Dynamic user plane function (upf) selection based on supported protocol type

A system for establishing a data traffic session for a user equipment (UE) on a network, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium storing instructions that are operative upon execution by the processor to:
• receive, by a session management node, from an access node, a request for the data traffic session for the UE;
• determine, by the session management node, a requested traffic type for the data traffic session, wherein the requested traffic type comprises a first traffic type or a second traffic type;
• determine whether the session management node is connected to a first user plane function that can support the requested traffic type;
• based at least on determining that the first user plane function can support the requested traffic type, establish the requested data traffic session for the UE using the first user plane function;
• based at least on determining that the first user plane function cannot support the requested traffic type, connect, by the session management node, to a second user plane function that can support the requested traffic type;
• and
• based at least on connecting to the second user plane function, establish the requested data traffic session for the UE using the second user plane function.

One or more computer storage devices having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for establishing a data traffic session for a user equipment (UE) on a network, which, on execution by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, by a session management node, from an access node, a request for the data traffic session for the UE;
• determining, by the session management node, a requested traffic type for the data traffic session, wherein the requested traffic type comprises a first traffic type or a second traffic type;
• determining whether the session management node is connected to a first user plane function that can support the requested traffic type;
• based at least on determining that the first user plane function can support the requested traffic type, establishing the requested data traffic session for the UE using the first user plane function;
• based at least on determining that the first user plane function cannot support the requested traffic type, connecting, by the session management node, to a second user plane function that can support the requested traffic type;
• and
• based at least on connecting to the second user plane function, establishing the requested data traffic session for the UE using the second user plane function.