Description
Information Object Class (IOC) is a fundamental construct in 3GPP's network management framework, particularly within the Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security (FCAPS) model. An IOC serves as a template or schema that defines the structure and semantics of managed objects, which are software abstractions representing physical or logical network resources, such as network elements, functions, or services. Each IOC specifies a set of attributes (properties), actions (operations that can be invoked), notifications (events emitted), and behavior (rules governing the object). Managed objects are instances of IOCs, populated with specific values, and they reside in a Management Information Base (MIB) accessible via management interfaces like the Itf-N or OAM interfaces.
The architecture of IOC-based management involves hierarchical class inheritance, where IOCs can be derived from parent classes, inheriting and extending their definitions. This object-oriented approach promotes reusability and consistency. Key components include the IOC definition in specification documents (e.g., 3GPP TS 28.xxx and 32.xxx series), the supporting management protocols (e.g., SNMP, CORBA, or RESTful APIs in newer releases), and the agent-manager paradigm where managed objects are implemented by network elements and accessed by management systems. IOCs cover a wide range of entities, from physical equipment like base stations to logical functions like network slices or QoS flows.
In operation, IOCs enable standardized management operations such as monitoring performance counters, configuring parameters, receiving fault alarms, and auditing usage. For example, an IOC for a gNB would define attributes for cell ID, transmit power, and connection statistics, actions for reset or software update, and notifications for link failure. By adhering to IOC definitions, vendors ensure interoperability, allowing network operators to manage multi-vendor deployments seamlessly. IOCs are central to 3GPP's Self-Organizing Networks (SON), network slicing management, and 5G service assurance, providing a unified information model for the entire network lifecycle.
Purpose & Motivation
IOC was developed to address the challenges of managing complex, multi-vendor telecommunications networks. Prior to standardization, each vendor used proprietary information models, making integration and unified management difficult and costly. The IOC concept, rooted in ITU-T's TMN and OSI systems management, provides a common language for describing network resources, enabling interoperability and reducing operational expenses.
The primary problems solved include fragmentation in management data representation and lack of consistency across different network domains. IOCs facilitate automated management, essential for scaling 5G networks with massive numbers of devices and dynamic services. They support FCAPS functions by ensuring that all managed entities expose a consistent set of attributes and behaviors. Historically, as networks evolved from 2G to 5G, the scope of IOCs expanded from basic network element management to encompass virtualized network functions, end-to-end service management, and network slicing. This evolution was motivated by the need for agile, software-driven networks where management must be as flexible and scalable as the services themselves.
Release Timeline
Detected Changes Across Releases
from 3GPP Change RequestsSpecific changes extracted from the „Change history“ tables of 3GPP specifications (60 CRs across 5 releases). Complements the general historical overview above with the evidence-based evolution of this function.
In Release 15, the IOC function was enhanced to support new 5G network management capabilities, including the introduction of the NetworkSliceController and NetworkSliceSubnetController IOCs for managing network slice allocation procedures. These IOCs enable specific management service operations, such as createMOI and modifyMOIAttributes, for network slice provisioning and lifecycle management. Additionally, updates were made to support EPC CUPS and to introduce new IOCs like BWP and NRSectorCarrier for NR network resource management.
- Add new attribute peeParametersList to IOC ManagedFunction TS 28.622CR0022
- Adding attribute of IOC EUtranGenericCell to support SON for AAS deployment management TS 28.659CR0021
- NRM IOC changes for EPC CUPS TS 28.708CR0008
- Update the inheritance hierarchy figure for NR NRM to include BWP IOC and NRSectorCarrier IOC TS 28.541CR0015
- CUPS NRM IOC error correction TS 28.708CR0009
In Release 16, the Information Object Class (IOC) function was expanded with new IOCs for enhanced QoS and policy control, including IOCs for controlling QoS monitoring per QoS flow and per GTP-U path, for configurable and dynamic 5QIs, and for 5QI to DSCP mapping. The release also introduced IOCs for managing predefined PCC rules and for supporting non-collocated LWA, alongside foundational updates such as adding TOP_ as a parent IOC and correcting attribute properties and inheritance descriptions. These additions provided new, standardized managed objects for network slice, subnet, and function management procedures like createMOI and modifyMOIAttributes.
- Add IOC for control of QoS monitoring per QoS flow per UE TS 28.541CR0261
- Add IOC for control of GTP-U path QoS monitoring TS 28.541CR0262
- Add IOC for configurable 5QIs TS 28.541CR0286
- Add IOC for 5QI to DSCP mapping TS 28.541CR0287
- Add IOC for predefined PCC rules TS 28.541CR0329
- Add IOC for predefined PCC rules TS 28.541CR0330
+ 12 more changes
In Release 17, the IOC function was enhanced with new NRM definitions for the N5, N70, and N71 reference points and the introduction of a `networkSliceSubnetType` attribute for the NetworkSliceSubnet IOC. Key IOCs like NetworkSliceController and NetworkSliceSubnetController were refined to support management service procedures such as `createMOI` and `modifyMOIAttributes`. Additionally, corrections and alignments were made across several IOCs, including EP_Transport, Dynamic5QISet, and TraceJob, to fix attributes and containment relationships.
