Application specific protocol data unit sessions

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• receiving, from an application server having a co-located or integrated micro-user plane function (UPF), a request to use the micro-user plane function (UPF) for an application, wherein the information in the request comprises:
• a traffic description indicating traffic for which micro-user plane function (UPF) is to be used;
• an application server associated micro-user plane function (UPF) identifier (ID);
• an application identifier (ID) for the application;
• and
• micro-user plane function (UPF) information;
• based on information included in the request, determining an application specific data network name (AS-DNN);
• provisioning a session management node with the micro-user plane function (UPF) information associated with the application specific data network name (AS-DNN), wherein the determined application specific data network name (AS-DNN) is used for micro-UPF selection by the session management node, wherein the provisioning of the session management node comprises:
• transmitting the information included in the request and the determined application specific data network name (AS-DNN) to the session management node;
• and
• formulating a micro-user plane function (UPF) profile based on the information included in the request and sending the micro-user plane function (UPF) profile to a network repository for discovery by the session management node;
• provisioning to a user equipment, that does not have a user equipment route selection policy (URSP), a URSP that indicates use of the application specific data network name (AS-DNN) for the traffic description indicated by the application server in the request;
• and
• when a protocol data unit (PDU) session has already been setup for the application specific data network name (AS-DNN) when the request is received, updating the provisioning of the session management node with the micro-user plane function (UPF), and initiating a PDU session modification to relocate the PDU session anchor (PSA) according to the micro-user plane function (UPF) identified by an identifier (ID) provided in the request.