The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling multicast and broadcast service (MBS) by a session management function (SMF) in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a first message including information about an MBS area and an MBS session identifier (ID) to an access and mobility management function (AMF), receiving a second message indicating that a user equipment receiving a service within the MBS area is located outside the MBS area from the AMF, determining that the UE is located outside the MBS area based on the second message, and processing a quality of service (QoS) flow applied to MBS traffic delivered by individual delivery.

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an uplink classifier and branching point service is provided. The service may include the management of user plane function devices or uplink classifier devices according to various architectures and connectivity among the user plane function devices or uplink classifier devices. The service may allow end devices situated in different locations to connect to different application service host devices and application service layer networks based on such management.

An orchestration tool determines optimal user plane function (UPF) positioning by using edge nodes as proxy for UPF performance prediction. A disclosed solution includes: using a plurality of edge nodes as proxies to predict performance of a UPF, which has not yet been built, for routing data packets to a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) from locations of each of the plurality of edge nodes; selecting, by an orchestrator, a first edge node location; and generating, by the orchestrator, an alert indicating selection of the first edge node location. A first UPF will be built at the first edge node location although, in some examples, upon further monitoring, the orchestrator may determine that the second edge node location will outperform the first edge node location, resulting in the UPF moving to the second edge node location. In some examples, performance criteria depend on traffic type (e.g., real-time gaming).

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device including a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of receiving a query for 5G Session Management Functions (SMFs) to handle a connection request, wherein the query includes a slice ID and data network name; determining a list of SMFs that each have a blockchain ID immutably recorded on a blockchain, wherein the blockchain ID is authorized to provide service to the slice ID; and sending, responsive to the query, the list of SMFs. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A session handling method and apparatus, where the method includes: initiating, by a terminal, an application (APP); determining a session type of a packet data unit (PDU) session based on the APP; and sending a first message to an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity, where the first message includes the session type, and the first message is used to request to establish the PDU session of the session type. In the method, a network side can establish the PDU session of the corresponding type based on the session type of the PDU session that is sent by the terminal, in order to establish the PDU session of the correct type for the terminal.

This application provides a data transmission method, a device, and a network system. The method is applied to a backbone device, and the backbone device is connected to at least two access devices. After obtaining first data that needs to be sent to a first user device, the backbone device determines a first tunnel interface identifier corresponding to the first user device. The first user device is a single-homing user device. The backbone device sends, based on the first tunnel interface identifier, a first data packet including the first data to a first access device of the at least two access devices. The first access device is configured with the first tunnel interface identifier. This can optimize a data forwarding path, implement traffic optimization for the single-homing user device, and reduce traffic pressure of the network system.

This application provides a data transmission method, a device, and a network system. The method is applied to a backbone device, and the backbone device is connected to at least two access devices. After obtaining first data that needs to be sent to a first user device, the backbone device determines a first tunnel interface identifier corresponding to the first user device. The first user device is a single-homing user device. The backbone device sends, based on the first tunnel interface identifier, a first data packet including the first data to a first access device of the at least two access devices. The first access device is configured with the first tunnel interface identifier. This can optimize a data forwarding path, implement traffic optimization for the single-homing user device, and reduce traffic pressure of the network system.

The present disclosure relates to mobile edge computing (MEC) information obtaining methods and apparatus. One example method performed by a first network element includes receiving target reference information from a second network element, and sending, to the second network element, information about a MEC platform corresponding to the target reference information. The target reference information comprises target capability information.

A session management function (SMF) receives, from a wireless device, a packet data unit (PDU) session establishment request message requesting establishment of a PDU session associated with an application and offloaded processing of data from the wireless device to an application server associated with the application. The SMF sends, to the wireless device, a response message indicating a rejection or an acceptance of the offloaded processing of data.

A control device (15a) includes a control unit configured to: acquire a switching request based on a latency measured in a first application function (AF) (30) disposed in a first network slice (5) or in a terminal device (40) communicating with the first AF (30); and switch, based on the acquired switching request, a core network to be connected to the terminal device (40) from a first core network (10a) disposed in the first network slice (5) to a second core network (10b) disposed in a second network slice (6) by using the first AF (30), or using the first AF (30) and the terminal device (40), as an anchor.