Network node, first radio network node, and methods performed therein

Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a first radio network node (12) for handling communications in a wireless communication network. The first radio network node (12) receives a GTP error indication from the first network node (15); and sending a tunnel indication to the network node (17), where the tunnel indication comprises information associated with the received GTP error indication.

Description

Network node, first radio network node, and the method performed therein Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described herein relate to a network node, a first radio network node, and methods relating to wireless communication performed therein. Furthermore, a computer program product and a computer-readable storage medium are also provided herein. Specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to processing communications in a wireless communication network, such as handling connection failures. Background Technology

[0002] In a typical wireless communication network, user equipment (UE) (also referred to as wireless communication device, mobile station, site (STA), and / or wireless device) communicates with one or more core networks (CN) via a radio access network (RAN). RAN coverage is divided into geographical areas of service or cells, each of which is served by a radio network node, such as an access node (e.g., a Wi-Fi access point or radio base station (RBS)). In some networks, radio network nodes may also be referred to as, for example, NodeB, gNodeB, or eNodeB. A service area or cell is a geographical area in which radio coverage is provided by a radio network node. Radio network nodes operate on radio frequency to communicate with UEs within their range via an air interface. Radio network nodes communicate with UEs via a downlink (DL), and UEs communicate with radio network nodes via an uplink (UL).

[0003] Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third-generation (3G) telecommunications network evolved from the second-generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN that uses Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and / or High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA) to communicate with user equipment. In a forum known as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications vendors propose and agree on standards for current and next-generation networks, and investigate aspects such as enhanced data rates and radio capacity. In some RANs, such as those in UMTS, several radio network nodes can connect (e.g., via terrestrial lines or microwave) to a controller node (such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) or Base Station Controller (BSC)), which monitors and coordinates the various activities of the multiple radio network nodes connected to it. The RNC is typically connected to one or more core networks.

[0004] The Evolved Packet System (EPS) specification has been completed within 3GPP, and upcoming 3GPP releases, such as New Radio (NR), are under development. EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) (also known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) Radio Access Network) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) (also known as the System Architecture Evolution (SAE) Core Network). E-UTRAN / LTE is a 3GPP radio access technology in which radio network nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network. Thus, the EPS radio access network (RAN) has a largely "flat" architecture, consisting of radio network nodes directly connected to one or more core networks.

[0005] In emerging 5G technologies such as NR, the extensive use of transmit and receive antenna elements is of great interest because it allows for the utilization of beamforming, such as transmit-side beamforming and receive-side beamforming. Transmit-side beamforming means that the transmitter can amplify the transmitted signal in one or more selected directions while suppressing the transmitted signal in other directions. Similarly, on the receiver side, the receiver can amplify signals from one or more selected directions while suppressing unwanted signals from other directions. NR connects to the 5G core network (5GC), which includes multiple network functions (NFs), such as Session Management Function (SMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Access Management Function (AMF), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Unified Data Manager (UDM), Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and to name a few. In the 5GC, NFs can discover other NFs by using the discovery service provided by the NRF.

[0006] GPRS Tunneling Protocol Version 1 - User (GTPv1-U) is a protocol for user plane services between the RAN and UPF via the N3 interface. Error indication is the mechanism described in TS29.281 v.18.0.0 for a GPRS Tunneling Protocol - User (GTP-U) node to return a GTP error indication to the source node when it receives a GTP Protocol Data Unit (G-PDU) without a context. In this document, tunneling protocol refers to a communication protocol that allows data to be moved from one network to another, thereby allowing private network communication to be sent across public networks via an encapsulation process.

[0007] GTP-U error indication.

[0008] In TS29.281 v.18.0.0, the handling of received error indications is declared, as specified in TS23.527 v.18.0.0.

[0009] 1)

[0010] In subclause 5.3.3.1 v.18.0.0 of TS23.527, it is declared that:

[0011] If a GTP-U error indication is received from the UPF via the NG-U tunnel (which is not an indirect forwarding tunnel), the 5G access node (AN) should initiate a PDU session resource notification procedure and immediately release the resources of the PDU session that has received the error indication.

[0012] The following declaration is made in TS 38.413 8.2.4.2 v.18.0.0:

[0013] The “PDU Session Resource Notification” message should contain information about PDU session resources or Quality of Service (QoS) flows that have been released, are no longer satisfied, or have been satisfied again by the NG-RAN node.

[0014] - For each PDU session resource released by an NG-RAN node, a PDU session resource release notification transmission information element (IE) containing the release reason in the reason information element IE should be included.

[0015] In NR, GTP-U is selected as the user plane protocol. On the control plane, the NG Application Protocol (NGAP) is specified between the core network and NG-RAN nodes. Within the NG-RAN node, two architectural options exist: integrated NG-RAN nodes, and split NG-RAN nodes with separate control and user planes.

[0016] Multiple NG-U tunnels per PDU session

[0017] 3GPP supports multiple NG-U tunnels per PDU session, currently up to two. Figure 2 illustrates the control plane and user plane in NR under NR dual connectivity (DC). For a PDU session, the control plane (NG-C) is handled by the master node (MN), and the user plane (NG-U) is handled by both the MN and the secondary node (SN), see Figure 1.

[0018] Segmented NG-RAN architecture

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the overall architecture with separate gNB-Central Unit (CU)-Control Plane (CP) and gNB-CU-User Plane (UP). In the NG-RAN node, gNB-CU-UP handles the N3 tunnel, while gNB-CU-CP handles the N2 interface. Summary of the Invention

[0020] As part of developing the embodiments described herein, one or more issues have been identified.

