96 results about "Virtual network operators" patented technology

An architecture is presented that enables a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) to create a branded wireless offering. An MVNO-enabler (MVNE) system acts as an intermediary between a brand system and a wireless network. The MVNE system controls customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In one embodiment, the MVNE system comprises modules for customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In another embodiment, the MVNE system comprises interfaces to third party systems that provide these services. In yet another embodiment, the MVNE system can comprise interfaces to a plurality of brand systems, a plurality of wireless networks, and a plurality of third party systems. By using various interfaces, a customized wireless offering can be created.

Systems and methods for operating a mobile virtual network are disclosed. A mobile virtual network operator is disclosed as an entity that provides a mobile networking service to a user, the mobile networking service being provided using a physical mobile network provided by a third party. The mobile virtual network operator may provide content distribution services, data access services, or messaging services to a user of a mobile device.

A resource management apparatus for a cellular communication system is provided wherein the available radio resource is divided into separate partitions, each of which is allocated to a different operator, such as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. Radio Network Controllers of the cellular communication system comprise independent resource controllers for each operator. The resource controllers allocate radio resource to a subscriber unit in response to an operator identity associated with a service of the subscriber unit, such that different quality of service is achieved for different operators. The resource is allocated from the resource partition of the operator identified. The resource controllers independently control one or more quality of service parameters of the radio access network, Hence, each operator may independently control and manage quality of service and is thereby enabled to differentiate from other operators.

A mechanism for improving a reliability of a virtual network and resources used. At a virtual network operator level, a request for providing resources for the virtual network is sent towards an infrastructure provider level. The request includes an indication regarding a required availability and reliability level which is to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network. At an infrastructure provider level the request is processed in order to determine the required availability and reliability level, and it is checked whether the required availability and reliability level is achievable for the resources to be provided for the virtual network. A result (confirmation or denial) of the check is sent back to the virtual network operator level.

A scheduling apparatus and method for proportional resource allocation among Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are provided. The method includes, for each MVNO, allocating a dedicated resource of each MVNO to Quality of Service (QoS) traffic in consideration of priorities, for each MVNO, determining a presence or absence of unscheduled QoS traffic, and for MVNOs each of which has the unscheduled QoS traffic, allocating a common resource shared by all MVNOs to the unscheduled QoS traffic in consideration of priorities without distinguishing each MVNO. Accordingly, proportional resource allocation depending on a pre-set ratio can be guaranteed, efficiency of resource use can be improved, and QoS can be guaranteed.

Methods and systems for provisioning IMS networks with Virtual Service Organizations (VSOs) or Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that have distinct service logic, enabling VSOs and MVNOs to provide distinctive service experiences. Call models are provisioned so that different users can have distinct IMS service experiences. The IMS network includes a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) for providing user device session control. A database having selectable call model information associates IMS service codes with application servers (ASs) based on a user / group identity. S-CSCF logic receives a service request having a user identity, accesses the database, and instantiates a call model having filter codes that associate IMS service codes with ASs. The ASs have service logic to provide services for a corresponding IMS service code. Call models have different ASs with different service logic associated with a specified IMS service code, such that two call models will provide distinct service experience for a specified IMS service code.

An apparatus and method for Admission Control (AC) in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a classification unit for determining a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), from a plurality of MVNOs, that provides services for a generated resource request, a manager for evaluating a resource occupation status of the MVNO and a resource amount permitted to the MVNO, and a determination unit for determining whether to admit the resource request according to at least one of the resource occupation status of the determined MVNO, the resource amount permitted to the determined MVNO and an available total resource amount.

A network and network services brokering system between network companies and mobile virtual network operators which provides efficient billing systems in order to provide improved network services to subscribers. The network brokering system comprises a virtual network operator who provides network services to subscribers, a network company who provides usage of their physical networks to the virtual network operator, and a network broker who interfaces between the network company and virtual network operator. Additionally, the network broker provides interfacing between virtual network operators and independent content providers. The network broker further comprises a real-time call control and common service platform for real-time controlling of call, billing, and payment information. Using the real-time call control and common service platform allows complex billing such as partial pre-paid and partial post-paid payment schemes. Through the services of the network broker, the virtual network operator has usage of the network company's networks.

