Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for authentication and authorization. A method at a session management function entity comprises determining whether to initiate a secondary authentication and/or authorization of a session of a terminal device after the terminal device moves from a first network to a second network or from the second network to the first network. The method further comprises, in response to a positive determination, send a first message to an authentication, authorization, and accounting, AAA, server to initiate the secondary authentication and/or authorization of the session of the terminal device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for managing a quality of service (QoS) in a telecommunications network. The method is performed by a first network node of the telecommunications network. If the first network node is unable to fulfil a first QoS indicated in a least preferred alternative QoS profile of one or more alternative QoS profiles, a first message is signalled to a core network node. The first message comprises a first indication that indicates that the first network node is unable to fulfil the first QoS indicated in the least preferred alternative QoS profile.

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: The present disclosure proposes a method of an end-point of a user plane path between an access network and a core network in a telecommunication network, comprising: detecting whether a failure exists on the user plane path or not; and notifying a node in the core network of the failure in order for the node to handle the failure, upon detecting the failure. With this method, the failure can be handled timely, thus minimizing the service interruption.

Abstract: A method at an Access and mobility Management Function (AMF) for facilitating a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session procedure for a User Equipment (UE) in a 5th Generation System (5GS) network, wherein the 5GS network is interworking with an Evolved Packet System (EPS) network, and a Packet Data Network Gateway Control plane Function+Session Management Function (PGW-C+SMF) supporting the interworking is selected for managing the PDU session. The method comprises determining whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network, based on at least one of a capability of the UE and a subscription data of the UE; and sending an indication which indicates whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network to the PGW-C+SMF.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods for establishing a user-requested protocol data unit (PDU) session in a user's visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), by a session management function (V-SMF) in the VPLMN. Such methods include receiving, from an access and mobility management function (AMF) in the VPLMN, a PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request to establish the PDU session to be routed through the user's home PLMN (HPLMN). The PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request identifies an SMF (H-SMF) in the user's HPLMN. Such methods include sending, to the identified H-SMF, a PDUSession_Create Request to create the PDU session. The PDUSession_Create Request includes an identifier of a session management (SM) context, in the V-SMF, that is associated with the PDU session. Such methods include receiving, from the H-SMF, a PDUSession_Update Request that includes an identifier of an SM context, in the H-SMF, that is associated with the PDU session. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by the H-SMF.

Abstract: A method performed by an application function, AF, for a communication network, wherein the AF has been informed, in a first notification, about an out-of-credit event associated with a user of a service provided by the AF, the method comprising sending subscription request, to a network function, NF, for requesting notifications about reallocation-of-credit events associated with one or more users of a service provided by the AF; receiving, from the NF, a second notification of a reallocation-of-credit event associated with the user of the service provided by the AF for which the AF has been informed about the out-of-credit event, such that the AF can perform one or more second actions with respect to the service.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for signaling QoS Flow control parameters, and corresponding NF entities. The method comprises generating one or more data flow rules associated with a QoS Flow and a QoS Flow profile. The data flow rules include parameters specific to a data flow that belongs to the QoS Flow, while the QoS Flow profile includes parameters that are common to all data flows that belong to the same QoS Flow. The present disclosure further discloses a corresponding method of receiving the QoS Flow control parameters. The present disclosure further provides corresponding computer readable medium.

Abstract: Solutions are proposed herein that provide several alternatives for how an AMF can perform discovery of a proper MB-SMF or MB-SMF instance in the network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for privacy protection. A method at a first terminal device comprises obtaining at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device. The at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device is related to a link identifier change. The method further comprises transmitting a request message including information regarding the at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns managing mobility and emergency handling by receiving a mobility message from a second entity for managing access and mobility, wherein the mobility message carries a data network identifier for an IP connectivity; determining that the data network identifier in the received mobility message is an emergency data network identifier, based on emergency data network identifiers contained in emergency configuration data with which the first entity for managing access and mobility is configured; and determining that the IP connectivity is established for an emergency service.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node for transferring Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions of a UE during a mobility procedure in which the UE is moved from a 5GS to an Evolved Packet System (EPS) is disclosed. The method comprises one or more of determining that a target Mobility Management Entity (MME) for the mobility procedure in the EPS supports a first number of EPS Bearers that is less than a second number of EPS Bearer Identities (EBIs) assigned to a number of PDU sessions (e.g., and their associated Quality of Service (QoS) Flows) of the UE that are to be transferred from the 5GS to the EPS; determining which of the PDU sessions and/or QoS Flows of the UE are not to be transferred to the target MME; and releasing, requesting the release of or initiating release of the PDU sessions and/or QoS Flows that are not to be transferred to the target MME.

Abstract: A method at an Access and mobility Management Function (AMF) for facilitating a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session procedure for a User Equipment (UE) in a 5th Generation System (5GS) network, wherein the 5GS network is interworking with an Evolved Packet System (EPS) network, and a Packet Data Network Gateway Control plane Function+Session Management Function (PGW-C+SMF) supporting the interworking is selected for managing the PDU session. The method comprises determining whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network, based on at least one of a capability of the UE and a subscription data of the UE; and sending an indication which indicates whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network to the PGW-C+SMF.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for signaling QoS Flow control parameters, and corresponding NF entities. The method comprises generating one or more data flow rules associated with a QoS Flow and a QoS Flow profile. The data flow rules include parameters specific to a data flow that belongs to the QoS Flow, while the QoS Flow profile includes parameters that are common to all data flows that belong to the same QoS Flow. The present disclosure further discloses a corresponding method of receiving the QoS Flow control parameters. The present disclosure further provides corresponding computer readable medium.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method, performed by a session management function (V-SMF) of a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), for establishing a user-requested PDU session to be routed through the user's home PLMN (HPLMN). Such embodiments include receiving, from an access management function (AMF) in the HPLMN, a first request to establish a home-routed PDU session, wherein the first request identifies an SMF (H-SMF) in the HPLMN. Such embodiments also include sending, to the H-SMF, a second request to create the home-routed PDU session. The second request can include an identifier of a resource in the V-SMF associated with the PDU session; and one or more indicators of whether the V-SMF supports respective one or more features related to receiving, from the H-SMF, an identifier of a resource in the H-SMF that is associated with the PDU session. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by the H-SMF.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for providing network slice bit rate information and enforcing bit rate limitations. An exemplary method provides for receiving a network slice identifier identifying a network slice and corresponding network slice bit rate information (NS-BRI) for the identified network slice. The NS-BRI comprises i) first maximum bit rate information (MBRI) specifying a first maximum bit rate for the network slice and the user equipment, and/or ii) first guaranteed bit rate information (GBRI) specifying a first aggregate guaranteed bit rate for the network slice and the user equipment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for session management. A method comprises receiving from a user equipment (UE) a request for establishing another session to a data network identified by a data network identification. At least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network. The method further comprises checking whether the subscription data or the policy data for the UE includes a first indication which indicates that a same session management node for multiple sessions to the data network identified by the same data network identification is required. The method further comprises selecting the same session management node as the at least one existing session for the UE when the subscription data or the policy data includes the first indication. The method further comprises sending a session establishment request to the selected session management node.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for improved packet detection rule provision. A method performed by a first network entity comprises: transmitting packet detection information, PDI, to a second network entity, wherein the PDI indicates information on one or more traffic endpoints on which packets are to be detected.

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.