Description
A Managed Object Class (MOC) is the schema definition for a Managed Object (MO). It describes what kind of network resource or management entity can be instantiated, which attributes it must or may contain, how it relates to other MOCs, what actions it supports, and what notifications it can emit. In 3GPP management, MOCs are the building blocks of the Management Information Model (MIM). They allow standards to define reusable, consistent object templates without specifying every individual instance in the network. Architecturally, MOCs are defined in specifications and used by management systems to create MOs. A MOC may inherit from a more general MOC, adding or refining attributes and relationships. This inheritance supports common management patterns: a generic network element MOC can define basic identity and state attributes, while a specific radio node or core network function MOC can add domain-specific parameters. The MOC also defines naming rules, often through Relative Distinguished Name (RDN) attributes, so that instantiated MOs can be uniquely addressed. Relationships in the MOC specify allowed containment and association links, producing a navigable management tree or graph. How it works: When a network function is deployed, an element manager or OSS creates an MO instance from a MOC. The MOC provides the allowed attribute names and data types, while the MO stores actual values. Management operations are validated against the MOC: a set operation may be rejected if an attribute is read-only, if a value is outside an allowed range, or if a required relationship is missing. Notifications defined in the MOC tell the management system which events can be reported, such as configuration changes, alarms, or state transitions. Actions defined in the MOC represent operations beyond simple attribute modification, such as resetting a component or triggering a diagnostic procedure. The role of MOCs is to standardize the contract between managed resources and management clients. By defining classes separately from instances, 3GPP enables multi-vendor interoperability, schema evolution, and automation. A management system can discover supported MOCs, understand their attributes, and operate on MOs without vendor-specific assumptions. This is essential for configuration management, performance management, fault management, and network slicing, where many related resources must be modeled consistently. MOCs also support validation, because constraints can be attached to classes and inherited by instances. In practice, MOCs appear in management information models for radio access, core network, services, and security functions. They may define attributes such as identifier, administrative state, operational state, configuration parameters, performance counters, alarm thresholds, and capability flags. They may also define relationships to neighboring cells, sessions, subscribers, policies, or network slices. As networks become service-based and cloud-native, MOCs help represent logical functions and services as manageable objects, preserving the same management abstraction across physical, virtual, and containerized deployments. MOCs also provide a basis for versioning and extensibility. When new capabilities are introduced, specifications can add new MOCs or refine existing ones while preserving the relationship between class and instance. This allows management systems to support backward compatibility where possible and to discover new attributes or actions when they are available. The class-instance separation therefore makes the management model scalable, testable, and suitable for long-lived network deployments.
Purpose & Motivation
MOCs exist to separate the definition of manageable resources from their concrete instances. In early management systems, data models were often tightly coupled to specific equipment or protocols, making integration and evolution difficult. 3GPP introduced standardized MOCs to provide reusable class definitions that can be instantiated as MOs across many network elements. This class-based approach allows the same management framework to describe diverse resources, from physical nodes to logical services, without changing the underlying management operations. The main problem solved is schema ambiguity. Without MOCs, each vendor might expose different parameter names, types, and relationships, preventing automated configuration and cross-domain correlation. MOCs define a common vocabulary and constraints, enabling OSS and EM systems to validate operations, navigate relationships, and interpret notifications consistently. They also support extensibility: new releases can add MOCs or refine existing ones while preserving the object model. This makes MOCs foundational for scalable network management, automation, and service assurance in complex 3GPP networks. MOCs also improve testability. Because a class defines expected attributes, actions, and notifications, conformance testing can verify that an implementation supports the required management behavior. This reduces integration risk and helps operators compare multi-vendor solutions against a common baseline. In large deployments, MOCs make it possible to manage many instances with consistent rules, reducing operational error and enabling automated lifecycle processes.
What changed in its specifications
The latest release-to-release comparison of specifications that define MOC. Each summary describes the whole specification, not only this term.
Rel-19 added external management data IOCs, discovery, notification retrieval, and single notifications. It added network slice lists in Area Scope, measurement conditions, and new data types for selecting instances via DNs, GeoAreas, or TAIs.
Full comparison in TS 28.622 →Release Timeline
Evolution Across Releases
An overview written from the defining specifications, not a verified change history. For the exact text, open the specifications listed below.
Managed Object Class was introduced as the schema template for Managed Objects. It defined attributes, relationships, actions, notifications, and constraints so that MO instances could be created and validated consistently.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs continued to support LTE and evolved packet core management information models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remained reusable class definitions for multi-domain management models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs supported SON and configuration management use cases without wording change.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remained applicable to machine-type communication and service management models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs continued to define templates for radio, core, and service managed objects.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remained usable for IoT-related management information models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs continued to define schemas for 5G standalone network functions and resources.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remained central to network slicing and service-based management models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs continued to support analytics, slicing, and cloud-native management models.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remained applicable to advanced automation and AI/ML-enabled management contexts.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs continued to provide reusable class definitions in evolving 3GPP management specifications.