The invention provides flow statistic method, terminal and system. The method comprises the steps of: uploading real-time flow data counting information of a user under various networks by terminal equipment to an appointed server; and counting the flow of a terminal under various types of networks by the server according to the flow data counting information reported by the terminal. By the technical scheme of the invention, the terminal equipment fusing different network access modes is allowed to accurately complete the counting of all the different types of network flows in real time. In addition, the users do not need to worry about the inaccurate flow statistic made by the terminal because of the replacement of a software version or a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, and virtual network operators can complete the pricing calculation of various types of networks of the operators per se through the classification flow statistic under the condition of not increasing network equipment investment.

A system and method for implementing content or services customized for a branded company via a choice of data platforms of the brand company's choosing and independent of the wireless data infrastructure offered by the wireless network provider are disclosed. A control module receives a request for content or services from a branded company through an input interface, such as a wireless network interface, a third-party system interface or a brand system interface. The control module is adapted to communicate with a data platform services adapter which associates an external system, such as a third-party system or a data platform, with the branded company providing the request. The data platform services adapter transmits the received request to the associated external system using an output interface which adapted to communicate with the control module.

A communication system, method, computer program product, and apparatus include common equipment shared between multiple independently administered networks. The common equipment is reconfigurable and expandable and provides changed communication capacity and functions when additional elements are added or reconfigured. Configurable features include, for example, communication bandwidth, Quality of Service, and a number of communication satellites included in the communication system. The common equipment includes expandable elements including, for example, a single hub modem chassis that can expand to communicate with more than one communication satellite and a protocol processor that can share a protocol processing task with another protocol processors.

Methods and systems for provisioning IMS networks with Virtual Service Organizations (VSOs) or Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that have distinct service logic, enabling VSOs and MVNOs to provide distinctive service experiences. Call models are provisioned so that different users can have distinct IMS service experiences. The IMS network includes a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) for providing user device session control. A database having selectable call model information associates IMS service codes with application servers (ASs) based on a user / group identity. S-CSCF logic receives a service request having a user identity, accesses the database, and instantiates a call model having filter codes that associate IMS service codes with ASs. The ASs have service logic to provide services for a corresponding IMS service code. Call models have different ASs with different service logic associated with a specified IMS service code, such that two call models will provide distinct service experience for a specified IMS service code.

An embodiment of the application provides a method and apparatus for controlling network resources. In the method, a packet data gateway obtains a total aggregation bit rate parameter carried in a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), the total aggregation bit rate parameter including the sum of aggregation maximum bit rate parameters carried by all the current unguaranteed bit rates of the MVNO, or the sum of aggregation maximum bit rate parameters carried by all the current guaranteed bit rates of the MVNO and the sum of guaranteed bit rate parameters; the total aggregation bit rate parameter is monitored and compared with a preset overload limiting value; and based on comparison results, when the MVNO is determined to be overloaded with occupied network resources, processing of user services in the MVNO is controlled, so as not to increase network resources occupied by the MVNO. Through the embodiment of the application, excessive occupation of network resources by the MVNO can be avoided so as not to affect user services of other network operators.

The invention relates to the field of communication, and more particularly relates to a placement method of a virtual network function based on a genetic algorithm. The method comprises the followingsteps: S1, querying a system cache to judge whether a deployment result of a current type of SFC request exists, and if yes, skipping to step S4; if not, skipping to step S2; S2, sequentially selecting physical nodes and instances to be placed for a VNF in a service chain in combination with the calculation steps of the genetic algorithm; S3, mapping a virtual link of the SFC according to the VNFplacement situation obtained in step S2 to guide sequential transmission of data traffic; and S4, allocating requested physical resources to the SFC according to the deployment result. In the placement method provided by the invention, the resource relationship between the deployed VNF instances and the actually running VNF is clarified, and the count of VNF instantiation is limited to simulate the limited resources owned by an virtual network operator; and the processing of the SFC request is implemented by using as few VNF instances as possible, thereby prompting the rational use of the underlying physical resources of the entire network, and reducing the cost.

