US Patent 10965523 Virtual network element provisioning

A provisioning system receives network element information from a wireless communication network that characterizes a virtual network element. The provisioning system determines that the virtual network element is active and that a provisioning data link is not operational between the virtual network element and the provisioning system. The provisioning system determines a network address for the virtual network element. The provisioning system exchanges network signaling with the virtual network element using the network address to establish the provisioning data link. The provisioning system transfers provisioning data to the virtual network element over the provisioning data link.