Abstract: The invention relates to an uncrewed vehicle, such as a drone, which is capable of establishing simultaneous data connections to at least two wireless networks. A navigational control system may provide navigation instructions to the uncrewed vehicle via a control data connection established via a first wireless network. The invention further relates to a connectivity control function for controlling network connectivity of the uncrewed vehicle. For that purpose, the connectivity control function may obtain data indicative of a quality-of-service which the first wireless network provides for the control data connection. If it is determined that a second wireless network provides better quality-of-service, the connectivity control function may send a connectivity control instruction to the uncrewed vehicle to switch the control data connection from the first wireless network to the second wireless network.

Abstract: Next generation network architectures enable instantiation of network slices in which traffic may be transported via one or more virtual networks overlaying the physical network infrastructure. Multiple of such network slices may share a resource of a particular network function, such as a bandwidth, switching capacity, computing capacity and/or storage capacity of the network function. It may be desirable to provide guarantees on the minimum resource availability of the shared resource per network slice. Accordingly, a slice resource distribution function (SRDF) may be provided which may be configured manage the resource utilization of the shared resource which may safeguard guarantees on the minimum resource availability per network slice.

Abstract: A control system enables re-registration of user equipment (UE) on an alternative network in the event of a partial failure of a network (VPLMN) for wireless communication. An access and mobility management function (AMF) manages the communication to user equipment (UE) via network slices (1,2,3). A slice priority management function (SPM) receives data indicative of a change in the network's ability to maintain the instantiated network slices and determines to reduce services via affected network slices. Before said slice reduction, the access and mobility management function is informed and sends a slice reduction message to the user equipment.

Abstract: A client device (CLD) for a mobile network may comprise two radios (R-1, R-2) for establishing simultaneous mobile data connections to at least two mobile networks, for example at a country border at which the client device leaves the network range of one mobile network and enters the network range of another. The client device may further be configured to utilize an edge application service (EDG-APP) of a mobile network. To coordinate the switch in connectivity and edge utilization between such different mobile pp networks, a client function (CDCF) may be provided in the client device while separate instances of a network function (EDCF) may be provided in each edge enabling platform of each mobile network. Together, the CDCF and the EDCFs may orchestrate the migration of the edge application service between the mobile networks, in a manner which respects the requirements for separation of concerns, e.g., between a mobile network's operator and an application service provider (ASP).

Abstract: Next generation network architectures enable instantiation of network slices in which traffic may be transported via one or more virtual networks overlaying the physical network infrastructure. To enable a slice management system to be able to obtain information on virtual networks of instantiated network slices, such as utilization data indicative of at least one of: a bandwidth capacity, computing capacity and storage capacity of one or more physical links via which traffic of the virtual networks is routed, an interfacing system is provided. The interfacing system may establish an interface between the slice management system operating in the domain of network slices and the network management system operating in the domain of physical network equipment, and thereby enable the slice management system to take into account such utilization data in its slice management operation.

Abstract: A client device (CLD) for a mobile network may comprise two radios (R-1, R-2) for establishing simultaneous mobile data connections to at least two mobile networks, for example at a country border at which the client device leaves the network range of one mobile network and enters the network range of another. The client device may further be configured to utilize an edge application service (EDG-APP) of a mobile network. To coordinate the switch in connectivity and edge utilization between such different mobile networks, a client function (CDCF) may be provided in the client device while separate instances of a network function (EDCF) may be provided in each edge enabling platform of each mobile network. Together, the CDCF and the EDCFs may orchestrate the migration of the edge application service between the mobile networks, in a manner which respects the requirements for separation of concerns, e.g., between a mobile network's operator and an application service provider (ASP).

Abstract: A mapping system and method may be provided for facilitating setup of an application data flow between an edge application server which may be instantiated on one or more edge nodes of a mobile network and a remote server outside of the mobile network. The system and method may obtain a client identifier identifying a client device configured to utilize an edge application service of the edge application server, obtain an external endpoint identifier of an external endpoint of the edge application server, wherein the external endpoint allows the edge application server to be reached by data communication from outside of the mobile network, generate mapping data associating the client identifier with the external endpoint identifier, using the mapping data, provide a communication interface to enable a network entity which is configured to setup the application data flow between the edge application server and the remote server to obtain the external endpoint identifier on the basis of the client identifier.

Abstract: A communication network may be provided having a plurality of network nodes and which may be configured to enable instantiation of different network slices which represent virtual networks with different feature sets, e.g., providing different network functions and/or having different network characteristics. The communication network may be configured to allow a network slice to be used for data communication between i) a user equipment (UE) connected to the network and configured to execute an application, and ii) a content or application server (CAS) configured to provide an application service via the network. Network functions may be provided which allow influencing the UE's slice usage based on requirements of the application service, even if the CAS is located outside the connectivity provider's network, e.g., outside a mobile operator's domain.

Abstract: A system and method are provided of managing remote resource utilization by a first device, wherein the first device may be configured to use a resource service provided by a remote server, wherein the resource service may enable the first device to utilize a resource of the remote server, wherein the first device may be connected to the remote server via a mobile network infrastructure and configured to use the resource service via remote data communication with the remote server. The system and method may determine whether to setup a second device to provide the resource service to the first device via local data communication as a substitute for the remote server, and if determined, setup the second device to provide the resource service to the first device via local data communication, said setting up comprising transferring state data associated with the resource service to the second device to enable the first device to continue the resource service via local data communication.

