According to an aspect, a wireless device determines, while in an RRC Inactive state, that a Radio Access Network Notification Area Update, RNAU, is needed. The wireless device further evaluates whether there is any other cause for resuming an RRC connected state, in addition to the need for the RNAU. The wireless device transmits an RRC Resume Request message to the network, in response to the determining. The RRC Resume Request message includes a cause indicator indicating an RNAU as a cause for resuming a RRC Connected state in the event that said evaluating identifies no other cause for resuming the RRC connected state.

According to an aspect, a wireless device determines, while in an RRC Inactive state, that a Radio Access Network Notification Area Update, RNAU, is needed. The wireless device further evaluates whether there is any other cause for resuming an RRC connected state, in addition to the need for the RNAU. The wireless device transmits an RRC Resume Request message to the network, in response to the determining. The RRC Resume Request message includes a cause indicator indicating an RNAU as a cause for resuming a RRC Connected state in the event that said evaluating identifies no other cause for resuming the RRC connected state.

Embodiments include methods performed by a radio access network (RAN) node of a wireless communication system. Such methods include receiving, from a wireless device via a cell, a request to resume an RRC connected state with the wireless communication network. The request includes a cause indicator that indicates mobility signaling as a cause for resuming the RRC connected state. Such methods include, based on the cause indicator, requesting an access and mobility management function (AMF) of the wireless communication system to perform a tracking area update (TAU) for the wireless device. Such methods include receiving from the AMF an indication that the TAU for the wireless device is complete and in response to the received indication, initiating an access-stratum (AS) procedure for the wireless device. Other embodiments include complementary methods for AMFs as well as RAN node and AMFs configured to perform such methods.

Embodiments include methods performed by a radio access network (RAN) node of a wireless communication system. Such methods include receiving, from a wireless device via a cell, a request to resume an RRC connected state with the wireless communication network. The request includes a cause indicator that indicates mobility signaling as a cause for resuming the RRC connected state. Such methods include, based on the cause indicator, requesting an access and mobility management function (AMF) of the wireless communication system to perform a tracking area update (TAU) for the wireless device. Such methods include receiving from the AMF an indication that the TAU for the wireless device is complete and in response to the received indication, initiating an access-stratum (AS) procedure for the wireless device. Other embodiments include complementary methods for AMFs as well as RAN node and AMFs configured to perform such methods.

A communication method and apparatus, related to the field of communication technologies. The method includes: a first network device sends configuration information of a first communication resource to a first terminal device. The first terminal device may configure the first communication resource based on the received configuration information. The first terminal device may listen to a paging message that is broadcast by the first network device on the first communication resource and that is used for paging a second terminal device, so that the first terminal device in a connected state can listen to a paging message for the second terminal device, and the second terminal device can establish a communication connection to the first network device.

Embodiments include methods in a wireless device. Such methods include, while the wireless device is in an RRC inactive state with respect to a wireless communication network, determining that updates are needed for the wireless device's access stratum (AS) and non-access stratum (NAS). For example, the AS update can be a RAN notification area update (RNAU) and the NAS update can be a tracking area update (TAU). Such methods include transmitting, to the wireless communication network, a request to resume an RRC connected state with the wireless communication network. The request includes a cause indicator that indicates mobility signaling as a cause for resuming the RRC connected state. Such methods also include receiving, from the wireless communication network, a response to the request to resume the RRC connected state and initiating the NAS update based on the response. Other embodiments include wireless devices configured to perform such methods.

Embodiments include methods in a wireless device. Such methods include, while the wireless device is in an RRC inactive state with respect to a wireless communication network, determining that updates are needed for the wireless device's access stratum (AS) and non-access stratum (NAS). For example, the AS update can be a RAN notification area update (RNAU) and the NAS update can be a tracking area update (TAU). Such methods include transmitting, to the wireless communication network, a request to resume an RRC connected state with the wireless communication network. The request includes a cause indicator that indicates mobility signaling as a cause for resuming the RRC connected state. Such methods also include receiving, from the wireless communication network, a response to the request to resume the RRC connected state and initiating the NAS update based on the response. Other embodiments include wireless devices configured to perform such methods.

A mobility management processing method includes: receiving, by an SMF network element, a data notification message that includes a PDU session identifier and that is sent by a UPF network element, and determining, based on the PDU session identifier, a session and SSC mode corresponding to the PDU session identifier and/or a service area of the UPF network element, where the UPF network element is a network element that establishes a PDU session corresponding to the PDU session identifier; determining a paging area based on the SSC mode and/or the service area of the UPF network element; and sending a first message including the paging area to an AMF network element, where the first message is used to trigger the AMF network element to page, in the paging area, a terminal that establishes the PDU session by using the UPF network element.

A mobility management processing method includes: receiving, by an SMF network element, a data notification message that includes a PDU session identifier and that is sent by a UPF network element, and determining, based on the PDU session identifier, a session and SSC mode corresponding to the PDU session identifier and/or a service area of the UPF network element, where the UPF network element is a network element that establishes a PDU session corresponding to the PDU session identifier; determining a paging area based on the SSC mode and/or the service area of the UPF network element; and sending a first message including the paging area to an AMF network element, where the first message is used to trigger the AMF network element to page, in the paging area, a terminal that establishes the PDU session by using the UPF network element.

Embodiments include methods in a wireless device. Such methods include, while the wireless device is in an RRC inactive state with respect to a wireless communication network, determining that updates are needed for the wireless device's access stratum (AS) and non-access stratum (NAS). For example, the AS update can be a RAN notification area update (RNAU) and the NAS update can be a tracking area update (TAU). Such methods include transmitting, to the wireless communication network, a request to resume an RRC connected state with the wireless communication network. The request includes a cause indicator that indicates mobility signaling as a cause for resuming the RRC connected state. Such methods also include receiving, from the wireless communication network, a response to the request to resume the RRC connected state and initiating the NAS update based on the response. Other embodiments include wireless devices configured to perform such methods.