Abstract: Network equipment is configured for use in one of multiple different core network domains of a wireless communication system. The network equipment is configured to receive a message that has been, or is to be, transmitted between the different core network domains. The network equipment is also configured to apply inter-domain security protection to, or remove inter-domain security protection from, one or more portions of the content of a field in the message according to a protection policy. The protection policy includes information indicating to which one or more portions of the content inter-domain security protection is to be applied or removed. The network equipment is also configured to forward the message, with inter-domain security protection applied or removed to the one or more portions, towards a destination of the message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for P-CSCF restoration and P-CSCF information registration. A method performed by a session management node comprises receiving a message from a data management node or a policy control node or a first access and mobility node. The message may indicate proxy call session control function (P-CSCF) restoration and information of a failed P-CSCF. The method may further comprise receiving a profile of the failed P-CSCF from a network repository function (NRF). The profile of the failed P-CSCF may comprise address information of Mw interface of the failed P-CSCF and address information of Gm interface of the failed P-CSCF. The method further comprises deriving address information of Gm interface of the failed P-CSCF based on the information of the failed P-CSCF and the profile of the failed P-CSCF.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for enabling selection of service-providing NFs in a 3GPP communication network. A method is performed by an NRF. The method comprises obtaining one register request from each of the service-providing NFs. Each registration request comprises an NF profile. Each NF profile comprises a security setting attribute. The method comprises storing the NF profiles of the service-providing NFs. The method comprises obtaining a discovery request from a service-requesting NF. The request indicates an NF type. The method comprises providing a discovery response to the service-requesting NF. The discovery response comprises the NF profile of at least one of the service-providing NFs of the NF type, thereby enabling selection of the service-providing NFs. The security setting attribute may pertain to support for mutual TLS and/or for use of OAuth-2 based authorization.

Abstract: There is provided techniques for handling groups of UEs in a core network. A method is performed by an NEF node in the core network. An indication that a group of UEs is formed is obtained. The group of UEs is associated with a single virtual External Group Identifier. It is identified to which UDM group each of the UEs belongs. Each UDM group comprise at least one UDM node. The method comprises sending a request to each identified UDM group for the UEs to be added to the group of UEs, and for each identified UDM group to, for the group of UEs, allocate a respective External Group Identifier which will serve the group of UEs. A respective External Group Identifier for the group of UEs is received from each identified UDM group. All the received External Group Identifiers are identified with the single virtual External Group Identifier.

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: Network equipment is configured for use in one of multiple different core network domains of a wireless communication system. The network equipment is configured to receive a message that has been, or is to be, transmitted between the different core network domains. The network equipment is also configured to apply inter-domain security protection to, or remove inter-domain security protection from, one or more portions of the content of a field in the message according to a protection policy. The protection policy includes information indicating to which one or more portions of the content inter-domain security protection is to be applied or removed. The network equipment is also configured to forward the message, with inter-domain security protection applied or removed to the one or more portions, towards a destination of the message.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to a bootstrapping service for a network function (NF) in a core network of a cellular communications system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first NF in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises receiving, from a second NF, a request for services exposed by the first NF. The method further comprises, responsive to receiving the request, sending, to the second NF, information about one or more services exposed by the first NF. In one embodiment, the information about one or more services exposed by the first NF includes Application Programming Interface (API) versions of the one or more services. In this manner, flexibility is provided in the network since there is no need for static configuration of service parameters.

Abstract: Methods and nodes related to subscription handling and notifications, for instance, with respect to Network Function (NF) management services, are described.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for data retrieval of a UE in a 5GC. A method is performed by a first NF node. The method includes obtaining a request for data of the UE from a second NF node. The method includes retrieving the data of the UE including an AAA server FQDN. The AAA server FQDN may be retrieved from a UDR node. The method includes providing the data of the UE including the AAA server FQDN towards the second NF node.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for registering one or more services that a producer network function is capable of providing at a network repository function and allowing for the access of those services by consumer network functions. A method in a producer network function comprises transmitting a registration request to the NRF, wherein the registration request comprises registration information comprising: an indication of the one or more services; and an indication of resources and operations associated with each resource of the one or more services that are allowed per network function consumer type.

