Patent Publication Number: US-2021195382-A1

Title: Network node, mbms node and methods performed therein

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments herein relate to a network node, a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) node and methods performed therein. Furthermore, a computer program product and a computer readable storage medium are also provided herein. In particular, embodiments herein relate to MBMS. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a typical wireless communication network, wireless devices, also known as wireless communication devices, mobile stations, stations (STA) and/or user equipments (UE), communicate via a Radio Access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CNs). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cells, with each service area or cell being served by a radio network node such as a radio access node e.g., a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be denoted, for example, a NodeB (NB), an enhanced NodeB (eNodeB), or a gNodeB (gNB). A service area or cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio network node. The radio network node communicates over an air interface operating on radio frequencies with the wireless device within range of the radio network node. 
     A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation (3G) telecommunication network, which evolved from the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN using wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and/or High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for wireless devices. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for third generation networks, and investigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some RANs, e.g., as in UTRAN, several radio network nodes may be connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural radio network nodes connected thereto. This type of connection is sometimes referred to as a backhaul connection. The RNCs and BSCs are typically connected to one or more core networks. 
     Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS), also called a Fourth Generation (4G) network, have been completed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases, for example to specify a Fifth Generation (5G) network. The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E-UTRAN/LTE is a variant of a 3GPP radio access network wherein the radio network nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network rather than to RNCs. In general, in E-UTRAN/LTE the functions of an RNC are distributed between the radio network nodes, e.g., eNodeBs in LTE, and the core network. As such, the RAN of an EPS has an essentially “flat” architecture comprising radio network nodes connected directly to one or more core networks, i.e., they are not connected to RNCs. To compensate for that, the E-UTRAN specification defines a direct interface between the radio network nodes, this interface being denoted the X2 interface. New generation radio (NR) is a new radio access technology being standardized in 3GPP. 
     Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) is a broadcasting service offered via a wireless communication network. MBMS may be used for broadcasting or multicasting TV, films, and other information such as overnight transmission of newspapers in a digital form. 
     MBMS Service Requirements for the Fifth Generation System, denoted as 5GS, or 5G System. According to 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 22.261-V16.1.0, the 5GS will support flexible broadcast or multicast services because the proliferation of video services, ad-hoc multicast/broadcast streams, software delivery over wireless, group communications and broadcast/multicast Internet of Things (IoT) applications have created a need for a flexible and dynamic allocation of radio resources between unicast and multicast services within the network as well as support for a stand-alone deployment of multicast or broadcast networks. Moreover, enabling such a broadcast or multicast service over a network for a wide range of inter-site distances between the radio base stations will enable a more efficient and effective delivery system for real-time and streaming multicast or broadcast content over wide geographic areas as well as in specific geographic areas spanning a limited number of base stations. A flexible multicast or broadcast service will allow the 5G System to efficiently deliver such services. 
     Here is a list of MBMS service requirements on 5G System according to 3GPP TS 22.261 V16.1.0.
         The 5G System shall support operation of downlink only broadcast or multicast over a specific geographic area (e.g., a cell sector, a cell or a group of cells).   The 5G System shall support operation of a downlink only broadcast or multicast system over a wide geographic area in a spectrally efficient manner for stationary and mobile UEs.   The 5G System shall enable the operator to reserve 0% to 100% of radio resources of one or more radio carriers for the delivery of broadcast or multicast content.   The 5G System shall allow the UE to receive content via a broadcast or multicast radio carrier while a concurrent data session is ongoing over another radio carrier.
           The 5G System shall be able to support broadcast or multicast of Ultra High-Definition (UHD) streaming video (e.g., 4K or 8K UHD).   
           The 5G System shall allow the operator to configure and broadcast multiple quality levels (i.e., video resolutions) of broadcast or multicast content for the same user service in a stand-alone 3GPP based broadcast or multicast system.   The 5G System shall support parallel transfer of multiple quality levels (i.e., video resolutions) of broadcast or multicast content for the same user service to the same UE taking into account e.g., UE capability, radio characteristics, application information.   The 5G System shall support parallel transfer of multiple multicast or broadcast user services to a UE.   The 5G System shall support a stand-alone multicast or broadcast network comprising of multiple cells with inter-site distances of up to 200 km.       

     5G System Architecture Reference Model 
     According to 3GPP TS 23.501 V15.2.0, the 5G System architecture is defined as service-based and interaction between Network Functions (NFs) may be represented in two ways.
         a service-based interface representation, where NFs (e.g., Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)) within a Control Plane enable other NFs to access their services. This representation may also include point-to-point reference points where necessary.   a reference point representation shows interactions between the NF services in the NFs described by a point-to-point reference point (e.g., N11) between two NFs (e.g., AMF and Session Management Function (SMF)).       

