N4 Association Release Procedure Call Flow
The N4 Association Release procedure terminates the N4 association between the SMF and the UPF. It can be initiated either by the SMF or by the UPF. The UPF requests the SMF to perform the release of PFCP association by sending a PFCP Association Update Request. The SMF then initiates a PFCP Association Release Request to release the PFCP association.
The following call flow depicts the SMF-initiated N4 Association Release procedure:
The following call flow depicts the UPF-initiated N4 Association Release procedure: