Abstract: One aspect provides a method performed by a network node implementing a network function repository function in a core network. A registration request message to register a CHF in a repository of network functions is received, the registration request message includes an indication of one or more sets of charging characteristics supported by the CHF and addressing information to reach the CHF. Each CHF in the repository is registered. A discovery request message including one or more search parameters for identifying a CHF, including at least an indication of a set of charging characteristics to be applied for the packet data connection is received. A CHF that supports the indicated set of charging characteristics is identified based on the one or more search parameters A discovery response message comprising the addressing information to reach the identified CHF is transmitted.

Abstract: A method for supporting a service of subscription and reporting of monitoring of events, by a Policy Control Function, PCF, in a telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of receiving, by a Network Exposure Function, NEF, a notification from a Network Repository Function, NRF, said notification comprising an indication of a registered PCF in said telecommunication network and comprising a list of services supported by said PCF, transmitting, by said NEF, to said PCF, a service subscribe request for subscribing to said service of reporting of monitoring of events, wherein said request comprises subscription information comprising identification of one or more events and identification of one or more User Equipment, UE's, receiving, by said NEF, from said PCF, a service subscribe acknowledgement for indicating that said NEF is subscribed to said service with said subscription information

Abstract: The disclosure provides various methods, apparatus and computer-readable mediums supporting subscriptions to events in a core network. One method in a network exposure function for a core network comprises: providing, to a policy control function for the core network, a subscription request message indicating a request for a subscription for a plurality of terminal devices to receive notifications of events from the policy control function. The subscription request message comprises one or more of: an indication of one or more identifiers of events for which the plurality of terminal devices are to receive notifications; an indication of a type of resources to which the subscription relates; an indication of one or more services defined in the policy control function to which the subscription relates; and an indication as to whether notifications of events are to comprise an indication of one or more rules affected by the event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the transmission of user data over an NAS of a telecommunications network. An AMF includes a receiver configured to receive NAS policy control data determined by a PCF. The NAS policy control data identifies a user, is based on the user's subscription to the telecommunications network and includes one or more authorization parameters identifying whether the user is permitted to transmit user data over the NAS. The receiver also receives from a UE, or an AS, an NAS transmission request identifying the user and requesting transmission of user data over the NAS. An NAS transmission authorizer controls whether the transmission of the user data over the NAS should be authorized based on the authorization parameters and the NAS transmission request.

Abstract: A method aims at providing a service in a communication network, and comprises the following steps. An access to a service requiring authentication is initiated by a UE (100), An identity management node (300) authenticates the UE, and then sends, to a PCRF node (400), a message comprising: service information for identifying the service to which access is initiated, identification information for identifying the UE, and authentication information determined upon authenticating the UE. The PCRF node determines control rules to be applied to the service for the UE, based on the authentication information and service information. The PCRF node then triggers installation of the control rules in at least one network node (500) handling service data flows (SDF) for the service, to enforce the control rules on traffic associated with the service for the UE. The invention also relates to devices and computer programs for carrying such as method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, by a policy controller 100, for generating policy rules for data packet flows in a communications network. The policy controller 100 has access to a policy database 130 and stores a service level agreement. The service level agreement contains a plurality of different service level identifiers, each service level identifier being associated with a set of conditions that govern the policy rules to be applied to the data packet flows in the communications network. The method comprises the following steps: An authorization request is received for a data packet flow, the authorization request comprising service information for a service and a service level identifier. The policy database 130 is accessed and the set of conditions associated with the received service level identifier is determined. Further, based on the determined set of conditions, a policy rule to be applied to the data packet flow is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for user plane function, UPF, allocation is described. The UPF is configured to provide a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, connectivity service between a terminal device and a data network on a user plane, and the allocation is based on control information associated with an individual logical PDU entity. The control information defines priority information indicative of a priority of the PDU entity relative to other PDU entities and pre-emption information indicative of at least one of whether the PDU entity is capable of being pre-emptively allocated to a UPF over other PDU entities served by that UPF, and whether the PDU entity when served by a UPF is vulnerable to being re-allocated for pre-emptively allocating other PDU entities to that UPF.

Abstract: Network nodes and methods for control thereof for dynamic network slice selection. An AMF receives a UE request originating from the UE, the UE request being any one of a registration request and a session request. A network slice requester controls a transmitter to transmit a network slice selection request to a PC_NSS. A selection data manager of the PC_NSS determines selection data specifying one or more UE specific parameters affecting network slice selection. A network slice selector selects a network slice assignable for the UE, based on the selection data, determines network slice data and a corresponding network slice routing rule, and transmits them to the AMF. A network slice manager of the AMF controls assignment of a network slice to the UE in dependence on the received network slice data and network slice routing rule.

Abstract: Methods, a policy server (110) and a traffic steering server (120) for managing traffic steering policies for steering of traffic of a user equipment are disclosed. The policy server (110) generates (A020) a policy request, where-in the policy request comprises the traffic steering policies, wherein the traffic steering policies include a first traffic steering policy and a second traffic steering policy, both the first and second traffic steering policies being applicable to the traffic in one direction with respect to the user equipment. The policy server (110) sends (A030) the policy request to the traffic steering server (120). The traffic steering server (120) applies (A070) at least one of the first and second traffic steering policies to manage the traffic. Corresponding computer programs and computer program carriers are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to operate as a subscriber server. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing the subscription information of one or more Machine Type Communications, MTC, subscribers, the subscription information of a MTC subscriber including one or more MTC Features and information regarding the MTC subscriber's subscribed services, a processor for assessing which of the one or more subscribed MTC Features are supported, assessing any interaction that may occur between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and the subscribed services, and determining the subscription information that should be sent to the serving node based on the outcome of the assessments, and a transmitter for sending the determined subscription information to the serving node.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, by a policy controller 100, for generating policy rules for data packet flows in a communications network. The policy controller 100 has access to a policy database 130 and stores a service level agreement. The service level agreement contains a plurality of different service level identifiers, each service level identifier being associated with a set of conditions that govern the policy rules to be applied to the data packet flows in the communications network. The method comprises the following steps: An authorization request is received for a data packet flow, the authorization request comprising service information for a service and a service level identifier. The policy database 130 is accessed and the set of conditions associated with the received service level identifier is determined. Further, based on the determined set of conditions, a policy rule to be applied to the data packet flow is generated.

