Information-centric networking over 5g or later networks

A network node or a distributed system of network nodes configured as an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for use with a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include the information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the communication network further comprises an ICN router for obtaining ICN layer information which at least in part characterizes the flow of the ICN protocol-based traffic which is transported via one or more PDU sessions;
• wherein the network node or the distributed system of network nodes comprises:
• a network interface to the communication network for receiving ICN layer information from the ICN router which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• a processor system configured to, based on the ICN layer information indicating congestion, initiate establishment of a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or initiate upgrade of a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.

An information-centric networking (ICN) router for use with a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include an ICN application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the ICN router is configured to:
• provide ICN layer information to the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which at least in part characterizes the flow of the ICN protocol-based traffic via one or more PDU sessions, wherein the ICN layer information is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1).

A network node or a distributed system of network nodes configured as information-centric networking (ICN) router for use with a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include an ICN application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the network node or the distributed system of network nodes comprises:
• a network interface to the communication network;
• a processor system configured to, via the network interface, provide ICN layer information to the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which at least in part characterizes the flow of the ICN protocol-based traffic via one or more PDU sessions, wherein the ICN layer information is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1).

A session management function (SMF) for session management of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include:
• the session management function (SMF) for the session management of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions involving the user equipment, and
• an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via the protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the session management function (SMF) is configured to:
• receive ICN layer information from the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• analyze PDU session layer information of the current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• and based the ICN layer information and the PDU session layer information both indicating congestion,
• decide between establishing a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or upgrading a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.

A network node or a distributed system of network nodes configured as session management function (SMF) for session management of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include:
• the session management function (SMF) for the session management of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions involving the user equipment, and
• an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via the protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the network node or the distributed system of network nodes comprises:
• a network interface to the communication network;
• a processor system configured to:
• via the network interface, receive ICN layer information from the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• analyze PDU session layer information of the current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• and based the ICN layer information and the PDU session layer information both indicating congestion,
• decide between establishing a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or upgrading a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.

A communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes, wherein the communication network is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE), wherein the ICN protocol-based traffic is at least in part transported via protocol data unit (PDU) sessions in the communication network;
• wherein the communication network further comprises:
• an ICN router configured to obtain ICN layer information which at least in part characterizes the flow of the ICN protocol-based traffic which is transported via one or more PDU sessions;
• and
• the ICN application function (ICN-AF), configured to:
• receive ICN layer information from the ICN router which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• and
• based on the ICN layer information indicating congestion, initiate establishment of a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or initiate upgrade a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.

A method for use with a communication network which comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane;
• wherein the communication network further comprises an ICN router configured to obtain ICN layer information which at least in part characterizes a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic which is transported via one or more PDU sessions;
• the method comprising:
• receiving ICN layer information from the ICN router which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• and
• based on the ICN layer information indicating congestion, initiating establishment of a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or initiating upgrade of a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.

A method for use with a communication network which comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE);
• the method comprising:
• providing ICN layer information to the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which at least in part characterizes the flow of the ICN protocol-based traffic which is transported via one or more PDU sessions, wherein the ICN layer information is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1).

A method for use with a communication network which comprises a plurality of network nodes and is configured to provide:

• a control plane to enable transmission of control data in the communication network;
• a user plane to enable transmission of data to or from user equipment which is connected to the communication network;
• and
• a set of network functions which comprise control plane functions operating in the control plane, wherein the control plane functions include an information-centric networking application function (ICN-AF) for controlling a flow of ICN protocol-based traffic between a set of user equipment (UE);
• the method comprising:
• receiving ICN layer information from the ICN application function (ICN-AF) which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• analyzing PDU session layer information of the current PDU session of user equipment (UE1);
• and based the ICN layer information and the PDU session layer information both indicating congestion,
• deciding between establishing a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or upgrading a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session.