Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing an enforcement mechanism for the maximum number of user equipments per network slice in a communication system are provided. A method, system, and apparatus may receive, from a user equipment (UE), a registration request message comprising requested Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) through an access network (AN). The requested NSSAI comprises one or more single-NSSAIs (S-NSSAIs) subject to a capping number of UEs allowed to access one or more network slices associated with the one or more S-NSSAIs. The method, system, and apparatus may cause transmission of a service request message to a network slice selection function (NSSF). The service request message includes indications of the one or more S-NSSAIs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing an enforcement mechanism for the maximum number of PDU sessions per network slice in a communication system are provided. A method, system, and apparatus may receive, from a user equipment (UE), a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request message and Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) through an access network (AN). The method, system, and apparatus may cause, upon detecting that the S-NSSAI is subject to the capping number of PDU sessions per network slice, transmission of a service request message to a network slice selection function (NSSF). The service request message includes an indication indicating that the S-NSSAI is subject to a capping number of PDU sessions per network slice. The indication may cause the NSSF to increment a counter associated with PDU sessions for a network slice associated with the S-NSSAI.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for managing mode of access to a compatible set of network slices of a communications network. In this regard, a registration request message is received from user equipment. The registration request message includes an indication of at least one simultaneous network slice use mode of operation for the user equipment. Furthermore, a selected simultaneous network slice use mode of operation for the user equipment is determined. The selected simultaneous network slice use mode of operation is a simultaneous network slice use mode of operation indicated by the user equipment or an alternate mode of operation associated with a configured network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI). Configuration information is also provided to the user equipment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for intelligently switching from public land mobile network (PLMN) assigned identification (ID) to UE manufacturer assigned ID. An example method includes receiving a registration request message comprising information related to location registration to an access and mobility management function (AMF) or a mobility management entity (MME) through a radio access network (RAN), obtaining an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) or Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) of a user equipment and extracting from the IMEI or PEI a type allocation code (TAC). The method then obtains a user equipment radio capability ID associated with the user equipment and determines whether the UE shall use a user equipment manufacturer ID or PLMN assigned ID in order to determine an appropriate registration accept message having instructions to operate based on the user equipment manufacturer ID or the PLMN assigned ID.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus. The apparatus comprises means for performing: participating in a slice-specific authentication and authorization procedure for the apparatus; and receiving a message at the apparatus, the message comprising an information element indicating to a mobility management sub-layer of the apparatus a result of the slice-specific authentication and authorization procedure, and the message comprising single network slice selection assistance information for the apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a mobile network entity, such as Access and Mobility Management Function AMF, providing registration management functions in a mobile network supporting network slicing, said mobile network entity configured to:—check if authentication and/or authorization involving a third party associated with a network slice is required for access to said network slice in addition to authentication and/or authorization for access to said mobile network, during registration,—initiate said authentication and/or authorization involving said third party upon checking that said authentication and/or authorization involving said third party is required.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is provided a method for support of mobile-terminated communication in an Evolved Packet System, towards a User Equipment UE in idle mode using a power saving mechanism whereby the UE is transiently not reachable, the method includes allowing one or more Downlink DL packets received for the UE to be buffered in a Serving Gateway SGW, upon request, for up to a duration referred to as DL buffering duration.

Abstract: A method is described for the support of nomadic or fixed users in a mobile network. The mobile network may include a Core Network CN accessed by a Radio Access Network RAN. The mobile network may provide connectivity, referred to as PDN connectivity, between an User Equipment UE and at least one external network, referred to as Packet Data Network PDN, via a selected one of mobile network nodes associated with the PDN and referred to as PDN Gateway PDN GW. The method may include support of a nomadic or fixed user in a mode of operation referred to as non-mobile mode of operation wherein the selected PDN GW, referred to as local PDN GW, is co-located with a RAN node serving the UE, based on knowledge of the user's mobility pattern.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to provide a network controlled radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment mechanism. The method, apparatus and computer program product receive a registration request originating with user equipment in a communication network. The method, apparatus and computer program product then construct a registration accept message. The registration accept message includes an Access Stratum Connection Establishment NSSAI (Network Slice Selection assistance information) Inclusion Mode parameter. The method, apparatus and computer program product then transmit the registration accept message to the user equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising means for performing: receiving an indication of a set of at least two different capabilities of the apparatus that are to be made available to a network in which the apparatus is operating; generating capability information of the apparatus in accordance with the received indication; and making the generated capability information available to the network.

