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: A method for facilitating paging policy differentiation, performed by a Session Management Function (SMF) is provided. The method includes determining that a paging policy differentiation feature is supported by a User Plane Function (UPF) (325). The method includes sending, toward the UPF (325), a message instructing the UPF (325) to insert a Paging Policy Indicator (PPI) value (110) into downlink packets based on a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value (106). The message includes DSCP-to-PPI control information.

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: 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: 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: 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 include method performed at a network node of a communication network, as well as network nodes configured to perform such methods. These methods include selecting, for a terminal device, a protocol data unit session identity (PDU) session identifier (ID) from a group of PDU session IDs that are not allocated to the terminal device by the communication network. In some embodiments, the group of PDU session IDs are not selectable by terminal devices. In some embodiments, the group of PDU session IDs are exclusive of a second group of PDU session IDs that are selectable by terminal devices. In some embodiments, the PDU session ID may be selected based on an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer ID and one of various mappings.

Abstract: A bandwidth adjustment method and apparatus, a storage medium, and an electronic device are provided. The bandwidth adjustment method including: performing interaction of bandwidth adjustment signaling between nodes via a hitless bandwidth adjustment OAM frame, wherein the hitless bandwidth adjustment OAM frame carries indication information, the indication information is used for indicating a type of a bandwidth adjustment message transmitted in the hitless bandwidth adjustment OAM frame, and the type of the bandwidth adjustment message includes: a bandwidth adjustment request message and a bandwidth adjustment acknowledge message. By configuring the indication information carried in the hitless bandwidth adjustment OAM frame to instruct each node in the network to send at least one of a bandwidth adjustment request message and a bandwidth adjustment acknowledge message via the hitless bandwidth adjustment OAM frame.

Abstract: A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving 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 a type of the network function, and further indicates an attribute 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: 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: A method and apparatus for session management function reselection. A method performed by an access and mobility function includes selecting a second session management function (SMF) to serve a session of a user equipment (UE). The session of the UE is currently served by a first SMF and an access network. The method further includes sending a create session management context request comprising a reason of selecting the second SMF to serve the session of the UE to the second SMF. The reason indicates that the session of the UE is still served by the access network. The method further includes receiving a create session management context response comprising a session resource modify request from the second SMF. The session resource modify request includes access network tunnel information of the access network. The method further includes sending the session resource modify request to the access network.

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: 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 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.