US Patent 10952176 AF influenced PDU session management and subscription procedures

Methods, electronic devices, and computer readable media for application function (AF) protocol data unit (PDU) session management and subscription procedures. A method for a method for PDU session management includes initiating a PDU session for an application function (AF) within an application server (AS) that is not part of a cellular network and sending configuration information to a network exposer function (NEF) to communicate directly with a network function (NF) of the cellular network to provide services for the PDU session. The method additionally includes receiving authorization from the NEF and communicating directly with the cellular network NF to provide the PDU services during the PDU session.