Abstract: Configuration information is received for a first bearer for a first machine-type communication service type and a second bearer for at least one second machine-type communication service type, wherein the first service type includes a voice over internet protocol service. A base station communicates using said first bearer for said first service type and the second bearer for said at least one second service type.

Abstract: Systems and methods of a network that implements network slicing. In one embodiment, the system includes an account charging server that determines a plurality of charging rules for a UE that are each mapped to a different network slice of the network, a policy control server that identifies the charging rules, and a slice selection server that selects a network slice for the UE based on the charging rules. The system further includes an interface between the policy control server and the account charging server that supports a transaction based on Diameter protocol that includes a request/response. A first Attribute Value Pair (AVP) is defined for the response to identify a charging rule, and a second AVP is defined for the response to identify a network slice that is mapped to the charging rule.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for updating a repetition level of a downlink channel in a communication network. According to some embodiments, the network device determines a channel quality of a downlink channel based at least in part on uplink transmission from the terminal device to the network device. The network device determines a target channel quality of the downlink channel based on at least one parameter associated with a target performance of the downlink channel. The repetition level indicating the number of repetition transmission in the downlink channel is updated based on the first channel quality and the second channel quality.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and device for facilitating D2D communication. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the identifier of the terminal device for D2D communication may be generated based on the status information of the network and the terminal device. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the generated identifier may be meaningful to the network device and also may be unique for the terminal device. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may also be implemented in a M2M system.

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: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatuses and computer readable mediums for Virtual Network Function (VNF) management. In example embodiments, there is provided a method of managing a VNF. The method includes sending, from a VNF manager to a charging component, at least one request for charging information associated with at least one VNF. The VNF manager manages the at least one VNF. The charging information indicates respective rates for charging the at least one VNF under different network conditions. The method further includes, in response to receiving the charging information, managing lifecycle of the at least one VNF at least in part based on the charging information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing MTC group message delivery. The MTC-IWF obtains policy information from the PCRF and controls the delivery of the MTC group message according to the policy information by introducing the policy information of the MTC group message delivery in the PCRF. By introducing a flexible policy control mechanism, it can help the operators to define and customize various MTC group message delivery rules. With the increase in MTC ASes and MTC groups, operators can choose the network better, control the use of network resources, thereby achieving the purpose of improving or optimizing the network.

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: Systems, methods, and software for performing online charging in next generation networks. In one embodiment, a Session Management Function (SMF) of a next generation network implements a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) that directly interfaces with an Online Charging System (OCS). The CTF transmits a charging request to the OCS requesting a quota of service units for the SMF, and receives a charging response from the OCS indicating the quota of service units granted to the SMF by the OCS. The CTF then manages the quota by allocating slices of the quota to User Plane Functions (UPF) implemented in a user plane of the next generation network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for selecting among a plurality of IMS network slices. When an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network is partitioned into a plurality of IMS network slices, an IMS slice selection manager may be implemented at an edge of the IMS network slices. The IMS slice selection manager receives an IMS slice selection policy, and receives an IMS service request for an IMS service. The IMS slice selection manager selects an IMS network slice to provide the IMS service based on the IMS slice selection policy, and causes routing of the IMS service request to the selected IMS network slice.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for resource allocation. A method includes: obtaining a future traffic estimate in a data network of a cellular radio network based on past traffic in the data network; requesting a pool of session resources from a border gateway of the data network based on the future traffic estimate; and allocating repeatedly dedicated resources including an IP address and a port of the border gateway for each session from the pool of session 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: 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: 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: Systems, methods, and software for authorizing an application in User Equipment (UE) for direct discovery. In one embodiment, an authorization mechanism receives information (e.g., application ID) for a discovery request sent by an application in a UE. In response to the discovery request, the authorization mechanism challenges the UE for information regarding security parameters that are mapped to the application ID. Based on the information provided by the UE, the authorization mechanism determines whether the application is authorized for direct discovery.

Abstract: An enhanced alert system provides for message delivery via unlicensed wireless spectrum (e.g., LTE-U or WiFi) alternatively or supplementary to message delivery via licensed wireless spectrum. Advantageously, the alert system can provide access to certain local areas not covered or insufficiently covered by licensed spectrum and can provide opportunistic traffic offloading from licensed spectrum.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for obtaining information and resources of SDN networks of different operators and a corresponding device. The method includes UE of the first operator transmits a resource request to an SDN controller of the first operator. Afterwards, the SDN controller of the first operator transmits a resource request to an SDN controller of the second operator via an interface newly introduced by the present invention, obtains information of the SDN network of the second operator and utilizes resources of the SDN network of the second operator based on the information. The present invention also discloses a device capable of implementing the above method.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g. a mobile computing device, directs presence information toward a presence server (PS). The presence information includes public-safety (PuSa) specific proximity-based services (ProSe) information. The apparatus also directs to the PS a request to subscribe to PuSa-specific ProSe information of a target ProSe presentity, the request including a dedicated PuSa service ID. The apparatus may discover user equipment (UE) of the target presentity only on the condition that the PS returns the presence information of the target presentity.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally discloses a wireless resource sharing mechanism configured to support sharing of physical wireless resources of a wireless interface of a wireless access device. The wireless resource sharing mechanism is configured to support sharing of physical wireless resources of a wireless interface of a wireless access device in order to support Machine-Type Communications (MTCs). The wireless resource sharing mechanism is configured to support sharing of physical wireless resources, of a wireless interface of a wireless access device, between MTC traffic of MTC devices and non-MTC traffic of non-MTC devices (referred to herein as legacy traffic of legacy devices). The wireless resource sharing mechanism is configured to support sharing of physical wireless resources, of a wireless interface of a wireless access device, within a scheduling time interval of the wireless interface of the wireless access device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide usage authorization control for group communications. In one embodiment, a network element identifies a group communication for an end user of User Equipment (UE), and identifies a group ID for the group communication. The network element retrieves a user profile of the end user from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and determines from the user profile and the group ID whether the end user is a member of the group. The network element provides, on the condition that the end user is a member of the group, the group ID to the HSS and receives group usage rules for the group from the HSS. The network element allows the group communication on the condition that the group communication is permitted by one or more of the group usage rules.