Session context conversion

Abstract

To solve such a problem that a cellular system including a 5G network may need to prioritize resources across a wireless access network and a core network.SOLUTION: There is provided a method including: receiving, at user equipment while being served by a first system and during protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, a message that includes a default quality of service rule, the default quality of service rule including an access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value; and setting, at the user equipment when there is an inter-system change from the first system to a second system, the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value of a session management context for the second system to the received access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value received while being served by the first system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The subject matter described herein relates to interworking between 5G and 4G. [Background technology]

[0002] As cellular systems, including 5G networks, support an increasing number of devices and services, including applications with a wide range of use cases and varying needs regarding bandwidth, latency, and reliability requirements, cellular systems may need to prioritize resources across the radio access network and core network (and / or prioritize across the control plane and user plane, for example) to support differentiation between various service data flows (SDFs). Furthermore, associated quality of service (QoS) requirements may need to be dynamic. 3GPP document S2-182674 by Ericsson, entitled "Handling of mapped EPS QoS parameters in IWK with EPC," and 3GPP document S2-174554 by Intel, entitled "QoS mapping for 5GC-EPC interworking," both disclose that networks map 5G session AMBRs to EPS APN-AMBRs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In some demonstrative embodiments, a method may be provided, the method including: receiving, at a user equipment while being served by a first system and during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, a message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name overall maximum bit rate value; and, if there is an inter-system change from the first system to a second system, setting, at the user equipment, the access point name overall maximum bit rate value of a session management context of the second system to the received access point name overall maximum bit rate value received while being served by the first system.

[0004] Some variations may optionally include one or more of the features disclosed herein, including the following features, in any feasible combination: the first system may include a fifth-generation core network, the second system may include a fourth-generation evolved packet system, the inter-system change may include a change from an N1 interface to an S1 interface, and the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value maintains session continuity during the inter-system change; the message including the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value may be received from a node in the first system; the node may comprise a packet data network gateway control plane function, a session management function, and / or a packet data network gateway control plane function co-located with the session management function; the user equipment may store the received default quality of service rule including the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value for session context management associated with the first system.

[0005] In some demonstrative embodiments, a method may be provided, the method including: identifying, by a network node of a network, a default quality of service rule including an access point name overall maximum bit rate value associated with another network; and sending, by the network node, during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, to a user equipment, a message including the default quality of service rule including the access point name overall maximum bit rate value of the other network.

[0006] Some variations may optionally include one or more of the features disclosed herein, including the following features, in any feasible combination: The network may include a fifth generation core network and the other network may include a fourth generation evolved packet system. The network node may comprise a packet data network gateway control plane function, a session management function, and / or a packet data network gateway control plane function co-located with the session management function. A default quality of service rule including an access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value associated with the other network may be identified based on the quality of service parameters and / or the session aggregate maximum bit rate of the first network.

[0007] The above aspects and features may be implemented in a system, apparatus, method, and / or article of manufacture, depending on the desired configuration. Details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a portion of a 4G system interworking with a 5G system, according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 2]1 illustrates an example process for 5G to 4G interworking, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates another example of a process for 5G to 4G interworking, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an example of a network node, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates an example of an apparatus, according to some exemplary embodiments.

[0009] Like labels are used to refer to the same or similar items in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] For UE mobility from an evolved packet system (EPS) to a 5G system (5GS), the 4G EPS may provide the UE with one or more parameters related to a 5GS-specific protocol data unit (PDU) session, including the session aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR), in accordance with 3GPP TS 23.502. For example, when a UE receives service from an evolved packet core (EPC) during packet data network (PDN) connection establishment, the UE may assign a protocol data unit (PDU) session ID, and the UE may send the PDU session ID to a PDN gateway control plane function (SMF+PGW-C) co-located with the session management function via a protocol configuration option (PCO) message. Furthermore, the SMF+PGW-C may assign the session AMBR and / or other 5G QoS parameters related to the PDN connection, such as QoS rules. Furthermore, the SMF+PGW-C may send these and other parameters to the UE via the PCO message.

