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 system, devices and procedures for providing QoS monitoring in a 5G network are described. The QoS monitoring is per QoS flow per UE or GTP-U path QoS monitoring. A SMF sends a request to a UPF and NG-RAN to report UL/DL packet delay and RTT between the UPF and a UE or an N3 and N9 interface, along with thresholds for reporting the measurements. The UPF sends a report containing the measurements when the threshold is met. The delays include average, minimum and maximum packet delays. The request also indicates a state of QoS monitoring, S-NSSAI and 5QI to monitor, whether event-based/periodic/session release-based QoS monitoring reporting per QoS flow per UE is supported, minimum waiting time between consecutive reports for event-triggered QoS monitoring reporting, and a period to report the measured packet delay.

Abstract: An apparatus of a management service equipment includes processing circuitry. To configure the management service equipment for measuring a plurality of key performance indicators (KPIs) in a 5G network with a plurality of network functions (NFs), the processing circuitry is to retrieve using a data analytic function of the management service equipment, a plurality of performance measurements associated with a cell of a radio access network (RAN) within the 5G network. A KPI of the plurality of KPIs associated with the cell is generated using the data analytic function of the management service equipment, based on the plurality of performance measurements. The KPI is encoded for transmission to a service application executing on a user equipment (UE) active within the cell of the RAN or executing within a cloud architecture.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and techniques are described for supporting WLAN offloading. In some embodiments, a network management system (NMS) for WLAN offloading may include a network manager (NM); a first element manager (EM), coupled to the network manager, to communicate with the network manager and one or more WLANs; and a second EM, coupled to the NM, to communicate with the NM and one or more base stations of a cellular network. Coverage areas of at least one access point (AP) of the one or more WLANs are overlaid with at least one cell of the cellular network to support a WLAN offloading operation. Further, the NM is to activate the WLAN offloading operation based at least in part on at least one indicator received from the one or more WLANs. Other embodiments may be described and 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: An apparatus of a management service equipment includes processing circuitry. To configure the management service equipment for E2E performance measurements in a 5G network with a plurality of network functions (NFs), the processing circuitry is to decode RAN latency received from a RAN within the 5G network. The RAN latency is associated with transmission of an Internet protocol (IP) packet between a UE and a data network (DN) via the RAN. A user plane function (UPF) latency associated with communication of the IP packet between the RAN and a UPF within the 5G network is determined. A DN latency associated with communication of the IP packet between the UPF and the DN is determined. An E2E performance measurement calculation is performed to determine an E2E latency associated with communicating the IP packet between the UE and the DN based on the RAN latency, the UPF latency, and the DN latency.

Abstract: Examples provide an apparatus for instantiating a Network Service containing a Virtualised Network Function that is part of a Core Network, and a Virtualised Network Function that is part of a next generation Node B, gNB, comprising a Network Function Virtualisation Orchestrator, NFVO, operable to: receive a request to instantiate a new Network Service from a Network Manager; instantiate the Network Service containing the Virtualised Network Function that is part of the Core Network, and the Virtualised Network Function that is part of the gNB; and respond to the Network Manager indicating that the requested new Network Service has been instantiated. In other examples, there is provided a computer implemented method for instantiating a Network Service.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a RAN node includes processing circuitry coupled to a memory. To configure the RAN node for network slice subnet instance (NSSI) configuration in an Open RAN (O-RAN) network, the processing circuitry is to perform training of a machine learning (ML) model using historical performance measurements associated with prior use of network resources of the O-RAN network by a plurality of NSSIs to generate a trained ML model. Current performance measurements associated with current use of the network resources are decoded by the plurality of NSSIs. A prediction of a usage pattern for the network resources is generated using the ML model based on the current performance measurements. An optimization action is performed to adjust allocation of the network resources to the plurality of NSSIs based on the prediction.

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: Techniques discussed herein can facilitate SON (Self Organizing Network) functions for 5G (Fifth Generation) NR (New Radio) systems. One example embodiment comprises an apparatus configured to be employed in a SON (Self Organizing Network) function, comprising: a memory interface; and processing circuitry configured to: collect one or more performance measurements associated with at least one of a RAN (Radio Access Network) or CN (Core Network); analyze the one or more performance measurements; and generate one or more actions to control the behavior of at least one of the RAN or the CN, based on the analyzing of the one or more performance measurements.

