# US 12,016,068 B2 · Method and apparatus for session management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,016,068 B2 - Document ID: US12016068B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/608,917 - Filed: 2020-04-16 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-16 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Maria Belen Pancorbo Marcos; Juying Gan; Erik Wikström - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016068B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/141: Setup of application sessions (admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70) - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04L 67/1027: Persistence of sessions during load balancing - H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration - H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04W 80/10: adapted for {application} session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] {(connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for session management. A method comprises receiving from a user equipment (UE) a request for establishing another session to a data network identified by a data network identification. At least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network. The method further comprises checking whether the subscription data or the policy data for the UE includes a first indication which indicates that a same session management node for multiple sessions to the data network identified by the same data network identification is required. The method further comprises selecting the same session management node as the at least one existing session for the UE when the subscription data or the policy data includes the first indication. The method further comprises sending a session establishment request to the selected session management node. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating an access and mobility management node, the method comprising: receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a request for establishing another session to a data network identified by a data network identification, wherein at least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network; checking whether subscription data or policy data for the UE includes a first indication which indicates that a same session management node for multiple sessions to the data network identified by the same data network identification is required; selecting, based on the checking, the same session management node as the at least one existing session for the UE when the subscription data or the policy data includes the first indication; and sending a session establishment request to the selected session management node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the session establishment request includes a second indication selecting a same policy control node as the at least one existing session. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the session establishment request is a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request including the second indication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the access and mobility management node is an access and mobility management function (AMF) node, the session management node is a session management function (SMF) node, and the policy control node is a policy control function (PCF) node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data network identification is identified by a data network name (DNN) and single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the subscription data, from a data management node, during the UE's registration procedure or when the data management node updates the subscription data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the data management node is a unified data management (UDM) node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the subscription data is obtained from an Nudm_SDM_Get service operation or from Nudm_SDM_Notification service operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the policy data, from a policy control node, during the UE's registration procedure or when the policy control node updates the policy data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the policy data is obtained from an Npcf_AMPolicyControl_Create service operation and/or Npcf_AMPolicyControl_Update service operation. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a session management node, the method comprising: receiving a session establishment request, the session establishment request including a second indication selecting a same policy control node as at least one existing session of a user equipment (UE), wherein the session establishment request is used for establishing another session of the UE to a data network identified by a data network identification, and wherein the least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network; and selecting the same policy control node as at least one existing session of the UE. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the data network identification is identified by a data network name (DNN) and single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the session establishment request is a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request including the second indication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the session management node is a session management function (SMF) node and the policy control node is a policy control function (PCF) node. ### Claim 15 An apparatus at an access and mobility management node, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the apparatus is operative to: receive, from a user equipment (UE), a request for establishing another session to a data network identified by a data network identification, wherein at least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network; check whether subscription data or policy data for the UE includes a first indication which indicates that a same session management node for multiple sessions to the data network identified by the same data network identification is required; select the same session management node as the at least one existing session for the UE when the subscription data or the policy data includes the first indication; and send a session establishment request to the selected session management node. ### Claim 16 An apparatus at a session management node, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the apparatus is operative to: receive a session establishment request, the session establishment request including a second indication selecting a same policy control node as at least one existing session of a user equipment (UE), wherein the session establishment request is used for establishing another session of the UE to a data network identified by a data network identification, and wherein the least one existing session of the UE has been established to the data network; and select the same policy control node as at least one existing session of the UE.