Abstract: A system and method for network functions virtualization management and orchestration includes a virtualized infrastructure manager, a network functions virtualization orchestrator coupled to the virtualized infrastructure manager, a virtual network function manager coupled to the network functions virtualization orchestrator, one or more dedicated network services coupled to the network functions virtualization orchestrator, the one or more dedicated network services being orchestrated by the network functions virtualization orchestrator in accordance with a generic network service descriptor, and one or more dedicated network functions coupled to the virtual network function manager, the virtual network function manager configured to manage the dedicated network functions in accordance with a generic network function descriptor.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for optimizing offloading wireless services to a WLAN in 3GPP-RAT mobility. The embodiments enable changing network priority based on changing network conditions. In an embodiment, a method in a user equipment (UE) for offloading wireless services to a wireless local area network (WLAN) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) inter-radio access technology (RAT) handover includes receiving an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policy from an ANDSF server, wherein the ANDSF policy comprises policy rules including a validity condition, wherein the receiving is performed during a procedure in which the UE conducts an inter-RAT handoff from a first 3GPP RAT to a second 3GPP RAT; comparing evaluation condition information for the second 3GPP RAT against the validity condition; and offloading a first wireless service to the WLAN in accordance with the ANDSF policy when the validity condition is satisfied.

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 method for session handling for a connection between an UE and a network includes establishing, at a first distributed EPC, user and IP sessions over the connection through the first distributed EPC. The first distributed EPC includes a first PGW at which the IP session is anchored. The method also includes holding original IP resources and releasing original connection resources for the sessions at the first distributed EPC when the UE moves beyond the first distributed EPC to a second distributed EPC. The method then establishes a tunnel between the first PGW and a second PGW for the second distributed EPC. The tunnel utilizes the original IP resources and new connection resources at the second distributed EPC. The method then routes data from the tunnel, through the first PGW, and to the network.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for extending Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) with Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) server capability. An embodiment method for network discovery and selection (NDS) includes receiving, at an ANQP proxy, query for network discovery information from a user equipment (UE), forwarding the query to an ANDSF including an indication for a service provider associated with a domain of users, receiving information associated with the service provider from the ANDSF, and forwarding the information associated with the service provider to the UE.

Abstract: In a described embodiment of the disclosure, a method is described including a network function virtualization (NFV) manager obtaining a plurality of policies for managing a plurality of virtual network function (VNF) instances on a computing platform. The NFV manager also defines at least one VNF instance operating on the computing platform. The at least one VNF instance has a definition comprising a policy indication indicating acceptance, modification, or rejection of at least one of the plurality of policies managed by the NFV manager.

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 embodiment method for network detection and selection includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a network detection and selection policy including a load threshold element, the UE further receiving load information element from an access network (AN), and applying the network detection and selection policy to the AN.

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: An embodiment method for session handling for a connection between an UE and a network includes establishing, at a first distributed EPC, user and IP sessions over the connection through the first distributed EPC. The first distributed EPC includes a first PGW at which the IP session is anchored. The method also includes holding original IP resources and releasing original connection resources for the sessions at the first distributed EPC when the UE moves beyond the first distributed EPC to a second distributed EPC. The method then establishes a tunnel between the first PGW and a second PGW for the second distributed EPC. The tunnel utilizes the original IP resources and new connection resources at the second distributed EPC. The method then routes data from the tunnel, through the first PGW, and to the network.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting mobile node mobility are provided. A method for delivering a packet to a communications device having a destination address includes retrieving information related to the destination address from a second layer of a local portion of a distributed route information database, where the information includes binding information about the destination address and a care of address for the communications device in a visiting network to which the communications device is connected. The method also includes tunneling the first packet to the care of address.

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 optimizing offloading wireless services to a WLAN in 3GPP-RAT mobility. The embodiments enable changing network priority based on changing network conditions. In an embodiment, a method in a user equipment (UE) for offloading wireless services to a wireless local area network (WLAN) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) inter-radio access technology (RAT) handover includes receiving an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policy from an ANDSF server, wherein the ANDSF policy comprises policy rules including a validity condition, wherein the receiving is performed during a procedure in which the UE conducts an inter-RAT handoff from a first 3GPP RAT to a second 3GPP RAT; comparing evaluation condition information for the second 3GPP RAT against the validity condition; and offloading a first wireless service to the WLAN in accordance with the ANDSF policy when the validity condition is satisfied.

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: 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 dual mode user equipment that access both WiFi and 3GPP networks. The embodiments allow a UE to determine network selection for a WLAN using an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) according to the UE's capability to support a HotSpot 2.0 (HS2.0) WiFi selection mechanism. In an embodiment, the ANDSF server provides the UE with network selection policy and discovery information indicating available wireless access networks to the UE. The information provided to the UE includes both information for HS2.0 capable UEs and information for non-HS2.0 capable UEs. The UE then selects the suitable information for network selection according to UE support or lack thereof for HS2.0. In another embodiment, the ANDSF receives capability information from the UE regarding support for HS2.0, and accordingly provides suitable selection policy and network discovery information to the UE.

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: An embodiment method for network detection and selection includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a network detection and selection policy including a load threshold element, the UE further receiving load information element from an access network (AN), and applying the network detection and selection policy to the AN.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting a keep alive mechanism in a wireless communications system are provided. A method for communications device operation includes if the communications device is operating within an idle time window and if the communications device is in the idle state, initiating a keep alive procedure, and if the communications device is not operating within the idle time window and if an elapsed time since a last transmission by the communications device is greater than an upper boundary of the idle time window, initiating the keep alive procedure. The method further includes if the communications device is not operating within the idle time window and if the elapsed time since the last transmission by the communications device is less than a lower boundary of the idle time window, not initiating the keep alive procedure.