Mobility management entity initiated transfer of a packet data network connection
There is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving information about an identification of a network function set associated with at least one packet data network connection. The means is further configured for, in response to receiving an indication that a network function instance of the network function set supporting the at least one packet data network connection is no longer available, transferring the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least perform:
receiving information about an identification of a network function set associated with at least one packet data network connection, wherein the apparatus is comprised in or comprises a mobility management entity; and
in response to receiving an indication that a network function instance of the network function set supporting the at least one packet data network connection is no longer available,
maintaining a context of the at least one packet data network connection, and
transferring the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set, wherein the transferring the at least one packet data network connection to the another network function instance comprises providing a message comprising an identification of a user subscription, or user equipment, associated with the at least one packet data network connection, and an information about a default bearer for the at least one packet data network connection, to the another network function instance.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further configured for initiating a transfer of the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further configured for receiving a transfer request for the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information about the identification of the network function set is received during one of: a packet data network connection establishment, and an inter-system mobility of a packet data connection.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the context of the at least one packet data network connection comprises at least one of: an international mobile subscriber identity, an international mobile equipment identity, a globally unique temporary identity, an access point name, a packet data gateway identifier, a packet data gateway internet protocol address for an S5 or S8 interface, a packet data gateway tunnel endpoint identifier for an S5 or S8 interface, a mobility management entity internet protocol address for an S11 interface, a mobility management entity tunnel endpoint identifier for the S11 interface and a serving gateway internet protocol address for the S11 interface.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform: selecting the another network function instance of the network function set for the at least one packet data network connection to be transferred to, based on the received information about an identification of a network function set.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform: receiving an indication that the another network function instance has been selected for the at least one packet data network connection.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information about the another network function instance comprises an internet protocol address and control plane identifier of a general packet radio services tunnelling protocol control plane tunnel for the packet data network connection at the another network function instance.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the network function instance and the another network function instance comprises a session management function/packet data network gateway control plane, SMF/PGW-c, instance.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information about the identification of the network function set is comprised within one of: a create session response message, and a modify bearer response message.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information about the identification of the network function set comprises a domain name of the network function set.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform: notifying a home subscriber server that the at least one packet data network connection has been transferred from the network function instance to the another network function instance, so that the home subscriber server is caused update stored information about the at least one packet data network connection.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised within one of: a mobility management entity, and a serving gateway entity.
14. A method comprising:
receiving, by a mobility management entity, information about an identification of a network function set associated with at least one packet data network connection;
in response to receiving an indication that a network function instance of the network function set supporting the at least one packet data network connection is no longer available,
maintaining a context of the at least one packet data network connection, and
transferring, by the mobility management entity, the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set, wherein the transferring the at least one packet data network connection to the another network function instance comprises providing a message comprising an identification of a user subscription, or user equipment, associated with the at least one packet data network connection, and an information about a default bearer for the at least one packet data network connection, to the another network function instance.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising initiating a transfer of the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising receiving a transfer request for the at least one packet data network connection from the network function instance to another network function instance comprised within the network function set.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the information about the identification of the network function set is received during one of: a packet data network connection establishment, and an inter-system mobility of a packet data connection.
18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the context of the at least one packet data network connection comprises at least one of: an international mobile subscriber identity, an international mobile equipment identity, a globally unique temporary identity, an access point name, a packet data gateway identifier, a packet data gateway internet protocol address for an S5 or S8 interface, a packet data gateway tunnel endpoint identifier for an S5 or S8 interface, a mobility management entity internet protocol address for an S11 interface, a mobility management entity tunnel endpoint identifier for the S11 interface and a serving gateway internet protocol address for the S11 interface.