Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enhancing local breakout sessions in roaming scenarios. In the context of a method, the method includes receiving a request comprising an information, where the information comprises at least one of: an application function (AF) identifier associated with a user equipment (UE) that is associated with an existing home routed-session breakout (HR-SBO) packet data unit (PDU) session; or an internet protocol (IP) address of the UE that is associated with the existing HR-SBO session. The method further includes determining, based on the information, a data network name (DNN) and single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) of the existing HR-SBO PDU session associated with the UE. The method further includes sending, in a response to the request, the determined DNN and the S-NSSAI.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses are provided for enabling a user equipment (UE) to connect to the wireless access network that support non-seamless wireless local area network (WLAN) offload (NSWO), such as using the UE's fifth generation (5G) credentials. An apparatus may include a processor and a memory storing computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to request, by the UE, a wireless connection to a network entity; receive, by the UE, from the network entity, an identity request; and in response to the identity request, cause transmission, by the UE, an identity response including a UE identifier to the network entity such that the UE is configured to establish a security context with the network entity upon successful authentication using the UE identifier.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a terminal device may receive location service user plane (LCUP) assistance information in a control plane (CP) positioning protocol signaling. The LCUP assistance information includes at least one of addressing information of an LCUP function instance, and security information for establishing an user plane (UP) session between the terminal device and the LCUP function instance. The LCUP function instance is associated with a location management function (LMF) selected for serving the terminal device. The terminal device can establish a secured UP connection between the terminal device and the LCUP function instance using the LCUP assistance information so as to perform a UP positioning operation using the LCUP function instance. The terminal device can ensure the UE establishes a secured connection with the LCUP associated with the serving LMF, thereby CP location operation through the UP interaction between the terminal device and the LUCP associated with LMF.

Abstract: A method in a user equipment (UE) is presented that includes transmitting, by a UE, to one or more components of a core network, a message including information indicating one or more sensing capabilities of the UE; and receiving, by the UE, one of the following: an indication that the UE is registered in connection with sensing services provided by one or more components of the core network, or an indication that the UE is not registered in connection with the sensing services provided by one or more components of the core network.

Abstract: It is provided a method comprising: inquiring a repository function to provide identifications of all producers registered in the repository function and satisfying a query condition; receiving or obtaining the identifications of all the producers registered in the repository function and satisfying the query condition upon the inquiring; requesting, using the received or obtained identifications, each of the producers to provide a service.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product receive a traffic redundancy indication from a user equipment in a communication network or from a policy controller. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine whether traffic redundancy is needed for the radio access network and the user plane function based on the traffic redundancy indication. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the radio access network to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the radio access network. The method, apparatus and computer program product request the user plane function to not establish redundancy mechanisms in a circumstance where traffic redundancy is not needed for the user plane function.

Abstract: There are provided measures for enabling/realizing external steering of access traffic multipath communication in a mobile communication system, e.g. an external access traffic multipath communication steering function. Some such measures include that a session management function element or instance in a mobile communication system initiates control of establishment of at least one user plane session for access traffic multipath communication, obtains communication information of an external steering function element or instance to be used for steering access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session, creates access traffic multipath communication rules, forwarding action rules and multi access rules for access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session, and provides the access traffic multipath communication rules and the communication information of the external steering function element or instance to the communication function element or instance.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing uplink data transmission associated with user equipment during authentication/authorization of the user equipment when establishing a data network connection through a communication network.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, method, and computer program for causing an apparatus to perform: mapping an energy behaviour category to a user equipment, wherein the energy behaviour category is an energy behaviour category of a plurality of energy behaviour categories defined by a network operator that categorizes how energy efficiently an apparatus is behaving; and providing an indication of the mapped energy behaviour category to a requesting network function.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS) with branching point (BP) on the path are provided. The method may include determining that an existing user plane function is sub-optimal in terms of routing and latency incurred with respect to traffic for a given packet data unit session of a user equipment. The method may also include establishing, based on the determination, a new user plane function for the packet data unit session. The method may further include establishing a branching point user plane function that interfaces with the existing user plane function, the new user plane function, and a plurality of network access types. In addition, the method may include updating the user equipment by providing the user equipment with relevant multi-access traffic steering rules.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising circuitry configure to: receive a location request for a location of at least one user equipment, the location request comprising an identifier associated with a group of user equipment or information for determining the identifier associated with the group of user equipment.