[0011] The session AMBR may be used by the UE, for example, in accordance with 3GPP TS 24.501. During an inter-system change from the UE's 4G S1 interface mode to the UE's 5G N1 interface mode, the UE may set the session AMBR of the PDU session context to the session AMBR included by the network in a protocol configuration options information element (IE) or an extended protocol configuration options information element (e.g., an ACTIVATE DEFAULT EPS BEARER REQUEST message). This approach allows the UE to appropriately set the session AMBR of the PDU session during movement from 4G EPS to 5GS. Conversely, when the UE moves from 5GS to 4G EPS, it needs to set the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate (APN-AMBR) of the PDN connection.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the PDU session establishment (or modification) procedure may cause the SMF+PGW-C to provide at least one Access Point Name Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (APN-AMBR) parameter to the UE. Further, according to some exemplary embodiments, the SMF+PGW-C may send the APN-AMBR to the Visited Session Management Function (V-SMF). During movement from 5GS to 4G EPS, the UE may use the previously provided APN-AMBR to set the APN-AMBR of the PDN connection in EPS.

[0013] To further explain, an Access Point Name (APN) refers to the name of a gateway node between a public land mobile network and a packet data network such as the Internet. For example, when a UE accesses a corresponding APN, the APN access is associated with an APN-AMBR. In 4G, the APN-AMBR may limit the aggregate bit rate across bearers, sessions, and / or PDN connections in that APN. For example, in the 4G downlink, a packet gateway (P-GW) may implement the APN-AMBR, while in the 4G uplink, the UE and / or the P-GW may implement the APN-AMBR.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for an interworking function (IWF) between 5G and 4G, according to some example embodiments.

[0015] The system 100 may include user equipment (UE) 150A-B, a 4G radio access network such as an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) 152, a mobility management entity (MME) 154, a serving gateway (SGW) 156, a 5G radio access network (denoted as Next Generation Radio Access Network NG-RAN) 160, and an access management function (AMF) 162.

[0016] System 100 may also include a first node 170 including a home subscriber server (HSS+UDM) co-located with unified data management functions, a second node 172 including a policy control function (PCF+PCRF) co-located with policy and charging rules functions, a third node 176 including a session management function (SMF+PGW-C) co-located with packet data network gateway control plane functions, and a fourth node 178 including a user plane function (UPF+PGW-U) co-located with packet data network gateway user plane functions. Figure 1 also shows service interfaces, such as S1-MME, S11, N26, N1, and / or N2.

[0017] The architecture, including the nodes (150-178) and service interfaces, may be defined according to standards such as 3GPP TS23.501, TS23.502, and / or other standards, although proprietary interfaces may also be used. Additionally, while Figure 1 shows a non-roaming architecture, a home-routed roaming architecture and / or a roaming architecture including a home public land mobile network and a visited public land mobile network may also be used.

[0018] After the PDU session establishment (or modification) request is initiated, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may provide the UE 150A with 4G parameters, such as the APN-AMBR parameter, so that the UE has the APN-AMBR required to control the aggregate maximum bit rate to the access point identified by the APN after moving from the 5G system to the 4G system, enabling interworking between 5GS and 4G.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an example process 200 for 5G to 4G interworking mobility, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0020] According to some demonstrative embodiments, at 202, UE 150A may receive 4G session parameters, such as an APN AMBR, while connected to 5G radio access network 160. For example, the UE may receive a first message including a default quality of service rule having an access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value from a network, such as a 5G network, during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure. Further explaining, after a session establishment request, such as a PDU session request message, is sent from the UE to AMF 162, this may cause SMF+PGW-C 176 (which may be selected by the AMF as part of SMF selection pursuant to 3GPP TS 23.502) to send an APN AMBR to UE 150A. This APN AMBR may be conveyed to the AMF via an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response message over N11, and the AMF may forward the APN AMBR and other QoS and related information to UE 150A over the N1 interface. Alternatively or additionally, a session modification request requested by the network or the UE may also cause the SMF+PGW-C 176 to send the APN AMBR to the UE. The session establishment or modification request may be in roaming mode, non-roaming mode, or home-routed roaming mode.