Abstract: A non-access stratum (NAS) control protocol includes procedures for control plane cellular internet of things (CP-CIoT) service requests and attach requests. A user equipment (UE) in idle mode may transmit an NAS service request message including user data to a mobility management entity (MME) over the control plane. The MME extracts the user data from the NAS service request message and determines a type of the user data. The MME may forward non-IP data to a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) and forward IP data to a packet gateway.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for managing configuration updates. In some example embodiment, there may be provided an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive an indication regarding whether a home network of said apparatus makes a change to first configuration information stored at said home network and associated with the apparatus; and delete, in an instance in which the received indication represents the change, second configuration information stored at said apparatus, said second configuration information comprising information regarding one or more configurations associated with a visited network currently serving said apparatus and information regarding one or more configurations associated with one or more other visited networks.

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 and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for managing configuration updates. In some example embodiment, there may be provided an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive an indication regarding whether a home network makes a change to a previous configuration information for the apparatus; and delete, when the received indication represents the change, the previous configuration information stored at the apparatus. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A non-access stratum (NAS) control protocol includes procedures for control plane cellular internet of things (CP-CIoT) service requests and attach request. UE in idle mode may transmit an NAS service request message including user data to a mobility management entity (MME) over the control plane. The MME extracts the user data from the NAS service request message and determines a type of the user data. The MME may forward non-IP data to a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) and forward IP data to a packet gateway.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is provided a method for the support of packet data connectivity in a mobile network, said mobile network comprising a Radio Access network RAN and a Core Network CN, said method including, in case no connectivity is available between a RAN node and the Core Network, support of said packet data connectivity in a mode referred to as resilient mode wherein said packet data connectivity is provided locally by said RAN node to at least one User Equipment UE in the coverage of said RAN node, referred to as authorized UE, that is authorized to operate in said resilient mode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for intelligently switching from public land mobile network (PLMN) assigned identification (ID) to UE manufacturer assigned ID. An example method includes receiving a registration request message comprising information related to location registration to an access and mobility management function (AMF) or a mobility management entity (MME) through a radio access network (RAN), obtaining an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) or Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) of a user equipment and extracting from the IMEI or PEI a type allocation code (TAC). The method then obtains a user equipment radio capability ID associated with the user equipment and determines whether the UE shall use a user equipment manufacturer ID or PLMN assigned ID in order to determine an appropriate registration accept message having instructions to operate based on the user equipment manufacturer ID or the PLMN assigned ID.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for UE capability signaling. An apparatus is provided that is caused to at least: receive, from a user equipment capability management function, a message including a first restart counter value indicating a restart of the user equipment capability management function; inhibit, in response to receiving the first restart counter value, one or more old user equipment capability identifiers associated with a second restart counter value, the second restart counter value being associated to a pre-restart state of the user equipment capability management function; and send the first restart counter value indicating the restart of the user equipment capability management function. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is provided a method for optimization of network signalling load and/or User Equipment power consumption in a packet mobile system wherein an User Equipment UE has access to a network comprising a Core Network CN accessed by a Radio Access Network RAN, a method wherein CN assistance information is provided by said CN to said RAN for an UE, said CN assistance information including information determined in said CN based on a learning by said CN of a traffic pattern and/or a mobility pattern of said UE, and said CN assistance information is used in said RAN to adjust RAN parameters enabling to control transitions between idle and connected state and/or power consumption in connected state for said UE.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a mobile network entity, such as Access and Mobility Management Function AMF, providing registration management functions in a mobile network supporting network slicing, said mobile network entity configured to:—check if authentication and/or authorization involving a third party associated with a network slice is required for access to said network slice in addition to authentication and/or authorization for access to said mobile network, during registration,—initiate said authentication and/or authorization involving said third party upon checking that said authentication and/or authorization involving said third party is required.