Content for  TS 23.502  Word version:  18.5.0

When a UPF receives downlink data for a PDU Session and there is no AN Tunnel Info stored in UPF for the PDU Session, based on the instruction from the SMF (as described in clause 5.8.3 of TS 23.501), the UPF may buffer the downlink data (steps 2a and 2b), or forward the downlink data to the SMF (step 2c).

UPF to SMF: Data Notification (N4 Session ID, Information to identify the QoS Flow for the DL data packet, DSCP).

• On arrival of the first downlink data packet for any QoS Flow, the UPF shall send Data Notification message to the SMF, if the SMF has not previously notified the UPF to not send the Data Notification to the SMF (in which case the next steps are skipped).
• If the UPF receives downlink data packets for another QoS Flow in the same PDU Session, the UPF shall send another Data Notification message to the SMF.
• If the Paging Policy Differentiation feature (as specified in clause 5.4.3 of TS 23.501) is supported by the UPF and if the PDU Session type is IP, the UPF shall also include the DSCP in TOS (IPv4) / TC (IPv6) value from the IP header of the downlink data packet and the information to identify the QoS Flow for the DL data packet.

SMF to UPF: Data Notification Ack.

The UPF forwards the downlink data packets towards the SMF if the SMF instructed the UPF to do so (i.e. the SMF will buffer the data packets).

• If the Paging Policy Differentiation feature is supported by the SMF and if the PDU Session type is IP, the SMF determines the Paging Policy Indicator based on the DSCP in TOS (IPv4) / TC (IPv6) value from the IP header of the received downlink data packet and identifies the corresponding QoS Flow from the QFI of the received DL data packet.

[Conditional] SMF to AMF: Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer (SUPI, PDU Session ID, N1 SM container (SM message), N2 SM information (QFI(s), QoS profile(s), CN N3 Tunnel Info, S-NSSAI), Area of validity for N2 SM information, ARP, Paging Policy Indicator, 5QI, N1N2TransferFailure Notification Target Address, Extended Buffering support), or NF to AMF: Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer (SUPI, N1 message ). The SMF shall not include both N1 SM Container and N2 SM Information in Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer unless the N1 SM Container is related to the N2 SM Information. If this step is triggered by a notification from UPF, upon reception of a Data Notification message, for a PDU Session corresponding to a LADN, the SMF takes actions as specified in clause 5.6.5 of TS 23.501. The SMF may notify the UPF that originated the Data Notification to discard downlink data for the PDU Sessions and/or to not provide further Data Notification messages. Otherwise, the SMF determines whether to contact the AMF. The SMF does not contact the AMF:

• if the SMF had previously been notified that the UE is unreachable; or
• if the UE is reachable only for regulatory prioritized service and the PDU Session is not for regulatory prioritized service.

The SMF determines the AMF and invokes the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer to the AMF including the PDU Session ID of the PDU Session. If this step is triggered by a notification from the UPF in step 2a, the SMF determines the PDU Session ID based on the N4 Session ID received in step 2a. The SMF determines whether Extended Buffering applies based on local policy and the capability of the SMF (for SMF-based buffering) or the capability of the UPF (for UPF-based buffering). If Extended Buffering applies, the SMF includes "Extended Buffering support" indication in Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer. If the SMF, while waiting for the User Plane Connection to be activated, receives any additional Data Notification message or, in the case that the SMF buffers the data packets, additional data packets for a QoS Flow associated with a higher priority (i.e. ARP priority level) than the priority indicated to the AMF in the previous Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer, or the SMF derive a different Paging Policy Indicator according to the additional Data Notification or the DSCP of the data packet, the SMF invokes a new Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer indicating the higher priority or different Paging Policy Indicator to the AMF. If the SMF, while waiting for the User Plane to be activated, receives a message from a new AMF other than the one to which the SMF invoked theNamf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer, the SMF re-invokes the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer towards the new AMF. When supporting Paging Policy Differentiation, the SMF determines the Paging Policy Indicator related to the downlink data that has been received from the UPF or triggered the Data Notification message, based on the DSCP as described in clause 5.4.3 of TS 23.501 and indicates the Paging Policy Indicator in the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer. The N2 SM information is optional and is not provided e.g. in the case that the SMF only wants to send an N1 message such as PDU Session Modification Command with only updating the UE with a PCO. For PDU session with user plane in Suspend mode (i.e. applying User Plane CIoT 5GS Optimisation as specified in clause 5.31.8 of TS 23.501) for 3GPP access, the SMF uses Namf_MT_EnableUEReachability service operation if there is neither N1 SM container nor N2 SM information to be delivered by SMF.

