Abstract: According to an example aspect, there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, by a service communication proxy from a network function consumer, a service request for a service by a network function producer, transmitting, in response to an error in obtaining an access token from a network repository function on the basis of the service request, a response to the service request to the network function consumer, wherein the access token is for authorizing access to a service at the network function producer and the response is indicative of an access token error.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for packet forwarding control protocol (PFCP) message bundling. In an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. In some embodiments, apparatus can be configured to: determine that more than one control protocol messages should be sent between a control plane entity and a user plane entity or said user plane entity and said control plane entity; determine the control plane entity and the user plane entity support sending and receiving a single datagram carrying more than one control protocol messages; extend a header of each control protocol message to indicate that the datagram is carrying more than one control protocol messages; combine one or more message types and respective message elements of the more than one control protocol messages into the single datagram; and cause sending said single datagram.

Abstract: There are provided measures for local user plane function control. Such measures exemplarily comprise obtaining access network related information, receiving, from a session management function entity, at least one pre-rule, generating, based on said at least one pre-rule and said access network related information, a first rule of at least one rule related to local traffic offloading, assigning said first rule to a first user plane function entity of at least one user plane function entity under control of said intermediate session management function entity, and transmitting said first rule to said first user plane function entity.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus (408). The apparatus comprises means for performing: receiving user plane traffic at the apparatus (408), the user plane traffic intended for a group local area network communication; and determining a target destination address for the user plane traffic; and autonomously handling the received user plane traffic at the apparatus (408) in dependence on the target destination address; and wherein the autonomously handling the received user plane traffic by the apparatus comprises determining whether the destination address is recognised by the apparatus (408); and forwarding the user plane traffic towards all interfaces (424) tagged as network interfaces associated with the group communication, when the destination address is determined to be not recognised by the apparatus (408).

Abstract: It is provided a method, including monitoring if a trigger to start a transaction for a user equipment or for a user is received; requesting, from a data layer and based on an identification of the user equipment or the user, respectively, an identifier of a set of one or more nodes when the trigger is received; forwarding the trigger to at least one node among the one or more nodes of the set.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured to initiate a handshake process configured to establish a control plane connection prior to establishing an associated data plane connection from the apparatus to a gateway node in second network, the apparatus being in a first network distinct from the second network, indicate during the establishing of the control plane connection that compression of payload communicated over the data plane connection is requested, and wherein the data plane connection to the gateway node traverses at least one intermediate internet protocol exchange.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), the apparatus being arranged to send a first registration request to a network repository function for registering the P-CSCF with the network repository function, the first registration request comprising at least one first identifier for the P-CSCF over an interface between the P-CSCF and a user equipment.

Abstract: A user plane network entity of a 5G core network performs: obtaining GPRS Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTP-U) tunneling information of a new or updated protocol data unit (PDU) session from a control plane network entity of the 5G core network; and adjusting according to the obtained GTP-U tunneling information a GTP-U firewall for selectively allowing to pass through only GTP-U traffic concerning GTP-U tunnels defined by the GTP-U tunneling information. The control plane network entity performs: obtaining from control plane signaling the GTP-U tunneling information and communicating same to the GTP-U firewall. A system containing the user plane network entity and the control plane network entity is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus configured to receive, from a first network entity associated with a first domain in a communication network, a request to communicate; determine a second network entity to which to send the request; determine that the second network entity is associated with a second domain in the communication network; and enforce at least one access policy for routing the request to the network entity, wherein the apparatus is a first service communication proxy trusted in both the first and second domains.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising receiving, by a network repository function, a registration request from an application function, wherein the registration request comprises at least one parameter that needs to be used for generating an access token for the application function, the at least one parameter being associated with the application function, registering the application function by the network repository function and transmitting, by the network repository function, a response to the registration request, wherein the response comprises the at least one parameter associated with the application function.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising, transmitting to a Network Function, NF, service producer, by a Service Communication Proxy, SCP, a service request on behalf of an NF service consumer, wherein the service request comprises an access token, receiving, by the SCP, a service response from the NF service producer and upon receiving the service response, transmitting to the NF service consumer, by the SCP, information related to the access token.

Abstract: There are provided measures for optimization of network function profile administration and registration. Such measures exemplarily comprise, at a network repository function entity, receiving, from a control entity, network entity profile template information, storing said network entity profile template information, wherein said network entity profile template information comprises a network entity profile template including an identifier of said network entity profile template and a profile content of said network entity profile template, said profile content including at least one profile attribute, receiving, from a network entity, a network entity registration request comprising said identifier of said network entity profile template, and generating a network entity profile for said network entity based on said at least one profile attribute.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving information about an identification of a network function set associated with at least one packet data network connection. The means is further configured for, in response to receiving an indication that a network function instance of the network function set supporting the at least one packet data network connection is no longer available, transferring the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a User Equipment UE, configured to: support access, via a serving network referred to as local network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain, without user authentication, to services referred to as Local Services, including non-emergency services.

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: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data storage (DS) function selection are provided. One method includes obtaining, from a network node, an address of a DS function that contains user equipment (UE) context information for at least one UE. The method may further include accessing, by a client, the DS function to register for the UE context information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for implementing a physical service communication proxy domain A method may include interconnecting a first network element with one or more service communication proxy domains, each associated with one or several internet protocol addresses or fully qualified domain names used for the interconnection. The method may also include registering the first network element with a network repository function by sending a service operation to the network repository function. Further, the service operation may include profile information of the first network element. In addition, the profile information may include one or more service communication proxy domains, each associated with one or several internet protocol addresses or fully qualified domain names.

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: Information for an access and mobility management function is received at a network repository function. At least part of the information for the access and mobility management function is stored at a domain name server, caused by the network repository function.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, and apparatuses, for providing and implementing the efficient detection of network component failures and restart conditions are described.