Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for restoration of multicast/broadcast service upon multicast/broadcast failure with restart are provided. For example, a method may include detecting a restart of a multicast/broadcast user plane function that was supporting a packet forwarding control protocol session for a multicast/broadcast session. The method may also include re-creating a packet forwarding control protocol session for the multicast/broadcast session. The method may further include providing addressing information for the data delivery of the broadcast/multicast session to the multicast/broadcast user plane function and instructing the multicast/broadcast user plane function to use this addressing information for the broadcast/multicast session if possible.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for restoration of multicast/broadcast service upon multicast/broadcast user plane function failure without restart are provided. For example, a method may include detecting non-functionality of a first multicast/broadcast user plane function that was supporting a packet forwarding control protocol session context for a multicast/broadcast session. The method may also include reselecting a second multicast/broadcast user plane function. The method may further include recreating a packet forwarding control protocol session context in the second multicast/broadcast user plane function for said multicast/broadcast session. The method may additionally include receiving new addressing information for the delivery of said multicast/broadcast session data from said second multicast/broadcast user plane function. The method may also include updating a network element with the new addressing information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for broadcast service restoration for multicast/broadcast service upon radio access node failure or restart are provided. For example, a method may include storing a last multicast/broadcast service session information received from a multicast/broadcast session management function corresponding to a multicast/broadcast service session. The method may also include detecting that a radio access node associated with the multicast/broadcast service session has restarted or is unreachable. The method may further include taking a further action to adjust the delivery of the multicast/broadcast service session based on the detection.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for changing MRB ID without requiring release and add functions. One method may include receiving, by a user equipment, a RRC reconfiguration message from a network entity comprising a MRB. The MRB is identified by a first MRB ID, and the RRC reconfiguration message further comprises a second MRB ID associated with the first MRB ID. The user equipment associates the MRB with the second MRB ID configured for subsequent identification of the MRB. The user equipment receives MBS data through the MRB associated with the second MRB ID.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus. The apparatus is configured to: store information of a multicast session, the information comprising at least one identifier of the multicast session, and information about access to different content for the multicast session in a plurality of different location areas; and, in response to a request from a second apparatus, provide to the second apparatus information about access to content of the multicast session in at least one of the plurality of different location areas.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for the configuration of user device(s) for reception of point-to-multipoint transmission are provided. One method may include receiving, at a user equipment, a configuration for point-to-multipoint reception of a group-common transport channel. The configuration may include a group-common signaling configuration for a group of user equipment. The method may also include receiving, at the user equipment, a point-to-multipoint reconfiguration message using the group-common signaling configuration on the group-common transport channel from a device (e.g., a network node). The point-to-multipoint reconfiguration message may include an updated point-to-multipoint configuration. The method may then include receiving point-to-multipoint data, from the device on the group-common transport channel, based on the updated point-to-multipoint configuration.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a handover request from a source BS, the handover request comprising a request for a handover of a UE involved in at least two QoS flows using a first MRB with the source BS, wherein the apparatus is using at least a second MRB for other UEs; starting to buffer packets for the UE; receiving a subsequent message comprising, for each of the at least two QoS flows, a CN SN of a first packet not transmitted by the source BS for that QoS flow; identifying a second packet with the highest protocol entity SN according to a protocol entity transmission order of the second MRB among packets which the source BS has delivered to the UE using the first MRB and the apparatus has transmitted to the other UEs using the second MRB; and transmitting a message configuring the UE to use the second MRB.

Abstract: 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 are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to identify at least one of a plurality of user equipment based on a pre-determined channel quality. A determination is made that point-to-point efficiency is greater than point-to-multipoint efficiency. At least one identified UE with worse channel condition is switched from point-to-multipoint to point-to-point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to time domain resource allocation for multicast broadcast service. A first device receives, from a second device, DCI comprising a TDRA field, and determines, based on at least one of an identifier for scrambling the DCI, a RRC state of the first device or a type of traffic configured for the first device, a TDRA list from a set of configurations for TDRA. Then the first device applies, based on the TDRA list, the TDRA field for reception of the traffic from the second device. In this way, a TDRA list to be used may be determined in an optimal manner, with all terminal devices receiving multicast and broadcast traffic determining common values for time domain resources where data traffic would be scheduled.

