Methods providing anchor change for ethernet pdu sessions and related network entities/nodes

A method of operating a user plane function, UPF, entity (257) of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• establishing (1051) an Ethernet PDU session for a wireless terminal to support data communication between the wireless terminal and an Ethernet network through a base station (253) and the UPF entity;
• transmitting (1055) an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal to a session management function, SMF, entity of the wireless communication network, wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control, MAC, address for the wireless terminal;
• and
• releasing (1061) the Ethernet PDU session for the wireless terminal responsive to a session release request after transmitting the Ethernet context for the wireless terminal.

A user plane function, UPF, entity of a wireless communication network, wherein the UPF entity is adapted to:

• establish an Ethernet PDU session for a wireless terminal to support data communication between the wireless terminal and an Ethernet network through a base station (253) and the UPF entity;
• transmit an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal to a session management function, SMF, entity of the wireless communication network, wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control, MAC, address for the wireless terminal;
• and
• release the Ethernet PDU session for the wireless terminal responsive to a session release request after transmitting the Ethernet context for the wireless terminal.

A session management function, SMF, entity of a wireless communication network, the SMF entity comprising:

• a processor (903);
• and
• memory (905) coupled with the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to,
• receive an Ethernet context for a wireless terminal from a first user plane function, UPF, entity (257), wherein the Ethernet context is provided for an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, PDU, Session for the wireless terminal using the first UPF entity, and wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control, MAC, address for the wireless terminal, and
• transmit the Ethernet context including the MAC address for the wireless terminal to a second UPF entity (259).

A user plane function, UPF, entity of a wireless communication network, the UPF entity comprising:

• a processor (903);
• and
• memory (905) coupled with the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to,
• receive a request to establish an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, PDU, Session for a wireless terminal (251) using an Ethernet network, wherein the request to establish the Ethernet PDU Session includes a Medium Access Control, MAC, address for the wireless terminal, and
• update forwarding for the wireless terminal in the Ethernet network using the MAC address for the wireless terminal responsive to receiving the request.

A user plane function, UPF, entity of a wireless communication network, the UPF entity comprising:

• a processor (903);
• and
• memory (905) coupled with the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to,
• establish an Ethernet PDU session for a wireless terminal to support data communication between the wireless terminal and an Ethernet network through a base station (253) and the UPF entity,
• transmit an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal to a session management function, SMF, entity of the wireless communication network, wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control, MAC, address for the wireless terminal, and
• release the Ethernet PDU session for the wireless terminal responsive to a session release request after transmitting the Ethernet context for the wireless terminal.