     The disclosure herein is related to the service-based interface representation. 
     The term reference point may refer to an abstract point (or plan) in a model of a network or architecture. The reference point may serve to partition NFs or configurations and so assist in the description of the architecture, as well as serve as a point of interoperability between different network functions of the architecture. On the other hand, the term interface may refer to a physical partition between different physical network elements. However, the terms interface and reference point are interchangeable herein in this disclosure, they may serve to partition both logical NFs and physical network elements. 
     Throughout this disclosure, the term reference point will always refer to a non-service-based interface, except for being explicitly limited to the service-based interface. 
     A NF service is one type of capability exposed by a NF (NF Service Producer) to other authorized NF (NF Service Consumer) through a service-based interface. A NF service may support one or more NF service operation(s). 
     A system architecture in which the system functionality is achieved by utilizing a set of services is termed as a service based architecture. 
     A service-based interface represents how the set of services is provided or exposed by a given NF. This is the interface where the NF service operations are invoked. The following Control Plane interfaces within the 5G Core Network (5GC) specified in 3GPP TS 23.501 are defined as service-based interfaces: Namf, Nsmf, Nudm, Nnrf, Nnssf, Nausf, Nnef, Nsmsf, Nudr, Npcf, N5g-eir, Nlmf. The service-based interfaces may use HTTP/2 protocol with JSON as the application layer serialization protocol. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a non-roaming reference architecture, where service-based interfaces are used within the Control Plane. The 5G System architecture may comprise the following NFs.
         Authentication Server Function (AUSF)   Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)   Data Network (DN), e.g., operator services, Internet access or 3rd party services   Unstructured Data Storage Function (UDSF)   Network Exposure Function (NEF)   NF Repository Function (NRF)   Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)   Policy Control Function (PCF)   Session Management Function (SMF)   Unified Data Management (UDM)   Unified Data Repository (UDR)   User Plane Function (UPF)   Application Function (AF)   User Equipment (UE)   (Radio) Access Network ((R)AN)   5G-Equipment Identity Register (5G-EIR)   Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP)       

