Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a virtual network function in a visited network are disclosed. For example, the method receives an attach request or a handover for a user endpoint device, determines a home network for the user endpoint device, receives a profile of the user endpoint device, determines a policy for providing a service to the user endpoint device in accordance with the profile, determines a set of virtual network functions needed for providing the service to the user endpoint device in accordance with the policy, grants the attach request or the handover, designates for each virtual network function of the set of virtual network functions that is needed for providing the service, a corresponding virtual network function for serving the user endpoint device at a location of the user endpoint device, and provides the service to the user endpoint device via the set of virtual network functions.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for initiating signaling in mobile management entity pools using workflows. A processor can execute an orchestrator application. The processor can receive location data that indicates a geographic location at which a virtual mobility management entity has been instantiated and registered. The processor can obtain a mobility management entity topology that defines boundaries of two or more mobile management entity pools and identify, based on the location data, one of the mobility management entity pools in which the virtual mobility management entity is located. The processor can identify pool elements included in the mobility management entity pool, obtain a workflow for establishing and configuring the pool elements, and request establishment of signaling between the virtual mobile management entity and the pool elements.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, from an application server and by a service capability exposure function (SCEF) including a processing device, a current location request associated with an narrow band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) device, transmitting, by the SCEF, a location estimation trigger request including a device identity to a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), receiving, from the GMLC and by the SCEF, a terminated location estimation response including a position estimate, wherein the position estimate is determined at an enhanced serving mobile location center (ESMLC) according to the location estimation trigger request, determining, by the SCEF, whether the terminated location estimation response meets a quality metric for positioning of the NB IoT device, and transmitting, by the SCEF, the position estimate for the NB-IoT device to the application server responsive to determining that the position estimate meets the quality metric, wherein transmissions bet

Abstract: Control plane devices are selected by an access point for establishment of end-to-end control plane for a user equipment (UE) coupled to (or requesting to couple to) the access point. In one aspect, the selection is based on data extracted during the setup and/or registration messages communicated between the access point and UE during attachment of the UE to the access point and/or an internal derived mapping of the control pane devices to the access point. In one example, a control plane device pool is segregated to and different sets of control plane devices are selected and utilized to handle traffic associated with different services to improve scaling and flexibility.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to intelligent signaling routing for machine to machine (“M2M”) communications, such as communications for Internet of things (“IoT”) devices. According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a mobility management entity (“MME”) can receive an attach request or a tracking area update (“TAU”) from a device to establish a connection to a network. The MME can extract device identification information from the attach request. The device identification information can identify the device as either a UE or IoT device. The MME can determine an appropriate DIAMETER routing agent (“DRA”) of a plurality of DRAs to which to route signaling traffic associated with the device. The plurality of DRAs can include DRA and an IoT application-specific DRA. The MME can route the signaling traffic to the appropriate DRA of the plurality of DRAs.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel. An efficiency metric is obtained, in response to the request, for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC). The efficiency metric is evaluated for each of the BMSCs and one of the BMSCs is selected based on the evaluation result. Establishment of an MBMS bearer service is facilitated using the selected BMSC, and a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for initiating signaling in mobile management entity pools using workflows. A processor can execute an orchestrator application. The processor can receive location data that indicates a geographic location at which a virtual mobility management entity has been instantiated and registered. The processor can obtain a mobility management entity topology that defines boundaries of two or more mobile management entity pools and identify, based on the location data, one of the mobility management entity pools in which the virtual mobility management entity is located. The processor can identify pool elements included in the mobility management entity pool, obtain a workflow for establishing and configuring the pool elements, and request establishment of signaling between the virtual mobile management entity and the pool elements.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server connected to a network, a plurality of emergency alerts from a plurality of devices connected to the network. The method also includes analyzing, by the server, the plurality of emergency alerts to determine an emergency type of each of the plurality of emergency alerts. The method includes categorizing, by the server, the plurality of emergency alerts based on the emergency type of each of the plurality of emergency alerts. The method includes prioritizing a first category of the plurality of emergency alerts and consolidating the plurality of emergency alerts of the first category into a consolidated alert. The method includes causing the consolidated alert to be provided to an emergency responder.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for processing a machine-to-machine communication. For example, the method receives a request for transmission of the machine-to-machine communication in the communications network, wherein the machine-to-machine communication is between two dedicated machines operated by a customer of the communications network, determines an overall priority of the request, wherein the overall priority is based on a plurality of priority parameters, wherein the plurality of priority parameters comprises at least two of: a level of delivery service priority, a customer type priority, a location type priority, a sensor type priority, a registration status priority, a transmission status priority, and a bearer establishment priority, and transmits the machine-to-machine communication over the communications network to a destination, wherein the transmitting is based on the overall priority.