Abstract: A method performed by a second SCP node for handling control plane traffic of a service related to a UE is provided. At a relocation of the control plane traffic of the service from a first AMF passing a first SCP node towards a second AMF, the second SCP receives, from the first SCP node, a UE context including a URI of the original resource in a NF. The second SCP then changes the URI of the original resource in the NF to a second URI, in the UE context, which second URI is related to a NF service association. The second SCP node then sends, to the second AMF, the UE context including the second URI, enabling the control plane traffic of the service from the second AMF to pass the second SCP for control plane traffic related to the resource in the NF.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node. In response to receiving a first request from a first Network Function (NF) node for a further NF node to provide a first service, the first SCP node selects (102) a second NF node to provide the first service and stores (104) an identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (106) towards the second NF node of the first request. In response to receiving, from the second NF node, a first response, the first SCP node stores (108) location information of the second NF node. The location information of the second NF node is stored in association with the identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (110) of the first response towards the first NF node.

Abstract: Embodiments describing methods performed by a system comprising Network functions including at least a Session Management Function and a User Plane Function for performing a UPF re-anchoring for an application triggered at a User Equipment over an established Packet Data Unit (PDU) Session, where when the system receives the initial trigger for a service triggered by the application (e.g., a DNS request or an application level request), a determination is made by the system based on the information related to the application that re-anchoring of the UPF for that application into a local UPF closer to the UE is required. When re-anchoring of the UPF is successful, the initial trigger is discarded, and the UE is instructed to establish a new PDU session over the local UPF for that application.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, entities and computer readable storage media for routing path discovery. The method at a first entity includes: transmitting, to a second entity, a request message for aggregated routing related information; and receiving, from the second entity, a response message comprising the aggregated routing related information.

Abstract: A method performed by a function in a network node in a telecommunications network having at least one service communication proxy, SCP, deployed between a first network node and a second network node. The method includes receiving a request for routing information to signal a message from the first network node to the second network node. The method further includes responsive to the request from the first network node, providing a response to a network node that sent the request wherein the response identifies at least a portion of a routing path for the message based on a routing path configuration.

Abstract: Re-anchoring with Session Management Function (SMF) re-selection is disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, if, for an existing User Equipment (UE) Packet Data Unit (PDU) session, an SMF determines that the current PDU Session Anchor (PSA) for the UE PDU Session is to be relocated and further determines that relocation involves an SMF re-selection, then the SMF initiates re-establishment of the PDU session. During re-establishment, the SMF conveys to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) Edge Computing (EC) context information relevant for the new PDU session. The AMF in some embodiments may use some of this information related to the location of the PSA (DNAI) to select the new SMF, and passes this information to the selected SMF for the new PDU session. Based on the information received, the new SMF in some embodiments establishes the new PDU session and selects and configures the PSA(s) for the new session.

Abstract: Network equipment implements a network function in a wireless communication network. The network equipment obtains integrity verification information that is a function of only a portion of a message. The message is either a request for a service to be consumed by the network function or a response to a request for a service provided by the network function. The network equipment digitally signs an assertion that includes the integrity verification information, and then sends the message and the digitally signed assertion to a service communication proxy. Other network equipment that receives the message and the digitally signed assertion may check an integrity of the portion of the message, based on integrity verification information that the other network equipment obtains and on the integrity verification information included in the digitally signed assertion.

Abstract: There is provided a method handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function (NF) node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer. If a first request, for the second NF node to use a resource to provide a first service requested by the first NF node, cannot be fulfilled, transmission of a second request is initiated (102) towards a third NF node of the service producer. In response to receiving a response to the second request, transmission of a response to the first request is initiated (104) towards the first NF node. The response comprises information indicative of a location of the resource in the third NF node to be used when a second service is subsequently requested by the first NF node.

Abstract: Methods for handling a service request are provided. A method allows a network function node of a service consumer to connect to a NF node of a service producer via a Service Communication Proxy node. The method comprises initiating transmission (202) to the SCP node of a first request. The first request comprises discovery parameters and access token request parameters that facilitate obtaining and storing of an access token by the SCP node. The discovery parameters facilitate selection of a second NF node of a service producer to provide the first service and forwarding the request to the second NF node. The method comprises receiving (206) a response from the second NF node, and initiating transmission (208) of a second request to the SCP node that is a subsequent request for the second NF node to provide the first service. The second request comprises the access token request parameters.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node. In response to receiving a first request from a first Network Function (NF) node for a further NF node to provide a first service, the first SCP node selects (102) a second NF node to provide the first service and stores (104) an identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (106) towards the second NF node of the first request. In response to receiving, from the second NF node, a first response, the first SCP node stores (108) location information of the second NF node. The location information of the second NF node is stored in association with the identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (110) of the first response towards the first NF node.