[conditional] The AMF responds to the SMF. If the UE is in CM-IDLE state at the AMF and the AMF is able to page the UE the AMF sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response to the SMF immediately to indicate to the SMF that AMF is attempting to reach UE and the N2 SM information provided in step 3a, may be ignored by the AMF once the UE is reachable and the SMF may be asked to provide the N2 SM information again. While waiting for the UE to respond to a previous paging request, if the AMF receives an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer Request message with the same or a lower priority than the previous message triggering the paging, or if the AMF has determined not to trigger additional paging requests for this UE based on local policy, the AMF rejects the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer Request message. If the UE is in CM-CONNECTED state at the AMF then the AMF sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response to the SMF immediately to indicate that the N1/N2 message has been sent out. If the UE is in CM-IDLE state and the AMF determines that the UE is not reachable for paging, the AMF shall send an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response to the NF from which AMF received the request message in step 3a to indicate that the UE is not reachable, or the AMF performs asynchronous type communication and stores the UE context based on the received message, it shall send an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response to indicate that asynchronous type communication is invoked. If asynchronous type communication is invoked, the AMF initiates communication with the UE and (R)AN when the UE is reachable e.g. when the UE enters CM-CONNECTED state. If the AMF detects that the UE context contains Paging Restriction Information, the AMF may block the paging for this UE, based on local policy and the stored Paging Restriction Information (see clause 5.38.1 of TS 23.501). If the AMF blocks paging, the AMF sends Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response with an indication that its request has been rejected due to restricted paging to the NF from which AMF received the request message in step 3a. If the AMF has determined the UE is unreachable for the SMF (e.g. due to the UE in MICO mode, the UE using extended idle mode DRX or the UE is only registered over non-3GPP access and its state is CM-IDLE), then the AMF rejects the request from the SMF. The AMF may include in the reject message an indication that the SMF need not trigger the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer Request to the AMF, if the SMF has not subscribed to the event of the UE reachability. If the SMF included the Extended Buffering Support indication, the AMF indicates the Estimated Maximum Wait time, in the reject message, for the SMF to determine the Extended Buffering time. If the UE is in MICO mode, the AMF determines the Estimated Maximum Wait time based on the next expected periodic registration by the UE or by implementation. If the UE is using extended idle mode DRX, the AMF determines the Estimated Maximum Wait time based on the start of the next Paging Time Window. The AMF stores an indication that the SMF has been informed that the UE is unreachable. If the AMF has determined the UE is reachable and the AMF detects the UE is in a Non-Allowed Area unless the request from the SMF is for regulatory prioritized service, the AMF rejects the request from the SMF and notifies the SMF that the UE is reachable only for regulatory prioritized service. The AMF stores an indication that the SMF has been informed that the UE is reachable only for regulatory prioritized service. If the AMF cannot determine whether the UE is in a Non-Allowed Area (e.g. due to UE's Registration Area containing both Allowed area and Non-Allowed Area), the procedure continues in step 4. If the Registration procedure with AMF change is in progress when the old AMF receives the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer, the old AMF may reject the request with an indication that the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer has been temporarily rejected. Upon reception of an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer response with an indication that its request has been temporarily rejected, the SMF shall start a locally configured guard timer and wait for any message to come from an AMF. Upon reception of a message from an AMF, the SMF shall re-invoke the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer (with N2 SM info and/or N1 SM info) to the AMF from which it received the message. Otherwise the SMF takes the step 3c at expiry of the guard timer. If the SMF decides that the control plane buffering applies, the SMF shall request UPF to start forwarding the downlink data PDU towards the SMF.

