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 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for direct device-to-device communication. The method which may be performed by a first device comprises generating an Internet protocol address of the first device. The Internet protocol address of the first device may be applicable for direct device-to-device communication between the first device and a second device via a third device. The method further comprises transmitting the Internet protocol address to the third device. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the relaying for direct device-to-device communication may be implemented efficiently and flexibly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method performed by a network node (130, 140, 160) of a wireless communication network (100) comprising a first (130) and a second (140) core network node and a first (150) and a second (160) base station (150). A session of a wireless device (170) comprises data packets routed via a plurality of anchor network nodes (115, 120) from a data network (110).

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for path selection. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a first user equipment (UE) includes sending a message over PC5, the message including a Uu-status parameter, the Uu-status parameter indicating a request for Uu status information. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a first user equipment (UE) includes receiving a message over PC5, the message including a Uu-status parameter, the Uu-status parameter indicating a request for Uu status information.

Abstract: Security and privacy mechanisms are provided to protect the L2 identifiers used in groupcast communications over the sidelink (e.g., PC5 interface) without requiring a UE to periodically refresh the L2 identifiers, which may cause extra signaling overhead, increased latency and greater risk of synchronization issues. To prevent tracking of a UE, a group identifier (ID) is used as a source layer 2 (L2) ID in groupcast messages. Additionally, a message authentication code (MAC) is introduced into the group discovery procedure to authenticate the UE sending a group discovery request.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for privacy protection. A method at a first terminal device comprises obtaining at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device. The at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device is related to a link identifier change. The method further comprises transmitting a request message including information regarding the at least one privacy policy of the first terminal device.

Abstract: A method performed by an agent for handling an event of a network service deployed in a cloud environment is provided. The agent is capable to access to a server in the cloud environment. The agent obtains information from the server. The information is about an event of the network service. When the network service relates to a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network, the agent decides whether to register network service with or without an associated address of a load balancer of the network service. The agent then registers in a core network node operating in the 3GPP network, the network service with or without an associated address of a load balancer of the network service according to the event and according to the outcome of the deciding.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for group management for vehicle-to-anything (V2X) and Proximity Based Services (ProSe) groupcast. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) includes discovering wireless devices (WDs) that are members of a group, and sending to the WDs that are members of the group a group discovery complete message. According to another aspect, a method in a WD includes listening for a group discovery signal indicating a group to which the WD belongs or seeks to join, and sending a group discovery response indicating that the WD seeks to join or remain in the indicated group.

Abstract: A method performed by a first user equipment (UE) configured for device-to-device (D2D) wireless communication. The method includes starting a keep-alive timer associated with a unicast sidelink (SL) connection with a second UE configured for D2D wireless communication. In response to expiration of the keep-alive timer, without receiving a transmission from the second UE while the keep-alive timer was running, a keep-alive message is transmitted to the second UE. In response to not receiving an acknowledgement of the keep-alive message, from the second UE within a predetermined duration, release of the unicast SL connection with the second UE is initiated without transmitting a further keep-alive message to the second UE.

Abstract: A Data Compression Manager (DCM) that can help a data provider (DP) and a data consumer (DC) to establish a data transfer using an advantageous data compression method. In one embodiment, when a DC wants to get some data from a DC, the DP will contact the DCM and the DCM will then choose data compression information based on (i.e., based at least on), for example, current conditions within the network (e.g., a maximum available network bandwidth), information about the data to be compressed (e.g., the type of the data), and/or the DC's data error tolerance. Then the DCM will indicate to the DP the chosen data compression information. The DP will then i) inform the DC of the compression information that is needed by the DC to decompress the data and ii) provide the requested data to the DC in compressed form.

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: 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: Method and apparatus for controlling migration of a Quick User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Internet Connections (QUIC) connection between a server and a neighboring server of a content delivery network (CDN). The server and the neighboring server comprise respective cache memories, are comprised in the CDN and have a same server IP-address. The QUIC connection is identifiable by a connection identifier (CID) and is established to a migrating wireless device having a client IP-address. The method for controlling migration of the QUIC connection comprises receiving static key information representative of the QUIC connection; determining context transfer state information for the QUIC connection; and controlling transmission of a stateless reset token for the QUIC connection based on the determined context transfer state.

Abstract: A method performed in a first network node includes the first network node receiving a downlink data packet intended for a user equipment (UE). The method further includes, in response to receiving the downlink data packet, the first network node retrieving, from a second network node, a list of a plurality of top of service function chain (SFC) nodes, each top of SFC node being a first node in a SFC that is in communication with the first network node. The method further includes, the first network node selecting at least one top of SFC node from the plurality of top of SFC nodes in accordance with predetermined criteria. The method further includes the first network node marking the downlink data packet such that the marked downlink data packet is forwarded to the selected top of SFC node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method performed by a network node (130, 140, 160) of a wireless communication network (100) comprising a first (130) and a second (140) core network node and a first (150) and a second (160) base station (150). A session of a wireless device (170) comprises data packets routed via a plurality of anchor network nodes (115, 120) from a data network (110).