Abstract: There are provided measures for enabling/realizing broadcast session establishment, particularly improved broadcast session establishment within a multicast/broadcast service. Such measures exemplarily comprise that an access management element or function in a mobile communication system issues, in response to a request of broadcast session establishment from a session management element or function, one or more requests of broadcast session establishment operation to one or more radio access elements or functions, issuing a response of broadcast session establishment to the session management element or function, and provides an indication of completion of broadcast session establishment operation at the radio access elements or functions to the session management element or function upon obtaining a response of broadcast session establishment operation from all of the radio access elements or functions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to estimating downlink size for a multicast traffic. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a first device receives downlink control information (DCI) for a multicast traffic. The first device determines field size(s) in the DCI based on one or more parameters which are associated with the field size estimation for the multicast traffic. The first device decodes the DCI based on the determined field sizes(s). In this way, the DCI can be blindly decoded correctly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product receive, at a network node of a communication network, information about an accumulated packet delay in the communication network. The method, apparatus and computer program product estimate next hop transport delay and estimate or measure a processing delay of the network node. The method, apparatus and computer program product update the accumulated packet delay by adding the next hop transport delay and the processing delay to the accumulated packet delay. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause transmission of information about the accumulated packet delay in a header of a packet carrying user data or a control packet in the communication network to a next hop node of the communication network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product receive an application flow comprising a source flow and a supplementary flow from a core network. The method, apparatus and computer program product receive a flow payload indication from the core network. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether the application flow is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether the supplementary flow is droppable based on the flow payload indication and whether the application flow is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause only the source flow to be transmitted in a circumstance where the supplementary flow is droppable.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for multicast-broadcast service (MBS) deactivation and/or activation are provided. One method may include receiving, at a multicast-broadcast session management entity, a multicast-broadcast service (MBS) session setup message, from at least one management entity, comprising at least one of an identifier of at least one network node requesting setup of the multicast-broadcast service (MBS) session and an identifier of the at least one management entity. The method may also include storing, at the multicast-broadcast management entity, at least one of the identifier of the at least one network node, the identifier of the at least one management entity, or an identifier of a region of the at least one management entity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for distributing multicast packets in individual protocol data unit (PDU) sessions are provided. One method may include receiving, at a user plane node, a request from a session management node, to receive packets for a multicast session and/or to send packets from the multicast session within a protocol data unit (PDU) session. The method may also include determining whether the user plane node was already configured to receive incoming packets for the multicast session, and informing the session management node as to whether the user plane node was already configured to receive the incoming packets for the multicast session.

Abstract: For a source stream of input data where FEC scheme(s) have been used to create a repair stream, transmitting by a network node packet(s) comprising data of the source stream or the repair stream packaged as at least part of PDU(s). An ARQ or HARQ process is applied to the PDU(s). The network node receives feedback information as part of the process corresponding to the PDU(s), including positive ACK/NACK response for the PDUs. The retransmissions of the negatively acknowledged PDU(s) are controlled when the FEC scheme is known not to be able to compensate for loss(e)s of packet(s) contained in the PDU(s) indicated as being negatively acknowledged. A UE receives packet(s), determines loss(es), and, in response to a determination the FEC scheme is known to be able to recover from the loss(es), sends at least one ACK for any lost packets that correspond to the one or more loss(es).

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a method may include receiving, by a first network entity, at least one user equipment context modification request from a second network entity. The method may further include configuring, by the first network entity, at least one of one or more unicast channels and one or more multicast channels. The method may further include receiving, by the first network entity, multicast data. The method may further include selecting, by the first network entity, at least one of one or more multicast channels and one or more unicast channels to transmit multicast data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for multicast-broadcast service (MBS) deactivation and/or activation are provided. One method may include receiving, at a multicast-broadcast session management entity, a multicast-broadcast service (MBS) session setup message, from at least one management entity, comprising at least one of an identifier of at least one network node requesting setup of the multicast-broadcast service (MBS) session and an identifier of the at least one management entity. The method may also include storing, at the multicast-broadcast management entity, at least one of the identifier of the at least one network node, the identifier of the at least one management entity, or an identifier of a region of the at least one management entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for V2X server discovery. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method. The method may include receiving, by a user equipment, an indication of an identity of a local server configured to provide, in the serving public land mobile network, information regarding a vehicle-based service, when the user equipment enters a region of the serving public land mobile network; and discovering, by the user equipment, the local server based on the received indication of the identity. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data duplication are disclosed. Information on one or more user terminals are received by an apparatus from a base station serving the one or more user terminals located in a same host unit. Received information is compared to information of the user terminals the apparatus is serving. Based on the comparison, it is determined that at least some of the one or more user terminals served by the apparatus are located in the same host; and the at least some of the one or more user terminals are scheduled to utilize different radio resources that provide largest frequency or time diversity available between the at least some of the one or more user terminal.