Method and apparatus for supporting session continuity for 5G cellular network

An apparatus for a session management function (SMF) for supporting session continuity during a handover of a terminal in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive, from an access and mobile management function (AMF), an update request for a protocol data unit (PDU) session associated with the terminal, determine whether an anchor user plane function (UPF) for the PDU session is able to continue to serve the terminal,
• select an intermediate UPF for the PDU session, in case that the anchor UPF is not able to continue to serve the terminal, and
• transmit, to the intermediate UPF, an establishment request for insertion of the intermediate UPF,
• wherein the intermediate UPF is an additional UPF for the PDU session and has a connectivity between the anchor UPF and a target base station associated with the handover of the terminal.

A system comprising:

• user plane functions (UPFs);
• an access and mobility management function (AMF);
• and
• a session management function (SMF) for supporting session continuity during a handover of a terminal connected to the system, wherein the SMF is configured to:
• receive, from the AMF, an update request for a protocol data unit (PDU) session associated with the terminal,
• determine whether a UPF of the UPFs, which is an anchor UPF for the PDU session, is able to continue to serve the terminal,
• select from the UPFs an intermediate UPF for the PDU session, in case that the anchor UPF is not able to continue to serve the terminal, and
• transmit, to the intermediate UPF, an establishment request for insertion of the intermediate UPF, wherein the intermediate UPF is an additional UPF for the PDU session and has a connectivity between the anchor UPF and a target base station associated with the handover of the terminal.