Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Ignacio Rivas Molina

Susana Fernandez Alonso

Fuencisla Garcia Azorero

Angel Navas Cornejo

Victor Ferraro Esparza

Maria Belen Pancorbo Marcos

Nipun Sharma

Irene Martin Cabello

Antonio Iniesta Gonzalez

Fredrik Lindholm

Lars Lövsén

Patrik Dannebro

Louis Segura

Rikard Eriksson

Rakesh Bajpai

Tushar Sabharwal

Virgilio Fiorese

Jesus Angel De Gregorio Rodriguez

Venkata Ramesh Balabhadruni

Rajiv Bhardwaj

Filipe Alexandre Rodrigues De Moura Leitao

Jorge Garcia Llorente

Santiago Gallego Rodrigo

Alberto Díaz Hérnandez

Lars LÖVSEN

Angel Navas Comejo

A method performed by a first node (e.g., a network exposure function (NEF)) is provided. The method includes: the first node subscribing to an event for one or more user equipments (UEs) at a second node (e.g., a policy and control function (PCF)). Subscribing to the event comprises indicating one or more filters selected from the group of (i) a set of network identifiers (e.g., data network names (DNNs)) that the subscription applies to, (ii) a set of network slice identifiers (e.g., single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs)) that the subscription applies to, and (iii) a set of locations to which the subscription applies.

Filters for bulk subscriptions

Network nodes and methods for control thereof for dynamic network slice selection. An AMF receives a UE request originating from the UE, the UE request being any one of a registration request and a session request. A network slice requester controls a transmitter to transmit a network slice selection request to a PC_NSS. A selection data manager of the PC_NSS determines selection data specifying one or more UE specific parameters affecting network slice selection. A network slice selector selects a network slice assignable for the UE, based on the selection data, determines network slice data and a corresponding network slice routing rule, and transmits them to the AMF. A network slice manager of the AMF controls assignment of a network slice to the UE in dependence on the received network slice data and network slice routing rule.

Network slice selection

Methods performed in a core network () for dynamically handling access and mobility service areas with different capabilities in a communication system () are disclosed. The methods are carried out in an AMF node (), a UDM node (), a PCF node () and a SMF node (). The UDM node () configures Service Area Restriction (SAR) data in a subscription data for a UE (). The SAR data includes a number of service areas allowed or restricted for the UE and, for each service area, a service area identifier, a service area type and a service area definition. The PCF node configures a Service Area Definition (SAD) rule for a UE. The SAD rule comprises a service area definition and an indication of a set of service area characteristics enabled in the service area. During a registration procedure, the SAR data and SAD rule may be provided to the AMF node upon request for a UE communication. The AMF node then takes actions for the UE communication based on anyone of the SAR data, the SAD rule and local policies at the AMF node. During a session management procedure, the SMF node () receives service area related information with a service area identifier and a service area type from the AMF node, and receives the SAD rule from the PCF node. The SMF node () then take actions for the UE communication based on the SAD rule, the information received from the AMF node () and/or local policies at the SMF node.

Method and system for including dynamic service areas in access and mobility restriction control

A method by a network function communicating with a unified data repository of a communications network. The method including receiving from the UDR a subscription identifier for a subscription by the network function to receive data change notifications from the UDR. The method also including sending toward the UDR a change request containing an instruction to change data in the UDR and containing the subscription identifier to signal the UDR to not send to the network function a notification regarding this change to the data.

Change request with indication that no notification of subscribed data change is to be sent to requesting network function

There is provided mechanisms for handling secondary RAT data usage for a UE. A method is performed by a mobility node. The method comprises obtaining, from a network node, an indication of data usage for the UE using the secondary RAT. The method comprises forwarding the indication towards a policy node. The method comprises obtaining a policy decision originating from the policy node. The policy decision is based on the indication of data usage. The method comprises performing an action based on the policy decision.

Handling of secondary RAT data usage for a UE

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for event notification in a core network of a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method performed by a first Policy and Control Function (PCF) serving an Access Management (AM) policy association for a User Equipment (UE) wherein the first PCF is comprised in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises subscribing to an event exposure service of a second PCF serving a Session Management (SM) policy association for the UE. The method further comprises, responsive to subscribing to the event exposure service of the second PCF, receiving a report from the second PCF. In this manner, separate deployments of the first and second PCFs are enabled and still the first PCF serving the AM policy association for the UE can implement AM policies for the UE, e.g., based on UE data usage, e.g., of specified service bundles.

Extension of Npcf_EventExposure with usage monitoring event

A method that includes a policy function transmitting to a depository function a request for information; and the policy function receiving a response to the request, wherein the response comprises: a usageMonDataLimit instance comprising a limit identifier; and a usageMonData instance corresponding to the usageMonDataLimit instance, wherein the usageMonData instance also comprises the limit identifier.

