Abstract: A process is defined for consumer-controllable ML model provisioning and training in a wireless communication network. The process comprises two procedures, which respectively correspond to the two phases of an ML model provisioning process in, e.g., 5GC, i.e., the preparation/provisioning phase and the training execution phase. For the preparation/provisioning phase, new parameters are added to the request from the ML model consumer to the ML model generator (e.g., NWDAF), so that the latter can conduct the ML model provisioning according to the consumer requirements. For the training execution phase, interactions between the ML model consumer and generator(s) are considered, and the corresponding procedure for a consumer controlling the ML model training execution phase is defined.

Abstract: When the consumer NWDAF requests a trained machine learning model from a producer NWDAF for a set of Analytic IDs associated with a plurality of UEs, the consumer NWDAF may include a reliability requirement in the model provisioning request to indicate a required accuracy for the machine learning model. The reliability requirement may be expressed in terms of a number of UEs, a percentage of UEs. or an accuracy target. The producer NWDAF determines whether it can provide a trained model satisfying the reliability requirement and responds accordingly. If a trained model meeting the reliability requirement is available, the producer NWDAF provides the location the trained model to the consumer NWDAF.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, performed by a first node. The method is for handling an ongoing distributed machine-learning or federated learning (DML/FL) process for which the first node acts an aggregator of data or analytics from a first group of second nodes. The first node operates in a communications system. The first node obtains one or more first indications about one or more third nodes. The one or more first indications include respective information about the third nodes. The respective information indicates that the third nodes are eligible to be selected to participate in the ongoing DML/FL process. The one or more first indications are obtained during the ongoing DML/FL process. The first node then provides, to a fourth node operating in the communications system, an output of the ongoing DML/FL process based on the obtained one or more first indications.

Abstract: A relay communication device (12) is configured to relay traffic (18) for a remote communication device (14). The relay communication device (12) receives, from the remote communication device (14), an equipment identifier (20) associated with the remote communication device (14). Alternatively or additionally, the relay communication device (12) transmits, to a network node (22) in a communication network (10), a report (24) that reports an equipment identifier (20) associated with the remote communication device (14) as identifying the remote communication device (14) for which the relay communication device (12) is to relay traffic (18).

Abstract: A first terminal device connects with a second terminal device via at least one third terminal device acting as a relay between the first terminal device and the second terminal device. The first terminal device determines identification information for identifying the first terminal device and/or the second terminal device on a link between the first and second terminal devices. The first terminal device assigns the determined identification information to at least one corresponding hop on the link between the first terminal device and the second terminal device.

Abstract: A remote communication device performs an authentication procedure with a home communication network, via a relay communication device, to authenticate the remote communication device to the home communication network for a proximity-based service, ProSe. Performing the authentication procedure comprises deriving one or more keys included in an authentication vector. The remote communication device generates an anchor key for the ProSe directly from the one or more keys included in the authentication vector. The remote communication device protects ProSe direct communication between the remote communication device and the relay communication device using security key material derived from the anchor key.

Abstract: A method (300) for determining whether a remote user equipment, UE (101), is authorized to receive a service. The method includes a relay UE (102) receiving from the remote UE a request message (202) indicating that the remote UE is requesting to receive the service. The method also includes, as a result of receiving the request message, the relay UE performing an authorization process that comprises: the relay UE transmitting, via a base station (104), a message (204) for triggering a first network function (112) to determine whether the remote UE is authorized to receive the service. The method also includes the relay UE receiving, via the base station, a response to the message, wherein the response indicates whether nor not the remote UE is authorized to receive the service.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a data consumer network function (NF) of a communication network. These methods include sending, to a network repository function (NRF) of the communication network, a request for an access token for the following: a service provided by a 5 data collection coordination function (DCCF) of the communication network, and data to be collected via the DCCF service. These methods include receiving from the NRF at least one access token for the DCCF service and for the data to be collected via the DCCF service and, using the at least one access token, collecting the data from a data producer NF of the communication network via the DCCF service. Other embodiments include complementary methods for DCCFs 0 and NRFs, as well as data consumer NFs, DCCFs, and NRFs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing flexible information exposure in a Fifth Generation (5G) Core (5GC) and an Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) system are provided. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method, performed by a first network node of a 5GC for providing flexible information exposure in the 5GC and an OAM system, comprises: receiving, from a second network node, a request to register the second network node as a provider of data and/or a compute function; registering the second network node as a provider of the data and/or the compute function; storing information associating the second network node with the data and/or compute function provided by the second network node; and sending, to the second network node, a response to the request to register the second network node as a provider of data and/or a compute function.

