Network assistance via a local breakout function-gateway in RAN

A method in a wireless device, comprising:

• receiving network assistance information from a network node via application-layer signaling in the user plane over a first bearer established between a local breakout function gateway, the local breakout function gateway collocated at the network node, and an application client of the wireless device, the network assistance information comprising information related to optimizing transmission of user data over a second bearer established between the wireless device and a core network node, wherein the second bearer is different than the first bearer;
• providing identification information to the network node, the identification information for associating the application-laver signaling over the first bearer with the user data received over the second bearer;
• and
• receiving user data over the second bearer according to one or more parameters defined based on the received network assistance information.

A network node, comprising:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the processing circuitry configured to:
• establish a first bearer between a local breakout function gateway, the local breakout function gateway collocated at the network node, and an application client of a wireless device;
• transmit, via the transmitter, network assistance information to the wireless device over the first bearer via application-layer signaling in the user plane, the network assistance information comprising information related to optimizing transmission of user data over a second bearer established between the wireless device and a core network node, wherein the second bearer is different than the first bearer;
• and
• associate the application-layer signaling transmitted over the first bearer with the user data transmitted over the second bearer, wherein processing circuitry configured to associate the application-layer signaling transmitted over the first bearer with the user data transmitted over the second bearer comprises processing circuitry configured to:
• receive, from the application client of the wireless device, identification information enabling the network node to identify traffic related to the user data transmitted over the second bearer.

A wireless device, comprising:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• and
• processing circuitry coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the processing circuitry configured to:
• receive, via the receiver, network assistance information from a network node via application-layer signaling in the user plane over a first bearer established between a local breakout function gateway, the local breakout function gateway collocated at the network node, and an application client of the wireless device, the network assistance information comprising information related to optimizing transmission of user data over a second bearer established between the wireless device and a core network node, wherein the second bearer is different than the first bearer;
• provide identification information to the network node, the identification information for associating the application-layer signaling over the first bearer with the user data received over the second bearer;
• and
• receive, via the receiver, user data over the second bearer according to one or more parameters defined based on the received network assistance information.