Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Nipun Sharma

Tushar Sabharwal

Virgilio Fiorese

Rakesh Bajpai

Hans Oskar Eriksson

Rohit Shukla

Venkata Sameer Kumar Kodukula

Rajiv Bhardwaj

George Foti

Ignacio Rivas Molina

Aditya Kumar Sinha

Saulo Almeida Montenegro De Sa

Vinicius Samuel Landi Fiorese

Peter Hedman

Athanasios Karapantelakis

Lila Madour

Robert Törnkvist

James O'Meara

Praveen Arora

Steve Menear

Robin Kaushik

Michael Grimes

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 for managing traffic processed by a target network function of a communication network is disclosed. The target network function transmits and receives traffic over a communication channel that carries traffic between network functions and application functions. The method, performed by a Data Analytics Function (DAF) of a communication network, comprises receiving information about traffic flows over the communication channel, establishing a priority amongst traffic flows over the communication channel, based on the received information, generating a recommendation for traffic processing on the basis of the established priority, and sending the generated recommendation to a function in the network that has a management responsibility for the target network function.

Management of traffic over a communication channel

Methods and apparatus are provided for network slice configuration. In one example aspect, a method in a network function in a network is disclosed. The network is a visited network for at least one User Equipment, UE. The network provides a network slice for the at least one UE, and the network function is a gateway for data communications for the at least one UE. The method includes obtaining an IP address for at least one service for the at least one UE, and providing the at least one service to the at least one UE according to a gateway configuration from a home network of the at least one UE.

Network slice configuration

Methods and systems for an online charging system to grant resources to a session with a terminal device when the session includes a large file or the session has a long duration. Embodiments the invention include methods performed by an electronic device for online charging in a wireless network. In one embodiment, the electronic device receives a request message for resources to set up a session with a terminal device, where the request message is sent from a core network interface to an online charging function (OCF), and where the request message indicates that the session includes a large file or that the session has a long duration. The electronic device determines that the terminal device has enough credit for the session based on the request message and grants the resources for the session with the terminal device based on the determination.

Method and system for session authorization by an online charging system in a wireless network utilizing a service capability exposure function

A communication network () provides communicative coupling between potentially large populations of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices () and/or other types of communication devices () and one or more Application Servers (ASs) () that are affiliated with respective ones of the communication devices (). One or more network functions () in the communication network () are operative to determine that any given one of the communication devices () is compromised, or that multiple such devices () are compromised, and provide for management of such devices () within the network () as 'compromised' devices (). Aspects of compromised-device management include forcing re-registration of such devices (), for quarantining them in one or more quarantine network slices (), and recovering quarantined devices () after remediation of the compromise. Recovery operations include forcing re-registration of devices () being recovered, for migration back to their normal or regular network slice(s) ().

Methods and apparatuses for managing compromised communication devices in a communication network

A first network node in a communication network can evaluate whether to scale a first resource of a network slice of the communication network. The first network node can receive, from a second network node of the communication network, a first message indicating a request for approval to scale the first resource of the network slice. Responsive to receiving the first message, the first network node can determine whether to scale the first resource of the network slice based on information regarding a second resource. The first and second resources may be of different types. The first network node can transmit, to the second network node, a second message indicating whether to scale the first resource of the network slice based on determining whether to scale the first resource of the network slice. Related methods are also discussed.

Evaluating overall network resource congestion before scaling a network slice

Methods and systems for exposing the network slice selection process to the entities within or attached to a client device are provided. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for allowing slice consumers within or attached to the client device to access and use Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) comprises, at a client device: receiving, at an Application Programming Interface (API) layer within the client device, a query for NSSAI, the query being sent by a slice consumer; sending, to a Fifth Generation modem within the client device, the query for NSSAI; receiving, from the 5G modem, a response to the query for NSSAI; and sending, to the slice consumer, the response to the query for NSSAI. Enhancements to the N1 interface as well to Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Application Function (AF), and Network Exposure Function (NEF) are presented.

