Abstract: A user equipment (UE) is configured to request connection to a selected one of a plurality of available network slices of a network system. The UE implements a permission control framework that allows individual applications to request connection to the selected network slice, but establishes the connection only when the framework determines, based on any of a variety of permission criteria, that the application is permitted to access the requested network slice. The UE also supports user selection of the network slice via a graphical user interface that presents a selectable list of available network slices.

Abstract: A method includes determining that a user device is located within a specified geographical region, and determining that the user device has an active subscription with a terrestrial network operator operating a terrestrial network within the geographical region, the terrestrial network associated with a primary profile stored on a subscriber identity module of the user device. The method also includes, in response to determining that the user device is located within the geographical region and that the user device has an active subscription with the terrestrial network operator, receiving, from the terrestrial network operator, a secondary profile attached to the active subscription and associated with a non-terrestrial communication network. The method further includes storing the secondary profile on an embedded subscriber identity module on the user device, and communicating via the non-terrestrial communication network using the secondary profile.

Abstract: A distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system is configured to support a plurality of radio access technologies. The distributed SDN packet core system can include a cloud-based SDN centralized infrastructure instance and a plurality of local SDN infrastructure instances distributed in proximity to wireless access networks and radio access points thereof. The cloud-based centralized SDN infrastructure instance can be configured to handle network operations that are not latency sensitive. Each local SDN infrastructure instance can include a plurality of computer devices configured to execute a plurality of RAT specific control-plane modules and a plurality of RAT independent packet processing modules for performing latency sensitive network operations.

Abstract: A distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system includes a plurality of interconnected local mobility domains (LMDs). Each LMD includes a plurality of radio access technology (RAT) specific front-end modules associated with at least one RAT and a mobility manager. Each RAT-specific front-end module is configured to handle intra-RAT and intra-LMD mobility events that involve switching connectivity of client devices between two radio access points coupled to the LMD and associated with a first common RAT that is also associated with that RAT-specific front-end module. The mobility manager is coupled to the front-end modules and is configured to handle intra-RAT and inter-LMD mobility events. The mobility manager can also be configured to handle inter-RAT and intra-LMD mobility events if the SDN packet core system supports more than one RAT.

Abstract: A distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system is configured to support a plurality of radio access technologies. The distributed SDN packet core system can include a cloud-based SDN centralized infrastructure instance and a plurality of local SDN infrastructure instances distributed in proximity to wireless access networks and radio access points thereof. The cloud-based centralized SDN infrastructure instance can be configured to handle network operations that are not latency sensitive. Each local SDN infrastructure instance can include a plurality of computer devices configured to execute a plurality of RAT specific control-plane modules and a plurality of RAT independent packet processing modules for performing latency sensitive network operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining a user session during an access network handover are provided. The method can include establishing, between a user equipment and an access network, a first connection over a first access network, and a second connection over a second access network such that the first and second connections exist concurrently. The method can include setting the first connection as an active connection for conveying data packets for stateful user session, and setting the second connection as a standby connection. The method can include exchanging a series of handover messages between the user equipment and the access gateway. The method can include transitioning the active connection to the second connection, and setting the first connection to the standby connection. The method can include continuing, over the second connection, the stateful user session such that a state of the stateful user session is maintained through the transition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing load in a distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system include a stateless load balancer within a local SDN infrastructure instance of the distributed SDN packet core system receiving a data packet for processing by at least one of a plurality of SDN network function modules of local SDN infrastructure instance. The stateless load balancer can direct the data packet to a stateful load balancer residing on a first computing device, among the plurality of computing devices in the local SDN infrastructure instance. The stateful load balancer can determine a stateful data packet processing task to be applied to the data packet and determine a second computing device in the local SDN infrastructure instance for applying the determined stateful data packet processing task to the data packet. The stateful load balancer can then forward the data packet to the second computing device.

Abstract: A system and method provide for connectivity to multiple network operators at a given time, and sorting outgoing traffic based on criteria associated with the data and the network operators. Available networks are identified, and a mobile device attaches to a first network for communication through a first application, and also attaches to a second network for communication through a second application, without requiring detachment from the first network. Accordingly, traffic for the first application is steered through the selected first network, and traffic for the second application is steered through the second network.

Abstract: A distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system is configured to support a plurality of radio access technologies. The distributed SDN packet core system can include a cloud-based SDN centralized infrastructure instance and a plurality of local SDN infrastructure instances distributed in proximity to wireless access networks and radio access points thereof. The cloud-based centralized SDN infrastructure instance can be configured to handle network operations that are not latency sensitive. Each local SDN infrastructure instance can include a plurality of computer devices configured to execute a plurality of RAT specific control-plane modules and a plurality of RAT independent packet processing modules for performing latency sensitive network operations.

