Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF) triggered User Equipment (UE) deregistration. In one embodiment, a method performed in a communications system comprises, at a NSACF, determining that one or more UEs need to be deregistered from a particular network slice and, responsive to determining that one or more UEs need to be deregistered from the particular network slice, sending a request to a network node to deregister one or more UEs from the particular network slice. The method further comprises, at the network node, receiving the request from the NSACF and deregistering one or more UEs from the particular network slice in response to receiving the request.

Abstract: A method performed by a core network node is provided. The method is for handling one or more rules for a User Equipment, UE, in a network. The core network node is operating in the network. The network is comprised in a wireless communications network. The core network node receives (201) capability data from the UE. The capability data relates to the UE's capabilities to support rules for use of one or more network slices. The core network node obtains (203) one or more rules relating to a use of one or more network slices allowed in the network. The core network node decides (204) that the UE is capable to support rules for use of one or more network slices in the network according to the one or more rules, based on the received capability data and the obtained one or more rules. The core network node sends (205) to the UE, the one or more rules that the UE is capable to support, and where the one or more rules are to be applied by the UE for use of one or more network slices in the network.

Abstract: Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by a first network node, such as a IMS AS, for handling an IMS session of one or more UEs in a communication network. The first network node obtains data relating to bootstrapping of data channel information to the IMS session; and reserves one or more needed media resources at a second network node 14, such as the enhanced MRF, for bootstrapping data channel information to the IMS session.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for obtaining and/or providing Home Subscriber Service, HSS, information. A method in a first service based architecture, SBI, capable Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, entity includes: transmitting a discovery request to a network repository function, NRF; receiving a response comprising HSS information from the NRF; and transmitting at least a portion of the HSS information to a second SBI capable IMS entity.

Abstract: A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for accessing services in an Internet Protocol, IP, Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network in a communications network is provided. The UE is associated to a non-public network, NPN, connected to the communications network. The UE establishes a first session by sending a first request message towards a session management node. The first request message includes an indication indicating a session type for the first session. The session type being an IMS onboarding session type. The UE connects to a server node using the first session, and obtains credentials related to the UE from the server node. The UE ends the first session, and establishes a second session to the IMS network. The established second session enables the UE to access services in the IMS network using the obtained credentials in an authentication procedure.

Abstract: A first network function in a network node is described. The network node comprises a communication interface and processing circuitry. The communication interface is configured to transmit a registration to a registry function to register an associated service profile indicating a network node capability to expose at least one of Internet Protocol, IP, Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, events and IMS analytics data on behalf of one or more IMS nodes; receive a request to subscribe to and be notified of the at least one of the IMS events and the IMS analytics data; notify of the at least one of the IMS events and the IMS analytics data based at least in part on the received request. Information related to the at least one of the IMS events and the IMS analytics data is obtained, by the processing circuitry, from the corresponding IMS nodes in the IMS network.

Abstract: Methods, system and apparatus are provided to perform network slice admission control within a service area of an operator network and across service areas of the operator network. A central Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF) supporting multiple service areas of at least one operator network receives an admission request from a network function (e.g., AMF, SMF or SMF+PGW-C) belonging to a service area of an operator network. The admission request includes information identifying the service area and may include an identifier of the network operator. The central NSACF performs network slice admission control based on whether the UE is newly admitted to the network slice in the service area or whether the UE has already been admitted in a different service area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for counting registered User Equipments (UEs) in a network slice service area. In one embodiment, a method performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises receiving a registration request from a UE and, responsive to receiving the registration request from the UE, initiating a registration procedure and determining whether the registration request received from the UE is applicable for update of counting for a respective network slice to be used by the UE. The method further comprises sending, to a Network Function (NF) that maintains a count of a number of UEs that are using the respective network slice, a message that causes an update to the count of the number of UEs that are using the respective network slice.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to supporting Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) routing with multiple IMS Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions over different core network slices. In one embodiment, a method comprises, at an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF), receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message for an incoming session, where the SIP invite message comprises an IP Multimedia Public Identity (IMPU) of a target User Equipment (UE). The method further comprises, at the I-CSCF, sending, to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a query for Serving Call Session Control Functions (S-CSCFs) having registrations for the IMPU of the target UE and receiving, from the HSS, information that indicates two or more S-CSCFs having registrations for the IMPU of the target UE. The method further comprises, at the I-CSCF, forwarding the SIP invite message to at least one of the two or more S-CSCFs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for dynamic retrieval of Network Slice Admission Control (NSAC) information in a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) of a User Equipment (UE). In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node in a VPLMN of a UE comprises receiving, from the UE, a request comprising information indicating a particular network slice that is subject to NSAC. The method further comprises obtaining subscription data that comprises information that indicates whether VPLMN or Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) control should be applied for NSAC and sending an update request to a Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF) in the VPLMN of the UE, wherein the update request comprises the information that indicates whether VPLMN or HPLMN control should be applied for NSAC.

