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: The present invention generally relates to wireless or mobile communication. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for delivering a Session Management (SM) or User Equipment (UE) policy in a 3GPP core network. The present invention also relates to apparatus and computer program product adapted for the same purpose. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for configuring Session Management (SM) or User Equipment (UE) policy in a 3GPP core network, includes the following steps performed by a first network node: sending to a second network node, a request for delivering the SM or the UE policy, wherein the request indicates a subscription to the outcome of the SM or the UE policy delivery; and receiving from the second network node, an outcome of the SM or the UE policy delivery.

Abstract: A method for event subscription management in a communications network performed by a Network Function producer (NFp) and a Network Function consumer (NFc). The method comprises establishing a subscription to an event from the NFc to the NFp and transmitting from the NFp to the NFc a notification including an indication to trigger the cancelation of the subscription. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise triggering at the NFc a subscription modification based on the received notification. In some embodiments, the subscription modification triggered at the NFc comprises at least one of cancelling or terminating the subscription with the NFp and removing the subscription context at the NFc. In some embodiments, the subscription modification triggered at the NFc comprises at least one of selecting a different NFp and establishing a new subscription to the different NFp.

Abstract: A method for access and mobility policy control in a communications network, the method comprising receiving at a first policy control entity for handling UE policies from a network node a notification including access and mobility policy data for a user equipment, the notification further including an application identifier or a packet flow descriptor to which the access and mobility policy data applies; obtaining at the first policy control entity PDU session information for the user equipment relative to the application identifier or the packet flow descriptor, particularly wherein the PDU session information is at least one of an application start/stop event, an out of credit event, a reallocation of credit event or a usage report; and modifying at least one access and mobility policy at the first policy control entity based on the obtained PDU session information. The network node may be a user data repository.

Abstract: According to techniques disclosed herein, a Visited Communication Network (VCN) (10) selectively reports usage information back to a Home Communication Network (HCN) (50) for user traffic that is offloaded at the VCN (10) to a Data Network (DN) (14) rather than routed back to the HCN (50). Among the various advantages, the reporting supports charging operations in the HCN (50) regarding the offloaded traffic. Further advantages include the application of policy control and service-authorization control jointly between the VCN (10) and the HCN (50).

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: Systems and methods for handling of heterogeneous support for Slice Maximum Bit Rate (S-MBR) enforcement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises, at an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), obtaining information about whether a Radio Access Network (RAN) node supports S-MBR enforcement and sending, to a Session Management Function (SMF), a message that comprises an indication of whether the RAN node supports S-MBR enforcement. The method further comprises, at the SMF, sending, to a Policy and Control Function (PCF), a message that comprises an indication of whether the RAN node supports S-MBR enforcement. The method further comprises, at the PCF, making a determination of whether to apply a mechanism to enforce S-MBR for Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session of a wireless communication device on a network slice based on the received indication, and operating accordingly.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a first network function in a communication network. The method includes initiating transmission of first information towards a second network function. The first information is indicative that the first network function is to be subscribed to receive a notification of a change in a proximity services discovery user equipment identifier (PDUID) for a user equipment (UE) from the second network function. The method includes receiving the PDUID for the UE from the second network function.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A core network node is provided. The core network node includes processing circuitry configured to receive an indication, via control plane signaling, associated with the wireless device where the indication indicates whether to update a ProSe discovery identifier associated with the wireless device, one of update and refrain from updating the ProSe discovery identifier based at least on the received indication, and transmit the updated ProSe discovery identifier if the ProSe discovery identifier was updated.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network node in a first network is provided for support in a second network of a quality of service, QoS, of the first network for a communication device initiated QoS modification. The method includes checking a QoS profile for a QoS flow of the first network based on a service level agreement, SLA, between the first network and the second network to determine whether the QoS flow is supported by the second network. The method further includes creating a dedicated internet protocol security, IPsec, security association, SA, for handling the QoS flow; and setting a differentiated services code point, DSCP, value of the dedicated IPsec SA according to the SLA. Methods performed by a second network node and by a communication device are also provided.

