Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bulk PDU session release between a wireless device and a control plane entity in a wireless system such as for example a 5G core network or similar is provided. The method comprises the wireless device determines that two or more Packet Data Unit, PDU, sessions established within the wireless system that are associated to at least one Data network identified by a Data Network Name, DNN, or to at least one Single Network Slice Assisted Information, S-NSSAI, should be released and transmits to a control entity of a core network, a Non-Access-Stratum, NAS, message indicating one of the at least one DNN or the at least one S-NSSAI for which the corresponding PDU sessions should be released all at once with a single message.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for IMS slicing-enabled IMS voice sessions between autonomous machines and/or voice related services. A method for a first user equipment, UE, for authenticating the first UE is provided. An alert voice call is communicated to a second UE for initiating authentication of the first UE. A voiceprint of a user for the authentication of the first UE is communicated, via an IMS slice, and based at least in part on an analysis of the voiceprint, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is received. A method for an Application Server includes receiving, via an IMS slice, a voiceprint of a user. The voiceprint is compared to a voiceprint sample. The voiceprint sample is associated with the first UE. Based at least in part on the comparison, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is communicated.

Abstract: A method for managing a charging operation in a communication network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a content specification identifying content, vendors and a condition relating to charging the vendors for provision of the content to a UE. The method further comprises creating a charging policy for provision of the content, which specifies division of charging for provision of the content to a UE between the vendors in accordance with the condition, receiving, from a UE, a request for provision of content over the network and retrieving a charging policy corresponding to the requested content. The method further comprises creating a charging entry for provision of the requested content, the charging entry dividing charging for provision of the requested content between vendors identified in the retrieved charging policy and a subscriber account associated with the UE in accordance with the retrieved policy.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for power savings. In one embodiments, a method implemented at a user equipment. UE, includes obtaining a power saving rule, the power saving rule being based at least in part on power consumption metrics related to use of at least one application on at least one slice by the UE and/or by a device connected to the UE; and determining that a power saving slice should be used for a first application of the at least one application and/or the device connected to the UE based at least in part on (i) the obtained power saving rule and (ii) a current power state at the UE and/or at the device connected to the UE; and establishing a protocol data unit, PDU, session using the power saving slice.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises sending a registration request to a network node in a visited network and receiving a registration response comprising: (a) information that indicates one or more network slices in the visited network that can be used by the wireless communication device and (b) a link that can be activated by the wireless communication device to obtain a client that treats the wireless communication device as a SNPN client to enable the wireless communication device to make and/or receive calls to/from local wireless communication devices in the visited network. The method further comprises establishing a session with the visited network using one of the one or more network slices indicated by the information comprised in the registration response, activating the link using the session with the visited network, and, responsive thereto, downloading the client and executing the client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous calling in a cellular communications system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication device for simultaneous Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) sessions between the first wireless communication device and two or more other wireless communication devices comprises establishing a first IMS session with a second wireless communication device and, while the first IMS session is ongoing and without placing the first IMS session on hold, establishing a second IMS session with a third wireless communication device. In this manner, simultaneous calling is enabled, which will, for example, allow machines to multitask in comparison to existing non-simultaneous calling.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bulk PDU session release between a wireless device and a control plane entity in a wireless system such as for example a 5G core network or similar is provided. The method comprises the wireless device determines that two or more Packet Data Unit, PDU, sessions established within the wireless system that are associated to at least one Data network identified by a Data Network Name, DNN, or to at least one Single Network Slice Assisted Information, S-NSSAI, should be released and transmits to a control entity of a core network, a Non-Access-Stratum, NAS, message indicating one of the at least one DNN or the at least one S-NSSAI for which the corresponding PDU sessions should be released all at once with a single message.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for network-initiated slice-based handover in a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method in a cellular communications system comprises, at a network node in a core network of the cellular communications system, detecting a triggering event for a network slice handover for a session of a particular wireless communication device. The method further comprises, at the network node and responsive to detecting the triggering event, identifying a target network slice for the network slice handover and sending, to a Policy and Control Function (PCF) in the core network, a message that initiates a network slice handover of the session from a source network slice to the target network slice. The method further comprises, at the PCF, receiving the message that initiates the network slice handover and performing an action to cause the network slice handover.

Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle. The method includes the vehicle receiving information from a server. The method also includes, based on the information from the server, the vehicle configuring itself such that a device is able obtain from the vehicle operational status information indicating an operational status of the vehicle. The method also includes, after configuring itself, the vehicle receiving an operational status request from the device. The method also includes, after receiving the operational status request from the device, the vehicle sending an operation status response comprising the operational status information indicating an operational status of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for slice and/or subscriber identification module (SIM) device locking/un-locking. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a user equipment, UE, having one or more subscriber identification module, SIM, is provided. The method includes activating one or more subscriber identification module, SIM for a UE. The method includes, as a result of activating, initiating a request to register the UE with a network, and receiving allowed Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, NSSAI. The method includes associating received one or more single-NSSAI, S-NSSAI, indicated by the allowed NSSAI to one of the one or more SIM in the UE according to a policy.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for IMS slicing-enabled IMS voice sessions between autonomous machines and/or voice related services. A method for a first user equipment, UE, for authenticating the first UE is provided. An alert voice call is communicated to a second UE for initiating authentication of the first UE. A voiceprint of a user for the authentication of the first UE is communicated, via an IMS slice, and based at least in part on an analysis of the voiceprint, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is received. A method for an Application Server includes receiving, via an IMS slice, a voiceprint of a user. The voiceprint is compared to a voiceprint sample. The voiceprint sample is associated with the first UE. Based at least in part on the comparison, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is communicated.

Abstract: A method for managing a charging operation in a communication network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a content specification identifying content, vendors and a condition relating to charging the vendors for provision of the content to a UE. The method further comprises creating a charging policy for provision of the content, which specifies division of charging for provision of the content to a UE between the vendors in accordance with the condition, receiving, from a UE, a request for provision of content over the network and retrieving a charging policy corresponding to the requested content. The method further comprises creating a charging entry for provision of the requested content, the charging entry dividing charging for provision of the requested content between vendors identified in the retrieved charging policy and a subscriber account associated with the UE in accordance with the retrieved policy.

Abstract: Methods, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and network nodes for network resource management, the method in the IoT comprising: initiating a device shutdown procedure; and triggering the sending of a device shutdown message to a network node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for control of power source usage of a multi power source radio device 7. A method performed by a server 30 comprises obtaining information B 5 about a plurality of power sources available for the radio device. The method also comprises, based on the obtained information, determining criteria for when to use at least one of the plurality of power sources. The method also comprises sending a power source configuration message C towards the radio device, comprising information about the determined criteria, for enabling the radio device to use said at least one of the plurality of power sources in 10 accordance with the determined criteria.

Abstract: A method, in a node of a communication network, for managing effects of a scheduled outage of mains power is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a notification of a scheduled outage of mains power (A), the notification comprising a location to be affected by the scheduled outage and a time period during which the scheduled outage is scheduled. The method further comprises identifying mains powered devices registered on the communication network and situated in the notified location (B), discovering an entity affected by an outage of at least one of the identified devices (D), and informing the discovered entity that the identified devices are scheduled to be without power during the notified time period (F). Also disclosed area computer program product for carrying out the above method and a communication network node (100, 200) configured to carry out the above method.

Abstract: A method, in a monitoring function, for monitoring resource usage in a communication network comprising a plurality of M2M devices is disclosed. The method comprises detecting issuance of a user instruction (120), the user instruction specifying an action to be carried out by at least one of the M2M devices, identifying M2M devices subject to the user instruction (120), calculating an impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices (140), and sending the calculated impact to a resource management function (150). Also disclosed is a method, in a resource management function, for managing resources in a communication network comprising a plurality of M2M devices. The method comprises receiving, from a monitoring function, a calculated impact upon the communication network of completion of an action by M2M devices subject to a user instruction specifying the action (260), and adjusting resource allocation within the network according to the calculated impact (270).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a network node (54) in a communication network (50) comprising a plurality of communication devices (51), for finding temporally connected connection patterns of the communication devices in the network. The method comprises identifying signalling between the communication devices during a predefined time duration to form a main communication graph in which the plurality of communication devices are nodes. The method also comprises partitioning the main communication graph for a time period comprised in said time duration to capture temporally connected signalling between some of the communication devices as illustrated in the main communication graph in a partitioned communication graph. The method also comprises forming at least one subgraph from the partitioned communication graph, comprising m nodes corresponding to m communication devices of said some of the communication devices.

Abstract: A method performed by a machine-to-machine, M2M, server for establishing an operational status of a M2M device in a M2M network is disclosed. The method comprising configuring a first M2M device to perform an operational status check on a second M2M device, and receiving from the first M2M device the operational status check of the second M2M device.

Abstract: A method performed in a network operator server in communication with a utility server over a communication network, includes the network operator server receiving, from the utility server over the communication network, a utility message including an identification of at least one network device. The method further includes the network operator determining at least one network impact characteristic using the utility message. The method further includes the network operator server changing, in accordance with the at least one determined network impact characteristic, at least one network policy associated with the at least one network device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for control of power source usage of a multi power source radio device 7. A method performed by a server 30 comprises obtaining information B 5 about a plurality of power sources available for the radio device. The method also comprises, based on the obtained information, determining criteria for when to use at least one of the plurality of power sources. The method also comprises sending a power source configuration message C towards the radio device, comprising information about the determined criteria, for enabling the radio device to use said at least one of the plurality of power sources in 10 accordance with the determined criteria.