A method of managing network traffic in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network having a plurality of network slices and a User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE is allocated to a first network slice for processing a network communication from the UE, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring a suitability of the first network slice to process the network communication; identifying a second network slice that is suitable for processing the network communication; and in response to identifying a lack of suitability of the first network slice to process the network communication, redirecting the network communication to the second network slice whilst the UE remains registered with the first network slice.

A controller that processes signals in a baseband frequency band is described. The controller includes a plurality of processing engines (PEs). The controller also includes a distributor/load balancer that includes at least one processor or processing core. The at least one processor or processing core is configured to (1) enter a first mode in which each new UE session is assigned to a PE that is currently processing a fewest number of UE sessions; (2) determine whether a processing load differential between a least loaded PE and a highest loaded PE exceed a first threshold for at least a time threshold; and (3) in response to the processing load differential between the least loaded PE and the highest loaded PE exceeding the first threshold for at least the time threshold, enter a second mode in which each new UE session is assigned to the least loaded PE.

Automated offloading of subscribers in a system having a set of mobility management entities (MMEs) during mobility management equipment failures is provided. Each MME maintains performance status and location information about all MMEs. When an MME senses performance degradation the traffic directed to that MME is allocated among the remaining MMEs in the set.

A communication method and an apparatus are provided herein. The method includes: sending, by a mobility management entity (MME), a track area update (TAU) accept message to a user equipment (UE), the TAU accept message comprising an identifier constructed from at least a resource pool identifier (pool-ID) that identifies a resource pool in a public land mobile network (PLMN), a mobility management entity identifier (MME-ID) that uniquely identifies the MME within the resource pool, and a UE temporary identifier that uniquely identifies the UE within the MME; and receiving, by the MME, a TAU complete message from the UE.

A method performed by a communications device, the method comprising allocating a fraction of the data for transmitting to a first infrastructure equipment using a first carrier frequency, allocating a remainder of the data for transmitting to a second infrastructure equipment using a second carrier frequency, transmitting the fraction of data using the first carrier frequency and the remainder of data using the second carrier frequency, determining an attribute associated with communicating the data from the communications device to the first infrastructure equipment using the first carrier frequency based upon signals received from the first infrastructure equipment, modifying the fraction based on at least the determined attribute, and transmitting the data using at least one of the first and second carrier frequencies according to the modified fraction.

Systems and methods for performing User Plane (UP) path selection or reselection over a communications network with a 3.sup.rd party entity, and for notifying network entities of UP changes in a communications network, are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an application program interface based request for UP path selection from the 3.sup.rd party entity; performing a validation and authorization procedure with the request; transmitting a UP path selection configuration request to a Control Plane Function that maintains configuration data; obtaining a reference number confirming the UP path selection configuration request; and installing the UP path selection according to the reference number.

According to certain embodiments, a method for use in a network node comprises receiving a request to connect a session of a wireless device. The wireless device is located in a service area of a Local Area Data Network (LADN) and a subscription associated with the wireless device permits access to the LADN. The method further comprises determining whether to select the LADN for the session. The determining is based on one or more factors associated with the LADN. The one or more factors comprise at least one of the following: loading conditions, service quality, historic data, and subscriber priority. The method further comprises sending, to another network node, a message indicating whether the LADN has been selected for the session.

The present disclosure provides systems for instantiating and terminating a MME VNF. The MME VNF is instantiated and/or terminated using an EM, a NM, a VNFM, a VIM, a NFVO and/or a catalog. Instantiating an MME VNF includes on-boarding the VNF package, creating a managed element, executing the enabled VNF package, instantiating the MME VNF instance, creating the MME function and modifying the MME pool to add the MME VNF instance. Terminating the MME VNF includes decommissioning the MME VNF services, modifying the MME pool to remove the MME VNF from the MME pool, and terminating the MME VNF instance.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for the efficient distribution of tunneled packets associated with multiple pieces of user equipment across central processing unit cores associated with network components. Example implementations contemplate one or more network components, such as a NodeB or gateway, which are configured with multiple IP addresses associated with multiple cores or other processors within the network component. In such example implementations, tunnels may be initialized to network endpoints such that network traffic loads imposed on the network component can be balanced by selecting one or more IP addresses from amongst the plurality of IP addresses associated with the particular network component.

The disclosure concerns a method and communication system for user path (UP) reselection. The method includes sending, from a network entity, a request to influence UP path reselection, the request indicating an application function (AF) location to be included in the UP path reselection. The method further includes generating, by a policy control function (PCF), a policy associated with the request and providing, by the PCF, the policy to a session management function (SMF). The method additionally includes performing, by the SMF, the UP path reselection for a session according to the policy and acknowledging, by the PCF, the request to the network entity.