[0021] In deployments of Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services, such as those described in section 5.33.2 v.18.0.0 of TS 23.501, the current version of the 3GPP specification does not support handling the following scenarios: for redundant PDU sessions established in the SN, a GTP-U error indication is received in the SN, see Scenario 1 in Figure 3; or for a PDU session, a GTP-U error indication is received in the NG-RAN, where the GTP-U tunnel is handled by two different UPFs, see Scenario 2 in Figure 3. Therefore, Scenario 1 involves two N3 tunnels, with each of the MN and SN NG-RAN nodes terminating one N3 tunnel. Scenario 2 involves a PDU session with two N3 tunnels, each terminated by a different UPF. In both cases, according to the current 3GPP specification, the (R)AN cannot notify the SMF of the release of the PDU session or associated Quality of Service (QoS) flow N3 resources in the RAN due to the receipt of a GTP-U error indication. The remote UPF fully qualified TEID (F-TEID) (i.e., IP address and TEID) of the N3 tunnel, as well as the error indication source node, are not included in the message sent to the SMF so that the SMF can rebuild the redundant N3 tunnel, for example, for URLLC services.

[0022] According to current specifications, when a GTP-U error indication is received at the NG-RAN due to a UPF failure or partial failure, the reliability of the URLLC service cannot be guaranteed under any circumstances.

[0023] Furthermore, in the NG-RAN segmented architecture, if a GTP-U error occurs in gNB-CU-UP, the GTP-U fault must be transmitted to gNB-CU-CP so that gNB-CU-CP can report it to the core network node via the NG-C control plane for appropriate handling. In E1AP signaling, the interface between gNB-CU-UP and gNB-CU-CP does not support this process of transmitting UPGTP-U faults from gNB-CU-UP to gNB-CU-CP.

[0024] The embodiments described herein are intended to process communications in wireless communication networks in an efficient manner.

[0025] According to one aspect, and according to some embodiments herein, this objective is achieved by providing a method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a first radio network node (such as an NG-RAN node). The first radio network node receives a GTP error indication from a first network node (such as a UPF). The first radio network node sends a tunnel indication to a network node (such as an SMF), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows related to the received GTP error indication.

[0026] According to another aspect, and according to some embodiments herein, this objective is achieved by providing a method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, executed by the control plane of a network node (such as an SMF), a second radio network node (e.g., an MN), or a first radio network node. The network node receives a tunnel indication from a first radio network node (such as an NG-RAN node), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication. The network node takes the received tunnel indication into account to perform an action.

[0027] This document also provides a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the methods described herein, respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node. This document also provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the methods described herein, respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node.

[0028] According to another approach, this objective is achieved by providing a network node and a first radio network node respectively configured to perform the methods described herein.

[0029] According to another aspect, this objective is achieved by providing a first radio network node for processing communications in a wireless communication network. The first radio network node is configured to receive GTP error indications from a first network node. The first radio network node is also configured to send a tunnel indication to the network node, wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows related to the received GTP error indication.

[0030] According to another aspect, and according to some embodiments herein, this objective is achieved by providing a network node for processing communications in a wireless communication network. The network node is configured to receive a tunnel indication from a first radio network node, wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication. The network node is configured to perform an action in consideration of the received tunnel indication.

[0031] The embodiments described herein provide a solution for a first radio network node (such as a RAN node) to report a situation (such as notifying an SMF, for example a network node, of an event that UL payload transmission is impossible due to the receipt of one or more GTP error indications) when it receives a GTP error indication from, for example, a UPF. This also enables a network node (such as an SMF) to request the UPF that sent the GTP error indication, or a new UPF, to allocate a new or existing N3 UL F-TEID to receive UL services from the NG-RAN, and then modify the PDU session resources or rebuild them, for example, by first releasing the PDU session resources and then rebuilding them, to establish an N3 tunnel for the PDU session to ensure the reliability of URLLC services. Therefore, the embodiments described herein address efficient communication in wireless communication networks. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic overview depicting an interface according to the prior art;

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic overview of the segmentation architecture according to the prior art;

[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic overview depicting different scenarios;

[0036] Figure 4 shows an overview depicting a wireless communication network according to embodiments herein;

[0037] Figure 5 is a combined flowchart and signaling scheme according to some embodiments of this document;

[0038] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart depicting a method performed by a first radio network node according to some embodiments herein;

[0039] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart depicting a method performed by a network node according to some embodiments herein;

[0040] Figure 8 is a combined flowchart and signaling scheme according to some embodiments of this document;

[0041] Figure 9 is a combined flowchart and signaling scheme according to some embodiments of this document;

[0042] Figure 10 is a combined flowchart and signal scheme according to some embodiments of this document;

[0043] Figure 11 is a combined flowchart and signaling scheme according to some embodiments of this document;

[0044] Figure 12 shows a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a first radio network node according to embodiments herein; and

[0045] Figure 13 shows a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a network node according to the embodiments described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The embodiments described herein generally relate to wireless communication networks. Figure 4 is a schematic overview depicting a wireless communication network 1. Wireless communication network 1 includes one or more RANs and one or more CNs. Wireless communication network 1 may use one or more different technologies. The embodiments described herein relate to recent technology trends of particular interest in the New Radio (NR) environment; however, the embodiments are also applicable to the further development of existing wireless communication systems such as LTE or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA).

[0047] In wireless communication network 1, one or more UEs (such as user equipment (UE) 10), including those illustrated herein as wireless devices (such as mobile stations, non-access point (non-AP) stations (STA), STAs, and / or wireless terminals), communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via, for example, one or more access networks (ANs) (e.g., radio access networks (RAN)). Those skilled in the art will understand that "UE" is a non-limiting term, meaning any terminal, wireless communication terminal, user equipment, narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) device, machine-type communication (MTC) device, device-to-device (D2D) terminal, or node (e.g., smartphone, laptop computer, mobile phone, sensor, relay, mobile tablet computer, or even a small base station capable of communicating with a radio network node using radio communication within an area served by that radio network node).