The definition carried over unchanged. MOCs remain the standardized schema abstraction for Managed Object instances.
Defining Specifications
3GPP specifications that define or reference MOC, with the latest known release. Sourced from the 3GPP document catalog — see methodology.
| Specification | Title | Release |
|---|---|---|
| TS 28.606 vc10 | CN and non-3GPP interworking NRM IRP Solution Sets | Rel-12 read |
| TS 28.616 vj00 | EPC and non-3GPP access NRM IRP SS definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.622 vk40 | Generic Network Resource Information Service | Rel-20 read |
| TS 28.629 vj00 | SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.632 vj00 | Inventory Management NRM Integration Reference Point | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.653 vj00 | UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definition | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.656 vj00 | GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.659 vk00 | E-UTRAN NRM Solution Set Definitions | Rel-20 read |
| TS 28.663 vj10 | Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.673 vj00 | HNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.676 vj00 | HeNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.701 vj00 | Core Network NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.703 vj00 | Core Network NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.706 vj00 | IMS NRM IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.707 vj00 | EPC NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.709 vj00 | EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.733 vj00 | TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.736 vj00 | STN Interface NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 28.752 vj00 | SuM NRM IRP Information Service | Rel-19 read |
| TR 29.949 vj00 | VoLTE IMS Roaming Architecture & Procedures | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.111 vj00 | Fault Management Alarm IRP Solution Sets | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.150 vj00 | IRP Concept and Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.153 vj00 | IRP Technology-Specific Templates Specification | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.172 vb00 | SuM NRM IRP: Information Service | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.240 vk10 | 3GPP Charging Architecture and Principles | Rel-20 read |
| TS 32.250 vj00 | Circuit Switched Offline Charging | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.272 vj00 | Charging for Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.293 vj00 | Proxy Function in Domestic Service Provider | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.300 vj00 | 3GPP Network Resource Naming Convention | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.306 vj00 | Configuration Management Notification IRP Solution Set | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.333 v900 | Notification Log IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.336 vj00 | Notification Log IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.413 v900 | PM IRP: CORBA Solution Set (SS) | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.416 vj00 | PM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.443 v910 | Trace Management IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.446 vj00 | Trace Management IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.523 v930 | SON Policy NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.526 vb70 | SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.600 vj00 | 3GPP Configuration Management Specification | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.601 vj00 | Basic Configuration Management IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.602 vj00 | Basic Configuration Management IRP Information Service | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.603 v910 | Basic CM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.606 vj00 | Basic CM IRP Solution Set for CORBA/SOAP | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.607 v910 | Basic CM IRP SOAP Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.611 vj00 | Bulk CM IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.612 vj00 | Bulk Configuration Management IRP: Information Service | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.613 v910 | Bulk CM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.616 vj00 | Bulk CM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.621 vb00 | Generic Network Resources IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.622 vb10 | Generic Network Resources IRP NRM | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.623 v900 | Generic NRM CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.626 vb20 | Generic Network Resources IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.631 vb00 | Core Network Resources IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.633 v920 | Core Network Resources IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.636 vb00 | CM Core Network Resources IRP Solution Set | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.641 vb00 | UTRAN Network Resources IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.643 v930 | UTRAN Network Resources IRP: CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.646 vc00 | UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 read |
| TS 32.651 vb00 | GERAN Network Resources CM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.653 v920 | GERAN Network Resources IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.656 vc00 | GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 read |
| TS 32.661 vj00 | Kernel Configuration Management IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.662 vj00 | Configuration Management (CM); Kernel CM IRP | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.663 v900 | Kernel CM IRP CORBA SS | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.666 vj00 | Kernel CM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.667 v900 | Kernel CM IRP SOAP Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.690 vj00 | Inventory Management IRP Requirements | Rel-19 read |
| TS 32.691 vb00 | Inventory Management IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.692 vb00 | Inventory Management NRM IRP Specification | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.711 vb00 | TN Interface NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.713 v900 | TN Interface NRM IRP: CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.716 vb00 | TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.721 vb00 | Repeater Network Resources IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.723 v900 | Repeater NRM CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.726 vb00 | Repeater NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.733 v910 | IMS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.736 vb00 | IMS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.741 vb00 | STN Interface NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.743 v900 | STN NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.746 vb00 | STN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.751 vb00 | EPC NRM IRP Requirements | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.753 v920 | EPC NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.756 vb00 | EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.763 v950 | E-UTRAN NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.766 vb90 | E-UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.773 v900 | HNS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.776 vb00 | HNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.783 v900 | HeNS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set | Rel-9 read |
| TS 32.786 vb00 | 3GPP TS 32.786: HeNS NRM IRP Solution Set | Rel-11 read |
| TS 32.796 vc00 | Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions | Rel-12 read |
| TS 32.849 vd00 | IMS Roaming Charging Study | Rel-13 read |
| TS 52.402 vj00 | GSM Performance Management Measurements | Rel-19 read |