Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for session service management. A method performed by a first session management function comprises determining first N4 information related to a user plane function (UPF). The first N4 information comprises an identifier of the UPF. The method further comprises sending a first message comprising the first N4 information to a second session management function.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for charging management. A method performed by a first user plane function includes determining a charging action for a first session. The method further includes sending information regarding the charging action for the first session to a second user plane function.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for binding information management. A method implemented at a policy control node in a wireless communication network comprises: obtaining information indicating a collocated deployment of a session management node and a binding support node (202); and inhibiting, in response to the information, a registration of binding information to the binding support node (204). A policy control node can know that a binding support node is collocated with a session management node, and no registration of binding information to the binding support node will be triggered for the policy control node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for network triggered service restoration (NTSR). According to an embodiment, a serving gateway (SGW) obtains, from a mobility management entity (MME), information capable of indicating whether to apply NTSR for a terminal device. In response to detecting a failure of the MME, the SGW determines whether to apply NTSR for the terminal device based on the obtained information.

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: 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: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for binding information management. A method implemented at a policy control node in a wireless communication network comprises: obtaining information indicating a collocated deployment of a session management node and a binding support node (202); and inhibiting, in response to the information, a registration of binding information to the binding support node (204). A policy control node can know that a binding support node is collocated with a session management node, and no registration of binding information to the binding support node will be triggered for the policy control node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for network triggered service restoration (NTSR). According to an embodiment, a serving gateway (SGW) obtains, from a mobility management entity (MME), information capable of indicating whether to apply NTSR for a terminal device. In response to detecting a failure of the MME, the SGW determines whether to apply NTSR for the terminal device based on the obtained information.