Abstract: An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: identify a plurality of allowed network slices of a terminal; and select at least one network slice among the plurality of allowed network slices of the terminal to be used for at least one signalling connection.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product receive a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether traffic redundancy is needed for the radio access network and the user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function.

Abstract: It is provided a method, comprising querying a network repository function to provide a respective identifier of each of one or more network functions; selecting a selected identifier of the one or more identifiers received in response to the querying; requesting a service from the network function identified by the selected identifier, wherein each of the network functions provides the service and fulfills a condition; the condition comprises at least one of a distance condition related to a distance between the respective network function and a reference point, a performance condition related to a performance of the respective network function, a capacity condition related to a capacity of the respective network function, an operational state condition related to an operational state of the respective network function, and a reliability condition related to a reliability of the respective network function.

Abstract: An apparatus including means for receiving, from a first user equipment associated with a network via a first path, a request at a second user equipment associated with the network, for the second user equipment to act as a relay node for the first user equipment acting as a master node to provide a second path between the first user equipment and the network, wherein the first user equipment and the second user equipment are connected using a proximity service interface, performing, at the second user equipment, an authorisation procedure with the network to act as a relay node for the first user equipment and providing an indication to the first user equipment that the second user equipment is authorised to act as a relay node for the first user equipment.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for distributed non-access stratum (NAS). The method comprises: providing, to a second apparatus, a NAS message transport configuration indicating at least one of a mapping between NAS services and radio bearers or a mapping between NAS services and NAS service type identifiers; and routing an NAS message between the second apparatus and a third apparatus based at least on the NAS message transport configuration, wherein the third apparatus is determined from a plurality of apparatuses based on the NAS message transport configuration.

Abstract: There are provided measures for enabling/realizing external steering of access traffic multipath communication in a mobile communication system, e.g. an external access traffic multipath communication steering function. Some such measures include that a session management function element or instance in a mobile communication system initiates control of establishment of at least one user plane session for access traffic multipath communication, obtains communication information of an external steering function element or instance to be used for steering access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session, creates access traffic multipath communication rules, forwarding action rules and multi access rules for access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session, and provides the access traffic multipath communication rules and the communication information of the external steering function element or instance to the communication function element or instance.

Abstract: A technique, comprising: receiving at a node of a radio access network of a mobile communication system one or more control plane messages indicating a plurality of quality-of-service profiles for a quality-of-service flow for a logical connection between a user equipment and a data network via the radio access network; receiving user plane messages for the quality-of-service flow at the radio access network node, wherein an individual user plane message comprises a header comprising at least a first field; determining at the radio access network node one of the plurality of quality-of-service profiles to adopt for the quality-of-service flow based on the first field and an indication in the one or more control plane messages of a mapping of the plurality of quality-of service profiles to a plurality of values for the first field.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product provide for generating and providing a signaling indicator to manage quality of service notifications in a network. In the context of a method, the method receives a signaling indicator from a user device. The signaling indicator includes data associated with one or more preferences of the user device. The method further receives a quality of service notification associated with the user device. The method also determines, based on the signaling indicator, whether to provide the quality of service notification to the user device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS) with branching point (BP) on the path are provided. The method may include determining that an existing user plane function is sub-optimal in terms of routing and latency incurred with respect to traffic for a given packet data unit session of a user equipment. The method may also include establishing, based on the determination, a new user plane function for the packet data unit session. The method may further include establishing a branching point user plane function that interfaces with the existing user plane function, the new user plane function, and a plurality of network access types. In addition, the method may include updating the user equipment by providing the user equipment with relevant multi-access traffic steering rules.

Abstract: There are provided measures for flow-specific congestion handling. Such measures may include deciding, for a first congestion notification marking enabled traffic flow, parameter information for modifying a congestion notification marking rate to be applied to said first congestion notification marking enabled traffic flow, and transmitting, towards a network entity, a message including said parameter information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided herein to provide a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session priority parameter. For example, a method is provided that comprises identifying a need in a user equipment (UE) for establishing a new protocol data unit PDU session. The method also includes evaluating whether to establish a new PDU session and determining whether to establish a new PDU session based on a PDU session priority parameter when a maximum number of PDU sessions the UE can establish in the network is reached.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for selective indications towards a UE (110), for example, at de-registration (110) from an AMF with request to re-register (130) with another AMF, are provided.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing multimodal service flow communications within communication networks are discussed. In an example embodiment, an apparatus is configured to receive one or more connection messages for one or more user devices. The apparatus is further configured to manage one or more data traffic flows associated with the one or more user devices based at least in part on a received service correlation identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reallocation of global unique temporary identifier (GUTI) in 5G networks are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a user equipment, a first message from a network, the first message including a first global unique temporary identifier and additional information, at least the first global unique temporary identifier being as-signed to the user equipment; receiving a first data transmission including the first global unique temporary identifier from the network; in response to receiving the first data transmission, deriving, at the user equipment, a second global unique temporary identifier based on the first global unique temporary identifier and the additional information; and receiving a second data transmission including the second global unique temporary identifier from the network.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment, a method may include receiving at least one time sensitive communications (TSC) request from at least one application function (AF). The method may further include determining at least one hold and forward (HnF) parameter based on the at least one TSC request. The method may further include transmitting the at least one HnF parameter to at least one user equipment (UE).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for modifying the transmission of media content update packets based on a determination that the elapsed uplink time and remaining downlink time in the aggregate are within a satisfactory round-trip delay time. In this regard, the method, apparatus, and computer program product are configured to correlate a returned media content update packet with an associated device update packet or packets. Correlating media content update packets with an associated device update packet may require identifying a returned packet containing a media content update by analyzing packets containing video streams to identify packets comprising reference video frames. Identifying reference video frame packets may assist in identifying the associated uplink packet or packets containing device pose and position or other user input.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for discovery and/or access to localized services provided by a communication network. In this regard, based on a tracking area code associated with a local network configured to provide localized services, a registration update process, a handover, or a state transition is initiated with respect to user equipment that is served by a mobile network. Furthermore, network information for the local network during the registration update process, during the handover, or during the state transition of the user equipment is determined. Network information is also provided to the user equipment during the registration update process, during the handover, or during the state transition of the user equipment. Additionally, a connection between the user equipment and the local network is established based on the network information.

Abstract: A network node, a core network node and a user equipment are disclosed. The network and the core network node each includes a processor; and a memory storing respective instructions. When executed by the processor, the network node is configured to: determine at least one radio access network timing synchronization status reporting range associated with at least one radio access network timing synchronization status attribute; and transmit, to a second network node, the radio access network timing synchronization status reporting range. The core network node is configured to: determine at least one radio access network timing synchronization status reporting range associated with at least one radio access network timing synchronization status attribute. In addition, the user equipment includes a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to: determine a clock quality acceptance criteria; and transmit the clock quality acceptance criteria.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for initiating or providing application specific protocol data unit (PDU) sessions are provided. One method may include receiving, from an application server or application function having a co-located or integrated micro-user plane function (UPF), a request to use the micro-user plane function (UPF) for an application. The method may include, based on information included in the request, determining an application specific data network name (AS-DNN) and provisioning a session management node with the micro-user plane function (UPF) information associated with the application specific data network name (AS-DNN).

Abstract: Techniques for providing distributed NAS layer termination points within a communication network. A network entity assigns a non-access stratum temporary identifier to a user device. The non-access stratum temporary identifier is associated with a non-access stratum termination point, and wherein a type of non-access stratum termination point is based at least in part on an apparatus type configured to handle one or more non-access stratum messages. The network entity causes the user device to be provided with the non-access stratum temporary identifiers.