Method for querying and for subscribing PCF binding events for an address range in a 5G system

1 . A method for subscribing for Policy Control Function (PCF) binding events for an address range in a 5G system (5GS), wherein the 5GS comprises a Network Function (NF) Service Consumer and a functional entity, wherein the functional entity comprises binding information stored therein and the binding information comprises: Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions information and a list comprising one or more identities (IDs), wherein the one or more IDs comprise one or more subscriber IDs and/or PCF instance IDs, the method comprising:

subscribing, by the NF Service Consumer, to the functional entity for binding information changes for one or more subscriber parameters, wherein the one or more subscriber parameters comprise: a Media Access Control (MAC) or Internet Protocol (IP) address range, a Data Network Name (DNN), a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a Single Network Slice Selection Identifier (S-NSSAI), and/or an IP domain;

sending, from the functional entity to the NF Service Consumer, a confirmation of the subscription;

detecting, by the functional entity, a change of the stored binding information matching one or more subscriber parameters for one or more of the one or more IDs;

notifying, by the functional entity, the NF Service Consumer of the change of the stored binding information by sending new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs; and

receiving, at the NF Service Consumer, the new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 5GS further comprises a Unified data management (UDM), a Session Management Function (SMF), and a PCF, and wherein the method further comprises:

querying, by the NF Service Consumer, UDM for SMF registration data based on the one or more IDs associated with the new PDU session binding information;

replying, by the UDM to the NF Service Consumer, to the query with SMF registration data matching the one or more IDs, wherein the SMF registration data comprises one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs;

updating, at the NF Service Consumer, the SMF registration data; and

interacting, by the NF Service Consumer, with the SMF and/or the PCF using the one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

subscribing, by an external entity, to the NF Service Consumer for event changes for information matching one or more subscriber parameters, wherein query parameters comprise: the MAC or IP address range, the DNN, the SUPI, the GPSI, the S-NSSAI, and/or the IP domain;

notifying, by the 5G system, the NF Service Consumer of event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters; and

notifying, by the NF Service Consumer, the subscribed external entity of the event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the functional entity is a Binding Support Function (BSF); and/or

the NF Service Consumer is a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).

5 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for subscribing for Policy Control Function (PCF) binding events for an address range in a 5G system (5GS), wherein the 5GS comprises a Network Function (NF) Service Consumer and a functional entity, wherein the functional entity comprises binding information stored therein and the binding information comprises: Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions information and a list comprising one or more identities (IDs), wherein the one or more IDs comprise one or more subscriber IDs and/or PCF instance IDs, and wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, facilitate performance of the following:

subscribing, by the NF Service Consumer, to the functional entity for binding information changes for one or more subscriber parameters, wherein the one or more subscriber parameters comprise: a Media Access Control (MAC) or Internet Protocol (IP) address range, a Data Network Name (DNN), a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a Single Network Slice Selection Identifier (S-NSSAI), and/or an IP domain;

sending, from the functional entity to the NF Service Consumer, a confirmation of the subscription;

detecting, by the functional entity, a change of the stored binding information matching one or more subscriber parameters for one or more of the one or more IDs;

notifying, by the functional entity, the NF Service Consumer of the change of the stored binding information by sending new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs; and

receiving, at the NF Service Consumer, the new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs.

6 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 5 , wherein the 5GS further comprises a Unified data management (UDM), a Session Management Function (SMF), and a PCF, and wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, further facilitate performance of the following:

querying, by the NF Service Consumer, UDM for SMF registration data based on the one or more IDs associated with the new PDU session binding information;

replying, by the UDM to the NF Service Consumer, to the query with SMF registration data matching the one or more IDs, wherein the SMF registration data comprises one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs;

updating, at the NF Service Consumer, the SMF registration data; and

interacting, by the NF Service Consumer, with the SMF and/or the PCF using the one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs.

7 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 5 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, further facilitate performance of the following:

subscribing, by an external entity, to the NF Service Consumer for event changes for information matching one or more subscriber parameters, wherein query parameters comprise: the MAC or IP address range, the DNN, the SUPI, the GPSI, the S-NSSAI, and/or the IP domain;

notifying, by the 5G system, the NF Service Consumer of event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters; and

notifying, by the NF Service Consumer, the subscribed external entity of the event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters.

8 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 5 , wherein:

the functional entity is a Binding Support Function (BSF); and/or

the NF Service Consumer is a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).

9 . A 5G system (5GS), comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for subscribing for Policy Control Function (PCF) binding events for an address range in the 5GS, wherein the 5GS comprises a Network Function (NF) Service Consumer and a functional entity, wherein the functional entity comprises binding information stored therein and the binding information comprises: Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions information and a list comprising one or more identities (IDs), wherein the one or more IDs comprise one or more subscriber IDs and/or PCF instance IDs, and wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, facilitate performance of the following:

subscribing, by the NF Service Consumer, to the functional entity for binding information changes for one or more subscriber parameters, wherein the one or more subscriber parameters comprise: a Media Access Control (MAC) or Internet Protocol (IP) address range, a Data Network Name (DNN), a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), a Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), a Single Network Slice Selection Identifier (S-NSSAI), and/or an IP domain;

sending, from the functional entity to the NF Service Consumer, a confirmation of the subscription;

detecting, by the functional entity, a change of the stored binding information matching one or more subscriber parameters for one or more of the one or more IDs;

notifying, by the functional entity, the NF Service Consumer of the change of the stored binding information by sending new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs; and

receiving, at the NF Service Consumer, the new PDU session binding information associated with the one or more IDs.

10 . The 5GS of claim 9 , wherein the 5GS further comprises a Unified data management (UDM), a Session Management Function (SMF), and a PCF, and wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, facilitate performance of the following:

querying, by the NF Service Consumer, UDM for SMF registration data based on the one or more IDs associated with the new PDU session binding information;

replying, by the UDM to the NF Service Consumer, to the query with SMF registration data matching the one or more IDs, wherein the SMF registration data comprises one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs;

updating, at the NF Service Consumer, the SMF registration data; and

interacting, by the NF Service Consumer, with the SMF and/or the PCF using the one or more PDU session IDs and/or SMF instance IDs.

11 . The 5GS of claim 9 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, facilitate performance of the following:

subscribing, by an external entity, to the NF Service Consumer for event changes for information matching one or more subscriber parameters, wherein query parameters comprise: the MAC or IP address range, the DNN, the SUPI, the GPSI, the S-NSSAI, and/or the IP domain;

notifying, by the 5G system, the NF Service Consumer of event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters; and

notifying, by the NF Service Consumer, the subscribed external entity of the event changes for the one or more subscriber parameters.

12 . The 5GS of claim 9 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, wherein:

the functional entity is a Binding Support Function (BSF); and/or

the NF Service Consumer is a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).