[0021] UE 150A may store the received APN AMBR along with other QoS information and session information at 204. UE 150A may store the association between the QoS flow corresponding to the EPS bearer ID (EBI) and the EPS QoS parameters and APN-AMBR mapping.

[0022] As shown at 150B, when UE 150A moves from 5G radio access node 160 to 4G radio access node 152, this may cause UE 150B to set the APN AMBR of the packet data network (PDN) connection from the UE to the corresponding PDN at 206 as part of interworking between 5G and 4G. For example, the UE may set the APN AMBR of the default EPS bearer context using the APN AMBR received in the PDU session context with the parameters of the default QoS rule (APN AMBR received at 202 while connected to the 5G core). In this way, the session context is transformed to maintain session continuity of a service, session, or network slice (e.g., an application of the UE) during handover. Once set, the UE may police the 4G connection based on the APN AMBR setting.

[0023] If UE 150A receives 5GS service including NG-RAN 160 during PDU session establishment (or PDU session modification and / or Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) QoS flow establishment), SMF+PGW-C 176 may perform EPS QoS and APN-AMBR mapping. The mapping may be based on 5G QoS parameters and session AMBR, EPS QoS, and APN-AMBR mapping obtained from PCF+PCRF 172. SMF+PGW-C 176 may also assign a traffic flow template (TFT) using PCC rules (if deployed) obtained from PCF+PCRF 172, or EPS QoS and APN-AMBR mapping and TFT assignment may be performed locally by SMF+PGW-C. SMF+PGW-C may ignore 5G QoS parameters that are not applicable to 4G EPC, such as QoS notification control.

[0024] For each PDU session, the SMF+PGW-C may assign an EPS bearer identity (EBI) to the default EPS bearer (to which non-GBR flows are mapped) and to the dedicated bearer (to which GBR flows are mapped in the EPC). The UE may also receive the mapped QoS parameters and APN-AMBR. The UE and SMF+PGW-C may store the association between the QoS flows, the corresponding EBI, and the EPS QoS parameters, including the APN-AMBR mapping.

[0025] When the SMF+PGW-C 176 (invoking Namf_Communication_EBIAssignmentRequest) receives any EBI(s) from the AMF, the SMF+PGW-C may include the received EBI(s) in the mapped EPS QoS parameters and APN-AMBR sent to the UE in the N1 SM container (if the EPS bearer is the default EPS bearer). The SMF+PGW-C may also include a mapping between the received EBI(s) and QoS flow(s) (in the N2 Session Management container for the 5G RAN 160).

[0026] In the case of home routed roaming, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may create an EPS bearer context, which includes the PGW-C control plane tunnel information corresponding to the PDU session and the APN-AMBR of the PDN connection (in the case of a PDU session establishment procedure), the EBI of each EPS bearer, the PGW-U tunnel information of each EPS bearer, and the EPS QoS parameters of each EPS bearer. The SMF+PGW-C may then send the created information to the visiting SMF. This created information may be conveyed by an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response (e.g., for PDU session establishment) or by an Nsmf_PDUSession_Update Request (e.g., for PDU session modification). The visiting SMF may store the EPS bearer context.

[0027] In some example embodiments, the PDU SESSION MODIFICATION COMMAND and PDU SESSION ESTABLISHMENT ACCEPT messages may include a QoS rule (or a default QoS rule), which may include the APN-AMBR, as well as the EPS bearer identification, mapped EPS QoS parameters, mapped extended EPS QoS parameters, and mapped traffic flow template (if the QoS flow can be mapped to an EPS bearer). The APN-AMBR (as well as other mapped parameters) may be stored in the UE as part of the PDU session context and thus may be mapped to another context, session, slice, etc.

[0028] Furthermore, when there is an inter-system change from N1 mode to S1 mode, the UE may create a default EPS bearer context from the QoS flow of the default QoS rule of the PDU session context that supports interworking to EPS. The UE may use the APN-AMBR of the PDU session context to set the APN-AMBR of the corresponding default EPS bearer context. If multiple APN-AMBRs are received from networks with the same data network name (mapped to a single APN), the UE may use the latest APN-AMBR.

