Node and method for managing a packet data network connection and/or an internet protocol-connectivity access network session

A first network node for managing at least one of a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection and an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session associated with a user equipment, the first network node being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the first network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, said computer readable medium containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the first network node is operative to:
• determine a need to perform a modification procedure for modifying at least one of the PDN connection and the corresponding IP-CAN session associated with the user equipment;
• as a result of determining the need to perform the modification procedure, transmit, to a second network node, a request for a status of the user equipment, wherein the request comprises an event trigger that causes the second network node to transmit a message in response to determining that one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• receive, from the second network node, a first response comprising a user equipment status indication, wherein the first response indicates that the user equipment is unreachable or in a power saving mode;
• as a result of receiving the first response to the request, determine to postpone the performance of the modification procedure;
• receive, from the second network node, a second response to the request after receiving the first response, wherein the second response comprises the user equipment status indication and an indication that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• determine, based on the received second response, whether to perform the modification procedure for modifying at least one of the PDN connection and the corresponding IP-CAN session associated with the user equipment.

A computer product for managing a first network node, for managing at least one of a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection and an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session associated with a user equipment, the first network node being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions for:

• determining a need to perform a modification procedure for modifying at least one of the PDN connection and the corresponding IP-CAN session associated with the user equipment;
• as a result of determining the need to perform the modification procedure, transmitting, to a second network node, a request for a status of the user equipment, wherein the request comprises an event trigger that causes the second network node to transmit a message in response to determining that one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• receiving, from the second network node, a first response comprising a user equipment status indication, wherein the first response indicates that the user equipment is unreachable or in a power saving mode;
• as a result of receiving the first response to the request, determining to postpone the performance of the modification procedure;
• receiving, from the second network node, a second response to the request after receiving the first response, wherein the second response comprises the user equipment status indication and an indication that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• determining, based on the received second response, whether to perform the modification procedure for modifying at least one of the PDN connection and the corresponding IP-CAN session associated with the user equipment.

A method, performed in a second network node, for managing at least one of a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection and an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session associated with a user equipment, the second network node being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

• the second network node receiving, from a first network node, a request for a status of the user equipment, wherein the request comprises an event trigger that causes the second network node to transmit a message in response to determining that one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• the second network node determining a first status of the user equipment;
• as a result of determining the first status of the user equipment, the second network node transmitting a first response comprising a user equipment status indication, wherein the first response indicates that the user equipment is unreachable or in a power saving mode;
• the second network node determining, after transmitting the first response to the request, that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• and
• as a result of determining that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met, the second network node transmitting, to the first network node, a second response, wherein the second response comprises the user equipment status indication and an indication that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met,
• wherein the user equipment status comprises an indication of at least one of (i) whether the user equipment is reachable, (ii) whether the user equipment is in an idle mode or an active mode, (iii) a location of the user equipment, (iv) a time zone in which the user equipment is located, and (v) a serving network in which the user equipment is registered.

A second network node for managing at least one of a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection and an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session associated with a user equipment, the second network node being configured for use in a wireless communications network, the second network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, said computer readable medium containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the first network node is operative to:
• receive, from a first network node, a request for a status of the user equipment, wherein the request comprises an event trigger that causes the second network node to transmit a message in response to determining that one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• determine a first status of the user equipment;
• as a result of determining the first status of the user equipment, transmit a first response comprising a user equipment status indication, wherein the first response indicates that the user equipment is unreachable or in a power saving mode;
• determine, after transmitting the first response to the request, that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met;
• and
• as a result of determining that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met, transmit, to the first network node, a second response, wherein the second response comprises the user equipment status indication and an indication that at least one of the one or more predetermined conditions are met,
• wherein the user equipment status comprises an indication of at least one of (i) whether the user equipment is reachable, (ii) whether the user equipment is in an idle mode or an active mode, (iii) a location of the user equipment, (iv) a time zone in which the user equipment is located, and (v) a serving network in which the user equipment is registered.