Local user plane function control

A method of an intermediate session management function entity comprising:

• receiving, from a session management function entity, a pre-rule, wherein the pre-rule is a partly-generated rule of a first N4 rule related to local traffic offloading with respect to at least one user plane function entity under control of said intermediate session management function entity, wherein said N4 rule is a packet detection rule, a forwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, or a quality of service enforcement rule, and wherein said pre-rule comprises an indication that said intermediate session management function entity is to determine information that is to be used with said pre-rule to generate said N4 rule;
• determining the information that is to be used to generate said N4 rule;
• generating, based on said pre-rule and said information, said N4 rule related to local traffic offloading;
• and
• transmitting said N4 rule to said at least one user plane function entity.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• obtain policy related information and charging related information;
• generate a pre-rule based on said policy related information and said charging related information, wherein said pre-rule is a partly-generated rule of a N4 rule related to local traffic offloading with respect to at least one user plane function entity under control of an intermediate session management function entity, wherein said N4 rule is a packet detection rule, a forwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, or a quality of service enforcement rule, and wherein said pre-rule comprises an indication that said intermediate session management function entity is to obtain information that is to be used to generate said N4 rule to be transmitted to said at least one user plane function entity under control of said intermediate session management function entity;
• and
• transmit said pre-rule to said intermediate session management function entity for generation of said N4 rule.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the
• at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• receive, from a session management function entity, a pre-rule, wherein the pre-rule is a partly-generated rule of a first N4 rule related to local traffic offloading with respect to at least one user plane function entity under control of said intermediate session management function entity, wherein said N4 rule is a packet detection rule, a forwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, or a quality of service enforcement rule, and wherein said pre-rule comprises an indication that said intermediate session management function entity is to obtain information that is to be used to generate said first N4 rule to be transmitted to said at least one user plane function entity under control of said intermediate session management function entity;
• determine the information that is to be used to generate said N4 rule;
• generate, based on said pre-rule and said information, said first N4 rule related to local traffic offloading;
• and
• transmit said first N4 rule to said first user plane function entity.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer program code, the computer program code configured, upon execution by at least one processor, to cause the at least one processor to:

• obtain policy related information and charging related information;
• generate a pre-rule based on said policy related information and said charging related information, wherein said pre-rule is a partly-generated rule of a N4 rule related to local traffic offloading with respect to at least one user plane function entity under control of an intermediate session management function entity, wherein said N4 rule is a packet detection rule, a forwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, or a quality of service enforcement rule, and wherein said pre-rule comprises an indication that said intermediate session management function entity is to determine information that said intermediate session management function is to use together with said pre-rule to generate said N4 rule;
• and
• transmit said pre-rule to said intermediate session management function entity.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer program code, the computer program code configured, upon execution by at least one processor, to cause the at least one processor to:

• receive, from a session management function entity, a pre-rule, wherein the pre-rule is a partly-generated rule of a N4 rule related to local traffic offloading with respect to at least one user plane function entity under control of an intermediate session management function entity, wherein said N4 rule is a packet detection rule, a forwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, or a quality of service enforcement rule, and wherein said pre-rule comprises an indication that said intermediate session management function entity is to determine information that said intermediate session management function is to use with said pre-rule to generate said N4 rule;
• determine the information that is to be used to generate said N4 rule;
• generate, based on said pre-rule and said information, a first rule of at least one rule related to local traffic offloading;
• and
• transmit said N4 rule to said at least one user plane function entity.