Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising means for: determine, at a target master node of a master cell group associated with a communications device, one or more of: a target secondary node of a secondary cell group associated with the communications device for providing dual connectivity for the communications device; and one or more secondary cells of the target secondary node, wherein the determining uses information associated with one or more of; one or more allowed and/or configured slices of the communications device; and a registration area of the communications device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to survival time aware mobility and presents handover procedures when considering survival time (ST) requirements. It proposes a mechanism and embodiments to allow a target cell to have the information relating to a joining UE's Survival Time requirements as well as the ST status during the handover procedure. In particular, the invention is aimed at being introduced into the mobility procedures: Baseline Handover (BHO), Conditional HO (CHO), and Dual Active Protocol Stack (DAPS) HO. In addition to the aggregated RAN architecture, the mobility procedures can be applicable to disaggregated RAN architecture, e.g., CU-DU split.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a technique for steering a Random Access Channel (RACH) a wireless communication network supporting a set of network slices. More specifically, the technique involves generating, at a RAN node, RACH steering information for the set of network slices. The RACH steering information comprises an indication for a UE to select one of available RACH configurations with a RACH configuration-specific probability. In one embodiment, the RACH steering information may be defined based on at least one network slice-specific RACH policy or at least one network slice-specific resource sharing quota provided from a network management entity to the RAN node. In another embodiment, the RAN node may generate RACH steering information based on locally available information about the set of network slices. Once the RACH steering information is generated, the RAN node transmits it to the UE.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising evaluating a survival time status of a terminal device, determining a handover command transmission based at least partly on the survival time status, and transmitting the handover command to the terminal device based on the determining.

Abstract: There are provided measures for feedback on network-assisted fallback to contention-based random access.

Abstract: A UE may determine that at least one execution condition for performing handover from a source cell to a target cell is met and the target cell does not support at least one of a network slice or a service the UE requires; based on the determination, store information related to a radio environment associated with the UE; perform handover to the target cell; and transmit the stored information to the target cell after the handover. A target network node may receive the transmitted information; and provide the information to a source network node. The source network node may receive the information; and perform a root cause analysis for the handover execution of the user equipment based, at least partially, on the received information.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a network node to transmit a first information, which characterizes one or more slices onto which a network allows slices of existing PDU sessions to be re-mapped, to a user equipment.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention pertain to a method, comprising receiving a preparatory handover request pertaining to at least one or more physical resources, respectively associated to a particular communication service, preliminarily deciding on the feasibility of such preparatory handover request for each of said at least one or more physical resources associated to the particular communication service dependent on at least one feasibility criterion, and validating the preliminary decision on the feasibility of the preparatory handover request dependent on at least one validation criterion. Likewise, corresponding apparatus and computer program products are addressed, both from network entity perspective such as a gNB, as well as from a terminal's perspective, e.g. from a UE perspective.

Abstract: This specification describes a terminal device configured to transmit a message relating to a change or addition of a primary cell of a secondary cell group, the message including (i) information indicative of a first user plane interruption time experienced by the terminal device and associated with the change or addition of the primary cell, and (ii) an indication of a first data radio bearer type to which the first user plane interruption time relates. It also describes a radio access node which receives the message.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising evaluating a survival time status of a terminal device, determining a handover command transmission based at least partly on the survival time status, and transmitting the handover command to the terminal device based on the determining.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus that has means for retrieving information associated with network slice selection, and means for selecting a network slice simultaneous registration group using the information associated with network slice selection. The apparatus also has means for providing, to a network entity, a requested network slice selection assistance information based on the selected network slice simultaneous registration group.

Abstract: There is provided a method, comprising: communicating a first data session on a first network slice with a source network node; receiving an indication indicating whether or not mapping the first data session to a second data session at a target network node requires switching to a second network slice, wherein the user equipment is equipped with a dual active protocol stack enabling the user equipment to communicate with the source network node and with the target network node during the handover process of the apparatus from a source cell provided by the source network node to a target cell provided by the target network node; deciding to continue the first data session on the first network slice with the source network node during the handover process; and deciding, based on the indication, when to start user plane data communication on the second data session with the target network node.

Abstract: A method performed at an apparatus for configuration of a Radio Access Network (RAN) Notification Area (RNA) is provided. The method comprises receiving a message including RNA information to be temporarily added to the RNA, and timing information associated to the RNA information. The method further comprises configuring the RNA by temporarily adding the RNA information to the RNA based on the timing information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to survival time aware mobility and presents handover procedures when considering survival time (ST) requirements. It proposes a mechanism and embodiments to allow a target cell to have the information relating to a joining UE's Survival Time requirements as well as the ST status during the handover procedure. In particular, the invention is aimed at being introduced into the mobility procedures: Baseline Handover (BHO), Conditional HO (CHO), and Dual Active Protocol Stack (DAPS) HO. In addition to the aggregated RAN architecture, the mobility procedures can be applicable to disaggregated RAN architecture, e.g., CU-DU split.

Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to cooperative analytics across multiple network management domains. An apparatus may request management domain analytics from a plurality of management domains of a communication network. The apparatus may receive management domain analytics results from the plurality of management domains and cause reconfiguration of the communication network based on the management domain analytics results. Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described that support non-uniform network slice deployment across a service area of a registration area or tracking area covered by at least a radio access network. A network function transmits a plurality of tracking area codes associated with a network to user equipment to indicate primary and secondary tracking area codes to the user equipment. Selection of a tracking area code may be completed by the user equipment based on the primary and secondary tracking area codes and a forbidden tracking area identities list. The user equipment may be blocked from receiving services from a network slice based on the service area in which the user equipment attempts to access the network slice. Network functions may limit reporting of tracking area codes to user equipment based on a serving cell identity. Network slices may be restricted to private networks.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving network slice information from a core network entity, the network slice information related to a network slice which is not supported in one or more cells of a first tracking area, but which is supported in one or more cells of a second tracking area. The method further comprises triggering a procedure at a user equipment to access said network slice based on said network slice information when said user equipment is in one or more cells of the first tracking area.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for survival time dependent flexible handover execution are provided. One method may include providing, by a network node, at least one handover execution condition to at least one user equipment. The at least one handover execution condition may include one or more delta values with respect to one or more actual handover execution conditions to allow for early and/or late execution of a handover by the at least one user equipment. The method may also include indicating, to the at least one user equipment, a transfer interval and/or a survival time information for which the at least one handover execution condition is taken into account.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus configured to enable priority configurations to be updated. The apparatus can be configured to perform receiving information indicative of at least one validity area for the apparatus wherein the at least one validity area comprises includes an area in which priority configurations assigned to the apparatus are valid; detecting that the apparatus has moved out of the at least one validity area; in response to detecting that the apparatus has moved out of the at least one validity area performing at least one of: receiving at least one new priority configuration and following the at least one new priority configuration, or triggering a state change to a connected mode to obtain at least one new priority configuration from an access node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising evaluating a survival time status of a terminal device, determining a handover command transmission based at least partly on the survival time status, and transmitting the handover command to the terminal device based on the determining.