Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer readable medium for user plane function control for multicast transport. A method includes sending (300) a session establishment request to a user plane function requesting the user plane function to apply multicast and supply identifiers for outgoing packets. The method also includes receiving (305) from the user plane function a multicast response comprising the requested identifiers. The method also includes establishing (605) a multicast tunnel with a network node.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for policy control for broadcast sessions. One method may include receiving, by a multicast/broadcast session management function, at least one broadcast session creation request comprising at least one broadcast session indication associated with at least one policy control function. The multicast/broadcast session management function may receive at least one policy update from the at least one policy control function, and transmit at least one resource allocation request associated with at least one broadcast session transmission to at least one application management function.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses are provided relating to multicast service session information. Related procedures are for example provided including transmitting multicast service session information to a core network node, wherein the multicast service session information comprises an indication of whether a separate session start request will be later provided for the multicast service session and/or a start time and stop time for the multicast service session.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus. The apparatus is configured to: store information of a multicast session, the information comprising at least one identifier of the multicast session, and information about access to different content for the multicast session in a plurality of different location areas; and, in response to a request from a second apparatus, provide to the second apparatus information about access to content of the multicast session in at least one of the plurality of different location areas.

Abstract: It is provided a method comprising at least one of a) and b): a) monitoring whether a service request to produce a producer service is received and producing the producer service if the service request is received, wherein the producer service is a service produced by the access network; and b) consuming a producer service from a core network or an access network, wherein the producer service is consumed by an access network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for implementing a physical service communication proxy domain A method may include interconnecting a first network element with one or more service communication proxy domains, each associated with one or several internet protocol addresses or fully qualified domain names used for the interconnection. The method may also include registering the first network element with a network repository function by sending a service operation to the network repository function. Further, the service operation may include profile information of the first network element. In addition, the profile information may include one or more service communication proxy domains, each associated with one or several internet protocol addresses or fully qualified domain names.

Abstract: Method comprising: receiving, from a first network function of a first domain, a request for a first service related to one of one or more terminals or to one or more PDU sessions of the one or more terminals, identifying an address of one of one or more second network functions of a second domain based on the requested first service, the one or more terminals and the one ore more PDU sessions, respectively, and a first mapping relationship; forwarding the request or redirecting the request towards the one second network function, wherein the first mapping relationship indicates, for each of the one or more terminals and for each of the one or more PDU sessions, respectively, a respective address of the one second network function capable to serve the one or more terminals or the one or more PDU sessions.

Abstract: There are provided measures for optimization of network function profile administration and registration. Such measures exemplarily comprise, at a network repository function entity, receiving, from a control entity, network entity profile template information, storing said network entity profile template information, wherein said network entity profile template information comprises a network entity profile template including an identifier of said network entity profile template and a profile content of said network entity profile template, said profile content including at least one profile attribute, receiving, from a network entity, a network entity registration request comprising said identifier of said network entity profile template, and generating a network entity profile for said network entity based on said at least one profile attribute.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus configured to receive, from a first network entity associated with a first domain in a communication network, a request to communicate; determine a second network entity to which to send the request; determine that the second network entity is associated with a second domain in the communication network; and enforce at least one access policy for routing the request to the network entity, wherein the apparatus is a first service communication proxy trusted in both the first and second domains.

Abstract: It is provided a method comprising at least one of a) and b): a) monitoring whether a service request to produce a producer service is received and producing the producer service if the service request is received, wherein the producer service is a service produced by the access network; and b) consuming a producer service from a core network or an access network, wherein the producer service is consumed by an access network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses are provided relating to multicast service session information. Related procedures are for example provided including transmitting multicast service session information to a core network node, wherein the multicast service session information comprises an indication of whether a separate session start request will be later provided for the multicast service session and/or a start time and stop time for the multicast service session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer readable medium for user plane function control for multicast transport. A method includes sending (300) a session establishment request to a user plane function requesting the user plane function to apply multicast and supply identifiers for outgoing packets. The method also includes receiving (305) from the user plane function a multicast response comprising the requested identifiers. The method also includes establishing (605) a multicast tunnel with a network node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for handovers including fallbacks. In some example embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code which when executed causes the apparatus to at least: receive, during creation or modification of a bearer, a message including a handover threshold based at least in part on a type of codec for the bearer; receive, from a user equipment, a measurement report providing an indication of a condition of the bearer and/or perform a measurement, by the base station, providing the indication of the condition of the bearer; determine, based at least on the handover threshold, whether to initiate a handover. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus. The apparatus is configured to: store information of a multicast session, the information comprising at least one identifier of the multicast session, and information about access to different content for the multicast session in a plurality of different location areas; and, in response to a request from a second apparatus, provide to the second apparatus information about access to content of the multicast session in at least one of the plurality of different location areas.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product relating to notification requests and callback requests in indirect communications are provided. In the context of a method, the method includes sending a service request for selection of a service consumer. The service request is one of a notification request or a callback request. The method further includes indicating a version of a programming interface configured to support the service request.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for event subscription notification(s) are provided. One method may include providing, from a first network entity, a policy control request trigger about subscriptions for event exposure to a second network entity. The method may also include receiving a notification, from the second network entity, about the policy control request trigger, and installing or updating at least one policy and charging control (PCC) rule based on the information received in the notification from the second network entity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for policy control for broadcast sessions. One method may include receiving, by a multicast/broadcast session management function, at least one broadcast session creation request comprising at least one broadcast session indication associated with at least one policy control function. The multicast/broadcast session management function may receive at least one policy update from the at least one policy control function, and transmit at least one resource allocation request associated with at least one broadcast session transmission to at least one application management function.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for UPF control with coexistence of policy control and packet filters dynamically generated at the SMF. For example, if the SMF obtains an event subscription with traffic descriptors from another entity, and if there is no installed PDR with the same traffic descriptor, the SMF may construct a PDR with an action according to the subscribed event. The SMF may configure the UPF with the constructed PDR. In certain embodiments, to construct the PDR, the SMF may copy the PDR that would have previously matched the incoming traffic described by the traffic descriptor in the notification subscription, and associates the PDR with a higher priority, the traffic descriptor and a notification action according to the subscribed event. To configure the UPF, the SMF may provide the PDR with the higher priority, the received traffic descriptor, and the notification action, according to some embodiments.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for discovering a network function (NF) acting as a network function service consumer are provided. One method may include, when a NF service consumer subscribes to notifications from a NF service producer, receiving, by the NF service producer, subscription information including a name of a consumer service of the NF service consumer that subscribes to notifications of the NF service producer. The receiving of the subscription information with the name of the consumer service allows the NF service producer to discover a corresponding NF service from an alternative NF instance within a NF set.

Abstract: There are disclosed measures of network entity selection, for example including furnishing an identity of a network entity being pre-selected by a first network apparatus, and providing verification information for said pre-selected network entity identity, enabling to verify whether the pre-selected network entity identity is applicable for network entity selection at a second network apparatus.