[Conditional] SMF responds to the UPF SMF may notify the UPF about the User Plane setup failure. If the SMF receives an indication from the AMF that the UE is unreachable or reachable only for regulatory prioritized service and the SMF determines that Extended Buffering does not apply, the SMF may, based on network policies, either:

• indicate to the UPF to stop sending Data Notifications;
• indicate to the UPF to stop buffering DL data and discard the buffered data;
• indicate to the UPF to stop sending Data Notifications and stop buffering DL data and discard the buffered data; or
• refrains from sending further Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message for DL data to the AMF while the UE is unreachable.

Then the SMF subscribes to the AMF for UE reachability event notifications. Based on operator policies, the SMF applies the pause of charging procedure as specified in clause 4.4.4. If the SMF receives an indication from the AMF that the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message requested from an SMF has been temporarily rejected, the SMF may, based on network policies, indicate to the UPF to apply temporary buffering. If the SMF receives an "Estimated Maximum Wait time" from the AMF and Extended Buffering applies, the SMF may either:

• If the DL data buffering in the SMF applies, store the DL Data for an Extended Buffering time. The SMF does not send any additional Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message if subsequent downlink data packets are received. If the Extended Buffering timer expires, the SMF discards the buffered downlink data.
• If the DL data buffering in the UPF applies, send a Failure indication with an indication to the UPF to buffer the DL data with an Extended Buffering time and optionally a DL Buffering Suggested Packet Count. The Suggested Number of Downlink Packets network configuration parameter (if available) may be used to derive the value for DL Buffering Suggested Packet Count. The SMF may also indicate to the UPF to stop sending Data Notifications.

The Extended Buffering time is determined by the SMF and should be larger or equal to the Estimated Maximum Wait time received from the AMF. If the UPF receives an Extended Buffering indication from the SMF, the UPF initiates Extended Buffering of the downlink data and starts an Extended Buffering timer. If the Extended Buffering timer expires, the UPF discards the buffered downlink data.

[Conditional] If the UE is in CM-CONNECTED state in the access associated with the PDU Session ID received from the SMF in step 3a, the steps 4 to 22 in UE Triggered Service Request procedure (see clause 4.2.3.2) are performed for this PDU Session (i.e. establish the radio resources and in the case that the User Plane is to be activated, to establish the N3 tunnel) without sending a Paging message to the (R)AN node and the UE. In step 12 of clause 4.2.3.2, the AMF does not send the NAS Service Accept message to the UE. The rest of this procedure is omitted.

[Conditional] If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in 3GPP access and the PDU Session ID received from the SMF in step 3a has been associated with 3GPP access and based on local policy the AMF decides to notify the UE through 3GPP access even when UE is in CM-CONNECTED state for non-3GPP access, the AMF may send a Paging message to NG-RAN node(s) via 3GPP access. If the UE is simultaneously registered over 3GPP and non-3GPP accesses in the same PLMN, the UE is in CM-IDLE state in both 3GPP access and non-3GPP access and the PDU Session ID in step 3a is associated with non-3GPP access, the AMF sends a Paging message with associated access "non-3GPP" to NG-RAN node(s) via 3GPP access. If the UE is in RM-REGISTERED state and CM-IDLE and reachable in 3GPP access, the AMF sends a Paging message (NAS ID for paging, Registration Area list, Paging DRX length, Paging Priority, access associated to the PDU Session, Enhanced Coverage Restricted information, WUS Assistance Information) to (R)AN node(s) belonging to the Registration Area(s) in which the UE is registered, then the NG-RAN node pages the UE, including the access associated to the PDU Session in the paging message if received from the AMF, see TS 38.331. If extended idle mode DRX was accepted by the AMF in the last registration procedure, the AMF includes extended idle mode DRX cycle length and Paging Time Window in the Paging message. The AMF shall ensure that the correct Paging DRX length is provided based on the accepted UE Specific DRX of the current RAT. Different paging strategies may be configured in the AMF for different combinations of DNN, Paging Policy Indicator (if supported), ARP and 5QI. For RRC_INACTIVE state, the paging strategies may be configured in the (R)AN for different combinations of Paging Policy Indicator, ARP and 5QI. Paging Priority is included only:

• if the AMF receives an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message with an ARP value associated with priority services (e.g. MPS, MCS), as configured by the operator.
• if the AMF receives an Nudm_SDM_Notification message for a change in priority subscription (e.g. MPS), with a priority value as configured by the operator.
• One Paging Priority level can be used for multiple ARP values. The mapping of ARP values to Paging Priority level (or levels) is configured by operator policy in the AMF and in NG-RAN.

The (R)AN may prioritise the paging of UEs according to the Paging Priority. If the AMF, while waiting for a UE response to the Paging Request message sent without Paging Priority, receives an Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message, which indicates an ARP value associated with priority services (e.g. MPS, MCS), as configured by the operator, the AMF shall send another paging message with the suitable Paging Priority. For subsequent received Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer messages with the same or higher priority, the AMF may determine whether to send the Paging message with suitable Paging Priority based on local policy. If the AMF has assigned PEIPS Assistance Information, the AMF shall provide the information. The NG-RAN uses this information as described in TS 23.501. Paging strategies may include:

• paging retransmission scheme (e.g. how frequently the paging is repeated or with what time interval);
• determining whether to send the Paging message to the (R)AN nodes during certain AMF high load conditions;
• whether to apply sub-area based paging (e.g. first page in the last known cell-id or TA and retransmission in all registered TAs).

The AMF and the (R)AN may support further paging optimisations in order to reduce the signalling load and the network resources used to successfully page a UE by one or several of the following means:

• by the AMF implementing specific paging strategies (e.g. the N2 Paging message is sent to the (R)AN nodes that served the UE last);
• by the AMF considering Information On Recommended Cells And NG-RAN nodes provided by the (R)AN at transition to CM-IDLE state. The AMF takes the (R)AN nodes related part of this information into account to determine the (R)AN nodes to be paged and provides the information on recommended cells within the N2 Paging message to each of these (R)AN nodes;
• by the (R)AN considering the Paging Attempt Count Information provided by the AMF at paging.

If the UE Radio Capability for Paging Information is available in the AMF, the AMF adds the UE Radio Capability for Paging Information in the N2 Paging message to the (R)AN nodes. If the Information On Recommended Cells And (R)AN nodes For Paging is available in the AMF, the AMF shall take that information into account to determine the (R)AN nodes for paging and when paging a (R)AN node, the AMF may transparently convey the information on recommended cells to the (R)AN node. The AMF may include in the N2 Paging message(s) the paging attempt count information. The paging attempt count information shall be the same for all (R)AN nodes selected by the AMF for paging. If the AMF has Paging Assistance Data for CE capable UE stored in the UE Context in AMF and Enhanced Coverage is not restricted for the UE then the AMF shall include Paging Assistance Data for CE capable UE in the N2 paging message for all NG-RAN nodes selected by the AMF for paging. The AMF may include in the N2 Paging message(s) the WUS Assistance Information, if available. If the WUS Assistance Information is included by the N2 Paging message, the NG-eNB takes it into account when paging the UE (see TS 36.300). The AMF may include in the N2 paging message the PLMN ID(s) of Serving PLMN and equivalent PLMN(s) supported by NG-RAN and corresponding CAG information per PLMN ID which including an Allowed CAG list and optionally an indication whether the UE is only allowed to access 5GS via CAG cells, if available. If the above information is included in N2 paging message, the NG-RAN node may take it into account when determining the cells where paging will be performed (see TS 38.413). If the UE and NG-eNB support WUS, then:

• if the NGAP Paging message contains the Assistance Data for Recommended Cells IE (see TS 38.413), the NG-eNB shall only broadcast the UE's Wake Up Signal in the last used cell;
• else (i.e. the Assistance Data for Recommended Cells IE is not included in the NGAP Paging message) the eNodeB should not broadcast the UE's Wake Up Signal.