Abstract: A method for supporting authentication of a User Equipment, UE, in an Internet Protocol, IP, Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, telecommunication network, by interfacing a Service Based Architecture, SBA, telecommunication network, the method including receiving, by a Unified Data Management, UDM, in the SBA telecommunication network, from a Session Management Function, SMF, in the SBA telecommunication network, binding information, wherein the binding information is used to identify the UE in the IMS telecommunication network; receiving, by the UDM in the SBA telecommunication network, from a Home Subscriber Server, in the IMS telecommunication network, a request for providing the binding information, and providing, by the UDM in the SBA telecommunication network, to the HSS in the IMS telecommunication network the binding information, thereby supporting authentication of the UE. Complementary methods and corresponding nodes are also presented herein.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for slice and/or subscriber identification module (SIM) device locking/unlocking. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a user equipment, UE, having one or more subscriber identification module, SIM, is provided. The method includes activating one or more subscriber identification module, SIM for a UE. The method includes, as a result of activating, initiating a request to register the UE with a network, and receiving allowed Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, NSSAI. The method includes associating received one or more single-NSSAI, S-NSSAI, indicated by the allowed NSSAI to one of the one or more SIM in the UE according to a policy. The method includes using one of the one or more S-NSSAI associated to one of the activated SIM to establish a Packet Data Unit, PDU, session.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for P-CSCF restoration. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a P-CSCF restoration message, the P-CSCF restoration message including an indication of a failed P-CSCF server; as a result of the received P-CSCF restoration message, identifying at least one Session Management Function, SMF, server associated with the failed P-CSCF server; and communicating, to the identified at least one SMF server, a restoration message for tearing down at least one session for at least one user equipment, UE, associated with the failed P-CSCF server. In another embodiment, a method includes as a result of a received restoration message, at least one of: tearing down at least one session for at least one user equipment, UE, associated with the failed P-CSCF server; and notifying the at least one UE of the failed P-CSCF server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for supporting traffic management capabilities under network control. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises receiving one or more User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from a network node, receiving traffic control information associated to the one or more URSP rules, and performing one or more actions based on the one or more URSP rules and the traffic control information. In this manner, the network is given control of slice traffic management such that the network can force the UE to perform an action(s) when the network thinks that such action(s) is beneficial.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for short message service (SMS) delivery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a unified data management, UDM, node includes setting a short message service, SMS, function, SMSF, registration notification flag to detect an SMSF registration event associated with a user equipment, UE. In another embodiment, a method implemented in a home subscriber server, HSS, node includes sending a request to subscribe to a notification at a unified data management, UDM, node about a short message service, SMS, function, SMSF, registration event associated with a user equipment, UE.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bulk PDU session release between a wireless device and a control plane entity in a wireless system such as for example a 5G core network or similar is provided. The method comprises the wireless device determines that two or more Packet Data Unit, PDU, sessions established within the wireless system that are associated to at least one Data network identified by a Data Network Name, DNN, or to at least one Single Network Slice Assisted Information, S-NSSAI, should be released and transmits to a control entity of a core network, a Non-Access-Stratum, NAS, message indicating one of the at least one DNN or the at least one S-NSSAI for which the corresponding PDU sessions should be released all at once with a single message.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for IMS slicing-enabled IMS voice sessions between autonomous machines and/or voice related services. A method for a first user equipment, UE, for authenticating the first UE is provided. An alert voice call is communicated to a second UE for initiating authentication of the first UE. A voiceprint of a user for the authentication of the first UE is communicated, via an IMS slice, and based at least in part on an analysis of the voiceprint, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is received. A method for an Application Server includes receiving, via an IMS slice, a voiceprint of a user. The voiceprint is compared to a voiceprint sample. The voiceprint sample is associated with the first UE. Based at least in part on the comparison, an authentication success message or an authentication fail message is communicated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic Radio Access Technology (RAT)/Frequency Selection Priority (RFSP) selection for a User Equipment (UE) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a core network entity in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises selecting a RFSP index for a UE during setup of a packet data session for the UE where the RFSP index is an index to a specific Radio Resource Management (RRM) configuration for the UE and sending a message comprising the selected RFSP index to another core network entity. In some other embodiments, a method of operation of a core network entity comprises detecting an application that is using a packet data session of a UE, selecting a RFSP index for the UE based on the detected application, and sending a message comprising the RFSP index to another core network entity.

Abstract: A method implemented in an access and mobility management function, AMF, node that implements at least one congestion control process is provided. A message including a first indication that the message is exempt from the at least one congestion control process is received by a UE. The message is forwarded to the SMF either with the exempt indication or, if this is missing, an indication that the AMF applies a congestion control. The SMF, only when receiving the forwarded message with the additional information inserted by the AMF, carries out a validation of the message of the UE, thus preventing that a UE tags a message to be exempted from congestion control, when it should be not be exempt.

Abstract: A method, implemented by a security relay node in a Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN, wherein the method comprising the steps of receiving, from a Network Function, NF, within the PLMN, a control packet to be provided to a further PLMN, relaying said control packet to a remote security node for delivery of the control packet to the further PLMN, wherein the remote security node being outside of both the PLMN and being outside the further PLMN.