Abstract: A method is performed by a network entity of a wireless communication network. A first PDU session is 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 is 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 are 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 network node (300, 400) a Wireless Communication Network (WNC) bridge (130) receives scheduling information from a Central Network Controller (CNC) (120A). The network node (300, 400) calculates the RAN assistance information based on the scheduling information. The network node (300, 400) forwards the RAN assistance information towards a RAN scheduler that schedules RAN traffic passing through the WCN bridge (130).

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: 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: The present disclosure relates to forwarding of network traffic. In one of its aspects, the technology presented herein concerns a method for forwarding network traffic from multiple sources to multiple destinations on maximally disjoint paths by maximally redundant trees, MRTs. The method is implemented in a network element implementing multipoint-to-multipoint functionalities in a path computation element, PCE, of a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of network elements. According to the method, an almost directed acyclic graph, ADAG, is computed for the network. Next hops along MRTs are computed by using the ADAG. One or more valid path pair(s) of the computed MRTs that is/are disjoint is/are determined and then, the network traffic is forwarded by using the valid path pair(s) of the MRT(s).

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 method may be provided to operate a core network entity of a wireless communication network. A session establishment request may be received from a wireless terminal through a base station node. Responsive to receiving the session establishment request, the core network entity may determine that a breakout protocol data unit session is to be established for the wireless terminal. Responsive to determining that the breakout PDU session is to be established for the wireless terminal, a request may be transmitted to the base station node, and the request may include an indication that the breakout PDU session is to be established for the wireless terminal. Related methods may be provided for base station nodes, wireless terminals, and central controllers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for filtering Ethernet device source addresses for loop avoidance in a cellular communications system. Embodiments of a method performed by a User Plane Function (UPF) in a core network of a cellular communications system and corresponding embodiments of a UPF are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a UPF in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises obtaining a Medium Access Control (MAC) address that is reachable over a particular Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session. The method further comprises installing, at the UPF, a filtering rule that prevents Ethernet frames having the MAC address as a source address from being delivered by the UPF via downlink on the particular PDU session. In this manner, loopback of Ethernet frames on the PDU session is avoided.

Abstract: A system comprising one or more network elements and configured to process at least first and second packet flows. The system comprises a first packet gate selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state and an associated first packet queue. The first packet gate and the first packet queue are configured to handle first packet flow packets. The system further comprises a second packet queue configured to handle second packet flow packets. Moreover, the system comprises at least one processor configured to control switching of the first packet gate between the open state and the closed state based on the occurrence of a first event associated with the second packet queue to trigger transmission of the first packet flow packets in a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to reporting a multicast Medium Access Control (MAC) address used by a particular Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session in a cellular communications system. In some embodiments, a method performed in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises, at a User Plane Function (UPF), obtaining multicast MAC address information comprising a multicast MAC address to be used on a particular PDU session and information that identifies either or both of a User Equipment (UE) associated with the particular PDU session and the particular PDU session and reporting, to a Session Management Function (SMF), use of the multicast MAC address on the particular PDU session. The method further comprises, at the SMF, receiving the report from the UPF, and using the multicast MAC address to perform one or more operational tasks.

Abstract: A node of a data network receives data packets (200). For at least one of the received data packets (200), the node determines whether the data packet (200) is a guaranteed data packet which is subject to a guarantee that the data packet is not dropped and not delayed by more than a certain delay limit or a non-guaranteed data packet which is not subject to the guarantee. Based on a worst case calculation of a delay experienced by a data packet forwarded by the node, the node configures a resource contingent with a maximum amount of resources which is more than a minimum amount of resources required to meet the guarantee. Further, the node assigns resources to the resource contingent and identifies resources in excess of the minimum amount as excess resources. In response to determining that the data packet (200) is a non-guaranteed data packet and determining that sufficient excess resources are present, the node forwards the data packet (200) based on the excess resources.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed herein that relate to support for virtual Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) bridge management, Quality of Service (QoS) mapping, and TSN related scheduling in a cellular communications system. In some embodiments, a method performed by one or more network nodes of a cellular communications system operating as a virtual TSN bridge of a TSN network comprises providing, to a controller associated with the TSN network, parameters that relate to capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge. The parameters that relate to the capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge comprise a first parameter that defines a clock accuracy of an entity in the cellular communications system that operates gating control for the virtual TSN bridge and a second parameter that informs the controller associated with the TSN network that the virtual TSN bridge or a particular egress port of the virtual TSN bridge is restricted to exclusive gating.

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: A method performed by a core network node for a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises: receiving a configuration message via an interface with a configuring node associated with a wired communication network, the configuration message comprising settings for a plurality of paths between a first node coupled to the wired communication network and a second node coupled to the wireless communication network, the plurality of paths carrying a plurality of data streams between the first and second nodes, the plurality of data streams comprising at least one redundant data stream; and configuring the plurality of paths within the wireless communication network according to the settings.

Abstract: A method is executed by a network device for implementing conversation-sensitive collection for frames received on a port of a link of a link aggregation group. The network device executes an aggregator to collect the frames for aggregator clients, where each frame is associated with a service identifier and a conversation identifier. The service identifier identifies a data flow at a link level for a service. The conversation identifier identifies the data flow at a link aggregation group level, where each conversation data flow consists of an ordered sequence of frames, and where the conversation-sensitive collection maintains the ordered sequence by discarding frames of conversations not allocated to the port.

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 method is executed by a network device for implementing conversation-sensitive collection for frames received on a port of a link of a link aggregation group. The network device executes an aggregator to collect the frames for aggregator clients, where each frame is associated with a service identifier and a conversation identifier. The service identifier identifies a data flow at a link level for a service. The conversation identifier identifies the data flow at a link aggregation group level, where each conversation data flow consists of an ordered sequence of frames, and where the conversation-sensitive collection maintains the ordered sequence by discarding frames of conversations not allocated to the port.

Abstract: A method may be provided to operate a core network entity of a wireless communication network. A session establishment request may be received from a wireless terminal through a base station node. Responsive to receiving the session establishment request, the core network entity may determine that a breakout protocol data unit session is to be established for the wireless terminal. Responsive to determining that the breakout PDU session is to be established for the wireless terminal, a request may be transmitted to the base station node, and the request may include an indication that the breakout PDU session is to be established for the wireless terminal. Related methods may be provided for base station nodes, wireless terminals, and central controllers.

Abstract: A node classifies data packets into different classes and replicates the data packets according to a number of redundant links configured for transmission of the data packets to obtain, for each of the redundant links, a redundant version of the data packets. For a first one of the classes, the node marks all redundant versions of the data packets with a first indication that the data packet is a guaranteed data packet. For a second one of the classes, the node marks at least one of the redundant versions of the data packets with a second indication that the data packet is a guaranteed data packet and marks at least one other of the redundant versions of the data packets with a third indication that the data packet is a non-guaranteed data packet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to forwarding of network traffic. In one of its aspects, the technology presented herein concerns a method for forwarding network traffic from multiple sources to multiple destinations on maximally disjoint paths by maximally redundant trees, MRTs. The method is implemented in a network element implementing multipoint-to-multipoint functionalities in a path computation element, PCE, of a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of network elements. According to the method, an almost directed acyclic graph, ADAG, is computed for the network. Next hops along MRTs are computed by using the ADAG. One or more valid path pair(s) of the computed MRTs that is/are disjoint is/are determined and then, the network traffic is forwarded by using the valid path pair(s) of the MRT(s).