Abstract: Methods for quality of service monitoring, policy enforcement, and charging in a communications network, are disclosed. The methods include mapping quality of service parameters to measured parameters of a real-time video or packet data unit flow. The mapping may be used to monitor bursty traffic to adhere to quality of service requirements, perform traffic shaping, and for use in reporting certain network events. The measured parameters of real-time packet data unit flow include a first bit rate measured over a short-term measurement window and a second bit rate measured over a long-term measurement window. The short-term and long-term measurement windows are differently sized.

Abstract: The present application provides a channel type used to support user QoE expectations, which is, in particular, a QoS and QoE guaranteed channel (QQGC). Also provided is a related method and system for providing a QQGC. Effective bit rate (EBR), average bit rate, and maximum bit rate, are determined and used to support the channel. The EBR can be determined based on QoE reports. An application function, such as a network data analytics function provides the indication of effective bit rate. One or more portions of the application function can be provided in potentially different locations of a communications network and operatively coupled. Alternatively, application function portions can be co-located. The EBR is provided to and used by devices in the network to reserve user plane resources to support data flows at the EBR. The EBR can also be used for admission or rejection of requests for a QQGC channel.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to Quality of Service levels from within a network to entities outside of the network.

Abstract: An apparatus for adaptively defining clusters transmit points for coordination in a communication network includes a circuit that receives radio frequency channel information corresponding to the transmit points and defines a subset of the transmit points based at least in part on the radio frequency communication channel information. The subset is interrelated by a contiguous chain of dominant interference relationships between pairs of the transmit points. The apparatus further includes a processor that independently coordinates radio communications among the subset of transmit points.

Abstract: A system and method for exchanging data with a network including an authorized UE that is authorized to exchange the data with the network, and an unauthorized UE that is not authorized to exchange the data with the network. The unauthorized UE operable to receive an authorization credential, and to exchange the data with the network using the received authorization credential.

Abstract: A system and method for exchanging data with a network including an authorized UE that is authorized to exchange the data with the network, and an unauthorized UE that is not authorized to exchange the data with the network. The unauthorized UE operable to receive an authorization credential, and to exchange the data with the network using the received authorization credential. A system and method for exchanging data with a network including a requesting device and a relay UE. The relay UE operable to receive a transferable relay profile associated with the requesting device, and to establish a connection with the requesting device to relay data between the network and the requesting device based on the transferable relay profile.

Abstract: A method for managing a cache memory network according to a distributed hierarchical cache model is disclosed. The distributed hierarchical cache model includes a plurality of cache levels each corresponding to a delivery rank for delivering data content to users of the cache memory network. The method includes dividing at least one cache memory of the cache memory network into a plurality of cache segments, mapping each of the cache segments to a cache level of the distributed hierarchical cache model, and performing cache management operations over the cache memory network according to the distributed hierarchical cache model.

Abstract: A method for managing a cache memory network is disclosed. The method comprises estimating the popularity of a piece of data content according to an extreme learning machine, and managing the cache memory network according to the estimated popularity of the piece of data content. Estimation may be performed upon a request for the piece of data content, and may be accordingly cashed into an appropriate cache memory device upon estimation of its popularity.

Abstract: A method for agile wireless access network includes determining, by a network controller, capabilities and neighborhood relations of radio nodes in the radio access network. The network controller then configures a backhaul network infrastructure for the radio access network in accordance with the capabilities and the neighborhood relations of the radio nodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of wireless load balancing includes receiving, by a communications controller from a device, a plurality of messages including a plurality of demands of a plurality of UEs and a plurality of locations of the plurality of UEs, where the plurality of demands includes a demand of a UE of the plurality of UEs, where the plurality of locations includes a location of the first UE, and where the location of the UE is in a cell and determining a utility map in accordance with the plurality of demands and the plurality of locations. The method also includes determining a recommendation of user behavior of a user of the first UE in accordance with the utility map, the location of the first UE, and the demand of the UE and transmitting, by the communications controller to the UE, the recommendation of user behavior.

Abstract: A communications controller is provided. The communications controller includes a flow manager that classifies a packet flow serviced by more than one transmission points (TPs) as one of a plurality of slices in accordance with at least one of a nature of the packet flow, a load status of each of the plurality of slices, and feedback information provided by the more than one TPs, and alters a classification of the packet flow in accordance with the load status of each of the plurality of slices, and feedback information provided by the TPs served by the communications controller. The communications controller also includes a memory coupled to the flow manager, the memory stores a packet of the packet flow in one of a plurality of packet queues in accordance with the classification of the packet flow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing data content among in-network caches of a communication network are provided. In some embodiments, multiple registers are maintained for indexing cached data content. Different data content is indexed in different registers based on parameters such as popularity or content freshness. Customized popularity estimators can be applied to each register, and data content may be indexed by different registers as parameters change. Less popular content can be removed from caches as required. In some embodiments, caches can be grouped into clusters, and deletion of data content from a cache may be modified or inhibited if the cluster still requires a copy of that data content. Data content can be moved between caches of a cluster based on popularity.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for mission critical communications. In an aspect, a computer-implemented method may be implemented for a node device on a network to facilitate communication between a sending device and an intended recipient device. The node device may receive from the sending device a mission critical (MC) communication directed to the intended recipient device. The node device may process the received MC communication to produce processed MC data and cache some or all of the processed MC data. The node device may transmit at least a portion of the received MC communication, the processed MC data, and/or the cached MC data to the intended recipient device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deploying a set of network caches in a communication network is provided. A set of network nodes is identified such that, for each of a set of client device locations, and for at least a number c of the set of nodes, output of a coverage cost function is no greater than a threshold. The coverage cost function receives as input a client location and one of the nodes. The set of network caches are then located at the respective set of nodes. The set of network nodes can be selected from plural candidate sets based on a utility criterion. The candidate sets can be generated by successive addition and/or removal of nodes. Information obtained from a Traffic Engineering function can be used to direct selection of the set of nodes. A cache-client association can be generated for directing clients to particular caches.

Abstract: According to embodiments, there is provided a method apparatus for determining an encoding scheme for transmission of encoded data across a communications channel. The method includes determining the encoding scheme at a design Signal-to-Noise Ratio and evaluating a Frame Error Rate of the encoding scheme. If the FER is not within a target range, the method further includes modifying the encoding scheme until the evaluated FER is within the target range. There is further provided a method and apparatus for mapping bit labels to a plurality of symbols in a constellation, wherein the constellation are organisable into a plurality of sets and each bit label includes a plurality of bit positions. The method includes determining a distance metric between sets and merging pairs of sets according to the distance metric. The method further includes assigning a value to a bit position for bit labels of symbols in the merged set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of wireless load balancing includes receiving, by a communications controller from a device, a plurality of messages including a plurality of demands of a plurality of UEs and a plurality of locations of the plurality of UEs, where the plurality of demands includes a demand of a UE of the plurality of UEs, where the plurality of locations includes a location of the first UE, and where the location of the UE is in a cell and determining a utility map in accordance with the plurality of demands and the plurality of locations. The method also includes determining a recommendation of user behavior of a user of the first UE in accordance with the utility map, the location of the first UE, and the demand of the UE and transmitting, by the communications controller to the UE, the recommendation of user behavior.

Abstract: A system and method for agile wireless access network is provided. A method embodiment for agile radio access network management includes determining, by a network controller, capabilities and neighborhood relations of radio nodes in the radio access network. The network controller then configures a backhaul network infrastructure for the radio access network in accordance with the capabilities and the neighborhood relations of the radio nodes.

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.