# US 12,120,775 B2 · Multi access packet/protocol data unit session

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- Number: US 12,120,775 B2
- Document ID: US12120775B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/516,252
- Filed: 2021-11-01
- Published: 2022-02-17
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-21
- Assignees: Ofinno, LLC
- Applicants: Ofinno, LLC
- Inventors: Peyman Talebi Fard; Esmael Hejazi Dinan; Weihua Qiao; Kyungmin Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120775B2

## CPC

- H04W 80/10: adapted for {application} session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] {(connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14)}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 8/08: Mobility data transfer
- H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)}
- H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
- H04W 68/005: {Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication}
- H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers
- H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels
- H04W 8/18: Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
- H04W 8/24: Transfer of terminal data
- H04W 28/086: among access entities
- H04W 80/02: Data link layer protocols
- H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems}
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A session management function (SMF) receives, from a user plane function (UPF), a data notification message for a multi access (MA) packet data unit (PDU) session associated with multiple tunnels between multiple access network types and a PDU session anchor. The SMF sends, to an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first request to activate user plane resources. The first request comprises an indication of an access network type, from among the multiple access network types, of the MA PDU session.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving, by a session management function (SMF) from a user plane function (UPF), a data notification message for a multi access (MA) packet data unit (PDU) session associated with multiple tunnels between multiple access network types and a PDU session anchor; and
sending, by the SMF to an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first request to activate user plane resources of an access network type from among the multiple access network types of the MA PDU session, wherein the first request comprises an indication of the access network type, from among the multiple access network types.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the SMF from the AMF, a second request to establish the MA PDU session.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising sending, by the SMF to a network repository function (NRF), a third request for discovery of one or more UPFs that support access traffic steering, switching and splitting (ATSSS) for the MA PDU session, the third request comprising an ATSSS capability indicator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving, by the SMF from the NRF and based on the third request, an identifier of the UPF from among the one or more UPFs that support ATSSS for the MA PDU session.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising sending, by the SMF to the UPF, a fourth request to establish the MA PDU session.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, by the SMF to the UPF, a packet detection rule (PDR) comprising packet detection information, wherein the packet detection information comprises an access network information for the MA PDU session.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the SMF sends to the UPF the PDR in response to receiving an access traffic steering, switching and splitting (ATSSS) rule from a policy and charging control function node.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the data notification message comprises:
access information associated with the MA PDU session, wherein the access information comprises the access network type; and
an identifier of a session between the SMF and the UPF associated with the MA PDU session.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising determining by the SMF to activate the MA PDU session based on the data notification message.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the first request to activate the user plane resources is sent by the SMF to the AMF in response to the determining.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the MA PDU session comprises one or more PDU sessions associated with one or more access network types.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple access network types comprise:
a third generation partnership project (3GPP) access network; and
a non-3GPP access network.

### Claim 13

A session management function (SMF) comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the SMF to:
receive, from a user plane function (UPF), a data notification message for a multi access (MA) packet data unit (PDU) session associated with multiple tunnels between multiple access network types and a PDU session anchor; and
send, to an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first request to activate user plane resources of an access network type from among the multiple access network types of the MA PDU session, wherein the first request comprises an indication of the access network type, from among the multiple access network types.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The SMF of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the SMF to receive, from the AMF, a second request to establish the MA PDU session.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The SMF of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the SMF to send, to a network repository function (NRF), a third request for discovery of one or more UPFs that support access traffic steering, switching and splitting (ATSSS) for the MA PDU session, the third request comprising an ATSSS capability indicator.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The SMF of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the SMF to receive, from the NRF and based on the third request, an identifier of the UPF from among the one or more UPFs that support ATSSS for the MA PDU session.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The SMF of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the SMF to send, to the UPF, a fourth request to establish the MA PDU session.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The SMF of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the SMF to send, to the UPF, a packet detection rule (PDR) comprising packet detection information, wherein the packet detection information comprises an access network information for the MA PDU session.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The SMF of claim 18, wherein the PDR is sent in response to receiving an access traffic steering, switching and splitting (ATSSS) rule from a policy and charging control function node.

### Claim 20

A system, comprising:
a session management function (SMF) comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the SMF, cause the SMF to:
receive, from a user plane function (UPF), a data notification message for a multi access (MA) packet data unit (PDU) session associated with multiple tunnels between multiple access network types and a PDU session anchor; and
send, to an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first request to activate user plane resources of an access network type from among the multiple access network types of the MA PDU session, wherein the first request comprises an indication of the access network type, from among the multiple access network types.