Abstract: A technique may include receiving, from an external applications controller, by a mobile edge computing applications manager provided on a mobile edge computing server that is in proximity to a radio access network, a mobile edge computing application criteria that includes management rules for managing at least a portion of a lifecycle of a mobile edge computing application; and storing the mobile edge computing application criteria. In an example embodiment, a technique may further include managing at least a portion of a lifecycle of the mobile edge computing application based on the mobile edge computing application criteria.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for performing online charging in next generation networks. In one embodiment, a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server is implemented at a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a next generation network. The MEC server hosts a plurality of edge applications provisioned to provide MEC services for a session. The MEC server communicates with a Session Management Function (SMF) of the next generation network to acquire a quota of service units for the session. The MEC server then manages the quota by allocating slices of the quota to the edge applications, and transmitting messages to the edge applications indicating the slices allocated to the edge applications.

Abstract: A method, device and computer readable medium for service chain is provided. Dynamic service chain is achieved and the service chain request is transmitted from the application. The device determines the service chain based on a profile of the application. Further, implicit service chain subscribing is also achieved. Thus, a more flexible service chain is achieved. Further, management of service chain related to NF service is also achieved.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for initiating a Packet Switch (PS) Data off feature for User Equipment (UE) within a network. In one embodiment, a network element in a network stores a data off policy that triggers activation or deactivation of the PS Data off feature for the UE, and determines whether to activate the PS Data off feature for the UE based on the data off policy and one or more network service conditions. The network element generates a PS Data off request to activate the PS Data off feature for the UE responsive to a determination to activate the PS Data off feature, and initiates transmission of the PS Data off request for receipt by a gateway of the network that acts as an entry point for downlink traffic for the UE.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for sharing resources of an air interface. In one embodiment, an access network element communicates with a plurality of devices over an air interface. The access network element identifies a resource sharing window having an MTC-On interval where MTC is allowed, and having an MTC-Off interval where MTC is prohibited. Between a threshold time and an end of the MTC-Off interval, the access network element selects an adjusted Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for a legacy device of the plurality of devices that is lower than a standard MCS for the legacy device selected based on channel quality information for the legacy device, allocates a set of the MTC radio resources to the legacy device, and schedules a non-MTC transmission for the legacy device on the set of the MTC radio resources based on the adjusted MCS.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a device, method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium for reusing control resources for data transmission. In example embodiments, if downlink data is to be transmitted to a terminal device, a network device determines a control resource set associated with the terminal device in a control resource region. The network device selects, from the control resource set, localized control resources for control information associated with the downlink data, and selects data resources for the downlink data in the control resource region and a data resource region. The network device transmits the control information to the terminal device by using the localized control resources, and transmits the downlink data to the terminal device by using the data resources.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating resources of an air interface. In one embodiment, a base station communicates with a plurality of User Equipment (UE) within a cell over an air interface. The base station selects a UE group from the UEs in the cell to share a physical downlink control channel, selects a slot format for the UE group, and identifies a slot format indicator for the UE group. The base station generates a group ID for the UE group so that a combination of the group ID and the slot format indicator indicates a slot format value that is mapped to the selected slot format for the UE group, provides the group ID to the UE group, and transmits the slot format indicator on the physical downlink control channel to the UE group.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of: the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) receiving (Step 1) user's subscription information, in order to determine an initial policy; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) applying (Step 2) the initial rules; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) triggering (Step 3) the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) for the user's service/network resource usage; the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) rating and charging (step 4) the user, in real time; the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) triggering (Step 5) a change of policy in the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF); the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) determining (Step 6) new rules for the new policy; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) receiving (Step 7) the new rules and applying them.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for configuring route selection policies. A user device may send, to a computing device, a route selection policy request to update route selection policy rules for applications and/or services of the user device. The computing device may determine the route selection policy rules for the applications and/or services based on various criteria. The computing device may send the determined route selection policy rules to the user device. If the user device does not accept the determined route selection policy rules, the user device may send, to the computing device, a negotiation request to obtain other route selection policy rules for the applications and/or services.

Abstract: There is provided a solution for balancing application content processing in a mobile communication network. According to an aspect, a method comprises: determining to handover content processing of application data of a terminal device from a first network element to a second network element, wherein one of the first network element and the second network element is configured to perform multi-access edge computing and the other one of the first network element and the second network element is an application server in a core network or beyond the core network from a perspective of the multi-access edge computing; and transmitting at least one handover message to handover the content processing of the application data from the first network element to the second network element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for networking and a corresponding device. The method includes in response to a terminal device accessing network, obtaining configuration information of the terminal device; based on the configuration information, determining a traffic path associated with the terminal device; and configuring an underlying network node of the network based on the traffic path such that the underlying network node routes traffic associated with the terminal device based on the traffic path. A device that can implement the above method is further disclosed.