Abstract: A PRU requests registration with a cellular network, participates in a procedure to locate the PRU within the network, and associates itself as a PRU with network element(s). A repository receives information for a PRU describing at least a position of the PRU, and stores this. In response to a request by a requesting network element for positioning information of the PRU, the repository sends at least part of the information for the PRU to the network element. A network element implementing an LMF receives, from a first network element, a request for positioning of a target UE, and selects a PRU serving the target UE. The network element receives a first location of the target UE and determines a final location of the target UE considering position information of the PRU and the first location of the target UE, and provides the final location to the first network element.

Abstract: It is provided a method comprising: inquiring a repository function to provide identifications of all producers registered in the repository function and satisfying a query condition; receiving or obtaining the identifications of all the producers registered in the repository function and satisfying the query condition upon the inquiring; requesting, using the received or obtained identifications, each of the producers to provide a service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for edge services are disclosed. A network function entity receives from an application function entity a request relating to a data communication session, and can then determine, in response to the request, information of at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity. The application function entity is provided with the information of the at least one local network exposure function entity. The information can be used in connecting with a local network exposure function entity. The local network exposure function entity can then be used for the data communication session.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for selective indications towards a UE (110), for example, at de-registration (110) from an AMF with request to re-register (130) with another AMF, are provided.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving information about an identification of a network function set associated with at least one packet data network connection. The means is further configured for, in response to receiving an indication that a network function instance of the network function set supporting the at least one packet data network connection is no longer available, transferring the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.

Abstract: Method, apparatuses, and computer program products provide means for indicating and evaluating EPS network applicability of 5GS UE Route Selection Policy parameters. An example method for evaluation of applicability of parameters includes receiving a policy rule data object comprising a plurality of rule descriptors each comprising parameters associated with respective network applicability indications. The method further includes, upon entering a rule evaluation state: determining whether a rule descriptor satisfies first conditions from the respective network applicability indications associated with the parameters of the rule descriptor, and in an instance in which the rule descriptor is determined to satisfy the first conditions, identifying a respective parameter of the rule descriptor as satisfying second conditions from an associated respective network applicability indication.

Abstract: Techniques for providing distributed NAS layer termination points within a communication network. A network entity assigns a non-access stratum temporary identifier to a user device. The non-access stratum temporary identifier is associated with a non-access stratum termination point, and wherein a type of non-access stratum termination point is based at least in part on an apparatus type configured to handle one or more non-access stratum messages. The network entity causes the user device to be provided with the non-access stratum temporary identifiers.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus (408). The apparatus comprises means for performing: receiving user plane traffic at the apparatus (408), the user plane traffic intended for a group local area network communication; and determining a target destination address for the user plane traffic; and autonomously handling the received user plane traffic at the apparatus (408) in dependence on the target destination address; and wherein the autonomously handling the received user plane traffic by the apparatus comprises determining whether the destination address is recognised by the apparatus (408); and forwarding the user plane traffic towards all interfaces (424) tagged as network interfaces associated with the group communication, when the destination address is determined to be not recognised by the apparatus (408).

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a User Equipment UE, configured to: get ePDG selection information configured by the UE's HPLMN, said ePDG selection information including a list of PLMNs with an indication of whether the selection of an ePDG in a PLMN is preferred or mandatory or non-preferred, perform selection of an ePDG operated by a PLMN of a country the UE is located in, referred to as local PLMN, which has roaming agreement with the UE's HPLMN for untrusted WLAN access to EPC, based on said list of PLMNs configured in said ePDG selection information, and on a list of MCCs of said country and/or a list of local PLMNs.