Abstract: A method and apparatus may include providing a multi-dimensional descriptor to a network function. The method may also include accessing a network slice. The network slice is selected based on the multi-dimensional descriptor. The method may also include accessing a component of the network slice. One or more network functions of the network slice are selected based on the multi-dimensional descriptor.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from a dynamic streaming service. For example, certain streaming services may benefit from an improvement in the switching between broadcast delivery and unicast delivery for a streaming service in a cellular system. A method includes receiving information about a streaming service. The method also includes determining by a network entity in a radio access network whether to deliver data for the streaming service via multimedia broadcast or unicast based on the information and predetermined criteria for evaluating the information. In addition, the method includes triggering a sending of the data via the multimedia broadcast or the unicast.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for interworking between bearer-less networks and bearer based networks are provided. One method includes receiving, by a network entity in a bearer-less network, a context request to obtain user equipment context information for a user equipment moving from the bearer-less network to a bearer-based network. The method may further include providing a context response comprising the context information to a network entity in the bearer-based network, the context information used to establish bearers for the user equipment to obtain internet protocol (IP) based services.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from network location reporting. For example, such reporting may be beneficial in the establishment of a multimedia broadcast/multicast service bearer for media traffic delivery from a group communication service application server or other similar device or system. A method can include reporting at least a first set of user equipment location information and at least a second set of user equipment location information from the user equipment to at least one network node for broadcast bearer management. The first set of user equipment location information can include a serving cell identity of the user equipment. The second set of user equipment location information can include at least one identity of at least one network service area for media broadcasting.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamic subscription handling are provided. One method includes receiving, by a control node in a network, a request in which a user equipment requests to register with the network or requests to obtain a specific service for a certain access point name. The method may then include determining whether the user equipment is authorized to obtain services from the network or authorized to use the access point name. When it is determined that the user equipment is not authorized to obtain services from the network or not authorized to use the access point name, the method includes re-directing the user equipment to a subscription server, sending a response to the user equipment indicating that the request is rejected with re-direction, and triggering establishment of a packet data connectivity session for the user equipment.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a method and apparatus for routing messages in a machine-type communication (MTC) architecture. The method includes receiving a request at a MTC-proxy residing at an egress of a network. The request includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) for which a destination is outside the network. The method further includes replacing, by the MTC-proxy, the IMSI in the request with an external identifier.

Abstract: It is provided a method, comprising providing a first and a second service to a first a second user by a providing unit; monitoring if the providing unit operates in an isolated mode or in a linked mode; and at least one of a service controlling and a user controlling, wherein the service controlling comprises inhibiting, in the isolated mode, the providing unit from providing the second service to the first and the second user; and preventing that the providing unit is inhibited from providing the first service to at least one user; and the user controlling comprises inhibiting, in the isolated mode, the providing unit from providing the first and the second service to the second user; and preventing that the providing unit is inhibited from providing at least one service to the first user.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from a dynamic streaming service. For example, certain streaming services may benefit from an improvement in the switching between broadcast delivery and unicast delivery for a streaming service in a cellular system. A method includes receiving information about a streaming service. The method also includes determining by a network entity in a radio access network whether to deliver data for the streaming service via multimedia broadcast or unicast based on the information and predetermined criteria for evaluating the information. In addition, the method includes triggering a sending of the data via the multimedia broadcast or the unicast.

Abstract: Various communications may benefit from enhancements for group communication. For example, evolved packet system including an evolved multimedia broadcast/multicast service may benefit from such enhancements. For example, a method may include preparing a list of area names, identities, or both area names and identities to a network element. Moreover, a method may also include requesting the network to broadcast data to a broadcast area defined by the list. The list can define an allowed area, a broadcast area, or both.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamic subscription handling are provided. One method includes receiving, by a control node in a network, a request in which a user equipment requests to register with the network or requests to obtain a specific service for a certain access point name. The method may then include determining whether the user equipment is authorized to obtain services from the network or authorized to use the access point name. When it is determined that the user equipment is not authorized to obtain services from the network or not authorized to use the access point name, the method includes re-directing the user equipment to a subscription server, sending a response to the user equipment indicating that the request is rejected with re-direction, and triggering establishment of a packet data connectivity session for the user equipment.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from the use of relayed packet data connection. Moreover, such communication systems may benefit from methods and systems for the establishment of a packet data network connection for a proximity services user equipment via a relay user equipment. A method can include establishing a packet data network connection between a relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway. The method can also include establishing a relay connection between a proximity services user equipment and the packet data network gateway. The relay connection can be a connection within the packet data network connection.

