Session management method and control method

1 . A Local Session Management Function (L-SMF) node located in a visitor network, the L-SMF node comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

circuitry connected to the one or more network interfaces and configured to:

receive a first message from a Central SMF (C-SMF) node located in a home network, the first message including information associated with an N4 session configured by the L-SMF node;

transmit a second message to a first User Plane Function (UPF) node supporting an uplink classifier or a branching point, the second message including information to configure an N4 rule in the first UPF node;

transmit a third message to a second UPF node which is a Local PDU Session Anchor (L-PSA),

wherein the third message includes information to provide a first Data Network Name (DNN) to the second UPF node for a Local Data Network (L-DN), and

wherein the first DNN provided for the L-DN is the same as a second DNN associated with a PDU session associated with the C-SMF for a Central Data Network (C-DN).

2 . The L-SMF node according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive, prior to receiving the first request message, a request to operate as an SMF node,

wherein the request to operate as the SMF node is based on a PDU session request from a user equipment (UE); and

in response to the request to operate as the SMF node, transmit an acceptance to operate as the SMF node.

3 . The L-SMF node according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive a response to the second message from the first UPF node, and

receive a response to the message from the second UPF node.

4 . The L-SMF node according to claim 1 , wherein, based on the first DNN assigned for the L-DN being the same as the second DNN assigned for the C-DN, the PDU session managed by the C-SMF is a session for distributed PDU processing between a user equipment (UE) and each of the L-DN and the C-DN.

5 . The L-SMF node according to claim 1 , wherein the first message includes a request to establish an N4 session.

6 . The L-SMF node according to claim 1 , wherein the second message includes a request for the first UPF to establish an N4 session, and the third message includes a request for the second UPF to establish an N4 session.

7 . A method of communication performed by a Local Session Management Function (L-SMF) node located in a visitor network, the L-SMF node including one or more network interfaces and circuitry connected to the one or more network interfaces, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from Central SMF (C-SMF) node located in a home network, the first message including information associated with an N4 session configured by the L-SMF node;

transmitting a second message to a first User Plane Function (UPF) node supporting an uplink classifier or a branching point, the second message including information to configure an N4 rule in the first UPF node;

transmitting a third message to a second UPF node which is a Local PDU Session Anchor (L-PSA),

wherein the third message includes information to provide a first Data Network Name (DNN) to the second UPF node for a Local Data Network (L-DN), and

wherein the first DNN provided for the L-DN is the same as a second DNN associated with a PDU session associated with the C-SMF for a Central Data Network (C-DN).

8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving, prior to said receiving the first request message, a request to operate as an SMF node, wherein the request to operate as the SMF node is based on a PDU session request from a user equipment (UE); and

in response to the request to operate as the SMF node, transmitting an acceptance to operate as the SMF node.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a response to the second message from the first UPF node, and

receiving a response to the message from the second UPF node.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein, based on the first DNN assigned for the L-DN being the same as the second DNN assigned for the C-DN, the PDU session managed by the C-SMF is a session for distributed PDU processing between a user equipment (UE) and each of the L-DN and the C-DN.

11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first message includes a request to establish an N4 session.

12 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the second message includes a request for the first UPF to establish an N4 session, and the third message includes a request for the second UPF to establish an N4 session.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable product containing instructions for causing a device configured as a Local Session Management Function (L-SMF) node located in a visitor network to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from Central SMF (C-SMF) node located in a home network, the first message including information associated with an N4 session configured by the L-SMF node;

transmitting a second message to a first User Plane Function (UPF) node supporting an uplink classifier or a branching point, the second message including information to configure an N4 rule in the first UPF node;

transmitting a third message to a second UPF node which is a Local PDU Session Anchor (L-PSA),

wherein the third message includes information to provide a first Data Network Name (DNN) to the second UPF node for a Local Data Network (L-DN), and

wherein the first DNN provided for the L-DN is the same as a second DNN associated with a PDU session associated with the C-SMF for a Central Data Network (C-DN).

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable product of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, prior to said receiving the first request message, a request to operate as an SMF node, wherein the request to operate as the SMF node is based on a PDU session request from a user equipment (UE); and

in response to the request to operate as the SMF node, transmitting an acceptance to operate as the SMF node.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable product of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response to the second message from the first UPF node, and

receiving a response to the message from the second UPF node.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable product of claim 13 , wherein, based on the first DNN assigned for the L-DN being the same as the second DNN assigned for the C-DN, the PDU session managed by the C-SMF is a session for distributed PDU processing between a user equipment (UE) and each of the L-DN and the C-DN.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable product of claim 13 , wherein the first message includes a request to establish an N4 session.

18 . The L-SMF node according to non-transitory computer-readable product of claim 13 , wherein the second message includes a request for the first UPF to establish an N4 session, and the third message includes a request for the second UPF to establish an N4 session.

19 . A Local Session Management Function (L-SMF) node located in a visitor network, the L-SMF node comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

circuitry connected to the one or more network interfaces and configured to:

receive a first message from a Central Session Management Function (C-SMF) node located in a home network, the first message including information associated with a session configured by the L-SMF node;

transmit a second message to a first user data node supporting an uplink classifier or a branching point, the second message including information to configure a traffic control rule in the first UPF node;

transmit a third message to a second user data node which is a local session anchor,

wherein the third message includes information to provide a first Data Network Name (DNN) to the second UPF node for a Local Data Network (L-DN), and

wherein the first DNN provided for the L-DN is the same as a second DNN associated with a session associated with the C-SMF for a Central Data Network (C-DN).