Abstract: A technique of handling capability information stored in a subscriber database in a core network domain of a wireless communication network is presented. A method implementation of the technique comprises receiving a subscriber capability request, wherein the subscriber capability request includes an identifier associated with a subscription. The method further comprises retrieving from the subscriber database, in response to the subscriber capability request, subscriber capability information for the subscription associated with the first identifier. The subscriber capability information is indicative of support of at least one non-A/V medium different from video (V) and audio (A) in a subscriber domain, such as a olfactory (scent-related) or tactile (haptic) medium. Further still, the method comprises sending a subscriber capability response including the subscriber capability information.

Abstract: A technique for handling data traffic in a core network domain of a communication network is described. An apparatus comprised by the technique is configured to be located in the core network domain and to receive data traffic sent under control of a transport layer protocol that is configured to apply a congestion control algorithm, CCA. The apparatus is further configured to analyze the data traffic to obtain a data traffic analyzation result, to obtain, based on the analyzation result, CCA information about the CCA that can be or is applied by the transport layer protocol, and to perform a traffic handling action for the data traffic taking into account the obtained CCA information.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for traffic detection. The method which may be performed by a first network node includes receiving a message from a second network node. The method further includes determining packet flow description information for traffic detection according to the message. The packet flow description information may indicate a combination criterion for two or more packet flow descriptions, and/or a protocol matching criterion for a domain name in a packet flow description. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the packet flow description definition can be extended to support more accurate traffic detection.

Abstract: A method performed by a first user plane entity for responding to user plane requests transmitted from a second user plane entity. The method includes transmitting from a policy control entity to a session management entity a policy rule including an indication to apply a responding action to the traffic of an application, selecting at the session management entity the user plane entity based on the support of the capability of responding to user plane requests, transmitting from the session management entity to the user plane entity a session establishment or modification request including an indication to apply a responding action to the traffic matching the application, and transmitting from the first user plane entity to the second user plane entity a response message according to the received indication to apply the responding action.

Abstract: A Policy Control Function, PCF, for use in a 5G core network, is configured to allow a consumer to retrieve from the PCF subscriber session information and Application Detection and Control rules relating to a subscriber session. Specifically, the PCF is configured to: receive (303) a request from a Session Management Function, SMF, for session management policies applying to the subscriber session; retrieve (305) policy data from a Unified Data Repository, UDR; and, based on the retrieved policy data, generate said Application Detection and Control rules relating to the subscriber session, and send (307) said Application Detection and Control rules to the TDF, thereby allowing the TDF to act as the consumer.

Abstract: A method for enabling the detection of tethering traffic and the application of tethering policies to such traffic at a User Equipment (UE). The method comprises receiving subscription information at a policy control entity from a subscriber data repository entity, the subscription information including an indication of actions to apply to the traffic of tethered devices at the UE, transmitting from the policy control entity to the UE a tethering policy including the received actions to apply to the traffic of tethered devices, and applying at the UE the tethering policy to the traffic of a tethered device. The policy control entity may be a PCF. The subscriber data repository entity may be a UDR. The tethering policy may include an indication to block the tethering traffic, to mark the tethering traffic or to report information or events related to the tethering traffic and tethering devices.

Abstract: A User Plane Function, UPF (35), sends a load report to a Session Management Function, SMF (45). Responsive to receiving the load report from the UPF (35), the SMF (45) installs a load reduction policy rule in the UPF (35). The load reduction policy rule comprises a criterion for identifying one or more users subject to the load reduction policy rule. The UPF (35) selectively applies the load reduction policy rule to user plane traffic of the one or more users based on the criterion.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems performed and configured to operate in a wireless communication network are presented. In example implementations, a request to register or update a Network Function, NF, profile of an NF in a Network Repository Function, NRF, is sent from the NF to the NRF. The NF profile signaled via the request comprises one or more parameters relating to one or more of a hardware characteristic of hardware comprised in the wireless communication network, a latency characteristic of the wireless communication network, and a throughput characteristic of the wireless communication network. An acknowledgement of the request may be sent from the NRF to the NF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can relate to various methods for operating a network exposure entity (270) and/or a policy control entity in a wireless communications network (200), in which a data packet session can be provided between a service provider (300) and a user equipment (100), the methods comprising steps for enabling the wireless communications network (200) to take an active role in a multi-factor authentication procedure requested by the service provider (300). Further embodiments of the invention relate to respective network exposure entities (270) and/or policy control entities.

Abstract: A network node for user data traffic handling (UPF), receives (52, 112) traffic for an application, wherein the traffic is to be sent to a logical server associated with the application, wherein the logical server resides on a network server (10.4), and wherein the application has a corresponding application function (AF). On detecting (53, 113) that the received traffic includes an encrypted server name indication such that the associated logical server cannot be identified, the network node requests (55, 115) from the corresponding application function information identifying the application. In response to receiving (62, 117) information identifying said application, the network node subsequently handles the traffic (63, 118) based on the identified application.

