Abstract: Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) domains (30) include centralized entities (32. 34) for establishing and managing intra- and inter-domain TSN streams, with the inter-domain TSN streams based on an advantageous approach to inter-domain advertisement of respective end stations (40) operating as talkers and listeners. Based on exploiting and extending talker/listener messaging. inter-domain listener information returned to the TSN domain (30) of a given talker aggregates the status of TSN stream establishment with respect to each listener in each external TSN domain (30) that includes one or more end stations (40) interested in acting as listeners, and with respect to each external TSN domain (30) used to carry the TSN stream. Correspondingly, the configuration of network resources in the respective TSN domains (30) is made to depend on the exchanged status information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to Time Sensitive Communication (TSC) to Fifth Generation (5G) Quality of Service (QoS) mapping and associated QoS binding. In one embodiment, a method for QoS mapping in a 5G System (5GS) for a virtual Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) bridge comprises, at a first network function, obtaining information from a TSN Application Function (AF) comprising baseline TSC QoS parameters and one or more additional parameters comprising either or both of: (a) one or more additional TSC QoS attributes and (b) one or more additional traffic attributes. The method further comprises, at the first network function, generating one or more Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules based on the obtained information and providing the one or more PCC rules to a second network function. The method further comprises, at the second network function, performing QoS binding based on the one or more PCC rules.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods performed by a time-sensitive network (TSN) node configured for frame replication and elimination for reliability (FRER). Such methods include receiving a plurality of member streams via a corresponding plurality (n) of disjoint paths in the TSN. Each member stream includes a replication of packets comprising a stream. Such methods include performing the following diagnostics on the received member streams: a first group of diagnostics related to member stream failures, a second group of diagnostics related to packets received out-of-window, a third group of diagnostics related to stream outages, and a fourth group of diagnostics related to recovery timeouts for the TSN node. Other embodiments include TSN nodes configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to congestion monitoring in a mobile communications network; in particular, a congestion monitoring unit that sends congestion information to a policy control unit for a plurality of mobile entities, wherein each of the mobile entities is connected to a respective radio access network and associated with the policy control unit, the congestion information indicates congestion of the respective radio access network. The congestion monitoring unit sends a request message to a policy control unit for transmitting congestion information of a mobile entity, the message routed by a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) and includes congestion information and an identity for a given mobile entity; in response, the policy control unit sends a response message including an identity of the policy control unit. The congestion monitoring unit can then send aggregated congestion information for a plurality of mobile entities associated with the policy control unit.

Abstract: Methods (200, 1000), network nodes (1100, 1200, 1300, 1400), and computer readable storage media for supporting Ethernet bridging in a user plane are disclosed. The method (200) performed by a first network node (1100, 1200) capable of an Ethernet bridging function includes: obtaining (S201) information on frame detection and forwarding rules for an Ethernet PDU session; and performing (S203) detection and forwarding operations on a frame according to the frame detection and forwarding rules.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to a cellular communications system that operates as a virtual Ethernet bridge(s). Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE) for a cellular communications system and corresponding methods of operation of a UE are disclosed. In some embodiments, a UE for a cellular communications system, where the cellular communications system operates as multiple Ethernet network virtual bridges, comprises one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the UE to establish a first Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session to an Ethernet network via a first User Plane Function (UPF), wherein PDU sessions that connect to the Ethernet network via the first UPF are grouped into a first Ethernet network virtual bridge. In this manner, shared media in the Ethernet network can be avoided.

Abstract: A network node in a Wireless Communication Network (WNC) bridge receives scheduling information from a Central Network Controller (CNC). The network node calculates the RAN assistance information based on the scheduling information. The network node forwards the RAN assistance information towards a RAN scheduler that schedules RAN traffic passing through the WCN bridge.

Abstract: A method for establishing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session(s) is disclosed. In examples disclosed herein, a device (e.g., a wireless device) uses a unique Port Number(s) (e.g., an internal physical or logical Port Number) to search for a matching User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policies (URSP) rule(s) having a Traffic Descriptor(s) that matches the unique Port Number(s). The device then determines whether there exists a matching PDU Session(s) associated with a Route Selection Descriptor(s) of the matching URSP rule(s). Accordingly, the device can reuse the matching PDU Session(s) in a presence of the matching PDU Session(s) or establish a new PDU Session(s) in an absence of the matching PDU Session(s). By using the unique Port Number(s) as the Traffic Descriptor(s) in the URSP rule(s), it is possible to simplify configuration of the device, especially for redundant traffic handling.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to actions performed by a Radio Access Network (RAN) when redundancy is not available. In this regard, embodiments of a method performed by a RAN node are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a RAN node for RAN action when redundancy is not available comprises receiving, from a core network node, a request for a set of User Plane (UP) resources in the RAN. The method further comprises determining whether the request for the set of UP resources in the RAN can be met and sending, to the core network node, a response to the request for the set of UP resources that is based on whether the request for the set of UP resources in the RAN can be met.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coordinated change of Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session Anchors (PSAs) are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for coordinated change of PSAs comprises, at a node for maintaining PSA change status for PDU sessions, receiving a request for a PSA change or handover for a first PDU session having a first PSA, where the first PDU session and a second PDU session having a second PSA different from the first PSA are redundant PDU sessions with each other. If the second PDU session is undergoing a PSA change or handover, the request to change the first PDU session is denied; otherwise, the request to change the first PDU session is granted, and the second PDU session will not be allowed to be changed until the PSA change or handover for the first PDU session is complete.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for control of virtual local area network (VLAN) are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a service consumer sends, to a service provider of a Fifth Generation System (5GS) that provides Ethernet bridging operations for User Equipments (UEs) acting as Ethernet access ports or Ethernet trunk ports, a request for providing configuration information related to a VLAN. The configuration information indicates a port type of at least one port related to the VLAN.