A method and system for responding to demand-based charging in a communication network, such as a 5G wireless communication network is provided. Service providers and / or infrastructure providers adjust network usage pricing dynamically based on demand. Customers such as Virtual Network operators respond to pricing adjustments by adjusting their network usage, service requirements, and / or by re-negotiating the pricing structure. Network usage can be adjusted by controlling network traffic generated in response to activity of end-user devices of the Virtual Network.

Call rating systems and methods using a mobile to mobile database with operator prefixes and a rating key table in which network operators subscribed to by mobile to mobile calling and called parties are identified by database queries and a rating key is obtained according to the prefixes to rate the call according to the rating key value representing agreed discounts for calls between subscribers of mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operators.

The invention relates to a 5G network slice topology design and reliable mapping method for bottom node failure, belonging to the technical field of mobile communication. The method comprises the following steps: a 5G network slice reliable mapping model is established; the virtual network operator VNO periodically detects the resource and reliability information of the bottom node; According to the overall reliability requirements of network slices, the reliability objectives of a single virtual network function instance are obtained. According to the real-time node information, the mapping scheme of the slice is judged. If there are resource constraints and the reliability of a single node can not meet the requirements, the network slice must be reconstructed. If both resource and reliability meet the requirements, the optimal mapping scheme is determined according to the criterion of minimizing bandwidth resource consumption while minimizing the difference between the required reliability and the achievable reliability. Otherwise, the slice request is rejected directly. When the invention realizes the reliable mapping of the network slice, the cost of the operator is reduced atthe same time of the user experience.

The invention discloses a resource allocation mechanism for a plurality of MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) and a plurality of users in a 5G cellular network when the MVNOs serve as the business subject and participates in the market competition, so as to maximize the social welfare and market benefits. The virtualization technology greatly reduces the capital expenditure through the decoupling separation of services and equipment, and a flexible and high-efficiency resource allocation scheme is a research hotspot. Different from a mechanism which just gives consideration to the benefits of a seller in the market, the mechanism enables a virtual operator and a user to serve as the allocation main body, and gives consideration to the characteristics of massive MIMO, and is designed to be a combined double auction mechanism with various types of products and participants. In order to distinguish the QoS requests of different users, the mechanism introduces a utility function to guarantee the characteristics of virtualized in-chip customization. The mechanism achieves the dynamic allocation through a like-VCG pricing scheme and a double auction model with the competiveness, and achieves the win-win of the buyer and seller while achieving high allocation efficiency.

An architecture is presented that enables a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) to create a branded wireless offering. An MVNO-enabler (MVNE) system acts as an intermediary between a brand system and a wireless network. The MVNE system controls customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In one embodiment, the MVNE system comprises modules for customer management, order management, applications management, and billing management. In another embodiment, the MVNE system comprises interfaces to third party systems that provide these services. In yet another embodiment, the MVNE system can comprise interfaces to a plurality of brand systems, a plurality of wireless networks, and a plurality of third party systems. By using various interfaces, a customized wireless offering can be created.

The invention relates to a method and device for controlling network capacity. The method and device for controlling the network capacity is used for achieving control over the MVNO of using the MNO network capacity. The method comprises the steps that MNO-PCRF receives an IP-CAN session establishing indication message, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which UE belongs to is confirmed according to user identification obtained from the IP-CAN session establishing indication message, the IP-CAN session establishing indication message is forwarded to a policy and charging control unit MVNO-PCRF, the IP-CAN session establishing indication message carrying policy and charging control (PCC) rules, sent by the MVNO-PCRF, of the UE, is received, and a confirmation message used for establishing an IP-CAN session for the UE is replied to the network element sending the indication message by using the PCC of the UE when the fact that the MVNO which the UE belongs to does not exceed the authorized capacity of the MVNO is confirmed.

