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 system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for implementing a fault-tolerant multi-NRF network topology may include a network repository function (NRF) device including: at least one processor configured to execute computer readable instructions to cause the NRF device to, broadcast a NRF query to a NRF cluster of a core network, the NRF cluster including a plurality of NRF devices located in a public land mobile network (PLMN); receive NRF query responses from each NRF device of the NRF cluster, the NRF query responses including network configuration information of each NRF device; determine a status of each NRF device based on the network configuration information; determine a list of network function (NF) devices registered with the NRF cluster; receive a NF query request from a first NF device; and transmit a NF query response to the first NF device.

Methods, apparatus circuitry, and storage media are described for mobile-terminated packet transmissions. In one embodiment, an apparatus of a control plane device configured to operate within an evolved packet network core identifies a first service flow event trigger associated with a first packet data unit (PDU) session and processes a path reselection for a first PDU session in response to the first service flow event trigger, wherein the path reselection determines a new gateway for the first PDU session resulting from the path reselection. Transmission of a change notification to an application server controller associated with the first PDU session is initiated in response to the path reselection. Transmission of a routing update to the new gateway in response to the path reselection is also initiated. In various embodiments, the trigger may be a mobility event, a load balancing event, or operations in association with an application server controller.

Described are examples for providing a distributed fault-tolerant state store for a virtualized base station. In an aspect, a first server at a datacenter may perform physical layer processing for at least one virtualized base station. While performing the physical layer processing, the first server may generate inter-slot physical layer state data during a first slot. The inter-slot physical layer state data is to be used in a subsequent slot. The first server may periodically transmit the inter-slot physical layer state data to one or more other servers of the plurality of servers within the datacenter. One of the other servers may take over the physical layer processing for the at least one virtualized base station based on the inter-slot physical layer state data, for example, in response to a fault at the first server or a migration of the at least one virtualized base station.

Methods to support User Plane Separation (UPS) and User Plane Local offloading (UPL) for Fifth Generation (5G) non-Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access are provided, including solutions for untrusted non-3GPP, trusted non-3GPP, and fixed/wireline communications via a Non-3GPP interworking Function (N3IWF) node. Three UPS solutions methods are provided, as well as UPL solution methods for 5G non-3GPP access involving N3IWFs with or without separated Control Plane (CP) and User Plane (UP) that are combined with a User Plane Function (UPF). Solutions to allow multiple CP entities to control the same single UP entity are also provided.

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 load migration method, apparatus, and system. The method includes obtaining, by a first controller, in a process of migrating a user equipment (UE) to the first controller from a second controller, a first temporary user identifier of the UE, the first temporary user identifier comprising a second identifier of the second controller, allocating, by the first controller, a second temporary user identifier to the UE, the second temporary user identifier comprising a first identifier of the first controller, transmitting, by the first controller, the second temporary user identifier to a database server for updating the first temporary user identifier by the second temporary user identifier, and sending, by the first controller to an external network element, the first identifier of the first controller.

Systems and methods are described to enable a so-called ‘unified slice’, wherein the unified slice is technology-independent, i.e., constructed from different networking technologies, and spans multiple operators. The method provides an abstraction of a network slice and its segments, and a way to coordinate the end-to-end slice information collection, slice segment configuration and activation across multiple types of networks and operators. The system of invention has the task of coordinating configuration of an end-to-end slice, with user-specified slice parameters, by communicating with the respective slice managers; It receives information to generate an abstract model of each slice segment, and sends the required slice segment attributes to these slice managers so that they can activate the segment after translating them according to capabilities of their network technology.

The present invention relates to concepts underlying the realization of a virtual data session, and in more detail to a virtual data session control device, to a fixed wireless access device supporting a virtual data session, to a user data plane device supporting a virtual data session, to an access and mobility management device supporting a virtual data session, and to related control methods. Here, a virtual data session is an aggregation of at least two data sessions (22, 24) set up between at least two fixed wireless access devices (26, 28) forming a fixed wireless access domain in a cellular infrastructure and a data plane device (20) providing interconnection functionality between the cellular infrastructure and an external data network (18).

A method is described for communication in a tactical network. A gateway is communicatively COUPLABLE to one or more tactical nodes and to one or more other gateways. The gateway is programmed to transmit information to and/or receive information from other gateways. Information exchanged includes gateway attributes, link attributes, service availability, and/or data availability. The gateway optionally provides quality of service, distributed persistence, load balancing, and/or transformation services. Services are provided in a modular, service-oriented architecture (SOA) to accommodate the addition of services and/or applications.