[0029] In the case of a home routed roaming scenario, the PDU SESSION MODIFICATION COMMAND and PDU SESSION ESTABLISHMENT ACCEPT messages may not be sent directly by the SMF+PGW-C to the UE. In this case, the APN-AMBR may be included in the "201 Created" of the Nsmf_PDUSession_Create service and in the PATCH request of the Nsmf_PDUSession_Update service.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates an example process in a network node, according to some example embodiments.

[0031] According to some example embodiments, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may determine 4G QoS information and APN-AMBR parameters at 304. For example, the SMF+PGW-C may do so based on the 5G QoS parameters and session AMBR obtained from the PCF+PCRF 172, and the EPS QoS information and APN-AMBR mapping.

[0032] According to some example embodiments, at 306, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may send the APN-AMBR to the UE 150A. The SMF+PGW-C 176 may send the APN-AMBR while the UE is connected to the 5G radio access network 160. As described above, after a session establishment (or modification) request, which causes the SMF+PGW-C 176 (which may be selected by the AMF as part of SMF selection in accordance with 3GPP TS23.502) to send the APN AMBR to the UE 150A. As described above, the APN AMBR may be conveyed to the AMF via an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response message via N11, and the AMF may forward the APN AMBR and other QoS and related information to the UE 150A via the N1 interface. Alternatively or additionally, a session modification request requested by the network or the UE may also cause the SMF+PGW-C 176 to send the APN AMBR to the UE. The session establishment or modification request may be in roaming mode, non-roaming mode, or home routed roaming mode.

[0033] According to some example embodiments, at 308, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may delete EPS QoS information and APN AMBR associated with the deleted QoS flow. When a QoS flow is deleted (e.g., due to PDU session status synchronization or PDU session change), the UE and / or SMF+PGW-C may delete all existing EPS QoS parameters, including the APN-AMBR associated with the deleted QoS flow. In some example embodiments, the SMF+PGW-C 176 may receive notification from the AMF 162 that an EBI has been disabled. For example, if the AMF is requested to allocate an EPS Bearer Identity (EBI) to QoS flow(s) of a high-priority service, but the AMF does not have an available EBI, the AMF may disable the EBI assigned to one or more QoS flows. The disablement may be based on at least one of Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP), Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), EBI information (in the UE context), and local policy. When an assigned EBI is deactivated, the AMF may send a message such as Nsmf_PDUSession_Update SMContext containing the EBI to be deactivated. This message may be sent to request the associated SMF (e.g., SMF+PGW-C) to release the mapped EPS QoS parameters and APN-AMBR (if the EPS bearer is a default EPS bearer) corresponding to the EBI to be deactivated. The AMF may store the mapping of the assigned EBI-ARP pair with the corresponding PDU session ID and SMF address. In response, the associated SMF, such as SMF+PGW-C acting as the SMF providing the release resources, may send an Nsmf_Communication_N1N2Message Transfer (via the N11 interface) containing session management information, together with the PDU session ID and the EBI(s) to be deactivated, to the AMF. This information may be carried in the N2 and / or N1 Session Management (SM) container to be deactivated.This message may inform the access network and ultimately the UE to delete the mapped EPS QoS parameters and APN-AMBR (if the EPS bearer is a default EPS bearer) corresponding to the EBI(s) to be disabled. To inform the UE, the Nsmf_Communication_N1N2Message may include an N1 SM container containing the mapped EPS QoS parameters and APN-AMBR to be deleted.

[0034] 4 shows a block diagram of a network node 400 according to some example embodiments. The network node 400 may be configured to provide a network node such as the AMF 162, the SMF+PGW-C 176, and / or other nodes as depicted in FIG.

