IP Library Granted Patent US 12,689,932
Granted Patent B2
US 12,689,932 · App. 18/835,262 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Methods for handling packet filters for interworking between a service based architecture, SBA, network and an evolved packet system, EPS, network as well as corresponding devices

Inventors: Yumei Song (Gothenburg, SE); Hong Zhang (Gothenburg, SE); Susana Fernandez Alonso (Madrid, ES); Fuencisla Garcia Azorero (Madrid, ES)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
H04W28/02H04L41/0894H04L47/20H04L12/1407
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,689,932
App. No.
18/835,262
Filed
Aug 1, 2024
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2453
USPC
709/238
Abstract

A method performed by a session management function, SMF, in a service based architecture, SBA, network for handling packet filters related to a session of User Equipment, UE, in the SBA network. The method includes transmitting a policy control request in relation to said session of said UE with said SBA network; receiving a policy control response, wherein said policy control response includes applicable packet filters for said session of said UE with said SBA network; determining that a number of the applicable packet filters received exceeds a number of packet filters supported by said UE; and transmitting an update message with rule report comprising a failure code indicating that at least one of said applicable packet filters cannot be installed or updated due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached.

Claims (44)

1 . A method performed by a session management function, SMF, in a service based architecture, SBA, network for handling packet filters related to a session of User Equipment, UE, in the SBA network, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by the SMF, to a Policy Control Function, PCF, in the SBA network, a policy control request in relation to the session of the UE with the SBA network;

receiving, by the SMF, from the PCF, a policy control response, the policy control response comprising applicable packet filters for the session of the UE with the SBA network;

determining, by said the SMF, that a number of the applicable packet filters received from said the PCF exceeds a number of packet filters supported by said the UE; and

transmitting, by the SMF, to the PCF, an update message with rule report comprising a failure code indicating that at least one of the applicable packet filters cannot be installed or updated due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached.

2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first transmitting step is performed as a consequence of a PDU session establishment request message transmitted by the UE.

3 . The method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the number of packet filters supported by the UE is indicated in the PDU session establishment request message or the PDU session modification request message transmitted by the UE.

4 . The method in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising the step of:

marking, by the SMF, affected Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rules with packet filters not installed or updated, due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached, as inactive, wherein the update message with rule report also comprises the PCC rules marked as inactive.

5 . The method in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising the step of:

receiving, by the SMF, from the PCF, an updated policy decision determined by the PCF.

6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first transmitting step is performed as a consequence of a PDU session modification request message transmitted by the UE.

7 . The method in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising the step of:

marking, by the SMF, affected Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rules with packet filters not installed or updated, due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached, as inactive, wherein the update message with rule report also comprises the PCC rules marked as inactive.

8 . The method in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising the step of:

receiving, by the SMF, from the PCF, an updated policy decision determined by the PCF.

9 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

marking, by the SMF, affected Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rules with packet filters not installed or updated, due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached, as inactive, wherein the update message with rule report also comprises the PCC rules marked as inactive.

10 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

receiving, by the SMF, from the PCF, an updated policy decision determined by the PCF.

11 . A method performed by a Policy Control Function, PCF, in a service based architecture, SBA, network for handling packet filters related to a session of User Equipment, UE, in the SBA network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the PCF, from a Session Management Function, SMF, in SBA network, a policy control request in relation to a session of a User Equipment, UE, with the SBA network;

transmitting, by the PCF, to the SMF, a policy control response, the policy control response comprising applicable packet filters for the session of the UE with the SBA network; and

receiving, by the PCF, from the SMF, an update message with rule report comprising a failure code indicating that at least one of the applicable packet filters cannot be installed or updated due to that a maximum number of packet filters supported by the UE has been reached.

12 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the policy control request in relation to a session of a UE with the SBA network is received from the SMF as a consequence of a PDU session establishment request message or a PDU session modification request message transmitted by the UE.

13 . The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the number of packet filters supported by the UE is indicated in the PDU session establishment request message or the PDU session modification request message transmitted by the UE.

14 . The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the received update message with rule report also comprises affected Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rules with packet filters not installed or updated, due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached, marked as inactive by the SMF.

15 . The method in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by the PCF, to the SMF, an updated policy decision determined by the PCF.

16 . The method in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the received update message with rule report also comprises affected Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rules with packet filters not installed or updated, due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached, marked as inactive by the SMF.

17 . The method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by said the PCF, to said the SMF, an updated policy decision determined by the PCF.