[0048] Wireless communication network 1 includes a first radio network node 12 or a radio network node 12-only, which provides radio coverage over a geographic area (first service area 11 or first cell) of a first radio access technology (RAT) (such as NR, LTE, etc.). The first radio network node 12 may be a transmitting and receiving point (such as an access node), an access controller, a base station, an NG-RAN node (e.g., a radio base station (such as a gNodeB (gNB)), an evolved Node B (eNB, eNodeB), a NodeB, a base transceiver station, a radio remote unit, an access point base station, an NG-RAN-CU-UP node, a base station router, a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point or access point station (AP STA), a transmission device of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point, or any other network element or node capable of communicating with the UE within the service area served by the first radio network node, depending on, for example, the first radio access technology and the terminology used). The first radio network node may be referred to as a secondary node or a secondary radio network node, wherein the service area may be referred to as a secondary serving cell, and the secondary node communicates with the wireless device in the form of DL transmissions to the wireless device and UL transmissions from the wireless device. It should be noted that the service area can be represented as a cell, beam, beam group, etc. to define the area of ​​radio coverage.

[0049] Wireless communication network 1 includes a second radio network node 13 that provides radio coverage over a geographic area (second service area 14 or second cell) of a second radio access technology (RAT) (such as NR, LTE, etc.). The second radio network node 13 may be a transmitting and receiving point (such as an access node), an access controller, a base station (e.g., a radio base station (such as a gNodeB (gNB)), an evolved NodeB (eNB, eNodeB), a NodeB, a base transceiver station, a radio remote unit, an NG-RAN-CU-CP node, an access point base station, a base station router, a WLAN access point or AP STA, a transmission device of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point, or any other network element or node capable of communicating with wireless devices within the service area served by the second radio network node, depending on, for example, the second radio access technology and the terminology used). The second radio network node may be referred to as a primary node or a serving radio network node, wherein the service area may be referred to as a primary cell or a serving cell, and the second radio network node communicates with the UE in the form of DL transmissions to the UE and UL transmissions from the UE. It should be noted that the service area may be represented as a cell, a beam, a beam group, etc., to define the area of ​​radio coverage.

[0050] The first RAT can be the same as the second RAT, or the first RAT can be a different RAT from the second RAT.

[0051] The wireless communication network 1 may also include multiple network nodes that provide network functions (NFs) or actual instances of NFs (also referred to as NF instances), such as a first network node 15 (e.g., UPF) and a second network node 16 (e.g., SMF). Different NF instances may have different tasks. Other functions may be used for LTE, such as mobility management entities (MMEs), etc.

[0052] The corresponding nodes can be standalone servers, cloud-implemented servers, distributed servers, server clusters, or processing resources within the same node. The embodiments described herein can be implemented as physical bare metal, such as virtual or cloud-native environments in hypercloud networks (such as Kubernetes environments).

[0053] According to the embodiments described herein, the first radio network node 12 informs network node 17 (such as the second network node 16), the second radio network node 13, MN, or the control plane of the first radio network node 12 of tunnel information associated with the GTP error indication (also referred to as the GTP-U error indication).

[0054] The embodiments described herein may provide one or more of the following:

[0055] This enables the first radio network node 12 to report to the SMF that it has received a GTP-U error indication for the GTP-U tunnel and the NG-U tunnel. The first radio network node 12 can release the NG-U tunnel resources and the QoS flow transmitted through the NG-U tunnel, or it can retain the NG-U tunnel resources and wait for further action from the SMF, such as releasing the PDU session resources and rebuilding them, or modifying the PDU session resources by configuring the (new) N3 UL Transport Network Layer (TNL) in the UPF (such as the UPF that sent the GTP-U error indication or a new UPF).

[0056] The first radio network node 12 indicates to the SMF whether to release or retain the affected NG-U tunnel and associated QoS flow, either explicitly or implicitly by including different information elements (IEs).

[0057] The first radio network node 12 (such as SN) is allowed to indicate to MN that it has received a GTP-U error indication for PDU session resources and associated PDU resources.

[0058] In the NG-RAN node segmentation architecture, gNB-CU-UP is allowed to indicate to gNB-CU-CP that a given GTP-U(s) has received a GTP-U error indication through the NG-U interface, which serves as a user plane tunnel between the UPF and the NG-RAN node.

[0059] This enables the SMF to rebuild a given GTP-U tunnel when it receives a message from the first radio network node 12.

[0060] SMF can use existing NG-U tunnels at NG-RAN nodes to rebuild NG-U tunnels using, for example, a PDU session resource modification procedure. See Figure 8, “Signal Flow 1: Using the PDU Session Resource Modification Instruction Procedure to “Modify” a Faulty GTP-U Tunnel”.

[0061] It is understood that existing PDU session resource management procedures (e.g., PDU session resource notification / modification instruction) can be used by the first radio network node 12 to provide information to the core network (such as AMF and / or SMF), or PDU session resource modification procedures can be used by the CN to provide processing to the first radio network node 12. Other procedures or new procedures can be used for this purpose.

[0062] It is understood that not all information elements are necessary for the implementation of the embodiments described herein.

[0063] Figure 5 is a combined flowchart and signaling scheme according to some embodiments described herein.

[0064] Action 501. The first radio network node 12 may exchange support indications with network node 17. For example, the first radio network node 12 may receive support indications from network node 17 and / or send local support indications to network node 17. The local support indications and / or support indications may indicate support for reporting GTP-U error indications via the N2 interface and the corresponding processing procedures.

[0065] Action 502. The first radio network node 12 receives a GTP error indication, also known as a GTP-U error indication, from the first network node 15 (such as a UPF). The GTP error indication may indicate that the first network node 15 has received a G-PDU indicating that the tunnel session has failed or does not exist, or that the tunnel context has been lost due to, for example, a partial failure. A tunnel can be established between the UPF and the NG-RAN node.

[0066] Action 503. The first radio network node 12 also sends a tunnel indication to network node 17. The tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication. This information may also indicate the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicate the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows.

[0067] Action 504. Network node 17 takes into account tunnel indications to perform an action. Network node 17 may, for example, initiate tunnel reconstruction.