[0035] The network node 400 may include a network interface 402, a processor 420, a memory 404, and an interworking function 450 configured to provide one or more operations (e.g., process 300) disclosed herein with respect to the network node. The network interface 402 may include a wired and / or wireless transceiver to enable access to other nodes and / or the Internet. The memory 404 may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory containing program code that, when executed by the at least one processor 420, provides processes disclosed herein, including, among others, process 300. For example, the network node may be configured to identify a default quality of service rule including at least an access point name and overall maximum bit rate value associated with another network, and to transmit a message to a user equipment during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, the default quality of service rule including the access point name and overall maximum bit rate value of the other network.

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the device 10, according to some exemplary embodiments.

[0037] Apparatus 10 may represent a user equipment, such as user equipment 150.

[0038] The device 10 may include at least one antenna 12 in communication with a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. Alternatively, the transmitting and receiving antennas may be separate. The device 10 may also include a processor 20 configured to provide signals to the transmitter and receive signals from the receiver, and to control the functions of the device. The processor 20 may be configured to control the functions of the transmitter and receiver by performing control signaling to the transmitter and receiver via electrical conductors. Similarly, the processor 20 may be configured to control other elements of the device 10, such as a display or memory, by performing control signaling via electrical conductors connecting the processor 20 to other elements of the device 10. Processor 20 may be embodied in a variety of ways, including, for example, as a circuit, at least one processing core, one or more microprocessors with associated digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without associated digital signal processor(s), one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other processing elements including integrated circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), or some combination thereof. Thus, although processor 20 is illustrated in FIG. 5 as a single processor, in some exemplary embodiments, it may include multiple processors or processing cores.

[0039] Device 10 may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation formats, and / or access types, etc. Signals transmitted and received by processor 20 may include signal information in accordance with applicable cellular system air interface standards and / or in accordance with any number of different wired or wireless network technologies, including, but not limited to, Wi-Fi, Wireless Local Access Network (WLAN) technologies such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, 802.16, 802.3, ADSL, and / or DOCSIS. Additionally, these signals may include voice data, user-generated data, and / or user-requested data, etc.

[0040] For example, device 10 and / or the cellular modem therein may be capable of operating according to various first generation (1G), second generation (2G or 2.5G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), and / or Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) communication protocols (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)), etc. For example, device 10 may be capable of operating according to 2G wireless communication protocols IS-136, time division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-95, and / or code division multiple access (CDMA), etc. Further, for example, device 10 may be capable of operating according to 2.5G wireless communication protocols General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and / or Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), etc. Additionally, for example, device 10 may be capable of operating according to a 3G wireless communication protocol, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), and / or Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). Device 10 may further be capable of operating according to a 3.9G wireless communication protocol, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). Additionally, for example, device 10 may be capable of operating according to a 4G wireless communication protocol, such as LTE Advanced, and / or 5G, and similar wireless communication protocols that may be subsequently developed.

[0041] It will be appreciated that the processor 20 may include circuitry for implementing the audio / video and logic functions of the device 10. For example, the processor 20 may comprise a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analog-to-digital converter, and / or a digital-to-analog converter, etc. The control and signal processing functions of the device 10 may be distributed among these devices according to their respective capabilities. The processor 20 may further comprise an internal voice coder (VC) 20a and / or an internal data modem (DM) 20b, etc. Furthermore, the processor 20 may include functionality for operating one or more software programs, which may be stored in memory. Typically, the processor 20 and the stored software instructions may be configured to cause the device 10 to perform actions. For example, the processor 20 may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a web browser. The connectivity program may enable the device 10 to send and receive web content, such as location-based content, according to protocols such as Wireless Application Protocol, WAP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and / or HTTP.

