Abstract: There is provided a method for sharing bandwidth consumption information in a communication system having a first user plane function (UPF), a second UPF and a third UPF, each of which serves an access point name (APN). The method includes (a) receiving by the first UPF from the second UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the second UPF, (b) receiving by the first UPF from the third UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the third UPF, (c) sending from the first UPF to the second UPF, information indicating a bandwidth being consumed by the first UPF and the third UPF, and (d) sending from the first UPF to the third UPF, information indicating the bandwidth being consumed by the first UPF and the second UPF. Thus, each of the first, second and third UPFs is aware of a total bandwidth being consumed for the APN.

Abstract: A method for facilitating an on-demand multimedia priority service (MPS) for a data transport services (DTS) session to receive end to end prioritization within 5G Core (5GC) and radio access network (RAN) is provided. The method includes: propagating an MPS On-Demand indication to 5GC network functions and RAN via (a) Policy Control Function sending an MPS On-Demand indication to Session Management Function (SMF) when a authorized user initiates such a service usage, (b) SMF recording the on session demand status and sending the MPS On-Demand indication to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and (c) AMF, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, upgrading the user for multimedia priority services in the 5G core based on policy, and sending to user equipment (UE), an MPS indicator in downlink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messaging to indicate that the UE may use MPS access identity to receive radio access prioritization.

Abstract: A User Plane Function (UPF) of 5G Core network performs a search for the next hop in the data path, using utilities (e.g., Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) trace route), and determines the capability of the next router and/or other hops in the path. The UPF updates (e.g., using the PATCH command) the Network Repository Function (NRF) with the gathered information. The UPF also updates the NRF the UPF's position in the current route, and the role(s) the UPF is playing at a given time, e.g., Branching Point (BP), Intermediate User Plane Function (I-UPF), and the like. The SMF is enabled to identify the UPF's capability for a given PDU Session. The selection of a given UPF for non-suitable roles can be prevented, and the UPF can be selected for those roles in which the UPF is more suitable at a given time.

Abstract: A User Plane Function (UPF) of 5G Core network performs a search for the next hop in the data path, using utilities (e.g., Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) traceroute), and determines the capability of the next router and/or other hops in the path. The UPF updates (e.g., using the PATCH command) the Network Repository Function (NRF) with the gathered information. The UPF also updates the NRF the UPF's position in the current route, and the role(s) the UPF is playing at a given time, e.g., Branching Point (BP), Intermediate User Plane Function (I-UPF), and the like. The SMF is enabled to identify the UPF's capability for a given PDU Session. The selection of a given UPF for non-suitable roles can be prevented, and the UPF can be selected for those roles in which the UPF is more suitable at a given time.

Abstract: There is provided a method for a session audit in a communication system having a first plane and a second plane. The method can be employed in a case in which the first plane is a control plane and the second plane is a user plane, or a case in which the first plane is a user plane and the second plane is a control plane. The first plane performs operations of (1) sending to the second plane, an association update request that contains a first vendor-specific information element (IE) having (a) a bit set to indicate a desire for a single control plane (CP) fully-qualified session identification (CP F-SEID), and (b) a CP F-SEID, and (2) receiving from the second plane, an association update response that contains a second vendor-specific IE having (a) the CP F-SEID, and (b) a mapped user plane (UP) fully-qualified session identification (UP F-SEID).

Abstract: A Shared Cell (SC) Controller uses deployment information, radio resource utilization measurements, cell load measurements, signal quality measurement, operator's policies and radio capabilities to make decisions on system configuration, re-configuration, and channel allocation related to the Shared Cell groups. The SC Controller may also use artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict future system state when making decisions on system configuration and channel allocation. The SC Controller can be implemented in the context of using a CBRS system, the ORAN architecture, and the Shared Cell group of Radio Units (RUs). SC Controller can be implemented as part of the Non-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC). The SC Controller interfaces with the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) Controller, and the SC Controller sends the Shared Cell group information to the O-RU Controller so that the O-RU Controller can configure the radio components.

Abstract: A method for time sensitive network (TSN) operation includes: in the case of data traffic stoppage in a communication channel of TSN due to at least one of down time of a user plane (UP) connection and a reset of the UP connection, performing the following: generating, by a user plane function (UPF), an audit report about the at least one of the down time and the reset; sending, by the UPF, the audit report to a first element in control plane (CP), without waiting for communication from the CP; and determining, by one of the first element or a second element in the CP, survival time of the communication channel. The audit report is sent along with a report type indicating the down time of the UP connection due to connection fluctuation or a switch-over of the UP connection from a primary UPF to a back-up UPF.

