Abstract: Systems and methods of managing PNF connectivity are provided. A NM determines to add to or remove external connectivity from a PNF and transmits a NS update request to a NFVO that contains an identifier of the NS instance to be updated, an indication of a type of update operation requested, and information of the PNF connectivity to be changed. A NS update response contains a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier identifying a NS lifecycle operation occurrence. Separate NS lifecycle change notification from the NFVO indicate that a NS update to change the connectivity of the PNF has started and a result of the change. The notifications include the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier.

Abstract: Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) abstracts network functions, allowing them to be installed, controlled, and manipulated by software running on standardized compute nodes such as cloud computing platform rather than on dedicated hardware. In a 5G mobile communications network, the base station or gNB may be split into virtualized and non-virtualized network functions (NFs). Described herein are systems and methods for managing such gNBs within the NFV framework.

Abstract: A service device (e.g., a user equipment (UE), a new radio NB (gNB), or other network component or network management component) as a service provider or a service consumer can process or generate performance data streaming in response to a request to create a performance data stream. Information overhead related to the performance data stream can be provided that enables use of the performance data stream in and through data stream units to support performance measurement collection activities.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying and remedying performance issues of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) are discussed. An example method includes outputting a request to a network Element Manager (EM) to create a Virtualized Network Function (VNF) Performance Measurement (PM) job to collect VNF PM data from a VNF and receiving a set of VNF PM data associated with the VNF from the EM. The set of VNF PM data is processed associated with the VNF. A request to the EM is output to create a Virtualization Resource (VR) PM job to collect, through a VNF Manager (VNFM) and a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), VR PM data from a VR used by the VNF. Then a set of VR PM data is received from the EM and processed.

Abstract: Techniques for instantiation and termination of virtualized network functions are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise processing circuitry and computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions for execution by the processing circuitry to identify, based on a first message received from an integration reference point manager (IRPManager), a virtualized network function (VNF) instance to be terminated, send a VNF termination request to a virtualized network functions manager (VNFM) to request termination of the VNF instance, determine a VNF instance termination result for the VNF termination request based on a notification received from the VNFM, and send a second message to the IRPManager, the second message to indicate the VNF instance termination result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) abstracts network functions, allowing them to be installed, controlled, and manipulated by software running on standardized compute nodes such as cloud computing platform rather than on dedicated hardware. In a 5G mobile communications network, the base station or gNB may be split into virtualized and non-virtualized network functions (NFs). Described herein are systems and methods for managing such gNBs within the NFV framework.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing PNF connectivity are provided. A NM determines to add to or remove external connectivity from a PNF and transmits a NS update request to a NFVO that contains an identifier of the NS instance to be updated, an indication of a type of update operation requested, and information of the PNF connectivity to be changed. A NS update response contains a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier identifying a NS lifecycle operation occurrence. Separate NS lifecycle change notification from the NFVO indicate that a NS update to change the connectivity of the PNF has started and a result of the change. The notifications include the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier.

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: Techniques discussed herein can facilitate one or more of improvements to Automatic Neighbor Relation(s) (ANR(s)) for cell(s) of a Radio Access Network (RAN), configuration of Physical-layer Cell Identifier(s) for cell(s) of the RAN, and/or end-to-end performance assurance for the RAN based on 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) targets and/or requirements. Various embodiments can employ one or more of the techniques discussed herein, for example, at a component or service of a Fifth Generation (5G) Core Network (5GC), a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Management System, or a node of a Radio Access Network (RAN).