[0042] Device 10 may also include a user interface, including, for example, earphone or speaker 24, ringer 22, microphone 26, display 28, and / or a user input interface, which may be operably connected to processor 20. Display 28 may include a touch-sensitive display, as described above, which a user may touch and / or gesture to make selections and / or enter values. Processor 20 may also include user interface circuitry configured to control at least some functions of one or more elements of the user interface, such as speaker 24, ringer 22, microphone 26, and / or display 28. Processor 20 and / or the user interface circuitry comprising processor 20 may be configured to control one or more functions of one or more elements of the user interface via computer program instructions, e.g., software and / or firmware, stored in memory accessible to processor 20, such as volatile memory 40 and / or non-volatile memory 42. Device 10 may include a battery to power various circuitry associated with a mobile terminal, such as circuitry to provide mechanical vibrations as a detectable output. The user input interface may include devices that allow the apparatus 10 to receive data, such as a keypad 30 (which may be a virtual keyboard presented on the display 28 or an externally connected keyboard) and / or other input devices.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5 , device 10 may also include one or more mechanisms for sharing and / or obtaining data. For example, device 10 may include a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver and / or interrogator 64, so that data can be shared with and / or obtained from electronic devices according to RF technology. Device 10 may also include other short-range transceivers, such as an infrared (IR) transceiver 66, a Bluetooth® (BT) transceiver 68 operating using Bluetooth® wireless technology, a wireless universal serial bus (USB) transceiver 70, a Bluetooth® low energy transceiver, a ZigBee transceiver, an ANT transceiver, a cellular device-to-device transceiver, a wireless local area link transceiver, and / or any other short-range wireless technology. Device 10, and in particular the short-range transceiver, may be capable of transmitting data to and / or receiving data from electronic devices located near the device, e.g., within 10 meters. Apparatus 10 including a Wi-Fi or wireless local area network modem may also be capable of transmitting data to and / or receiving data from electronic devices according to various wireless network technologies including 6LoWpan, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi low power, WLAN technologies such as IEEE 802.11 technology, IEEE 802.15 technology, and / or IEEE 802.16 technology.

[0044] The device 10 may include memory, such as a subscriber identity module (SIM) 38, a removable user identity module (R-UIM), an eUICC, and / or a UICC, which may store information elements associated with a mobile subscriber. In addition to the SIM, the device 10 may include other removable and / or fixed memory. The device 10 may include volatile memory 40 and / or nonvolatile memory 42. For example, the volatile memory 40 may include random access memory (RAM), including dynamic and / or static RAM, and / or on-chip or off-chip cache memory. The non-volatile memory 42, which may be embedded and / or removable, may include, for example, read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic storage devices, such as hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, optical disk drives and / or optical disk media, and / or non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Like the volatile memory 40, the non-volatile memory 42 may include a cache area for temporarily storing data. The volatile and / or non-volatile memory may be at least partially incorporated into the processor 20. The memory may store one or more software programs, instructions, information, and / or data, etc., which the device may use to perform the operations disclosed herein, including receiving, at the user equipment, a first message from a network during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, the first message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name overall maximum bit rate value, and, if there is an inter-system handover from the network to another network, sending, by the user equipment, a second message including the access point name overall maximum bit rate value to the other network during a procedure for activating a default bearer context in the other network using at least the access point name overall maximum bit rate value.

[0045] The memory may include an identifier capable of uniquely identifying device 10, such as an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code. In an exemplary embodiment, processor 20 may be configured, using computer code stored in memory 40 and / or 42, to receive from a network at least a first message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name overall maximum bit rate value during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, and to send to another network, if there is an inter-system handover from the network to another network, a second message including the access point name overall maximum bit rate value during a procedure for activating a default bearer context in the other network using at least the access point name overall maximum bit rate value.

[0046] Some of the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic, or a combination of software, hardware, and application logic. The software, application logic, and / or hardware may reside in, for example, memory 40, processor 20, or other electronic components. In some exemplary embodiments, the application logic, software, or set of instructions is maintained on any of a variety of conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any non-transitory medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer or data processor circuitry; according to the example shown in FIG. 5, computer-readable media may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which may be any medium that can contain or store instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer.

[0047] Without limiting in any way the scope, interpretation, or application of the following claims, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein may be improved interworking between 5G and 4G.