Abstract: A combined User Plane (UP) node optimizes the UP data stream handling for 4G/5G network operation as follows. The combined UP node, which includes an access data plane node, an intermediate data plane node, an anchor data plane node, and a session handling process module. If the IP addresses or the namespaces of the access data plane node, the intermediate data plane node, and the anchor data plane node are different, then the downlink and uplink packet stream handling utilizes an intermediate interface path within the combined UP node. If the IP addresses or the namespaces of the access data plane node, the intermediate data plane node, and the anchor data plane node are same, then the downlink and uplink packet stream handling does not utilize an intermediate interface path within the combined UP node, but TEID of the unutilized intermediate interface path is used in PFCP response message.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for optimizing network function (NF) data path discovery for 5G Core network operation, each NF registers itself with the NRF and periodically updates the NRF about the NF's present load, thereby giving the NRF complete information regarding the network topology, the NFs' present load, and the relative capacities of the NFs, which information items can be used in determining the complete optimal path from the RAN to the PSA. When an SMF wants to insert an Intermediate UPF (I-UPF) into a data path, instead of querying the NRF for a UPF serving the present geographical area (e.g., of the User Equipment (UE)) and deciding on the UPF insertion locally based on the present geographical area, the SMF queries the NRF for the complete optimal path. The I-UPF load can be taken into consideration in calculating the optimal path between the RAN and the PSA.

Abstract: A User Plane Function (UPF) of 5G Core network performs a search for the next hop in the data path, using utilities (e.g., Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) traceroute), and determines the capability of the next router and/or other hops in the path. The UPF updates (e.g., using the PATCH command) the Network Repository Function (NRF) with the gathered information. The UPF also updates the NRF the UPF's position in the current route, and the role(s) the UPF is playing at a given time, e.g., Branching Point (BP), Intermediate User Plane Function (I-UPF), and the like. The SMF is enabled to identify the UPF's capability for a given PDU Session. The selection of a given UPF for non-suitable roles can be prevented, and the UPF can be selected for those roles in which the UPF is more suitable at a given time.

Abstract: A request for an IP address for a client device having a first identifier information is received from an AP device. The request for the IP address is associated with a first communication protocol. The first identifier information is compared to a second identifier information. The second identifier information is associated with a second communication protocol. The second communication protocol is different from the first communication protocol. The IP address for the client device based on comparing.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a multi-function gateway device (MFG) receives a request for terminating a first data session identified by a first IP address, the request originating either directly from a user equipment (UE), or indirectly from the UE via a radio access controller (RNC), wherein the UE is communicatively coupled to a 3G radio access network (RAN), such that data traffic of the first data session is routed to a first serving GPRS support node (SGSN). According to one aspect of the invention, the MFG further determines whether the UE is connected to the MFG via a WiFi RAN, any 3G call teardown related messages are blocked in order to keep the 3G GTP-U tunnel up. Continue routing user's data originating via the WiFi RAN over the GTP-U tunnel with the SGSN.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a WLAN gateway (WGW) receives a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request from a WLAN controller for an IP address of a user equipment (UE). In one embodiment, DHCP server within the WGW assigns a local IP (LIP) address to the UE from a pool of local IP addresses maintained by the DHCP server. The WGW communicates the UE LIP address to the WLAN controller, wherein the UE LIP address is used by the WLAN controller to identify traffic to/from the UE while the UE is communicatively coupled to the WLAN and exchange the DE traffic between WGW and WLAN controller. In one embodiment, the WGW is configured to perform network address translation between the UE LIP and an external IP address assigned by one or more networks of the mobile network operator (MNO) to allow the UE to reach the network(s) in addition to the Internet.

Abstract: A request for an IP address for a client device having a first identifier information is received from an AP device. The request for the IP address is associated with a first communication protocol. The first identifier information is compared to a second identifier information. The second identifier information is associated with a second communication protocol. The second communication protocol is different from the first communication protocol. The IP address for the client device based on comparing.

Abstract: A method is described that involves performing the following at an offload network gateway: receiving a RELOCATION_REQUIRED message from an RNC; recognizing that the RELOCATION— REQUIRED message pertains to a roaming device having a live session with a network that the offload network gateway acts as a gateway to in order to offload data traffic from the GPRS network; and, adding information specific to the session to the RELOCATION— REQUIRED message. A method is also described that includes performing the following at an offload network gateway: receiving a RELOCATION _REQUEST message; inspecting the RELOCATION_REQUEST message for information specific to a roaming device's live session with a network that the offload network gateway acts as a gateway to in order to offload data traffic from a GPRS network; and, in response to identifying the information within the RELOCATION— REQUEST message, extracting the information and using the information to continue the session for the roaming device.