Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a User Plane Core Network entity such as UPGW, capable of interfacing with at least one RAN node via a User Plane interface such as NG3 interface, said User Plane Core Network entity configured to: —support data transfer for a UE session in a mode referred to as connectionless mode not requiring setup of a connection with a RAN node for said data transfer, —support paging request over User Plane, for DL data transfer for said UE session in connectionless mode.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically updating routing identifiers (IDs) are provided. One method may include deciding, at a network node, to update a routing identifier for at least one user equipment. The method may then include obtaining or generating a new routing identifier to be assigned to the at least one user equipment along with authentication vectors, and transmitting the new routing identifier to an authentication entity.

Abstract: A communication system includes a service responsible for sending signaling to a user equipment or an access network serving the user equipment. The service receives a request to send the signaling to the user equipment or the access network together with access type control information indicating whether the signaling is transmittable using any of a plurality of access types or a specific access type provided in the request. The service selectively forwards the signaling to the user equipment or the access network based on the access type control information.

Abstract: This document discloses a solution for selecting a network slice for an application. According to an aspect, a method comprises as performed by a terminal device: triggering, by the terminal device, network slice selection in the terminal device for an application executed in the terminal device; transmitting, by the terminal device in response to said triggering, a network slice query request message to a network node of a network infrastructure; receiving, by the terminal device from the network node as a response to the network slice query request message, a network slice query response message indicating at least one network slice available to the terminal device and comprising at least one quality-of-service parameter of the at least one network slice; and selecting, by the terminal device, a network slice of the at least one network slice for the application on the basis of the at least one quality-of-service parameter.

Abstract: This document discloses a solution for selecting a network slice for an application. According to an aspect, a method comprises as performed by a terminal device: triggering, by the terminal device, network slice selection in the terminal device for an application executed in the terminal device; transmitting, by the terminal device in response to said triggering, a network slice query request message to a network node of a network infrastructure; receiving, by the terminal device from the network node as a response to the network slice query request message, a network slice query response message indicating at least one network slice available to the terminal device and comprising at least one quality-of-service parameter of the at least one network slice; and selecting, by the terminal device, a network slice of the at least one network slice for the application on the basis of the at least one quality-of-service parameter.

Abstract: A mobile network entity, such as Mobility Management Entity MME, is for the support of Mobile-Terminated MT Data Delivery via an interface such as the T6a interface between a Service Capability Exposure Function SCEF and the mobile network entity, towards a User Equipment UE using extended idle mode DRX served by the mobile network entity is configured to receive from the SCEF a MT Data Delivery Request including information indicating a time frame within which a MT Data Delivery Response is awaited by the SCEF.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided to provide access control to a hosted virtual network in a communications system. An example method, apparatus and computer program product is configured to transmit a network identifier associated with a hosted virtual network to one or more allowed user equipment in a coverage area via a radio access network in the coverage area. The network identifier may include a Public Land Mobile Network identifier and a centrally or locally managed network identifier. The network identifier is configured to be stored on the one or more user equipment. The method, apparatus and computer program product is further configured to bar access to the hosted virtual network for one or more user equipment that are not allowed user equipment.

Abstract: User equipment appends a header to a non-access stratum (NAS) message to form an encapsulated NAS message. The header is formed according to a wireline access network protocol. The user equipment transmits the encapsulated NAS message over a wireline connection between the user equipment and an interworking function of a core network. The interworking function receives the encapsulated NAS message over the wired connection and forwards the NAS message to a core network entity selected based on addressing information included in the header. A point-to-point control plane session can be established between the user equipment and the interworking function in response to a session request transmitted by the user equipment. The point-to-point control plane session can be used to convey encapsulated NAS messages, which can be used to request establishment of an NAS session for a user plane connection to the core network.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a Radio Access Network RAN entity, referred to as serving RAN entity, and controlling one or more cells, is configured to: send to a Core Network CN entity, referred to as serving CN entity, a list of recommended cells for paging of a User Equipment UE in idle mode.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method for support of retrieval and/or reporting and/or triggering the reporting of user location information in a mobile network, wherein said user location information is retrieved and/or reported and/or the reporting of said user location information is triggered, at a granularity of an area referred to as administrative area defined as a set of mobile network related areas, mobile network related areas being defined at mobile network management level, and mobile network related areas being mapped to administrative areas.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are described that facilitate sending and receiving notifications related to user equipment being added to or leaving a multicast group or multicast stream in a network. A method can include receiving, from a session controller, a request for reporting when protocol data unit (PDU) sessions are added to/removed from a downlink replication tree associated with an internet protocol multicast flow; determining whether said PDU session has been added to or removed from the downlink replication tree associated with the internet protocol multicast flow; and, in response to said determining, transmitting a message to a session management function indicative of that said PDU session has been added to or removed from said downlink replication tree. The message can include an internet protocol address associated with a source of said added or removed multicast flow and/or the multicast destination of said internet protocol multicast flow.