[0048] The subject matter described herein may be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and / or articles of manufacture, depending on the desired configuration. For example, the base station and user equipment (or one or more components therein) and / or the processes described herein may be implemented using one or more of a processor executing program code, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), an embedded processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or combinations thereof. These various implementations may include implementation in one or more computer programs, which are executable and / or interpretable by a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special-purpose or general-purpose and may be connected to, receive data and instructions from, and transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, program code, or code) include machine instructions for the programmable processor and may be implemented in a high-level procedural language and / or an object-oriented programming language, and / or in an assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" refers to any computer program product, machine-readable medium, computer-readable storage medium, apparatus, and / or device (e.g., magnetic disk, optical disk, memory, programmable logic device (PLD)) used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, including the machine-readable medium for receiving the machine instructions. Similarly, systems that may include a processor and memory coupled to the processor are also described herein. The memory may contain one or more programs that cause the processor to perform one or more of the operations described herein.

[0049] While several variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations may be provided in addition to the features and / or variations described herein. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and subcombinations of certain additional features disclosed above. Other embodiments may fall within the scope of the following claims.

[0050] Where appropriate, various functions discussed herein may be performed in different orders and / or concurrently with one another. Furthermore, where appropriate, one or more of the foregoing functions may be optional or combined. While various aspects of some of the embodiments are set forth in independent claims, other aspects of some of the embodiments include other combinations of features of the described embodiments and / or dependent claims with features of the independent claims, as well as combinations explicitly set forth in the claims. It should also be noted that while the present specification describes exemplary embodiments, these descriptions should not be construed in a limiting sense. Rather, several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of some of the embodiments, as defined in the appended claims. Other embodiments may fall within the scope of the following claims. The term "based on" includes "based at least on." The use of the phrase "such as" means "for example, such as" unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

1. receiving, at the user equipment (10), while being served by the first system and during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, a message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name and an aggregate maximum bit rate value; and when there is an inter-system change from the first system to a second system, setting, at the user equipment, an Access Point Name Total Maximum Bit Rate value in a session management context of the second system to the Access Point Name Total Maximum Bit Rate value received while being served by the first system.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first system includes a fifth-generation core network, the second system includes a fourth-generation evolved packet system, the inter-system change includes a change from an N1 interface to an S1 interface, and the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value maintains session continuity during the inter-system change.

3. The method according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the message containing the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value is received from a node (400) in the first system.

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the node (400) comprises a Packet Data Network Gateway Control Plane Function (PGW-C), a Session Management Function (SMF), and / or a Packet Data Network Gateway Control Plane Function (176) co-located with the Session Management Function.

5. storing, at the user equipment, the received default quality of service rule including the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value in a session context management associated with the first system; The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

6. means for receiving, at the user equipment (10), while being served by the first system and during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, a message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name and an aggregate maximum bit rate value; means for, when there is an inter-system change from the first system to a second system, setting, in the user equipment, an Access Point Name Total Maximum Bit Rate value of a session management context of the second system to the Access Point Name Total Maximum Bit Rate value received while being served by the first system; Device.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first system includes a fifth-generation core network and the second system includes a fourth-generation evolved packet system, the inter-system change includes a change from an N1 interface to an S1 interface, and the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value maintains session continuity during the inter-system change.

8. The apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 7, wherein the message containing the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value is received from a node (400) in the first system.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the node (400) comprises a Packet Data Network Gateway Control Plane Function (PGW-C), a Session Management Function (SMF), and / or a Packet Data Network Gateway Control Plane Function (176) co-located with the Session Management Function.

10. The apparatus further comprises: means for storing at least the received default quality of service rule including the access point name aggregate maximum bit rate value of a session context management associated with the first system; The apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising:

11. The device according to claims 6 to 10, wherein the device comprises or is comprised in a user equipment (10).

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program code that, when executed by at least one processor, receiving, at the user equipment (10), while being served by the first system and during a protocol data unit session establishment or modification procedure, a message including a default quality of service rule including an access point name and an aggregate maximum bit rate value; When there is an inter-system change from the first system to a second system, the access point name total maximum bit rate value of the session management context of the second system is set in the user equipment to the access point name total maximum bit rate value received while being served by the first system. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium causes an operation.

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