Methods and apparatuses for plmn rate control

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control. According to an embodiment, a network function determines whether a value of PLMN rate control applicable to a terminal device has been changed. When determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, the network function sends the changed value of PLMN rate control to the terminal device.

1 . A method performed by a network function comprising:
 determining whether a value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control has been changed; and   as a result of determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, sending the changed value of PLMN rate control to a terminal device, wherein   the changed value of PLMN rate control is used by the terminal device as a maximum allowed limit of uplink control plane user data for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein whether the value of PLMN rate control has been changed is determined in response to a request for tracking area update (TAU) from the terminal device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a reply for accepting TAU. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a downlink non-access stratum (NAS) Transport message,   the downlink NAS Transport message is a request for modifying a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node, and   the request for modifying a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node is a Modify evolved packet system Bearer Context Request message.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed comprises one of:
 determining that the terminal device has moved from a first PLMN to a second PLMN and values of PLMN rate control are differently configured in the network function for the first and second PLMNs;   determining that the terminal device has moved from a first PLMN to a second PLMN and a value of PLMN rate control configured in the network function for the second PLMN is different from that configured in previous network function for the first PLMN;   determining that the terminal device remains in a same PLMN and a value of PLMN rate control configured in the network function for the same PLMN has been changed; or   determining that the terminal device remains in a same PLMN and a value of PLMN rate control configured in the network function for the same PLMN is different from that configured in previous network function for the same PLMN.   
     
     
         6 . A method performed by a terminal device, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a network function, a changed value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control; and   using the changed value of PLMN rate control as a maximum allowed limit of uplink control plane user data for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: sending a request for tracking area update (TAU) to the network function, wherein
 the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in response to the sending of the request for TAU.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in a reply for accepting TAU. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in a Downlink non-access stratum (NAS) Transport message,
 the downlink NAS Transport message is a request for modifying the connection between the terminal device and the gateway node, and   the request for modifying the connection between the terminal device and the gateway node is a Modify evolved packet system Bearer Context Request message.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the network function is a mobility management entity. 
     
     
         11 . A network node comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory, the at least one memory containing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the network node is operative to:   determine whether a value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control has been changed; and   as a result of determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, send the changed value of PLMN rate control to the to a terminal device.   
     
     
         12 . A terminal device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory, the at least one memory containing instructions executable by the at least one processor, whereby the terminal device is operative to:   receive, from a network function, a changed value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control; and   use the changed value of PLMN rate control as a maximum allowed limit of uplink control plane user data for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session.   
     
     
         13 . The terminal device of  claim 12 , further configured to send a request for tracking area update (TAU) to the network function, wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in response to the sending of the request for TAU. 
     
     
         14 . The terminal device of  claim 13 , wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in a reply for accepting the TAU request. 
     
     
         15 . The terminal device of  claim 12 , wherein
 the network function is a session management function (SMF), and   the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in a PDU SESSION MODIFICATION COMMAND message.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the network function is a Session Management Function (SMF), and   the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent to the terminal device in a PDU SESSION MODIFICATION COMMAND message.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the network function is a session management function (SMF), and   the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in a PDU SESSION MODIFICATION COMMAND message.   
     
     
         18 . The network node of  claim 11 , wherein the network node is configured to determine whether the value of PLMN rate control has been changed in response to a request for tracking area update (TAU) from the terminal device. 
     
     
         19 . The network node of  claim 18 , wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a reply for accepting TAU. 
     
     
         20 . The network node of  claim 11 , wherein
 the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a downlink non-access stratum (NAS) Transport message,   the downlink NAS Transport message is a request for modifying a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node, and   the request for modifying the connection between the terminal device and a gateway node is a Modify evolved packet system Bearer Context Request message.