Abstract: A method is proposed of provisioning connectivity service data for a device when the device attaches to a telecommunications network. The connectivity service data comprises information required to enable connectivity between the device and at least one further device of the network. Dynamic data relating to the device is obtained as part of one of the device attaching to the telecommunications network and a previous attachment of the device to the network. The dynamic data is of a type that may change from one such attachment to another such attachment of the same device. The connectivity service data is then selected based on the obtained dynamic data. It is then arranged for the selected connectivity service data to be provisioned to the device.

Abstract: A method aims at providing a service in a communication network, and comprises the following steps. An access to a service requiring authentication is initiated by a UE (100), An identity management node (300) authenticates the UE, and then sends, to a PCRF node (400), a message comprising: service information for identifying the service to which access is initiated, identification information for identifying the UE, and authentication information determined upon authenticating the UE. The PCRF node determines control rules to be applied to the service for the UE, based on the authentication information and service information. The PCRF node then triggers installation of the control rules in at least one network node (500) handling service data flows (SDF) for the service, to enforce the control rules on traffic associated with the service for the UE. The invention also relates to devices and computer programs for carrying such as method.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to operate as a subscriber server. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing the subscription information of one or more Machine Type Communications, MTC, subscribers, the subscription information of a MTC subscriber including one or more MTC Features and information regarding the MTC subscriber's subscribed services, a processor for assessing which of the one or more subscribed MTC Features are supported, assessing any interaction that may occur between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and the subscribed services, and determining the subscription information that should be sent to the serving node based on the outcome of the assessments, and a transmitter for sending the determined subscription information to the serving node.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus configured to operate as a subscriber server (2). The apparatus comprises a memory (11) for storing the subscription information of one or more Machine Type Communications, MTC, subscribers, the subscription information of a MTC subscriber including one or more MTC Features and information regarding the MTC subscriber's subscribed services, a processor (10) for assessing which of the one or more subscribed MTC Features are supported, assessing any interaction that may occur between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and the subscribed services, and determining the subscription information that should be sent to a serving node (1) based on the outcome of the assessments, and a transmitter (13) for sending the determined subscription information to the serving node (1).

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to operate as a subscriber server. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing the subscription information of one or more Machine Type Communications, MTC, subscribers, the subscription information of a MTC subscriber including one or more MTC Features and information regarding the MTC subscriber's subscribed services, a processor for assessing which of the one or more subscribed MTC Features are supported, assessing any interaction that may occur between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and the subscribed services, and determining the subscription information that should be sent to the serving node based on the outcome of the assessments, and a transmitter for sending the determined subscription information to the serving node.

Abstract: A method is proposed of provisioning connectivity service data for a device when the device attaches to a telecommunications network. The connectivity service data comprises information required to enable connectivity between the device and at least one further device of the network. Dynamic data relating to the device is obtained as part of one of the device attaching to the telecommunications network and a previous attachment of the device to the network. The dynamic data is of a type that may change from one such attachment to another such attachment of the same device. The connectivity service data is then selected based on the obtained dynamic data. It is then arranged for the selected connectivity service data to be provisioned to the device.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus configured to operate as a subscriber server (2). The apparatus comprises a memory (11) for storing the subscription information of one or more Machine Type Communications, MTC, subscribers, the subscription information of a MTC subscriber including one or more MTC Features and information regarding the MTC subscriber's subscribed services, a processor (10) for assessing which of the one or more subscribed MTC Features are supported, assessing any interaction that may occur between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and between each of the supported subscribed MTC Features and the subscribed services, and determining the subscription information that should be sent to a serving node (1) based on the outcome of the assessments, and a transmitter (13) for sending the determined subscription information to the serving node (1).

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program for providing access to identity services of users. A Discovery Service DS server (100) stores for a set of users references (RO1A,ROnB) of identity services (IDSRV-A,IDSRV-B) available for them and usable to contact respectively with the Service Providers SPs (120,130) hosting each of said identity services. For a given identity service not yet registered for a given user, the DS server selects a SP (140) that is able to provide it, and stores a new resource offering (RO2X) that corresponds to the registration of said identity service. For selecting the appropriate SP, the DS server can check a service capability storage (103-2,301) that comprises information about what identity service(s) can be provided by a given SP, and which can be dynamically updated from SPs with the identity services they respectively support. The DS server can contact the user to collect SP preferences and/or service data.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program for providing access to identity services of users. A Discovery Service DS server (100) stores for a set of users references (RO1A,ROnB) of identity services (IDSRV-A,IDSRV-B) available for them and usable to contact respectively with the Service Providers SPs (120,130) hosting each of said identity services. For a given identity service not yet registered for a given user, the DS server selects a SP (140) that is able to provide it, and stores a new resource offering (RO2X) that corresponds to the registration of said identity service. For selecting the appropriate SP, the DS server can check a service capability storage (103-2,301) that comprises information about what identity service(s) can be provided by a given SP, and which can be dynamically updated from SPs with the identity services they respectively support. The DS server can contact the user to collect SP preferences and/or service data.