Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to Sx protocol extension to support node PDR. In one embodiment, there proposes a method (500) in a first network node (301) configured as control plane function (CPF). The first network node (301) is coupled to a second network node (302) configured as user plane function (UPF) via an Sx interface. The method (500) comprising transmitting (S501) a message associated with a Packet Detection Rule (PDR) to the second network node (302) via the Sx interface, wherein the PDR is applicable to more than one Sx session. With embodiments herein, the CPF-UPF signaling throughput can be minimized significantly, and the memory footprint per Sx session can be decreased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, for controlling at least one path in a multipath environment by a path control entity, wherein the at least one one path is used for transmitting an encrypted video stream comprising a sequence of video segments. The method comprises the following steps: estimating a resolution used in the video stream based on the video segments, and determining that the resolution used in the video stream has changed during the transmission. When it is determined that the resolution used in the video stream has changed, an adaptation of a number of the at least one path used for transmitting the video stream in the multipath configuration is initiated based on the determined change of the resolution.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a UPF (303) for handling pre-configured profiles for sets of detection and enforcement rules. The UPF (303) comprises one or more pre-configured profiles applicable to any user session. Each pre-configured profile comprises a set of detection and enforcement rules. Each pre-configured profile comprises a profile ID and the set of detection or enforcement rules. The UPF (303) receives, from a CPF (301) a first request for session establishment comprising at least one indication for profile activation. The at least one indication profile activation comprises the profile ID of the pre-configured profile to be activated. The UPF (303) establishes the session indicated in the first request. For the established session, the UPF (303) activates the at least one pre-configured profile identified by the profile ID by instantiating the set of detection and enforcement rules for the pre-configured profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for traffic monitoring in a network. In an example aspect, a method of traffic monitoring in a first network node comprises receiving a packet, determining that the packet matches a plurality of packet detection rules, and sending an indication to a second network node that the packet matches a plurality of packet detection rules.

Abstract: A method of reporting traffic metrics by a User Plane Function, UPF, to a Session Management Function, SMF, in a telecommunication network, wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving, by said UPF, a session creation/modification message for creating/modifying a session between said UPF and said SMF, wherein said message comprises a Reporting Rule thereby defining which traffic metric is to be reported by said UPF to said SMF, measuring, by said UPF, said traffic metric based on said received Reporting Rule, transmitting, by said UPF, to said SMF, a reporting message, wherein said reporting message comprises said measured traffic metric.

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 user plane, UP. The method includes determining whether a redirect message should be sent to a user equipment, UE, that has transmitted a first message intended for a first server, wherein the determining comprises: i) receiving a message transmitted by the first server and determining, based on the message, whether a redirect message should be sent to the UE or ii) detecting a timeout with respect to the first server; and, as a result of determining that redirect message should be sent to the UE, sending to the UE the redirect message, wherein the redirect message is configured to cause the UE to send a second message to a second server.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gateway wherein the method comprises to detect a downlink data packet session transmitted to the first user entity, and to amend the lifetime indicator in at least some of the data packets of the detected downlink data packet session such that the data packets for which the lifetime indicator has been amended, have reached the end of the lifetime and cannot be transmitted further when arriving at the first user entity.

Abstract: A method for operating a session control entity configured to control a data packet session for a mobile subscriber in a network, wherein at least one service is applied to the data packet session by a service application entity, the method includes at the session control entity receiving a first request from a requestor requesting application of the at least one service, in which it is requested that the requestor be informed of a current status of at least one session related parameter of the data packet session, and transmitting a notification to the requestor, the notification having the current status of the at least one session related parameter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing quality of service for video streaming, in which a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in a Policy Charging Control (PCC) architecture of a telecommunications system receives from a Policy Control Enforcement Function (PCEF) a notification indicating that a video service has started for streaming video content to a user equipment (UE). A first Quality of Service (QoS) setting for streaming the video service to the UE is determined. First QoS setting data identifying the first QoS setting is transmitted to the PCEF. The PCEF transmits a further notification to the PCRF indicating that a particular stage has been reached. The PCRF receives the notification from the PCEF. In response to the further notification, a second QoS setting specifying a lower QoS than the first QoS setting for streaming the video service after the particular stage is determined. The PCRF identifies the second QoS setting to the PCEF.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for configuring UPF analytics in a service based architecture. The method in an analytics controller comprises: obtaining an indication of an analytics policy rule, APR, wherein the APR indicates analytics to be carried out by a user plane function node; translating the APR into at least one rule setting a condition for reporting analytics to a network data analytics function, NWDAF, or for forwarding packets to an analytics engine, wherein the rule applies to one of: a particular user and particular traffic type; a particular user for all traffic types; and a particular user plane function node; and transmitting the at least one rule to the user plane function node.

