Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining whether to admit a virtual network using a set of communication network resources are provided. Different network resources can be owned by different infrastructure providers. Virtual network requests include a spatial profile of traffic requirements to be accommodated, and a determination is made as to whether the request can be accommodated based on available network resources. The resources include available backhaul link capacities. The resources can include computing resources for supporting service functions of the virtual network. Monitored network resource usage and traffic corresponding to the virtual network can be used to adjust future requests and accommodations. When a virtual network cannot be accommodated, a counter-offer can be made. Accommodation may incorporate monetary considerations. A feasibility computation of the admission procedure is formulated.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided herein for a system and methods for real-time video (or other real-time traffic) delivery, e.g., for cellular or wireless networks. The schemes herein address real-time video delivery by a joint design of the radio resource scheduler and the video encoder at the network side, and of the decoder at the users' terminals. The system design reduces frame loss and hence improves user quality of experience. In an embodiment, a radio node detects a frame of a real-time traffic flow. Upon determining that a transmission deadline corresponding to a rate for real-time traffic flow does not support a size of the frame, the transmission deadline is extended according to the size of the frame and a size of a next frame. The frame and the next frame are scheduled for forwarding within the extended transmission deadline.

Abstract: An embodiment method for network optimization includes obtaining a first request to deliver a first data to a node in a network at a first data rate; obtaining a second request to deliver the first data to the node at a second data rate; and determining a flow decision schedule for a streaming session. The determining the flow decision schedule includes: scheduling a steady-state delivery period to deliver the first data at a steady-state data rate in accordance with the first data rate; and performing a best-effort allocation in accordance with the second data rate to determine a schedule for a supplemental delivery period, concurrent with at least a portion of the steady-state delivery period, to deliver the first data at a supplemental data rate.

Abstract: A method for configuring a first base station within a cluster in a communications system having a plurality of cluster includes optimizing an operating parameter of the first base station in accordance with first utility function results from a first utility function associated with the first base station and second utility function results from a second utility function associated with a second base station within the cluster, the first utility function results and the second utility function results according to multiple settings for the operating parameter of the first base station, a first initialized setting of the operating parameter for the second base station, and a second initialized setting of the operating parameter for an external base station outside the cluster. The method also includes sharing the optimized operating parameter with the external base station.

Abstract: Real-time video can be efficiently and reliably streamed over wireless networks by fountain encoding a stream of video packets at the frame-level. Specifically, deep packet inspection may be performed on the stream of video packets to identify a set of video packets corresponding to an intra-coded frame (I-frame). The set of video packet may then be fountain encoded together as a data segment to produce a set of fountain encoded packets corresponding to the I-frame. Video packets corresponding to other frames (e.g., P-frames, etc.) may also be encoded on a frame-by-frame basis. This may allow a user equipment (UE) to begin displaying earlier frames in a group of pictures (GoP) while fountain encoded packets for subsequent frames are still being received, thereby reducing latency and improving the overall user experience.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided herein for a system and methods for real-time video (or other real-time traffic) delivery, e.g., for cellular or wireless networks. The schemes herein address real-time video delivery by a joint design of the radio resource scheduler and the video encoder at the network side, and of the decoder at the users' terminals. The system design reduces frame loss and hence improves user quality of experience. In an embodiment, a radio node detects a frame of a real-time traffic flow. Upon determining that a transmission deadline corresponding to a rate for real-time traffic flow does not support a size of the frame, the transmission deadline is extended according to the size of the frame and a size of a next frame. The frame and the next frame are scheduled for forwarding within the extended transmission deadline.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining placement of a virtual serving gateway. The method includes obtaining a set of input information. The input information includes network information and configuration information providing one or more parameters for placing the virtual serving gateway, and includes at least one mobility insensitivity criterion. Placement of the virtual serving gateway at one or more physical hosts is determined in accordance with the network information and the configuration information. The virtual serving gateway is distributively placeable across physical hosts. A set of output information is generated. The output information includes information identifying placement of the virtual serving gateway at the physical hosts, and a hosting percentage for each physical host.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of admitting a session from a user device subscribed to a service with a virtual network operator. The method includes receiving a service request from said user device at an Access Point and selecting a network function Authentication and Authorization (AA) function (AAF) to confirm the user device is authorized for the requested service, and transmitting the request to the selected network function AAA function. The AAAF which processes the request may reside with the virtual network operator (VNO). However, the VNO may share its AAA database with other network entities (for example, Telecom Connectivity Service Providers (TCSPs) or InPs), and allow those entities to perform the AAA functions.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure provides a method for session admission at a node in an infrastructure provider network. The method includes receiving a connection request from a user equipment not associated with a network with which the infrastructure provider network is associated and obtaining from the user equipment, an identification of a service provider with which the infrastructure provider network is associated. Access authorization is then requested from the identified service provider. Embodiments allow such a process to provide government mandated free access, or for some other service provider to pay for the service.

