Abstract: It is provided a method, comprising querying a network repository function to provide a respective identifier of each of one or more network functions; selecting a selected identifier of the one or more identifiers received in response to the querying; requesting a service from the network function identified by the selected identifier, wherein each of the network functions provides the service and fulfills a condition; the condition comprises at least one of a distance condition related to a distance between the respective network function and a reference point, a performance condition related to a performance of the respective network function, a capacity condition related to a capacity of the respective network function, an operational state condition related to an operational state of the respective network function, and a reliability condition related to a reliability of the respective network function.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for reliability network slicing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for coordinating actions, such as handovers. In some example embodiment, there may be provided a method to control an action at a group including a first user equipment being served by a first base station and a second user equipment being served by a second base station, each of the first user equipment and the second user equipment configured with a protocol data unit session to carry redundant time sensitive streams, wherein the control includes providing a token to enable at a time the action at a single one of the first user equipment or the second user equipment.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from improved network communication setup. A method, in certain embodiments, may include determining at a network entity a new protocol data unit session anchor of a protocol data unit session with a user equipment. The method may also include transmitting from the network entity to the new protocol data unit session anchor a request to establish the new protocol data unit session anchor. In addition, the method may include transmitting an indication from the network entity to a radio access network. The indication may notify the radio access network to switch paths to the new protocol data unit session anchor. Further, the method includes sending from the network entity a gratuitous address resolution protocol request to the determined new packet data unit session anchor. The gratuitous address resolution protocol request may comprise an address of the user equipment in the protocol data unit session.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data collection coordination and persistent storage control for analytics. For example, certain embodiments may provide a unified data management framework that efficiently serves data collection and distribution needs and isolates a consumer from a producer. Further, some embodiments may provide for a reduction or elimination of unnecessary data storage in a data repository used in association with the data management framework provided by certain embodiments. Specifically, certain embodiments may allow a consumer entity that is requesting specific data to specify whether the data is to be kept in persistent storage in a data repository. The consumer entity, when requesting data, may send an indication that data is to be provided to the consumer entity only, that data is to be provided to the data repository only, or that the data is to be provided to the data repository and the consumer entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for supporting network functions. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes selecting, by a network node, a network function instance and/or a group of network function instances, the selecting based on information indicating membership of the network function instance in the group of network functions instances and the information including session information for a request associated with a session of a user equipment, the session information indicating whether the network function instance and/or the group of network function instances is assigned to the user equipment; and forwarding, by the network node, the request to the selected network function instance and/or the selected group. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: It is provided a method, comprising querying a network repository function to provide a respective identifier of each of one or more network functions; selecting a selected identifier of the one or more identifiers received in response to the querying; requesting a service from the network function identified by the selected identifier, wherein each of the network functions provides the service and fulfills a condition; the condition comprises at least one of a distance condition related to a distance between the respective network function and a reference point, a performance condition related to a performance of the respective network function, a capacity condition related to a capacity of the respective network function, an operational state condition related to an operational state of the respective network function, and a reliability condition related to a reliability of the respective network function.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for coordinating actions, such as handovers. In some example embodiment, there may be provided a method to control an action at a group including a first user equipment being served by a first base station and a second user equipment being served by a second base station, each of the first user equipment and the second user equipment configured with a protocol data unit session to carry redundant time sensitive streams, wherein the control includes providing a token to enable at a time the action at a single one of the first user equipment or the second user equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for reliability network slicing.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes generating, by an application function and based on a time sensitive communication requirement for one or more end stations, at least one quality of service parameter for a time sensitive communication path from a talker end station through at least a portion of a 5G system to a listener end station; and sending, by the application function, a request towards a policy control function, the request including the at least one quality of service parameter configured to enable a creation, at the one or more 5G nodes, of a quality of service flow in accordance with the at least one quality of service parameter, wherein the one or more 5G nodes comprise a user plane function and/or at least one base station. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data storage (DS) function selection are provided. One method includes obtaining, from a network node, an address of a DS function that contains user equipment (UE) context information for at least one UE. The method may further include accessing, by a client, the DS function to register for the UE context information.

