Abstract: A method for operating a user plane entity configured to handle a user plane of data packet sessions exchanged in a cellular network, each data packet session comprising data packet flows of a plurality of applications, the data packet flows of each application being identified by an application identifier, the method includes: determining that a tracking of data packet flows identified by an application identifier should be stopped, determining one or more application detection filters configured to detect data packet flows identified by the application identifier, removing the one or more application detection filters and the application identifier from the user plane entity, and requesting a session control entity configured to control the data packet sessions to remove packet detection rules usable to detect the data packet flows identified by the application identifier, wherein the request includes the application identifier.

Abstract: Methods, a system for managing traffic transmitted by a User Equipment (UE), a UE for enabling differentiation of the traffic, a Packet Gate-Way User plane (PGW-U) for managing the traffic as well as a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for enabling differentiation of the traffic are disclosed. The PGW-U (120) receives (9) a marking type and a marking value, which originate from the SCS/AS (170) and which are associated with an application identifier for identifying application traffic to be handled according to the marking type and the marking value. The UE (110) receives (14), from the MME (130), the marking type and the marking value. The UE (110) transmits (17), towards the PGW-U (120), application traffic marked according to the marking type and marking value. The PGW-U (120) inspects (18) the traffic according to the marking type to obtain the marking value. The PGW-U (120) handles (18) the traffic based on the marking value.

Abstract: Implementation of an application rule for an application to be accessed by a User Equipment, UE, in a user session in a Service Based Architecture, SBA, domain in a core network of a telecommunications system is disclosed. The SBA, among others, comprises a Policy Control Function, PCF (6), an Application Function, AF (5), and a Session Management Function, SMF (9). The method comprising the steps of receiving, by the PCF (6), an application rule comprising an AF Identifier, AF-ID, identifying the application rule, an Application Identifier, App-ID, identifying the application, and at least one service requirement for processing the application in the SBA domain. The PCF (6) instructing the SMF (9) to execute the at least one service requirement to all present and future user sessions pertaining to the respective application. Complementary methods of supporting the execution of the application rule and devices are also presented.

Abstract: Blocking use of an application on a user equipment through a cellular network. One method is a method for operating a network exposure entity in a cellular network, the cellular network being operable to transmit at least a data packet session of a first application between a user equipment and a content provider. The method includes receiving, from an application entity configured to block the use of the first application on the user equipment, a first blocking request for blocking use of the first application at the user equipment, the first blocking request including an identifier of the user equipment, and an identifier of the first application. The method further includes transmitting, to other entities of the cellular network, a message informing the other entities of the blocking of the first application, the message includes the identifier of the user equipment, and the identifier of the first application.

Abstract: Implementation of an application rule for an application to be accessed by a User Equipment, UE, in a user session in a Service Based Architecture, SBA, domain in a core network of a telecommunications system is disclosed. The SBA, among others, comprises a Policy Control Function, PCF (6), an Application Function, AF (5), and a Session Management Function, SMF (9). The method comprising the steps of receiving, by the PCF (6), an application rule comprising an AF Identifier, AF-ID, identifying the application rule, an Application Identifier, App-ID, identifying the application, and at least one service requirement for processing the application in the SBA domain. The PCF (6) instructing the SMF (9) to execute the at least one service requirement to all present and future user sessions pertaining to the respective application. Complementary methods of supporting the execution of the application rule and devices are also presented.

Abstract: A technique for dynamically classifying and re-classifying a data packet flow on a user plane of a core network domain is described. According to an apparatus aspect, a device is provided for dynamically classifying and re-classifying a data packet flow, wherein the device is configured to classify and re-classify the data packet flow using packet detection rules (PDRs) and wherein each PDR is associated with at least one action to be applied to data packets matching the PDR. The device is configured to receive one or more first data packets of a data packet flow, to determine that the received one or more first data packets match a first PDR to classify the data packet flow according to the first PDR, and to trigger application of at least one first action associated with the first PDR to the one or more first packets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for evaluating data traffic in a communication network. The method comprising establishing a protocol session between a control plane, CP, node and a user plane, UP, node and configuring, by the CP node, a first detection rule to be used for event notification, and at least one next detection rule to be used for traffic detection. The first detection rule comprises an indicator indicating the highest precedence, and identifies a first instruction rule indicating an event to be notified and a continuation flag indicating evaluation of at least one next detection rule. The at least one next detection rule comprises an indicator indicating a lower precedence than the one in the first detection rule and identifies a next instruction rule to be applied to a matched traffic.

