Method and apparatus for controlling internet protocol flow for AF service in wireless communication system

1 . A method performed by a first network entity in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting, to a second network entity including a network address translation (NAT) function, a first request message for a list of services that is provided to the first network entity and type information of the NAT;

receiving, from the second network entity, a first response message comprising the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity and the type information of the NAT;

transmitting, to the second network entity, an operation indication message indicating an operation associated with a timer of Internet protocol (IP) address mapping information managed by the NAT; and

receiving, from the second network entity, a response message in response to transmitting the operation indication message,

wherein the operation indication message is not transferred to a user equipment (UE) in case that the operation indication message indicates an extension or a reset of the timer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, to the second network entity, a second request message indicating a request for at least one of a piece of period information of the timer, expiration time information of the timer, or expiration notification information of the timer; and

receiving, from the second network entity, a second response message corresponding to the second request message and comprising at least one of a piece of the period information of the timer, the expiration time information of the timer, or the expiration notification information of the timer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request message or the operation indication message is transmitted while being included in an IP datagram in a form of a UPF control message protocol (UCMP) message, and

wherein a value corresponding to a UCMP is set into a protocol field included in a header of the IP datagram.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a header of the UCMP message comprises a service name field, a service operation field, and an operation semantic field.

5 . A method performed by a second network entity including a network address translation (NAT) function in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first network entity, a first request message for a list of services that is provided to the first network entity and type information of the NAT;

transmitting, to the first network entity, a first response message comprising the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity and the type information of the NAT;

receiving, from the first network entity, an operation indication message indicating an operation associated with a timer of Internet protocol (IP) address mapping information managed by the NAT; and

transmitting, to the first network entity, a response message in response to receiving the operation indication message,

wherein the operation indication message is not transferred to a user equipment (UE) in case that the operation indication message indicates an extension or a reset of the timer.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

transmitting, to a third network entity, identification information of the first network entity; and

receiving, from the third network entity, the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first network entity, a second request message indicating a request for at least one of a piece of period information of the timer, expiration time information of the timer, or expiration notification information of the timer; and

transmitting, to the first network entity, a second response message corresponding to the second request message and comprising at least one of a piece of the period information of the timer, the expiration time information of the timer, or the expiration notification information of the timer.

8 . A first network entity in a wireless communication system, the first network entity comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor operably coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to:

transmit, to a second network entity including a network address translation (NAT) function, a first request message for a list of services that is provided to the first network entity and type information of the NAT;

receive, from the second network entity, a first response message comprising the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity and the type information of the NAT;

transmit, to the second network entity, an operation indication message indicating an operation associated with a timer of Internet protocol (IP) address mapping information managed by the NAT; and

receive, from the second network entity, a response message in response to transmitting the operation indication message,

wherein the operation indication message is not transferred to a user equipment (UE) in case that the operation indication message indicates an extension or a reset of the timer.

9 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit, to the second network entity, a second request message indicating a request for at least one of a piece of period information of the timer, expiration time information of the timer, or expiration notification information of the timer; and

receive, from the second network entity, a second response message corresponding to the second request message and comprising at least one of a piece of the period information of the timer, the expiration time information of the timer, or the expiration notification information of the timer.

10 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the first request message or the operation indication message is transmitted while being included in an IP datagram in a form of a UPF control message protocol (UCMP) message, and

wherein a value corresponding to a UCMP is set into a protocol field included in a header of the IP datagram.

11 . The first network entity of claim 10 , wherein a header of the UCMP message comprises a service name field, a service operation field, and an operation semantic field.

12 . A second network entity including a network address translation (NAT) function in a wireless communication system, the second network entity comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor operably coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to:

receive, from a first network entity, a first request message for a list of services that is provided to the first network entity and type information of the NAT;

transmit, to the first network entity, a first response message comprising the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity and the type information of the NAT;

receive, from the first network entity, an operation indication message indicating an operation associated with a timer of Internet protocol (IP) address mapping information managed by the NAT; and

transmit, to the first network entity, a response message in response to receiving the operation indication message,

wherein the operation indication message is not transferred to a user equipment (UE) in case that the operation indication message indicates an extension or a reset of the timer.

13 . The second network entity of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit, to a third network entity, identification information of the first network entity; and

receive, from the third network entity, the list of the services that is provided to the first network entity.

14 . The second network entity of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, from the first network entity, a second request message indicating a request for at least one of a piece of period information of the timer, expiration time information of the timer, or expiration notification information of the timer; and

transmit, to the first network entity, a second response message corresponding to the second request message and comprising at least one of a piece of the period information of the timer, the expiration time information of the timer, or the expiration notification information of the timer.