Abstract: An application service provider (ASP) subscribes to a slice of the network of the mobile operator to offer its users on mobile devices a better-quality transport service. For example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for, say, a premium network slice dedicated for the use of its premium users that are on mobile devices. When a premium user accesses the application (and gets authorized by it), the application sends identifiers of the application/user to the Slice Identifier Function (SIF) of the mobile operator, which in turn directs the configuration of the core network components as well as the RAN attached to said user's mobile device according to the application's slice policies. As another example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for the default network slice for a differentiated treatment. When SIF identifies the application, it gives its users a higher QoS/priority than other users within the same slice.

Abstract: A new control function is defined for the control plane of a 5G mobile network to enable the operator's mobile user, who is using a premium network slice, to access application services on the public Internet, by operator sign-on only when accessing the application on said slice. This unique single sign-on capability allows the user to bypass the service authentication after operator authenticates the mobile device by the user session establishment procedure. The new function registers a plurality of service applications, which sign-up for single sign-on capability. It also coordinates the mapping and storage of credentials of the user across the mobile operator's service and the service provider's application for each of said plurality of service applications, and transfers user credentials to the application so that the user's sign-in step is bypassed.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking concepts apply to access, fronthaul, backhaul and core networks of 5G mobile networks and beyond. Such network components currently have individual/segmented control planes and associated controllers to provide configurability, provisioning, and network slicing. This is because of technology disparity between these network components: access is wireless/cellular, backhaul and fronthaul are optical/fiber, and core is electrical/wire-line.

Abstract: Using a Radio Access Network (RAN) capacity exchange (or RANxChange), mobile operators can advertise slices/partitions of available unused base station capacity, and auction and lease it. A member-operator can advertise their unused base station capacity availability or lease capacity from another member-operator for a specific time period. The bidding operators can bid for the full auctioned capacity or portion of the auctioned capacity. The users start attaching the leased slice transparently without any configuration changes on their mobile devices.

Abstract: A system and method for reliable and secure record keeping for Radio Access Network (RAN) capacity sharing amongst a plurality of operators using slicing methods according to 3GPP 5G specifications, wherein slicing is controlled by a RAN controller is disclosed. The record keeping system is a distributed Blockchain ledger in which a block specifies information pertaining to available, leased or purchased base station slice(s). The ledger is immutable and available to all operators through a distributed database hosted by each participant wherein each base station owner advertises its leased as well as unused base station capacity at a specific time using blocks in the Blockchain. In an embodiment, the RAN controller directly feeds the information needed to form a new block into the ledger whenever the slicing profile of a RAN changes, thereby making the ledger in complete synchronicity with the network.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: Drone base stations (DBSs) create a radio access network (DRAN) that provides a quick on-demand coverage in areas either for lost coverage due to disasters (providing an emergency communications network (ECN)) or for specific military, governmental and IoT application needs. DRAN Control Functions may be modeled as Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) to operate and control a flying DRAN that comprises a plurality of DBSs, providing near real-time configuration control functions. These unique functions apply to the combined drone and base station sub-components of each DBS. Unique configuration control actions are determining the number of drones, optimal 3D drone positioning, and the inter-drone graph topology by maximizing served cellular user clusters, while factoring in user slices, remaining drone flight times and RF interference.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: A crowdfunding setup for directly supplying services/goods to beneficiaries. The actors are: (i) a plurality of funders, who are able to track where and how their funds are put into use, (ii) a plurality of beneficiaries, who have access to funds only for a specific need of a service or good as opposed to money, (iii) a plurality of service/goods providers, who meet a set of criteria to supply the needed service or good to the beneficiaries, and (iv) a campaign controller, who sets up the campaign that ties together all actors and their actions. Selection of the service provider is based on a plurality of criteria for each campaign where such a selection is based on a combination of actors using a consensus mechanism. Upon collection of funds, the beneficiary is provided the service/good, which is also tracked by the campaign and the funders.

Abstract: Using a Radio Access Network (RAN) capacity exchange (or RANxChange), mobile operators can advertise slices/partitions of available unused base station capacity, and auction and lease it. A member-operator can advertise their unused base station capacity availability or lease capacity from another member-operator for a specific time period. The bidding operators can bid for the full auctioned capacity or portion of the auctioned capacity. The users start attaching the leased slice transparently without any configuration changes on their mobile devices.