If the network supports the Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service feature and if the UE context in the AMF indicates that the UE supports the Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service feature, the AMF should provide the Voice Service Indication in the NGAP Paging message only when the AMF detects that the downlink data which triggers the Paging message is related to voice service, as specified in clause 5.38.3 of TS 23.501. If the NG RAN supporting the Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service feature receives the Voice Service Indication, it provides the Voice Service Indication in the Paging message and sends the Paging message to the UE.

[Conditional] If the UE is simultaneously registered over 3GPP and non-3GPP accesses in the same PLMN and the UE is in CM-CONNECTED state in 3GPP access and the PDU Session ID in step 3a is associated with non-3GPP access, the AMF sends a NAS Notification message containing the non-3GPP Access Type to the UE over 3GPP access and sets a Notification timer. Step 5 is omitted. If the UE is simultaneously registered over 3GPP and non-3GPP accesses in the same PLMN and the UE is in CM-CONNECTED state for non-3GPP access and in CM-IDLE for 3GPP access and if the PDU Session ID in step 3a is associated with 3GPP access and based on local policy the AMF decides to notify the UE through non-3GPP access, the AMF may send a NAS Notification message containing the 3GPP Access Type to the UE over non-3GPP access and sets a Notification timer. If the network supports the Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service feature and if the UE context in the AMF indicates that the UE supports the Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service feature and the AMF detects that the downlink data is related to voice service, as specified in clause 5.38.3 of TS 23.501, the AMF shall send Paging message over 3GPP access as specified in step 4b.

[Conditional] AMF to SMF: Namf_Communication_N1N2Transfer Failure Notification. The AMF supervises the paging procedure with a timer. If the AMF receives no response from the UE to the Paging Request message, the AMF may apply further paging according to any applicable paging strategy described in step 4b. The AMF notifies the SMF by sending Namf_Communications_N1N2MessageTransfer Failure Notification to the Notification Target Address provided by the SMF in step 3a if the UE does not respond to paging, unless the AMF is aware of an ongoing MM procedure that prevents the UE from responding, i.e. the AMF receives an N14 Context Request message indicating that the UE performs Registration procedure with another AMF. When a Namf_Communication_N1N2Transfer Failure Notification is received, SMF informs the UPF (if applicable). Procedure for pause of charging at SMF is specified in clause 4.4.4.