Methods and systems for UE to request appropriate NSSAI in 5G

A method, performed by a first node is described, the method being for handling roaming information. The first node operates in a first communications network. The first node determines a set of network resources predicted to be required by a group of subscribers while roaming in a second communications network. The first node then initiates providing an indication of the determined set of resources to a second node in the second communications network. The second node receives the indication and determines whether or not an allocation of the set of resources meets a criterion. The second node then initiates performing an operation based on the determination. A third node determines data regarding a roaming behavior of the group of subscribers and provides information based on the determined data, to the first node.

First node, second node, third node and methods performed thereby for handling roaming information

Systems and methods for investigating and addressing excessive battery drainage in a wireless device in a cellular communications system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises receiving, from an external entity, a request to investigate excessive battery drainage at a particular wireless device and initiating collection of information related to operation of the wireless device. The information comprises user plane data, control plane information, and/or network information related to the wireless device. The method also comprises collecting the information from one or more network nodes in the cellular communications system, analyzing the collected information to determine one or more root causes of excessive battery drainage at the wireless device, and initiating one or more actions in the cellular communications system to mitigate excessive battery drainage at the wireless device.

Systems and methods for investigating and addressing battery life degradation of devices, such as IoT devices, in a cellular communications network

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

Methods and systems for online services applications and application functions to provide User Equipment (UE)-generated information to network data analytics to support network automation and optimization are provided. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for an online services application or Application Function (AF) to provide UE-Generated Information (UGI) to support network automation and optimization comprises, at a Network Data Analytics (NWDA) function: receiving UGI that was collected by a UE or by an online services AF; generating network automation and optimization information based on at least some of the received UGI; and sending the network automation and optimization information to a Radio Access Network (RAN).

Methods and systems for online services applications and application functions to provide UE-generated information to network data analytics to support network automation and optimization

An access regulating device () for a communication terminal () using a communication network () obtains an indication (I) that the communication terminal () is a potentially compromised communication terminal, analyses the indication (I), selects type of communication restriction based on the analysis, where a first type of communication restriction comprises barring the communication terminal () from using the communication network () and a second type of communication restriction comprises limiting the use of the communication network () by the communication terminal (), and informs (B,B; Q) at least one network node () responsible for handling communication restrictions of the type selected for the communication terminal () in order for the communication network () to effectuate the communication restriction.

Regulation of communication terminal access to a communication network

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to deferring delivery of non-Internet Protocol (IP) data in a wireless communication system via a Non-IP Data Delivery (NIDD) procedure based on a power source status of a serving Radio Access Network (RAN) node of a target wireless device. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node comprises receiving, from an exposure function, a NIDD request comprising data from an application server to be delivered to a wireless device via a NIDD procedure. The method further comprises making a determination as to whether to deliver the data to the wireless device via the NIDD procedure based on a power source status of a RAN node associated with the wireless device. In this manner, delivery of the non-IP data can be deferred depending on the power source status of the RAN node.

Systems and methods for optimized signaling for non IP data delivery (NIDD) communication

Methods and systems for End-to-End (E2E) User Equipment (UE) trajectory network automation are herein provided. According to one aspect, a network node for E2E UE trajectory network automation, such as a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), receives, from a requesting entity, information identifying a future E2E UE trajectory, the E2E UE trajectory comprising a start location, an end location, and zero or more intermediate locations between the start location and the end location; calculates a E2E mobility trajectory prediction for the identified future E2E UE trajectory; and sends, to the requesting entity, the calculated E2E mobility trajectory prediction. The requesting entity may be a trusted entity or an untrusted entity, such as a Third Party Provider (3PP) outside of the trusted domain of the network. If the requesting entity selects a mobility trajectory, the network node sends mobility management and optimization information to a Radio Access Network node.

Method for end-to-end (E2E) user equipment (UE) trajectory network automation based on future UE location

This specification presents methods and apparatus in a user equipment, packet data gateway, online charging server and policy server for enabling a user equipment with a prepaid subscription to select an application to download and obtain its downloadable size and reserve charging credits and resources at the network prior to downloading the application in accordance with the downloadable size thus allowing the prepaid user to secure the successful entire download of the application without running the risk of depleting the prepaid account while downloading.

Growing community of inventors

New Delhi, India

Nipun Sharma