     The functional description of these NFs is specified in 3GPP TS 23.501 V15.1.0, clause 6. Definitions for the service-based interfaces can be found in 3GPP TS 23.501 V15.1.0, clause 4.2.6. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of embodiments herein is to provide a mechanism for improving performance of the wireless communication network to provide the MBMS. 
     According to an aspect the object is achieved by providing a method performed by a network node, for communicating with a MBMS node. The network node receives, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request from the MBMS node. The network node also sends via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMS node. 
     According to another aspect the object is achieved by providing a method performed by a MBMS node, for communicating with a network node. The MBMS node sends, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request to the network node. The MBMS node also receives via the service-based interface an MBMS session response from the network node. 
     According to still another aspect the object is achieved by providing a network node for communicating with a MBMS node. The network node is configured to receive, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request from the MBMS node. The network node is also configured to send via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMS node. 
     According to yet another aspect the object is achieved by providing a MBMS node for communicating with a network node. The MBMS node is configured to send, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request to the network node. The MBMS node is also configured to receive via the service-based interface an MBMS session response from the network node. 
     It is furthermore provided herein a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods above, as performed by the network node or the MBMS node. It is additionally provided herein a computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to any of the methods above, as performed by the network node or the MBMS node. 
     According to still another aspect the object is achieved by providing a network node comprising processing circuitry configured to receive, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request from the MBMS node. The processing circuitry is also configured to send via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMS node. 
     According to still another aspect the object is achieved by providing a MBMS node comprising processing circuitry configured to send, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request to the network node. The processing circuitry is also configured to receive via the service-based interface an MBMS session response from the network node. 
     Comparing with non-service-based interface between a network node in a service-based CN and a MBMS node, the network node herein with a service-based interface towards the MBMS node will take the advantage of the service-based CN, e.g., 5GC, and will be less complicated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will now be described in more detail in relation to the enclosed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic overview depicting a non-roaming MBMS System Architecture using service-based interface representation; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depicting a MBMS system according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 3 a    depicts a MBMS system architecture without MBMS-IWF using a reference point representation according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 3 b    depicts a MBMS system architecture without MBMS-IWF using a service-based interface representation according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 4  is a protocol stack of a service-based interface according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 5 a    depicts a MBMS system architecture with MBMS-IWF using a reference point representation according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 5 b    depicts a MBMS system architecture with MBMS-IWF using a service-based interface representation according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 6 a    is a flowchart depicting methods performed by a network node according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 6 b    is a flowchart depicting methods performed by a MBMSF according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 6 c    is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 6 d    is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart at HTTP/2 layer according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 7 a    is a flowchart depicting methods performed by a MBMS-IWF according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 7 b    is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram depicting a network node according to embodiments herein; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram depicting a MSMB node according to embodiments herein; and 
         FIG. 10 - FIG. 15  are flowcharts illustrating methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic overview depicting a MBMS system comprising a wireless communication network  1 . The wireless communication network  1  comprises one or more RANs e.g., a first RAN (RAN1), connected to one or more CNs, e.g., 5G core networks (5GCs). The wireless communication network  1  may use one or more technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, 5G, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile communications/Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM/EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations. Embodiments herein relate to recent technology trends that are of particular interest in a 5G context, however, embodiments are applicable also in further development of the existing communication systems such as e.g., 3G and LTE. 
     In the wireless communication network  1 , wireless devices e.g., a wireless device  10  such as a mobile station, a non-access point (non-AP) station (STA), a STA, a user equipment (UE) and/or a wireless terminal, are connected via the one or more RANs, to the one or more CNs, e.g., 5GCs. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that “wireless device” is a non-limiting term which means any terminal, wireless communication terminal, communication equipment, Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or user equipment e.g., smart phone, laptop, mobile phone, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or any device communicating within a cell or service area. The wireless device searches for carriers using a carrier raster. The carrier raster indicating possible frequency positions of a carrier for the wireless device 
     The wireless communication network  1  comprises a radio network node  12 . The radio network node  12  is exemplified herein as a RAN node providing radio coverage over a geographical area, a service area  11 , of a radio access technology (RAT), such as NR, LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi or similar. The radio network node  12  may be a radio access network node such as radio network controller or an access point such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point or an Access Point Station (AP STA), an access controller, a base station, e.g., a radio base station such as a NodeB, a gNodeB, an evolved Node B (eNB, eNodeB), a base transceiver station, Access Point Base Station, base station router, a transmission arrangement of a radio base station, a stand-alone access point or any other network unit capable of serving a wireless device  10  within the service area served by the radio network node  12  depending e.g., on the radio access technology and terminology used and may be denoted as a receiving radio network node. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the MBMS system may also comprise a Broadcast Multicast Service Centre (BMSC)  20  and various MBMS node, such as an MBMSF  14  and/or an MBMS-IWF  16 . The MBMS may be delivered through a service-based CN, e.g., 5GC. In the service-based CN, a controlling network node, e.g., an AMF  22 , may be employed to facilitate the MBMS from the BMSC  20  via the MBMS node, such as the MBMSF  14  and/or the MBMS-IWF  16 . The terms controlling network node and network node are interchangeable herein in this disclosure. 
     As part of developing embodiments herein, a problem will first be identified and shortly discussed. 
     Embodiments herein relate to wireless communication networks in general, particularly to MBMS in a wireless communication network. However how the above MBMS service requirements can be fulfilled by a wireless communication network having a service-based CN, e.g., 5GC, has not been defined in 3GPP. For the ease of reading, embodiments herein will described in the context of 5G System, however the skilled person will appreciate that the embodiments herein are also applied to other wireless communication system. 
     According to embodiments herein, a service-based interface, e.g., Nxx, will be added between the network node, e.g., the AMF  22 , and a MBMS node. By doing this, the embodiments will take the advantage of the service-based CN, e.g., 5GC. Moreover, comparing with non-service-based interface between the MBMS node and the AMF  22 , the service-based interface will make the network node, e.g., AMF  22 , implementation architecture simplifier. 
     According to some embodiments herein, a new MBMS node which is a logical network function may also be added between the existing MBMS node and the network node. Due to an existing interface between the existing MBMS node and the network node is a non-service-based interface, new MBMS node will bring the technical advantage of translating between the service-based interface and the non-service-based interface. 
     The newly added MBMS node may be a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service Function (MBMSF) or a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service-InterWorking Function (MBMS-IWF). 
     The MBMSF may be a logical NF configured to provide the MBMS-GW functionality to the network node with the service-based interface. 
     The MBMS-IWF is a logical NF between the network node and the MBMS-GW. The MBMS-IWF may be configured with the service-based interface towards the network node and the non-service-based interface towards the MBMS-GW. In other words, the MBMS-IWF may be configured to translate between the service-based interface and the non-service-based interface. 
     Within the service-based CN, e.g., 5GC, the network node according to embodiments herein may offer services to the newly added MBMS node, either directly to a MBMSF shown in  FIG. 3 a    or to MBMS-GW via a MBMS-IWF shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
     According to some embodiments, it may be further proposed to reuse the Namf_Communication service in the control plane for an MBMS session Control Procedure (will be discussed in detail later) between the network node and the newly added MBMS node. In other words, a technical advantage of some embodiments is that the AMF service Namf_Communication is reused. 
     Furthermore, some embodiments herein may have the further technical advantage of being compatible with the existing standard. That is because one of the design guidelines for NF services according to 3GPP TS 23.502 V15.2.0 is that the NF services are reusable, meaning that the NF service operations of a NF service are specified such that other NF can potentially invoke them in future, if required. Therefore the embodiments herein are compatible with the existing standard. 
     MBMS System Architecture without MBMS-IWF 
       FIG. 3 a    depicts a MBMS system architecture without MBMS-IWF using the reference point representation showing how the NFs interact with each other. Meanwhile,  FIG. 3 b    depicts a MBMS system architecture without MBMS-IWF using the service-based interface representation. 
     The service-based interface, e.g., Nxx, is between the network node, e.g., an AMF  22 , and the MBMSF  14 . Specifically, the Nxx may be referred to as a service-based interface exhibited by the AMF  22 , shown as Namf, and/or a service-based interface exhibited by the MBMSF  14 , shown as Nmbms. 
     The service-based interface, e.g., Nxx may use the service-based interface (SBI) protocol stack as other service-based interface. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the protocol stack of the service-based interface, e.g., Nxx, may comprise different lays, such as Application, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)/2, Transport Layer Security (TLS), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet protocol (IP), and lay 2 (L2), more details about the SBI protocol stack are defined in 3GPP TS 29.500 V15.0.0. 
     A non-service-based interface Mx is an interface between the AMF  22  and the RAN, e.g., 5G-RAN  13 , for MBMS session control. The non-service-based interface Mx may be corresponding to the prior art M3 reference point which is between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a Multi-cell or multicast Coordination Entity (MCE) in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) network. The skilled persons will appreciated that Mx is just a name used in this disclosure to represent any reference point. 3GPP does not have this interface defined yet. 
     An interface SGmb between the MBMSF  14  and the BMSC  20  may also be a service-based interface. It is diameter based and defined in 3GPP TS 29.061 V15.2.0. However this SGmb interface is out of this disclosure scope, because it is associated with the BMSC  20 , instead of the network node. 
     MBMS System Architecture with MBMS-IWF 
       FIG. 5 a    depicts a MBMS system architecture with MBMS-IWF using the reference point representation showing how the NFs interact with each other. On the other hand,  FIG. 5 b    depicts a MBMS system architecture with MBMS-IWF using the service-based interface representation. 
     In this embodiment, the same service-based interface as above, e.g., Nxx, is used between the network node, e.g., AMF  22 , and the MBMS-IWF  16 . 
     A reference point, e.g., Sm, may be used between the MBMS-IWF  16  and the MBMS-GW  20 . For instance, the Sm may be a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) tunneling protocol version 2 (GTPv2) based interface. 
     An interface SGmb between the MBMSF  16  and the BMSC  20  may also be a service-based interface. It is diameter based and defined in 3GPP TS 29.061 V15.2.0. However this SGmb interface is out of this disclosure scope, because it is associated with the BMSC  20 , instead of the network node. 
     MBMS Session Control Procedure 
     An MBMS session Control Procedure may also be referred to as a method performed by the network node, e.g., AMF  22  and/or the MBMS node, e.g., the MBMSF  14  and/or the MBMS-IWF  16 , for communicating with each other. The MBMS Session Control Procedure will be illustrated with respect to the above different MBMS system architectures shown in  FIG. 3 a   - FIG. 3 b    and  FIG. 5 a   - FIG. 5 b   , respectively. 
     The MBMS Session Control Procedure with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIG. 3 a   - FIG. 3 b    will be explained herein, the MBMS node in this embodiment is the MBMSF  14 . 
     The method actions performed by a network node for communicating with a MBMS node according to embodiments herein will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in  FIG. 6 a   . The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below, but may be taken in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments may be marked with dashed boxes. 
     Action S 601 . In embodiments herein, the network node receives, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request from the MBMS node. In this embodiment, the MBMS node is the MBMSF  14 . 
     The MBMS session request may be associated with a service operation in a service, e.g., a Namf_Communication service. In other words, the MBMS session request may belong to a service operation in a service, e.g., a Namf_Communication service. As shown in Table 1 below, the newly added service operation may be called a NonUeMxMessageTransfer service operation. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Service Name 
                 Service Operations 
                 Operation Semantics 
                 Example Consumer(s) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Namf_Communication 
                 NonUeMxMessageTransfer 
                 Request/Response 
                 MBMSF, MBMS-IWF 
               