Abstract: Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) domains (30) include centralized entities (32. 34) for establishing and managing intra- and inter-domain TSN streams, with the inter-domain TSN streams based on an advantageous approach to inter-domain advertisement of respective end stations (40) operating as talkers and listeners. Based on exploiting and extending talker/listener messaging. inter-domain listener information returned to the TSN domain (30) of a given talker aggregates the status of TSN stream establishment with respect to each listener in each external TSN domain (30) that includes one or more end stations (40) interested in acting as listeners, and with respect to each external TSN domain (30) used to carry the TSN stream. Correspondingly, the configuration of network resources in the respective TSN domains (30) is made to depend on the exchanged status information.

Abstract: A Virtual Endpoint and a method therein for enabling end-to-end connectivity between a wireless communication network and a wired communication network are disclosed. A Virtual Endpoint is implemented in the wireless communication network and certain user and control plane features used in the wired communication network are implemented in the VEP. The VEP maps data traffic between a device in the wireless communication network and a device in the wired communication network based on Quality-of-Service (QoS) and performs required actions defined by the features used in the wired communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for output pacing in a cellular communications system that serves as a virtual Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) node in a TSN network. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a boundary node associated with a cellular communications system that operates as a virtual TSN node in a TSN network comprises receiving user plane traffic from a node in the cellular communications system. The user plane traffic is user plane traffic received by the cellular communications system from a previous hop TSN node. The method further comprises performing output pacing for the user plane traffic when outputting the user plane traffic to a next hop TSN node such that the user plane traffic is output to the next hop TSN node at a rate that matches a desired rate at the next hop TSN node. Corresponding embodiments of a boundary node are also disclosed.

Abstract: Avoiding jitter in a communication network. A method for avoiding jitter includes receiving, an ingress point of the communication network, a packet, wherein the packet is received at the ingress point at a time within a particular time slot. The method also includes the ingress point creating a modified packet that includes the received packet and a slot identifier indicating the particular time slot in which the packet was received, the ingress point transmitting (s406) the modified packet towards an egress point of the communication network.

Abstract: A method may be performed by a network entity of a wireless communication network. A first PDU session may be established for a wireless terminal (UE) using a first NodeB base station (MgNB) and a first user plane function entity (UPF1). A second PDU session may be established for the wireless terminal (UE) using a second NodeB base station (SgNB) and a second user plane function entity (UPF2). The first and second PDU sessions may be established for the wireless terminal (UE) using the first and second NodeB base stations so that the first and second PDU sessions are provided concurrently using dual connectivity DC to provide redundant data paths for communication of data for the wireless terminal (UE) through the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method for coordinating application-related events in multiple network domains comprises, in a first network domain, receiving (710) a request, from a second network domain, to prevent events with respect to a first communications path in the first network domain, for a communications module. The method further comprises preventing or delaying (720) one or more actions in the first network domain that would interrupt connectivity in the first communication path, in response to the request.

Abstract: A technique for monitoring a redundancy status of a connection established between a User Equipment, UE, and a cellular network is disclosed, wherein the connection is established using redundant communication paths between the UE and the cellular network. A method implementation of the technique is performed by a first node of the cellular network and comprises triggering determining a current redundancy status of the connection, the current redundancy status indicating whether or not the redundant communication paths are fully disjoint on at least a portion of the redundant communication paths, and triggering sending a redundancy notification to a second node of the cellular network, the redundancy notification including an indication of the determined current redundancy status.

Abstract: A PDU ordering function (POF) restores the proper order of PDUs in a stream, at the Layer-2 or 3 level of a TSN or DetNet. The sequence number of the last PDU forwarded is stored, and compared to the sequence number of a newly received PDU. If the new PDU is an earlier or the “next” PDU in the stream. it is forwarded and the value of the last PDU forwarded is updated. If the newly received PDU is two or more sequence numbers ahead of the last PDU forwarded, it is buffered. Other PDUs are received and processed, and the value of the last PDU forwarded is updated. When the buffered PDU is the next one to the last PDU forwarded. it is retrieved from the buffer and forwarded. To bound the total latency the POF can impose on aPDU stream, a predetermined maximum buffering time timer is started upon buffering the PDU.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a 5G System (5GS) (20) support dynamic and semi-dynamic VLAN configuration for Ethernet bridging services provided by the 5GS. The 5GS (20) includes a node that is configured to receive and store VLAN configuration information for a CE (12). Particularly, the VLAN configuration information, which comprises a single predefined VLAN ID (VID) or a list of non-predefined VIDs or a single non-predefined VID, may be stored advantageously within 5G Virtual Network (VN) Group Data and indicates whether the UE (12) acts as an Ethernet trunk port or access port. With respect to the 5GS (20) establishing or modifying an Ethernet PDU session for the UE (12), a UPF (22) of the 5GS (20) configures Ethernet bridging operations for the UE as an access port or a trunk port, in dependence on the VLAN configuration information.