Abstract: User equipment appends a header to a non-access stratum (NAS) message to form an encapsulated NAS message. The header is formed according to a wireline access network protocol. The user equipment transmits the encapsulated NAS message over a wireline connection between the user equipment and an interworking function of a core network. The interworking function receives the encapsulated NAS message over the wired connection and forwards the NAS message to a core network entity selected based on addressing information included in the header. A point-to-point control plane session can be established between the user equipment and the interworking function in response to a session request transmitted by the user equipment. The point-to-point control plane session can be used to convey encapsulated NAS messages, which can be used to request establishment of an NAS session for a user plane connection to the core network.

Abstract: User equipment appends a header to a non-access stratum (NAS) message to form an encapsulated NAS message. The header is formed according to a wireline access network protocol. The user equipment transmits the encapsulated NAS message over a wireline connection between the user equipment and an interworking function of a core network. The interworking function receives the encapsulated NAS message over the wired connection and forwards the NAS message to a core network entity selected based on addressing information included in the header. A point-to-point control plane session can be established between the user equipment and the interworking function in response to a session request transmitted by the user equipment. The point-to-point control plane session can be used to convey encapsulated NAS messages, which can be used to request establishment of an NAS session for a user plane connection to the core network.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising means for: receiving, from a requesting service and/or from a network function, an indication of security credentials for a selected service agent; and transmitting the security credentials to the selected service

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from improved network communication setup. A method, in certain embodiments, may include determining at a network entity a new protocol data unit session anchor of a protocol data unit session with a user equipment. The method may also include transmitting from the network entity to the new protocol data unit session anchor a request to establish the new protocol data unit session anchor. In addition, the method may include transmitting an indication from the network entity to a radio access network. The indication may notify the radio access network to switch paths to the new protocol data unit session anchor. Further, the method includes sending from the network entity a gratuitous address resolution protocol request to the determined new packet data unit session anchor. The gratuitous address resolution protocol request may comprise an address of the user equipment in the protocol data unit session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for supporting network functions. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes selecting, by a network node, a network function instance and/or a group of network function instances, the selecting based on information indicating membership of the network function instance in the group of network functions instances and the information including session information for a request associated with a session of a user equipment, the session information indicating whether the network function instance and/or the group of network function instances is assigned to the user equipment; and forwarding, by the network node, the request to the selected network function instance and/or the selected group. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for data storage (DS) function selection are provided. One method includes obtaining, from a network node, an address of a DS function that contains user equipment (UE) context information for at least one UE. The method may further include accessing, by a client, the DS function to register for the UE context information.

Abstract: There are provided measures for improving/enhancing RAN user-plane congestion management. Such measures exemplarily comprise detecting a congestion indication for at least one bearer, which indicates user-plane congestion for the at least one bearer in a radio access network, deciding on activation of application detection for the at least one bearer on the basis of the detested congestion indication, and activating application detection for the at least one bearer upon an activation decision.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguration of a Label Switched Path(s) (LSP) of a first client of a packet-optical transport network, the packet-optical transport network including a first LSR-user-plane unit, a second LSR user plane unit, and a common control unit, the method comprising: transporting the LSP of the first client directly over a common link to a first network element, the first network element comprising the common control unit, connecting the common link by means of a bypass unit to the first LSR-user-plane unit, wherein the first client exchanges LSP specific control messages with the control unit, and the first client continues to exchange LSP specific control messages with the control unit after the common link with the LSP has been switched over from the first LSR-user-plane unit to the second LSR user plane unit.

Abstract: Whereas the network architecture for ATM-based access networks on the DSL forum has already been defined, work on Ethernet-based access networks is still in its infancy. The invention relates to a novel aggregation solution for use in Ethernet-based broadband access networks.