a wireless communication channel with one or more TOs; and a mobile edge computing (MEC) system that includes one or more processors and is configured to implement a virtualized road traffic sign generation service.

Abstract: A method for real-time and dynamic event-related information derivation and dissemination by a road infrastructure to control, coordinate and consolidate information from one or more observation entities includes receiving, by a road infrastructure server of the road infrastructure, event information from the observation entities. Each of the observation entities provides its event information as an event information frame that comprises an event data record including a number of attributes together with a unique identifier referencing the event data record. The event information frames received from the observation entities are collected and analyzed, and are processed to generate a combined event information frame that includes composite event information, a unique identifier referencing the composite event information, and control commands to coordinate communication with the observation entities. The combined event information frame is distributed within a distribution domain.

Abstract: A method for performing network function virtualization (NFV) management and orchestration (MANO) operations in a telecommunications network includes collecting, by a mobile network node, mobile network node condition data that specifies network conditions present at the mobile network node, providing, to a distributed NFV-MANO system component located at the mobile network node, the mobile network node condition data, and executing, by the distributed NFV-MANO system component, MANO decision logic. The MANO decision logic provides, based on input that includes at least the mobile network node condition data, at least one MANO operation decision as output. The telecommunications network includes stationary infrastructure components and mobile infrastructure components that communicate with stationary infrastructure components via wireless links, and the mobile network node is one of the mobile infrastructure components of the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method for deploying and instantiating a Management and Orchestration (MANO) instance of a tenant in a data communication network having a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI), wherein a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) provides a centralized MANO framework that manages the NFVI and that orchestrates allocation of resources needed by Network Services (NSs) and/or Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) configured in the data communication network, includes requesting, by the tenant, provisioning of the MANO instance. The tenant negotiates with the CSP one or more Management Level Agreements (MLAs) which determine scope of autonomy of the tenant over the MANO instance. The tenant receives an allocation of resources of the NFVI and the MANO instance for being employed by the tenant to implement policies of the tenant independently from the centralized MANO framework provided by the CSP.

Abstract: A method for performing network function virtualization (NFV) management and orchestration (MANO) operations in a telecommunications network includes collecting, by a mobile network node, mobile network node condition data that specifies network conditions present at the mobile network node, providing, to a distributed NFV-MANO system component located at the mobile network node, the mobile network node condition data, and executing, by the distributed NFV-MANO system component, MANO decision logic. The MANO decision logic provides, based on input that includes at least the mobile network node condition data, at least one MANO operation decision as output. The telecommunications network includes stationary infrastructure components and mobile infrastructure components that communicate with stationary infrastructure components via wireless links, and the mobile network node is one of the mobile infrastructure components of the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method for enabling (virtualized) application functions ((V)AFs) to associate to underlying (virtualized) network functions ((V)NFs) is provided in a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environment in which a lifecycle management (LCM) of the (V)AFs and its associations with the underlying (V)NFs and resources are managed by the NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) system. A service request is validated by an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) parsing an (V)AF Descriptor ((V)AFD) file within an (V)AF catalogue. An (V)AF Record ((V)AFR) instance is created having information useable to maintain a state and one or more associations of the respective (V)AF. The NFVO, in cooperation with a Virtualized Network Function Manager (VNFM), Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and an underlying network controller of the NFV MANO system, establishes the association between the respective (V)AF and the respective underlying (V)NF(s) using the (V)AFD.

Abstract: A method for managing and orchestrating virtual application functions jointly with virtual network functions is done through a single management and orchestration (MANO) framework within a network. The method includes creating, by a system for (virtual) application function and virtual network function management and orchestration, at least one service or service chain that considers or comprises at least one (virtual) network application and/or at least one virtual network function. A virtual application function (VAF) entity is provided as a container for network applications together with a VAF manager (VAFM) for the VAF.

Abstract: A method for managing computational resources of a data center is useable for making one or more management decisions (MD). One or more computational resources of the data center are assigned to one or more physical and/or virtual functions by MD of a decision making entity (DME). The MD are based on collected performance information of the one or more computational resources. The collected performance information is analysed considering one or more predefined performance parameters. A single performance metric (SPM) is computed representing performance and efficiency of the DME using a result of the analysis. The SPM is used by the DME for making the MD.

Abstract: A method for deploying and instantiating a Management and Orchestration (MANO) instance of a tenant in a data communication network having a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI), wherein a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) provides a centralized MANO framework that manages the NFVI and that orchestrates allocation of resources needed by Network Services (NSs) and/or Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) configured in the data communication network, includes requesting, by the tenant, provisioning of the MANO instance. The tenant negotiates with the CSP one or more Management Level Agreements (MLAs) which determine scope of autonomy of the tenant over the MANO instance. The tenant receives an allocation of resources of the NFVI and the MANO instance for being employed by the tenant to implement policies of the tenant independently from the centralized MANO framework provided by the CSP.

Abstract: A method provides a distributed and granular management and orchestration of virtualized functions (VFs). The method includes instantiating a network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV-MANO) system that is configured to instantiate micro-functions (MFs) and to link each of the instantiated MFs to a corresponding one of the VFs. Also, a MF of the MFs is instantiated and linked the MF to a VF of the VFs. The instantiated MF is configured to provide at least one service of the NFV-MANO system to the VF to which it is linked. The instantiated MF and the VF are configured to expose interfaces over which they can interface with each other.

