Abstract: A residential gateway to facilitate network access to a network, comprises at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the residential gateway to: communicate packet data for IP services being provided to an end user device and the network, the end user device having been assigned an IP address based on a first IP prefix assigned to the residential gateway; receive a second IP prefix assigned to the residential gateway; and notify the end user device that the IP address assigned to the end user device is no longer valid based on receipt of the second IP prefix.

Abstract: A network element includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network element to: establish a PFCP session between the residential gateway and a network, the PFCP session hosting a set of forwarding rules for forwarding data traffic, the set of forwarding rules including a classification index referencing a QoS template, the QoS template including a set of traffic classifiers and one or more sets of QoS parameters. The set of traffic classifiers is associated with the classification index, each of the sets of QoS parameters is associated with a respective QoS rule index, and each traffic classifier is associated with a QoS rule index.

Abstract: A network element includes an aggregate gateway function having a control plane and a separate user plane, wherein the network element is configured to: establish a plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions for a plurality of packet data unit sessions between the residential gateway and the network, each of the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions hosting a set of data packet forwarding rules for a respective packet data unit session among the plurality of packet data unit sessions; and facilitate network access by the residential gateway according to the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions.

Abstract: A network element includes an aggregate gateway function having a control plane and a separate user plane. The network element is configured to: establish a packet forwarding control protocol session between the residential gateway and the network; and facilitate network access by the residential gateway according to the packet forwarding control protocol session. The packet forwarding control protocol session hosts (i) a first set of forwarding rules for forwarding control messages between the control plane and the separate user plane and (ii) at least one second set of forwarding rules for forwarding data traffic between the control plane and the separate user plane.

Abstract: A network element includes an aggregate gateway function having a control plane and a separate user plane, wherein the network element is configured to: establish a plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions for a plurality of packet data unit sessions between the residential gateway and the network, each of the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions hosting a set of data packet forwarding rules for a respective packet data unit session among the plurality of packet data unit sessions; and facilitate network access by the residential gateway according to the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions.

Abstract: A network element includes at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network element to: establish, via the aggregate gateway function, a separate packet forwarding control protocol session for each packet data unit (PDU) session between the residential gateway and the network; and facilitate, via the aggregate gateway function, network access by the residential gateway via each PDU session according to a corresponding, separate packet forwarding control protocol session.

Abstract: A network element includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network element to: designate a first user plane function, from among the plurality of user plane functions, as a designated broadcast forwarder from which to receive broadcast control traffic, and receive the broadcast control traffic forwarded from the first user plane function, from among the plurality of user plane functions.