[0068] The method actions for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a first radio network node 12 according to embodiments herein, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in FIG6. These actions need not be performed in the order stated below, but may be performed in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments are marked with dashed boxes.

[0069] Action 601. The first radio network node 12 may exchange support instructions with the network node 17. For example, the first radio network node 12 may receive support instructions from the network node and / or send local support instructions to the network node 17.

[0070] Action 602. The first radio network node 12 receives a GTP error indication from the first network node 15 (such as a UPF). The GTP error indication may indicate that the first network node 15 has received a G-PDU, for example, due to a tunnel session failure or the absence of a tunnel session, or due to a loss of the GTP-U context, for example, due to a partial failure.

[0071] Action 603. The first radio network node 12 sends a tunnel indication to the network node 17. The tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication. This information may also indicate the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicate the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication may be included in a PDU session resource notification or a PDU session resource modification indication. Therefore, the first radio network node 12 may send information indicating the release or retention of a GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flows within a PDU session. The first radio network node 12 may send information indicating the release or retention of a GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flows within a PDU session due to the receipt of a GTP error indication.

[0072] Action 604. The first radio network node 12 can also receive updated information from network node 17. The updated information may include tunneling information used for UL communications.

[0073] In one embodiment, the first radio network node 12 (e.g., an NG-RAN node) and the SMF exchange support for reporting GTP-U error indications and the corresponding processing via the N2 interface.

[0074] In one embodiment, the first radio network node 12 instructs the SMF to release a designated NG-U tunnel and associated QoS flow within the PDU session. The NG-U tunnel identifier and / or list of associated QoS flows may be included in the relevant message.

[0075] The first radio network node 12 can use the PDU session resource notification procedure. The SMF can decide to rebuild the QoS flow and PDU session tunnel, see Figure 9 "Signal Flow 2", using the PDU session resource notification procedure to indicate that a GTP-U error indication has been received and the RAN has released the relevant resources.

[0076] The first radio network node 12 can use the PDU session resource modification indication procedure to include the affected GTP-U tunnel and indicate the release of tunnel resources and QoS flows. The first radio network node 12 may choose to offload the affected QoS flows to an existing NG-U tunnel.

[0077] The first radio network node 12 can instruct the SMF to release a designated NG-U tunnel due to receiving a GTP-U error indication. This can include a new indicator or a new reason value.

[0078] The first radio network node 12 can instruct the SMF to retain the N3 resource DL NG-U UP TNL information of the PDU session or QoS flow in the NG-RAN when a GTP-U error indication is received, so that the SMF can take action to rebuild the N3UL NG-U UP TNL in the UPF and update the NG-RAN with the new N3UL NG-U UP TNL.

[0079] The first radio network node 12 can use the PDU session resource modification indication procedure, see “Signal Flow 1” in Figure 8. The first radio network node 12 can provide information about a faulty GTP-U tunnel, or a list of faulty GTP-U tunnels. The first radio network node 12 can determine to migrate QoS flows to existing GTP-U tunnels.

[0080] The first radio network node 12 can use the PDU session resource notification procedure to indicate to the SMF that a GTP-U error indication for a given GTP-U has been received and that the relevant resources are reserved on the NG-RAN side. See “Signal Flow 3” in Figure 10, which illustrates a solution using the PDU session resource notification procedure to indicate that a GTP-U error indication has been received and that the NG-RAN has reserved the relevant resources.

[0081] In the segmented NG-RAN architecture, the first radio network node 12, exemplified as gNB-CU-UP, indicates to gNB-CU-CP, an example of network node 17, that it has received a GTP-U error indication for a given GTP-U tunnel, as shown in signal flow 4 in Figure 11. Here, gNB-CU-UP indicates the GTP-U error indication to gNB-CU-CP via the E1AP interface. gNB-CU-CP can then conclude that all GTP-U tunnels associated with a given IP address have failed.

[0082] gNB-CU-UP can indicate GTP-U and / or associated QoS flows in existing UE-associated signaling to gNB-CU-CP. In another embodiment, a new message or non-UE-associated signaling is used.

[0083] The first radio network node 12 can be exemplified as SN, which indicates to MN, which is an example of network node 17, that the NG-U tunnel has received a GTP-U error indication and releases the GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flow within the PDU session.

[0084] The SN can indicate to the MN that the specified NG-U tunnel has received a GTP-U error indication and has preserved the tunnel and associated QoS flows within the GTP-UPDU session. The SN can then wait for further instructions.

[0085] The SN can instruct the MN to release the PDU session due to receiving a GTP-U error indication. This can include a new indicator or a new reason value.

[0086] The method actions for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a network node 17 (such as an SMF) according to embodiments herein, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in FIG7. These actions need not be performed in the order stated below, but may be performed in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments are marked with dashed boxes.

[0087] Operation 701. Network node 17 may exchange support instructions with first radio network node 12. For example, network node 17 may receive local support instructions from first radio network node 12 and / or send support instructions to first radio network node 12.

[0088] Action 702. Network node 17 receives a tunnel indication from first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication. This information may also indicate the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicate the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows at first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication may be included in a PDU session resource notification or a PDU session resource modification indication. Network node 17 may receive information indicating the release or retention of GTP-U tunnels and associated QoS flows within a PDU session due to the receipt of a GTP error indication.

[0089] Action 703. Network node 17 performs the action considering tunnel indications. Network node 17 may, for example, rebuild or trigger the rebuilding of an affected tunnel (e.g., an NG-U tunnel) or Protocol Data Unit (PDU) resource. When network node 17 receives a PDU session resource notification release transmission from first radio network node 12, network node 17 may perform this action if the NG-RAN has indicated one or more of the following in the message:

[0090] -GTP-U peer address

[0091] -Remote GTP-TEID

[0092] - QoS flow list associated with GTP-U tunnel

[0093] - Instructions from the NG-RAN node regarding whether to release the affected GTP-U tunnel on the RAN side.