               
                   
                 UEContextTransfer 
                 Request/Response 
                 Peer AMF 
               
               
                   
                 RegistrationCompleteNotify 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 Peer AMF 
               
               
                   
                 N1MessageNotify 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 AMF, LMF, 
               
               
                   
                 N1N2MessageSubscribe 
               
               
                   
                 N1N2MessageUnSubscribe 
               
               
                   
                 N1N2MessageTransfer 
                 Request/Response 
                 SMF, SMSF, LMF 
               
               
                   
                 NonUeN2MessageTransfer 
                 Request/Response 
                 LMF, CBCF, PWS-IWF 
               
               
                   
                 NonUeN2InfoSubscribe 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 CBCF, PWS-IWF 
               
               
                   
                 NonUeN2InfoUnSubscribe 
               
               
                   
                 N2InfoNotify 
                   
                 LMF, AMF 
               
               
                   
                 NonUeN2InfoNotify 
                   
                 LMF, CBCF, PWS-IWF 
               
               
                   
                 EBIAssignment 
                 Request/Response 
                 SMF 
               
               
                   
                 AMFStatusChangeSubscribe 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 SMF, PCF, NEF, SMSF, UDM 
               
               
                   
                 AMFStatusChangeUnSubscribe 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 SMF, PCF, NEF, SMSF, UDM 
               
               
                   
                 AMFStatusChangeNotify 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 SMF, PCF, NEF, SMSF, UDM 
               
               
                 Namf_EventExposure 
                 Subscribe 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 NEF, SMF, PCF, UDM 
               
               
                   
                 Unsubscribe 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 NEF, SMF, PCF, UDM 
               
               
                   
                 Notify 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 NEF, SMF, PCF, UDM 
               
               
                 Namf_MT 
                 EnableUEReachability 
                 Request/Response 
                 SMSF 
               
               
                 Namf_Location 
                 ProvideLocation 
                 Request/Response 
                 GMLC 
               
               
                   
                 EventNotify 
                 Subscribe/Notify 
                 GMLC 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The above Table 1 gives a picture of AMF services including the Namf_Communication service. This Namf_Communication service enables an NF to communicate with a wireless device, e.g., UE, through N1 Non-access stratum (NAS) messages or with the RAN (both UE and non UE specific). The service operations defined above allow the NF to communicate with the wireless device, e.g., UE and/or the RAN. Key functionalities of this NF service may include:
         Provide service operations for transporting N1 messages to the UE;   Allow NFs to subscribe and unsubscribe for notifications of specific N1 messages from the wireless device, e.g., UE;   Allow NFs to subscribe and unsubscribe for notifications about specific information from Access Network (AN);   Provide service operations for initiating N2 messages towards the RAN;   Security Context Management; and   UE information management and transfer (including its security context)       

