Techniques for in-situ passive performance measurement are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a data packet at a first network element, determining whether measurement information is to be collected for the data packet, providing one or more measurement fields for the data packet based on a determination that measurement information is to be collected for the data packet in which at least one measurement field identifies a measurement type, and forwarding the data packet to a second network element. The method further includes determining, by the second network element, the measurement type for the data packet, and performing one or more actions based on the measurement type.

A method for enabling communication between a first network entity and a second network entity via at least two network flows includes: providing at least a first network flow and a second network flow of the first network entity; measuring, by a measuring unit associated with the first network entity, condition values of each of the at least two network flows; comparing the measured condition values of the at least two network flows to entries of a condition matrix; based on comparing the measured condition values to the entries of the condition matrix, selecting a mode for the first network entity out of an aggregation mode, a reliability mode, and a single-connectivity mode; and activating the selected mode.

A method for enabling communication between a first network entity and a second network entity via at least two network flows includes: providing at least a first network flow and a second network flow of the first network entity; measuring, by a measuring unit associated with the first network entity, condition values of each of the at least two network flows; comparing the measured condition values of the at least two network flows to entries of a condition matrix; based on comparing the measured condition values to the entries of the condition matrix, selecting a mode for the first network entity out of an aggregation mode, a reliability mode, and a single-connectivity mode; and activating the selected mode.

Systems are methods are described for predicting and forecasting a resource utilization on network device, particularly for handling multicast flows, by monitoring past resource consumption patterns. A system can include a plurality of multicast clients coupled to a network; and a network device coupled to the network. The network device may be a switch or a router that directs multicast traffic to the plurality of multicast clients. The network device can include a flow prediction controller that determines one or more real-time predictions relating to a demand of the network based on an analysis of an artificial intelligence (AI) forecasting model, such as an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Also, the network device can include a resource optimizer that performs a resource management action that optimizes the resources of the network device based on the one or more real-time predictions of the demand of the network and a policy.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a PCF node (101) for enabling user plane traffic classification in a communications system (100) supporting CUPS with multiple UPF nodes (105). The PCF node receives, from a SMF node (103), a policy request for a UE (114). The PCF node (101) obtains, from a UDR (108), an indicator indicating COMU for the UE (114), and transmits, to the SMF node (103), a policy response comprising the indicator indicating COMU.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a PCF node (101) for enabling user plane traffic classification in a communications system (100) supporting CUPS with multiple UPF nodes (105). The PCF node receives, from a SMF node (103), a policy request for a UE (114). The PCF node (101) obtains, from a UDR (108), an indicator indicating COMU for the UE (114), and transmits, to the SMF node (103), a policy response comprising the indicator indicating COMU.

A method of controlling service transmission, a terminal and a network device are provided, the method is performed by a first terminal, including: obtaining an indication signaling, where the indication signaling includes: first indication information of a resource position occupied by a high-priority service transmission of a second terminal in a reference resource domain, and second indication information indicating whether there exists a resource conflict between a service transmission of the first terminal and the high-priority service transmission; when there exists a resource conflict between the service transmission of the first terminal and the high-priority service transmission, stopping a service transmission on a target resource position where the resource conflict occurs according to the first indication information.

A method for anticipatory bidirectional packet steering involves receiving, by a first packet steering module of a network, a first encapsulated packet traveling in a forward traffic direction. The first encapsulated packet includes a first encapsulating data structure. The network includes two or more packet steering modules and two or more network nodes. Each of the packet steering modules includes a packet classifier module, a return path learning module, a flow policy table, and a replicated data structure (RDS). The return path learning module of the first packet steering module generates return traffic path information associated with the first encapsulated packet and based on the first encapsulating data structure. The first packet steering module updates the RDS using the return traffic path information and transmits the return traffic path information to one or more other packet steering modules.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for network slicers. Network slicers can receive creation request messages and select network slices based on policies. A network slicer can indicate to next hop routers that it has lower routing costs in order to receive messages, and inspect the received messages to identify creation request messages. A network slicer can indicate to a DNS server that it has a higher priority than other network elements, and receive creation request messages based on the higher priority. New creation request messages can be sent to the selected network slices based on received creation request messages. The network can also create and send appropriate response messages to the creation request to establish future communications with the selected network slice.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for network slicers. Network slicers can receive creation request messages and select network slices based on policies. A network slicer can indicate to next hop routers that it has lower routing costs in order to receive messages, and inspect the received messages to identify creation request messages. A network slicer can indicate to a DNS server that it has a higher priority than other network elements, and receive creation request messages based on the higher priority. New creation request messages can be sent to the selected network slices based on received creation request messages. The network can also create and send appropriate response messages to the creation request to establish future communications with the selected network slice.