# US 2021/0243826 A1 · Direct User Equipment to User Equipment Without Data Network Access Identifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243826 A1 - Document ID: US20210243826A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/049,072 - Filed: 2018-05-02 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-02 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Klaus HOFFMANN; Hans-Jochen MORPER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243826A1 ## CPC - H04L 67/104: Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - H04W 68/005: {Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication} - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - 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 Method, apparatus and computer program product for an application function in a communications network detecting a request from a user equipment for direct peer-to-peer communication with at least one other user equipment, where the direct communication is performed without an application in a data center identified by a data network access identifier, instructing the network to set up said direct communication with the at least one other user equipment gathering information, during establishment/deestablishment of a packet data unit session with user equipment, of the at least one other user equipment participating in the direct communication, and coordinating connectivity between the user equipment and the other participating user equipment based on the received information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting in a communications network, by an application function, a request from a user equipment for direct peer-to-peer communication with at least one Other user equipment, wherein the direct communication is performed without an application in a data center identified by a data network access identifier; instructing the network, by the application function, to set up said direct communication with the at least one other user equipment; gathering information, by the application function, during establishment/deestablishment of a packet data unit session with user equipment, of the at least one other user equipment, participating in the direct communication; and based on the received information, coordinating connectivity by the application function between the user equipment and the other participating user equipment. ### Claim at position 2 -4. (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises: receiving notification of any changes to any user plane functions; and forwarding the notification to other user plane function peers of the user plane function application. ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the instructing comprises: directing the network to select a user plane function for peer-to-peer communication while a control plane of a peer-to-peer application remains via the data center. ### Claim at position 6 -9. (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises transport endpoints related to user plane functions connected to the user equipment and the other participating user equipment. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating comprises: sending, by the application function, the notification response to the first session management function including the identity of the user equipment or the other user equipment and old or new transport endpoint. ### Claim at position 10 -14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: placing user plane functions within a predefined proximity of ingress/egress nodes. ### Claim at position 12 -19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a computer program is stored that, when being executed by a computer, is configured to provide instructions to control or carry out the following: detecting in a communications network, by an application function, a request from a user equipment for direct peer-to-peer communication with at least one other user equipment, wherein the direct communication is performed without an application in a data center identified by a data network access identifier; instructing the network, by the application function, to set up said direct communication with the at least one other user equipment; gathering information, by the application function, during establishment/deestablishment of a packet data unit session with user equipment, of the at least one other user equipment, participating in the direct communication; and coordinating connectivity by the application function between the user equipment and the other participating user equipment based on the received information. ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least perform the following: detecting in a communications network, by an application function, a request from a user equipment for direct peer-to-peer communication with at least one other user equipment, wherein the direct communication is performed without an application in a data center identified by a data network access identifier; instructing the network, by the application function, to set up said direct communication with the at least one other user equipment; gathering information, by the application function, during establishment/deestablishment of a packet data unit session with user equipment, of the at least one other user equipment, participating in the direct communication; and based on the received information, coordinating connectivity by the application function between the user equipment and the other participating user equipment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the application function distinguishes between communication between a user equipment and an application and communication directly between a plurality of user equipment. ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the request comprises the relationship between the user equipment. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the detecting by the apparatus to at least perform the following: receiving notification of any changes to any user plane functions; and forwarding the notification to other user plane function peers of the user plane function application. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the receiving is from a first session management function. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the instructing by the apparatus to at least perform the following: directing the network to select a user plane function for peer-to-peer communication while a control plane of a peer-to-peer application remains via the data center. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the instructing by the apparatus to at least perform the following: sending, by the application function, an early. notification to a special application function with an identity of the user equipment and a new or modified local endpoint. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the instructing by the apparatus to at least perform the following: forwarding, by the application function, the notification to a second session management function. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the information comprises transport endpoints related to user plane functions connected to the user equipment and the other participating user equipment. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the information is gathered by the application function receiving a notification response from the second session management function including identity of other user equipment, old and new remote transport endpoint. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the coordinating by the apparatus to at least perform the following: sending, by the application function, the notification response to the first session management function including the identity of the user equipment or the other user equipment and old or new transport endpoint. ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the coordinating by the apparatus to at least perform the following: mediating between the user equipment and the other participating user equipment by exchanging the IDs. ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to at least perform the following: placing user plane functions within a predefined proximity of ingress/egress nodes. ### Claim at position 30 -38. (canceled)