     More definitions for the service operations apart from the NonUeMxMessageTransfer can be found in either 3GPP TS 29.518 V15.0.0, or 3GPP TS 23.502 V15.2.0, clause 5.2.2.2.1. 
     The newly added NonUeMxMessageTransfer service operation is used for an MBMS session control procedure, such as MBMS Session Start or MBMS Session Update or MBMS Session Stop procedure. It is noted that though the AMF MBMS specific service operation is called NonUeMxMessageTransfer in this disclosure, it can be in any other name. 
     Action S 602 . The network node sends via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMS node. 
     The response may also be associated with a service operation in a service, such as the Namf_Communication service. Reusing the Namf_Communication service brings further technical advantage of being compatible with the existing standard. 
     The network node may be an AMF  22 . 
     Comparing with non-service-based interface between a between a network node in a service-based CN network and a MBMS node, the network node with a service-based interface towards the MBMS node is less complicated, and such a network node will take the advantage of a service-based CN, e.g., 5GC. Adding more and more non-service-based interfaces surrounding the network node in a service-based CN network will make the network node more and more complicated and does not take advantage of a service-based CN. 
     Embodiments herein provide a network node, e.g., the AMF  22 , with a service-based interface towards a MBMS node. The newly introduced service-based interface enables a less complicated network node, e.g., the AMF  22 , and takes the advantage of a service-based CN. 
     The method actions performed by a MBMS node, e.g., the MBMSF  14 , for communicating with a network node according to embodiments herein will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in  FIG. 6 b   . The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below, but may be taken in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments may be marked with dashed boxes. 
     Action S 603 . The MBMSF  14  may receive via a service-based interface a diameter request from a BMSC  20 . 
     Action S 604 . The MBMSF  14  may send via the service-based interface a diameter response to the BMSC  20 . 
     Action S 605 . The MBMS node sends, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, the MBMS session request to the network node. 
     Action S 606 . The MBMS node receives via the service-based interface the MBMS session response from the network node. 
     The MBMS session request and/or the MBMS session response may be associated with a service operation in a service. The service may be a Namf_Communication service. 
     The MBMS node may be a logical NF. 
     Embodiments herein provide the MBMS node with the service-based interface towards the network node, e.g., the AMF  22 . The service-based interface enables a less complicated network node, e.g., the AMF  22 , and takes the advantage of a service-based CN. 
       FIG. 6 c    is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart according to embodiments herein showing the MBMS session control procedure without MBMS-IWF  16 . In this embodiment, the AMF  22  is used as an example of the network node. To give the reader a complete picture of the MBMS, apart from the AMF  22  and the MBMSF  14 , other related NFs or devices, such as the 5G-RAN  13  and BMSC  20 , are also illustrated herein. 
     Action S 610 . The MBMSF  14  may receive via a service-based interface, e.g., SGmb, a diameter request, e.g., a diameter Re-Auth-Request command, from a BMSC  20 . The diameter request is for activating an MBMS session or updating an active MBMS session or stopping an active MBMS session. The diameter request may comprise MBMS session delivery attributes that will be used later on. Diameter is a known protocol used for authentication, authorization, and accounting. More details of the Re-Auth-Request are described in 3GPP TS 29.061 V15.2.0, clause 20.4.1. This is an example of action  603  in  FIG. 6   b.    
     Action S 620 . The MBMSF  14  may send service-based interface, e.g., SGmb, a diameter response to the BMSC  20 . For instance, the diameter response may be a diameter Re-Auth-Answer command in response to the Re-Auth-Request. More details of the Re-Auth-Answer are described in 3GPP TS 29.061 V15.2.0, clause 20.4.2. This is an example of action  604  in  FIG. 6   b.    
     Action S 631 . The MBMSF  14  may send via the service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMSF  14 , the MBMS session request to the AMF  22 . This is an example of action  605  in  FIG. 6   b.    
     Thus, a less complicated network node in a service-based CN is provided by the embodiments herein, by virtue of the newly added MBMS node with a service-based interface towards the network node. 
     The MBMS session request may contain MBMS session delivery attributes that comprised in the diameter request from the BMSC  20 . The MBMS session delivery attributes may comprise one or more of: MBMS Service Area, MBMS Temporary Mobile Group Identity, MBMS Session Identifier, MBMS Session QoS profile, MBMS IP Multicast Distribution, depending on it is related to MBMS session activation or MBMS session update or MBMS session stop. For instance, The MBMS Service Area may be used by the AMF  22  to determine to which 5G-RAN nodes an MBMS session request will be sent. 
     Optionally, the MBMSF  14  may further select the AMF  22  among other AMFs to send the MBMS session request, based on the diameter request from the BMSC  20 . The selection may be done by using any prior art method, such as 3GPP TS 23.246. 
     Optionally, the MBMSF  14  may further determine whether or not the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer is successfully initiated or failed, e.g., the MBMS session request cannot be fulfilled. For instance, the MBMSF  14  may determine that the service operation is failed when application errors, e.g., a context of the MBMS session cannot be found, i.e., CONTEXT_NOT_FOUND, occur. 
     Action S 632 . On the other side, the AMF  22  may receive, via the service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMSF  14 , the MBMS session request from the MBMSF  14 . This is an example of action  601  in  FIG. 6   a.    
     The AMF  22  may store the MBMS session attributes, and/or create an MBMS session context in case that the MBMS session does not exist. 
     Action S 640 . Upon the request for the MBMS from the MBMSF  14 , the AMF  22  may send an MBMS session request to nodes in a 5G-RAN  13 . 
     Action S 650 . Then the nodes in the 5G-RAN  13  may respond to the MBMS session request received from the AMF  22 . The above actions S 640 -S 650  may be implemented in any means according to prior art. 
     Action S 661 . Then the AMF  22  may send via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMSF  14 . This is an example of action  602  in  FIG. 6   a.    
     In an implementation form, the MBMS session response may also be associated to the above NonUeMxMessageTransfer service operation. 
     The MBMS session response may indicate if the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer has been successfully initiated or failed. For instance, a body of the MBMS session response may indicate application errors, e.g., CONTEXT_NOT_FOUND. Examples of the HTTP status codes may be 4xx or 5xx, such as “400 Bad Request”, “404 Not Found”, “500 Internal Server Error”, “503 Service Unavailable” etc. 
     If the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer has been successfully initiated, the AMF  22  may respond a “200 OK” to the MBMSF  14 , as shown in  FIG. 6 d    from the HTTP/2 layer perspective. Otherwise, the AMF  22  may respond one of HTTP status codes together with the body. 
     Though the MBMS session response to the MBMSF  14  is illustrated after the actions S 640 -S 650  in  FIG. 6 c   , such a response may also be sent prior to the actions S 640 -S 650 . Namely, the AMF  22  may immediately respond after the action S 632 . 
