Network node and method performed therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025106678-A1
Application number	US-202118291438-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 27, 2021
Priority date	Jul 27, 2021
Publication date	Mar 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method performed by a network node for handling communication in a communication network. The network node sets a UPF node of a 5G system bridge to a status of critical, when a condition is fulfilled. With the proviso that the status of the UPF node is set to critical, network node further constrains a UE to connect to the UPF node.

First claim

1 . A method performed by a network node for handling communication in a communication network, the method comprising:
setting a User Plane Function, UPF, node of a 5G system bridge, to a status of critical, when a condition is fulfilled; and with the proviso that the status of the UPF node is set to critical, constraining a User Equipment, UE, to connect to the UPF node.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the condition is fulfilled when one or more of the following conditions are fulfilled:
a number of Time-Sensitive Networking, TSN, critical streams that are passing through the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value; a number of TSN- and/or Ethernet streams that are passing through the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value; and a number of the UE that are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the UE is constrained to connect to the UPF node, the UE is directed to another UPF node or to another UPF Virtual Network Function, VNF, instance in a 5G system.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the UE that are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge have demanding Quality-of-Service, QoS, flows.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
when the UE disconnects from the UPF node of the 5G system bridge, removing a port relating to the UE from a 5G system bridge managed object and a 5G system bridge port managed object that contain a number of ports, a Media Access Control, MAC, address and a port number of each 5G system bridge port.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UPF node is defined such that the different 5G system bridges have different capabilities.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the UE are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge that matches the capabilities of the UE.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capabilities are reported per port pair, and wherein the 5G system bridge is configured by assigning traffic streams per port pair.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capabilities for a Per-Stream Filtering and Policing, PSFP, are reported per port, and wherein the port operates using PSFP independently from the PSFP capabilities of other ports in the same 5G system bridge.

10 . A network node for handling communication in a communication network, the network node being configured to:
set a User Plane Function, UPF, node of a 5GS bridge, to a status of critical, when a condition is fulfilled; with the proviso that the status of the UPF node is set to critical, constrain a User Equipment, UE, to connect to the UPF node.

11 .- 13 . (canceled)

14 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein the condition is fulfilled when one or more of the following conditions are fulfilled:
a number of Time-Sensitive Networking, TSN, critical streams that are passing through the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value; a number of TSN- and/or Ethernet streams that are passing through the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value; and a number of the UE that are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge exceeds a threshold value.

15 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein when the UE is constrained to connect to the UPF node, the UE is directed to another UPF node or to another UPF Virtual Network Function, VNF, instance in a 5G system.

16 . The network node according to claim 14 , wherein the UE that are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge have demanding Quality-of-Service, QoS, flows.

17 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
when the UE disconnects from the UPF node of the 5G system bridge, removing a port relating to the UE from a 5G system bridge managed object and a 5G system bridge port managed object that contain a number of ports, a Media Access Control, MAC, address and a port number of each 5G system bridge port.

18 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein the UPF node is defined such that the different 5G system bridges have different capabilities.

19 . The network node according to claim 18 , wherein the UE are connected to the UPF node of the 5G system bridge that matches the capabilities of the UE.

20 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein the capabilities are reported per port pair, and wherein the 5G system bridge is configured by assigning traffic streams per port pair.

21 . The network node according to claim 10 , wherein the capabilities for a Per-Stream Filtering and Policing, PSFP, are reported per port, and wherein the port operates using PSFP independently from the PSFP capabilities of other ports in the same 5G system bridge.

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Sachs Joachim
• De Andrade Jardim Marilet
• Wang Kun
• Farkas János

Classifications

• H04L47/28 Primary

  in relation to timing considerations · CPC title

• H04W76/12

  Setup of transport tunnels · CPC title

• H04W28/0268 Primary

  using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24) · CPC title