18 . A network node in a service based architecture, SBA, network, for handling packet filters related to a session of User Equipment, UE, in the SBA network, the network node comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

transmit, to a Policy Control Function, PCF, in the SBA network, a policy control request in relation to the session of the UE with the SBA network;

receive, from the PCF, a policy control response, the policy control response comprising applicable packet filters for the session of the UE with the SBA network;

determine that a number of the applicable packet filters received from the PCF exceeds a number of packet filters supported by the UE; and

transmit, to the PCF, an update message with rule report comprising a failure code indicating that at least one of the applicable packet filters cannot be installed or updated due to that a maximum number of packet filters has been reached; and

power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

19 . A network node in a service based architecture, SBA, network, for handling packet filters related to a session of User Equipment, UE, in the SBA network, the network node comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

transmit, to the SMF, a policy control response, the policy control response comprising applicable packet filters for the session of the UE with the SBA network; and

receive, from the SMF, an update message with rule report comprising a failure code indicating that at least one of the applicable packet filters cannot be installed or updated due to that a maximum number of packet filters supported by the UE has been reached; and

power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: SONG, YUMEI; ZHANG, HONG; FERNANDEZ ALONSO, SUSANA; GARCIA AZORERO, FUENCISLA
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 068773/0563 →
Priority Claims (2)
EP 22382104 · Feb 9, 2022 · regional
EP 22382435 · May 6, 2022 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250150885A1 · May 8, 2025
References Cited (25)
US 11388141B1 · Rupavatharam et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20130021905A1 · Schramm · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20190357301A1 · Li et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210226807A1 · Qiao et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220338105A1 · Kopperla et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230073796A1 · Du et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240163938A1 · Qiao · 2024 [cited by examiner]
U.S. Office Action dated Nov. 4, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 18/836,974, consisting of 24 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Intention to Grant dated Jan. 30, 2025 for Application No. 22823085.0, consisting of 40 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.523-1 V16.10.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; 5GS; User Equipment (UE) conformance specification; Part 1: Protocol (Release 16); Dec. 2021, consisting… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 13, 2024 for International Application No. PCT/EP2022/084082 filed Dec. 1, 2022; consisting of 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 24.008 V17.5.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Mobile radio interface Layer 3 specification; Core network protocols; Stage 3 (Release 17); Dec. 2021… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-CT WG1 Meeting #111, C1-183543, Title: Indicating Maximum Number of Packet Filters per PDU Session; Source: Qualcomm Incorporated, InterDigital, Intel; Spec: 3GPP TS 24.501 V1.1.1; Agenda item: 15.2.2.7; Docume… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-CT Meeting #91e, CP-210107; Title: CR pack on 5GProtoc16; Source: CT1; Date and Location: Mar. 18-24, 2021, E-Meeting; consisting of 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-CT3 Meeting #120e, C3-221137; Title: Handling of number of packet filters when interworking with EPS; Source to WG: Ericsson; Source to TSG: CT3; Work item code: 5GS_Ph1-CT, TEI17; Date and Location: Feb. 17-25… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-CT WG1 Meeting #128-e; C1-211433; Title: Local IP address in TFT negotiation in 5GS for 5G-4G interworking; Source to WG: Huawei, HiSilicon; Source to TSG: C1; Work item code: 5GProtoc16; Date and Location: Feb… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 22, 2023 for International Application No. PCT/EP2022/084069 filed Dec. 1, 2022; consisting of 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 23.501 V17.3.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; System architecture for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2 (Release 17); Dec. 2021; consisting of 559 page… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 23.503 V17.3.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Policy and charging control framework for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2 (Release 17); Dec. 2021; cons… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 24.008 V17.5.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Mobile radio interface Layer 3 specification; Core network protocols; Stage 3 (Release 17); Dec. 2021… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 24.501 V17.5.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) protocol for 5G System (5GS); Stage 3 (Release 17); Dec. 2021; consisting of… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 29.512 V17.5.0; 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; 5G System; Session Management Policy Control Service; Stage 3 (Release 17); Dec. 2021; consisting of … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-CT3 Meeting #120e; C3-221137; Title: Handling of number of packet filters when interworking with EPS; Source to WG: Ericsson; Source to TSG: CT3; Work item code: 5GS_Ph1-CT, TEI17; Date and Location: Feb. 17-25… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-SA2 Meeting # 147E (e-meeting), S2-2107205; Title: Dynamic Policy Control for 5GC Individual MBS Traffic Delivery; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion/ Agreement; Agenda Item: 8.9; Work Item/Release: 5MB… [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Jan. 9, 2024 for International Application No. PCT/EP2022/084069 filed Dec. 1, 2022; consisting of 7 pages. [cited by applicant]