Abstract: Systems and methods related to congestion monitoring in a mobile communications network; in particular, a congestion monitoring unit that sends congestion information to a policy control unit for a plurality of mobile entities, wherein each of the mobile entities is connected to a respective radio access network and associated with the policy control unit, the congestion information indicates congestion of the respective radio access network. The congestion monitoring unit sends a request message to a policy control unit for transmitting congestion information of a mobile entity, the message routed by a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) and includes congestion information and an identity for a given mobile entity; in response, the policy control unit sends a response message including an identity of the policy control unit. The congestion monitoring unit can then send aggregated congestion information for a plurality of mobile entities associated with the policy control unit.

Abstract: A process is defined for consumer-controllable ML model provisioning and training in a wireless communication network. The process comprises two procedures, which respectively correspond to the two phases of an ML model provisioning process in, e.g., 5GC, i.e., the preparation/provisioning phase and the training execution phase. For the preparation/provisioning phase, new parameters are added to the request from the ML model consumer to the ML model generator (e.g., NWDAF), so that the latter can conduct the ML model provisioning according to the consumer requirements. For the training execution phase, interactions between the ML model consumer and generator(s) are considered, and the corresponding procedure for a consumer controlling the ML model training execution phase is defined.

Abstract: When the consumer NWDAF requests a trained machine learning model from a producer NWDAF for a set of Analytic IDs associated with a plurality of UEs, the consumer NWDAF may include a reliability requirement in the model provisioning request to indicate a required accuracy for the machine learning model. The reliability requirement may be expressed in terms of a number of UEs, a percentage of UEs. or an accuracy target. The producer NWDAF determines whether it can provide a trained model satisfying the reliability requirement and responds accordingly. If a trained model meeting the reliability requirement is available, the producer NWDAF provides the location the trained model to the consumer NWDAF.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for event notification in a core network of a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first Policy and Control Function (PCF) serving an Access Management (AM) policy association for a User Equipment (UE) wherein the first PCF is comprised in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises subscribing to an event exposure service of a second PCF serving a Session Management (SM) policy association for the UE. The method further comprises, responsive to subscribing to the event exposure service of the second PCF, receiving a report from the second PCF. In this manner, separate deployments of the first and second PCFs are enabled and still the first PCF serving the AM policy association for the UE can implement AM policies for the UE, e.g., based on UE data usage, e.g., of specified service bundles.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for establishing a communication session with a local serving network. A method is performed by a terminal device. The method comprises obtaining an indication of traffic to be communicated. The traffic is associated with a traffic descriptor. The method comprises selecting a URSP rule for the traffic to be communicated in a communication session with the local serving network. The URSP rule is selected in accordance with the traffic descriptor and in accordance with a validity condition for the communication session. The validity condition at least pertains to network support for IMS in the local serving network. The method comprises establishing a communication session with the local serving network for communicating the traffic according to the selected URSP rule.

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 for supporting traffic management capabilities under network control. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises receiving one or more User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from a network node, receiving traffic control information associated to the one or more URSP rules, and performing one or more actions based on the one or more URSP rules and the traffic control information. In this manner, the network is given control of slice traffic management such that the network can force the UE to perform an action(s) when the network thinks that such action(s) is beneficial.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for provisioning subscription data, for a plurality of subscribers, to one or more network functions, NFs, in a communication network. Such embodiments include storing group data, related to the plurality of subscribers, in association with at least a first group identifier, GID, but not in association with individual subscription data for the respective subscribers. Such embodiments also include sending, to the one or more NFs, the group data and the first GID. Such embodiments also include sending, to a particular one of the NFs, the first GID and individual subscription data for a particular one of the subscribers. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by network functions that receive subscription data in this manner, as well as various network functions and/or nodes, in a communication network, that are configured to perform various disclosed methods.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.