Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatuses and computer program products for multicasting in a communication system. A method for multicasting in a communication system comprises deciding to use a transmission mode for inactive state reception for a multicast session in an area, providing information for at least one device in the area indicative of the use of the transmission mode for inactive state reception for the multicast session, and transmitting data in the multicast session using the transmission mode for inactive state reception.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for informing a central unit control plane regarding the capabilities and/or service area of a central unit user plane are provided. For example, a method may include notifying, by a central unit user plane to a central unit control plane using a message, at least one of an offered multicast radio bearer configuration to be shared in relation with a multicast/broadcast session served by the central unit user plane and one or more offered service area corresponding to the central unit user plane.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for configured grant small data transmission reconfiguration without user equipment context in a distributed unit are provided. For example, a method can include receiving, at a first network element, data in a transmission from a user equipment. The method can also include storing a first indication of a first configuration used by the user equipment to perform the transmission. The method can further include sending, to a second network element, a resume request to set up communication context for the data transmission. The method can additionally include receiving, from the second network element, a second indication of a second configuration previously allocated to the user equipment. The method can also include comparing the first indication and the second indication. The method can further include proceeding with setting up the communication of the data based on the comparing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for user equipment (UE) mobility for multicast and broadcast systems (MBS). A method may include receiving, while having an established radio resource control connection with a source network element, multicast and broadcast services session through a point-to-point transmission or point-to-multipoint transmission. The method may also include receiving a radio resource control message indicating target network element information. The method may further include releasing a radio resource control connection and entering radio resource control idle state or inactive state in response to the radio resource control message. In addition, the method may include selecting a target cell according to information received in the radio resource control message.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus receives a service announcement of a multicast broadcast service. The service announcement comprises either at least one frequency selection area identity, FSAI, and at least one indication indicating that the at least one FSAI is defined for reduced capability terminal devices or at least one frequency and at least one indication indicating that the at least one frequency is defined for reduced capability terminal devices. The apparatus performs a cell reselection process based on cell measurements and the service announcement.

Abstract: Techniques for paging with non-homogenous network slice support in area network are provided. For example, a method of paging of a user device is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving, by the user device, a paging message from a network node, the paging message comprising an index which indicates the paging message to correspond to a network slice or a cell; and receiving, by the user device, data from the network slice or the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus, in a user equipment, is provided. the apparatus comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive an indication whether a transmission mode for inactive/idle reception of multicast is applied for a multicast session, and based on the indication, perform procedures to enable reception of the multicast session using the transmission mode for inactive/idle mode reception.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for failure reporting are provided. Solution including determining by a terminal device a failure in selecting small data transmission procedure for an uplink transmission; and transmitting to a network device, of a report including a small data transmission procedure type that the terminal device fails to select, and a reason for the small data transmission procedure selection failure.

Abstract: A system comprising, at least: a first apparatus configured to implement a session management function of a core network of a communication network system, the session management function operating in a control plane; and a second apparatus configured to implement the user plane function that operates in the user plane, the first apparatus configured at least to perform: deriving a network instance mapped to transport resources for a user plane from a network slice identifier of a packet data unit session relating to logical network resources, of the packet data unit session, between a user equipment and a data network; and providing an information element of the network instance to a user plane function of the core network and requesting the user plane function of the core network to exchange user plane traffic for the packet data unit session based on the network instance.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus comprising means for performing: receiving first radio capability information from a user equipment, the first radio capability information in a format of a first radio access technology; generating second radio capability information of the user equipment based on the first radio capability information, wherein the second radio capability information is generated in a format of a second radio access technology; and sending the first radio capability information and the second radio capability information to a core network node.

Abstract: The disclosure inter alia relates to a user device for slice management, comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain a slice group mapping (SGM) configuration, wherein the SGM configuration indicates a mapping between a slice group and a tracking area (TA); and perform cell reselection and/or random access operation, at least partially based on the obtained SGM configuration.

Abstract: According to the disclosure there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus comprises means for performing: receiving first information of a network slice that is to be made available to the apparatus on a temporary basis, the first information comprising an identifier of the network slice; and receiving second information of the network slice, the second information comprising timing information of the network slice, indicating it's available period after expiry of which its removed from the allowed network slices list without any explicit signalling.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus receives a service announcement of a multicast broadcast service. The service announcement comprises either at least one frequency selection area identity, FSAI, and at least one indication indicating that the at least one FSAI is defined for reduced capability terminal devices or at least one frequency and at least one indication indicating that the at least one frequency is defined for reduced capability terminal devices. The apparatus performs a cell reselection process based on cell measurements and the service announcement.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus receives a service announcement of a multicast broadcast service. The apparatus receives, in the service announcement and/or in at least one message following the service announcement, at least one indication indicating support for all or at least some reduced capability terminal devices for the multicast broadcast service. The apparatus performs a cell reselection process based on cell measurements and the at least one indication.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus receives a service announcement of a multicast broadcast service. The apparatus receives, in the service announcement and/or in at least one message following the service announcement, at least one indication indicating support for all or at least some reduced capability terminal devices for the multicast broadcast service. The apparatus performs a cell reselection process based on cell measurements and the at least one indication.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus configured to perform the following. The apparatus receives a service announcement of a multicast broadcast service. The service announcement comprises either at least one frequency selection area identity, FSAI, and at least one indication indicating that the at least one FSAI is defined for reduced capability terminal devices or at least one frequency and at least one indication indicating that the at least one frequency is defined for reduced capability terminal devices. The apparatus performs a cell reselection process based on cell measurements and the service announcement.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a user device, slice specific cell reselection information including slice group specific frequency priorities for one or more slice groups, wherein each slice group is associated with one or more network slices; performing, by the user device, a slice specific cell reselection procedure based on the slice specific cell reselection information; during the performing of the cell reselection procedure, logging, by the user device, information related to the slice specific cell reselection procedure; and transmitting, by the user device to a network node, the information related to the slice specific cell reselection procedure to enable setting or adjusting the slice group specific frequency priorities for one or more slice groups for one or more cells.

Abstract: Techniques of preserving UE and network resources while performing a paging procedure during cell congestion includes a network node informing a UE if the cell to which the UE is attempting to access is too congested to serve the UE. When a gNB, serving a cell, receives a paging request for the gNB to serve a UE, the gNB first performs a pro-active admission control operation to determine whether there are sufficient resources to serve the UE. When there is too much congestion, the gNB may not admit the UE to the cell and sends RAN raging with a paging flag indicating that the gNB will not serve the UE. The UE in response does not trigger a service request, but rather sends an ACK paging over RRC to the gNB, which in turn notifies the AMF of non-service and that the UE is present.

Abstract: A network access node receives an indication of an interval between expected receptions of echo requests that pass through a tunnel that uses an interface between a network element in a core network of the cellular network to the network access node of the cellular network. The network access node determines a threshold time period based on the interval, detects there has been no echo request for a time period greater than the threshold time period, and determines that a failure has occurred of the tunnel that uses the interface. The network access node triggers set up of a new tunnel using the interface due to the failure of the tunnel. Multiple techniques are disclosed for determining that this failure has occurred and recovering from the failure, including setting up a new MBS session or using a new transport address for a current MBS session.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a network device is configured to: generate an indicator based on at least one of an activation status of a multicast session or a data inactivity status; and transmit the indicator to a client device, wherein the indicator indicates to the client device whether the client device should wait for a paging message for the multicast session and stop monitoring data of the multicast session while the client device is in an inactive state.