Abstract: A method for slice attachment and configuration, the method comprises: receiving a service request from a user equipment; selecting a second network node to process the service request; receiving a configuration for a network slice to enable the service requested by the user equipment; identifying a first point of presence to receive user plane information corresponding to the network slice; identifying a second point of presence to receive control plane information corresponding to the network slice; forwarding traffic corresponding to the network slice to a third point of presence; transmitting to the user equipment a handle identifying the user equipment context and the network slice configuration; and transmitting to the user equipment a user equipment configuration corresponding to the network slice.

Abstract: Method and apparatus, performed autonomously in a user equipment (UE), for autonomous handover to a target cell of a radio access network (RAN). The method comprises determining, by the UE, an identity of the target cell; receiving, by the UE, a precise time reference broadcast by the target cell, the precise time reference indicating an elapsed time from a predetermined epoch; deriving, by the UE, an uplink timing adjustment based at least in part on the precise time reference, the uplink timing adjustment establishing uplink communication synchronization with the target cell; and transmitting, by the UE, an uplink signal to the target cell in accordance with the derived uplink timing adjustment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for providing stateful service function paths with redundancy are provided. Multiple instances of a service function path are included, each with at least one instance of a stateful service function. The redundant stateful service functions transmit messages between one another to so that the current state is synchronized. Upon failure of a service function in a first instance of the service function path, packets are redirected to a backup associated with the failed service function located in another instance of the service function path. Once processed by the backup service function, the redirected packets may be routed back to the first instance of the service function path.

Abstract: A method at a network node of a radio access network (RAN) for managing a context of a user equipment (UE) operating in an inactive mode, the method comprising: receiving, from a second network node, a context retrieval request comprising a UE identifier and a first message, the first message being protected with a first cryptographic key; validating the first message using a stored cryptographic key associated with a UE context indicated by the UE identifier; and sending a context retrieval response message to the second network node containing a relocation indication of whether the UE context is to be relocated to the second network node.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.

Abstract: A method for identifier management for user devices operating in an inactive mode includes receiving a first uplink transmission including a user device identifier associated with a user device, transmitting a first downlink transmission including an indication of an ephemeral identifier assigned to the user device, transmitting a second downlink transmission including data associated with the ephemeral identifier, and discarding the ephemeral identifier.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided for supporting shared sessions in communication networks. The system, apparatus and method include interoperation between a User Equipment and serving nodes of a communication network. The serving nodes communicate with at least one anchor node of the communication network. In some implementations a shared session identifier and User Equipment identifying component are used to identify a User Equipment within a shared session. In some implementations, a paging notification is used to inform one or more target User Equipment that of a downlink message relating to the shared session.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.

Abstract: Method and apparatus, for synchronising communications between a radio access network (RAN) node and a wireless device (WD) provisioned with a set of synchronised communication configurations. The method comprises, after receiving, by the RAN node, a downstream protocol data unit (PDU), selecting a synchronised communication configuration from the set of synchronised communication configurations where each synchronised communication configuration includes a downlink portion governing downlink data transmissions to the WD, an uplink portion governing uplink data transmissions from the WD, and a sidelink portion governing sidelink data transmissions between WDs, respective ones of the set of synchronised communication configurations being associated with a periodic communications synchronisation indicator (PCSI).

Abstract: Method and apparatus, performed autonomously in a user equipment (UE), for autonomous handover to a target cell of a radio access network (RAN). The method comprises determining, by the UE, an identity of the target cell; receiving, by the UE, a precise time reference broadcast by the target cell, the precise time reference indicating an elapsed time from a predetermined epoch; deriving, by the UE, an uplink timing adjustment based at least in part on the precise time reference, the uplink timing adjustment establishing uplink communication synchronization with the target cell; and transmitting, by the UE, an uplink signal to the target cell in accordance with the derived uplink timing adjustment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI). A radio resource control (RRC) message indicating a resource allocation can be transmitted to the first UE for the first UE to communicate directly with the second UE.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for providing stateful service function paths with redundancy are provided. Multiple instances of a service function path are included, each with at least one instance of a stateful service function. The redundant stateful service functions transmit messages between one another to so that the current state is synchronized. Upon failure of a service function in a first instance of the service function path, packets are redirected to a backup associated with the failed service function located in another instance of the service function path. Once processed by the backup service function, the redirected packets may be routed back to the first instance of the service function path.

