Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided to provide the progress and result of lifecycle management (LCM) processes of an edge application server (EAS) virtual network function (VNF) in a cloud. The lifecycle management process information is included in the Network Resource Models (NRMs). An identifier to identify the management service (MnS) consumer initiating the LCM process is included in an EASFunction Information Object Class (IOC), which represents properties of the EAS VNF, and another IOC, which represents requirements to deploy the EAS VNF. The IOC containing the LCM process information permits the consumer to correlate the LCM result with the LCM request. LCM solutions are presented to deploy and terminate EAS VNFs in the cloud using the LCM process information to report the progress and result of the LCM process.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are provided to provide the progress and result of lifecycle management (LCM) processes of an edge application server (EAS) virtual network function (VNF) in a cloud. Network Resource Models (NRMs) include process information for the LCM of the EAS. A createMOI operation is used to create a Managed Object Instance (MOI) representing an EAS LCM request that contains EAS requirements to start EAS VNF instantiation and LCM process information is used to report the progress and result of EAS VNF instantiation. The EAS requirements include deployment requirements for the EAS VNF. An Information Object Class (IOC) representing the EAS LCM request enables provisioning MnS consumers to perform an LCM operation for the EAS VNF instantiation.

Abstract: Some embodiments of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for applying mobility robustness optimization (MRO) and automatic network slice creation in 5G Self-Organizing Networks (SON). A network system may identify user equipment (UE) performing a handover from a first node to a second node. The network system may apply a MRO function to identify a target parameter corresponding to the handover. The network system may monitor connection measurements and/or radio link failure reports to identify the handover as failing to meet the target parameter. The network system may then modify the target parameter to facilitate the handover to the second node. For the automatic creation of a network slice instance (NSI), a network system may receive network slice specifications and apply the specifications to an automatic NSI creation function. The network system may instantiate network functions according to the automatic NSI creation function to create an NSI.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are related to Management Data Analytics (MDA) relation with Self-Organizing Network (SON) functions and coverage issues analysis use case. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for generating performance measurements related to DL and UL packet delays through a NG-RAN are described. The NG-RAN receives GTP PDU monitoring packets from a UPF and, in response measures the DL delays of the packets to and UL delays from a UE. The NG-RAN determines the per 5QI and per S-NSSAI distribution of the DL and UL delays and sends the performance measurements to a service provider. The average DL and UL delays may also be provided to the service provider. The service provider is in the NG-RAN or a separate management system. For a network slice, service providers for different NG-RANs send the performance measurements to a network slice service provider, where the individual NG-RAN performance measurements are combined to provide both the average and distribution of the DL and UL delays in the network slice.

Abstract: An apparatus for a Non-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC) of a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) entity of an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) includes processing circuitry coupled to memory. To configure the Non-RT RIC for allocation of network slice subnet instance (NSSI) resources in the O-RAN, the processing circuitry is to collect performance measurements related to usage of the NSSI resources. An artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) model is trained based on the performance measurements. The allocation of the NSSI resources is optimized at a time determined by an inference of the AI/ML model.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing creation and configuration for 5G networks, NFs and NSSIs are provided. An instantiation or configuration request received from a managed entity respectively instantiates or configures the appropriate element. For NF instantiation, when the NF has a virtualized part to be instantiated by a VNF, interaction with an NFV MANO system instantiates the VNF is followed by NF instantiation notification and MOI creation for the NF. For NF configuration, the NF is configured and notification provided thereof. For network instantiation, after reception of a network creation request, interaction with the system to instantiate a NS that realizes the network is followed by determination that a new VNF associated with the NS has been instantiated, creation of a NF (constituting the network) MOI is realized by the new VNF, and NF configuration. For NSSI creation, a NF constituting the NSSI is created and configured.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media are described for Load Balancing Optimization (LBO) and Mobility Robustness Optimization (MRO) for fifth generation (5G) systems. In particular, some embodiments may be directed intra-radio access technology (RAT) energy saving scenarios while other embodiments may be directed to and inter-RAT energy saving scenarios. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media are described for physical-layer cell identifier (PCI) configuration and Mobility Robustness Optimization (MRO). In particular, some embodiments may be directed to fifth-generation self-organizing network (5G SON) solutions such as the management of distributed physical-layer cell identifier (PCI) configuration, centralized PCI configuration, and MRO. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing creation and configuration for 5G networks, NFs and NSSIs are provided. An instantiation or configuration request received from a managed entity respectively instantiates or configures the appropriate element. For NF instantiation, when the NF has a virtualized part to be instantiated by a VNF, interaction with an NFV MANO system instantiates the VNF is followed by NF instantiation notification and MOI creation for the NF. For NF configuration, the NF is configured and notification provided thereof. For network instantiation, after reception of a network creation request, interaction with the system to instantiate a NS that realizes the network is followed by determination that a new VNF associated with the NS has been instantiated, creation of a NF (constituting the network) MOI is realized by the new VNF, and NF configuration. For NSSI creation, a NF constituting the NSSI is created and configured.

