Methods and systems for enabling an application function to influence traffic in a network

EP4710609A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-03-18TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-05-07
Publication Date
2026-03-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In 5G networks, application functions (AFs) face challenges in influencing user equipment (UE) traffic due to Network Address Translation (NATed) IP addresses and overlapping IP addresses, making it difficult for Session Management Function (SMF) in Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) to correlate PDU sessions and retrieve traffic influence data, and Network Exposure Function (NEF) struggles to discover and select a Unified Data Repository (UDR).

Method used

A method where a first network function (NF) receives a traffic influence request message and obtains a session management function (SMF) notification endpoint to transmit traffic influence data, allowing a third NF associated with the SMF to influence network traffic, thereby bypassing the need for storing data in the UDR and enabling AF influence across different PLMNs.

Benefits of technology

This solution allows AFs to effectively influence traffic in 5G networks without relying on UDR storage, reducing processing and storage needs, and enabling AF influence even when UE is in a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN), thus addressing the issues of NATed IP addresses and overlapping IP addresses.

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Abstract

A method (300) performed by a first network function, NF, for enabling a second NF to influence traffic in a network. The method includes receiving from the second NF a traffic influence, TI, request message comprising TI data. The method also includes, after receiving the request, obtaining a session management function, SMF, notification endpoint. And the method another includes transmitting to the SMF notification endpoint a TI notification message comprising the TI data, wherein a third network function associated with the SMF notification endpoint uses the TI data to influence traffic in the network.
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