Abstract: A method performed by a first service instance for handling Load Balancing (LB) is provided. The LB is for a workflow transmitted between a first peer and a second peer via a chain of service instances in a communications network. The first service instance receives a request data from the first peer. The first service instance obtains from a scheduler, a set of allocation options for LB of the workflow, computed based on the request data. The first service instance decides based on considering the set of allocation options, a next, a second service instance in the chain of service instances, for the LB. The first service instance sends to the decided second service instance, the obtained set of allocation options. This in turn enables a third service instance at an appropriate step of executing the workflow, to consider the set of allocation options, for deciding if any remains, a further next fourth service instance for the LB.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node to change a transport path for a user plane session in a radio communications network. The path prolongs along a first part between an antenna endpoint of a network node and a Packet Processing Function (PPF) instance serving the network node and a second part between the PPF instance and a Core Network (CN) endpoint. The network node identifies available CN endpoints in a CN, available PPF instances in a Radio Access Network (RAN) and of available antenna endpoints in the RAN that are available for the user plane session and comprises a number of possible transport paths for the user plane session. When detecting a change event related to the user plane session, the network node controls whether or not to change the transport path to any of the a number of possible transport paths for the user plane session.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node to change a transport path for a user plane session in a radio communications network. The path prolongs along a first part between an antenna endpoint of a network node and a Packet Processing Function (PPF) instance serving the network node and a second part between the PPF instance and a Core Network (CN) endpoint. The network node identifies available CN endpoints in a CN, available PPF instances in a Radio Access Network (RAN) and of available antenna endpoints in the RAN that are available for the user plane session and comprises a number of possible transport paths for the user plane session. When detecting a change event related to the user plane session, the network node controls whether or not to change the transport path to any of the a number of possible transport paths for the user plane session.

Abstract: A method performed by a method performed by a core network node for obtaining a decision of a Core Network, CN/Radio Access Network, RAN, endpoint pair for a user plane session between a RAN and a CN in a radio communications network is provided. The RAN comprises multiple RAN transport endpoints, RAN endpoints, and the CN comprises multiple CN transport endpoints, CN endpoints. The core network node obtains (1101) identifiers of available CN endpoints in the CN, and obtains (1102) identifiers of available RAN endpoints in the RAN. The available CN endpoints and available RAN endpoints comprises a number of possible transport endpoint pairs between the RAN and the CN, CN/RAN endpoint pairs. The core network node further obtains (1103) characteristics of a respective transport path of the number of possible CN/RAN endpoint pairs.

Abstract: A method performed by a method performed by a core network node for obtaining a decision of a Core Network, CN,/Radio Access Network, RAN, endpoint pair for a user plane session between a RAN and a CN in a radio communications network is provided. The RAN comprises multiple RAN transport endpoints, RAN endpoints, and the CN comprises multiple CN transport endpoints, CN endpoints. The core network node obtains (1101) identifiers of available CN endpoints in the CN, and obtains (1102) identifiers of available RAN endpoints in the RAN. The available CN endpoints and available RAN endpoints comprises a number of possible transport endpoint pairs between the RAN and the CN, CN/RAN endpoint pairs. The core network node further obtains (1103) characteristics of a respective transport path of the number of possible CN/RAN endpoint pairs.