Abstract: A method of control plane messaging between a user equipment and a network element in a core network in which Non-Access Stratum protocol layer messages are sent in a Non-Access Stratum protocol layer wherein an Ethernet convergence sublayer is provided between the Non-Access Stratum protocol layer and a radio protocol layer. Systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for control plane messaging are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for interworking between bearer-less networks and bearer based networks are provided. One method includes receiving, by a network entity in a bearer-less network, a context request to obtain user equipment context information for a user equipment moving from the bearer-less network to a bearer-based network. The method may further include providing a context response comprising the context information to a network entity in the bearer-based network, the context information used to establish bearers for the user equipment to obtain internet protocol (IP) based services.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from an improved signaling protocol. For example, machine-to-machine communications in a network may benefit from improved signaling and security. A method includes establishing a secure data transmission path for an application. The secure data transmission path is used to transmit data between a user equipment and a network element. The network entity includes a gateway or an application server. The method also includes transmitting data for the application over the secure data transmission path using a pre-configured radio bearer. The radio bearer is pre-configured for data transmission between the user equipment and an access node located between the user equipment and the network element. In addition, the method includes receiving a response message at the user equipment from the network element through the secure data transmission path.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for interworking between bearer-less networks and bearer-based networks are provided. One method includes receiving, by a network entity in a bearer-less network, a context request to obtain user equipment context information for a user equipment moving from the bearer-less network to a bearer-based network. The method may further include providing a context response comprising the context information to a network entity in the bearer-based network, the context information used to establish bearers for the user equipment to obtain internet protocol (IP) based services.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to transmit first policy rules to a packet-data-network gateway. The first policy rules are configured to be installed on the packet-data-network gateway. The first policy rules are configured to enable the packet-data-network gateway to create first route-header information. The method can also include transmitting second policy rules to an interworking gateway. The second policy rules are configured to be installed on the interworking gateway. The second policy rules are configured to enable the interworking gateway to create second route-header information.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from improved handover procedures. For example, certain handover procedures involving edge clouds in a 5G or LTE network may benefit from a more seamless handover during communication. A method may include receiving at a first application server located in a first cloud a handover notification that a user equipment is moving to a radio network being served by a second application server located in a second cloud, where the application server is running an application session for the user equipment. The method may also include transferring the application session to the second application server.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, system and computer program product for activation and/or deactivation of bearers for a group of devices are disclosed. The method comprises receiving an attach request for a device belonging to a group of devices, obtaining an identity of the group of devices, allocating a first bearer identity for the group of devices, and sending the identity of the group and the first bearer identity to a first network element, wherein the first network element is involved in transmission of user data of the group of devices.

Abstract: It is provided a method, comprising supervising if an information in a registration request is received from a registrar of a network domain, wherein the information comprises an application identity of a user of a terminal device and a network identity; storing, based on the received information, a binding between the application identity and the network identity; determining the network identity based on the binding and a received first request for establishing a communication to the terminal device; providing, based on the received first request, to the network domain, a second request for establishing the communication towards the terminal device, wherein the second request is based on the determined network identity.

Abstract: A method of control plane messaging between a user equipment and a network element in a core network in which Non-Access Stratum protocol layer messages are sent in a Non-Access Stratum protocol layer wherein an Ethernet convergence sublayer is provided between the Non-Access Stratum protocol layer and a radio protocol layer. Systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for control plane messaging are also provided.