Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer readable medium for user plane function control for multicast transport. A method includes sending (300) a session establishment request to a user plane function requesting the user plane function to apply multicast and supply identifiers for outgoing packets. The method also includes receiving (305) from the user plane function a multicast response comprising the requested identifiers. The method also includes establishing (605) a multicast tunnel with a network node.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, method and computer program fora network function, that causes the apparatus to signal, to a replication handling function, a set of replication criteria defining, for one or more session associated with a first user traffic and a second user traffic, when at least one of the first and second user traffic will be transmitted using a replication-based redundancy mechanism, wherein each of the first and second user traffic are associated with a respective quality of service requirement for transmission.

Abstract: There is provided a method for an apparatus for a network function, the apparatus for the network function, and a computer program for the apparatus, that causes the apparatus to: receive an indication that a first user equipment and/or a first user plane function configured to transmit first user traffic is associated with a first replication handling function, the first replication handling function being configurable to coordinate at least one replication-based redundancy mechanism performed on at least part of said first user traffic; determine a first set of replication rules for use by the first replication handling function determining when the at least one replication-based redundancy mechanism is performed on at least part of said first user traffic; and cause the first set of replication rules to be provided to the first replication handling function.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS) with branching point (BP) or uplink classifier (ULCL) on the path. The method may include, setting up, in response to a request, a first user plane function with multi-access traffic steering functionality. The method may also include requesting a user equipment to establish a new multi-access packet data unit session to a same data network name and slice as an old multi-access packet data unit session, or request the user equipment to release the old multi-access packet data unit session with a second user plane function and to initiate a multi-access packet data unit session re-establishment. The method may further include sending, to the user equipment, multi-access rules for the new multi-access packet data unit session, a new internet protocol address, and new multipath transmission control protocol proxy information.

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: Various example embodiments relate to signalling of network access priority. An apparatus may receive, at a first network, default network priority data indicative of a priority for accessing access network resources by a device. The apparatus may further receive, from a second network, auxiliary network priority data configured by the second network to override the default network priority data. The apparatus may cause configuration of network access for the device based on the auxiliary network priority data.

Abstract: There is provided a network apparatus comprising: means for storing a mapping, the mapping comprising an indication of a first virtual network and at least one other virtual network configured to provide a service at a lower quality than the first virtual network; means for receiving, from another network apparatus, a request to provide a service using the first virtual network; and means for using the mapping and the indication of the first virtual network to select a virtual network to provide the requested service.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for ping pong detection. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes subscribing to an event at one or more access and mobility management functions, the event indicative of a frequent mobility of a user equipment between different access and mobility management functions; and receiving, from an access and mobility management function, a notification of the subscribed event. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A network node in a wireless communication system supporting device-to-device (D2D) communication, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the computer program code causes the network node, when executed with the at least one processor, to at least: provide, to a user equipment (UE) in the wireless communication system, a UE route selection policy including a traffic descriptor to be used by the UE for D2D communication, the traffic descriptor including information indicating use for D2D communication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving service continuity are disclosed. The solution comprises storing (300) information slice remapping describing how a given net-work slice may be mapped to another network slice, receiving (302) a first message from an access node, that the node serves a terminal or has received a request to serve a terminal utilising a network slice not supported by the node and transmitting (304) based on the first message a message to a network entity responsible for session management to control the connection of the terminal, with the information on slice remapping and/or activity status of the packet data unit sessions associated with the slice not supported by the node.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, method and computer program for an apparatus for a first policy control function, that causes to apparatus to: receive, from a session management function, a request for a policy to be established for a session for a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is subscribed in a second domain and the first policy control function is configured to operate in a first domain; determine a policy for the requested session, the determined policy comprising an indication of an allowed usage for the subscriber and at least one trigger condition for the policy to be updated; signal the at least one trigger condition to the session management function; and monitor the allowed usage for the subscriber by updating the policy in response to receipt of an indication that the at least one trigger condition has been met.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, at a first network repository function in a first network from a security edge protection proxy in a second network, a request for discovering one or more roaming hubs and/or security edge protection proxies in the first network; and send, from the first network repository function to the security edge protection proxy in the second network, a response comprising information identifying the one or more roaming hubs and/or security edge protection proxies in the first network and information identifying one or more further networks which can be reached via a respective roaming hub and/or security edge protection proxy in the first network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to dynamical changes in access and mobility policies. According to embodiments, an Application Function entity can request the Access and Mobility related entity to modify the access and mobility policies for a terminal device after the discovery of the Access and Mobility related entity. Alternatively, the Access and Mobility related entity obtains access and mobility policies from a User Data Repository that link traffic of an application on a PDU Session towards to access and mobility policies and configure the AM policy based on a detection of traffic change done under control of a Session Management related entity. Therefore, the access setting and/or the mobility setting can be dynamically changed based on the traffic change in the application.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software of directly connecting a SIM-less device with a cellular network. In one embodiment, User Equipment (UE) includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) provisioned with a plurality of subscription profiles for subscriptions to the cellular network. The UE establishes a direct communication with a SIM-less device that does not have a subscription with the cellular network. The UE selects one of the subscriptions provisioned in the SIM as a temporary subscription assigned to the SIM-less device to allow the SIM-less device to establish a direct connection with the cellular network using the temporary subscription, and transmits a message to the SIM-less device via the direct communication containing subscription credentials for the temporary subscription. The SIM-less device may therefore register with the cellular network using the subscription credentials provided by the UE, and establish a direct connection with the cellular network using the temporary subscription.

Abstract: In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive, from a user equipment, a request to join a multicast, broadcast service; and send, in order to process the request, information in a request message to an access network node, the information including an identifier of the multicast, broadcast service, an identifier of a user equipment context and/or a session identifier corresponding to the user equipment served by the access network node, a source address and/or a multicast address where the access network node can access, via an N3 interface, data of the multicast, broadcast service.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for ad hoc group based services to support 5G system (5GS) scenarios such as, but not limited to, edge computing and time synchronization, are provided.

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: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically updating routing identifiers (IDs) are provided. One method may include deciding, at a network node, to update a routing identifier for at least one user equipment. The method may then include obtaining or generating a new routing identifier to be assigned to the at least one user equipment along with authentication vectors, and transmitting the new routing identifier to an authentication entity.

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 that comprises means for receiving a request from a second network function including information relating to the second network function, determining, based on the information relating to the second network function, at least one proxy function and in response to the request, providing to the second network function information relating to the at least one determined proxy function.