Abstract: An application service provider (ASP) subscribes to a slice of the network of the mobile operator to offer its users on mobile devices a better-quality transport service. For example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for, say, a premium network slice dedicated for the use of its premium users that are on mobile devices. When a premium user accesses the application (and gets authorized by it), the application sends identifiers of the application/user to the Slice Identifier Function (SIF) of the mobile operator, which in turn directs the configuration of the core network components as well as the RAN attached to said user's mobile device according to the application's slice policies. As another example, the ASP subscribes to and pays for the default network slice for a differentiated treatment. When SIF identifies the application, it gives its users a higher QoS/priority than other users within the same slice.

Abstract: The embodiments in this invention extend distributed unit (DU), central unit (CU) and control plane of F1 (F1-C) capabilities so that differentiated DRBs of F1-U are placed on differentiated transport network components of equivalent QoS. This is achieved by a transport-aware DU and CU that can map each F1-U DRB into appropriate OSI layer 2-4 headers and can, subsequently, store such mappings. The F1-C interface is extended to distribute the layer 2-4 headers acquired from the transport network controller to the DUs and CU. A new control interface TN-C is defined between transport network controller and CU/DU. Furthermore, a trivial mapping of those embodiments is applicable for the N3 interface as well, which solves the same problem on the backhaul transport network.

Abstract: Using a Radio Access Network (RAN) capacity exchange (or RANxChange), mobile operators can advertise slices/partitions of available unused base station capacity, and auction and lease it. A member-operator can advertise their unused base station capacity availability or lease capacity from another member-operator for a specific time period. The bidding operators can bid for the full auctioned capacity or portion of the auctioned capacity. The users start attaching the leased slice transparently without any configuration changes on their mobile devices.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking concepts apply to access, fronthaul, backhaul and core networks of 5G mobile networks and beyond. Such network components currently have individual/segmented control planes and associated controllers to provide configurability, provisioning, and network slicing. This is because of technology disparity between these network components: access is wireless/cellular, backhaul and fronthaul are optical/fiber, and core is electrical/wire-line.

Abstract: A new control function is defined for the control plane of a 5G mobile network to enable the operator's mobile user, who is using a premium network slice, to access application services on the public Internet, by operator sign-on only when accessing the application on said slice. This unique single sign-on capability allows the user to bypass the service authentication after operator authenticates the mobile device by the user session establishment procedure. The new function registers a plurality of service applications, which sign-up for single sign-on capability. It also coordinates the mapping and storage of credentials of the user across the mobile operator's service and the service provider's application for each of said plurality of service applications, and transfers user credentials to the application so that the user's sign-in step is bypassed.

Abstract: A system and method for reliable and secure record keeping for Radio Access Network (RAN) capacity sharing amongst a plurality of operators using slicing methods according to 3GPP 5G specifications, wherein slicing is controlled by a RAN controller is disclosed. The record keeping system is a distributed Blockchain ledger in which a block specifies information pertaining to available, leased or purchased base station slice(s). The ledger is immutable and available to all operators through a distributed database hosted by each participant wherein each base station owner advertises its leased as well as unused base station capacity at a specific time using blocks in the Blockchain. In an embodiment, the RAN controller directly feeds the information needed to form a new block into the ledger whenever the slicing profile of a RAN changes, thereby making the ledger in complete synchronicity with the network.

Abstract: A method as implemented in a controller in a SDN: (a) receiving service function chain orders of packet flows comprising a service function chain; (b) receiving, in real-time, delay measurements from either one of the virtual network functions and/or one of the network switches; (c) determining a plurality of realizations of the service function chain orders of (a) in order to minimize a total delay; (d) choosing an optimal realization corresponding to a least delay; and (e) determining one or more flow rules for the one or more network switches, the determining based on the optimal realization in (d). A controller and an article of manufacture implementing such a method are also described.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking concepts apply to access, fronthaul, backhaul and core networks of 5G mobile networks and beyond. Such network components currently have individual/segmented control planes and associated controllers to provide configurability, provisioning, and network slicing. This is because of technology disparity between these network components: access is wireless/cellular, backhaul and fronthaul are optical/fiber, and core is electrical/wire-line.

Abstract: 3GPP's 5th generation mobile network (5G) standards provide a service-based architecture by widely distributing control functions as virtualized network functions (VNFs). However, the equipment and software vendors control these control plane functions in a closed-box manner. This invention provides a new control plane function called Open Control Plane Function (OCPF), which allows various control applications of operators or third parties to register to certain control functions so that they can receive and process signaling/control messages outside those control functions. With this invention, new applications can be developed to view and modify control plane behavior utilizing both traditional methods as well as upcoming Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms to provide new and innovative services that are not part of standard operator offerings.

Abstract: Disclosed within are a system and method for efficient slicing of an SDN-based 5G core network by using service-specific aggregate tunnels along key tunnel interfaces between network functions.