Abstract: A method performed by a policy node for handling QoS for data traffic between a UE and an Application Server (AS) node associated with the UE. The policy node receives messages indicating available marking types which a user plane node is capable of detecting in the data traffic and information indicating a number of marking types supported by both the UE and the AS node, a UE identifier identifying the UE and a list of QoS profiles associated with the UE. The policy node determines the decided marking type and marking value for each of the QoS profiles associated with the UE identifier and transmits a message towards the control plane node having a session establishment response for the UE identifier including the marking type and marking value decided for each QoS profile associated with the UE identifier.

Abstract: A method for operating a user plane entity configured to handle a user plane of data packet sessions exchanged in a cellular network, each data packet session comprising data packet flows of a plurality of applications, the data packet flows of each application being identified by an application identifier, the method includes: determining that a tracking of data packet flows identified by an application identifier should be stopped, determining one or more application detection filters configured to detect data packet flows identified by the application identifier, removing the one or more application detection filters and the application identifier from the user plane entity, and requesting a session control entity configured to control the data packet sessions to remove packet detection rules usable to detect the data packet flows identified by the application identifier, wherein the request includes the application identifier.

Abstract: Implementation of an application rule for an application to be accessed by a User Equipment, UE, in a user session in a Service Based Architecture, SBA, domain in a core network of a telecommunications system is disclosed. The SBA, among others, comprises a Policy Control Function, PCF (6), an Application Function, AF (5), and a Session Management Function, SMF (9). The method comprising the steps of receiving, by the PCF (6), an application rule comprising an AF Identifier, AF-ID, identifying the application rule, an Application Identifier, App-ID, identifying the application, and at least one service requirement for processing the application in the SBA domain. The PCF (6) instructing the SMF (9) to execute the at least one service requirement to all present and future user sessions pertaining to the respective application. Complementary methods of supporting the execution of the application rule and devices are also presented.

Abstract: Methods, a system for managing traffic transmitted by a User Equipment (UE), a UE for enabling differentiation of the traffic, a Packet Gate-Way User plane (PGW-U) for managing the traffic as well as a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for enabling differentiation of the traffic are disclosed. The PGW-U (120) receives (9) a marking type and a marking value, which originate from the SCS/AS (170) and which are associated with an application identifier for identifying application traffic to be handled according to the marking type and the marking value. The UE (110) receives (14), from the MME (130), the marking type and the marking value. The UE (110) transmits (17), towards the PGW-U (120), application traffic marked according to the marking type and marking value. The PGW-U (120) inspects (18) the traffic according to the marking type to obtain the marking value. The PGW-U (120) handles (18) the traffic based on the marking value.

Abstract: A node (36?; 50) generates messages to be sent to a policy controller (30). Further, the node (36?; 50) determines a load value. The load value represents a number of the messages which are sent from the node (36?; 50) to the policy controller in a given time interval. In response to the load value reaching a threshold, the node (36?; 50) limits sending of at least one of the messages to the policy controller.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically exchanging network service provider information between two sets of network service providers. The method comprises configuring at least one address of a proxy function of a second set of network service providers for a proxy function of a first set of network service providers; sending network service provider information of the first set of network service providers to the proxy function of the second set of network service providers with the at least one address of the proxy function of the second set of network service providers; and receiving network service provider information of the second set of network service providers from the proxy function of the second set of network service providers. The network service provider information includes information for addressing the network service provider and ID of service provided by the network service provider.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically exchanging network service provider information between two sets of network service providers. The method comprises configuring at least one address of a proxy function of a second set of network service providers for a proxy function of a first set of network service providers; sending network service provider information of the first set of network service providers to the proxy function of the second set of network service providers with the at least one address of the proxy function of the second set of network service providers; and receiving network service provider information of the second set of network service providers from the proxy function of the second set of network service providers. The network service provider information includes information for addressing the network service provider and ID of service provided by the network service provider.