     Action S 662 . The MBMSF  14  may receive via the service-based interface the above MBMS session response from the AMF  22 . This is an example of action  606  in  FIG. 6   b.    
     Thus, a less complicated network node in a service-based CN, e.g., AMF  22 , is enabled by the embodiments herein by virtue of the service-based interface between the MBMS node and the network node. 
     In an implementation form, the MBMS session request may be associated to the above NonUeMxMessageTransfer service operation. The MBMS session request may comprise MBMS session transfer request information to trigger an MBMS Session Start or MBMS Session Update or MBMS Session Stop procedure. As shown in  FIG. 6 d   , from the HTTP/2 layer perspective, the MBMS session request herein may be an HTTP/2 POST request, e.g., Post {apiRoot}/namf-comm/v1/non-ue-mx-messages/transfer. The “apiRoot” is defined in 3GPP TS 29.501 V15.0.0, clause 4.4. 
     MBMS Session Control Procedure with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIG. 5 a   - FIG. 5 b    will be explained here, the MBMS node in this embodiment is the MBMS-IWF  16 . 
     The method actions performed by a network node for communicating with a MBMS node according to embodiments herein is the same as  FIG. 6 a   , apart from that the MBMS node in this embodiment is the MBMS-IWF  16 . 
     The method actions performed by a MBMS node, e.g., the MBMS-IWF  16 , for communicating with a network node according to embodiments herein will now be described with reference to a flowchart depicted in  FIG. 7 a   . The actions do not have to be taken in the order stated below, but may be taken in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments may be marked with dashed boxes. 
     Action S 701 . The MBMS node may receive via a reference point an MBMS session Request from a BMSC. 
     Action S 02 . The same as the actions S 605  and S 631 , the MBMS node may send, via a service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request to the network node. 
     Optionally, the MBMS node may further select the AMF  22  among other AMFs to send the MBMS session request, based on the diameter request from the BMSC  20 . 
     Optionally, the MBMS node may further determine whether or not the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer is successfully initiated or failed. For instance, the MBMS node may determine that the service operation is failed when application errors, e.g., a context of the MBMS session cannot be found, i.e., CONTEXT_NOT_FOUND, occur. 
     Action S 703 . The same as the actions S 606  and S 662 , the MBMS node may receive via the service-based interface an MBMS session response from the network node. 
     Action S 704 . The MBMS node may send via the reference point an MBMS session Response to the BMSC. 
       FIG. 7 b    is a combined signalling scheme and flowchart according to embodiments herein showing the MBMS session control procedure with MBMS-IWF  16 . Again the AMF  22  will be used as an example of the network node. For the same reason as in  FIG. 6 c   , apart from the AMF  22  and the MBMS-IWF  16 , other related NFs or devices, such as the 5G-RAN  13 , MBMS-GW  16  and BMSC  20 , are also illustrated. 
     Action S 710 . The BMSC  20  may send via a service-based interface, e.g., SGmb, a diameter request, e.g., Re-Auth-Request command, to the MBMS-GW  18  to activate an MBMS session or to update an active MBMS session or to stop an active MBMS session. The diameter request may be the same as that in the action S 610 . 
     Action S 720 . The MBMS-GW  18  may send via the service-based interface, e.g., SGmb, a diameter response, e.g., Re-Auth-Answer command, to the BMSC  20  in response to the diameter request. The diameter response may be the same as that in the action S 620 . 
     Action S 730 . The MBMS-GW  18  may send via a reference point, e.g., Sm, an MBMS session Request, e.g., a GTPv2 MBMS Session Request, to the MBMS-IWF  16 . This is an example of action S 701  in  FIG. 7   a.    
     Details of the GTPv2 MBMS Session Request are described in 3GPP TS 29.274 V15.2.0. 
     Action S 741 . This is an example of action S 702  in  FIG. 7 a   . The MBMS-IWF  16  may select an AMF  22  based on information in the MBMS Session Request received from the MBMS-GW  18 . The MBMS-IWF  16  may further determine whether or not the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer is successfully initiated or failed. Then the MBMS-IWF  16  sends, via a service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMS-IWF  16 , an MBMS session request to the AMF  22 . The request for the MBMS is the same as that in the actions S 605  and S 631 . 
     Action S 742 . On the other side, the AMF  22  may receive, via the service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMS-IWF  16 , the MBMS request from the MBMS-IWF  16 . This action is the same as the actions S 601  and S 632 . 
     Action S 750 . The AMF  22  may send an MBMS session request to nodes in the 5G-RAN  13 . 
     Action S 760 . The nodes in the 5G-RAN  13  may respond to the MBMS session request received from the AMF  22 . 
     The above actions S 750 -S 760  may be implemented in any means according to prior art. 
     Action S 771 . The AMF  22  may send, via a service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMS-IWF  16 , an MBMS session response to the MBMS-IWF  16  indicating if the NonUeMxMessageTransfer has been successfully initiated or the MBMS request cannot be fulfilled. This action is the same as the actions S 602  and S 661 . 
     Action S 772 . This is an example of action S 703  in  FIG. 7 a   . Then the MBMS-IWF  16  may receive via the service-based interface between the AMF  22  and the MBMS-IWF  16 , the above MBMS session response from the AMF  22 . This action is the same as the actions S 606  and S 662 . 
     Action S 780 . The MBMS-IWF  16  may send via the reference point, e.g., Sm, an MBMS session Response, e.g., a GTPv2 MBMS Session Response, to the MBMS-GW  18 . This is an example of action S 704  in  FIG. 7   a.    
     Details of the GTPv2 MBMS Session Response are described in 3GPP TS 29.274 V15.2.0. 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram depicting the network node, e.g., THE AMF  22 , for communicating with a MBMS node according to embodiments herein. 
     The network node may comprise the service-based interface, e.g., the Namf, which is between the network node and the MBMS node. The service-based interface may use the protocol stack as shown in  FIG. 4 . An example of the network node comprises an AMF  22 . 
     The network node may comprise processing circuitry  801 , e.g., one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein. 
     The network node may comprise a receiving module  810 , e.g., a receiver or transceiver. The network node, the processing circuitry  801 , and/or the receiving module  810  may be configured to receive, via the service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request from the MBMS node. 
     The network node and/or the processing circuitry  801  may further be configured to select the network node among other network nodes to send the MBMS session request, based on the diameter request from the BMSC  20 . 
     The network node and/or the processing circuitry  801  may further be configured to determine whether or not the service operation NonUeMxMessageTransfer is successfully initiated or failed, e.g., in case that the request for the MBMS cannot be fulfilled. For instance, the MBMS node may determine that the service operation is failed when application errors, e.g., a context of the MBMS session cannot be found, i.e., CONTEXT_NOT_FOUND, occur. 
     The network node may comprise a sending module  811 , e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver. The network node, the processing circuitry  801 , and/or the sending module  811  may be configured to send via the service-based interface an MBMS session response to the MBMS node, e.g., the MBMSF  14  and/or the MBMS-IWF  16 . 
     The MBMS session request and/or MBMS session response may be associated with a service operation in a service, such as a Namf_Communication service. 