[0094] - Cause indication GTP-U error indication.

[0095] Action 704. Network node 17 can also send updated information to the first radio network node 12. The updated information may include tunneling information for UL communication.

[0096] For example, for a URLLC PDU session, a network node 17 such as an SMF can perform the reconstruction of the affected NG-U tunnel, including one or more of the following operations:

[0097] The SMF requests the UPF (whether the UPF from which the error indication originated or the newly selected UPF) to provide NG-U UL tunnel information. The SMF may also provide NG-U DL tunnel information if the first radio network node 12 indicates that RAN-side resources have been reserved.

[0098] - In the first radio network node 12, when the first radio network node 12 has received a GTP-U error indication and indicates that RAN-side resources have been reserved, the SMF provides the first radio network node 12 with NG-U UL NG-U UP TNL and NG-U DL NG-U UP TNL, for example, via the PDU session resource modification process. The first radio network node 12 can use the NG-U DL tunnel identifier.

[0099] When the first radio network node 12 has indicated that the first radio network node 12 has released the tunnel information, the SMF can, for example, reconstruct the GTP-U tunnel of the affected QoS flow via the PDU session resource modification process or the PDU session resource establishment process.

[0100] Figure 8 illustrates signal flow 1: a solution for “modifying” a faulty GTP-U tunnel using the PDU session resource modification instruction procedure.

[0101] Step description:

[0102] 80. Activate the user plane connection of an existing PDU session.

[0103] 81. Due to, for example, a partial failure, the UPF may have lost the GTP-U context, including the corresponding Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) session.

[0104] 82.5G-AN sends an uplink G-PDU to the UPF. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication (see Clause 5.2).

[0105] 83. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication.

[0106] 84. Upon receiving a GTP-U error indication, the 5G-AN should identify the relevant GTP-U information and / or data within the PDU session resources. Alternatively, it may associate a QoS flow and send a PDU session resource modification indication (PDR) to the AMF, which includes a PDU session resource modification indication for the transmission IE. Specifically, the 5G-AN reports to the SMF that it has received the GTP-U error indication and the remote F-TEID, and the 5G-AN instructs the SMF to... Whether to retain NG-U tunnel resources.

[0107] Note: A PDU session can have multiple ULGTP-U tunnels (i.e., multiple UPF N3 UL F-TEIDs) for a PDU session established for URLLC, for example using redundant N3 / N9. Therefore, 5G-AN needs to report the remote F-TEID to allow SMF to determine which GTP-U tunnel has failed.

[0108] 85. The AMF calls the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext service operation to populate the SMF with the PDU session resource modification indication transmission IE.

[0109] 86. Based on the information included in the PDU session resource modification indication transmission IE, the SMF should determine which UPF has failed, resulting in the loss of the PFCP session associated with the relevant GTP-U context.

[0110] 87. The SMF sends a PFCP session establishment request message to the same UPF (which has lost its GTP-U context) or a different UPF of the PDU session, including the 5G-AN N3 DL F-TEID in the request message.

[0111] 88. UPF responds with a PFCP session establishment response message with a newly assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID.

[0112] 89. The SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSesssion_UpdateSmContext response message to the AMF, which includes the assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID and contains an N2 information container that contains a PDU session resource modification confirmation transmission IE.

[0113] 810.AMF sends a PDU session resource modification confirmation to 5G-AN with a PDU session resource modification confirmation transmission IE.

[0114] The 811.5G-AN restores PDU session resources and may send UL G-PDUs to the newly allocated UPF N3 UL F-TEID.

[0115] Figure 9 illustrates signal flow 2: a solution using the PDU session resource notification procedure to indicate that a GTP-U error indication has been received and the RAN has released the relevant resources.

[0116] Step description:

[0117] 90. Activate the user plane connection of an existing PDU session.

[0118] 91. Due to, for example, a partial failure, the UPF may have lost the GTP-U context, including the corresponding PFCP session.

[0119] 92.5G-AN sends an uplink G-PDU to the UPF. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication (see Clause 5.2).

[0120] 93. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication (see above).

[0121] 94. Upon receiving a GTP-U error indication, the 5G-AN should identify the relevant PDU session resource and send a packet to the AMF. The PDU session resource release transmission IE includes a PDU session resource notification, in which the 5G-AN reports to the SMF that it has received the GTP-U. Error indication and remote F-TEID, and 5G-AN instructs SMF to release NG-U tunnel resources.

[0122] Note: A PDU session can have multiple ULGTP-U tunnels (i.e., multiple UPF N3 UL F-TEIDs) for a PDU session established for URLLC, for example using redundant N3 / N9. Therefore, 5G-AN needs to report the remote F-TEID to allow SMF to determine which GTP-U tunnel has failed.

[0123] 95. AMF calls the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext service operation to release the PDU session resources and transfer them to the SMF.

[0124] 96. Based on the information included in the PDU session resource release transmission IE, the SMF should determine which UPF has failed, resulting in the loss of the PFCP session associated with the relevant GTP-U context.

[0125] 97. Receive the SMF's response to the AMF, Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext, by sending the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext response.

[0126] 98. The SMF sends a PFCP session establishment request message to the same UPF (which has lost its GTP-U context) or a different UPF of the PDU session.

[0127] 99. UPF responds with a PFCP session establishment response message with a newly assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID.

[0128] 910. The SMF sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer to the AMF, which includes the assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID and contains an N2 message container that contains a PDU session resource establishment request transmission IE.

[0129] 911. The AMF sends a PDU session resource establishment request with PDU session resource establishment request transmission IE to the 5G-AN.

[0130] The 912.5G-AN recovers PDU session resources and responds to the AMF with a PDU session resource establishment response transmission IE, wherein the NG-RAN may include the updated NG-U UPDL F-TEID.

[0131] 913. In the Namf_PDUSessionUpdateSmContext request message, SMF forwards the PDU session resource establishment response transmission to AMF.

