Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for allocating a PDU session ID for a terminal device. The method comprises: selecting (S101), for a terminal device, a protocol data unit session identity, PDU session ID, from a group of PDU session IDs. The group of PDU session IDs are not allocated to the terminal device. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node may select, for the terminal device, a PDU session ID from a group of PDU session IDs, which are not allocated to the terminal device yet. Thus, any newly selected PDU session ID may be ensured as unique.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for service management. A method performed by a session management function includes receiving a first message including fallback information for a terminal device from an access and mobility management function. The fallback information includes a fallback type. The method further includes determining whether data buffering for the terminal device is required based on the fallback information. The method further includes, in response to a determination that the data buffering for the terminal device is required, sending a second message including a buffering indication to a user plane function, wherein the buffering indication indicates the user plane function to buffer the data for the terminal device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for session management. A method implemented at a first network function (NF) may comprise detecting that a path between the first NF and a second NF is failed or the second NF is failed, wherein the second NF maintains one or more data network connections or sessions established between one or more user equipments (UEs) and one or more data networks; selecting an available second NF for the at least one of the one or more data network connections or sessions; sending at least one address or address range of at least one UE corresponding to the at least one of the one or more data network connections or sessions and respective priority metric of the at least one address or address range to the available second NF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for user plane path failure and recovery handling A method comprises detecting that a user plane path is failed; and monitoring the user plane path within a configurable period to determine whether the user plane path is recovered or not.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for charging management. A method performed by a first user plane function includes determining a charging action for a first session. The method further includes sending information regarding the charging action for the first session to a second user plane function.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for binding information management. A method implemented at a policy control node in a wireless communication network comprises: obtaining information indicating a collocated deployment of a session management node and a binding support node (202); and inhibiting, in response to the information, a registration of binding information to the binding support node (204). A policy control node can know that a binding support node is collocated with a session management node, and no registration of binding information to the binding support node will be triggered for the policy control node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a serving gateway control plane function to manage a plurality of serving gateway user plane functions, and a mobility management entity to communicate with the serving gateway control plane function. Embodiments may provide a method for the serving gateway control plane function. The method includes: connecting with the plurality of serving gateway user plane functions; storing serving area information of the plurality of serving gateway user plane functions; selecting a first serving gateway user plane function among the plurality of serving gateway user plane functions for a user equipment, according to location of the user equipment and the serving area information of the plurality of serving gateway user plane functions; and sending serving area information of the first serving gateway user plane function to a mobility management entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for subscribing a notification of a change of a network function. A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting (S101) a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving (S102) a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for network triggered service restoration (NTSR). According to an embodiment, a serving gateway (SGW) obtains, from a mobility management entity (MME), information capable of indicating whether to apply NTSR for a terminal device. In response to detecting a failure of the MME, the SGW determines whether to apply NTSR for the terminal device based on the obtained information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for handover. A method performed by a source NG-RAN, base station in a wireless communication network, for handling handover of a User Equipment, UE, in which the method includes obtaining an indication information which indicates the IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, voice call initiation. The method further includes performing a handover policy to prioritize handover or redirection to an Evolved-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, base station over handover to a target NG-RAN base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an enhanced Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) association procedure for session restoration. In this regard, a method performed by a PFCP node comprises deleting one or more PFCP sessions of the PFCP node that are associated with a failed PFCP entity or with a failed PFCP path. The method further comprises sending, to a PFCP peer node, a node level message to request that the PFCP peer node delete a corresponding one or more PFCP sessions of the PFCP peer node that are associated with the failed PFCP entity or with the failed PFCP path, wherein the node level message comprises an indication of the corresponding one or more PFCP sessions. Some embodiments provide that the node level message comprises a PFCP Association Setup Request including sessions retention information to indicate whether to retain PFCP sessions associated with the PFCP Association Setup Request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for session management. The method at a control plane function comprises determining data to be restored in a user plane function or a first Internet Protocol (IP) address pool identifier. The method further comprises sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function, wherein the first session establishment request includes a data restoration flag and the data to be restored in the user plane function or includes the first Internet Protocol address pool identifier. The first Internet Protocol address pool identifier is used by the user plane function to assign an IP address to a user equipment from the first Internet Protocol address pool identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for local application server discovery in edge computing. A method at a network node comprises determining whether one or more domain name system (DNS) servers in an edge computing of a network are available for a user equipment (UE) based on at least one of local configuration information, the UE's current location, the UE's capability or the UE's user subscription. The edge computing is close to the UE. The method further comprises in response to a positive determination, sending, to the UE, a first message including respective address of the one or more DNS servers in the edge computing of the network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for access or RAT restriction. A method at a first access management entity of a network comprises determining that a user equipment (UE) is using LTE-M radio access technology (RAT). The method further comprises obtaining access restriction or RAT restriction data associated with the UE, wherein the access restriction or RAT restriction data indicates that LTE-M RAT type is restricted. The method further comprises determining whether the UE using LTE-M is allowed to attach or register to the network based on the obtained access restriction or RAT restriction data associated with the UE.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods and devices for wireless communication. Specifically, a method performed by a first mobility management entity is provided. The method includes sending an indicator for a packet data network (PDN) connection to a second MME. The indicator indicates whether the PDN connection is allowed to be moved from an evolved packet system (EPS) to a fifth generation system (5GS).

Abstract: A method of establishing a Voice over Internet Protocol, VoI P, call between a calling User Equipment, UE, and a called UE, wherein said calling UE is served by a core network via a packet-switched radio access network, PS-RAN, and wherein a bearer is to be established between said calling U E and a gateway node in said core network, over said PS-RAN, for obtaining access to an Internet Protocol, IP, multimedia subsystem, I MS, network, wherein said method comprises the steps receiving, by a an IMS Call Session Control Function, CSCF, node a notification message thereby notifying said I MS node that said VoIP call establishment is in progress and initiating, by said I MS CSCF, re-establishment of said bearer between said calling UE and said gateway node, over said PS-RAN, in case said establishment of said bearer has failed due to a temporary failure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for session management. A method at a control plane function comprises generating an information element to indicate a number of reports that the user plane function can send a usage report to the control plane function. The method further comprises sending the information element to the user plane function.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for a restoration of a proxy call session control function, P-CSCF. A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method performed at a data management node, comprising: determining whether a local policy of the data management node allows to select a session management node for a restoration of a P-CSCF, to provide an IMS service for a terminal device; and selecting the session management node for the restoration of the P-CSCF, if the local policy allows to select the session management node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for allocating a PDU session ID for a terminal device. The method comprises: selecting (S101), for a terminal device, a protocol data unit session identity, PDU session ID, from a group of PDU session IDs. The group of PDU session IDs are not allocated to the terminal device. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node may select, for the terminal device, a PDU session ID from a group of PDU session IDs, which are not allocated to the terminal device yet. Thus, any newly selected PDU session ID may be ensured as unique.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for user plane path failure and recovery handling A method comprises detecting that a user plane path is failed; and monitoring the user plane path within a configurable period to determine whether the user plane path is recovered or not.