     The network node may further comprise a memory  804 . The memory comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as the service, the request, the response, and/or the related parameters to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed. Thus, the network node may comprise the processing circuitry  801  and the memory  804 , said memory  804  comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry  801  whereby said network node is operative to perform the methods herein. 
     The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the network node are respectively implemented by means of e.g., a computer program product  805  or a computer program  805 , comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the network node. The computer program product  805  may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium  806 , e.g., a disc, USB or similar. The computer-readable storage medium  806 , having stored thereon the computer program product  805 , may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the network node. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram depicting the MBMS node, e.g., the MBMSF  14  and/or the MBMS-IWF  16 , for communicating with the network node according to embodiments herein. 
     The MBMS node may comprise the service-based interface, e.g., Nmbms, which is between the network node and the MBMS node. The service-based interface may use the protocol stack as shown in  FIG. 4 . An example of the network node comprises an AMF  22 . The MBMS node may be a logical NF. 
     The MBMS node may comprise processing circuitry  901 , e.g., one or more processors, configured to perform the methods herein. 
     The MBMS node may comprise a sending module  911 , e.g., a transmitter or a transceiver. The MBMS node, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the sending module  911  may configured to send, via the service-based interface between the network node and the MBMS node, an MBMS session request to the network node. 
     The MBMS node may comprise a receiving module  910 , e.g., a receiver or transceiver. The MBMS node in the core network, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the receiving module  910  may configured to receive via the service-based interface an MBMS session response from the network node. 
     The MBMS session request and/or the MBMS session response may be associated with a service operation in a service, such as a Namf_Communication service. 
     The MBMS node in the core network, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the receiving module  910  may further configured to receive via a reference point a diameter request from a BMSC  20 . 
     The MBMS node, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the sending module  911  may further configured to send via the reference point a diameter response to the BMSC. 
     The MBMS node in the core network, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the receiving module  910  may further configured to receive via a reference point an MBMS session request from a MBMS-Gateway (MBMS-GW). 
     The MBMS node, the processing circuitry  901  and/or the sending module  911  may further configured to send via the reference point an MBMS session response to the MBMS-GW. 
     The MBMS node may further comprise a memory  904 . The memory comprises one or more units to be used to store data on, such as the requests, the responses, and/or the related parameters to perform the methods disclosed herein when being executed. Thus, the MBMS node may comprise the processing circuitry  901  and the memory  904 , said memory  904  comprising instructions executable by said processing circuitry  901  whereby said radio network node is operative to perform the methods herein. 
     The methods according to the embodiments described herein for the MBMS node are respectively implemented by means of e.g., a computer program  905  or a computer program product  905 , comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the MBMS node in the core network. The computer program product  905  may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium  906 , e.g., a disc or similar. The computer-readable storage medium  906 , having stored thereon the computer program product  905 , may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the MBMS node in the core network. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. 
     As will be readily understood by those familiar with communications design, that functions means or modules may be implemented using digital logic and/or one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other digital hardware. In some embodiments, several or all of the various functions may be implemented together, such as in a single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or in two or more separate devices with appropriate hardware and/or software interfaces between them. Several of the functions may be implemented on a processor shared with other functional components of a radio network node, for example. 
     Alternatively, several of the functional elements of the processing means discussed may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware, while others are provided with hardware for executing software, in association with the appropriate software or firmware. Thus, the term “processor” or “controller” as used herein does not exclusively refer to hardware capable of executing software and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random-access memory for storing software and/or program or application data, and non-volatile memory. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included. Designers of radio network nodes will appreciate the cost, performance, and maintenance trade-offs inherent in these design choices. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network  3210 , such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network  3211 , such as a radio access network, and a core network  3214 . The access network  3211  comprises a plurality of base stations  3212   a ,  3212   b ,  3212   c , such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points being examples of the radio network nodes herein, each defining a corresponding coverage area  3213   a ,  3213   b ,  3213   c . Each base station  3212   a ,  3212   b ,  3212   c  is connectable to the core network  3214  over a wired or wireless connection  3215 . A first user equipment (UE)  3291 , being an example of the wireless device  10 , located in coverage area  3213   c  is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station  3212   c . A second UE  3292  in coverage area  3213   a  is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station  3212   a . While a plurality of UEs  3291 ,  3292  are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station  3212 . 
     The telecommunication network  3210  is itself connected to a host computer  3230 , which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer  3230  may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections  3221 ,  3222  between the telecommunication network  3210  and the host computer  3230  may extend directly from the core network  3214  to the host computer  3230  or may go via an optional intermediate network  3220 . The intermediate network  3220  may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; the intermediate network  3220 , if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network  3220  may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown). 
     The communication system of  FIG. 10  as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs  3291 ,  3292  and the host computer  3230 . The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection  3250 . The host computer  3230  and the connected UEs  3291 ,  3292  are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection  3250 , using the access network  3211 , the core network  3214 , any intermediate network  3220  and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection  3250  may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection  3250  passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a base station  3212  may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer  3230  to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE  3291 . Similarly, the base station  3212  need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE  3291  towards the host computer  3230 . 
     Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . In a communication system  3300 , a host computer  3310  comprises hardware  3315  including a communication interface  3316  configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system  3300 . The host computer  3310  further comprises processing circuitry  3318 , which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry  3318  may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer  3310  further comprises software  3311 , which is stored in or accessible by the host computer  3310  and executable by the processing circuitry  3318 . The software  3311  includes a host application  3312 . The host application  3312  may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE  3330  connecting via an OTT connection  3350  terminating at the UE  3330  and the host computer  3310 . In providing the service to the remote user, the host application  3312  may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection  3350 . 
     The communication system  3300  further includes a base station  3320  provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware  3325  enabling it to communicate with the host computer  3310  and with the UE  3330 . The hardware  3325  may include a communication interface  3326  for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system  3300 , as well as a radio interface  3327  for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection  3370  with a UE  3330  located in a coverage area (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) served by the base station  3320 . The communication interface  3326  may be configured to facilitate a connection  3360  to the host computer  3310 . The connection  3360  may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware  3325  of the base station  3320  further includes processing circuitry  3328 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station  3320  further has software  3321  stored internally or accessible via an external connection. 
     The communication system  3300  further includes the UE  3330  already referred to. Its hardware  3335  may include a radio interface  3337  configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection  3370  with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE  3330  is currently located. The hardware  3335  of the UE  3330  further includes processing circuitry  3338 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE  3330  further comprises software  3331 , which is stored in or accessible by the UE  3330  and executable by the processing circuitry  3338 . The software  3331  includes a client application  3332 . The client application  3332  may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE  3330 , with the support of the host computer  3310 . In the host computer  3310 , an executing host application  3312  may communicate with the executing client application  3332  via the OTT connection  3350  terminating at the UE  3330  and the host computer  3310 . In providing the service to the user, the client application  3332  may receive request data from the host application  3312  and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection  3350  may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application  3332  may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides. 
     It is noted that the host computer  3310 , base station  3320  and UE  3330  illustrated in  FIG. 11  may be identical to the host computer  3230 , one of the base stations  3212   a ,  3212   b ,  3212   c  and one of the UEs  3291 ,  3292  of  FIG. 10 , respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in  FIG. 11  and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of  FIG. 10 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , the OTT connection  3350  has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer  3310  and the user equipment  3330  via the base station  3320 , without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing ofs via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE  3330  or from the service provider operating the host computer  3310 , or both. While the OTT connection  3350  is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). 
     The wireless connection  3370  between the UE  3330  and the base station  3320  is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE  3330  using the OTT connection  3350 , in which the wireless connection  3370  forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve transmissions as number of transitions between states may be reduced and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, and better responsiveness. 
     A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection  3350  between the host computer  3310  and UE  3330 , in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection  3350  may be implemented in the software  3311  of the host computer  3310  or in the software  3331  of the UE  3330 , or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection  3350  passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software  3311 ,  3331  may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection  3350  may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station  3320 , and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station  3320 . Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer&#39;s  3310  measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that the software  3311 ,  3331  causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection  3350  while it monitors propagation times, errors etc. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. and  FIG. 11 . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG. 12  will be included in this section. In a first step  3410  of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep  3411  of the first step  3410 , the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step  3420 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step  3430 , the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional fourth step  3440 , the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. and  FIG. 11 . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG. 13  will be included in this section. In a first step  3510  of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step  3520 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step  3530 , the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. and  FIG. 11 . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG. 14  will be included in this section. In an optional first step  3610  of the method, the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step  3620 , the UE provides user data. In an optional substep  3621  of the second step  3620 , the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In a further optional substep  3611  of the first step  3610 , the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in an optional third substep  3630 , transmission of the user data to the host computer. In a fourth step  3640  of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to FIG. and  FIG. 11 . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. will be included in this section. In an optional first step  3710  of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In an optional second step  3720 , the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In a third step  3730 , the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station. 
     It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings represent non-limiting examples of the methods and apparatus taught herein. As such, the apparatus and techniques taught herein are not limited by the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Instead, the embodiments herein are limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.