Abstract: Systems and methods for OFDM channelization are provided that allow for the coexistence of sub-band channels and diversity channels. Methods of defining diversity sub-channels and sub-band sub-channels are provided and systematic channel definition and labeling schemes are provided.

Abstract: A communication service manager (CSM) apparatus for monitoring a communication network is provided. The CSM receives configuration instruction message from a higher-level device, and creates or modifies a set of tasks based on the configuration instruction message. The CSM is thus configured to interact with data provider devices to obtain specific information, process the information, and report the results of the processing operations toward a specified device or database. The data provider devices monitor network operations and may include network functions and data analytics manager (DAM) functions. A format for configuration instruction messages, for configuring the CSM, is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for closed loop MIMO (multiple input and multiple output) wireless communication are provided. Various transmit formats including spatial multiplexing and STTD are defined in which vector or matrix weighting is employed using information fed back from receivers. The feedback information may include channel matrix or SVD-based feedback.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that enable an OFDM transmitter to be used for transmitting conventional OFDM or a form of transformed OFDM. A technique is provided for transforming a coded and modulated sequence of samples prior to an IFFT that enables the transformed sequence of samples to be transmitted using conventional OFDM or transformed OFDM. The selection of a transform function for transforming the coded and modulated sequence of samples may be based on optimizing the transform function for particular operating conditions between the transmitter and receiver. In some embodiments of the invention OFDM and time transformed OFDM are multiplexed in time and/or frequency in a transmission frame. In some embodiments of the invention a pilot pattern is provided in which the pilot are sent using OFDM and data is sent using OFDM and/or transformed OFDM.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a virtual network topology for machine-to-machine communications. A set of input information including network information and configuration information is obtained. One or more virtual serving gateways for the virtual network are located at one or more physical hosts, and each machine is associated with a respective virtual serving gateway, in accordance with the network information and the configuration information. A set of output information defining the virtual network topology is generated.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating shareable wireless transmission resources. A resource pool is established. The resource pool is divided into a plurality of physical layer allocation units usable for wirelessly transmitting control information and traffic data. The allocation units are assigned at the media access control layer for the wireless transmission of the control information and traffic data. The system and method of the present invention also allows mobile stations to be dynamically grouped into multicast groupings to reduce system overhead resource requirements.

Abstract: A network architecture and methods of managing packet data unit (PDU) sessions in a network are provided. The methods include PDU session establishment procedures, PDU session modification procedures, PDU session state transfer procedures, PDU session release procedures, and user equipment (UE) handover procedures.

Abstract: A method for tracking a location of a User Equipment (UE) connected to a network is provided. When the UE is in an IDLE state, and a mobility management entity of the network receives a notification message that downlink data is available for the UE, the mobility management entity may transmit paging instructions to access points in a paging area. The paging area may be defined as one or more access points within one or more tracking areas. The tracking areas may be defined as a one or more access points from which the UE can access the network. The paging areas may further be defined by a mobility pattern of the UE that tracks location and mobility behaviour of the UE.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, OFDM symbols are transmitted as a plurality of clusters. A cluster includes a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers in frequency, over a plurality of OFDM symbol durations in time. Each cluster includes data as well as pilot information as a reference signal for channel estimation. In some embodiments, a plurality of clusters collectively occupy the available sub-carrier set in the frequency domain that is used for transmission. In some embodiments of the invention data and/or pilots are spread within each cluster using code division multiplexing (CDM). In some embodiments pilots and data are separated by distributing data on a particular number of the plurality of OFDM symbol durations and pilots on a remainder of the OFDM symbol durations. CDM spreading can be performed in time and/or frequency directions.

Abstract: A network architecture and methods of managing packet data unit (PDU) sessions in a network are provided. The methods include PDU session establishment procedures, PDU session modification procedures, PDU session state transfer procedures, PDU session release procedures, and user equipment (UE) handover procedures.

