Granted Patent B2

US 12,200,616 · App. 17/719,957 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Bruno Landais (Pleumeur-Bodou, FR); Shubhranshu Singh (Seeheim-Jugenheim, DE); Laurent Thiebaut (Antony, FR); Dinh Thai Bui (Chatenay Malabry, FR); Bivudendu Pratap Rout (Bangalore, IN)

Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

H04W48/16H04W48/18H04W60/04

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving in a network function entity from an application function entity a request relating to a data communication session;

determining a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity;

determining information of at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity;

selecting a local network exposure function entity for the application function entity taking into account location information, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a location identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of a tracking area, and information of a location of a device associated with the data communication session; and

providing the application function entity with information on the selected local network exposure function entity via redirection of the application function entity to the selected local network exposure function entity.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity is based on an indication in the request indicating a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity is based on a configuration indicating a need to determine at least one local network exposure function for the application function entity.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining information of at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity comprises discovering the at least one local network exposure function entity from a repository function based on information associated with a packet data unit session anchor associated with the data communication session.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising receiving from a session management function entity the information associated with the packet data unit session anchor associated with the data communication session.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the request includes an indication of a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity.

7. A method, comprising:

sending a request relating to a data communication session to a network function entity;

receiving in response information about at least one local network exposure function entity determined as suitable by the network function entity;

selecting a local network exposure function entity using the received information and taking into account location information, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a location identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of a tracking area, and information of a location of a device associated with the data communication session; and

using a local network exposure function entity for the data communication session accordingly.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising receiving information of a local network exposure function entity selected by the network function entity, and using the selected local network exposure function entity.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the request includes an indication of a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to discover a network exposure function entity based on information associated with a local user plane function or location of at least one user device;

determining at least one network exposure function based on said information and based on information registered for at least one network exposure function entity regarding local user plane functions or location of at least one user device the at least one network exposure function supports; and

providing, in response, information of at least one network exposure function from said determination.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive from an application function entity a request relating to a data communication session;

determine a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity;

determine information of at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity;

select a local network exposure function entity for the application function entity taking into account location information, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a location identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of a tracking area, and information of a location of a device associated with the data communication session; and

provide the application function entity with information on the selected local network exposure function entity via redirection of the application function entity to the selected local network exposure function entity.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory including the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus at least to:

determine the need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity based on an indication in the request indicating a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory including the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus at least to:

determine the need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity based on a configuration indicating a need to determine at least one local network exposure function for the application function entity.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory including the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus at least to:

determine the information of at least one local network exposure function entity for the application function entity via discovering the at least one local network exposure function entity from a repository function based on information associated with a packet data unit session anchor associated with the data communication session.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory including the computer program code are further configured to cause the apparatus at least to:

receive from a session management function entity the information associated with the packet data unit session anchor associated with the data communication session.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the request includes an indication of a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

send a request relating to a data communication session to a network function entity;

receive in response information about at least one local network exposure function entity determined as suitable by the network function entity;

select a local network exposure function entity using the received information and taking into account location information, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a location identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of an associated local user plane function, an identifier of a tracking area, and information of a location of a device associated with the data communication session; and

use a local network exposure function entity for the data communication session accordingly.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory including the computer program code are further configured to receive information of a local network exposure function entity selected by the network function entity, and to use the selected local network exposure function entity.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the request includes an indication of a need to determine at least one local network exposure function entity.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a request to discover a network exposure function entity based on information associated with a local user plane function or location of at least one user device;

determine at least one network exposure function based on said information and based on information registered for at least one network exposure function entity regarding local user plane functions or location of at least one user device the at least one network exposure function supports; and

provide, in response, information of at least one network exposure function from said determination.

Assignments (9)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (14)