- Add NRM IOC definitions for N5, N70 and N71 reference points TS 28.541CR0526
- Add attribute networkSliceSubnetType for NetworkSliceSubnet IOC TS 28.541CR0581
- Network slice subnet provider capability IOC TS 28.541CR0712
- Fixing Network slice and network slice subnet provisioning management service - profiles not convert to IOC - Stage 3 TS 28.531CR0104
- Revise description of NextHopInfo and qosProfileRefList attribute in EP_transport IOC TS 28.541CR0548
- Correct attribute in IOC NRCellRelation (stage 3) TS 28.541CR0634
+ 10 more changes
In Release 18, the Information Object Class (IOC) function was updated with several key enhancements. These included the addition of energy-saving attributes to the UPFFunction IOC, corrections and clarifications to the NWDAFFunction, ManagementDataCollection, and HeartbeatControl IOCs, and updates to support management and control purposes for the NWDAFFunction and EASDF IOCs. Furthermore, the multiplicity of the relation between the NetworkSlice and NetworkSliceSubnet IOCs was corrected, and the `notifyMOIChanges` capability was added to the Files and File IOCs.
- Update NWDAFFunction IOC to support management and control purpose TS 28.541CR0765
- Update NWDAFFunction IOC to support management and control purpose TS 28.541CR0823
- Rel-18 CR 28.541 Add energy saving attributes to IOC UPFFunction TS 28.541CR1109
- Correct the description and definition for NWDAFFunction IOC TS 28.541CR0877
- Update EASDF IOC TS 28.541CR0767
- Correction to multiplicity of relation between NetworkSlice IOC and NetworkSliceSubnet IOC TS 28.541CR0803
+ 5 more changes
In Release 19, the IOC function was enhanced by introducing new Information Object Classes, specifically the AIOTF and ADM IOCs, to support the management of Ambient IoT. Additionally, the NRFFunction IOC was updated with new and existing attributes for its NFService, and inheritance information was added for the NRECMappingRule and Beam IOCs. Other updates included aligning IOC definitions with a common template, correcting specific attribute definitions, and extending the MnSInfo IOC to support a Management Service Registry capability.
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.541 Add Exsting Attributes to NFService in NRFFunction IOC TS 28.541CR1391
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.541 Add New Attributes to NFService in NRFFunction IOC TS 28.541CR1392
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.541 Add AIOTF and ADM IOC to support management of Ambient IoT TS 28.541CR1510
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.622 Update MnSInfo IOC to support MnS Registry capability TS 28.622CR0515
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.541 Add the inheritance information for NRECMappingRule IOC and Beam IOC. TS 28.541CR1369
- Rel-19 CR TS 28.620 Align IOC definitions with TS 32.160 template TS 28.620CR0035
+ 4 more changes
Explore further
Broader topics and technologies where IOC plays a role.
Defining Specifications
3GPP specifications that define or reference IOC, with the latest known release. Sourced from the 3GPP document catalog — see methodology.