Abstract: An interface may be provided between i) a selective forwarding unit (SFU) configured to, in real-time, receive a data stream from a sender via a first network link of a communication network and selectively forward the data stream to one or more receivers via respective second network links, and ii) one or more core network functions (PCF, PCRF, NSMF, CSMF) for establishing service guarantees for data flows in the communication network. In a specific example, the interface may be established as a network function (SMGF) which translates streaming requirements for one-to-many flows coming from WebRTC SFUs into appropriate QoS/network slice configurations, such that the quality of RTC flows may be increased. Accordingly, negative side-effects of conservative congestion control algorithms in WebRTC clients and static/overprovisioned QoS at network operators may be overcome.

Abstract: Next generation network architectures enable instantiation of network slices in which traffic may be transported via one or more virtual networks overlaying the physical network infrastructure. Multiple of such network slices may share a resource of a particular network function, such as a bandwidth, switching capacity, computing capacity and/or storage capacity of the network function. It may be desirable to provide guarantees on the minimum resource availability of the shared resource per network slice. Accordingly, a slice resource distribution function (SRDF) may be provided which may be configured manage the resource utilization of the shared resource which may safeguard guarantees on the minimum resource availability per network slice.

Abstract: In a communication network, a network function may be provided for controlling Information Centric Networking (ICN) protocol-based traffic flow between a set of user equipment (UE). This network function may be an ICN application function (ICN-AF), and may obtain information indicative of whether, and optionally to which degree, a respective ICN node is publisher of content in the exchange of content between the ICN nodes. The ICN-AF may, for example via a session management function (SMF), initiate a reassignment of a PDU session of an ICN node which is presumed to be a requester of content to a data network access point which has connectivity to, or is the same as, a data network access point assigned to an ICN node which is characterized as publisher of content.

Abstract: Embodiments provide functionality for dynamic handling of network slice priorities. In an embodiment, a slice priority manager receives, from a network services node, data indicating changes in network resources available for maintaining instantiated network slices in a communication network. Based on the received data, changes in the network services node's ability to maintain the instantiated network slices are identified and a communication service provider is notified of the change. To continue, slice priority data that indicates a preferred order of a portion of the network slices for allocating the network resources is received from the communication service provider. In turn, an indication of the slice priority data is forwarded to the network services node to update allocation of network resources for the slices.

Abstract: Next generation network architectures enable instantiation of network slices in which traffic may be transported via one or more virtual networks overlaying the physical network infrastructure. To enable a slice management system to be able to obtain information on virtual networks of instantiated network slices, such as utilization data indicative of at least one of: a bandwidth capacity, computing capacity and storage capacity of one or more physical links via which traffic of the virtual networks is routed, an interfacing system is provided. The interfacing system may establish an interface between the slice management system operating in the domain of network slices and the network management system operating in the domain of physical network equipment, and thereby enable the slice management system to take into account such utilization data in its slice management operation.

Abstract: A control system enables re-registration of user equipment (UE) on an alternative network in the event of a partial failure of a network (VPLMN) for wireless communication. An access and mobility management function (AMF) manages the communication to user equipment (UE) via network slices (1,2,3). A slice priority management function (SPM) receives data indicative of a change in the network's ability to maintain the instantiated network slices and determines to reduce services via affected network slices. Before said slice reduction, the access and mobility management function is informed and sends a slice reduction message to the user equipment.

Abstract: In a communication network, a network function may be provided for controlling Information Centric Networking (ICN) protocol-based traffic flow between a set of user equipment (UE). This network function may be an ICN application function (ICN-AF), and may obtain ICN layer information from an ICN router which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment. If the congestion state indicates congestion, the ICN-AF may initiate establishment of a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or initiate upgrade of a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session, for example using the session management function (SMF) and via the SMF's session management of PDU sessions.

Abstract: Embodiments provide functionality for dynamic handling of network slice priorities. In an embodiment, a slice priority manager receives, from a network services node, data indicating changes in network resources available for maintaining instantiated network slices in a communication network. Based on the received data, changes in the network services node's ability to maintain the instantiated network slices are identified and a communication service provider is notified of the change. To continue, slice priority data that indicates a preferred order of a portion of the network slices for allocating the network resources is received from the communication service provider. In turn, an indication of the slice priority data is forwarded to the network services node to update allocation of network resources for the slices.

Abstract: A communication network may be provided having a plurality of network nodes and which may be configured to enable instantiation of different network slices which represent virtual networks with different feature sets, e.g., providing different network functions and/or having different network characteristics. The communication network may be configured to allow a network slice to be used for data communication between i) a user equipment (UE) connected to the network and configured to execute an application, and ii) a content or application server (CAS) configured to provide an application service via the network. Network functions may be provided which allow influencing the UE's slice usage based on requirements of the application service, even if the CAS is located outside the connectivity provider's network, e.g., outside a mobile operator's domain.

Abstract: A communication network may be provided having a plurality of network nodes and which may be configured to enable instantiation of different network slices which represent virtual networks with different feature sets, e.g., providing different network functions and/or having different network characteristics. The communication network may be configured to allow a network slice to be used for data communication between i) a user equipment (UE) connected to the network and configured to execute an application, and ii) a content or application server (CAS) configured to provide an application service via the network. Network functions may be provided which allow influencing the UE's slice usage based on requirements of the application service, even if the CAS is located outside the connectivity provider's network, e.g., outside a mobile operator's domain.

Abstract: An interface may be provided between i) a selective forwarding unit (SFU) configured to, in real-time, receive a data stream from a sender via a first network link of a communication network and selectively forward the data stream to one or more receivers via respective second network links, and ii) one or more core network functions (PCF, PCRF, NSMF, CSMF) for establishing service guarantees for data flows in the communication network. In a specific example, the interface may be established as a network function (SMGF) which translates streaming requirements for one-to-many flows coming from WebRTC SFUs into appropriate QoS/network slice configurations, such that the quality of RTC flows may be increased. Accordingly, negative side-effects of conservative congestion control algorithms in WebRTC clients and static/overprovisioned QoS at network operators may be overcome.