Usage monitoring data control

A method performed by a first node (e.g., a network exposure function (NEF)) is provided. The method includes: the first node subscribing to an event for one or more user equipments (UEs) at a second node (e.g., a policy and control function (PCF)). Subscribing to the event comprises indicating one or more filters selected from the group of (i) a set of network identifiers (e.g., data network names (DNNs)) that the subscription applies to, (ii) a set of network slice identifiers (e.g., single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs)) that the subscription applies to, and (iii) a set of locations that the subscription applies to.

The present invention faces identifying resource allocation results when resource request and modifications occur in fast succession, and provides for associating at an AF each media component description transmitted to a PCRF with a media component instance identifier, associating at the PCRF each media component instance identifier with rule instance identifiers for control rules determined for each media component description, and associating at a PCEF each rule instance identifier with a control rule and with a bearer for which the control rule is to be installed or modified. Upon obtaining a resource allocation result for a bearer at the PCEF, determining and transmitting to the PCRF the rule instance identifier associated with the bearer and an affected control rule, determining and transmitting from the PCRF to the AF a media component instance identifier associated with the received rule instance identifier for the affected control rule, and identifying at the AF the media component description associated with the received media component instance identifier and for which the received resource allocation result applies.

Network-based policy control for simultaneous accesses

Methods and apparatus for controlling the transmission of user data over an NAS of a telecommunications network. An AMF includes a receiver configured to receive NAS policy control data determined by a PCF. The NAS policy control data identifies a user, is based on the user's subscription to the telecommunications network and includes one or more authorization parameters identifying whether the user is permitted to transmit user data over the NAS. The receiver also receives from a UE, or an AS, an NAS transmission request identifying the user and requesting transmission of user data over the NAS. An NAS transmission authorizer controls whether the transmission of the user data over the NAS should be authorized based on the authorization parameters and the NAS transmission request.

User data transported over non-access stratum

Methods and systems for performing multi-domain network slice selection and approval are provided. According to one aspect, a method performed by a Network Slice Selection Function comprises: receiving, from a requesting entity, a request for a network slice for use by a client device; upon determining that the network slice selection requires approval, identifying an Authorizing Network Function (ANF) for authorizing a network slice for the client device; determining a trust status of the ANF; identifying, based on the trust status, a network interface to use when communicating with the ANF; sending a slice selection authorization request to the ANF via the identified network interface; receiving from the ANF an approval status of a network slice; determining, based on the approval status and approval conditions, an allowed network slice; and sending, to the requesting entity, information including the allowed network slice.

Methods and systems for performing multi-domain network slice selection and approval

An apparatus for user plane function, UPF, allocation is described. The UPF is configured to provide a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, connectivity service between a terminal device and a data network on a user plane, and the allocation is based on control information associated with an individual logical PDU entity. The control information defines priority information indicative of a priority of the PDU entity relative to other PDU entities and pre-emption information indicative of at least one of whether the PDU entity is capable of being pre-emptively allocated to a UPF over other PDU entities served by that UPF, and whether the PDU entity when served by a UPF is vulnerable to being re-allocated for pre-emptively allocating other PDU entities to that UPF. The apparatus is configured to detect an event that requires UPF allocation to a first PDU entity, to select a first UPF, wherein the first UPF is serving one or more second PDU entities, and to determine, for the selected UPF, insufficient resources for serving the first PDU entity. The apparatus is also configured to perform, responsive to determining the insufficient resources of the selected UPF, an evaluation of first priority information associated with the first PDU entity relative to second priority information associated with the one or more second PDU entities and at least one of first pre-emption information associated with the first PDU entity and second pre-emption information associated with the one or more second PDU entities. The apparatus is further configured to trigger, dependent on the result of the evaluation, allocation of the first PDU entity to either the first UPF or a second UPF.

Technique for user plane function allocation

The present invention faces identifying resource allocation results when resource request and modifications occur in fast succession, and provides for associating at an AF each media component description transmitted to a PCRF with a media component instance identifier, associating at the PCRF each media component instance identifier with rule instance identifiers for control rules determined for each media component description, and associating at a PCEF each rule instance identifier with a control rule and with a bearer for which the control rule is to be installed or modified. Upon obtaining a resource allocation result for a bearer at the PCEF, determining and transmitting to the PCRF the rule instance identifier associated with the bearer and an affected control rule, determining and transmitting from the PCRF to the AF a media component instance identifier associated with the received rule instance identifier for the affected control rule, and identifying at the AF the media component description associated with the received media component instance identifier and for which the received resource allocation applies.

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Madrid, Spain

Ignacio Rivas Molina