Systems and methods for user plane path selection, reselection, and notification of user plane changes

A method for performing User Plane (UP) path selection or reselection over a communications network from a 3rd party entity, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a policy control function (PCF), a UP path selection policy request configured to trigger installation of a UP path selection policy generated in accordance with UP path selection or reselection information received from a 3rd party entity;
• and
• enforcing, by the PCF, the UP path selection policy, wherein enforcing includes providing UP path selection policy details.

A method for performing User Plane (UP) path selection over a communications network with a 3rd party entity, the method comprising:

• enforcing, by a session management function (SMF), a UP path selection policy, wherein enforcing includes obtaining UP path selection policy details.

A method for influencing traffic routing over a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a network exposure function (NEF), a traffic steering request from an application function, the traffic steering request indicative of a request to influence routing decisions for UP traffic of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions;
• and
• transmitting by the NEF, data indicative of the traffic steering request to a policy control function that maintains communication configuration data, thereby influencing traffic routing over the communication network.

A method for influencing traffic routing over a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a policy control function (PCF), data indicative of a traffic steering request from a network exposure function, the traffic steering request indicative of a request to influence routing decisions for UP traffic of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions;
• and
• enforcing, by the PCF, the traffic steering request, wherein enforcing includes sending rules indicative of the traffic steering request, thereby influencing traffic routing over the communication network.