Method and nodes for handling a failure in a communications network

A method for handling a failure in a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first Core Network (CN) node, a session restoration message from a second CN node,
• wherein the session restoration message comprises a restoration flag that:
• (i) indicates restoration of a session established before a detected communication failure, and (ii) allows a Radio Access Network, RAN, node to accept the session restoration message;
• and
• transmitting the session restoration message to the RAN node.

A first Core Network (CN) node for handling a failure in a communications network, wherein the first CN node comprises:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• employ the transmitter to transmit a session start request to a second CN node;
• receiving, at the first CN node, a session start response transmitted by the second CN node;
• detect a failure in communication between the first CN node and the second CN node;
• as a result of the detected failure, employ the transmitter to transmit a session restoration message to a third CN node,
• wherein the session restoration message comprises a restoration flag that:
• (i) indicates restoration of the session established before the failure and, (ii) allows a Radio Access Network, RAN, node in the communications network to accept the session restoration message.

A first Core Network (CN) node, for handling a failure in a communications network, wherein the first CN node comprises:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
• employ the receiver to receive a session restoration message from a second CN node, wherein the session restoration message comprises a restoration flag that:
• (i) indicates restoration of a session established before a detected communication failure and (ii) allows a Radio Access Network, RAN, node to accept the session restoration message, and
• employ the transmitter to transmit the session restoration message to the RAN node.

A Radio Access Network, RAN, node, for handling a failure in a communications network, wherein the RAN node comprising:

• a receiver;
• a transmitter;
• memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor configured to:
• employ the receiver to receive a session restoration message from a first CN node,
• wherein the session restoration message comprises a restoration flag that:
• (i) indicates restoration a session established before a detected communication failure, and (ii) allows the RAN node to accept the session restoration message.