Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a first network function in a communication network. The method includes initiating transmission of first information towards a second network function. The first information is indicative that the first network function is to be subscribed to receive a notification of a change in a proximity services discovery user equipment identifier (PDUID) for a user equipment (UE) from the second network function. The method includes receiving the PDUID for the UE from the second network function.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and Instructions are disclosed to support restricted Proximity-based Services (ProSe) direct discovery in a wireless network. In one embodiment, a method is performed by a first network function (NF), where a terminal device communicates with another terminal device based on the restricted ProSe direct discovery. The wireless network is to assign one ProSe Discovery user equipment (UE) identifier (PDUID) to the terminal device to identify the terminal device in the restricted ProSe direct discovery. The method comprises receiving a request message including a UE identifier (UE ID), where the UE ID uniquely identifies the UE in the wireless network; generating a ProSe Discovery user equipment (UE) identifier (PDUID) for the UE ID based on the UE ID; and transmitting a PDUID information message to a second NF, where the PDUID information message comprises the PDUID and a validity timer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for rate control. A method performed by a first terminal device comprises receiving at least one bit rate limitation from a network device. The method further comprises applying the at least one bit rate limitation. A relay terminal device is used to relay communication between the first terminal device and a data network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a data consumer network function, NF, of a communication network to collect data from a data producer NF, the method comprising: o sending (810), to a network repository function, NRF, in the communication network, a request for an access token for a service provided by a data collection coordination function, DCCF, in the communication network; o receiving (820), from the NRF, at least one access token for the service provided by the DCCF; and o using (830) the at least one access token, collecting data from the data producer NF in the communication network via the DCCF service.

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: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for relay service code management. The method which may be performed by a user equipment comprises transmitting a message to a first network to request a relay service code. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises receiving a response to the message from the first network. The response to the message may include the RSC.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless device is provided. The method comprises transmitting (1002), to a network function within a home network of the wireless device, a key request to obtain a discovery key for network relay discovery within a visited network in which the wireless device is roaming, receiving (1004), from the network function within the home network of the wireless device, a key response including the discovery key for network relay discovery within the visited network, and securing (1006) communications with a network relay in the visited network using the discovery key.

Abstract: A relay UE (502) having a PC5 link with a remote UE (501) creates a modified downlink (DL) packet by adding one or more reflective quality-of-service (QoS) indicators to the DL packet and transmits the modified DL packet on the PC5 link in a PC5 QoS flow to the remote UE. The remote UE receives the modified DL packet, uses the one or more reflective QoS indicators to derive one or more mapping relations, and applies the one or more derived mapping relations to map an uplink (UL) packet to the QoS flow and transmit the UL packet on the PC5 link. The relay UE receives the UL packet and transmits the UL packet to a network node (504) or a second relay UE.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure data collection in Fifth Generation System (5GS) are provided. In some embodiments, a Data Collection Coordination Function (DCCF) in a data management framework is adapted to receive, from a first data consumer, a subscription request message, determine a data producer for the particular data, obtain one or more keys for data encryption and/or data integrity for the particular data, controlling one or more entities in a messaging framework of the data management framework, sending a subscription response message to the first data consumer, and sending a subscription request message to the data producer. The subscription request message comprises the one or more keys to be used by the data producer when sending notifications of the particular data to the first data consumer via the messaging framework.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, methods of operating a translation node in a communication network are discussed. The translation node receives Application service information for an application service, a distributed Artificial Intelligence AI model for the application service, and Model Deployment Map MDM information for the application service, translates the MDM information for the application service into network Quality of Service QoS parameters for the application service, and provides the distributed AI model with the network QoS parameters for distribution to at least one other node of the communication network. Related methods of operating SMF and NDWAF nodes are also discussed.

Abstract: A remote communication device can receive a discovery key; receive a communication key and a key identifier, ID, for the communication key; and discover a relay communication device. Discovering the relay communication device can include receiving an encrypted discovery message from the relay communication device and decrypting the encrypted discovery message using the discovery key. The remote communication device can further transmit a direct communication request to the relay communication device responsive to receiving and decrypting the encrypted discovery message from the relay communication device. The direct communication request can include the key ID for the communication key. The remote communication device can further receive an encrypted direct communication response from the relay communication device. Receiving the encrypted direct communication response can include decrypting the encrypted direct communication response.

