Abstract: A method, a network device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are described in relation to a hybrid network slicing service. The hybrid network slicing service may enable the initial configuration of a network slice according to network slice requests that may include customized and user-specified network performance criteria. The hybrid network slicing service may enable network slice requests to specify selection of network resources and use/availability based on entity-based criteria including end device and/or application specific associations. The hybrid network slicing service may optimize network slice configurations and generate network slice templates.

Abstract: A network device executes an account management function that pre-authorizes network service unit consumption by multiple subscribers that are members of a same, shared network service account. The account management function receives, from multiple charging systems distributed within the network, network unit consumption charges associated with each of the multiple subscribers, where the network device is centrally located within a network relative to multiple locations associated with the plurality of charging systems. The account management function updates a consumption counter for the same, shared network service account based on the network unit consumption charges associated with the multiple subscribers received from the multiple charging systems distributed within the network.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a resource counter tracking service is provided. The service may include the collection of resource information by a charging function from a virtualized device. The resource information may include information pertaining to hardware usage, quality of service, and transport resources associated with the virtualized device, a cluster, or a data center of relevance. The charging function may generate event information based on the resource information, and make available the event information to third party devices.

Abstract: A method, a network device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are described in relation to a hybrid network slicing service. The hybrid network slicing service may enable the initial configuration of a network slice according to network slice requests that may include customized and user-specified network performance criteria. The hybrid network slicing service may enable network slice requests to specify selection of network resources and use/availability based on entity-based criteria including end device and/or application specific associations. The hybrid network slicing service may optimize network slice configurations and generate network slice templates.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide a hierarchical Account Balance Management Function (ABMF) architecture for a Converged Charging System. Multiple distributed account management devices and a centralized account management device are provided. The centralized account management device includes one or more processors to allocate, to the multiple distributed account management devices, a pre-authorized consumption limit for a shared consumption plan; receive, from one of the multiple distributed account management devices, a request for an additional consumption limit from the shared consumption plan; allocate, to the one of the multiple distributed account management devices, the additional consumption limit; and update an account balance for the shared consumption plan based on allocating the additional consumption limit.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a resource counter tracking service is provided. The service may include the collection of resource information by a charging function from a virtualized device. The resource information may include information pertaining to hardware usage, quality of service, and transport resources associated with the virtualized device, a cluster, or a data center of relevance. The charging function may generate event information based on the resource information, and make available the event information to third party devices.

Abstract: A system may receive a first definition for a virtualized instance of a network function. The first definition may include a first set of declarations in a first format that is different than respective formats supported by different virtualized environments. The system may select a first virtualized environment to run the virtualized instance based on requirements specified within the first definition, and may generate a second definition with a second set of declarations that map the first set of declarations from the first format to a second format supported by the first virtualized environment. The system may deploy the virtualized instance to the first virtualized environment using the second set of declarations from the second definition. Deploying the virtualized instance may include configuring its operation based on some of the second set of declarations matching a configuration format supported by the first virtualized environment.

Abstract: A network device obtains service requirements associated with a customer identifier, obtains a first profile describing an infrastructure design of multiple transport domains associated with at least one network slice of a network, and obtains a second profile describing performance characteristics of the multiple transport domains of the at least one network slice. The network device receives training data associated with performance measurements of the multiple transport domains of the at least one network slice, and updates a machine learning model based on the training data. The network device selects at least one of the multiple transport domains for orchestration using the updated machine learning model, the service requirements, the first profile, and the second profile.

Abstract: A computing device may include a memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to initialize a Fifth Generation wireless system (5G) function node of a particular type; identify one or more always-on processes associated with the particular type of 5G function node; and activate the identified one or more always-on processes. The processor may be further configured to monitor one or more trigger conditions associated with the 5G function node; detect a trigger condition, of the one or more trigger conditions; identify an on-demand process associated with the 5G function node based on the detected trigger condition; and activate the identified on-demand process in a serverless computing system using a serverless computing interface, in response to detecting the trigger condition.

Abstract: A real-time network consumption tracking service is provided. A charging function (CHF) device receives transaction records of network consumption by user equipment (UE) devices in a wireless network and generates individual event messages based on each of the transaction records. Each of the individual event messages includes a detailed record based on one of the transaction records. The CHF device associates each of the individual event messages with a message bus topic, formats each of the individual event messages for publication on the message bus, and publishes each of the formatted individual event messages to the message bus. The message bus is accessible to external systems that generate dynamic network consumption data sets based on the formatted individual event messages.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for intelligent, real-time network consumption tracking and traffic steering in fifth-generation (5G) networks via a network configuration and implementation. The disclosed hybrid network traffic steering is effectuated by using Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) and Subscriber Location Function (SLF) to route/steer fourth-generation (4G) network traffic by 5G subscribers to a 5G Charging Function (CHF) for 4G fallback network consumptions. Network currency consumption tracking is performed by the 5G CHF. The CHF dictates policy rules for 5G networks via the Policy Control Function (PCF) of the 5G Core, and dictates policy rules for 4G networks via the Policy and Charging Rules Functions (PCRF) for fallback sessions.