Abstract: A method for access and mobility policy control in a communications network, the method comprising receiving at a first policy control entity for handling UE policies from a network node a notification including access and mobility policy data for a user equipment, the notification further including an application identifier or a packet flow descriptor to which the access and mobility policy data applies; obtaining at the first policy control entity PDU session information for the user equipment relative to the application identifier or the packet flow descriptor, particularly wherein the PDU session information is at least one of an application start/stop event, an out of credit event, a reallocation of credit event or a usage report; and modifying at least one access and mobility policy at the first policy control entity based on the obtained PDU session information. The network node may be a user data repository.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed herein that relate to support for virtual Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) bridge management, Quality of Service (QoS) mapping, and TSN related scheduling in a cellular communications system. In some embodiments, a method performed by one or more network nodes of a cellular communications system operating as a virtual TSN bridge of a TSN network comprises providing, to a controller associated with the TSN network, parameters that relate to capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge. The parameters that relate to the capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge comprise a first parameter that defines a clock accuracy of an entity in the cellular communications system that operates gating control for the virtual TSN bridge and a second parameter that informs the controller associated with the TSN network that the virtual TSN bridge or a particular egress port of the virtual TSN bridge is restricted to exclusive gating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure data collection in Fifth Generation System (5GS) are provided. In some embodiments, a Data Collection Coordination Function (DCCF) in a data management framework is adapted to receive, from a first data consumer, a subscription request message, determine a data producer for the particular data, obtain one or more keys for data encryption and/or data integrity for the particular data, controlling one or more entities in a messaging framework of the data management framework, sending a subscription response message to the first data consumer, and sending a subscription request message to the data producer. The subscription request message comprises the one or more keys to be used by the data producer when sending notifications of the particular data to the first data consumer via the messaging framework.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods of updating a background data transfer (BDT) policy negotiated between an application function (AF) and a core network (CN) of a telecommunication network. Such methods can be performed by a Policy Control Function (PCF) of the CN and can include, in response to receiving a notification of degraded network performance of a network area, determining that the negotiated BDT policy is affected by the degraded network performance and an Application Service Provider (ASP) associated with the negotiated BDT policy requested a warning notification. Such methods can include determining, at least based on operator policies, updated BDT policy information for the negotiated BDT policy, wherein the updated BDT policy information comprises at least one of the following: at least one candidate BDT policy, and updated conditions for the negotiated BDT policy. Such methods can include sending the updated BDT policy information to the AF.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for ensuring network control of simultaneous access to network slices with application awareness. In one embodiment, a method performed in a cellular communications system comprises, at a wireless communication device, sending, to a Policy and Control Function (PCF) via an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), application identifiers (IDs) of applications used by the wireless communication device and receiving, from the PCF via the AMF, one or more User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules that are based on the application IDs. The method further comprises, at the PCF, obtaining information about one or more mutually exclusive network slices, generating the one or more URSP rules based on the application IDs and the information about the one or more mutually exclusive network slices, and sending the one or more URSP rules to the wireless communication device via the AMF.

Abstract: Systems and method are disclosed herein that relate to support for virtual Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) bridge management, Quality of Service (QoS) mapping, and TSN related scheduling in a cellular communications system. In some embodiments, a method performed by one or more network nodes of a cellular communications system operating as a virtual TSN bridge of a TSN network comprises providing, to a controller associated with the TSN network, parameters that relate to capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge. The parameters that relate to the capabilities of the virtual TSN bridge comprise a first parameter that defines a clock accuracy of an entity in the cellular communications system that operates gating control for the virtual TSN bridge and a second parameter that informs the controller associated with the TSN network that the virtual TSN bridge or a particular egress port of the virtual TSN bridge is restricted to exclusive gating.

Abstract: A method of updating a background data transfer, BDT, policy negotiated between an application function, AF, and a Core Network, CN, is disclose. The method is performed by a Policy Control Function, PCF, of the CN and comprises determining updated BDT policy information including updated conditions for the negotiated BDT policy and at least one candidate BDT policy for the AP to select when the PCF determines that the negotiated BDT policy is affected by degraded network performance. The determined updated BDT policy information is then sent to the AF by the PCF using notification type interaction, thereby effectively updating the negotiated BDT policy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a SMF (106) that receives a session request message transmitted by a User Equipment, UE (102), the session request message comprising a DNN and S-NSSAI pair; and after receiving the session request message, the SMF transmits towards a PCF (110), a policy create message that includes one or more of: i) the DNN and S-NSSAI pair from the session request message, ii) information indicating that a user plane for a PDU session for the DNN and S-NSSAI pair is redundancy capable, and iii) subscription information for the UE that indicates that the subscriber is allowed to have redundant transmissions.

Abstract: According to techniques disclosed herein, a Visited Communication Network (VCN) (10) selectively reports usage information back to a Home Communication Network (HCN) (50) for user traffic that is offloaded at the VCN (10) to a Data Network (DN) (14) rather than routed back to the HCN (50). Among the various advantages, the reporting supports charging operations in the HCN (50) regarding the offloaded traffic. Further advantages include the application of policy control and service-authorization control jointly between the VCN (10) and the HCN (50).

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for policy based selection of a network. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a user equipment (UE) includes obtaining a transfer policy from a policy node of a first network, the transfer policy being associated with a network selection for an application; and determining whether the application is to be transferred from using the first network to using a second network based at least in part on the obtained transfer policy, the first network being one of a standalone non-public network, SNPN, and a public land mobile network, PLMN and the second network being another one of the SNPN and the PLMN and the transfer policy being based at least in part on at least one of: (i) Quality-of-service, QoS, information associated with the application and (ii) whether the UE has a subscription to the second network.