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a request to transfer data to a group of wireless communication devices within an area. Wireless base stations of a wireless mobility network are identified, responsive to the request, wherein the wireless base stations provide wireless communication services within the area, including a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service. A wireless transmission is facilitated of a first broadcast message by the wireless base stations, wherein the first broadcast message identifies the group of wireless communication devices. The broadcast message is transmitted by way of the MBMS service of the wireless communication services. The first broadcast message initiates a state transition to an active state for a plurality of wireless communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices configured in an idle state. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel An efficiency metric is obtained, in response to the request, for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC). The efficiency metric is evaluated for each of the BMSCs and one of the BMSCs is selected based on the evaluation result. Establishment of an MBMS bearer service is facilitated using the selected BMSC, and a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Control plane devices are selected by an access point for establishment of end-to-end control plane for a user equipment (UE) coupled to (or requesting to couple to) the access point. In one aspect, the selection is based on data extracted during the setup and/or registration messages communicated between the access point and UE during attachment of the UE to the access point and/or an internal derived mapping of the control pane devices to the access point. In one example, a control plane device pool is segregated to and different sets of control plane devices are selected and utilized to handle traffic associated with different services to improve scaling and flexibility.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a wireless media broadcast of media content by way of a wireless mobility network to mobile devices within a geographical area, wherein the media content is provided by a first mobile device. A group of wireless access terminals is determined based on the geographical area, wherein the group of wireless access terminals provides wireless services of the wireless mobility network to a serving area within the geographical area. The group of wireless access terminals is directed to initiate a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer service to distribute the media content to the group of mobile devices within the serving area. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to dynamically switching user equipment (“UE”) categories for adaptive mobile communications. According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a connected car device can determine whether it is operating in an idle mode or a connected mode. Based upon whether the connected car device is operating in the idle mode or the connected mode, the connected car device can determine an active UE category from a set of available UE categories. The connected car device can send the active user equipment category to a base station.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to master service orchestration of virtual network functions (“VNFs”). According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a network functions virtualization (“NFV”) platform includes a hardware resources layer including a plurality of hardware resources, a plurality of VNF resource pools, a plurality of service controllers corresponding to the plurality of VNF resource pools, and a master service orchestrator. The master service orchestrator can, when executed by at least a portion of the plurality of hardware resources, causes the master service orchestrator to perform operations. In particular, the master service orchestrator can receive, from a user equipment (“UE”), a service request.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to network functions virtualization (“NFV”) leveraging unified traffic management and real-world event planning. According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a virtual network traffic management system (“VNTMS”) can receive, via a traffic congestion monitor, from a virtual network function (“VNF”), a traffic congestion indicator that includes a traffic congestion state indicative of network traffic congestion experienced by the VNF. The VNTMS can analyze the traffic congestion indicator to determine a traffic management action to be taken to alleviate at least a portion of the network traffic congestion experienced by the VNF, and instruct a traffic congestion action responder to provide the traffic management action to the VNF.

Abstract: Control plane devices are selected by a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Gateway (MGW) based on session exchange procedural triggers received from a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BMSC). In one aspect, the MGW can employ a serving area-based Domain Name System (DNS) query/response exchange for control plane device selection that simplifies the overall complex broadcast core network architecture and design. Additionally or optionally, the MGW can employ other factors, such as, but not limited to, round trip time (RTT), load information, active/inactive link status, etc. to select the control plane devices that are to be utilized for establishing the end-to-end control plane message exchanges.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for initiating signaling in mobile management entity pools using workflows. A processor can execute an orchestrator application. The processor can receive location data that indicates a geographic location at which a virtual mobility management entity has been instantiated and registered. The processor can obtain a mobility management entity topology that defines boundaries of two or more mobile management entity pools and identify, based on the location data, one of the mobility management entity pools in which the virtual mobility management entity is located. The processor can identify pool elements included in the mobility management entity pool, obtain a workflow for establishing and configuring the pool elements, and request establishment of signaling between the virtual mobile management entity and the pool elements.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server connected to a network, a plurality of emergency alerts from a plurality of devices connected to the network. The method also includes analyzing, by the server, the plurality of emergency alerts to determine an emergency type of each of the plurality of emergency alerts. The method includes categorizing, by the server, the plurality of emergency alerts based on the emergency type of each of the plurality of emergency alerts. The method includes prioritizing a first category of the plurality of emergency alerts and consolidating the plurality of emergency alerts of the first category into a consolidated alert. The method includes causing the consolidated alert to be provided to an emergency responder.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request to initiate a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) to wirelessly distribute media content to mobile user equipment within a target geographical region using a common radio channel An efficiency metric is obtained, in response to the request, for each broadcast multicast service center (BMSC). The efficiency metric is evaluated for each of the BMSCs and one of the BMSCs is selected based on the evaluation result. Establishment of an MBMS bearer service is facilitated using the selected BMSC, and a first media content item is disseminated to the mobile user equipment within the target geographical region using the common radio channel by way of the MBMS bearer service. Other embodiments are disclosed.