Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for processing a service request in a network comprising a set of Network Function (NF) nodes, and corresponding NF nodes. The method performed at a first NF node includes transmitting (S710) a request for the service to a Service Communication Proxy (SCP), the request comprising at least an indication indicating a required Application Program Interface (API) version for the service, wherein the requires API version is other than an API version included in a Resource Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) in the request. The present disclosure further discloses a corresponding method implemented at an SCP. The present disclosure further provides a corresponding computer readable medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method in a Network Function, NF, producer. The method includes transmitting, to a Service Communication Proxy, SCP, a notification request for delivering a notification. The notification request contains a Uniform Resource Identifier, URI, having a predetermined service path indicating that the notification request is associated with a default notification subscription.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling messages in a network. The method is performed by a first network function (NF) node in the network. Transmission of a first message is initiated (202) towards a second NF node in the network in response to an event that signals first information is to be managed by a third NF node in the network. The first message comprises the first information and an indication of whether the third N node is to be an N node that supports testing in the network. The first message comprises the indication for the third NF node to take into account when managing the first information.

Abstract: Methods, network nodes, and computer readable storage media for ensuring uniqueness of an assigned PDU Session ID are disclosed. The method at a first network node includes: transmitting, to a second network node, during establishment of a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection, a request message for retrieving a list of PDU Session ID(s) that have been already registered for a User Equipment (UE); and receiving a response message from the second network node. The second network node is a Unified Data Management (UDM).

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method performed by a network function consumer, NFC. The method comprises sending (701) a request (401) to a network function producer, NFP, wherein the request (401) is for context information for a first wireless device, and wherein the request (401) comprises one or more filter values identifying a subset of context information for the first wireless device required by the NFC. The subset of context information for the first wireless device required by the NF consumer is related to specific Protocol Data Unit, PDU, sessions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for configuring QoS in a communication network. A method performed by a first network node in a first communication network, includes transmitting, to a second network node in a second communication network, a first message including quality of service (QoS) constraints configured for the first communication network; receiving, from the second network node, a second message including a first QoS configuration, wherein the first QoS configuration includes at least one QoS parameter authorized in the second communication network; and enforcing a second QoS configuration in the first communication network, wherein the second QoS configuration is based on the first QoS configuration and/or the QoS constraints. The QoS constraints and previously authorized QoS configuration can be exchanged between different network nodes, even different networks. Therefore, the service quality and/or continuity related to QoS configuration may be ensured.

Abstract: A method of operation of a network node implementing a network function, NF, service producer in a core network for providing accurate information related to the selected service instance in the NF service producer and to allow the NF service consumer, when detecting a restart of the service instance, to perform end user service restoration (e.g. restoring UE IP connectivity), and/or to clean up the resource is provided. The method comprises receiving at the NF service producer a request to create or update a resource via for example HTTP/REST signaling, the NF service producer selecting a service instance, where the resource is replicated, to create or update the requested resource and sending a response to the received request comprising a resource Uniform Resource Identifier, URI, of the created or updated resource by the second service instance and a service instance identifier identifying the selected service instance.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for improved packet detection rule provision. A method performed by a first network entity comprises: transmitting packet detection information, PDI, to a second network entity, wherein the PDI indicates information on one or more traffic endpoints on which packets are to be detected.

