Method and apparatus for use in multi-protocol communication techniques

1 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for a user plane function of a system operating according to a first protocol, wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

detecting a message comprising information regarding use of resources and services of the system for a service of a system operating according to a second protocol; and

directing the message to a control plane function operating as a control plane translator between the first and second protocols,

wherein detecting comprises identifying that the message comprises IEEE Time-Sensitive Networking control signaling including Multiple Stream Registration Protocol (MSRP) identified by an EtherType value,

wherein directing comprises forwarding, in accordance with a forwarding action rule provided to the user plane function by a session management function, the message to the control plane translator, the forwarding action rule: (i) sets the control plane translator as a destination interface, (ii) identifies at least one of a receive interface, a packet detection rule applied at the user plane function, a user equipment associated with a packet data unit session, or a network TSN translator port at which the message was received, (iii) indicates whether only a payload or an entire frame is forwarded, and (iv) indicates whether a response is expected and, if so, a packet data unit session or network TSN translator port for forwarding the response, and

wherein directing comprises encapsulating the control signaling in a port management information container transported via one or more control plane interfaces from the user plane function to a session management function over N4 and from the session management function to the control plane translator via a network exposure function, the container being opaque to the system.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to direct the message to the control plane function via a user plane of the system operating according to the first protocol.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to add an encapsulation outer header to the message.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to direct the message to the control plane function via a control plane of the system operating according to the first protocol.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to direct the message to the control plane function via the control plane of the system operating according to the first protocol using a container protocol.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to direct the message to the control plane function via the control plane of the system using a port management information container.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the message is a stream reservation message or a resource allocation message according to the second protocol.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the message comprises information regarding use of the resources of the system and wherein the resources of the system comprise radio resources.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first protocol is a 3GPP protocol and the second protocol is an IEEE protocol.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for a user equipment function operating according to a first protocol in a system, wherein the computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

detecting a message comprising information regarding use of resources and services of the system for a service of a system operating according to a second protocol; and

directing the message from the user equipment function to a user plane function of the system for forwarding to a control plane function operating as a control plane translator between the first and second protocols, wherein the user plane function forwards the message in accordance with a forwarding action rule provided by a session management function and encapsulates the message in a port management information container transported over one or more control plane interfaces from the user plane function to the session management function over N4 and from the session management function to the control plane function via a network exposure function, the port management information container being opaque to the system.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

detecting comprises identifying that the message comprises IEEE Time-Sensitive Networking control signaling including Multiple Stream Registration Protocol (MSRP) identified by an EtherType value; and

wherein the forwarding action rule and the port management information container include metadata that: identifies at least one of a receive interface at which the message was received, a packet detection rule applied at the user plane function, a packet data unit session associated with the user equipment, or a network TSN translator port; indicates whether only a payload or a complete frame is forwarded; and indicates whether a response is expected and, if so, a packet data unit session or network TSN translator port to which the response is to be forwarded.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the EtherType value equals hexadecimal 0x22EA indicating Multiple Stream Registration Protocol (MSRP).

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the message comprises an IEEE stream reservation protocol (SRP) message or an IEEE resource allocation protocol (RAP) message.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the message comprises information regarding use of resources of the system and the resources comprise radio resources, and wherein the encapsulation uses a container protocol implemented over one or more control plane interfaces of the system.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first protocol is a 3GPP protocol and the second protocol is a IEEE protocol and wherein the forwarding action rule provided by the session management function: sets the control plane translator as a destination interface, identifies at least one of a receive interface or a packet detection rule applied at the user plane function and a user equipment associated with a packet data unit session or a network TSN translator port, indicates whether only a payload or an entire frame is forwarded, and indicates whether a response is expected and, if so, a packet data unit session or network TSN translator port to which the response is to be forwarded.

16 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for a first control plane function of a system operating according to a first protocol, wherein computer program code is configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving from a user plane function or user equipment function of the system operating according to the first protocol, a message comprising information regarding use of resources and services of the system for a service of a system operating according to a second protocol, wherein the first control plane function operates as a control plane translator between the first and second protocols;

interacting with a second control plane function of the system in relation to the message;

preparing a response to the message; and

directing the response to the user plane function or user equipment function for user plane forwarding to a node operating according to the second protocol,

wherein receiving comprises receiving, via a network exposure function, a port management information container that encapsulates IEEE Time-Sensitive Networking control signaling forwarded over one or more 5G control plane interfaces from a session management function, the container being opaque to the system, and wherein directing the response comprises returning the response using the port management information container over the 5G control plane.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the computer program code is configured to cause the apparatus to direct the response to the user plane function or user equipment function via a user plane of the system operating according to the first protocol.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the computer program code is configured to cause the apparatus to direct the response to the user plane function or user equipment function via a control plane of the system operating according to the first protocol.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the computer program code is configured to cause the apparatus to direct the response to the user plane function or user equipment function via the control plane using a container protocol.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the computer program code is configured to cause the apparatus to direct the response to the user plane function or user equipment function via the control plane of the system using a port management information container.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the message is a stream reservation message or a resource allocation message according to the second protocol.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the message comprises information regarding use of the resources of the system operating according to the second protocol and wherein the resources comprise radio resources.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first protocol is a 3GPP protocol and the second protocol is a IEEE protocol.