Abstract: A user device operates a first data session using a first network slice. The user device obtains a trigger notification from a remote application that identifies a second network slice, and the user device determines that the first network slice and the second network slice are mutually exclusive. The user device ends the first data session on the first network slice and initiates a second data session on the second network slice.

Abstract: A network function (NF) entity in a communication network receives User Plane Function (UPF) registration information for a plurality of UPFs, the registration information including a respective network attribute for each UPF. The NF entity associates each UPF with a corresponding network based on the respective network attribute, and map one or more User Equipment (UE) to the corresponding network based on a security policy to create a UE-to-network table. The NF further receives a request to establish a session for a subsequent UE, the request including a subsequent UE identifier, and determine an access permission for the subsequent UE to access the corresponding network based on the subsequent UE identifier and the UE-to-network table. The NF selects one UPF from the plurality of UPF to service the session for the subsequent UE based on the access permission, and an association between the one UPF and the corresponding network.

Abstract: A method enables communication between Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) instances which are separately deployed behind Network Address Translation (NAT) services. The method includes configuring an SMF or a UPF to initiate an association with a corresponding UPF or SMF. The SMF registers first information with a Network Repository Function (NRF) enabling the remote UPF to communicate with the SMF through a NAT service. The method further includes obtaining second information from the NRF enabling the SMF to communicate with the remote UPF through the NAT service. The method also includes sending an association request to the remote UPF based on the second information and receiving an association response from the remote UPF through the NAT service.

Abstract: A solution for selecting an optimal user Plane entity (with Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS)) per UE during seamless roaming. In one embodiment, a method is provide that is performed by a control plane entity in a mobile core network that supports inter public land mobile network (PLMN) roaming among two or more PLMNs. The method includes obtaining a create session request from an entity in a second PLMN to which a user equipment has roamed from a first PLMN; selecting a particular user plane entity among a plurality of user plane entities based on one or more user equipment related parameters; and establishing a session with the particular user plane entity to serve user plane traffic in the mobile core network for the user equipment.

Abstract: In one example, an Access Point (AP) configures a first mapping of a first cellular network connection to a first local access network group, and further configures a second mapping of a second cellular network connection to a second local access network group. The AP determines whether a user device is authorized to use the first cellular network connection or the second cellular network connection. If the user device is authorized to use the first cellular network connection, the AP associates, for the user device, a first user device identifier with the first local access network group. If the user device is authorized to use the second cellular network connection, the AP associates, for the user device, a second user device identifier with the second local access network group.

Abstract: In a Fifth Generation (5G) network having an enhanced SBA (eSBA) architecture, a message with a header used to signal binding information (e.g. HTTP custom header for 3gpp-Sbi-Binding) may be received at a recipient NF (service) instance in a direct communication or via a service communication proxy (SCP) in an indirect communication. A binding indication comprising an address of an NF (service) instance may be obtained from the header. One or more alternative binding indications comprising one or more alternative addresses of one or more alternative NF (service) instances may also be obtained from the header. The one or more alternative NF (service) instances may be equivalent NFs (services) of the same NF (Service) Set as the NF (service) instance. The address may be used for communication of messages to the NF (service) instance, and the one or more alternative addresses may be used for load balancing or backup failure.

Abstract: In a Fifth Generation (5G) network having an enhanced SBA (eSBA) architecture, a message with a header used to signal binding information (e.g. HTTP custom header for 3gpp-Sbi-Binding) may be received at a recipient NF (service) instance in a direct communication or via a service communication proxy (SCP) in an indirect communication. A binding indication comprising an address of an NF (service) instance may be obtained from the header. One or more alternative binding indications comprising one or more alternative addresses of one or more alternative NF (service) instances may also be obtained from the header. The one or more alternative NF (service) instances may be equivalent NFs (services) of the same NF (Service) Set as the NF (service) instance. The address may be used for communication of messages to the NF (service) instance, and the one or more alternative addresses may be used for load balancing or backup failure.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving traffic associated with at least one of a mobile network and a Gi-Local Area Network (data-plane), wherein the traffic comprises one or more packets; determining a classification of the traffic to a service chain, wherein the service chain comprises one or more service functions associated at least one of one or more mobile network services and one or more data-plane services; routing the traffic through the service chain; and routing the traffic to a network using one of a plurality of egress interfaces, wherein each egress interface of the plurality of egress interfaces is associated with at least one of the one or more mobile network services and the one or more data-plane services.

Abstract: A user device operates a first data session using a first network slice. The user device obtains a trigger notification from a remote application that identifies a second network slice, and the user device determines that the first network slice and the second network slice are mutually exclusive. The user device ends the first data session on the first network slice and initiates a second data session on the second network slice.

Abstract: A Network Exposure Function (NEF) relays a trigger from a remote application function to a user device and causes the user device to switch between mutually exclusive network slices. The NEF stores a mapping associating device modes with network slices. The NEF also determines that a user device is operating in a first device mode using a first network slice. The NEF obtains a trigger from the remote application function identifying the user device and a second device mode. The NEF determines that the second device mode is associated with a second network slice that is mutually exclusive to the first network slice. The NEF provides a notification to the user device, causing the user device to end a first data session on the first network slice and to initiate a second data session on the second network slice.

