Embodiments are directed towards systems and methods for user plane function (UPF) and network slice load balancing within a 5G network. Example embodiments include systems and methods for load balancing based on current UPF load and thresholds that depend on UPF capacity; UPF load balancing using predicted throughput of new UE on the network based on network data analytics; UPF load balancing based on special considerations for low latency traffic; UPF load balancing supporting multiple slices, maintaining several load-thresholds for each UPF and each slice depending on the UPF and network slice capacity; and UPF load balancing using predicted central processing unit (CPU) utilization and/or predicted memory utilization of new UE on the network based on network data analytics.

A method and system for controlling data split of a dual-connected user equipment device (UE) when the UE has at least two co-existing air-interface connections including a first air-interface connection with a first access node and a second air-interface connection with a second access node. An example method includes (i) comparing an aggregate frequency bandwidth of the first air-interface connection with an aggregate frequency bandwidth of the second air-interface connection, (ii) based at least on the comparing, establishing a split ratio that defines a distribution of data flow of the UE between at least the first air-interface connection and the second air-interface connection, and (iii) based on the establishing, causing the established split ratio to be applied. Further the method could include using the comparison as a basis to set one of the UE's air-interface connections as the UE's primary uplink path.

A method includes determining, by a terminal device, a relation of size between an amount of data to be sent of a first split bearer of the terminal device and a preset threshold of the first split bearer, wherein the amount of the data to be sent includes a total amount of data volume in a PDCP layer of the first split bearer and an amount of data in a first RLC layer that is configured by a network side on the first split bearer and that is used to transmit data by default. The method also includes determining according to the relation of size in a plurality of cell groups corresponding to the first split bearer, a target cell group used to process the data to be sent according to the relation of size. The method facilitates load balance between cell groups and data transmission flexibility.

A method (100) for managing resource usage across domains in a communication network is disclosed. The communication network comprises a radio access domain, a core domain and a transport domain providing connectivity between the radio access domain and the core domain. The method comprises receiving from the core domain an indication of load status of gateway nodes in the core domain (110), receiving from the transport domain an indication of load status of transport resources in the transport domain (120), normalising across the core and transport domain a cost of using resources in each domain (130), calculating, on the basis of the normalised costs, optimal chains of resources in the core and transport domains for providing a service from different radio access nodes to different possible Access Point Names (APNs) (140), and sending to the core and transport domains information about the calculated optimal resource chains (150). Also disclosed are methods for managing resource usage in a core domain, a transport domain and a radio access domain of a communication network, together with cross domain, core domain, transport domain and radio access domain control elements.

A session management function (SMF) sends, to an access and mobility management function (AMF), one or more first messages indicating user plane connection activations for a plurality of packet data unit (PDU) sessions to deliver downlink user data to one or more wireless devices. The SMF receives, from the AMF, a first time duration based on the user plane connection activations for the plurality of PDU sessions. The first time duration indicates a delay between receiving a downlink data packet and notifying the AMF about user plane connection activation for the downlink data packet. The SMF sends, to a user plane function, a second message to delay sending of further user plane connection activations to the SMF. The second message indicates a value of the first time duration.

A session management function (SMF) sends, to an access and mobility management function (AMF), one or more first messages indicating user plane connection activations for a plurality of packet data unit (PDU) sessions to deliver downlink user data to one or more wireless devices. The SMF receives, from the AMF, a first time duration based on the user plane connection activations for the plurality of PDU sessions. The first time duration indicates a delay between receiving a downlink data packet and notifying the AMF about user plane connection activation for the downlink data packet. The SMF sends, to a user plane function, a second message to delay sending of further user plane connection activations to the SMF. The second message indicates a value of the first time duration.

The disclosed technology is directed towards load balancing baseband units in a communications network. A baseband physical layer 1 unit's functions are disaggregated into Layer 1 (L1) distributed units and radio units, instead of deploying full-fledged baseband units at a service′ provider's service areas (cells). A load balancer scales up the number of active distributed units based on increased actual demand, and scales down the active distributed units based on decreased demand. The L1 distributed units and radio units can be software-defined network functions, and need not be collocated, whereby the distributed units can be in the cloud or hub remotely located relative to the radio units deployed at the service areas. Examples of load balancing can be load balancing of transmitted data per carrier, per subcarrier, per user equipment, per transmission time interval (TTI/slot), per bearer, or per channel.

There are provided mechanisms for sharing channels in a wireless communications system among wireless devices that use a plurality of different access technologies. First and second wireless devices are operable to share a channel in the wireless communication system with each other. The first wireless device is operable to provide an indication to the second wireless device that the first wireless device is using a first access technology to access the channel. The second wireless device is operable to receive the indication and determine, based on the indication, that the first wireless device is using a first access technology to access the channel. Accordingly, the second wireless device can determine, based on compatibility of its access technology with that of the first wireless device, whether to refrain from using the channel or to share the channel.

A method of OFDMA subcarrier allocation for stations in a wireless network includes determining a total downlink buffered traffic load for downlink traffic from a gateway device to the stations, and receiving a total uplink buffered traffic load for uplink traffic from the stations to the gateway device. The method further includes determining a first ratio of total downlink buffered traffic load for each station in relation to total downlink buffered traffic load for all stations, determining a second ratio of total uplink buffered traffic load for each station in relation to total uplink buffered traffic load for all stations, performing OFDMA subcarrier allocation for the downlink traffic by assigning available channel bandwidth proportional to the first ratio for each station, and performing OFDMA subcarrier allocation for the uplink traffic by assigning available channel bandwidth proportional to the second ratio for each station.

Embodiments include methods, by a first radio access network (RAN) node, for load balancing with a second RAN node. Such methods include receiving, from the second RAN node, one or more first indications related to resource aggregation capabilities for a plurality of cells served by the second RAN node. Such methods include determining one or more of the following based on the first indications: overall capacity available for offloading user equipment, UEs, to the plurality of cells; whether resources from the plurality of cells can be aggregated to meet service requirements of one or more UEs served by the first RAN node; and one or more UEs to be handed over to the second RAN node. Other embodiments include complementary methods by a second RAN node, as well as first and second RAN nodes configured to perform such methods.