Abstract: There is provided a method including determining, at a functional entity of a core network, whether policy requests associated with at least one address used within a session are allowed for the session and, if so, configuring a first associated functional entity of the core network to provide at least one address used within the session for a user equipment associated with the session, receiving the at least one address from the first associated functional entity and providing the at least one address to a second associated functional entity of the core network for storage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method for WLAN Access Network WLAN-AN selection by an User Equipment UE for access to a mobile network PLMN, said selection including, for an UE roaming in a Visited PLMN VPLMN and requiring a Packet Data Network Gateway PDN-GW in its Home PLMN HPLMN, selection of a WLAN-AN having connectivity to at least one PDN-GW in said HPLMN, based on information on connectivity to at least one PDN-GW in said HPLMN of WLAN-ANs candidate for said selection, referred to as connectivity information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a User Equipment UE, configured to: get ePDG selection information configured by the UE's HPLMN, said ePDG selection information including a list of PLMNs with an indication of whether the selection of an ePDG in a PLMN is preferred or mandatory or non-preferred, perform selection of an ePDG operated by a PLMN of a country the UE is located in, referred to as local PLMN, which has roaming agreement with the UE's HPLMN for untrusted WLAN access to EPC, based on said list of PLMNs configured in said ePDG selection information, and on a list of MCCs of said country and/or a list of local PLMNs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for supporting network functions. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes selecting, by a network node, a network function instance and/or a group of network function instances, the selecting based on information indicating membership of the network function instance in the group of network functions instances and the information including session information for a request associated with a session of a user equipment, the session information indicating whether the network function instance and/or the group of network function instances is assigned to the user equipment; and forwarding, by the network node, the request to the selected network function instance and/or the selected group. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product receive a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether traffic redundancy is needed for the radio access network and the user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function.

Abstract: The method includes sending a request to a core network entity to register the radio access network entity with the core network entity for at least one tracking area, the core network entity being in charge of mobility management and/or paging coordination in a cellular mobile communication network. The method further includes receiving a notification of an acceptation or a rejection of said request that indicates if the core network entity has accepted the registration. The radio access network entity is configured to perform the method. The core network entity is configured to interface with the radio access network entity to perform the method.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving information at a first network entity indicating a first data network identity associated with a request from a communications device; and selecting at the first network entity a second data network identity which is usable with respect to the communications device when said first data network identity is not usable with respect to said communications device, said selecting being in dependence on information associated with said communications device.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a Core Network CN entity such as Mobility Management Entity MME, capable of sending a paging request message such as S1 Paging message to a Radio Access Network RAN entity such as eNodeB, for paging a User Equipment UE, said CN entity configured to: provide in a paging request message, control information enabling said CN entity to influence the consumption by said RAN entity of radio transmission resources for said paging.

Abstract: A method for support of mobile-terminated application services in a mobile system is provided. The method is based on a User Equipment UE subscription The method includes enabling triggering of at least one network Application associated with a given of one or more subscribed Access Point Name APN, upon said UE being reachable again after failure of a mobile network procedure to reach said UE via a Packet Data Network PDN connection established for said UE and said APN. A Home Subscriber Server HSS associated with the method is also provided. A Mobility Management Server MME, or a Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN associated with the method is also provided.