Abstract: A method implemented in a data collector node (DCN) is described. The DCN is configured to communicate at least with a network node and a data source node (DSN). The method includes determining a data collection coordination. The determined data collection coordination is associated with the DSN and includes determining whether any DCN is registered as a data collection coordinator of for the DSN. Upon determining there is no registered data collection coordinator of for the DSN, a request to register as the data collection coordinator of the DSN is transmitted to the network node. Upon determining the DCN is itself the data collection coordinator, data collection from the DSN is coordinated. Further, upon determining a second DCN is registered as the data collection coordinator, a subscription request for data collection from the DSN is transmitted to the second DCN.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network function is provided. The method comprises receiving a request for Non-Access Stratum (NAS) traffic information. The request was transmitted by a second network function. The method further comprises after receiving the request, sending towards the second network function a report comprising: i) a NAS message type identifier identifying a type of NAS message and information indicating a number of received NAS messages of the identified type and/or ii) user equipment (UE) type information indicating a type of UE and information indicating a number of NAS messages transmitted by UEs of the indicated type.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for supporting remote User Equipment (UE) authentication via a relay UE. In one embodiment, a method performed by a relay UE comprises receiving a first message conveyed by a remote UE and sending a second message to a relay access and mobility function (AMF), wherein the second message comprises a UE-to-Network (U2N) connection mapping identification (ID) that identifies the remote UE. In this manner, the relay UE and relay AMF are able to identify that the second message (e.g., an authentication related message) is for the remote UE. Embodiments of a relay UE and embodiments of a relay AMF and methods of operation thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data collection coordination function, DCCF, network node receives (1a) a request for data from a data consumer, determines (2) a data source for the requested data, verifies (3a, 3b) with a network node that the data consumer and the DCCF are authorized by the data source, receives (3b) a message container for the data consumer from the network node, the message container for the data consumer including a data encryption key KE and a data integrity key Ki, and receives (3b) a message container for the data source from the network node, the message container for the data source including the data encryption key KE and the data integrity key Ki. The DCCF network node transmits (4a) the message container for the data consumer to the data consumer and transmits (5) the message container for the data source to the data source.

Abstract: A technique for forwarding a mobility update report from a remote radio device (100-RM) that is in relayed radio communication with a radio access network, RAN (530), through a relay radio device (100-RL; 1100; 1391; 1392; 1430), is described. The remote radio device (100-RM) is in a first radio resource control, RRC, state (502-RM) relative to the RAN (530), and the relay radio device (100-RL; 1100; 1391; 1392; 1430) is in a second RRC state (502-RL) relative to the RAN (530), wherein the first RRC state is different from the second RRC state. As to a method aspect of the technique, the method (300-RL) performed by the relay radio device (100-RL; 1100; 1391; 1392; 1430) comprises or initiated the step of receiving (302-RL) the mobility update report from the remote radio device (100-RM) on a sidelink, SL, between the remote radio device (100-RM) and the relay radio device (100-RL; 1100; 1391; 1392; 1430), the mobility update report being indicative of a mobility update of the remote radio device (100-RM).

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wireless or mobile communication. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for providing relay functionality in a wireless communication network. The present disclosure also relates to apparatus and computer program product adapted for the same purpose. According to one embodiment, it provides a method for providing relay functionality in a wireless communication network, including the following steps carried out at a first network node: a) obtaining subscription data associated with a wireless communication device from a second network node and capability for U2N relay and/or U2U relay of the wireless communication device; b) based on the subscription data and the capability, generating authorization information specifying which role(s) the wireless communication device is authorized to act as in U2N relay and/or U2U relay; and c) sending the authorization information to a third network node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for relay load information determination and relay selection. A method performed by a first terminal device includes obtaining relay load information of the first terminal device. The method further includes transmitting the relay load information of the first terminal device to a second terminal device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for a relay entity to provide a user ID of a remote UE under privacy protection to a first Network Function (NF) in a network, wherein connectivity between the remote UE and the network is provided by the relay entity, comprising obtaining contact information of a second NF and a private ID corresponding to the user ID from the second NF, wherein the contact information can be used by the first NF to contact the second NF to resolve the user ID based on the private ID; and sending the contact information and the private ID to the first NF. Corresponding methods for the remote UE, the first NF and the second NF are also provided. The corresponding apparatus, system, device, computer-readable storage and carrier, etc. thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method in a core network, corresponding embodiments of methods in a service consumer and service producer, and corresponding embodiments of a service consumer and service producer are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method in a core network comprises, at a service consumer, generating security information for a subscription to an event and sending a subscribe message comprising the security information to a service producer of the event. The method further comprises, at the service producer, receiving the subscribe message and sending a notification message to the service consumer, where the notification message comprises the event and either: the security information or information derived from the security information. The method further comprises, at the service consumer, receiving the notification message and verifying the notification message based on the security information or the information derived from the security information, comprised in the notification message.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. A core network node is provided. The core network node includes processing circuitry configured to receive an indication, via control plane signaling, associated with the wireless device where the indication indicates whether to update a ProSe discovery identifier associated with the wireless device, one of update and refrain from updating the ProSe discovery identifier based at least on the received indication, and transmit the updated ProSe discovery identifier if the ProSe discovery identifier was updated.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a user equipment (UE), a relay UE, a network node, and methods for communication over sidelink. The method at a user equipment (UE) for communicating with a network node for relaying the communication over a sidelink comprises: determining a relay option at least partially based on the UE's configuration and/or an indication received from the network node or another UE; determining zero or at least one relay UE at least partially based on the determined relay option; and in response to determining at least one relay UE, communicating with the at least one relay UE to attempt establishing the sidelink for the UE.