A network function and a method for associating a UE of a UE group to a PDU session with in a CN. The NF establishes a shared PDU session for the UE group before all of the UEs in the UE group register with the CN and binds a UE that has not yet registered with the CN to the shared PDU session when the UE registers with the CN, provided the UE will share at least one of a UL UP connection and a DL UP connection associated with the shared PDU session. The NF may be an SMF.

A master RAN node (1) associated with a master RAT (1) communicates with a secondary RAN node (2) associated with a secondary RAT and provides a radio terminal (3) with dual connectivity that uses the master RAT and the secondary RAT. In response to receiving, from the radio terminal (3) or a core network (4), terminal capability information indicating that the radio terminal (3) supports the split bearer, the master RAN node (1) uses a PDCP entity, which provides unified PDCP functionalities, for a master cell group split bearer for the radio terminal (3).

A technique for implementing an untethered access point (UAP) mesh involves enabling AP-local switching at one or more UAPs of the mesh. A system constructed according to the technique may include an untethered access point (UAP), including: a radio; a backhaul service set identifier (SSID) stored in a computer-readable medium; an anchor access point (AAP) selection engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. In operation, the AAP selection engine may use the radio to attempt to associate with the AAP if a beaconed backhaul SSID matches the stored backhaul SSID. A method according to the technique may include beaconing with a backhaul SSID, acting in concert with an upstream switch as an authenticator for a downstream station that responds to the beacon; providing limited local switching functionality for the downstream station.

A technique for implementing an untethered access point (UAP) mesh involves enabling AP-local switching at one or more UAPs of the mesh. A system constructed according to the technique may include an untethered access point (UAP), including: a radio; a backhaul service set identifier (SSID) stored in a computer-readable medium; an anchor access point (AAP) selection engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. In operation, the AAP selection engine may use the radio to attempt to associate with the AAP if a beaconed backhaul SSID matches the stored backhaul SSID. A method according to the technique may include beaconing with a backhaul SSID, acting in concert with an upstream switch as an authenticator for a downstream station that responds to the beacon; providing limited local switching functionality for the downstream station.

Provided are an information exchange method and apparatus, a tunnel establishment method and apparatus, a communication node and a storage medium. The method includes: receiving segment routing Internet Protocol version 6 (SRv6) path segment compression information reported by a second communication node, where the SRv6 path segment compression information includes node construction information and node behavior information of an SRv6 path segment identifier; and sending SRv6 path segment compression configuration information to a third communication node according to the SRv6 path segment compression information.

Provided are an information exchange method and apparatus, a tunnel establishment method and apparatus, a communication node and a storage medium. The method includes: receiving segment routing Internet Protocol version 6 (SRv6) path segment compression information reported by a second communication node, where the SRv6 path segment compression information includes node construction information and node behavior information of an SRv6 path segment identifier; and sending SRv6 path segment compression configuration information to a third communication node according to the SRv6 path segment compression information.

Procedures, methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products directed to messaging through blockchain networks are provided. Among such methods is a method that may be implemented in a device comprising circuitry, including a transmitter, a receiver and a processor, and may include any of receiving a request to send a message including a message and information indicating a source of the message, a destination of the message and a distributed ledger system; determining a first node associated with a distributed ledger system based, at least in part, the information indicating the distributed ledger system and the information indicating the destination; generating a transaction for the message; and sending the transaction to a second node of the distributed ledger system.

A communication method and a communications apparatus, where the method includes: after receiving an RRC resume request message from a UE, determining, by a target access network device, a first user plane security protection method between the target access network device and the UE based on a context information obtaining response from a source access network device; determining a first user plane security key between the target access network device and the UE; when receiving first uplink user plane data from the UE, performing user plane security deprotection on the first uplink user plane data based on the first user plane security key and the first user plane security protection method, to obtain uplink user plane data; and sending the uplink user plane data.

A communication method and apparatus. The method may be applied to a 4G system, a 5G system, and/or a future communication system such as a 6G system. The method includes: a splitting protocol layer entity of a terminal device configures a first sequence number SN of a splitting protocol layer in a first splitting protocol layer data packet, and configures a second SN of the splitting protocol layer in a second splitting protocol layer data packet. The splitting protocol layer entity of the terminal device sends the first splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a first access network device, and sends the second splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a second access network device.

A wireless backhaul link is established between the IAB node and an IAB donor node via a first Narrow-Band Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) carrier, in which the IAB donor node provides the IAB node with access to a wired backhaul connection that links to a core network of the wireless carrier network. One or more corresponding wireless backhaul links are further established between the IAB node and one or more additional IAB nodes via a one or more corresponding NB-IoT carriers. A wireless access link is then established between the IAB node and an NB-IoT user device or between the IAB donor node and the NB-IoT user device via a second NB-IoT carrier.