Abstract: A method of handling user service profile information in a communications network, the communications network including a core network (CN) and a radio access network (RAN), includes receiving, at a first network element located in the CN, a first application status change message from a first mobile edge computing (MEC) server located in the RAN, the first application status change message indicating one or more applications currently running on the first MEC server; detecting a location update message received at the CN from a UE attached to the RAN; and in response to detecting the location update message, obtaining service profile data of the UE for at least one service corresponding to at least one of the one or more applications, and providing the obtained service profile data to the first MEC server.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for controlling Quality of Service (QoS) selection in Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) services. In one embodiment, a MEC server is at a Radio Access Network (RAN), and implements edge applications that provide the MEC services. The MEC server queries a core network for a QoS policy for a mobile device that indicates QoS profile options for the mobile device, and receives the QoS policy from the core network. The MEC server monitors for a triggering event that triggers selection of a QoS profile, selects the QoS profile from the QoS profile options for a user plane connection established for a MEC service between the mobile device and an edge application in response to the triggering event, and provides a QoS profile identifier for the QoS profile to a base station in the RAN to enforce the QoS profile on the user plane connection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of charging session management. The method comprises, at a first node of a communication system, receiving an indication of charging termination associated with a terminal device from a second node of the communication system, where the indication of charging termination at least specifies a time length; detecting traffic for the terminal device in response to receiving the indication of charging termination; and in response to the traffic for the terminal device being lower than a predetermined threshold, starting a timer for terminating a charging session of the terminal device after the time length. Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a corresponding device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for configuring quality of service (QoS). For example, a computing device, which may be configured to operate as one or more network functions of a fifth generation wireless system (5G), may be associated with a first network. The computing device may receive, from an application or service server, and via a second network, QoS information. The QoS information may associate an application or service with one or more QoS flow identifiers (QFIs) or other indicator of a level of QoS. A PDU session may be established for a user device and the application or service. Based on the QoS information, the computing device may send a request that causes the PDU session to be modified. Upon modification, the PDU session may transport, based on data including the QFI or other indicator of a level of QoS, the data via the first network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, device and computer readable storage media for management of application servers network edge computing device and a method, apparatus, device and computer readable storage media for performing management operation related to application servers network edge computing device. In example embodiments, at a management function module, a calling function deployment command is transmitted to a network edge computing device to deploy a calling function instance thereon, the calling function instance being configured to connect with application servers for respective applications and handle communications between terminal devices and the application server A management command for application servers on the network edge computing device is transmitted to at least one of the network edge computing device and the calling function instance, in response to a network condition meeting one of predetermined management policies.

Abstract: A method for delivering dynamic policy rules for an end user of a communication service during a communication session is provided. The method includes receiving subscription information at a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in order to determine an initial policy; applying the initial rules via a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF); triggering an Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) for the user's service/network resource usage; rating and charging the user via the EOCS in real time; triggering a change of policy in a change notification from the EOCS to the PCRF; determining new rules for the new policy at the PRCF; receiving the new rules and applying them at the PCEF.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to various methods, systems and apparatuses that can be used to configure and manage a network slice based on billing rate information. By selecting a network slice based on billing rate information, the system may further be able to respond to billing rate changes by reselecting network slices. For example, changes in the usage of the network slice or the usage of the overall network infrastructure may cause a change to a billing rate associated with the network slice. These aspects, and others described herein, may result in improved network performance by, for example, offloading extra usage from an overloaded network slice to a network slice that is currently less used.

Abstract: A technique may include receiving, from an external applications controller, by a mobile edge computing applications manager provided on a mobile edge computing server that is in proximity to a radio access network, a mobile edge computing application criteria that includes management rules for managing at least a portion of a lifecycle of a mobile edge computing application; and storing the mobile edge computing application criteria. In an example embodiment, a technique may further include managing at least a portion of a lifecycle of the mobile edge computing application based on the mobile edge computing application criteria.

Abstract: A control plane entity selects a subset of a plurality of user plane entities to support a charging session associated with a user based on charging policies for the plurality of user plane entities. The control plane entity allocates portions of a quota for the charging session to the control plane entity and the subset of the plurality of user plane entities based on the charging policies. In some cases, the control plane entity modifies the quotas that are allocated to the control plane entity or the subset of the plurality of user plane entities. Modifying the quotas can include redistributing unused portions of the quotas among the control plane entity and the subset of the plurality of user plane entities, e.g., in response to handover of the user equipment between user plane entities.