Abstract: Traffic data is divided into data streams corresponding to workloads, and the data streams are multiplexed onto slice segments based on a multiplexing requirement or rule. Each slice segment is a physical or virtual processing element in a wireless network supporting network slicing. In one example, the data streams are multiplexed onto the slice segments such that data streams having different utility definitions are assigned to different slice segments. In another example, the data streams are multiplexed onto the slice segments such that workloads in the same cluster partitioned in a T-dimensional vector space are assigned to different slice segments.

Abstract: A network device performs operations comprising: receiving a first plurality of data packets, each data packet of the first plurality of data packets including a checksum value, and storing the checksum values of a subset of the first plurality of data packets along with a first timestamp; providing the first plurality of data packets to a network function (NF); receiving, from the NF, a second plurality of data packets generated by the NF in response to the first plurality of data packets, each data packet of the second plurality of data packets including a checksum value; storing a second timestamp when checksum values of a subset of the second plurality of data packets match the stored checksum values; and generating telemetry data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, by a virtual network function, that includes: receiving a first request from a user equipment (UE), the first request including first parameters and a first token, the first token being a vector value corresponding to a session state for the UE; determining the session state for the UE according to the first token; programming network resources according to the session state, the programming updating states of the network resources, wherein the session state for the UE is updated when the states of the network resources are updated; producing a second token corresponding to the updated session state for the UE; storing the updated session state and the second token; and transmitting the second token to the UE.

Abstract: Traffic data is divided into data streams corresponding to workloads, and the data streams are multiplexed onto slice segments based on a multiplexing requirement or rule. Each slice segment is a physical or virtual processing element in a wireless network supporting network slicing. In one example, the data streams are multiplexed onto the slice segments such that data streams having different utility definitions are assigned to different slice segments. In another example, the data streams are multiplexed onto the slice segments such that workloads in the same cluster partitioned in a T-dimensional vector space are assigned to different slice segments.

Abstract: A protocol independent network condition service (PINCS) apparatus is provided, comprising a memory storage comprising instructions and one or more processors in communication with the memory. The processors execute the instructions to receive a subscription for network condition information of at least one network from at least one network condition consumer (NCC) node, the network condition information being related to at least one target data flow provided to at least one node in the network via the NCC node, obtain information about a plurality of network conditions from at least one network condition provider (NCP) node configured to monitor a plurality of network conditions including network conditions related to the at least one target data flow, process the information about the plurality of network conditions to generate an aggregated network conditions information, and send the aggregated network conditions information the NCC node as indicated by the subscription.

Abstract: It is possible to dynamically configure buffers in network devices by sending software defined network (SDN) instructions to a Control-to-Data-Plane Interface (CDPI) agents on the network devices. An SDN instruction may instruct a CDPI agent to configure a buffer in a network device to store a specific type of traffic flow in accordance with a traffic handling policy. In some embodiments, the SDN instruction instructs the CDPI Agent to directly configure a buffer by, for example, associating a virtual port with a new/existing buffer, binding a virtual port associated with the buffer to a switch, and/or installing a flow control rule in a flow table of the switch. In other embodiments, the SDN instruction may instruct the CDPI agent to reconfigure the buffer by transitioning the buffer to a different state.

Abstract: Interruptions in communication due to user equipment (UE) handovers (HO) are signaled from the mobile communication network to the traffic source. For ultra-low latency and reliable communication, the signaling of HO start and completion notifications prevents retransmissions of in-flight packets by the traffic source, eliminating additional delays and inefficiencies. Signaling can be implemented by a network element, by a network element in conjunction with a smart traffic handler between the network and the traffic source (e.g., applications) and by a UE having at least two different radio interfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a communication architecture for medium access control (MAC) layer virtualization, where the architecture is made up of: a physical MAC layer, a plurality of physical resource blocks (RBs) associated with the MAC layer, a plurality of virtual medium access control (vMAC) layers, where each vMAC layer corresponds to a separate service group, with each service group programming its own scheduling logic in each vMAC layer, and a plurality of virtual resource blocks (vRBs) associated with each vMAC layer, where the vRBs are filled with data packets according to the scheduling logic in each vMAC instance. The physical MAC layer virtualizes the RBs as vRBs and assigns them to each vMAC layer according to a service level agreement associated with each service group, and each vMAC maps traffic flows of subscribers associated with it onto the assigned vRBs.

Abstract: One or both end points of the communication and a network controller of a software defined network (SDN) agree on a definition of a traffic flow that varies as a function of time, where communicating end points vary one or more fields of the packet headers at the sender side before sending the flow packets to the network according to an agreed upon procedure with the network controller. The network controller dynamically updates the forwarding tables in forwarding elements such that whenever source node transitions into the next epoch, and thus alter the header fields, a corresponding forwarding rule is already installed onto the forwarding elements along the route of the packet towards the other end point of the communication, referred to as destination node.

Abstract: A network device performs operations comprising: receiving a first plurality of data packets, each data packet of the first plurality of data packets including a checksum value, and storing the checksum values of a subset of the first plurality of data packets along with a first timestamp; providing the first plurality of data packets to a network function (NF); receiving, from the NF, a second plurality of data packets generated by the NF in response to the first plurality of data packets, each data packet of the second plurality of data packets including a checksum value; storing a second timestamp when checksum values of a subset of the second plurality of data packets match the stored checksum values; and generating telemetry data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

Abstract: A system and method implemented at a base station: assesses, for each channel in an unlicensed frequency spectrum for use by the base station, a list of quality of service (QoS) class indicator (QCI) values, receives a packet flow having an associated packet flow QCI value, identifies at least one channel in the unlicensed frequency spectrum having the associated packet flow QCI value in its list of QCI values, and allows the packet flow in the unlicensed frequency spectrum on the at least one channel identified, where the packet flow is allowed in the unlicensed frequency spectrum for any of the following: for the uplink, for the downlink, or for both uplink and downlink.

