A method at an Access and mobility Management Function (AMF) for facilitating a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session procedure for a User Equipment (UE) in a 5th Generation System (5GS) network, wherein the 5GS network is interworking with an Evolved Packet System (EPS) network, and a Packet Data Network Gateway Control plane Function+Session Management Function (PGW-C+SMF) supporting the interworking is selected for managing the PDU session. The method comprises determining whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network, based on at least one of a capability of the UE and a subscription data of the UE; and sending an indication which indicates whether the PDU session supports interworking with the EPS network to the PGW-C+SMF.

A method of utilizing the same hardware network interface card (NIC) in a gateway of a datacenter to communicate datacenter tenant packet traffic and packet traffic for a set of applications that execute in the user space of the gateway and utilize a network stack in the kernel space of the gateway. The method sends and receives packets for the datacenter tenant packet traffic through a packet datapath in the user space. The method sends incoming packets from the NIC to the set of applications through the datapath in the user space, a user-kernel transport driver connecting the kernel network stack to the datapath in the user space, and the kernel network stack. The method receives outgoing packets at the NIC from the set of applications through the kernel network stack, the user-kernel transport driver, and the data path in the user space.

A method of utilizing the same hardware network interface card (NIC) in a gateway of a datacenter to communicate datacenter tenant packet traffic and packet traffic for a set of applications that execute in the user space of the gateway and utilize a network stack in the kernel space of the gateway. The method sends and receives packets for the datacenter tenant packet traffic through a packet datapath in the user space. The method sends incoming packets from the NIC to the set of applications through the datapath in the user space, a user-kernel transport driver connecting the kernel network stack to the datapath in the user space, and the kernel network stack. The method receives outgoing packets at the NIC from the set of applications through the kernel network stack, the user-kernel transport driver, and the data path in the user space.

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.

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.

A method of discarding PDCP PDUs submitted for transmission includes submitting the PDCP PDU to a first entity for transmission over a first physical layer, and submitting the PDCP PDU to a second entity for transmission over a second physical layer. In response to determining that a predetermined time period has elapsed since the submission of the PDCP PDU, the first entity and the second entity are instructed to discard the PDCP PDU without transmission, or one of the first entity and the second entity are instructed to discard the PDCP PDU in response to an indication of transmission or delivery of the PDCP PDU by the other entity. Related apparatus and computer program product(s) are disclosed.

A method of discarding PDCP PDUs submitted for transmission includes submitting the PDCP PDU to a first entity for transmission over a first physical layer, and submitting the PDCP PDU to a second entity for transmission over a second physical layer. In response to determining that a predetermined time period has elapsed since the submission of the PDCP PDU, the first entity and the second entity are instructed to discard the PDCP PDU without transmission, or one of the first entity and the second entity are instructed to discard the PDCP PDU in response to an indication of transmission or delivery of the PDCP PDU by the other entity. Related apparatus and computer program product(s) are disclosed.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for discovering a network function (NF) acting as a network function service consumer are provided. One method may include, when a NF service consumer subscribes to notifications from a NF service producer, receiving, by the NF service producer, subscription information including a name of a consumer service of the NF service consumer that subscribes to notifications of the NF service producer. The receiving of the subscription information with the name of the consumer service allows the NF service producer to discover a corresponding NF service from an alternative NF instance within a NF set.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for discovering a network function (NF) acting as a network function service consumer are provided. One method may include, when a NF service consumer subscribes to notifications from a NF service producer, receiving, by the NF service producer, subscription information including a name of a consumer service of the NF service consumer that subscribes to notifications of the NF service producer. The receiving of the subscription information with the name of the consumer service allows the NF service producer to discover a corresponding NF service from an alternative NF instance within a NF set.

The document describes systems and methods for handling local (legacy) devices. A local cloud gateway comprises a plurality of interface connectors of different types to physically connect a plurality of these legacy devices to the cloud, comprising a plurality of distant servers. Developments describe the step of extracting the functional messages out of messages stemming from local legacy devices (e.g. protocol translators), secure communications, logical representations of legacy devices in the cloud (“twins”), administration options, various user interfaces (e.g. buzzer) for seamless configuration and use, the use of one or more actuators (retroactions on the physical world), etc. Software and/or hardware embodiments are described.