A wireless communication network comprises network circuitry which hosts a Virtual Network Function (VNF). A VNF controller instantiates the VNF in the network circuitry and transfers instantiation information for the VNF to provisioning circuitry. The provisioning circuitry receives the instantiation information for the VNF and establishes a provisioning data link to the VNF. The provisioning circuitry transfers network provisioning data to the VNF over the provisioning data link. The VNF controller de-instantiates the VNF in the network circuitry and responsively transfers de-instantiation information for the VNF to the provisioning circuitry. The provisioning circuitry receives the de-instantiation information for the VNF and terminates the provisioning data link to the VNF. The VNF controller may comprise a Network Function Virtualization Management and Orchestration (NFV MANO) computer.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses may comprise a Radio Access Network (RAN) node for performing RAN-layer network slicing. The system may comprise a User Equipment (UE) in communication with the RAN node to provide the UE access to a core network (e.g., a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G network). The core network may comprise one or more Network Functions (NF) including an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) for facilitating communications between the RAN node and other NFs. By sending one or more RAN node messages and/or AMF messages, the system may perform RAN-layer slicing to register the UE with a network slice, establish a PDU session for the UE with the network slice, and/or provide a service to the UE with the network slice. In some instances, RAN-layer network slicing may be performed for multiple, specific use cases to meet UE service requirements.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses may comprise a Radio Access Network (RAN) node for performing RAN-layer network slicing. The system may comprise a User Equipment (UE) in communication with the RAN node to provide the UE access to a core network (e.g., a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G network). The core network may comprise one or more Network Functions (NF) including an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) for facilitating communications between the RAN node and other NFs. By sending one or more RAN node messages and/or AMF messages, the system may perform RAN-layer slicing to register the UE with a network slice, establish a PDU session for the UE with the network slice, and/or provide a service to the UE with the network slice. In some instances, RAN-layer network slicing may be performed for multiple, specific use cases to meet UE service requirements.

Systems and methods for partitioning radio spectrum in an AP to support a mixed client environment while maintaining efficient 802.11ax transmissions is provided. Clients in a zone may be categorized into 802.11ax and legacy clients, and those clients may further be categorized into a majority population and a minority population. Assignment of the minority and majority populations can be effectuated by considering the number of available channels to be assigned to each population of client devices, as well as steering load/cost and a client device's ability to be steered to another channel. Moreover, assignment of the minority and majority populations can take into account maintaining a particular client-channel density.

Systems and methods for partitioning radio spectrum in an AP to support a mixed client environment while maintaining efficient 802.11ax transmissions is provided. Clients in a zone may be categorized into 802.11ax and legacy clients, and those clients may further be categorized into a majority population and a minority population. Assignment of the minority and majority populations can be effectuated by considering the number of available channels to be assigned to each population of client devices, as well as steering load/cost and a client device's ability to be steered to another channel. Moreover, assignment of the minority and majority populations can take into account maintaining a particular client-channel density.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for managing uplink resource grants in wireless networks. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: communicating resource grants to individual customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, the resource grants including at least a first resource grant to a first CPE device and a second resource grant to a second CPE device, the first resource grant giving the first CPE device the right to use a first set of resource blocks on a recurring basis, said second resource grant giving the second CPE device the right to use a second set of resource blocks on a recurring basis; monitoring the use of resource blocks granted to the first and second CPE devices during a first period of time; using stored resource utilization information to determine resource grants which are to be shared by the first and second CPE device.

The technologies described herein are generally directed to facilitate allocating resources to zones for IOT equipment in a fifth generation (5G) network or other next generation networks. An example method discussed herein includes identifying, by carrier allocation equipment, carrier transmission information corresponding to transmission of a first carrier signal configured to support Internet of things equipment. The method can further comprise analyzing, by the carrier allocation equipment, the carrier transmission information to determine coverage information corresponding to a potential for coverage, by the first carrier signal, of an Internet of things equipment support zone corresponding to a geographic area. The method can further include, based on the coverage information, facilitating configuring transmission parameter information, representative of a transmission parameter applicable to the coverage of the Internet of things equipment support zone by the first carrier signal.

The technologies described herein are generally directed to launching radio spectrum resources in a fifth generation (5G) network or other next generation networks. For example, a method described herein can include, confirming, by site launching equipment, installation of components of a base station, resulting in a confirmed installation. The method can further comprise, based on the confirmed installation, facilitating, by the site launching equipment, integrating the base station into a communications network. Further, in response to the integrating, launching, by the site launching equipment, operation of the base station for a testing of performance of the base station, the testing resulting in a tested base station. The method can further comprise activating, by the site launching equipment, the tested base station for use by authorized user equipment via the communications network.

The technologies described herein are generally directed to launching radio spectrum resources in a fifth generation (5G) network or other next generation networks. For example, a method described herein can include, confirming, by site launching equipment, installation of components of a base station, resulting in a confirmed installation. The method can further comprise, based on the confirmed installation, facilitating, by the site launching equipment, integrating the base station into a communications network. Further, in response to the integrating, launching, by the site launching equipment, operation of the base station for a testing of performance of the base station, the testing resulting in a tested base station. The method can further comprise activating, by the site launching equipment, the tested base station for use by authorized user equipment via the communications network.

The technologies described herein are generally directed to configuring carrier aggregation zones based on transmission information in a fifth generation (5G) network or other next generation networks. For example, a method described herein can include identifying, by carrier aggregation equipment including a processor, carrier transmission information corresponding to a first carrier signal and a second carrier signal. The method can further include analyzing, by the carrier aggregation equipment, the carrier transmission information to determine first overlap zone information representative of a first carrier overlap zone for the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal. Further, based on the first overlap zone information, the method includes facilitating configuring transmission parameter information representative of a transmission parameter applicable to transmission of the first carrier signal, to enable carrier aggregation by network equipment within the first carrier overlap zone.