Procedures for packet flow description management

A Session Management Function (SMF) node configured to optimize Packet Flow Description (PFD) management updates in a telecommunication network, wherein the SMF node further is configured to:

• set a timer to check periodically Application IDs;
• subscribe, toward a Network Exposure Function (NEF) via transmitter, to PFD data notifications for Application IDs in a list of permanent Application IDs for which PFD management applies;
• receive, from a Policy Control Function (PCF) via receiver, a control rule specifying an Application ID, wherein the specified Application ID is not included in the list of permanent Application IDs;
• add the specified Application ID to a list of temporary Application IDs for which PFD management applies;
• subscribe, toward the NEF via the transmitter, to PFD data notifications for the specified Application ID in the list of temporary Application IDs;
• upon the timer expiry, determine one or more Application ID, in the list of temporary Application IDs, not currently used in any session at the SMF node;
• remove the one or more determined Application IDs from the list of temporary Application IDs;
• and
• unsubscribe, toward the NEF via the transmitter, to PFD data notifications for the one or more determined Application IDs.

A method of optimizing Packet Flow Description (PFD) management updates in a telecommunication network, the method carried out at a Network Exposure Function (NEF) and comprising:

• receiving, from a Session Management Function (SMF) a subscription to PFD data notifications for Application IDs for which PFD management applies;
• receiving, from a content provider, a PFD management update for one or more Application IDs along with an allowed delay for each Application ID, wherein at least one Application ID amongst the one or more Application IDs has been subscribed by the SMF to PFD data notifications for the Application ID;
• determining, for the at least one Application ID and based on its allowed delay, whether a notification has to be performed immediately or can be delayed within the allowed delay;
• where it is determined that the notification has to be performed immediately, transmitting, toward the SMF, PFD data for the at least one Application ID;
• and
• where it is determined that the notification can be delayed, scheduling a maintenance delay for notification within the allowed delay and, upon expiry of this maintenance delay, transmitting, toward the SMF, PFD data for the at least one Application ID.

A Network Exposure Function (NEF) node configured to optimize Packet Flow Description (PFD) management updates in a telecommunication network, wherein the NEF node further is configured to:

• receive, from a Session Management Function (SMF) via receiver, a subscription to PFD data notifications for Application IDs for which PFD management applies;
• receive, from a content provider via the receiver, a PFD management update for one or more Application IDs along with an allowed delay for each Application ID, wherein at least one Application ID amongst the one or more Application IDs has been subscribed by the SMF to PFD data notifications for the Application ID;
• determine, for the at least one Application ID and based on its allowed delay, whether a notification has to be performed immediately or can be delayed within the allowed delay;
• where it is determined that the notification has to be performed immediately, transmit, toward the SMF via transmitter, PFD data for the at least one Application ID;
• and
• where it is determined that the notification can be delayed, schedule a maintenance delay for notification within the allowed delay and, upon expiry of this maintenance delay, transmit, toward the SMF via transmitter, PFD data for the at least one Application ID.