Abstract: Method and apparatus, performed autonomously in a user equipment (UE), for autonomous handover to a target cell of a radio access network (RAN). The method comprises determining, by the UE, an identity of the target cell; receiving, by the UE, a precise time reference broadcast by the target cell, the precise time reference indicating an elapsed time from a predetermined epoch; deriving, by the UE, an uplink timing adjustment based at least in part on the precise time reference, the uplink timing adjustment establishing uplink communication synchronization with the target cell; and transmitting, by the UE, an uplink signal to the target cell in accordance with the derived uplink timing adjustment.

Abstract: A method for slice attachment and configuration, the method comprises: receiving a service request from a user equipment; selecting a second network node to process the service request; receiving a configuration for a network slice to enable the service requested by the user equipment; identifying a first point of presence to receive user plane information corresponding to the network slice; identifying a second point of presence to receive control plane information corresponding to the network slice; forwarding traffic corresponding to the network slice to a third point of presence; transmitting to the user equipment a handle identifying the user equipment context and the network slice configuration; and transmitting to the user equipment a user equipment configuration corresponding to the network slice.

Abstract: A method at a network node of a radio access network (RAN) for managing a context of a user equipment (UE) operating in an inactive mode, the method comprising: receiving, from a second network node, a context retrieval request comprising a UE identifier and a first message, the first message being protected with a first cryptographic key; validating the first message using a stored cryptographic key associated with a UE context indicated by the UE identifier; and sending a context retrieval response message to the second network node containing a relocation indication of whether the UE context is to be relocated to the second network node.

Abstract: A method of coordinating a change in cryptographic key sets from a first cryptographic key set to a second cryptographic key set between a radio access network (RAN) node and a wireless device (WD) served by the RAN node. The RAN node includes a user plane (UP) component and a control plane (CP) component. The method includes transmitting, from the UP component to the wireless device (WD), a key change indicator indicative of changeover to the second cryptographic key set, the key change indicator included in one of a data protocol data unit (PDU) and a control PDU; and subsequently cryptographically encoding PDUs for transmission to the WD and cryptographically decoding PDUs received from the WD in accordance with the second cryptographic key set.

Abstract: A method for slice attachment and configuration, the method comprises: receiving a service request from a user equipment; selecting a second network node to process the service request; receiving a configuration for a network slice to enable the service requested by the user equipment; identifying a first point of presence to receive user plane information corresponding to the network slice; identifying a second point of presence to receive control plane information corresponding to the network slice; forwarding traffic corresponding to the network slice to a third point of presence; transmitting to the user equipment a handle identifying the user equipment context and the network slice configuration; and transmitting to the user equipment a user equipment configuration corresponding to the network slice.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided for supporting shared sessions in communication networks. The system, apparatus and method include interoperation between a User Equipment and serving nodes of a communication network. The serving nodes communicate with at least one anchor node of the communication network. In some implementations a shared session identifier and User Equipment identifying component are used to identify a User Equipment within a shared session. In some implementations, a paging notification is used to inform one or more target User Equipment that of a downlink message relating to the shared session.

Abstract: A method at a network node of a radio access network (RAN) for managing a context of a user equipment (UE) operating in an inactive mode, the method comprising: receiving, from a second network node, a context retrieval request comprising a UE identifier and a first message, the first message being protected with a first cryptographic key; validating the first message using a stored cryptographic key associated with a UE context indicated by the UE identifier; and sending a context retrieval response message to the second network node containing a relocation indication of whether the UE context is to be relocated to the second network node.

Abstract: A method for identifier management for user devices operating in an inactive mode includes receiving a first uplink transmission including a user device identifier associated with a user device, transmitting a first downlink transmission including an indication of an ephemeral identifier assigned to the user device, transmitting a second downlink transmission including data associated with the ephemeral identifier, and discarding the ephemeral identifier.