Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for traffic probing. A method performed by a sender network function (NF) includes sending a first message to a receiver NF. The first message comprises a new HTTP header which comprises an NF instance identifier (ID) of the sender NF and an NF instance ID of the receiver NF.

Abstract: A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates a type of the network function, and further indicates an attribute of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for subscribing a notification of a change of a network function. A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting (S101) a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving (S102) a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a proxy method, comprising receiving a request for a service in a first architecture from a requester network function (NF) in a second architecture, obtaining a response of the service from a serving NF on behalf of the requester NF, and sending a further response to the requester NF based on the response of the service. The proxy method may be implemented on a NF or a function entity within a NF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for indirect data forwarding. A method at a mobility management node comprises sending, to a serving gateway entity in the first system, a request for creating an indirect data forwarding tunnel. The request comprises an indication flag for indicating to the serving gateway entity that an indirect data forwarding tunnel is to be created with a user plane function entity in a second system. The method further comprises receiving a response for the request from the serving gateway entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for subscribing a notification of a change of a network function. A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting (S101) a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving (S102) a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a proxy method, comprising receiving a request for a service in a first architecture from a requester network function (NF) in a second architecture, obtaining a response of the service from a serving NF on behalf of the requester NF, and sending a further response to the requester NF based on the response of the service. The proxy method may be implemented on a NF or a function entity within a NF.

Abstract: A method in a communication network for facilitating handover of a user equipment (UE) from access via a source access path to access via a target access path is provided. An internet protocol (IP) access is provided to the UE via the source access path and an indication that the UE has configured a communication interface for the target access path is obtained. Switching from providing IP access via the source access path to providing IP access to the UE via the target access path is performed. Further, instructions for releasing communication resources for the source access path are sent after the indication that the communication interface has been configured for the target access path is obtained.

Abstract: The application relates to session mobility between 3GPP, such as UMTS and LTE, networks and non-3GPP, such as WLAN, access networks and in particular network-based mobility where the PDN gateway PDN GW acts as the user-plane anchor between the two. This topic is discussed in 3GPP, ongoing work item Study on S2a Mobility based On GTP & WLAN access to EPC, SaMOG, TR 23.852; and TS 23.402. Within the SaMOG Rel-12 study, a number of solutions for handover with IP address preservation have been proposed, see 3GPP TR 23.852 section 8.2. However, the current standards do not prevent that that in case of handover, the UE interface for the source path might be released before the configuration for the target path interface has been configured and the UE might not have any interface at all. Hence, the application proposes that release of the source path resources is delayed until the relevant network node has received an indication that the UE has configured its communication interface for the target path.