Methods and apparatus for selecting network slice, session management and user plane functions

A network equipment for an access and mobility management function (AMF) comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• a communication interface;
• the one or more processors being configured to:
• receive, over the communication interface, a message which includes a session establishment request for establishing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for a user equipment (UE);
• in response to receiving the message, obtain a set of data items;
• select a session management function (SMF) instance for managing the PDU session of the UE based on a first subset of data items of the set;
• select a user plane function (UPF) instance for the PDU session of the UE based on a second subset of data items of the set, the second subset of data items including at least some of the same data items of the first subset;
• and
• send, to the SMF instance, a message which includes a create session request, the message including an identity or indication of the UPF instance for the PDU session of the UE.

A method comprising:

• at a session management function (SMF),
• receiving, from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a message which includes a create session request, the create session request being associated with creating a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for a user equipment (UE);
• identifying, from the message which includes the create session request, an identity or indication of a user plane function (UPF) instance to carry UP traffic in the PDU session for the UE;
• and
• sending, to the UPF instance corresponding to the identity or indication in the message, a message which includes a session establishment request for establishing a session with the UPF instance for managing communications of the PDU session for the UE.