A receive (Rx) chain of a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver may be used to assist a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver in a user equipment (UE). A UE may use the WLAN Rx chain to autonomously scan and measure while the UE is connected to a first or home wireless network using its WWAN transceiver. When the UE is in a connected state, the WLAN Rx chain may be used to scan and take measurements for one or more second networks operated by a second wireless operator belonging to the same mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) as the first wireless network. In another example, the WLAN Rx chain may perform a set of inter-frequency reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements based on observed time offsets between positioning reference signals (PRSs) from neighboring cells.

The invention is applicable to the field of communication and provides a method and a system for distinguishing users. The method comprises the following steps: a control plane node acquires information of a mobile virtual network operator to which a user belongs; and the control plane node distinguishes the user according to the information of the mobile virtual network operator to which the user belongs. According to the embodiment of the invention, by acquiring the information of a mobile virtual network operator to which a user belongs, the user can be distinguished from a user belonging to a real network according to the information of the mobile virtual network operator to which the user belongs. Therefore, a user belonging to a real network can be distinguished from a wholesale user according to information configured by user equipment under heavy network load, thus realizing distinguishing control on the two types of users.

A network resource module communicatively interfaces a resource manager with one or more network nodes in a communications network. Each network node provides one or more network resources that may be used to create a virtual infrastructure for a virtual network. The network resource module detects the network nodes, abstracts the resources associated with the network nodes at a desired granularity (e.g., node level or flow level) into Virtual Resource Objects (VROs), and then publishes the VROs in a registry. Thereafter, Virtual Network Operators (VROs) select desired VROs from the registry to build the virtual infrastructure for the virtual network.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of admitting a session from a user device subscribed to a service with a virtual network operator. The method includes receiving a service request from said user device at an Access Point and selecting a network function Authentication and Authorization (AA) function (AAF) to confirm the user device is authorized for the requested service, and transmitting the request to the selected network function AAA function. The AAAF which processes the request may reside with the virtual network operator (VNO). However, the VNO may share its AAA database with other network entities (for example, Telecom Connectivity Service Providers (TCSPs) or InPs), and allow those entities to perform the AAA functions.

The invention belongs to the technical field of wireless communication, and discloses a D2D (Device-to-Device) multicast resource allocation method in a wireless network virtualization scene. A virtual network operator implements virtualization of a physical network according to service types of users; according to geographic positions of the users and requested service contents, a cellular user group and a D2D multicast user group are determined; according to a service type required by each group of users, the cellular user group and the D2D multicast user group are partitioned and signed todifferent virtual networks; and each virtual network operator carries out base station selection, frequency band allocation and power control for the multicast user group signed to the virtual networkoperator, and in the major premise of ensuring limitation to a user communication rate and resources of the multicast group, the aim of maximization of system throughput is fulfilled. According to the invention, by combining a D2D communication technology with a multicast communication technology, the spectrum efficiency of a system can be promoted; and a wireless network virtualization technology is introduced, so that the users can acquire services with high service quality and high experience quality.

Disclosed herein are methods, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium product for sharing broadcast resources and validating usage of the broadcast resources according to an agreement between a plurality of broadcast virtual network operators (BVNOs). A method includes determining the plurality of spectrum resources corresponding to a length of a broadcast frame, and creating a plurality of physical layer pipes (PLPs) based on a plurality of internet protocol (IP) flows from the plurality of BVNOs. The method includes constructing the broadcast frame including the plurality of PLPs and generating a broadcast frame record based on transmission of the broadcast frame. The broadcast frame record can identify the plurality of spectrum resources shared between the plurality of BVNOs. The method includes updating the broadcast frame record with identification information of the plurality of BVNOs and the plurality of IP flows corresponding to the plurality of PLPs of the broadcast frame.