Abstract: Internet Connectivity Services provided by mobile wireless stations deployed in drones, balloons, airplanes etc. may be intermittent and in some cases event-driven, such as in response to emergency and natural disasters. In such deployments, end users of wireless devices may not know that Internet connectivity has become available. Even when the wireless device, such as a smartphone, is able to autonomously attach to the network when Internet connectivity becomes available, end users may not realize that their devices have re-connected to the network. The proposed systems and methods relate to providing Internet service availability notification to end users. The proposed systems and methods collect data related to Internet service availability notifications for analytics.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more data packets from an external network when a user device connects to a first network. The user device is configured for dual connectivity with the first network and a second network. The method also includes transmitting a measurement configuration to a modem of the user device and receiving a measurement report from the modem. When it is feasible for the modem to perform a network change, the method includes transmitting a network change command to the modem. The network change command causes the modem to perform the network switch to connect the user device to the second network.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more data packets from an external network, establishing a first data bearer when a user device connects to a first network, and establishing a second data bearer when the user device connects to a second network. The user device is configured for dual connectivity with the first network and the second network. The method also includes routing the one or more data packets through at least one of the first network or the second network to the user device to simultaneously balance network traffic load across both the first network and the second network.

Abstract: Internet Connectivity Services provided by mobile wireless stations deployed in drones, balloons, airplanes etc. may be intermittent and in some cases event-driven, such as in response to emergency and natural disasters. In such deployments, end users of wireless devices may not know that Internet connectivity has become available. Even when the wireless device, such as a smartphone, is able to autonomously attach to the network when Internet connectivity becomes available, end users may not realize that their devices have re-connected to the network. The proposed systems and methods relate to providing Internet service availability notification to end users. The proposed systems and methods collect data related to Internet service availability notifications for analytics.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for handover of communications between a plurality of radio user equipment and an egressing mobile base station to an ingressing mobile base station. The user equipment are terrestrially located within a geographical service zone (GSZ) having an ingress zone and an egress zone. When an egressing mobile base station enters an egress zone, it initiates a handover to a management node associated with the GSZ. The management node communicates with the ingressing mobile base station, which has entered the ingress zone, to accept the handover of the connections from the egressing base station. The handover is carried out without any disruption of user equipment communications. The management node can also communicate with a flight control node to control one or more flight parameters of the ingressing or egressing base station to facilitate smooth handover.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more data packets from an external network when a user device connects to a first network. The user device is configured for dual connectivity with the first network and a second network. The method also includes transmitting a measurement configuration to a modem of the user device and receiving a measurement report from the modem. When it is feasible for the modem to perform a network change, the method includes transmitting a network change command to the modem. The network change command causes the modem to perform the network switch to connect the user device to the second network.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for handover of communications between a plurality of radio user equipment and an egressing mobile base station to an ingressing mobile base station. The user equipment are terrestrially located within a geographical service zone (GSZ) having an ingress zone and an egress zone. When an egressing mobile base station enters an egress zone, it initiates a handover to a management node associated with the GSZ. The management node communicates with the ingressing mobile base station, which has entered the ingress zone, to accept the handover of the connections from the egressing base station. The handover is carried out without any disruption of user equipment communications. The management node can also communicate with a flight control node to control one or more flight parameters of the ingressing or egressing base station to facilitate smooth handover.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining a user session during an access network handover are provided. The method can include establishing, between a user equipment and an access network, a first connection over a first access network, and a second connection over a second access network such that the first and second connections exist concurrently. The method can include setting the first connection as an active connection for conveying data packets for stateful user session, and setting the second connection as a standby connection. The method can include exchanging a series of handover messages between the user equipment and the access gateway. The method can include transitioning the active connection to the second connection, and setting the first connection to the standby connection. The method can include continuing, over the second connection, the stateful user session such that a state of the stateful user session is maintained through the transition.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more data packets from an external network, establishing a first data bearer when a user device connects to a first network, and establishing a second data bearer when the user device connects to a second network. The user device is configured for dual connectivity with the first network and the second network. The method also includes routing the one or more data packets through at least one of the first network or the second network to the user device to simultaneously balance network traffic load across both the first network and the second network.

Abstract: A system and method provide for connectivity to multiple network operators at a given time, and sorting outgoing traffic based on criteria associated with the data and the network operators. Available networks are identified, and a mobile device attaches to a first network for communication through a first application, and also attaches to a second network for communication through a second application, without requiring detachment from the first network. Accordingly, traffic for the first application is steered through the selected first network, and traffic for the second application is steered through the second network.

Abstract: A distributed software defined network (SDN) packet core system includes a plurality of interconnected local mobility domains (LMDs). Each LMD includes a plurality of radio access technology (RAT) specific front-end modules associated with at least one RAT and a mobility manager. Each RAT-specific front-end module is configured to handle intra-RAT and intra-LMD mobility events that involve switching connectivity of client devices between two radio access points coupled to the LMD and associated with a first common RAT that is also associated with that RAT-specific front-end module. The mobility manager is coupled to the front-end modules and is configured to handle intra-RAT and inter-LMD mobility events. The mobility manager can also be configured to handle inter-RAT and intra-LMD mobility events if the SDN packet core system supports more than one RAT.