Abstract: A network node and a method performed in a network node of a cellular communication network comprising the steps of obtaining an indicator to secure a traffic availability for a connection, wherein the traffic availability is related to how likely the connection will remain operable, determining whether the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability, allocating resources for the connection when resources can support the traffic availability, and transmitting a positive response when the network node can secure resources to support the traffic availability.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for coordinated selection of a User Plane Function (UPF) in a core network and a Packet Processing Function (PPF) in a radio access network. In some embodiments, a method of operation of network node of a cellular communications network to enable coordinated UPF and PPF selection comprises receiving information indicative of a UPF selected for a protocol data unit session of a wireless device, where the UPF is part of a core network of the cellular communications network. The method further comprises selecting a PPF for the protocol data unit session of the wireless device based on the information indicative of the UPF selected for the protocol data unit session of the wireless device, where the PPF is part of a radio access network of the cellular communications network. In this manner, an optimal routing of user data traffic can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an entity of a WLAN network. The method comprises the following steps. First, an access request is received from a subscriber of a mobile communications network, wherein the access request is based on a mobile network identity used in the mobile communications network to authenticate the subscriber. Then, from an authentication entity configured to authenticate a subscriber in the mobile communications network, radio resource information is received for the subscriber which comprises subscriber specific information how radio resources of a radio network part of the mobile communications network should be used. Furthermore, a radio resource usage of the subscriber in the WLAN network is determined taking into account the received radio resource information.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for enabling access to a plurality of communication networks (107-110). A wireless communication device (101) acquires (S101) information regarding network access capabilities of any modems with which the wireless communication device is equipped, as well as information identifying operator profiles available to each of said any modems, and establishes (S102) a connection with a network connectivity selection node (106) that can determine which network access is available for each of said any modems. The wireless communication device further reports (S103) the acquired network access capabilities and operator profiles of each of said any modems to the network connectivity selection node, and receives (S105), in reply to the reporting, a recommendation on which one or more of said any modems to use for connecting to one or more of the plurality of communication networks.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a network node of performing handover of a wireless device comprises: receiving a handover request from a source network node; receiving, from the source network node, a quality of service (QoS) flow to data radio bearer (DRB) mapping that was used by the source network node prior to the handover; receiving buffered Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from the source network node; transmitting the received PDCP PDUs using the received QoS flow to DRB mapping; obtaining an indication that handover is complete; determining a new QoS flow to DRB mapping; and activating the new QoS flow to DRB mapping for transmission of PDCP PDUs. Particular embodiments may include sending the new QoS flow to DRB mapping to the source network node, and/or receiving PDCP status reporting from the wireless device.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a radio network node for enabling communication for a wireless device in a communication network, which communication network comprises a core network with partitioned sets of functionalities, where a first core network node supports a first set of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities in the core network, and the first set of functionalities belongs to a first network slice of the core network and is separated from another set of functionalities. The radio network node receives a connection request from the wireless device comprising an indication, which indication indicates connection to the first network slice. The radio network node retrieves configuration information from a network node for establishing the connection interface, for RAN and/or CN, to the first network slice, and establishes the connection interface towards the first core network node using the retrieved configuration information.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a determining module, for managing dual connectivity, DC, in a communications network. The communications network comprises a first and a second Radio Access Network, RAN, node. The first RAN node manages a first user plane bearer for a User Equipment, UE. The DC comprises communicating with the UE over the first RAN node and the second RAN node simultaneously. The determining module obtains information about characteristics of the UE and/or information about characteristics of a transport network between the first RAN node and the second RAN node. The determining module determines, based on the retrieved information, to adapt DC for the first user plane bearer via the second RAN node for communication with the UE.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method performed in a first Radio network node, serving a first service area, of notifying a Core Network node, CN, of a change of service area for a User Equipment, UE. The method comprises detecting that the UE has changed location between the first service area and a second service area served by at least a second Radio network node, wherein the first and second service areas are being associated with a respective service charge, and providing a notification to the Core Network Node informing about the change of service area for the UE, the indication enabling a CN function to change the service charge for the UE.

Abstract: Method performed by a communication device (10) for handling communication in a communication network comprising at least a first wireless communication network (11) and a second wireless communication network (14), which communication device (10) is served by a radio network node (13) in the second wireless communication network (14). The communication device (10) performs a preparation signaling, via the radio network node (13) and transparently through the second wireless communication network (14), to a first network node (12) of the first wireless communication network (11) for preparing the first network node (12) with a pre-configuration for serving the communication device (10).