Abstract: Space-time block codes (STBCs) is a known approach for using multiple transmit antennas to provide higher data rates and better reliability by exploiting spatial diversity. Existing STBCs use independent two-dimensional constellations. Methods and systems for using multidimensional constellations to improve the performance of orthogonal STBCs are disclosed. Methods for finding optimized multidimensional constellations for orthogonal STBCs are also disclosed.

Abstract: Network caching performance can be improved by allowing users to discover distributed cache locations storing content of a central content server. Specifically, retrieving the content from a distributed cache proximately located to the user, rather than from the central content server, may allow for faster content delivery, while also consuming fewer network resources. Content can be associated with distributed cache locations storing that content by cache location tables, which may be maintained at intermediate network nodes, such as border routers and other devices positioned in-between end-users and central content servers. Upon receiving a query, the intermediate network nodes may determine whether the content requested by the query is associated with a cache location in the cache location table, and if so, provide the user with a query response identifying the associated cache location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining placement of a virtual serving gateway. The method includes obtaining a set of input information. The input information includes network information and configuration information providing one or more parameters for placing the virtual serving gateway, and includes at least one mobility insensitivity criterion. Placement of the virtual serving gateway at one or more physical hosts is determined in accordance with the network information and the configuration information. The virtual serving gateway is distributively placeable across physical hosts. A set of output information is generated. The output information includes information identifying placement of the virtual serving gateway at the physical hosts, and a hosting percentage for each physical host.

Abstract: Cell switch-off (CSO) methods for base stations (BSs) in a wireless network are provided. The CSO methods utilize quality of service (QoS) requirement information of user equipments (UEs) to determine which BS to switch off according to a pre-defined criteria. The criteria is defined so that impact of switching off a BS on the UEs may be reduced, and/or QoS requirements of at least some of the UEs may be satisfied if a BS was switched off.

Abstract: Real-time video can be efficiently and reliably streamed over wireless networks by fountain encoding a stream of video packets at the frame-level. Specifically, deep packet inspection may be performed on the stream of video packets to identify a set of video packets corresponding to an intra-coded frame (I-frame). The set of video packet may then be fountain encoded together as a data segment to produce a set of fountain encoded packets corresponding to the I-frame. Video packets corresponding to other frames (e.g., P-frames, etc.) may also be encoded on a frame-by-frame basis. This may allow a user equipment (UE) to begin displaying earlier frames in a group of pictures (GoP) while fountain encoded packets for subsequent frames are still being received, thereby reducing latency and improving the overall user experience.

Abstract: A method for rata adaption and a network device providing rate adaption are disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes determining a source rate adjustment in accordance with a buffer status of a radio node and transmitting towards a traffic source, a source rate adjustment request in accordance with the determined source rate adjustment.

Abstract: Disclosed is system and method to implement an on-demand file repair protocol. In the protocol, a traffic source sends all data packets of a data file to a traffic sink. The traffic source then sends to the traffic sink an indication that the sending of the all data packets is complete. If data packets are missing, a request is received from the traffic sink for retransmission of missing packets. The traffic source then sends fountain codes of the missing packets to the traffic sink.

Abstract: A method and system for routing data in a content distribution network (network) from a plurality of content sources that store the same data to a receiving device, including generating a network topology in which each of the content sources that store the data are represented as virtual routers that are each connected to a common virtual content server by respective infinite capacity communication links; determining optimized routing through the network topology for the data from the virtual content server to the receiving device; and determining, in dependence on the optimized routing, a data allocation for each of the content sources to transmit data through the network to the receiving device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining placement of a virtual serving gateway. The method includes obtaining a set of input information. The input information includes network information and configuration information providing one or more parameters for placing the virtual serving gateway, and includes at least one mobility insensitivity criterion. Placement of the virtual serving gateway at one or more physical hosts is determined in accordance with the network information and the configuration information. The virtual serving gateway is distributively placeable across physical hosts. A set of output information is generated. The output information includes information identifying placement of the virtual serving gateway at the physical hosts, and a hosting percentage for each physical host.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for providing customized virtual networks based on SONAC. In an embodiment, a network management entity for providing a customized VN includes a SONAC module executed by a computing device that is connected to a wireless network, the SONAC module configured to receive service requirement data from the wireless network and create a service customized VN according to the service requirement data, the service requirement data describing one or more service requirements, wherein the SONAC module comprises an interface to interact with: an SDT component, the SDT component used by the SONAC module to determine a service customized logical topology; an SDRA component that maps the logical topology to physical network resources within the wireless network; and a SDP component that determines an end-to-end data transport protocol for communication between a first device and a second device via the wireless network.

Abstract: Historical decoding in accordance with signal interference cancellation (SIC) or joint processing may reduce the amount of data that is re-transported across a network following an unsuccessful attempt to decode a data transmission. In one example, historical decoding is performed in accordance with interference cancellation by communicating information related to interfering data (rather than information related to serving data) following a served receiver's unsuccessful attempt to decode an interference signal. The information related to the interfering data may be the information bits carried by the earlier interfering data transmission or parity information (e.g., forward error correction (FEC) bits, etc.) related to the earlier interfering data transmission.