A technique for transmitting and receiving a configuration message for a phase tracking reference signal, PT-RS, on a radio channel between a radio access node and a radio device is described. The radio channel comprises a plurality of subcarriers in a physical resource block, PRB. A subset of the subcarriers in the PRB is allocated to a demodulation reference signal, DM-RS. As to a method aspect of the technique, the configuration message is transmitted to the radio device. The configuration message comprises a bit field that is indicative of at least one subcarrier allocated to the PT-RS among the subset of subcarriers allocated to the DM-RS.

A technique for transmitting and receiving a configuration message for a phase tracking reference signal, PT-RS, on a radio channel between a radio access node and a radio device is described. The radio channel comprises a plurality of subcarriers in a physical resource block, PRB. A subset of the subcarriers in the PRB is allocated to a demodulation reference signal, DM-RS. As to a method aspect of the technique, the configuration message is transmitted to the radio device. The configuration message comprises a bit field that is indicative of at least one subcarrier allocated to the PT-RS among the subset of subcarriers allocated to the DM-RS.

A device can receive, at a user plane function (UPF), a set of rules for managing a communications session. The set of rules can include a set of mobility management rules and a set of packet processing rules. The device can store the set of mobility management rules and the set of packet processing rules at the UPF. At a control plane of the UPF, the device can perform an analysis of a flow of one or more packets transmitted during the communications session. At run-time, and based on the analysis, the device can generate a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored set of packet processing rules. The device can receive a packet of the flow, apply the modified set of packet processing rules to the received packet, and forward the received packet and update the modified set of packet processing rules.

A device can receive, at a user plane function (UPF), a set of rules for managing a communications session. The set of rules can include a set of mobility management rules and a set of packet processing rules. The device can store the set of mobility management rules and the set of packet processing rules at the UPF. At a control plane of the UPF, the device can perform an analysis of a flow of one or more packets transmitted during the communications session. At run-time, and based on the analysis, the device can generate a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored set of packet processing rules. The device can receive a packet of the flow, apply the modified set of packet processing rules to the received packet, and forward the received packet and update the modified set of packet processing rules.

Example communications systems, methods and network devices are described. One example method includes sending a first message by a first access network device to a core network device to enable the core network device to send a second message to a second access network device, where the first message includes an identity of the second network device. The first message is used to request for X2 transport network layer (TNL) configuration information of a third network device, and the third network device is a network device that has established an X2 connection to the second network device. The first network device receives the X2 TNL configuration information of the third access network device from the second access network device. Therefore, a network device connected to a control plane of a core network can obtain TNL addresses of more network devices that are not connected to the control plane of the core network.

Example communications systems, methods and network devices are described. One example method includes sending a first message by a first access network device to a core network device to enable the core network device to send a second message to a second access network device, where the first message includes an identity of the second network device. The first message is used to request for X2 transport network layer (TNL) configuration information of a third network device, and the third network device is a network device that has established an X2 connection to the second network device. The first network device receives the X2 TNL configuration information of the third access network device from the second access network device. Therefore, a network device connected to a control plane of a core network can obtain TNL addresses of more network devices that are not connected to the control plane of the core network.

Techniques for virtualized network functions (VNFs) that provide for domain isolation of networks coupled to the VNF are described. A virtual network function (VNF) includes a cloud virtual domain coupling the VNF to a cloud service, a management virtual domain coupling the VNF to a management service, and an external virtual domain having a public Internet Protocol (IP) address. The external virtual domain receives an authentication request providing access credentials for a VNF customer from a cloud client device, provides the authentication request to the management service via the management virtual domain, receives an authentication response from the management service, and, in response to determining that the VNF customer access credentials are valid, initiates application of a policy that allows the cloud client device to configure the cloud virtual domain or the cloud service and disallows configuration of the external virtual domain and the management virtual domain.

Techniques for virtualized network functions (VNFs) that provide for domain isolation of networks coupled to the VNF are described. A virtual network function (VNF) includes a cloud virtual domain coupling the VNF to a cloud service, a management virtual domain coupling the VNF to a management service, and an external virtual domain having a public Internet Protocol (IP) address. The external virtual domain receives an authentication request providing access credentials for a VNF customer from a cloud client device, provides the authentication request to the management service via the management virtual domain, receives an authentication response from the management service, and, in response to determining that the VNF customer access credentials are valid, initiates application of a policy that allows the cloud client device to configure the cloud virtual domain or the cloud service and disallows configuration of the external virtual domain and the management virtual domain.

A base station transmits RRC message(s) comprising a first configuration parameter of a first SPS configuration, a second configuration parameter of a second SPS configuration, and a third configuration parameter. The first configuration parameter may indicate a first HARQ codebook identifier. The second configuration parameter may indicate a second HARQ codebook identifier. The second HARQ codebook identifier may be the same as the first HARQ codebook identifier. The third configuration parameter may indicate a state that is mapped to the first SPS configuration and the second SPS configuration. A DCI may be transmitted. A value of bit(s) of a HARQ process number field of the DCI may indicate the state. The DCI may indicate deactivation of the first SPS configuration and the second SPS configuration. An acknowledgement may be received.

A base station transmits RRC message(s) comprising a first configuration parameter of a first SPS configuration, a second configuration parameter of a second SPS configuration, and a third configuration parameter. The first configuration parameter may indicate a first HARQ codebook identifier. The second configuration parameter may indicate a second HARQ codebook identifier. The second HARQ codebook identifier may be the same as the first HARQ codebook identifier. The third configuration parameter may indicate a state that is mapped to the first SPS configuration and the second SPS configuration. A DCI may be transmitted. A value of bit(s) of a HARQ process number field of the DCI may indicate the state. The DCI may indicate deactivation of the first SPS configuration and the second SPS configuration. An acknowledgement may be received.