Abstract: A method and system to provide Mobility Robustness Optimization (MRO) in a NR network are described. The MRO parameters, use case, management services and information definition and procedures are described. A distributed self-organized network (D-SON) management function requests a producer of provisioning management service (MnS) to set targets, handover parameter ranges, and control information for an MRO function and then enables the MRO function for a non-enabled NR cell. The MRO function receives and analyses information from UEs to determine actions to optimize MRO performance. The D-SON management function collects and analyses MRO related performance measurements to evaluate the MRO performance, and updates the targets, handover parameter ranges, and/or control information when the MRO performance does not meet the targets.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses provide for collecting end-to-end (e2e) one way latency measurements and solutions for performance data streaming. The e2e performance measurements and performance data streaming (real-time performance measurements) may be used for performance assurance of 5G networks including network slicing.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for generating KPIs based on packet delay performance measurements through a NG-RAN or 5GC are described. Integrated average UL and DL delays in NG-RAN, gNB DU delays and e2e delays are determined for each sub-network, network slice subnet, and network slice, and for a gNB DU. An overall NR cell DU delay including air interface delay and delay within the NR cell DU, and an overall gNB-CU delay including F1 interface delay and delay within the gNB-CU-UP, are each independently weighted for each gNB and in each direction for the integrated delay KPI in the NG-RAN. The e2e delay KPIs are average UL or DL delays between a UPF and UE(s) for a network slice based on e2e delays for each N-3 and N9 interface weighted by number of packets or data volume of the interface for the corresponding direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein are directed to solutions for converged charging for edge enabling infrastructure resource usage, application context transfer, and aggregated fifth-generation system (5GS) usage. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for performance measurements related to application triggering and short message service (SMS) over non-access stratum (NAS) including obtaining raw performance measurements from one or more network functions in a wireless communication network, the one or more network functions including at least one of a network exposure function (NEF) or an access and mobility management function (AMF), and generating performance measurements for the one or more network functions based on the raw performance measurements.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, virtualized network function resources may be managed in a network. Performance measurements may be received for at least one mobility management entity (MME) in an MME pool, or for other network elements. If at least one of the performance measurements exceeds at least one predetermined threshold, instantiation of a new mobility management entity virtual network function (MME VNF) may be requested, and the MME VNF may be instantiated in response to the request. One or more user equipment (UE) devices managed by the MME pool may be connected to the added MME VNF.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing creation and configuration for 5G networks, NFs and NSSIs are provided. An instantiation or configuration request received from a managed entity respectively instantiates or configures the appropriate element. For NF instantiation, when the NF has a virtualized part to be instantiated by a VNF, interaction with an NFV MANO system instantiates the VNF is followed by NF instantiation notification and MOI creation for the NF. For NF configuration, the NF is configured and notification provided thereof. For network instantiation, after reception of a network creation request, interaction with the system to instantiate a NS that realizes the network is followed by determination that a new VNF associated with the NS has been instantiated, creation of a NF (constituting the network) MOI is realized by the new VNF, and NF configuration. For NSSI creation, a NF constituting the NSSI is created and configured.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media are described for configuring RACH parameters in a cell in order to achieve the optimal RACH performance. In particular, some embodiments relate to determining RACH parameters based on RACH optimization targets. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML) workflows including ML entity lifecycle management and reporting mechanisms for reporting the validation performance of an ML entity. An ML training (MLT) function trains an ML model using a training dataset and may validate the ML model using a validation dataset. An MLT report is generated, which includes an attribute indicating the performance of the ML model when performing on training data. To support the ML model validation performance reporting, an attribute is defined in the MLT report to indicate the performance of the ML model when performing on the validation data. The attribute may be a new attribute or an extension/enhancement of an existing attribute in the MLT training report.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides mechanisms to support collection of measurements data to support radio access network (RAN) intelligence. The present disclosure contains concepts, use cases, requirements, and solutions for collecting the measurement data to support artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML) enabled RAN, wherein the AI/ML functions reside in the RAN, a network function(s), management function(s), and/or in an Operation, Administration, and Maintenance function(s).