[0132] 914.SMF uses the PFCP session modification procedure, which includes NG-U UPDL F-TEID, to update UPF.

[0133] 915. At this point, the UE may send the UL G-PDU to the newly assigned UPF again.

[0134] Figure 10 illustrates signal flow 3: a solution using the PDU session resource notification procedure to indicate that a GTP-U error indication has been received and that the RAN has reserved the relevant resources.

[0135] Step description:

[0136] 100. Activate the user plane connection of an existing PDU session.

[0137] 101. Due to, for example, a partial failure, the UPF may have lost the GTP-U context, including the corresponding PFCP session.

[0138] The 102.5G-AN sends an uplink G-PDU to the UPF. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication (see Clause 5.2).

[0139] 103. If the UPF does not have a corresponding GTP-U context, it returns a GTP-U error indication (see Clause 5.2).

[0140] 104. Upon receiving a GTP-U error indication, the 5G-AN should identify the relevant PDU session resources and send them to the AMF. PDU Session Resource Notification: This PDU Session Resource Notification contains the new IE to be defined within the PDU Session Resource Notification Transport IE (the one that is protected). (The remaining GTP-U and / or associated QoS flows). The 5G-AN reports to the SMF that it has received a GTP-U error indication and a remote F- TEID, and 5G-AN indicates to SMF that NG-U tunnel resources have been reserved.

[0141] Note: A PDU session can have multiple ULGTP-U tunnels (i.e., multiple UPF N3 UL F-TEIDs) for a PDU session established for URLLC, for example using redundant N3 / N9. Therefore, 5G-AN needs to report the remote F-TEID to allow SMF to determine which GTP-U tunnel has failed.

[0142] 105. The AMF calls the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext service operation to populate the SMF with this information.

[0143] 106. Based on this information, the SMF should determine which UPF has failed, resulting in the loss of the PFCP session associated with the relevant GTP-U context.

[0144] 107. Receive the SMF's response to the AMF, Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSmContext, by sending the Nsmf:PDUSession_UpdateSmContext response.

[0145] 108. The SMF sends a PFCP session establishment request message to the same UPF (which has lost its GTP-U context) or a different UPF of the PDU session, including the 5G-AN N3 DL F-TEID in the request message.

[0146] 109.UPF responds with a PFCP session establishment response message with a newly assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID.

[0147] 1010.SMF sends Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer to AMF, which includes the assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID and contains an N2 message container that contains a PDU session resource modification request transmission IE.

[0148] 1011.AMF sends a PDU session resource modification request with PDU session resource modification request transmission IE to 5G-AN.

[0149] The 1012.5G-AN recovers PDU session resources and responds to the AMF with a PDU session resource modification response transmission IE, which includes the PDU session resource modification response transmission IE. The NG-RAN may include updated NG-U resource information, such as QoS information.

[0150] 1013. In the Namf_PDUSessionUpdateSmContext request message, AMF forwards the PDU session resource modification response transmission to SMF.

[0151] 1014. Based on the received N2 PDU session resource modification response transmission IE content, the SMF can use PFCP session modification to update the UPF if any NG-U resources of the PDU session have been updated by the NG-RAN.

[0152] 1015. At this point, the UE may send a UL G-PDU to the newly assigned UPF N3 UL F-TEID.

[0153] Figure 11 shows signal flow 4: gNB-CU-UP indicates to gNB-CU-CP that a GTP-U error indication for a specific GTP-U tunnel has been received.

[0154] 111. For example, due to partial failure, the UPF may have lost the GTP-U context.

[0155] 113.UPF sends a GTP-U error indication to gNB-CU-UP.

[0156] 114. gNB-CU-UP indicates to gNB-CU-CP that it has received a GTP-U error indication for a specific GTP-U tunnel.

[0157] 115.gNB-CU-CP can conclude that all GTP-U tunnels associated with a given IP address have failed.

[0158] The following are implementation examples of solutions from different 3GPP specifications (underlined and italicized).

[0159] Similar updates are needed for XnAP between radio network nodes.

[0160] Figure 12 is a block diagram depicting a first radio network node 12 for processing communications in a wireless communication network 1 according to an embodiment herein.

[0161] The first radio network node 12 may include processing circuitry 1201, such as one or more processors, configured to perform the methods described herein.

[0162] The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 may be configured to exchange support indications with network node 17. The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 may be configured to receive support indications from the network node and / or send local support indications to network node 17.

[0163] The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 are configured to receive a GTP error indication from a first network node 15 (such as a UPF). The GTP error indication may indicate that the first network node 15 has received a G-PDU, for example, due to a tunnel session failure or absence of a tunnel session, or due to a loss of GTP-U context, for example, due to a partial failure.

[0164] The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 can be configured to send a tunnel indication to network node 17. The tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows related to the received GTP error indication. The information associated with the received GTP error indication may indicate the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicate the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication may be included in a PDU session resource notification or a PDU session resource modification indication. Therefore, the first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 can be configured to send information indicating the release or retention of a GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flows within a PDU session. The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 can be configured to send information indicating the release or retention of a GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flows within a PDU session due to a received GTP error indication.

[0165] The first radio network node 12 and / or processing circuitry 1201 can be configured to receive updated information from network node 17. The updated information may include tunneling information for UL communications.

[0166] The first radio network node 12 may include a memory 1205. The memory 1205 includes one or more units for storing data thereon, such as data packets, indications, tunnel indications, error indications, tunnel information, messages, service characteristics, measurements, events, and applications that, when executed, perform the methods disclosed herein. Furthermore, the first radio network node 12 may include a communication interface 1206, such as including a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, and / or one or more antennas.