Abstract: Wireless network specific (WN-specific) key can be used to provide access protection over the radio access link. A WN-specific key may be associated with (or assigned to) a wireless network, and distributed to access points of the wireless network, as well as to user equipments (UEs) following UE authentication. The WN-specific key is then used to encrypt/decrypt data transported over the radio access link. The WN-specific key can be used in conjunction with the UE-specific keys to provide multi-level access protection. In some embodiments, WN-specific keys are shared between neighboring wireless networks to reduce the frequency of key exchanges during handovers. Service-specific keys may be used to provide access protection to machine to machine (M2M) services. Group-specific keys may be used to provide access protection to traffic communicated between members of a private social network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering both PMP communications, for example standard cellular communications via a base station, and also delivering P2P communications, for example, communications between two mobile stations, using the same spectral resources for both types of communication.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for service based architecture (SBA) for data analytics management (DAM). Configuration specifications are provided for configuring DAM entities for infrastructure management by infrastructure managers (InfMs), customer service managers (CSMs) for network slice subnet instance (NSSI), network slice instance (NSI) and service instance (SI) management, content and forwarding managers (CFM) for content and content cache management. Also provided are methods and apparatus for data analytics service provisioning regardless of DAM architecture.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of network access discovery by a core network function. The method includes receiving information from a plurality of user equipment via at least one access node. The information is associated with the locations of UE, wherefrom, the plurality UE send the information. The information includes uplink transmission parameters for connecting the plurality of UE to a network. Examples of these parameters include power level and time advance. The method further includes generating at least one map based on the received information. Another aspect of the disclosure provides for sending at least one generated map to a plurality of user equipment.

Abstract: The present application provides a method and apparatus for supporting general registration of user equipment to facilitate MO only mode preferences.

Abstract: A method for managing network slice enabled traffic on a communications network is disclosed. The network slice is instantiated on the communications network for providing connectivity resources to a network operator using the communications network. The method comprises measuring a traffic level indicative of the traffic enabled by the network slice; and adjusting the traffic enabled by the network slice in accordance with the traffic level and a network operator enabled function associated with the network slice.

Abstract: An embodiment method of managing a wireless network includes managing an infrastructure topology for the wireless network. The wireless network includes a plurality of network nodes. The method further includes managing a connection of a user equipment (UE) to the wireless network. The method further includes managing a customer service provided to the UE over the connection. The method also includes managing analytics for the wireless network and the service.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for providing customized virtual networks based on SONAC. In an embodiment, a network management entity for providing a customized VN includes a SONAC module executed by a computing device that is connected to a wireless network, the SONAC module configured to receive service requirement data from the wireless network and create a service customized VN according to the service requirement data, the service requirement data describing one or more service requirements, wherein the SONAC module comprises an interface to interact with: an SDT component, the SDT component used by the SONAC module to determine a service customized logical topology; an SDRA component that maps the logical topology to physical network resources within the wireless network; and a SDP component that determines an end-to-end data transport protocol for communication between a first device and a second device via the wireless network.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a sharpened microneedle using in-plane manufacturing techniques. The method includes depositing at least one layer of photoresist on a broad surface of a substrate, and the photoresist is subsequently patterned to define features of the microneedle. A first etching treatment in the form of deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is applied to etch the substrate into first structure where the etching depth is less than the substrate total depth so as to create at least one sacrificial feature adjacent to the portions of the substrate under the photoresist. A second etching treatment in the form of isotropic wet etching is subsequent applied where the etching of the at least one sacrificial feature causes a gradual variation in etching rate along the length of the microneedle such that the tip of the microneedle is sharpened.

Abstract: It is possible to implement traffic engineering policies in a packet switched network by dynamically configuring different transport protocols to be used over different path segments of an end-to-end path. Specifically, a controller may communicate forward information base (FIB) control signaling instructions to network nodes along an end-to-end path. The FIB signaling instructions may configure network nodes on different path segments of the end-to-end path to route a traffic flow using different path transport protocols. For example, the FIB signaling instructions may assign a link-based transport protocol to a first path segment, and a path-based or source-based transport protocol to a second path segment. Alternatively, the controller may indirectly assign transport protocols to regions/path segments by classifying regions of a packet switched network as link-preferred regions, path-preferred regions, or no-preference regions.