| Specification | Title | Release |
|---|---|---|
| TS 28.531 vk00 | Management and Orchestration | Rel-20 |
| TS 28.536 vj20 | Management services for communication service assurance | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.541 vk00 | 5G Network Resource Model (NRM) Stage 2/3 | Rel-20 |
| TS 28.601 vc00 | Telecom management; CN and non-3GPP access NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-12 |
| TS 28.602 vc00 | CN & non-3GPP NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-12 |
| TS 28.606 vc10 | CN and non-3GPP interworking NRM IRP Solution Sets | Rel-12 |
| TS 28.611 vj00 | EPC-WLAN Interworking NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.612 vj00 | EPC and non-3GPP interworking NRM IRP IS | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.616 vj00 | EPC and non-3GPP access NRM IRP SS definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.620 vj20 | FMC Federated Network Information Model (FNIM) UIM | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.621 vj00 | Generic Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.622 vk20 | Telecommunication Management; Generic NRM Information Service | Rel-20 |
| TS 28.625 vj00 | State Management Data Definition IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.626 vj00 | State Management Data Definition IRP Solution Set | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.628 vj00 | SON Policy NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.629 vj00 | SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.632 vj00 | Inventory Management NRM Integration Reference Point | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.652 vj00 | UTRAN Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.653 vj00 | UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definition | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.655 vj00 | GERAN NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.656 vj00 | GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.659 vj00 | E-UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.662 vj10 | Generic RAN Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP IS | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.663 vj00 | Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.671 vj00 | HNS Network Resource Model Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.674 vj00 | HeNS NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.680 vj00 | WLAN Management Concepts and Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.682 vj00 | WLAN Management NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.701 vj00 | Core Network NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.702 vj00 | Core Network NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.703 vj00 | Core Network NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.704 vj00 | IMS NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.705 vj00 | IMS NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.706 vj00 | IMS NRM IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.707 vj00 | EPC NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.708 vj00 | EPC NRM Integration Reference Point Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.709 vj00 | EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.732 vj00 | Transport Network NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.733 vj00 | TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.735 vj00 | STN Interface NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.752 vj00 | SuM NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 28.821 vd00 | UML Model Repertoire for FMC Management | Rel-13 |
| TR 28.837 vi00 | Technical Report on Trace/MDT Management | Rel-18 |
| TS 28.871 vj00 | Study on Service Based Management Architecture enhancement phase 3 | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.111 vj00 | Fault Management Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.122 vj00 | Advanced Alarm Management IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.123 v1900 | Advanced Alarm Management IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.125 v1930 | AAM IRP XML File Format Definition | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.126 vj00 | AAM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.150 vj00 | IRP Concept and Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.151 ve00 | IRP Information Service Template Specification | Rel-14 |
| TS 32.153 vj00 | IRP Technology-Specific Templates Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.157 vj00 | IRP Information Service Template for Converged Management | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.172 vb00 | SuM NRM IRP: Information Service | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.300 vj00 | 3GPP Network Resource Naming Convention | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.302 vj00 | Notification IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.312 vj00 | Generic IRP Management Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.313 v900 | Generic IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.316 vj00 | Generic IRP Management Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.317 v910 | Generic IRP management SOAP Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.322 vj00 | Test Management IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.323 v900 | Test Management IRP CORBA SS | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.326 vj00 | Test Management IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.332 vj00 | Notification Log IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.342 vj00 | File Transfer IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.352 vj00 | Communication Surveillance IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.353 v1900 | Communication Surveillance IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.356 vj00 | Communication Surveillance IRP Solution Set | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.361 vj00 | Entry Point IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.362 vj00 | Entry Point IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.363 v900 | EP IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.366 vj00 | EP IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.372 vj00 | Security Service for IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.382 vj00 | Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.392 vj00 | Delta Synchronization IRP Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.412 vj00 | PM IRP Information Service Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.442 vj00 | Trace Management IRP: Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.522 vb70 | SON Policy NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.523 v930 | SON Policy NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.526 vb70 | SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.600 vj00 | 3GPP Configuration Management Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.622 vb10 | Generic Network Resources IRP NRM | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.631 vb00 | Core Network Resources IRP Requirements | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.632 vb00 | Core Network Resources IRP: Network Resource Model | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.633 v1920 | Core Network Resources IRP CORBA Mapping | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.636 vb00 | CM Core Network Resources IRP Solution Set | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.642 vb50 | UTRAN Network Resource Model for Configuration Management | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.643 v930 | UTRAN Network Resources IRP: CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.646 vc00 | UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 |
| TS 32.652 vc00 | GERAN Network Resources NRM for Configuration Management | Rel-12 |
| TS 32.653 v920 | GERAN Network Resources IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.656 vc00 | GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 |
| TS 32.672 vb00 | State Management IRP Information Service | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.673 v900 | State Management IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.676 vc00 | 3GPP TS 32.676: State Management IRP Solution Set | Rel-12 |
| TS 32.690 vj00 | Inventory Management IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.692 vb00 | Inventory Management NRM IRP Specification | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.712 vb10 | Transport Network Interface NRM for CM | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.713 v900 | TN Interface NRM IRP: CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.716 vb00 | TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.722 vb00 | Repeater NRM IRP: Network Resource Model | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.723 v900 | Repeater NRM CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.726 vb00 | Repeater NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.731 vb00 | IMS Network Resource Model IRP Requirements | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.732 vb00 | IMS Network Resource Model IRP: Information Service | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.733 v910 | IMS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.736 vb00 | IMS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.742 vb00 | STN NRM for Configuration Management | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.751 vb00 | EPC NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.752 vb01 | EPC NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.753 v920 | EPC NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.756 vb00 | EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.763 v1950 | E-UTRAN NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 |
| TS 32.766 vb90 | E-UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.771 vb00 | HNS Network Resource Model IRP Requirements | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.781 vb00 | HeNS NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.792 vb10 | Generic RAN Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP | Rel-11 |
| TS 32.796 vc00 | Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 |
| TS 32.827 va10 | UE Management over Itf-N for MDT/SON | Rel-10 |
