Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for wireless network selection includes obtaining, by a user equipment (UE) from a visitor access network discovery and selection function (V-ANDSF) server, a visitor policy and creating a wireless local area network (WLAN) priority list in accordance with the visitor policy, a home policy, and a priority indicator. The method also includes selecting a WLAN from the priority list as a selected network.

Abstract: A method embodiment for network authentication includes selecting, by a user equipment (UE), an access network for establishing a network connection and receiving one or more network authentication status indications for a network associated with the access network. The method further includes implementing a network authentication and selection policy in accordance with the one or more network authentication status indications.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for evolved packet core cluster and session handling. In an embodiment, a method in a network component for cluster and session handling includes receiving, by a MC-C in a first resource pool in a cluster of resources, an attach request from a SORC for a PDN connection for a UE, the MC-C and the first resource pool selected by the SORC according to a UE address, a resource load, and an operator policy; configuring session control and gateway resources for a session for the UE; negotiating with a follower site to determine state information for a bearer context of the UE; synchronizing the state information with follower sites when a state is agreed upon by at least some of the follower sites; and forming an availability group according to a set of servers that hold replicated state information for the UE.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cross-domain deployment of a network service, the method including obtaining, by a primary orchestrator, a network service instantiation request, where the network service instantiation request requests that the primary orchestrator instantiate the network service, obtaining network service description information across orchestrator management domains, determining, according to the network service description information, a first virtualized network function that needs to be deployed in a management domain of a secondary orchestrator, and sending a virtualized network function instantiation request to the secondary orchestrator, where the virtualized network function instantiation request requests that the secondary orchestrator to instantiate the first virtualized network function, where a management domain of the primary orchestrator is different from the management domain of the secondary orchestrator.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for allocating an IP address for an instance in a network function virtualization (NFV) system, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of obtaining a first requirement of IP address allocation from VNFD by a first node in the NFV system, determining a second requirement of IP address allocation for the instance according to the first requirement; and sending to a second node in the NFV system the second requirement, wherein the IP address is allocated for the instance based upon the second requirement.

Abstract: A method embodiment for network authentication includes selecting, by a user equipment (UE), an access network for establishing a network connection and receiving one or more network authentication status indications for a network associated with the access network. The method further includes implementing a network authentication and selection policy in accordance with the one or more network authentication status indications.

Abstract: Internet protocol (IP) address allocations in distributed EPC networks can be published to an IP address registry maintained at the central EPC entity in order to facilitate the routing of authentication authorization, and accounting (AAA) signaling of third party networks throughout the distributed EPC network architecture. The address allocations can be published directly to an address registry maintained by the central EPC entity, or indirectly via a cloud management server. Additionally, latencies associated with UE authentication in distributed EPC network architectures can be mitigated by triggering communication of the authentication or authorization profile upon reception of an update location request (ULR) message at the central EPC network entity.

Abstract: Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access points (APs) can advertise their support of both OMA-DM and SOAP-XML protocols by including protocol capability information in a broadcast or probe response message. The protocol capability information can include an OSU method list subfield that indicates that the Wi-Fi AP supports both OMA-DM and SOAP-XML protocols. The broadcast message may be an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) message, a beacon message, or some other generic advertisement services (GAS) message. Wi-Fi APs can also specify which WLAN type is preferred by a network operator by including a WLAN access type indication in a broadcast or probe response message. The WLAN access type indication may specify that a network operator prefers a passpoint, non-passpoint, vendor specific WLAN. The WLAN access type indication may be included in an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) management object (MO).

