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, 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: Systems and methods for sharing radio resources on an air interface. One embodiment comprises an access network element (e.g., base station) that stores a plurality of sharing patterns each comprising a different mapping of the radio resources on a physical layer of the air interface between Machine-Type Communications (MTC) and non-MTC. The access network element identifies a resource sharing window, receives input indicating conditions in the access network, selects a sharing pattern from the plurality of sharing patterns in the pattern database for the resource sharing window based on the conditions in the access network, schedules MTC transmissions on the air interface at a beginning of the resource sharing window based on the sharing pattern, and schedules non-MTC transmissions on the air interface at the beginning of the resource sharing window based on the sharing pattern.

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: Apparatus and methods for policy decisions regarding a service data flow enabled for service chaining. One embodiment comprises a policy control element configured to make policy decisions for a session. The policy control element communicates with an offline charging system. The policy control element detects a new service added to the service chain implemented for the service data flow, and transmits a charging rules request to the offline charging system responsive to detecting the new service being added to the service chain. The policy control element receives a response from the offline charging system that includes offline charging rules that are mapped to the new service of the service chain, makes a policy decision for the service data flow based on the offline charging rules, and transmits the policy decision to a policy enforcement element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and corresponding device for controlling a remote UE to access to a network via a relay UE. The method includes: the remote UE receives, from a proximity service function, an access level configuration message, which contains access level allocated to the remote UE; receiving access restriction configuration information from the relay UE via a PC5 interface; when an application on the remote UE initiates a request for accessing the network, rejecting the request for accessing the network if the access level of the remote UE is matched with the access restriction configuration information. A device capable of implementing the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for handling random access procedures. In one embodiment, an access network element that stores an MTC reservation pattern that defines at least one MTC-On interval where MTC is allowed, and defines at least one MTC-Off interval where MTC is prohibited. During an MTC-On interval, the access network element receives preambles for random access procedures from MTC devices, and performs the random access procedures for the MTC devices in response to the preambles. The access network element detects a transition from the MTC-On interval to a next MTC-Off interval, and determines whether the random access procedures for the MTC devices will complete before the transition. If not, the access network element modifies the MTC reservation pattern to expedite completion of the random access procedures.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for selecting a network slice for User Equipment (UE) in a network that is partitioned into network slices. In one embodiment, a slice selection server receives an attach request intiated by the UE to attach to the network, sends a request to a policy control server to obtain a slice selection policy for the UE, and receives a response from the policy control server indicating a plurality of charging rules for the UE that are each mapped to a different one of the network slices. The slice selection server selects a network slice for the UE based on the charging rules, and sends an attach response to the UE that includes a network slice identifier (ID) for the network slice selected for the UE.

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: 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: 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 and methods for controlling group triggers for Machine-Type Communications (MTC) services. In one embodiment, a Services Capability Server (SCS) of a network receives a request indicating a group trigger from an MTC server to activate an MTC feature in a group of MTC devices. In response to the group trigger request, the SCS queries a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for network policies defined for group triggers, and controls delivery of the group trigger to the group of MTC devices based on the network policies provided by the PCRF.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of delivering the trigger report for MTC. According to a trigger message originated from an originator, a UE generates trigger response information corresponding to the trigger message; the UE sends a trigger report message containing the trigger response information to a first NE; the first NE extracts the trigger response information from the trigger report message and sends the trigger response information to the originator. In the prior art, the delivery report can only provide information about whether the trigger data is delivered. According to the present invention, the delivery report may also provide information on the MTC application layer, for example, even if the trigger result cannot be sent back immediately, the delivery report may can also include whether the payload data is accepted by the MTC application receives the payload data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing online charging for text messages. One embodiment comprises a system that handles a Mobile Originated (MO) text message. The system receives a send request for the MO text message, and generates an online credit request for the MO text message. The system determines a type of originating network for the MO text message, and inserts an indicator of the originating network type in the online credit request. The system may also determine a type of terminating network for the MO text message, and insert an indicator of the terminating network type in the online credit request. The system then transmits the online credit request to an online charging system to charge for the MO text message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging in networks where radio resources are shared between Machine Type Communication (MTC) traffic and legacy traffic. A base station of a wireless access network determines a scheduling of radio resources on the air interface between MTC traffic and legacy traffic, and provides signaling to an MTC device and a legacy device indicating the scheduling of the radio resources. The base station collects resource sharing information regarding the sharing of the radio resources between the MTC traffic and the legacy traffic, and transmits a message to a network element of a core network that includes the resource sharing information. The network element may then forward the resource sharing information to a charging system so that the sharing of the radio resources is taken into account when charging the MTC device and/or the legacy device for usage of the air interface.

Abstract: A method and device for charging roaming for CS fallback MTRF call is provided. At least one charging data record is obtained through receiving charging data records from at least one roaming charging device, wherein the user equipment roams to a VPLMN corresponding to the at least one roaming charging device. Based on the at least one charging data record and in combination with the local charging data record in the home charging device, consolidation processing is performed so as to obtain a consolidated target charging data record. A method of computing charging data records so as to perform final charging in a home charging device in the home network is introduced, instead of performing final charging in a roaming charging device in a visited network, which avoids repetitive charging on the charging data records in the mobile switching center of the visited network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing offline charging for group communications. One embodiment is an application server that identifies data for a group communication, identifies an encryption code assigned to the group, encrypts the data for the group communication using the encryption code, and initiates delivery of the encrypted data for the group communication to the group of mobile devices over an MBMS bearer. The application server collects charging information related to the group communication using MBMS delivery, formats the charging information into an offline charging communication, and transmits the offline charging communication to an offline charging system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a user data flow in an SDN controller of an SDN network includes retrieving user profile information from a user information database via an Ss interface with the user information database; controlling a data flow of a user based on the user profile information. The SDN controller is enabled to have a capability of obtaining user profile information through a newly added interface between the SDN controller and the user information database, such that the SDN controller may control a user data flow based on the user profile information.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of integrating a service of an application content provider in an IMS core network, and the method includes the step of: allowing a network user to click-to-dial a mobile caller by using a network account. Preferably the step of allowing a network user to click-to-dial a mobile caller by using a network account is performed by providing an open application program interface between the application content provider and a call session control function.

Abstract: The SDN control device is configured to determine a charging plan and a corresponding routing path for a data flow of a user. The charging plan is associated with a network condition-related rate of respective SDN service device in the routing path. The SDN control device is configured to configure the charging plan for the respective SDN service device. Each of the SDN service device is configured to charge the data flow based on a network condition-related rate applicable to the SDN service device in the charging plan. The each of the SDN service device is configured to aggregate generated charging information to provide it to a charging system.