Abstract: A device may receive application information of an application to be deployed in a cloud computing environment. The application information may include requirement information including information defining a compute requirement of the application, a storage requirement of the application, and a network connectivity requirement of the application, and first capability information identifying requested capabilities of the first set of devices. The device may receive second capability information identifying actual capabilities of the second set of devices. The device may compare the first capability information and the second capability information to determine a measure of similarity between the first capability information and the second capability information. The device may generate deployment information for deploying the application on a device, of the second set of devices, based on the measure of similarity.

Abstract: A system may receive a first definition for a virtualized instance of a network function. The first definition may include a first set of declarations in a first format that is different than respective formats supported by different virtualized environments. The system may select a first virtualized environment to run the virtualized instance based on requirements specified within the first definition, and may generate a second definition with a second set of declarations that map the first set of declarations from the first format to a second format supported by the first virtualized environment. The system may deploy the virtualized instance to the first virtualized environment using the second set of declarations from the second definition. Deploying the virtualized instance may include configuring its operation based on some of the second set of declarations matching a configuration format supported by the first virtualized environment.

Abstract: Network devices may be configured to execute computer-executable instructions to instantiate a deployable unit based on the instructions. The instructions may include a virtual network function (VNF) template that includes: a virtualized deployment unit (VDU) template that describes the deployable unit that includes containers; and a connection point template bound to the VDU template. The deployable unit may provide services of a network function in an access network or a core network. The deployable unit may include an interface defined by the connection point template.

Abstract: A device may receive application information of an application to be deployed in a cloud computing environment. The application information may include requirement information including information defining a compute requirement of the application, a storage requirement of the application, and a network connectivity requirement of the application, and first capability information identifying requested capabilities of the first set of devices. The device may receive second capability information identifying actual capabilities of the second set of devices. The device may compare the first capability information and the second capability information to determine a measure of similarity between the first capability information and the second capability information. The device may generate deployment information for deploying the application on a device, of the second set of devices, based on the measure of similarity.

Abstract: A device may receive application information of an application to be deployed in a cloud computing environment. The application information may include requirement information including information defining a compute requirement of the application, a storage requirement of the application, and a network connectivity requirement of the application, and first capability information identifying requested capabilities of the first set of devices. The device may receive second capability information identifying actual capabilities of the second set of devices. The device may compare the first capability information and the second capability information to determine a measure of similarity between the first capability information and the second capability information. The device may generate deployment information for deploying the application on a device, of the second set of devices, based on the measure of similarity.

Abstract: A network device executes an account management function that pre-authorizes network service unit consumption by multiple subscribers that are members of a same, shared network service account. The account management function receives, from multiple charging systems distributed within the network, network unit consumption charges associated with each of the multiple subscribers, where the network device is centrally located within a network relative to multiple locations associated with the plurality of charging systems. The account management function updates a consumption counter for the same, shared network service account based on the network unit consumption charges associated with the multiple subscribers received from the multiple charging systems distributed within the network.

Abstract: A device may receive information identifying existing virtual network functions (VNFs) associated with an existing virtual radio access network (VRAN), and may receive information identifying proposed VNFs to deploy with the existing VRAN, wherein the information identifying the proposed VNFs includes VNF descriptors indicating interface dependencies associated with the proposed VNFs. The device may generate testing configurations, for testing the proposed VNFs, based on the interface dependencies, and may determine that a set of the proposed VNFs are validated based on testing the proposed VNFs with the testing configurations. The device may derive dependency constraints for the set of the proposed VNFs based on the information identifying the existing VNFs, and may select a new VNF that satisfies the dependency constraints, based on the set of the proposed VNFs. The device may cause the new VNF to be deployed with the existing VRAN.

Abstract: A device can receive, at a radio access network (RAN) and from a user device, first information to initiate a communications session that has one or more properties. The device can send second information to an access and mobility management function component (AMF) to authenticate the user device. The device can send third information to a user plane function component (UPF) to determine a set of network slice policies for managing the communications session. The device can receive the set of network slice policies and apply the set of network slice policies to the communications session. The device can detect a change in the one or more properties of the communications session and send a signal to the UPF to analyze the communications session. The device can receive a new set of network slice policies and apply the new set of network slice policies to the communications session.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an blockchain-based network information management service is provided. The service provides blockchain mechanisms that allows for the management and disbursement of network information among network devices of a RAN, a core network, and an application layer network. The service may define a structure for the network information that may be used by RAN devices, core devices, and application layer devices of different vendors and third parties.