Abstract: Avoiding transmission of unnecessary 5G session management (SM) messages in a cellular communications system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a Session Management Function (SMF) comprises determining that a non-access stratum (NAS) message carrying a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment accept indication was not sent to a user equipment (UE) by a radio access network (RAN). The method further comprises, responsive to determining that the NAS message carrying the PDU session establishment accept indication was not sent to the UE, sending a PDU session establishment reject indication to the UE. In some embodiments, determining that the NAS message carrying the PDU session establishment accept indication was not sent to the UE comprises receiving an Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext request comprising a cause, and determining that the NAS message carrying the PDU session establishment accept indication was not sent to the UE based on the cause.

Abstract: Core network equipment (20) in a wireless communication system transmits control plane signaling (22) to a user equipment (16) which receives that control plane signaling (22). The control plane signaling (22) indicates a privacy key (24) with which a subscriber identifier (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity, IMSI) associated with the user equipment (16) is to be encrypted or decrypted. The control plane signaling (22) may be non-access stratum, NAS, signaling. The privacy key (24) may be a public key of a home network associated with the subscriber identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments here in relate to methods for message handling performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE. Particularly, embodiments herein relate to methods for handling service requests performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE.

Abstract: A method implemented in an access and mobility management function, AMF, node that implements at least one congestion control process is provided. A message including a first indication that the message is exempt from the at least one congestion control process is received by a UE. The message is forwarded to the SMF either with the exempt indication or, if this is missing, an indication that the AMF applies a congestion control. The SMF, only when receiving the forwarded message with the additional information inserted by the AMF, carries out a validation of the message of the UE, thus preventing that a UE tags a message to be exempted from congestion control, when it should be not be exempt.

Abstract: In one aspect, an MME throttles (or otherwise controls) the amount or frequency of UL data that a UE transmits in the control plane, such as by communicating to the UE rate control information (e.g., a throttling factor or throttling delay). For instance, the MME may throttle NAS messages with user data (i.e., NAS Data PDUs) sent using control plane CIoT EPS optimization by adding a throttling factor and/or a throttling delay in a NAS message sent to the UE.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a mobility management node (108) for handling overload in a communications network (100). When overload in the communications network (100) has been detected, the mobility management node (108) receives information indicating at least one blocked IP address to which access should be blocked. The mobility management node (108) receives a communication request message from a UE (101) via a RAN node (105). The communication request message is a request for communication by the UE (101). The mobility management node (108) determines that the UE's (101) request for communication should be rejected when the UE (101) is associated with a blocked IP address.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for quality of service differentiation between network slices. A method is performed by a prioritization entity. The method comprises obtaining relative priority values for the network slices from a network entity. The method comprises providing an access network entity with a relative priority value for a protocol data unit (PDU) flow as given by the relative priority value for the network slice used by that PDU flow, thereby causing differentiation of the quality of service for the network slices.

Abstract: A communication device, network node and methods therein in for handling network slices in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The communication device encrypts Network Slice Selection Assistance information, NSSAI, using public key cryptography and includes the encrypted NSSAI in a Non Access Stratum, NAS, registration request. Then the communication device sends a Radio Resource Control, RRC, request to the network node including the NAS registration request. The network node receives the RRC connection request from the communication device and selects a network function based on information in the RRC connection request. The network node forwards the NAS registration request to the network function and forwards to the communication device a NAS registration response received from the network function after the network function decrypting the NSSAI using a PLMN private key.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for redirecting a user equipment with a routing misconfiguration. An exemplary method includes detecting a potential misconfiguration associated with the user equipment or a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the user equipment and generating an error code indicating the potential misconfiguration associated with the user equipment of the SIM associated with the user equipment. The error code is transmitted to an authentication module and indicates that the misconfiguration is an incorrect routing identifier and includes additional user information.

Abstract: During PDN connection establishment in the EPC, a UE and a session management entity (SME) (e.g., PGW-C+SMF) exchange information. In case the SME supports more than one S-NSSAI, before the SME provides an S-NSSAI to the UE, the SME should check such that the selected S-NSSAI is among the UE's subscribed S-NSSAIs by retrieving the Subscribed S-NSSAI from a UDM using, for example, the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation.

Abstract: A method of operation of a SMF in a 5GC, for synchronizing the GBR QoS flows with the UE is provided. The method comprises initiating deactivation of one or more GBR/non-GBR (not associated to a default QoS Rule), QoS flows of a PDU session in the 5GC and in the UE and upon determining that a response to the deactivation is not received from the UE, deferring, by the SMF, the deactivation of the one or more GBR/non-GBR QoS flows with the UE and marking the GBR/Non-GBR QoS flows as to be synchronized when either UP reactivation is received or UE reachability notification is received or upon a synchronization timer set by the SMF has expired. The GBR/non-GBR QoS Flows may also be locally deactivated at the UE, in which case a method in the UE to synchronize the GBR/non-GBR QoS flows with the 5GC is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments here in relate to methods for message handling performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE. Particularly, embodiments herein relate to methods for handling service requests performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method in a radio access node and a corresponding radio access node are disclosed. The method comprises: sending, to a mobility function entity, first information indicative of a tracking area(s) and a network slice(s) supported by the radio access node; and receiving, from the mobility function entity, second information indicative of a network slice(s) that are: (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the tracking area(s) supported by the radio access node; or (a) supported by the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the tracking area(s) supported by the radio access node. Embodiments of a method in a mobility function entity and a corresponding mobility function entity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for operating a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed, wherein the UE is served by a source first network function in a first network and requires to register with a target second network function in a second network. The method comprises generating a registration request with integrity protection for at least a part of the registration request, and sending an integrity protected part of the registration request to the source first network function via the target second network function.

Abstract: A method for notification control in a communication system performed by a core network is presented. The method comprising: establishing a PDU session; enabling a radio access network, RAN, to send a notification that notifying a UE, of the unfulfillment or re-fulfillment of QoS, for a QoS Flow in the PDU session using an AN-signaling based notification. The AN-signaling based notification including the unfulfillment or re-fulfillment of QoS parameters as defined in a QoS Flow description. The AN-signaling based notification further including expected QoS figures, an expected time interval and an accuracy of the notification. The UE/AF may further adapt their behavior according to the expected QoS provided by the AN.

Abstract: A network node (30A, 30B) is configured for use in a wireless communication network (10). The network node (30A, 30B) is configured to acquire radio access capability information (28) of a wireless device (14). The radio access capability information (28) of the wireless device (14) indicates radio access capabilities of the wireless device (14). The network node (30A, 30B) is configured to determine if the wireless communication network (10) received the radio access capability information (28) of the wireless device (14) before access stratum security (24) was activated for the wireless device (14).

Abstract: Network slice configuration update methods for providing a user equipment (UE) registered with (or attempting to register with) a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) the most up-to-date Configured NSSAI for the PLMN.

Abstract: A method for notification control in a communication system performed by a core network is presented. The method includes establishing a PDU session, and enabling a RAN to notify a UE of the unfulfillment or re-fulfillment of QoS, for a QoS Flow in the PDU session.

Abstract: A method for operating a mobile entity in a mobile communications network having at least one slice is provided. The slice of the mobile communication to which the mobile entity intends to connect is determined. Additionally, whether a relationship can be identified in the mobile entity is determined. The relationship indicates whether the slice to which the mobile entity intends to connect is related to an access point of the that slice. A request message is then transmitted to a radio access network (RAN) of the mobile communications network that includes the identified relationship.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes a User Equipment (UE) determining whether to request access to a Mutually Exclusive Access to Network Slices (MEANS) group from a CM-IDLE state or from a CM-CONNECTED state.