If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in 3GPP access, upon reception of paging request for a PDU Session associated to 3GPP access, the UE shall initiate the UE Triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) or, if the UE is enabled to use User Plane CIoT 5GS Optimisation and there is suspended access stratum context stored in the UE, the UE initiates the Connection Resume in CM-IDLE with Suspend procedure (clause 4.8.2.3). To support the buffered data forwarding, the SMF instruct the UPF to establish a Data forwarding tunnel between the old UPF and the new UPF or to the PSA as described at steps 6a, 7a, 8a of clause 4.2.3.2. If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in 3GPP access and is using the Multi-USIM Paging Rejection feature (see clause 5.38 of TS 23.501), upon reception of paging request and if the UE determines not to accept the paging, the UE attempts to send a Reject Paging Indication via the UE Triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) unless it is unable to do so e.g. due to UE implementation constraints. If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in both non-3GPP and 3GPP accesses, upon reception of paging request for a PDU Session associated to non-3GPP access, the UE shall initiate the UE Triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) which shall contain the List Of Allowed PDU Sessions that, according to UE policies and whether the S-NSSAIs of these PDU Sessions are within the Allowed NSSAI or Partially Allowed NSSAI, if the serving cell is in a TA where the S-NSSAIs are supported or in a serving cell where the S-NSSAIs are available (according to clause 5.15.18 of TS 23.501) for 3GPP access, can be re-activated over the 3GPP access. If there is no PDU Session that can be re-activated over the 3GPP access, the UE includes an empty List Of Allowed PDU Sessions. If the AMF receives a Service Request message from the UE via non-3GPP access as described in clause 4.12.4.1 (e.g. because the UE successfully connects to a non-3GPP access), the AMF stops the paging procedure and processes the received Service Request procedure. If the AMF receives the Service Request message and the List Of Allowed PDU Sessions provided by the UE does not include the PDU Session for which the UE was paged, the AMF notifies the SMF that the UE was reachable but did not accept to re-activate the PDU Session by invoking Namf_EventExposure_Notify service as described in step 4 of clause 4.2.3.2. If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in non-3GPP access and in CM-CONNECTED state in 3GPP access, upon reception of NAS Notification message over 3GPP access containing the non-3GPP Access Type, the UE shall initiate the UE Triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) with the List Of Allowed PDU Sessions that, according to UE policies and whether the S-NSSAIs of these PDU Sessions are within the Allowed NSSAI or Partially Allowed NSSAI, if the serving cell is in a TA where the S-NSSAIs are supported or in a serving cell where the S-NSSAIs are available (according to clause 5.15.18 of TS 23.501) for 3GPP access, can be re-activated over the 3GPP access. If there is no PDU Session that can be re-activated over the 3GPP access, the UE include an empty List Of Allowed PDU Sessions. When the AMF receives the Service Request message and the List of Allowed PDU Sessions provided by the UE does not include the PDU Session for which the UE was notified, the AMF notifies the SMF that the UE was reachable but did not accept to re-activate the PDU Session by invoking Namf_EventExposure_Notify service. If the AMF receives a Service Request message from the UE via non-3GPP access as described in clause 4.12.4.1 (e.g. because the UE successfully connects to a non-3GPP access), the AMF stops the Notification timer and processes the received Service Request procedure.

• Alternatively, if the UE is in CM-IDLE state in non-3GPP access with the Mobility Management back-off timer running, upon reception of Paging Message over 3GPP access containing the non-3GPP Access Type, the UE on stopping the back-off timer (for both accesses), shall initiate the UE Triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.12.4.1) over non-3GPP access if non-3GPP access is available. When the AMF receives a Service Request message from the UE via non-3GPP access, the AMF stops the Paging timer and processes the received Service Request.

If the UE is in CM-IDLE state in 3GPP access and in CM-CONNECTED state in non-3GPP access, upon reception of NAS Notification message over non-3GPP access identifying the 3GPP access type, the UE shall initiate the UE triggered Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) over the 3GPP access when 3GPP access is available. The Multi-USIM UE may not be able to trigger Service Request procedure (clause 4.2.3.2) over the 3GPP access to response the NAS Notification, e.g. due to UE implementation constraints. If the AMF does not receive the Service Request message before Notification timer expires, the AMF may either page the UE through 3GPP access or notify the SMF that the UE was not able to re-activate the PDU Session. The User Plane of all PDU Sessions for URLLC shall be activated during the Service Request procedure if the UE initiates the Service Request from 3GPP access in CM-IDLE state as described in clause 4.2.3.2.

After receiving the Reject Paging Indication, the AMF notifies the SMF using the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer Failure Notification that the UE rejected the page and no user plane connection will be established. The UE remains reachable for future paging attempts. If the AMF detects the UE is in a Non-Allowed Area unless the request from the SMF is for regulatory prioritized service, the AMF rejects the request from the SMF and notifies the SMF that the UE is reachable only for regulatory prioritized service. The AMF stores an indication that the SMF has been informed that the UE is reachable only for regulatory prioritized service.

If the AMF has paged the UE to trigger the Service Request Procedure, the AMF shall initiate the UE configuration update procedure as defined in clause 4.2.4.2 to assign a new 5G-GUTI. If the UE response in the Service Request includes a Reject Paging Indication, the AMF triggers the release of the UE as specified in clause 4.2.3.2.

The UPF transmits the buffered downlink data toward UE via (R)AN node which performed the Service Request procedure. If data is buffered in the SMF, the SMF delivers buffered downlink data to the UPF. The network also sends downlink signalling to the UE if the procedure is triggered due to request from other NFs, as described in step 3a.