Non-access stratum signaling

A first apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:
• provide, to a second apparatus, a non-access stratum (NAS) message transport configuration indicating a mapping between NAS services and radio bearers and a mapping between the NAS services and NAS service type identifiers, wherein the mapping between the NAS services and the radio bearers comprises the following:
• a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated signaling radio bearers (SRBs), and a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated data radio bearers (DRBs), wherein in a radio resource control (RRC) state, respective DRBs are mapped to corresponding F1-U tunnels, and wherein each of the corresponding F1-U tunnels is mapped to a NAS service wherein different priorities are associated to the SRBs and the DRBs;
• route an NAS message between the second apparatus and a third apparatus based at least on the NAS message transport configuration, wherein the third apparatus is determined from a plurality of apparatuses based on the NAS message transport configuration;
• in response to receiving a first downlink NAS message associated with a first NAS service from the third apparatus, determine, based on the NAS message transport configuration, a dedicated SRB corresponding to the first NAS service;
• transmit the first downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via the determined dedicated SRB;
• in response to receiving an uplink NAS message via a dedicated SRB from the second apparatus, determine a second NAS service corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• transmit the uplink NAS message the third apparatus associated with the determined second NAS service;
• in response to receiving a second downlink NAS message associated with a third NAS service from the third apparatus, determine a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the third NAS service;
• transmit the second downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via a dedicated DRB corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel;
• in response to receiving a second uplink NAS message via a dedicated DRB from the second apparatus, determine a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• and
• transmit the second uplink NAS message to the third apparatus associated with a fourth NAS service corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel.

A system comprising:

• a first apparatus;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:
• provide, to a second apparatus, a non-access stratum (NAS) message transport configuration indicating a mapping between NAS services and radio bearers and a mapping between the NAS services and NAS service type identifiers, wherein the mapping between the NAS services and the radio bearers comprises the following:
• a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated signaling radio bearers (SRBs), and a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated data radio bearers (DRBs), wherein in a radio resource control (RRC) state, respective DRBs are mapped to corresponding F1-U tunnels, and wherein each of the corresponding F1-U tunnels is mapped to a NAS service wherein different priorities are associated to the SRBs and the DRBs;
• route an NAS message between the second apparatus and a third apparatus based at least on the NAS message transport configuration, wherein the third apparatus is determined from a plurality of apparatuses based on the NAS message transport configuration;
• in response to receiving a first downlink NAS message associated with a first NAS service from the third apparatus, determine, based on the NAS message transport configuration, a dedicated SRB corresponding to the first NAS service;
• transmit the first downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via the determined dedicated SRB;
• in response to receiving an uplink NAS message via a dedicated SRB from the second apparatus, determine a second NAS service corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• transmit the uplink NAS message the third apparatus associated with the determined second NAS service;
• in response to receiving a second downlink NAS message associated with a third NAS service from the third apparatus, determine a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the third NAS service;
• transmit the second downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via a dedicated DRB corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel;
• in response to receiving a second uplink NAS message via a dedicated DRB from the second apparatus, determine a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• and
• transmit the second uplink NAS message to the third apparatus associated with a fourth NAS service corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel.

A method comprising:

• providing, by a first apparatus to a second apparatus, a non-access stratum (NAS) message transport configuration indicating a mapping between NAS services and radio bearers and a mapping between the NAS services and NAS service type identifiers, wherein the mapping between the NAS services and the radio bearers comprises the following:
• a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated signaling radio bearers (SRBs), and a mapping between the NAS services and respective dedicated data radio bearers (DRBs), wherein in a radio resource control (RRC) state, respective DRBs are mapped to corresponding F1-U tunnels, and wherein each of the corresponding F1-U tunnels is mapped to a NAS service wherein different priorities are associated to the SRBs and the DRBs;
• routing, by the first apparatus, an NAS message between the second apparatus and a third apparatus based at least on the NAS message transport configuration, wherein the third apparatus is determined from a plurality of apparatuses based on the NAS message transport configuration;
• in response to receiving a first downlink NAS message associated with a first NAS service from the third apparatus, determining, by the first apparatus, based on the NAS message transport configuration, a dedicated SRB corresponding to the first NAS service;
• transmitting, by the first apparatus, the first downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via the determined dedicated SRB;
• in response to receiving an uplink NAS message via a dedicated SRB from the second apparatus, determining, by the first apparatus, a second NAS service corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• transmitting, by the first apparatus, the uplink NAS message the third apparatus associated with the determined second NAS service;
• in response to receiving a second downlink NAS message associated with a third NAS service from the third apparatus, determining, by the first apparatus, a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the third NAS service;
• transmitting, by the first apparatus, the second downlink NAS message to the second apparatus via a dedicated DRB corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel;
• in response to receiving a second uplink NAS message via a dedicated DRB from the second apparatus, determining, by the first apparatus, a F1-U tunnel corresponding to the dedicated SRB;
• and
• transmitting, by the first apparatus, the second uplink NAS message to the third apparatus associated with a fourth NAS service corresponding to the determined F1-U tunnel.