A method of handling multi-access (MA) Protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment procedure for an MA PDU session already established with a 3GPP PDN leg is proposed. In one novel aspect, for a 5GS MA PDU session already established on 3GPP access via an EPS PDN connection, upon receipt of a PDU SESSION ESTABLISHMENT ACCEPT message over non-3GPP access, the UE performs a local release of the MA PDU session if any value of at least one of the critical MA PDU session parameters, including the PDU session type, selected SSC mode, 5GSM cause, PDU address, S-NSSAI, and DNN IEs in the PDU SESSION ESTABLISHMENT ACCEPT message is different-from/un-sync/not-matched/not-compatible-with the corresponding stored value of the MA PDU session mapped from the (default EPS bearer of the) PDN connection. The UE also performs a REGISTRATION procedure over non-3GPP access and a TAU procedure over 3GPP access.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a gateway. The gateway detects that a procedure for activating or deactivating a bearer has been initiated. The gateway receives a first modify bearer or modify access bearers request message for the same PDN connection and UE as the bearer activation or deactivation procedure is intended for. The gateway detects a bearer mismatch between a first set of bearers and a second set of bearers known by the gateway and associated with said same PDN connection and UE. The gateway accepts, during a time interval, the received modify bearer or modify access bearers request message even though the bearer mismatch has been detected.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a gateway. The gateway detects that a procedure for activating or deactivating a bearer has been initiated. The gateway receives a first modify bearer or modify access bearers request message for the same PDN connection and UE as the bearer activation or deactivation procedure is intended for. The gateway detects a bearer mismatch between a first set of bearers and a second set of bearers known by the gateway and associated with said same PDN connection and UE. The gateway accepts, during a time interval, the received modify bearer or modify access bearers request message even though the bearer mismatch has been detected.

An operation method of a first communication node may comprise: establishing a first wireless connection with a GCS; establishing a second wireless connection with the GCS; transmitting and receiving data to and from the GCS through a first end-to-end connection based on the first wireless connection; reporting a communication quality of the first wireless connection to the GCS; receiving a link switch request from the GCS; switching a link from the first wireless connection to the second wireless connection based on the link switch request; and transmitting and receiving data through a second end-to-end connection based on the second wireless connection.

The embodiments herein relate to reducing signaling for DoNAS (Data over Non-Access Stratum) via SGi. In one embodiment, there proposes a method (400) in a mobility management node (203), comprising: establishing (S401) an S11-U connection between the mobility management node (203) and a gateway node (204); monitoring (S402) the frequency of data transferring request for a wireless device (201); and deciding (S404) whether or not to release the S11-U connection based on the frequency of data transferring request. With the embodiments herein, the signaling between the mobility management node and the gateway node can be significantly reduced, without introducing extra signaling or message to the existing network.

The embodiments herein relate to reducing signaling for DoNAS (Data over Non-Access Stratum) via SGi. In one embodiment, there proposes a method (400) in a mobility management node (203), comprising: establishing (S401) an S11-U connection between the mobility management node (203) and a gateway node (204); monitoring (S402) the frequency of data transferring request for a wireless device (201); and deciding (S404) whether or not to release the S11-U connection based on the frequency of data transferring request. With the embodiments herein, the signaling between the mobility management node and the gateway node can be significantly reduced, without introducing extra signaling or message to the existing network.

A communications method and apparatus, the method including receiving, by a policy control network element, from a first session management network element, a policy request message, sending, by the policy control network element, to the first session management network element, according to the policy request message, policy information, where the policy information comprises a data network access identifier (DNAI), and establishing, by the first session management network element, according to the DNAI, a first user plane network element for a first protocol data unit (PDU) session for a terminal device.

A base station distributed unit transmits, to a wireless device and via a radio link, packets received from a base station central unit. The base station distributed unit detects an outage of the radio link. The base station distributed unit transmits to the base station central unit, a parameter indicating the outage. The base station distributed unit receives from the base station central unit, an indication of a release of a wireless device context of the wireless device. The base station distributed unit releases the wireless device context.

A base station distributed unit transmits, to a wireless device and via a radio link, packets received from a base station central unit. The base station distributed unit detects an outage of the radio link. The base station distributed unit transmits to the base station central unit, a parameter indicating the outage. The base station distributed unit receives from the base station central unit, an indication of a release of a wireless device context of the wireless device. The base station distributed unit releases the wireless device context.

Embodiments of this application provide a session processing method and apparatus. When a quantity of sessions of a terminal device that each have an activated user plane connection is not less than a quantity threshold, the terminal device determines to deactivate a user plane connection of at least one first session, where the sessions that each have the activated user plane connection include the at least one first session. The terminal device sends a first request message to a first network element, where the first request message includes indication information, and the indication information indicates to deactivate the user plane connection of the at least one first session.