External steering of access traffic multipath communication in mobile communication systems

A method of a communication function element or instance in a mobile communication system, comprising:

• requesting establishment of at least one user plane session for access traffic multipath communication across multiple accesses via different access paths between the communication function element or instance and at least one user plane function element or instance,
• obtaining access traffic multipath communication rules for access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session and communication information of an external steering function element or instance, which is to be used for steering access traffic multipath communication in the at least one user plane session and is located outside of and connected to the at least one user plane function element or instance, from a session management function element or instance, and
• establishing the at least one user plane session based on the access traffic multipath communication rules and the communication information of the external steering function element or instance.

A method of a steering function element or instance in a mobile communication system, comprising:

• obtaining multi access rules for access traffic multipath communication in at least one user plane session from a session management function element or instance, and
• steering access traffic multipath communication across multiple accesses via different access paths between a communication function element or instance and at least one user plane function element or instance based on the multi access rules,
• wherein the steering function element or instance is located outside of and connected to the at least one user plane function element or instance.