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 N3 and N9 interface weighted by number of packets or data volume of the interface for the corresponding direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods of re-configuring PCI values for a NR cell and performing mobility robustness optimization are described. To reconfigure the PCI values. The NRM data and the PCI of candidate cells measurements are analyzed to detect a potential PCI collision or PCI confusion among NR cells. In response to detection of the potential PCI collision or confusion, a new PCI value for at least one NR cell is determined and instructions to re-configure the at least one NR cell with the new PCI value are sent to a producer of provisioning MnS. For MRO, a NF provisioning MnS with modifyMOIAttributes operation to configure MRO targets for an MRO function and to enable the MRO function for a NR cell are consumed, as is a performance assurance MnS with a notifyFileReady or reportStreamData operation to collect MRO-related performance measurements. The measurements are analyzed to evaluate MRO performance.

Abstract: Examples provide an apparatus for instantiating a virtualised part of a next generation Node B, gNB, comprising a Network Functions Virtualisation Orchestrator, operable to carry out any one or more tasks including on-boarding an VNF package, on-boarding a PNF Descriptor on-boarding a Network Service Descriptor, enabling the VNF package, enabling the Network Service Descriptor, and sending appropriate responses to a Network Manager. Examples also provide corresponding methods.

Abstract: An apparatus of a Network Manager (NM) comprises one or more processors to send a Network Service (NS) update request to a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) to add external connectivity to a Physical Network Function (PNF) instance or a Virtual Network Function (VNF) instance in an NS instance, to receive an operation result containing a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier from the NFVO, to receive a lifecycle change notification from the NFVO indicating a start of an NS update, and to receive an NS Lifecycle Change notification from the NFVO indicating a result of the NS update. A memory is to store the result of the NS update.

Abstract: Examples may include techniques for monitoring virtual network functions or network functions virtualization infrastructure. Examples include receiving performance measurement data from virtualized network functions arranged to support a network service or from network functions virtualization infrastructure composed to support the virtualized network functions. In some examples, corrective actions such as virtualized network function lifecycle management operations are initiated based on the received performance measurement data.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performance management over a life cycle is provided. A measurement job control service producer receives, from an authorized consumer, a request to consume a measurement job control service. The request is analyzed, appropriate action is taken to satisfy the request and a response indicating the request result is generated. A request is to create or terminate a measurement job to collect the performance data for a NF, NSSI, NSI, or network. To create a job, the producer checks if the job can be supported by an existing job, creates the job if no such existing job exists, and otherwise responds that the job can be supported by the existing job. To terminate a job, the producer checks if the job is serving other consumers, terminates the job if other consumers are not being served, and otherwise responds that the job is currently serving other consumers.

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 PDI 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: Systems and methods of providing performance data streaming procedures are described. A MnS producer for measurement control receives a request to start or stop measurement collection indicating the measurements are reported by streaming, configures a NF to respectively start or stop collection of measurements and provides an indication of a result of starting or stopping the measurement collection. A MnS producer for performance data streaming, in response to reception of a request to set up streaming information sends a request to establish, add, or update a streaming connection for performance data streaming and receives an indication of a result of the request. In response to reception of a request to terminate the streaming, the MnS producer for performance data sends a request to terminate the streaming connection, or delete or update the stream information dependent on the functionality of the connection and the streams of the connection.

Abstract: Resource usage data of a virtual machine (VM) instance is collected by an agent to be delivered to the network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) for conversion to virtual resource usage metrics to be provided to a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) for transmission of a virtual resource usage measurement to a virtualized network function manager (VNFM). For example, an agent executing on a compute node receives virtual resource data from a compute node hypervisor. The agent provides the virtual resource data to the NFVI. The NFVI converts the virtual resource data to virtual resource usage metrics using a publishing pipeline. The NFVI uses the publishing pipeline to report the virtual resource usage metrics to a virtualized infrastructure manager. The VIM uses the data to provide virtual resource usage measurements to a virtualized network function manager (VNFM).

Abstract: Systems for providing SON functions running on an O-RAN RIC are described. To provide resource allocation for a non-real time RIC, the SON function monitors at least one RAN through collection of data from a network function. The data is analyzed to determine whether a network issue is present and, if so, is to be resolved. The SON function determines a SON action to be executed to resolve the network issue, and subsequently executes the SON action. Performance measurements of the network function are collected after execution of the SON action. The performance measurements are analyzed to evaluate whether the SON action has resolved the network issues and, if the network issues are not resolved, further SON actions are determined and subsequently executed.