Abstract: Interruptions in communication due to user equipment (UE) handovers (HO) are signaled from the mobile communication network to the traffic source. For ultra-low latency and reliable communication, the signaling of HO start and completion notifications prevents retransmissions of in-flight packets by the traffic source, eliminating additional delays and inefficiencies. Signaling can be implemented by a network element, by a network element in conjunction with a smart traffic handler between the network and the traffic source (e.g., applications) and by a UE having at least two different radio interfaces.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, by a virtual network function, that includes: receiving a first request from a user equipment (UE), the first request including first parameters and a first token, the first token being a vector value corresponding to a session state for the UE; determining the session state for the UE according to the first token; programming network resources according to the session state, the programming updating states of the network resources, wherein the session state for the UE is updated when the states of the network resources are updated; producing a second token corresponding to the updated session state for the UE; storing the updated session state and the second token; and transmitting the second token to the UE.

Abstract: A protocol independent network condition service (PINCS) apparatus is provided, comprising a memory storage comprising instructions and one or more processors in communication with the memory. The processors execute the instructions to receive a subscription for network condition information of at least one network from at least one network condition consumer (NCC) node, the network condition information being related to at least one target data flow provided to at least one node in the network via the NCC node, obtain information about a plurality of network conditions from at least one network condition provider (NCP) node configured to monitor a plurality of network conditions including network conditions related to the at least one target data flow, process the information about the plurality of network conditions to generate an aggregated network conditions information, and send the aggregated network conditions information the NCC node as indicated by the subscription.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a communication architecture for medium access control (MAC) layer virtualization, where the architecture is made up of: a physical MAC layer, a plurality of physical resource blocks (RBs) associated with the MAC layer, a plurality of virtual medium access control (vMAC) layers, where each vMAC layer corresponds to a separate service group, with each service group programming its own scheduling logic in each vMAC layer, and a plurality of virtual resource blocks (vRBs) associated with each vMAC layer, where the vRBs are filled with data packets according to the scheduling logic in each vMAC instance. The physical MAC layer virtualizes the RBs as vRBs and assigns them to each vMAC layer according to a service level agreement associated with each service group, and each vMAC maps traffic flows of subscribers associated with it onto the assigned vRBs.

Abstract: A method for controlling a network element by a remote controller comprising a processor coupled to a transmitter comprises modeling, by the processor, a state machine that controls transitions between operational states of the network element, offloading, by the transmitter, to the network element a portion of the state machine that controls a subset of the transitions, the subset comprising selected transitions that are more suitable for local control by the network element than remote control by the remote control application, and remotely controlling, by the processor, other transitions that are not in the subset of the transitions.

Abstract: A system and method implemented at a base station: assesses, for each channel in an unlicensed frequency spectrum for use by the base station, a list of quality of service (QoS) class indicator (QCI) values, receives a packet flow having an associated packet flow QCI value, identifies at least one channel in the unlicensed frequency spectrum having the associated packet flow QCI value in its list of QCI values, and allows the packet flow in the unlicensed frequency spectrum on the at least one channel identified, where the packet flow is allowed in the unlicensed frequency spectrum for any of the following: for the uplink, for the downlink, or for both uplink and downlink.

Abstract: It is possible to dynamically configure buffers in network devices by sending software defined network (SDN) instructions to a Control-to-Data-Plane Interface (CDPI) agents on the network devices. An SDN instruction may instruct a CDPI agent to configure a buffer in a network device to store a specific type of traffic flow in accordance with a traffic handling policy. In some embodiments, the SDN instruction instructs the CDPI Agent to directly configure a buffer by, for example, associating a virtual port with a new/existing buffer, binding a virtual port associated with the buffer to a switch, and/or installing a flow control rule in a flow table of the switch. In other embodiments, the SDN instruction may instruct the CDPI agent to reconfigure the buffer by transitioning the buffer to a different state.

Abstract: A hierarchy of controllers that are part of a communication network include: (1) a network controller at the top of the hierarchy having direct access to at least one subscription profile, ProfileUE, associated with at least one User Equipment (UE), (2) a radio access network (RAN) controller located at a level directly beneath the network controller receiving the subscription profile, ProfileUE, from the network controller, (3) a base station controller associated with a base station and located beneath the RAN controller in the hierarchy, (4) a UE controller associated with an UE located beneath the base station controller in the hierarchy.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a communication architecture for medium access control (MAC) layer virtualization, where the architecture is made up of: a MAC layer, a plurality of physical resource blocks (RBs) associated with the MAC layer, a plurality of virtual medium access control (vMAC) layers (each vMAC layer corresponding to a separate service group, where each service group programs its own scheduling logic in each vMAC instance), a plurality of virtual resource blocks (vRBs) associated with each vMAC layer (the vRBs filled with data packets according to the scheduling logic in each vMAC instance), where the MAC layer virtualizes the RBs as vRBs and assigns them to each vMAC layer.