Abstract: There is provided a method performed by a user plane core network function for a wireless communication network. The user plane core network function is configured with a range of Internet Protocol addresses for allocation to user equipments. The method comprises: transmitting a message to a control plane core network function, the message comprising an indication of a usage level of the range of IP addresses.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to support of preferred service provider/producer query for Network Repository Function (NRF). In some embodiments, there proposes a method performed by a first network function implementing a service consumer. In an embodiment, the method may comprise the step of transmitting to a second network function implementing a NRF, a discovery request for discovering one or more third network functions implementing service producers. The discovery request may include a preference indication for indicating whether one or more combined third network functions or one or more standalone third network functions are preferred. The method may further comprise the step of receiving from the second network function a discovery response including information about the discovered one or more third network functions The discovered one or more third network functions may be provided based on the preference indication by the second network function.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling an updated profile of a first network function (NF) node of a service producer in a network. The method is performed by a network repository function (NRF) node. Priority information for the first NF node is removed (602) from the updated profile received from the first NF node if the NRF node previously changed the priority information. The priority information is for use by the network node in selecting an NF node of a service producer to provide a service requested by a second NF node of a service consumer. The priority information is indicative of a priority with which the first NF node is to be selected relative to at least one other NF node of the service producer. Transmission (604) of the updated profile, with the priority information removed, is initiated towards the network node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for traffic probing. A method performed by a sender network function (NF) includes sending a first message to a receiver NF. The first message comprises a new HTTP header which comprises an NF instance identifier (ID) of the sender NF and an NF instance ID of the receiver NF.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a method performed by method for a first NF implementing a consumer of an Event Exposure service provided by a second NF implementing a producer of the Event Exposure service, including: receiving a trigger for subscribing an event for a PDU session of a UE; allocating an event ID specific to the UE for the event, and sending a first request for subscribing the event to the second NF, if the event has not been allocated the event ID, wherein the first request includes the event ID; and saving mapping between the event ID and the ID of the PDU session. By this method, the waste of resources for the first NF and the second NF can be reduced, for example, the message interaction and the traffic between the two NFs are reduced, and the CPU resources are saved on each of the two NFs.

Abstract: A method (500) performed by a first network function. The method includes receiving a handover related message related to a handover of UE from a source RAN node to a target RAN node. The method also includes after receiving the handover related message, transmitting to a second network function a request message for establishing a forwarding tunnel. The method also includes receiving a response message transmitted by the second network function, wherein the response message is responsive to the request message for establishing a forwarding tunnel, and further wherein the response message comprises an address that the second network function will use as a source address when forwarding packets for the UE via the established forwarding tunnel to the target RAN node.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for detect dead loop in the routing path. The method which may be performed by a first Service Communication Proxy comprises receiving from a second SCP or NF a request message comprising original routing path detection information to detect dead loop in the routing path. The method further comprises determining dead loop based on the routing path detection information. The method another further comprises generating new routing path detection information and sending towards the third SCP the request message. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the efficiency of pathing finding for SCP domains can be improved.

Abstract: A network entity generates a discovery request and transmit the discovery request to a network repository entity, NRE, wherein, advantageously, the discovery request includes a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a set of candidate network entity identifiers (IDs) comprising at least a first candidate network entity ID (e.g., an I-SMF instance ID), wherein each candidate network entity ID included in the set of candidate network entity IDs identifies a candidate network entity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method (200) in a first Network Function, NF. The method (200) includes: transmitting (210), to a second NF, a subscription request for subscribing to a notification from the second NF. The subscription request contains: a Uniform Resource Identifier, URI, of an NF Repository Function, NRF, to be used to discover an alternative NF for the notification, or information on a network slice to which the first NF belongs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method (600) in an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF. The method (600) includes, in a 5th Generation System, 5GS, to Evolved Packet System, EPS, handover procedure of a User Equipment, UE: receiving (610), from a Next Generation Radio Access Network, NG-RAN, node, a secondary Radio Access Technology, RAT, usage data report message including a Secondary RAT Usage Data Report Transfer Information Element, IE, containing secondary RAT usage data associated with the UE; and transmitting (620), to a Mobility Management Entity, MME, a message including a first IE containing the secondary RAT usage data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for session management. A method performed by a first session management function (SMF) includes sending to a second SMF a first request including a state of a user plane connection or an indication. The state or the indication indicates whether there is an ongoing procedure during which the first SMF is not able to handle update request from the second SMF. The method further includes receiving a first response from the second SMF.

Abstract: A method (400) performed by an NF service consumer. The method includes invoking (s402) a discovery service for discovering NF service producers. Invoking the discovery service comprises: generating (s404) a discovery message (253) comprising a query; and transmitting (s406) to an NRF (204), the discovery message comprising the query. The query included in the discovery message (253) comprises a first query parameter comprising a first NF type value identifying an NF type of a target NF being discovered. The query further comprises at least one of: i) a second query parameter comprising a supported features value specifying that the NF service consumer invoking the discovery service supports selection of combined NFs, or ii) a third query parameter comprising a second NF type value identifying a set of one or more NF types.