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a radio network node of a communication network. The communication network comprises a first set of functionalities belonging to a first network slice of a first core network node, and a second set of functionalities belonging to a second network slice of a second core network node or the first core network node. The radio network node obtains paging identities comprising first and second paging identities of a wireless device; receives a paging indication for the wireless device from the second network slice; initiates a matching process for matching the second paging identity in the paging indication to the paging identities for locating context of the wireless device; and pages, upon a match of the matching process, the wireless device, for communication with the second network slice, using the context.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a wireless device, for handling a mobility procedure in a communication network. The communication network comprises a first network and a second network. The first network is associated with a core network node and a first RAN node. The second network is associated with a second RAN node. The first RAN node and the second RAN node each support a set of cells. The first and the second network comprise partitioned sets of functionalities, wherein a first set of functionalities belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device. The wireless device is associated with the first network and the first network slice in a first cell of the first RAN node. The network slices and corresponding network slice identities are uncoordinated between the first and the second network. The wireless device receives, from the core network node, a message comprising an indication of combinations of networks and network slices equivalent to the first network slice.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents method, network nodes and computer program for improving a dual band user equipment, UE/STA, mobility from a first access node, e.g. an eNB, arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology to at least one second access node, e.g. a WLAN AP, arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology. A communications interface is arranged for direct communication between the first access node and the respective second access node. The method, as performed in the first access node, comprises retrieving (S32) resource management related information of the second access node relevant for the user equipment UE/STA over the communications interface.

Abstract: In an aspect, a method of a mobility management node is provided for managing a plurality of non-coordinated radio access networks (RANs) in a wireless communication network. The method comprises receiving, from a base station of a first of the plurality of RANs, information indicating frequencies available in the first RAN for accessing a network served by the mobility management node, acquiring information identifying a base station of a second of the plurality of RANs, said network being operated by an operator different from those operating the first and second RANs; and transmitting, to the base station of the second RAN, the information indicating the frequencies available in the first RAN for accessing said network.

Abstract: A method performed in an Interaction Gateway (IGW) located between a Packet Data Network (PDN) and a user plane gateway of a communication network used by a service client for service level communication with a service provider, in which communication network there is a first and a second communication bearer between a radio device, comprising the service client, and the user plane gateway via a Radio Access Network (RAN). The second communication bearer is associated with the service level communication. The method is for establishing an interaction session on the second communication bearer between the IGW and the service client for controlling the service level communication.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (12) served by a wireless wide area network (WWAN) base station supports per-bearer switching of bearer traffic between the WWAN and a wireless local area network (WLAN) in a manner transparent to the WLAN. The device in this regard establishes a secure tunnel (24) through the WLAN to a security gateway (22), based on the device receiving a message from the WWAN base station (18) to establish the secure tunnel (24). The device switches bearer traffic between the WWAN and the WLAN on a per bearer basis, with bearer traffic switched to the WLAN being transported through the secure tunnel (24) and over a connection (26) between the security gateway (22) and the WWAN base station (18).

Abstract: A node of a RAN of a wide area cellular network initiates aggregation of WLAN traffic and cellular network traffic for a user equipment. The node determines to initiate aggregation of WLAN traffic and cellular network traffic for the user equipment and signals to a node of the WLAN network or the user equipment that aggregation should be initiated for the user equipment. Data is exchanged with the user equipment via a cellular radio link and using an interface between the RAN node and the WLAN node, where the traffic data on the interface is aggregated with the traffic data on the cellular radio link.

Abstract: Managing a plurality of non-coordinated radio access networks (RANs) connected to the core network is provided by acquiring information indicating that a wireless communication device is connected to a base station in a first of the plurality of RANs, and information indicating a location of the wireless communication device, acquiring information identifying at least a second of the plurality of RANs to which the wireless communication device may connect based on the location of the wireless communication device, and information indicating available frequencies in the second RAN via which frequencies the wireless communication device is allowed to access a network being accessible by the mobility management node, said network being operated by an operator different from those operating the first and second RANs, and delivering the information identifying the second RAN and the information indicating available frequencies in the second RAN to the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A method, performed by a RAN node, for enabling connection setup for a wireless device in a communication network comprising a first network which is a home network of the wireless device and a second network which is visited by the wireless device. The networks each comprise partitioned sets of functionalities, which sets of functionalities each belong to a network slice of the network, wherein a first set of functionalities in the first network belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device. The RAN node receives a first network identity for the home network, an identity of the first network slice supporting the wireless device in the home network and a second network identity for the second network, from the wireless device, to retrieve an identity of a second network slice capable of supporting the wireless device in the second network to determine a second core network node.

Abstract: Methods are performed by a first radio node for handling mobility of a wireless device in a communication network having partitioned sets of functionalities. Each set of functionalities belongs to a network slice and is separated from other sets of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities. The first radio node transmits information indicating one or more slice identities supported by the first radio node to a second radio node. The first radio node receives information indicating one or more slice identities supported by the second radio node from the second radio node. The first radio node obtains a support indication indicating the slice ID the wireless device supports, during a connection setup of the wireless device to the network slice. The first radio node initiates a mobility procedure towards the second radio node taking the information in the received response message and the obtained support indication into account.

Abstract: A node of a RAN of a wide area cellular network initiates aggregation of WLAN traffic and cellular network traffic for a user equipment. The node determines to initiate aggregation of WLAN traffic and cellular network traffic for the user equipment and signals to a node of the WLAN network or the user equipment that aggregation should be initiated for the user equipment. Data is exchanged with the user equipment via a cellular radio link and using an interface between the RAN node and the WLAN node, where the traffic data on the interface is aggregated with the traffic data on the cellular radio link.