Method and apparatus for managing user plane operation in wireless communication system

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) the method comprising:

• receiving, from a base station, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message including a data radio bearer (DRB) configuration;
• identifying the DRB configuration including one of mapping information between a DRB and a quality of service (QoS) flow in a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer or an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity (ID);
• and
• creating a SDAP entity in case that the DRB configuration includes the mapping information between the DRB ad the QoS flow in the SDAP layer,
• wherein, in case that the DRB configuration includes the EPS bearer ID, the SDAP entity is not created.

A base station, comprising:

• at least one transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one transceiver, configured to:
• identify a core network (CN) connectivity associated with one of a 5th generation (5G) core (5GC) or an evolved packet core (EPC);
• and
• transmit, to a user equipment (UE) a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message including a data radio bearer (DRB) configuration,
• wherein, in case that the CN connectivity is associated with the 5GC, the DRB configuration includes mapping information between a DRB and a quality of service (QoS) flow in a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and
• wherein, in case that the CN connectivity is associated with the EPC, the DRB configuration includes an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity (ID).

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

• at least one transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one transceiver, configured to:
• receive, from a base station, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message including a data radio bearer (DRB) configuration;
• identify the DRB configuration including one of mapping information between a DRB and a quality of service (QOS) flow in a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer or an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer identity (ID);
• and
• create a SDAP entity in case that the DRB configuration includes the mapping information between the DRB ad the QoS flow in the SDAP layer,
• wherein, in case that the DRB configuration includes the EPS bearer ID, the SDAP entity is not created.