Network slice information indicating a characteristic of a wireless network to be provided by a base station is acquired, and whether the base station provides a predetermined network slice is determined based on the acquired network slice information. If a determination that the base station does not provide the predetermined network slice is made, connection processing for connection between a communication apparatus and the base station is canceled, or connection between the communication apparatus and the base station is disconnected.

Embodiments of a method and an apparatus for multi-link communications are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for multi-link communications involves associating, by an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), with a non-AP MLD operating on a first set of links, and allocating, by the AP MLD, an Association ID (AID) to the non-AP MLD, such that the AID is included in a first plurality of AIDs, wherein the first plurality of AIDs does not include a first set of AIDs, and wherein at least one of the first set of AIDs are assigned to at least one of APs and Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs) on a second set of links.

A network provider implements network slicing. Network instances are instantiated on a communication network that are configured to provide a configured set of services that are accessible to a controlled set of devices. When a first device is either registered or authenticated with the communication network or has entered a service area, a service profile is identified and analyzed. In response to determining that the service profile matches a configured set of services for one of the instantiated network instances, the first device is enabled to access the matching instantiated network instance.

A network provider implements network slicing. Network instances are instantiated on a communication network that are configured to provide a configured set of services that are accessible to a controlled set of devices. When a first device is either registered or authenticated with the communication network or has entered a service area, a service profile is identified and analyzed. In response to determining that the service profile matches a configured set of services for one of the instantiated network instances, the first device is enabled to access the matching instantiated network instance.

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a network slice usage service is provided. The network slice usage service may allow a network device to obtain a network slice usage value of a network slice. The network device may be implemented as a network data analytics function (NWDAF). The network slice usage value may be provided by an access and mobility management function (AMF). The network device may calculate a network slice load value based on the network slice usage value. The network device may also provide the network slice load value to other network devices of a core network, such as a network slice selection function (NSSF) and/or a policy control function (PCF).

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a network slice usage service is provided. The network slice usage service may allow a network device to obtain a network slice usage value of a network slice. The network device may be implemented as a network data analytics function (NWDAF). The network slice usage value may be provided by an access and mobility management function (AMF). The network device may calculate a network slice load value based on the network slice usage value. The network device may also provide the network slice load value to other network devices of a core network, such as a network slice selection function (NSSF) and/or a policy control function (PCF).

Methods and computer software are disclosed for providing backhaul bandwidth estimation for a network. In one embodiment a method is disclosed, comprising: performing active measurements of a maximum achievable bandwidth for the network; determining an uplink direction bandwidth estimation for the network; determining a downlink direction bandwidth estimation for the network; and determining, using the uplink direction bandwidth estimation and the downlink direction estimation bandwidth, a bandwidth estimation conclusion for the network.

Methods and computer software are disclosed for providing backhaul bandwidth estimation for a network. In one embodiment a method is disclosed, comprising: performing active measurements of a maximum achievable bandwidth for the network; determining an uplink direction bandwidth estimation for the network; determining a downlink direction bandwidth estimation for the network; and determining, using the uplink direction bandwidth estimation and the downlink direction estimation bandwidth, a bandwidth estimation conclusion for the network.

A multi-carrier cellular wireless network (400) employs base stations (404) that transmit two different groups of pilot subcarriers: (1) cell-specific pilot subcarriers, which are used by a receiver to extract information unique to each individual cell (402), and (2) common pilots subcarriers, which are designed to possess a set of characteristics common to all the base stations (404) of the system. The design criteria and transmission formats of the cell-specific and common pilot subcarriers are specified to enable a receiver to perform different system functions. The methods and processes can be extended to other systems, such as those with multiple antennas in an individual sector and those where some subcarriers bear common network/system information.

A multi-carrier cellular wireless network (400) employs base stations (404) that transmit two different groups of pilot subcarriers: (1) cell-specific pilot subcarriers, which are used by a receiver to extract information unique to each individual cell (402), and (2) common pilots subcarriers, which are designed to possess a set of characteristics common to all the base stations (404) of the system. The design criteria and transmission formats of the cell-specific and common pilot subcarriers are specified to enable a receiver to perform different system functions. The methods and processes can be extended to other systems, such as those with multiple antennas in an individual sector and those where some subcarriers bear common network/system information.