Abstract: Embodiments describing methods performed by a system comprising Network functions including at least a Session Management Function and a User Plane Function for performing a UPF re-anchoring for an application triggered at a User Equipment over an established Packet Data Unit (PDU) Session, where when the system receives the initial trigger for a service triggered by the application (e.g., a DNS request or an application level request), a determination is made by the system based on the information related to the application that re-anchoring of the UPF for that application into a local UPF closer to the UE is required. When re-anchoring of the UPF is successful, the initial trigger is discarded, and the UE is instructed to establish a new PDU session over the local UPF for that application.

Abstract: A method for a service consumer entity to check the health status of a service producer entity, including determining the execution or connectivity health status of the service producer entity and transmitting to a service discovery entity the health status of the service producer entity. The health status can be determined using a health-check service exposed by the service producer entity or performing network-level reachability test mechanisms. The method further includes receiving at the service consumer entity from a service discovery entity a request to check the health status of the service producer entity, for example using a service exposed by the service consumer entity to provide the health status of a service producer entity.

Abstract: Using Data Network Access Identifier (DNAI) to identify a Session Management Function (SMF) supporting connection to a local Data Network (DN) is provided. In cases where a currently serving SMF does not support connection to a local DN, solutions proposed herein insert an Intermediate SMF (I-SMF) which supports connection to the local DN. An Access and Mobility Function (AMF) can identify the I-SMF to be inserted using DNAI.

Abstract: Embodiments describing methods performed by a system comprising Network functions including at least a Session Management Function and a User Plane Function for performing a UPF re-anchoring for an application triggered at a User Equipment over an established Packet Data Unit (PDU) Session, where when the system receives the initial trigger for a service triggered by the application (e.g., a DNS request or an application level request), a determination is made by the system based on the information related to the application that re-anchoring of the UPF for that application into a local UPF closer to the UE is required. When re-anchoring of the UPF is successful, the initial trigger is discarded, and the UE is instructed to establish a new PDU session over the local UPF for that application.

Abstract: A method performed by a function in a network node in a telecommunications network having at least one service communication proxy, SCP, deployed between a first network node and a second network node. The method includes receiving a request for routing information to signal a message from the first network node to the second network node. The method further includes responsive to the request from the first network node, providing a response to a network node that sent the request wherein the response identifies at least a portion of a routing path for the message based on a routing path configuration.

Abstract: A network provides PDU sessions between wireless devices and data networks. UPFs in the network handle the user planes of these PDU sessions, while SMFs in the network manage the PDU sessions. The SMFs have dedicated interfaces for signaling sessions to the UPFs. In the occasion that managing of a PDU session has to be transferred from one SMF to another SMF, the first SMF has to release the signalling session with the UPF for the PDU session, and a second SMF has to re-establish the signaling session with the UPF for the same PDU session. To avoid that during the transfer of the management responsibility transfer the wireless device experiences a hick-up in the PDU session the first SMS includes a control element in the release message to the UPF, indicating to the UPF that the signaling session for the PDU session will be re-established by a second SMF, and that the UPF shall continue the handling of the PDU session till re-establishment.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to a bootstrapping service for a network function (NF) in a core network of a cellular communications system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first NF in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises receiving, from a second NF, a request for services exposed by the first NF. The method further comprises, responsive to receiving the request, sending, to the second NF, information about one or more services exposed by the first NF. In one embodiment, the information about one or more services exposed by the first NF includes Application Programming Interface (API) versions of the one or more services. In this manner, flexibility is provided in the network since there is no need for static configuration of service parameters.

Abstract: A method performed by a second SCP node for handling control plane traffic of a service related to a UE is provided. At a relocation of the control plane traffic of the service from a first AMF passing a first SCP node towards a second AMF, the second SCP receives, from the first SCP node, a UE context including a URI of the original resource in a NF. The second SCP then changes the URI of the original resource in the NF to a second URI, in the UE context, which second URI is related to a NF service association. The second SCP node then sends, to the second AMF, the UE context including the second URI, enabling the control plane traffic of the service from the second AMF to pass the second SCP for control plane traffic related to the resource in the NF.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network node in a communications network, for handling Network Function (NF) service requests over a roaming interface. The first network node is arranged in a service producer domain of the communications network. The first network node obtains, from a second network node located in a service consumer domain of the communications network, a discovery request for a service located in the service producer domain of the communications network. The first network node retrieves an address of a NF service producer node providing the requested service, wherein the NF service producer node is located in the service producer domain of the communications network. The first network node generates a first Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) by appending an address of the first network node to the address of the NF service producer node. The first network node provides, to the second network node, the first URI.

Abstract: A method of managing an Evolved Packet System (EPS) fallback procedure in a 5GS network. The method comprises making available to the Access Mobility Function (AMF), a configuration parameter per Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) indicating if early or late PCRF/PCF interaction with the IMS is used. Then, upon receipt by the network of a 5GS network registration request from a UE, the home PLMN of the UE is identified as is the configuration parameter for that PLMN. The identified parameter is then used to determine for the UE whether or not EPS fallback is available to the UE, and an indication of the determination is sent to the UE.