Abstract: A method for operating a data communication network having a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) includes: by a Cloud Service Provider (CSP), providing a centralized Management and Orchestration (MANO) system that manages the NFVI and that orchestrates the allocation of resources needed by Network Services (NSs) and/or Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) configured in the network. The method further includes: by the centralized MANO system and upon request from a tenant, allocating resources of the NFVI to the tenant and providing the tenant its own MANO instance for being employed by the tenant to control and manage its own service and/or network slices and/or implement its own policies independently from the centralized MANO framework provided by the CSP. Management Level Agreements (MLAs) negotiated between the CSP and the tenant determine the scope of the tenant's autonomy over the tenant's MANO instance.

Abstract: A forwarding element includes a control engine and a forwarding table. The control engine includes a command template that includes a stateful interaction instruction. The forwarding table includes a rule entry that defines a match description and an action instruction. The forwarding element is configured to: receive a packet; determine packet attributes based on the packet; compare the packet attributes to the match description to determine whether there is a rule match, execute the action instruction in response to determining there is the rule match, which includes causing a trigger signal to be sent to the control engine, the trigger signal corresponding to the command template, and perform a stateful interaction on the packet according to the stateful interaction instruction in response to receiving the trigger signal.

Abstract: A method for operating a virtual network infrastructure, wherein a corresponding physical infrastructure comprises one or more physical infrastructure resources, includes monitoring utilization levels of one or more resource units of the one or more physical infrastructure resources for virtual resources requesting the one or more resource units; calculating average absolute resource utilization values based on the utilization levels for each of the virtual resources; calculating a reference resource of score (RRAS) for each of the one or more resource units of the one or more physical infrastructure resources, wherein the RRAS indicates an impact of the utilization of a reference resource unit on utilization of other resource units on a physical infrastructure resource using the calculated average absolute resource utilization values; and assigning resources by a virtual infrastructure controller (VIC) and/or a VIC-agent on a resource, based on the RRAS for the virtual resources.

Abstract: A method provides a distributed and granular management and orchestration of virtualized functions (VFs). The method includes instantiating a network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV-MANO) system that is configured to instantiate micro-functions (MFs) and to link each of the instantiated MFs to a corresponding one of the VFs. Also, a MF of the MFs is instantiated and linked the MF to a VF of the VFs. The instantiated MF is configured to provide at least one service of the NFV-MANO system to the VF to which it is linked. The instantiated MF and the VF are configured to expose interfaces over which they can interface with each other.

Abstract: A method for providing congestion information in a network is performed in a memory available to a computing entity. A traffic demand is obtained within a certain part of the network by evaluating an amount of traffic in the part of the network per time. A congestion value representing a congestion level of a bottleneck connection link in the network is calculated. The congestion value is a scalar and calculated based on a comparison between measured and/or estimated traffic and traffic demand within a certain part of said network.

Abstract: A method for operating a u-MANO inside a user domain that ensures deployment and service integrity of end-to-end network services in collaboration with a p-MANO includes receiving a request for a network service instance; and initiating a discovery operation to discover the p-MANO if the request's scope is determined to extend beyond the user domain. The discovery operation includes: determining an identity and/or an address of the p-MANO; sending a solicitation message to the p-MANO to discover its reachability and availability; sending a service request specifying network service requirements to the p-MANO in response to receiving a solicitation response from the p-MANO; and receiving a service acceptance from the p-MANO. The method further includes instantiating and deploying the network service instance that is at least partially within the user domain and partially outside the user domain.

Abstract: A method for operating a data communication network having a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) includes: by a Cloud Service Provider (CSP), providing a centralized Management and Orchestration (MANO) system that manages the NFVI and that orchestrates the allocation of resources needed by Network Services (NSs) and/or Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) configured in the network. The method further includes: by the centralized MANO system and upon request from a tenant, allocating resources of the NFVI to the tenant and providing the tenant its own MANO instance for being employed by the tenant to control and manage its own service and/or network slices and/or implement its own policies independently from the centralized MANO framework provided by the CSP. Management Level Agreements (MLAs) negotiated between the CSP and the tenant determine the scope of the tenant's autonomy over the tenant's MANO instance.

Abstract: A method for operating a u-MANO inside a user domain that ensures deployment and service integrity of end-to-end network services in collaboration with a p-MANO includes receiving a request for a network service instance; and initiating a discovery operation to discover the p-MANO if the request's scope is determined to extend beyond the user domain. The discovery operation includes: determining an identity and/or an address of the p-MANO; sending a solicitation message to the p-MANO to discover its reachability and availability; sending a service request specifying network service requirements to the p-MANO in response to receiving a solicitation response from the p-MANO; and receiving a service acceptance from the p-MANO. The method further includes instantiating and deploying the network service instance that is at least partially within the user domain and partially outside the user domain.

Abstract: A method for managing data traffic in a computing network includes determining, by a determining function, processing information for processing one or more packets of an identified flow; stripping header information from the one or more packets of the identified flow by a stripping function; adding tag information to the one or more packets of the identified flow by a tag adding function; storing a mapping between the tag information and the header information in a cache by a mapping function, and processing the one or more packets of the identified flow by the one or more network functions according to the determined processing information. The one or more network functions query the cache using the tag information to retrieve information associated with the tag information from the cache if required to process the one or more packets.