Abstract: A method for event subscription management in a communications network performed by a Network Function producer (NFp) and a Network Function consumer (NFc). The method comprises establishing a subscription to an event from the NFc to the NFp and transmitting from the NFp to the NFc a notification including an indication to trigger the cancelation of the subscription. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise triggering at the NFc a subscription modification based on the received notification. In some embodiments, the subscription modification triggered at the NFc comprises at least one of cancelling or terminating the subscription with the NFp and removing the subscription context at the NFc. In some embodiments, the subscription modification triggered at the NFc comprises at least one of selecting a different NFp and establishing a new subscription to the different NFp.

Abstract: A method in a network node is described. The method includes receiving a discovery request from a first network function (NF) node to discover at least one media NF type node. The discovery request indicates a media NF type of the at least one media NF type node. The media NF type is one of an access media gateway (A-MGW), an Internet Protocol (IP) multi-media gateway (IM-MGW), and a media resource function (MRF). The method further includes discovering the at least one media NF type node and transmitting a discovery response to the discovery request. The discovery response indicates the discovered at least one media NF type node and at least one corresponding NF profile. The at least one corresponding NF profile comprises at least one of one or more media types, one or more supported codecs, and transcoding support information.

Abstract: Methods and nodes related to subscription handling and notifications, for instance, with respect to Network Function (NF) management services, are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for indirect communication in a core network of a wireless communication system using a Service Communication Proxy, SCP, with Transport Layer Security, TLS, the method comprising: at a Network Function, NF, service consumer: sending, to the SCP, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP, message that is intended for a first NF service producer instance, the HTTP message using a Fully Qualified Domain Name, FQDN, of the SCP and having a path that includes a query parameter set to a first value; and at the SCP: receiving the HTTP message from the NF service consumer; obtaining a HTTP response for the HTTP message; and sending the HTTP response to the NR service consumer; and at the NF service consumer: receiving the HTTP response from the SCP.

Abstract: A method performed by a first node implementing a first NF in a visited network (VPLMN) for communicating with a third node implementing a second NF in a home network (HPLMN) is provided. Embodiments include: determining that the third node should be communicated with; sending, towards a second node implementing a Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) in the visited network, a request for a telescopic FQDN for the third node in the home network to be used by the first node in the visited network to communicate with the third node in the home network, which request comprises a FQDN of the third node in the home network; receiving, from the second node, a telescopic FQDN for the third node wherein the FQDN for the third node in the home network is flattened to a single label to be used by the first node to communicate with the third node.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for enabling selection of a media resource function or a media gateway in an IP session. A method in a Proxy Call Session Control Function, P-CSCF, includes receiving one or more Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, packets originating from a wireless device as part of the IP session; responsive to receiving the SIP packets, transmitting a request to a Policy Control Function, PCF, for an indication of a geographical service area for a User Plane Function, UPF associated with the IP session; receiving an indication of the geographical service area; and selecting a gateway node based on the geographical service area.

Abstract: In one aspect, an NRF is configured to inform an NF instance that has sent a discover request toward the NRF that the number of NF instances that match the search criteria used by the NRF in response to the discover request is greater than the number of NF instance profiles included in the NF instances array of the discover response.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for event subscription management in a network comprising a set of NF nodes, and corresponding NF nodes. The method implemented at a first NF node includes receiving a subscription request of an event for a user equipment, UE, from a third NF node; transmitting, to a second NF node that serves the UE, a subscription report request for the event for the UE; receiving, from a fourth NF node that currently serves the UE, a UE registration request for the UE, including an indication indicating whether the UE is in a restricted service area; and determining whether to transmit a notification for the event to the third NF node based on the UE registration request. The present disclosure further discloses a corresponding method implemented at the second NF node. The present disclosure further provides corresponding computer readable medium.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatuses for providing a network function, NF, service producer access to a key set, wherein the key set is for use in verifying an access token received from an NF service consumer. A method in a network repository function, NRF, comprises receiving a request from the NF service producer to provide an indication of services provided by the NRF; and responsive to the request, transmitting a first address where the key set can be retrieved, as part of an indication of an authorization service.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a tracking entity (100, 400) configured to track to which access and connectivity management entity (200) a mobile device (50) is connected in a mobile communications network, wherein an application server (60) is initiating a monitoring of an event occurring at the mobile device, the method comprising: —receiving a request to monitor the event at the mobile device (50), the request comprising an indication for an audit for the monitoring of the event by which a validity of the monitoring of the event should be checked when the event has not been detected for an indicated period of time, —transmitting the received request for the event with the indication for the audit and the indicated period of time to the access and connectivity management entity (200) to which the mobile device is connected, —receiving a notification from the access and connectivity management entity (200) that the event has not been detected for the indicated period of time, —determining, i