[0167] The methods for a first radio network node 12 according to the embodiments described herein are implemented by means of, for example, a computer program product 1207 or a computer program, which includes instructions (i.e., software code portions) that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the actions performed by the first radio network node 12 as described herein. The computer program product 1207 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1208 (e.g., a disk, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) disk, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium 1208 on which the computer program product is stored may include instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the actions performed by the first radio network node 12 as described herein. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a transient or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Therefore, the embodiments herein may disclose a first radio network node 12 for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein the first radio network node 12 includes processing circuitry and a memory including instructions executable by the processing circuitry, thereby enabling the first radio network node 12 to operate to perform any of the methods described herein.

[0168] Figure 13 is a block diagram depicting a network node 17 for processing communications in a wireless communication network 1 according to an embodiment herein.

[0169] Network node 17 may include processing circuitry 1301 configured to perform the methods described herein, such as one or more processors.

[0170] Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 may be configured to exchange support indications with the first radio network node 17. For example, network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 may be configured to receive local support indications from the first radio network node 12 and / or send support indications to network node 17.

[0171] Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 are configured to receive a tunnel indication from first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication, such as an indication of the received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows related to the tunnel and the received GTP error indication. This information may indicate the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicate the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows at first radio network node 12. The tunnel indication may be included in a PDU session resource notification or a PDU session resource modification indication. Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 may be configured to receive information indicating the release or retention of a GTP-U tunnel and associated QoS flows within a PDU session due to the received GTP error indication.

[0172] Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 are configured to perform actions considering tunnel indications. Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 can be configured to rebuild or trigger the rebuilding of affected tunnels or protocol data unit resources. Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 can be configured to rebuild tunnels, and / or can request a new or existing N3 UL F-TEID to be allocated by a UPF or new UPF that sends a GTP error indication to receive UL services from the NG-RAN, and then modify PDU session resources or rebuild PDU session resources by, for example, first releasing PDU session resources and then rebuilding PDU session resources, to, for example, establish an N3 tunnel for the PDU session to ensure the reliability of URLLC services or protocol data unit resources.

[0173] Network node 17 and / or processing circuitry 1301 can be configured to send updated information to the first radio network node 12. The updated information may include tunnel information for UL communication, such as information related to a reconstructed tunnel.

[0174] Network node 17 may include memory 1305. Memory 1305 includes one or more units for storing data thereon, such as data packets, indications, messages, tunnel information, error indications, tunnel indications, network information, session information, configuration, information, events, and applications that, when executed, perform the methods disclosed herein. Furthermore, network node 17 may include a communication interface 1306, such as including a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, and / or one or more antennas.

[0175] The methods described herein for network node 17 are implemented, for example, by means of a computer program product 1307 or a computer program, which includes instructions (i.e., software code portions) that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the actions described herein for network node 17. Computer program product 1307 may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1308 (e.g., a disk, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) disk, etc.). Computer-readable storage medium 1308 storing the computer program product may include instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the actions described herein for network node 17. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be transient or non-transitory. Therefore, the embodiments herein may disclose a network node 17 for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein network node 17 includes processing circuitry and memory including instructions executable by the processing circuitry, thereby enabling network node 17 to operate to perform any of the methods herein.

[0176] In some embodiments, the more general term “network node” or “radio network node” is used, and it may correspond to any type of radio network node or any network node that communicates with the UE and / or with another network node.

[0177] In some embodiments, the non-limiting term wireless device or user equipment (UE) is used, and it refers to any type of wireless device that communicates with a network node in a cellular or mobile communication system and / or with another wireless device. Examples of UEs are target devices, device-to-device (D2D) UEs, UEs with proximity capabilities (aka ProSe UEs), IoT-enabled devices, machine-type UEs or UEs capable of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, tablet computers, mobile terminals, smartphones, laptop embedded devices (LEEs), laptop mounted devices (LMEs), USB dongles, etc.

[0178] The embodiments are applicable to any RAT or multi-RAT system, in which wireless devices receive and / or transmit signals (e.g., data), such as NR, Wi-Fi, LTE, Advanced LTE, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications / Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution (GSM / EDGE), Global Microwave Access Interoperability (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and the above are only a few possible implementations.

[0179] Those skilled in communication design will readily understand that functional devices or circuits can be implemented using digital logic and / or one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other digital hardware. In some embodiments, some or all of the various functions may be implemented together, such as in a single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or in two or more separate devices having suitable hardware and / or software interfaces. For example, several functions may be implemented on a processor shared with other functional components of a wireless device or network node.

[0180] Alternatively, some functional elements in the processing apparatus discussed may be provided using dedicated hardware, while others may be provided using hardware for executing software in combination with suitable software or firmware. Therefore, the terms "processor" or "controller" as used herein do not exclusively refer to hardware capable of executing software and may implicitly include, but are not limited to, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware and / or program or application data. Other conventional and / or custom hardware may also be included. Designers of communication equipment will understand the trade-offs in cost, performance, and maintenance among these design options.

[0181] Any suitable steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein can be performed by one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual devices. Each virtual device may include multiple such functional units. These functional units may be implemented by processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers and other digital hardware (including digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific digital logic, etc.). The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or more types of memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. The program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communication protocols and instructions for executing one or more technologies described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause corresponding functional units to perform corresponding functions according to one or an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0182] While the computing devices described herein (e.g., UE, network node, host) may include combinations of the hardware components shown, other embodiments may include computing devices with different combinations of components. It should be understood that these computing devices may include any suitable combination of hardware and / or software required to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. The determination, calculation, acquisition, or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry that processes information in ways such as: converting acquired information into other information, comparing the acquired or converted information with information stored in a network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the acquired or converted information, and making determinations based on the results of said processing. Furthermore, although components are depicted as single boxes located within larger boxes or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a computing device may include multiple different physical components constituting a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between individual components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of a component may be partitioned between processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any such component may be implemented in software or firmware, and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0183] In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be provided by processing circuitry that executes instructions stored in memory, which in some embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functions may be provided by the processing circuitry, for example, in a hard-wired manner, without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium. In any of these particular embodiments, the processing circuitry may be configured to perform the described functions, regardless of whether instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are executed. The benefits provided by such functions are not limited to the individual processing circuitry or other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed holistically by the computing device and / or generally by the end user and wireless network.