Abstract: A method of processing a Domain Name Server, DNS, query received from a User Equipment, UE, in a telecommunication network, wherein said method comprises the steps of receiving (102), by a User Plane Function, UPF, an encrypted message from said UE, determining (103), by said UPF, that said encrypted message is an encrypted DNS query by establishing that a destination address in said encrypted message corresponds to an address of a DNS server comprised by said telecommunication network, and forwarding (104), by said UPF, said encrypted DNS query to said DNS server.

Abstract: A method for handling user notifications in a communications network. The method comprises receiving an indication that a second entity supports a user notification type; determining that a user notification of the user notification type shall be transmitted to the second entity, the user notification comprising a user identity and a notification content; selecting the second entity for delivering the user notification of the user notification type to the user; and transmitting to the second entity the user notification including the user identity and the notification content. The method may be performed by a Network Exposure Function (NEF), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), a Charging Function (CHF), or an Online Charging System (OCS).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, performed by a first node (111), for handling one or more data sessions. The first node (111) operates in the communications system (100). The first node (111) receives (301) a first indication originating from an external node (113) operating outside the communications system (100). The first indication indicates a request to preclude one or more data sessions meeting one or more conditions indicated by the external node (113). The first node (111) also initiates (305) the preclusion of the one or more data sessions by sending another indication to a second node (112) operating in the communications system (100). The another indication indicates the received request.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to enable the SMF or other network node performing UPF selection to determine a computational resource demand, also referred to herein as the computational footprint, associated with a PDU session. The computational footprint can then be used by the SMF or other network node to inform the selection of the UPF.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for enabling selection of a media resource function or a media gateway in an IP session. A method in a Proxy Call Session Control Function, P-CSCF, includes receiving one or more Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, packets originating from a wireless device as part of the IP session; responsive to receiving the SIP packets, transmitting a request to a Policy Control Function, PCF, for an indication of a geographical service area for a User Plane Function, UPF associated with the IP session; receiving an indication of the geographical service area; and selecting a gateway node based on the geographical service area.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for providing an analytic result relating to tunneling traffic to a consumer network function, NF. A method in a first network function comprises receiving a request from the consumer NF, to receive analytics relating to tunneling traffic; responsive to receiving the request, triggering one or more network nodes to transmit data relating to tunneling traffic to the first NF; receiving data relating to tunneling traffic from one or more network nodes; analysing the received data to determine an analytic result; and transmitting an indication of the analytic result to the consumer NF.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for correlating network data analytics, NDA, information for a device group comprising multiple terminal devices is provided, wherein each terminal device is associated with a group member identifier and the device group is associated with a group identifier. The apparatus is adapted to receive an NDA request comprising a group identifier and an NDA specification of NDA information to be collected, to send a group member identifier request comprising the group identifier, and to receive, in response to the group member identifier request, one or more group member identifiers associated with the group identifier.

Abstract: An aspect provides a method by user plane function (UPF) in a core network (CN) of a communication network for registering the UPF at a network repository function (NRF) of the CN. The UPF is to selectively route uplink data traffic in one or more data sessions from a user equipment (UE) to one of a plurality of session anchor network functions (NFs). The method by the UPF comprises sending (1701) a registration request to the NRF. The registration request comprises registration information comprising an indication of a type of filter supported by the UPF to selectively route uplink data traffic from a UE to a particular session anchor NF. The type of filter relates to an application identity; and an indication of a value for the indicated type of filter.

Abstract: A network operator node (17) is provided. The network operator node (17) includes processing circuitry (42) configured to receive data traffic that is encrypted using one of an uplink and downlink public cryptographic key, decrypt the data traffic using one of an uplink and downlink private cryptographic key, apply at least a first traffic management action to the decrypted data traffic, after applying at least the first traffic management action, encrypt the data traffic using one of an application server, AS, public cryptographic key and an application client, AC, public cryptographic key where the AS public cryptographic key is associated with an AS private cryptographic key that remains unshared with the network operator node (17), and the AC public cryptographic key is associated with an AC private cryptographic key that remains unshared with the network operator node (17).

Abstract: A User Plane Function, UPF (35), sends a load report to a Session Management Function, SMF (45). Responsive to receiving the load report from the UPF (35), the SMF (45) installs a load reduction policy rule in the UPF (35). The load reduction policy rule comprises a criterion for identifying one or more users subject to the load reduction policy rule. The UPF (35) selectively applies the load reduction policy rule to user plane traffic of the one or more users based on the criterion.