Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for subscribing a notification of a change of a network function. A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting (S101) a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving (S102) a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.

Abstract: Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions in a communication network (10) provide logical interconnections between Data Networks (DNs) (16) and respective User Equipments (UEs) (12) that access the DNs (16) via the communication network (10), and the communication network (10) establishes one or more affiliated sessions in conjunction with each PDU session, such as an affiliated charging or policy control session. Rather than requiring the high signaling overhead associated with mass terminations of these affiliated sessions on a per session basis, the Network Functions (NFs) (32, 34, 36) contemplated herein provide for batch termination of a potentially large plurality affiliated sessions, based on the exchange of a corresponding batch termination message. Disclosed batch termination techniques include the exchange of information during session establishment, for later determination of which affiliated sessions are subject to batch termination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for session management. The method at a control plane function comprises determining data to be restored in a user plane function or a first Internet Protocol (IP) address pool identifier. The method further comprises sending a first session establishment request to the user plane function, wherein the first session establishment request includes a data restoration flag and the data to be restored in the user plane function or includes the first Internet Protocol address pool identifier. The first Internet Protocol address pool identifier is used by the user plane function to assign an IP address to a user equipment from the first Internet Protocol address pool identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for session management. A method at a control plane function comprises generating an information element to indicate a number of reports that the user plane function can send a usage report to the control plane function. The method further comprises sending the information element to the user plane function.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for user plane path failure and recovery handling A method comprises detecting that a user plane path is failed; and monitoring the user plane path within a configurable period to determine whether the user plane path is recovered or not.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for session management. A method implemented at a first network function (NF) may comprise detecting that a path between the first NF and a second NF is failed or the second NF is failed, wherein the second NF maintains one or more data network connections or sessions established between one or more user equipments (UEs) and one or more data networks; selecting an available second NF for the at least one of the one or more data network connections or sessions; sending at least one address or address range of at least one UE corresponding to the at least one of the one or more data network connections or sessions and respective priority metric of the at least one address or address range to the available second NF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus and computer program products for data transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a Voice over LTE (Long Term Evolution) (VoLTE) call in a communication network are provided. After a request for establishing a VoLTE call is received, a user equipment (UE) involved in the VoLTE call that is in LTE coverage can be identified. One or more dummy messages are send to the identified UE after the VoLTE call enters into ringing phase. An interval between successive dummy messages is shorter than a first time period set for determining whether to release radio resource for supporting the VoLTE call in LTE coverage. Sending the dummy message can be stopped if the VoLTE call is answered or is cancelled. As a consequence, time spending on establishing a VoLTE call is shortened and good performance characteristics is achieved, and signallings on networks are reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a Voice over LTE (Long Term Evolution) (VoLTE) call in a communication network are provided. After a request for establishing a VoLTE call is received, a user equipment (UE) involved in the VoLTE call that is in LTE coverage can be identified. One or more dummy messages are send to the identified UE after the VoLTE call enters into ringing phase. An interval between successive dummy messages is shorter than a first time period set for determining whether to release radio resource for supporting the VoLTE call in LTE coverage. Sending the dummy message can be stopped if the VoLTE call is answered or is cancelled. As a consequence, time spending on establishing a VoLTE call is shortened and good performance characteristics is achieved, and signallings on networks are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a first network node and a method in the first network node and a charging node and a method in the charging node for handling dropped data packets in a communications network, comprising: obtaining information indicating dropped data packets for a wireless device served by the first network node; detecting based on the obtained information that an amount associated with the dropped data packets reaches a first threshold or that a timer associated with the dropped data packets reaches a second threshold; and transmitting a message to a policy node, which message comprises at least one of information indicating the amount associated with the dropped data packets or information indicating that the amount has reached the first threshold or indicating that the timer has reached the second threshold.

Abstract: A method for a fallback core network node within core network nodes for a first mobile terminated call towards a mobile subscriber initially assigned to a failing ore network node (failing CNN). The method includes receiving data associated to International Mobile Subscriber Identity and Location Area Identifier (LAI) of a mobile subscriber handled in the failing CNN. The method includes receiving a service request from a home location register (HLR), whereby the service request indicates that the fallback CNN is acting as a fallback CNN for the failing CNN, and sending a response to the service request towards the HLR comprising the roaming Number assigned by the fallback CNN. The method includes initiating a paging request towards the radio network comprising said received LAI of said mobile subscriber, and sending a Service Request towards the HLR comprising the Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network Number of the mobile subscriber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a first network node and a method in the first network node and a charging node and a method in the charging node for handling dropped data packets in a communications network, comprising: obtaining information indicating dropped data packets for a wireless device served by the first network node; detecting based on the obtained information that an amount associated with the dropped data packets reaches a first threshold or that a timer associated with the dropped data packets reaches a second threshold; and transmitting a message to a policy node, which message comprises at least one of information indicating the amount associated with the dropped data packets or information indicating that the amount has reached the first threshold or indicating that the timer has reached the second threshold.

Abstract: A method for a fallback core network node within core network nodes for a first mobile terminated call towards a mobile subscriber initially assigned to a failing ore network node (failing CNN). The method includes receiving data associated to International Mobile Subscriber Identity and Location Area Identifier (LAI) of a mobile subscriber handled in the failing CNN. The method includes receiving a service request from a home location register (HLR), whereby the service request indicates that the fallback CNN is acting as a fallback CNN for the failing CNN, and sending a response to the service request towards the HLR comprising the roaming Number assigned by the fallback CNN. The method includes initiating a paging request towards the radio network comprising said received LAI of said mobile subscriber, and sending a Service Request towards the HLR comprising the Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network Number of the mobile subscriber.