[0184] Benefiting from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that this embodiment is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific terminology may be used herein, it is for general and descriptive purposes only and not for limiting purposes.

[0185] References

[0186] 1.3GPP TS 38.413 v17.5.0 https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 38_series / 38.413 / 38413-h50.zip

[0187] 2.3GPP TS 38.423 v17.5.0 https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 38_series / 38.423 / 38423-h50.zip

[0188] 3.3GPP TS 37.483 v17.5.0 https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 38_series / 37.483 / 37483-h50.zip

[0189] 4.3GPP TS 23.527 v.18.0.0

[0190] Example:

[0191] A1. A method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a first radio network node (12), the method comprising:

[0192] - Receive (602) GTP error indication from the first network node (15); and

[0193] - Send a (603) tunnel indication to the network node (17), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication.

[0194] A2. The method according to embodiment A1, wherein the information includes an indication of a received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication.

[0195] A3. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A2, wherein the information indicates the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicates the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or the one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node 12.

[0196] A4. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A3, wherein the tunnel indication is included in the PDU session resource notification or the PDU session resource modification indication.

[0197] A5. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A4, wherein the tunnel indication indicates the release or retention of the tunnel and associated QoS flow within the PDU session due to receiving the GTP error indication.

[0198] A5. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A4 further includes:

[0199] - Receive (604) updated information from the network node (17).

[0200] A6. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A5 further includes:

[0201] - Exchange (601) support indication with the network node (17).

[0202] B1. A method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a network node (17), the method comprising:

[0203] - Receive (702) a tunnel indication from the first radio network node (12), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication; and

[0204] - Consider the tunnel indication to perform the (703) action.

[0205] B2. The method according to embodiment B1, wherein the information includes an indication of a received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication.

[0206] B3. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B2, wherein the information indicates the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicates the retention of data regarding the tunnel and / or the one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node 12.

[0207] B4. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B3, wherein the tunnel indication is included in the PDU session resource notification or modification indication.

[0208] B5. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B4, wherein the tunnel indication indicates the release or retention of the tunnel and associated QoS flow within the PDU session due to receiving the GTP error indication.

[0209] B6. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B4 further includes:

[0210] - Send (704) the updated information to the first radio network node (12).

[0211] B7. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B5 further includes:

[0212] - Exchange (701) support indication with the network node (17).

[0213] B8. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B6, wherein performing the action includes rebuilding or triggering the rebuilding of the affected tunnel.

[0214] C1. A first radio network node (12) for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein the first radio network node (12) is configured to:

[0215] Receive GTP error indication from the first network node (15); and

[0216] Send a tunnel indication to the network node (17), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication.

[0217] C2. The first radio network node (12) according to embodiment C1, wherein the first radio network node (12) is configured to perform the method according to any one of embodiments A2 to A6.

[0218] D1. A network node (17) for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein the network node is configured to:

[0219] Receive a tunnel indication from the first radio network node (12), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GTP error indication; and

[0220] Perform the action in accordance with the tunnel indication.

[0221] D2. The network node (17) according to embodiment D1, wherein the network node (12) is configured to perform the method according to any one of embodiments B2 to B7.

[0222] E1. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A6 or B1 to B7, respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node.

[0223] F1. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program product stored thereon, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A6 or B1 to B7, respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node.

[0224] abbreviation

Claims

1. A method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a first radio network node (12), the method comprising: - Receive (602) GPRS Tunneling Protocol GTP error indication from the first network node (15); And - send a (603) tunnel indication to the network node (17), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The information includes an indication of a received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated QoS flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein, The information indicates the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicates the retention of data about the tunnel and / or the one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node (12).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The tunnel indication is included in the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session resource notification or PDU session resource modification indication.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The tunnel indication indicates whether to release or retain the tunnel and associated Quality of Service (QoS) flow within a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session due to receiving the GTP error indication.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: - Receive (604) updated information from the network node (17).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: - Exchange (601) support indication with the network node (17).

8. A method for processing communications in a wireless communication network, performed by a network node (17), the method comprising: - Receive (702) a tunnel indication from the first radio network node (12), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) error indication; and - take the tunnel indication into account to perform (703) an action.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The information includes an indication of a received GTP error indication, a tunnel identifier, and / or an indication of one or more associated Quality of Service (QoS) flows of the tunnel related to the received GTP error indication.

10. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein, The information indicates the release of the tunnel and / or one or more QoS flows, or indicates the retention of data about the tunnel and / or the one or more QoS flows at the first radio network node (12).

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein, The tunnel indication is included in the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session resource notification or modification indication.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein, The tunnel indication indicates whether to release or retain the tunnel and associated Quality of Service (QoS) flow within a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session due to receiving the GTP error indication.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising: - Send (704) the updated information to the first radio network node (12).

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, further comprising: - Exchange (701) support indication with the network node (17).

15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein, Performing the action includes rebuilding or triggering the rebuilding of the affected tunnel or protocol data unit resources.

16. A first radio network node (12) for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein, The first radio network node (12) is configured to: receive a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) error indication from a first network node (15); and send a tunnel indication to a network node (17), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with the received GTP error indication.

17. The first radio network node (12) according to claim 16, wherein, The first radio network node (12) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 7.

18. A network node (17) for processing communications in a wireless communication network, wherein, The network node is configured to: receive a tunnel indication from a first radio network node (12), wherein the tunnel indication includes information associated with a received GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) error indication; and take the tunnel indication into account to perform an action.

19. The network node (17) according to claim 18, wherein, The network node (12) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 9 to 15.

20. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, which is respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node.

21. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program product stored thereon, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, which is respectively executed by a first radio network node and a network node.

Images