Abstract: A network function (NF) entity in a communication network receives User Plane Function (UPF) registration information for a plurality of UPFs, the registration information including a respective network attribute for each UPF. The NF entity associates each UPF with a corresponding network based on the respective network attribute, and map one or more User Equipment (UE) to the corresponding network based on a security policy to create a UE-to-network table. The NF further receives a request to establish a session for a subsequent UE, the request including a subsequent UE identifier, and determine an access permission for the subsequent UE to access the corresponding network based on the subsequent UE identifier and the UE-to-network table. The NF selects one UPF from the plurality of UPF to service the session for the subsequent UE based on the access permission, and an association between the one UPF and the corresponding network.

Abstract: A method enables communication between Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) instances which are separately deployed behind Network Address Translation (NAT) services. The method includes configuring an SMF or a UPF to initiate an association with a corresponding UPF or SMF. The SMF registers first information with a Network Repository Function (NRF) enabling the remote UPF to communicate with the SMF through a NAT service. The method further includes obtaining second information from the NRF enabling the SMF to communicate with the remote UPF through the NAT service. The method also includes sending an association request to the remote UPF based on the second information and receiving an association response from the remote UPF through the NAT service.

Abstract: Methods are provided to preemptively reconfigure a mobile network to respond to external emergencies. The method is performed at a network device of a service provider which provides access to a mobile network for wireless device. The method includes obtaining a message indicating an occurrence of a disaster. The message includes at least an emergency type and location information. The method further includes determining, based on the emergency type, a reconfiguration policy for reconfiguring the mobile network in an area indicated by the location information and reconfiguring the mobile network based on the reconfiguration policy. The method further includes authenticating a disaster application function and a notification message informing about an occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: Methods for selecting network slice, session management, and user plane functions for user equipment (UE) are described. In one example, a control plane (CP) entity for mobility management may select a CP entity for session management for a session of a UE based on a first set of data items. The CP entity for mobility management may further select a user plane (UP) entity for the session of the UE based on a second set of data items, where second set of data items include at least some of the same data items of the first set. The CP entity for mobility management may send, to the selected CP entity, a message including an identity or indication of the selected UP entity for the session of the UE. The selected CP entity may select the identified or indicated UP entity for use in the session of the UE.

Abstract: A method enables communication between Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) instances which are separately deployed behind Network Address Translation (NAT) services. The method includes configuring an SMF or a UPF to initiate an association with a corresponding UPF or SMF. The SMF registers first information with a Network Repository Function (NRF) enabling the remote UPF to communicate with the SMF through a NAT service. The method further includes obtaining second information from the NRF enabling the SMF to communicate with the remote UPF through the NAT service. The method also includes sending an association request to the remote UPF based on the second information and receiving an association response from the remote UPF through the NAT service.

Abstract: In one example, an Access Point (AP) configures a first mapping of a first cellular network connection to a first local access network group, and further configures a second mapping of a second cellular network connection to a second local access network group. The AP determines whether a user device is authorized to use the first cellular network connection or the second cellular network connection. If the user device is authorized to use the first cellular network connection, the AP associates, for the user device, a first user device identifier with the first local access network group. If the user device is authorized to use the second cellular network connection, the AP associates, for the user device, a second user device identifier with the second local access network group.

Abstract: A network function (NF) entity in a communication network receives User Plane Function (UPF) registration information for a plurality of UPFs, the registration information including a respective network attribute for each UPF. The NF entity associates each UPF with a corresponding network based on the respective network attribute, and map one or more User Equipment (UE) to the corresponding network based on a security policy to create a UE-to-network table. The NF further receives a request to establish a session for a subsequent UE, the request including a subsequent UE identifier, and determine an access permission for the subsequent UE to access the corresponding network based on the subsequent UE identifier and the UE-to-network table. The NF selects one UPF from the plurality of UPF to service the session for the subsequent UE based on the access permission, and an association between the one UPF and the corresponding network.

Abstract: A method enables communication between Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) instances which are separately deployed behind Network Address Translation (NAT) services. The method includes configuring an SMF or a UPF to initiate an association with a corresponding UPF or SMF. The SMF registers first information with a Network Repository Function (NRF) enabling the remote UPF to communicate with the SMF through a NAT service. The method further includes obtaining second information from the NRF enabling the SMF to communicate with the remote UPF through the NAT service. The method also includes sending an association request to the remote UPF based on the second information and receiving an association response from the remote UPF through the NAT service.

Abstract: Techniques are presented in which a new information element signaling priority of a management entity is included in a setup (e.g., S1-Setup) response or configuration update message sent by a management entity to a base station entity. The base station entity interprets this priority information along with the relative capacity information in an appropriate way to load-distribute the traffic/calls to highly preferable management entity instances (at a local site) when they are available, and switchover/failover to lower preference management entity instances (at a remote site) when there is a local site outage/failure or insufficient capacity in a geo-resilient pooled network.

Abstract: A Network Exposure Function (NEF) relays a trigger from a remote application function to a user device and causes the user device to switch between mutually exclusive network slices. The NEF stores a mapping associating device modes with network slices. The NEF also determines that a user device is operating in a first device mode using a first network slice. The NEF obtains a trigger from the remote application function identifying the user device and a second device mode. The NEF determines that the second device mode is associated with a second network slice that is mutually exclusive to the first network slice. The NEF provides a notification to the user device, causing the user device to end a first data session on the first network slice and to initiate a second data session on the second network slice.