Abstract: In an example method, a management service (MnS) producer sends a first request to establish a connection for streaming performance data regarding a wireless communications network to a MnS consumer. The MnS producer receives a first response from the MnS consumer confirming establishment of the connection, and streams one or more units of performance data to the MnS consumer sequentially using the connection. The one or more units include one or more performance metrics regarding the wireless communications network. The MnS producer sends a second request to the MnS consumer to terminate the connection, and receives a second response from the MnS consumer confirming termination of the connection.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques for self-organizing networks (SON) including automatic neighbor relation (ANR) management and physical cell identifier (PCI) configuration aspects are described. A described ANR technique includes enabling, by an ANR management function, a distributed ANR function at a node such as a gNB; receiving, by the ANR management function, a notification from the distributed ANR function indicating a change of a neighbor cell relation in a cell; and performing, by the ANR management function, an action based on the notification. Performing the action can include setting a blacklist of one or more neighbor cell relations, setting a whitelist of one or more neighbor cell relations, or changing one or more attributes of one or more neighbor cell relations.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying and remedying performance issues of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) are discussed. An example system includes processor(s) configured to: process VNF Performance Measurement (PM) data received from a network Element Manager (EM) for a VNF; determine whether the VNF has a negative performance issue based on the VNF PM data; request that the EM create a Virtualization Resource (VR) PM job associated with a VR of the VNF when the VNF has the negative performance issue; process VR PM data received from the EM; determine whether to restart the VNF based on the VR PM data and the VNF PM data; and request a network function virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) to restart the VNF based on a determination to restart the VR.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for configuring a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO). In one aspect, a method can include actions of generating, by one or more computers, a message that includes data representing a request to upload a virtual network function (VNF) package, encoding, by the one or more computers, the generated message that includes the VNF package for transmission to a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO), and transmitting, by the one or more computers, the encoded message to the NFVO.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for load balancing and mobility robustness in cellular systems. A network entity such as a near-RT RIC may receive ranges of handover (HO) parameters and/or performance targets for a mobility robustness optimization (MRO) function and/or a load balancing optimization (LBO) function from a service management and orchestration framework (SMOFW) and receive and analyze HO related performance measurements and/or cell load measurements from an open RAN (O-RAN) distributed unit (O-DU) or centralized unit (O-CU). The near-RTI RIC, based on the analysis, may request the SMOFW to change virtualized resources, request the O-DU update HO parameters, and/or request the O-DU/O-CU update UE selection, cell selection and/or handover parameters.

Abstract: Some embodiments of this disclosure include systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for use in a wireless network for deploying User Plane Function (UPF) and edge computing virtualized network functions (VNF). For example, some embodiments are directed to a network management system. The network management system includes processor circuitry. The processor circuitry can be configured to transmit a request to an edge computing management system to instantiate an edge computing virtualized network function (VNF). The request can include an identifier of a Network Service (NS) where a User Plane Function (UPF) VNF supporting the edge computing VNF is located. The processor circuitry can be further configured to receive, from the edge computing management system, a response indicating that the edge computing VNF is instantiated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for instantiating and terminating a MME VNF. The MME VNF is instantiated and/or terminated using an EM, a NM, a VNFM, a VIM, a NFVO and/or a catalog. Instantiating an MME VNF includes on-boarding the VNF package, creating a managed element, executing the enabled VNF package, instantiating the MME VNF instance, creating the MME function and modifying the MME pool to add the MME VNF instance. Terminating the MME VNF includes decommissioning the MME VNF services, modifying the MME pool to remove the MME VNF from the MME pool, and terminating the MME VNF instance.

Abstract: In an example computer-implemented method, a management module receives measurement data from one or more first network modules of a wireless communications network. The measurement data pertains to at least one of establishing one or more communications sessions on the wireless communications network by the one or more first network modules, or modifying one or more communications sessions on the wireless communications network by the one or more first network modules. The management module generates one or more performance metrics based on the measurement data, and transmits the one or more performance metrics to one or more second network modules of the wireless communications network.

Abstract: Techniques for linking managed object (MO) operations and lifecycle operations associated with VNFs (Virtual Network Functions) are discussed. In various actions, MO operations can trigger associated lifecycle operations, or lifecycle operations can trigger associated MO operations. In some aspects, MO instance creation by an EM (Element Manager) can trigger associated VNF instantiation by a VNFM (VNF Manager), or vice versa. In the same or other aspects, MO instance deletion by an EM can trigger termination of an associated VNF by a VNFM, or vice versa.

Abstract: Some embodiments of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for identifying performance measurements for registration and handovers for user equipment (UE) and wireless network nodes. A service producer system may register a first wireless communication connection with a first UE using one or more access and mobility management functions (AMFs). The service producer system may monitor registration measurements corresponding to this registration, perform a handover for the first UE using the one or more AMFs, and monitor mobility measurements corresponding to the handover. The service producer system may select a node for a second wireless communication connection corresponding to a second UE based on the registration measurements and mobility measurements and transmit an indication of the selected node to the second UE.

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.