Abstract: A technique for performing direct discovery between a first radio device (100-RD) and a second radio device (100-RD) according to a proximity service of a radio access technology, RAT, is described. The proximity service comprises at least two different models of the direct discovery. As to a method aspect of the technique, the direct discovery is performed according to one of the at least two different models.

Abstract: A method performed by a relay UE for determining whether the relay UE may provide a relay service to a remote UE. The method includes the relay UE receiving from the remote UE a first message comprising a first authorization token and a first digital signature for verifying the authenticity of the first authorization token, wherein the first digital signature was generated by a first network function using the first authorization token and a first key, and the first authorization token indicates whether or not the remote UE is authorized to utilize a relay service provided by the relay UE. The method further includes the relay UE verifying the authenticity of the first authorization token.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a user equipment (UE), a relay UE, and methods performed by the UEs for relay UE selection for transmission over sidelink (SL). The method at the UE for selecting a relay UE for transmission over a sidelink comprises: communicating, with a second UE, a first message comprising a first quality of service (QoS) parameter, which has a first value and is associated with a sidelink to be established between the UE and the second UE; determining whether an agreement on a value of the first QoS parameter for the sidelink can be reached with the second UE or not at least partially based on the first value of the first QoS parameter; and determining whether the second UE is a relay UE candidate or not at least partially based on the determination of whether the agreement can be reached or not.

Abstract: There is provided a method at a second user equipment (UE2) comprising receiving, from a first UE (UE1), a relay request message indicating a relay request of UE1. The relay request is for a relay service requested by UE1. The relay request message comprises an indication of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to which UE1 is subscribed. The method comprises determining that the relay request can be accepted by UE2 in at least one case where: the UE2 is authorized to support the relay service; the relay service is allowed by a current cell of UE2 served by a network node; UE2 is currently in a Radio Resource Control connected state; UE1 subscribes to a same PLMN as UE2; or the network node has provided relevant Access Stratum configurations to UE2. The method comprises transmitting a relay response message to UE1 based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for establishing a unicast D2D communication link between a requesting UE and a remote UE via a relay UE. In one embodiment, a procedure is provided for unicast link establishment with a remote UE without relay discovery. In another embodiment, a procedure is provided for unicast link establishment with a remote UE with relay discovery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling connection state of a terminal device. A user plane of a base station determines whether a first terminal device that acts as a terminal device to network relay for one or more second terminal devices in radio resource control (RRC) connected state is inactive, based on traffic conditions of the first terminal device and the one or more second terminal devices. The user plane reports a result of the determination to a control plane of the base station.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatuses for relate to methods and apparatuses for providing processing functions by microservices in a service. A first microservice is capable of providing a first processing function in a service comprising a plurality of microservices. The method includes receiving a processing request to provide the first processing function; obtaining a sequence of a plurality of microservices associated with the processing request, wherein the sequence comprises the first microservice; obtaining a current latency requirement associated with the remaining microservices in the sequence; obtaining an estimated latency associated with the remaining microservices in the sequence; and placing the processing request in a processing queue based on a comparison between the current latency requirement and the estimated latency.

Abstract: A method for Non-IP traffic communication by UE-to-UE relay is provided. The method is implemented by a network device n a communication network. The method includes receiving a first Direct Communication Request from a source UE. The first Direct Communication Request indicates the establishment of a Non-IP communication link with the source UE and includes a first source UE identifier for the source UE and a first target UE identifier for a target UE. The network device generates a first relay identifier for a relay used in the Non-IP communication link between a source UE and the target UE. The network device maintains a mapping between the first relay identifier, the first source UE identifier, and the first target UE identifier.

Abstract: Methods of operating a network function NF node of a communication network are discussed. In such methods a message is received from an access and mobility management function AMF node. Moreover, the message includes information regarding a radio access network RAN node with respect to a communication device. Related methods of operating RAN nodes and AMF nodes are also discussed.