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: A method of managing traffic associated with a User Equipment, UE, by a User Plane Function, UPF, in a telecommunication network, said UPF being associated with a Session Management Function, SMF, and a Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF, wherein said UPF has access to an observation space comprising a list of possible states said network may take and wherein said UPF has access to an action space comprising a list of possible actions that said UPF is allowed to perform, said method comprising the steps of receiving a state of said network, wherein said state is comprised by said list of possible states, receiving a reward, wherein said reward indicates a degree of satisfaction of said network to be in said state, receiving network traffic from said UE and performing, triggered by said received traffic, an action comprised by said list of possible actions based on said received state of said network and based on said received reward.

Abstract: A method of reporting traffic metrics by a User Plane Function, UPF, to a Session Management Function, SMF, in a telecommunication network, wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving, by said UPF, a session creation/modification message for creating/modifying a session between said UPF and said SMF, wherein said message comprises a Reporting Rule thereby defining which traffic metric is to be reported by said UPF to said SMF, measuring, by said UPF, said traffic metric based on said received Reporting Rule, transmitting, by said UPF, to said SMF, a reporting message, wherein said reporting message comprises said measured traffic metric.

Abstract: A method of enabling functionality at a User Plane Function, UPF, by a Session Management Function, SMF, in a telecommunication network. The method includes receiving, by the UPF, a session creation/modification message for creating/modifying a session between the UPF and the SMF, wherein the session creation/modification message includes a session functionality indication for indicating functionality to be enabled for said session, and enabling, by the UPF, the functionality during the session between said UPF and the SMF.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gateway wherein the method comprises to detect a downlink data packet session transmitted to the first user entity, and to amend the lifetime indicator in at least some of the data packets of the detected downlink data packet session such that the data packets for which the lifetime indicator has been amended, have reached the end of the lifetime and cannot be transmitted further when arriving at the first user entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing quality of service for video streaming, in which a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in a Policy Charging Control (PCC) architecture of a telecommunications system receives from a Policy Control Enforcement Function (PCEF) a notification indicating that a video service has started for streaming video content to a user equipment (UE). A first Quality of Service (QoS) setting for streaming the video service to the UE is determined. First QoS setting data identifying the first QoS setting is transmitted to the PCEF. The PCEF transmits a further notification to the PCRF indicating that a particular stage has been reached. The PCRF receives the notification from the PCEF. In response to the further notification, a second QoS setting specifying a lower QoS than the first QoS setting for streaming the video service after the particular stage is determined. The PCRF identifies the second QoS setting to the PCEF.

Abstract: A method performed by a user plane, UP. The method includes determining whether a redirect message should be sent to a user equipment, UE, that has transmitted a first message intended for a first server, wherein the determining comprises: i) receiving a message transmitted by the first server and determining, based on the message, whether a redirect message should be sent to the UE or ii) detecting a timeout with respect to the first server; and, as a result of determining that redirect message should be sent to the UE, sending to the UE the redirect message, wherein the redirect message is configured to cause the UE to send a second message to a second server.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, for controlling at least one path in a multipath environment by a path control entity, wherein the at least one one path is used for transmitting an encrypted video stream comprising a sequence of video segments. The method comprises the following steps: estimating a resolution used in the video stream based on the video segments, and determining that the resolution used in the video stream has changed during the transmission. When it is determined that the resolution used in the video stream has changed, an adaptation of a number of the at least one path used for transmitting the video stream in the multipath configuration is initiated based on the determined change of the resolution.