Abstract: A method for allocating an IP address for an instance in a NFV system includes obtaining a first requirement of IP address allocation from VNFD by a first node in the NFV system. A second requirement of IP address allocation for the instance is determined according to the first requirement. Then the second requirement is sent to a second node in the NFV system that allocates the IP address for the instance.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure includes a method including providing a network function virtualization (NFV) capacity for a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs) on a computing platform. A network function virtualization management function creates at least one VNF to operate on the computing platform to perform a network function. Each of the VNFs has a definition comprising a plurality of parameters. At least one of the parameters is a capacity indication relative to a capacity of the network function for the respective VNF.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for terminating a virtual network function (VNF) instance according to termination requirements of the VNF instance. The termination requirements may be defined in a VNF descriptor corresponding to the VNF instance. A network function virtualization (NFV) management entity may obtain the termination requirements and initiate termination of the VNF instance based on the obtained termination requirements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network function virtualization (NFV) resource management are disclosed that include receiving, by a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO), a reuse requirement for a first network service (NS) and determining, by the NFVO, that at least one constituent virtual network function (VNF) instance in the first NS is retainable for reuse in a second NS according to the reuse requirement when the first NS is to be terminated. In some embodiments, these systems and methods also include retaining, by the NFVO, the at least one constituent VNF instance in the first NS for reuse in the second NS.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for resource management by a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO). These systems and methods include embodiments whereby a NFVO obtains requirements for a network service lifecycle management (LCM) operation, determines a delegating granting decision for a virtualized network function (VNF) manager (VNFM) associated with the network service LCM operation in accordance with the requirements for the network service LCM operation that grants a permission for the VNFM to perform multiple VNF LCM operations under one or more constraints, and sends the delegating granting decision to the VNFM.

Abstract: A Virtual Network Function Descriptor (VNFD) parameter may include subfields that allow a management entity to determine whether the VNFD parameter can be updated. The subfields may include a write-ability subfield that indicates whether the VNFD parameter is a dynamic/configurable VNFD parameter or a fixed/static VNFD parameter. The VNFD parameter may also include an access permission subfield that indicates which entities are authorized to modify/update the VNFD parameter. The VNFD parameter may also include an administrative priority subfield that indicates a priority of an entity that set an attribute of the VNFD parameter. The VNFD parameter may also include a constraints subfield that indicates one or more conditions that are required to occur in order for the VNFD parameter to be updated.

Abstract: A method embodiment for network authentication includes selecting, by a user equipment (UE), an access network for establishing a network connection and receiving one or more network authentication status indications for a network associated with the access network. The method further includes implementing a network authentication and selection policy in accordance with the one or more network authentication status indications.

Abstract: System and method for resource management are disclosed. These include receiving, by a virtualized network function (VNF) manger (VNFM) entity, from a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) entity a granting indication including a granting granularity in which the NFVO entity permits the VNFM entity to perform multiple VNF management operations for one or more VNFs, determining, by the VNFM entity, that a first VNF management operation is in a scope of permission based on the granting indication upon the first VNF management operation being triggered, and sending, by the VNFM entity, a first resource allocation request for the first VNF management operation to a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) entity.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a mechanism for supporting multiple 3GPP Packet Data Network (PDN) connections over a WLAN. Multiple gateway interfaces, each corresponding to a different PDN, are established over a single connection, via the WLAN, between a UE and an access gateway. A PDN access configuration protocol (PACP) is provided to configure the association between the IP interface on the access gateway and the corresponding 3GPP PDN/APN connection, and exchange the PDN setup between the UE and the access gateway. The PACP mechanisms allow signaling APN information and associating corresponding IP context at the access gateway, setting up and tearing down connection context between the UE and PDN gateway (P-GW), and supporting session continuity when the UE moves to another access gateway. The mechanisms support using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for IPv4 and Neighbor Discovery for IPv6.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for supporting network selection for wireless networks and network service providers/operators. The embodiments include procedures that integrate wireless network and service provider/operator selection policies and methods. In an embodiment, the UE obtains a network selection policy from a network, and hence generates a list of candidate wireless networks according to the network selection policy. The UE then selects from the list a wireless network to connect to according to a service provider selection policy. Such procedures improve Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) based wireless local area network (WLAN) selection with service provider selection capability. The procedures also collaborate ANDSF based policy and existing I-WLAN selection, and resolve conflicts between 3GPP WLAN selection and ANDSF policy for WLAN selection.

Abstract: A method embodiment for network authentication includes selecting, by a user equipment (UE), an access network for establishing a network connection and receiving one or more network authentication status indications for a network associated with the access network. The method further includes implementing a network authentication and selection policy in accordance with the one or more network authentication status indications.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for evolved packet core cluster and session handling. In an embodiment, a method in a network component for cluster and session handling includes receiving, by a MC-C in a first resource pool in a cluster of resources, an attach request from a SORC for a PDN connection for a UE, the MC-C and the first resource pool selected by the SORC according to a UE address, a resource load, and an operator policy; configuring session control and gateway resources for a session for the UE; negotiating with a follower site to determine state information for a bearer context of the UE; synchronizing the state information with follower sites when a state is agreed upon by at least some of the follower sites; and forming an availability group according to a set of servers that hold replicated state information for the UE.