Methods and systems for multicast-broadcast session release and modification

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a session management function (SMF) from an application function (AF), a multicast/broadcast (MB) session modification request including updated location information and an updated requirement on a service, for an MB session;

sending, by the SMF to an access management function (AMF), an N11 MB session modification request including information associated with the updated location information and the updated requirement on the service;

sending, by the AMF to multiple access network (AN) nodes, requests according to the N11 MB session modification request, wherein one or more of the requests are to request one or more of the multiple AN nodes to establish an MB session according to the information associated with the updated location information, and the one or more of the requests include a temporary mobile group identifier (TMGI) and updated quality of service (QoS) parameters associated with the updated requirement on the service;

receiving, by the AMF, one or more responses from the one or more of the multiple AN nodes; and

sending, by the AMF to the SMF, an N11 MB session modification response.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sending, by the AMF to the SMF, an N11 MB session modification response comprises:

sending, by the AMF to the SMF, an N11 MB session modification response after the AMF receives all the responses from the multiple AN nodes.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the updated location information comprises one or more of: geographical zone identifiers, and one or more AN addresses to be added or removed from the MB session.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the updated location information comprises one of: locations to be added to or removed from the MB session, locations to deactivate or activate the MB session.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the updated requirement on the service associated comprises one or more QoS requirements.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determining, by the AMF, to request the one or more of the multiple AN nodes to establish an MB session associated with the service.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the requests further include one or more second requests, the method further comprises:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determining, by the AMF, to request which AN node to modify an MB session associated with the service, and

wherein the sending, by the AMF to multiple AN nodes, requests further comprises:

sending, by the AMF to one or more determined AN nodes, the one or more second requests to request the one or more determined AN nodes to modify an MB session associated with the service, and the one or more second requests include a TMGI and updated QoS parameters associated with the updated requirement on the service.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the requests further include one or more third requests, the method further comprises:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determining, by the AMF, to request which AN node to release an MB session, and

wherein the sending, by the AMF to multiple AN nodes, requests further comprises:

sending, by the AMF to one or more determined AN nodes, the one or more third requests to request the one or more determined AN nodes to release an MB session, and the one or more third requests include a TMGI.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the SMF to each of one or more user plane functions (UPFs), an N4 MB session modification request including one or more rules associated with the updated requirement on the service; and

receiving, by the SMF from the each of the one or more UPFs, an N4 MB session modification response.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

sending, by the SMF to the AF, a MB session modification response after the SMF receives the N11 MB session modification response.

11. A system, comprising a session management function (SMF) and an access management function (AMF), wherein,

the SMF is configured to:

receive, from an application function (AF), a multicast/broadcast (MB) session modification request including updated location information and an updated requirement on a service, for an MB session; and

send, to the AMF, an N11 MB session modification request including information associated with the updated location information and the updated requirement on the service;

the AMF is configured to:

send, to multiple access network (AN) nodes, requests according to the N11 MB session modification request, wherein one or more of the requests are to request one or more of the multiple AN nodes to establish an MB session according to the information associated with the updated location information, and the one or more of the requests include a temporary mobile group identifier (TMGI) and updated quality of service (QoS) parameters associated with the updated requirement on the service;

receive one or more responses from the one or more of the multiple AN nodes; and

send, to the SMF, an N11 MB session modification response;

wherein the SMF is further configured to receive the N11 MB session modification response.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the AMF is configured to:

send, to the SMF, an N11 MB session modification response after all the responses from the multiple AN nodes are received.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the information associated with the updated location information comprises one or more of: geographical zone identifiers, and one or more AN addresses to be added or removed from the MB session.

14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises the AF configured to:

send, to the SMF, the MB session modification request.

15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the AMF is further configured to:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determine to request the one or more of the multiple AN nodes to establish an MB session associated with the service.

16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the requests further include one or more second requests, the AMF is further configured to:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determine to request which AN node to modify an MB session associated with the service;

wherein the AMF is configured to send the requests further comprises:

the AMF is configured to send, to one or more identified AN nodes, the one or more second requests to modify an MB session associated with the service, and the one or more second requests include a TMGI and updated QoS parameters associated with the updated requirement on the service.

17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the requests further include one or more third requests, the AMF is further configured to:

according to the N11 MB session modification request, determine to request which AN node to release an MB session;

wherein the AMF is configured to send the requests further comprises:

the AMF is configured to send, to one or more identified AN nodes, the one or more third requests to request the one or more determined AN nodes to release an MB session, and the one or more of the third requests include a TMGI.

18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises multiple AN nodes, each configured to:

receive, from the AMF, a request to perform one of establishing, modifying and releasing an MB session;

according to the request, perform one of establishing, modifying and releasing the MB session; and

send a response to the AMF.

19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the SMF is further configured to:

send, to each of one or more user plane functions (UPFs), an N4 MB session modification request including one or more rules associated with the updated requirement on the service; and

receiving, from the each of the one or more UPFs, an N4 MB session modification response.

20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises one or more UPFs, each configured to:

receive, from the SMF, the N4 MB session modification request; and

send, to the SMF, an N4 MB session modification response.