The disclosed embodiments relate generally to wireless mobile communication network, and, more particularly, to method of provisioning and handling of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) for UEs registered in a non-subscribed Stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) using credentials from a credentials holder (CH).
A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) is a network established and operated by an administration or recognized operating agency (ROA) for the specific purpose of providing land mobile communication services to the public. PLMN provides communication possibilities for mobile users. A PLMN may provide service in one or a combination of frequency bands. Access to PLMN services is achieved by means of an air interface involving radio communications between mobile phones and base stations with integrated IP network services. One PLMN may include multiple radio access networks (RAN) utilizing different radio access technologies (RAT) for accessing mobile services. A radio access network is part of a mobile communication system, which implements a radio access technology. Conceptually, RAN resides between a mobile device and provides connection with its core network (CN). Depending on the standard, mobile phones and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, mobile stations (MS), etc. Examples of different RATs include 2G GERAN (GSM) radio access network, 3G UTRAN (UMTS) radio access network, 4G E-UTRAN (LTE), 5G new radio (NR) radio access network, and other non-3GPP access RAT including WiFi.
As compared to PLMN, a non-public network (NPN) is a 5GS deployed network for non-public use. An NPN is either a Stand-alone Non-Public Network (SNPN), i.e., operated by an NPN operator and not relying on network functions provided by a PLMN; or a Public Network Integrated NPN (PNI-NPN), i.e., a non-public network deployed with the support of a PLMN. The combination of a PLMN ID and Network identifier (NID) identifies an SNPN. A UE may be enabled for SNPN. The UE selects an SNPN for which it is configured with a subscriber identifier and credentials. The UE can have several sets of subscriber identifers, credentials, and SNPN identities.
The 5G system enables an NPN to request a third-party service provider to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the third-party service provider. The 5G system enables an NPN to request a PLMN to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the PLMN. A 5G system enables an SNPN to be able to request another SNPN (third-party service provider) to perform SNPN authentication of a NE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the other SNPN (the third-party service provider). Specifically, an. SNPN-enabled UE can support access to an SNPN using credentials from a credential holder (CH).
UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) is used by the UE to determine how to route outgoing traffic. HPLMN or SNPN provision the UE with the URSP rules by pre-configuration or by signaling when UE registers to HPLMN/VPLMN or when UE registers to the SNPN to which UE has subscription to register. UE uses those URSP rules to establish the PDU sessions for the applications for accessing services. However, it is unclear on how to provision NRSP rules to UE under CH scenarios, i.e., when UE accesses an SNPN using credentials from CH. Therefore, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application after UE accesses and registers to an SNPN using credentials from CH, no URSP rules are found to be used.
Further, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN, NE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled NRSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. When. UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the SNPN(s), 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the SNPN(s), 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. However there is no order specified for UE to use URSP rules provided by the registered non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH.
Solutions are sought.
In accordance with one novel aspect, a method of provisioning UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules received from a non-subscribed Stand-alone Non-public Network (SNPN) registered using credentials from a credentials holder (CH) is provided. After a UE register to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from the CH, the UE may establish a PDU session for accessing services in the SNPN. Prior to establishing the PDU session, the UE checks the correspondin URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If the UE is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, UE should store the URSP rules and then apply those URSP rules for PDU session establishment when the UE access the services in the non-subscribed SNPN.
In one embodiment, a UE selects a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE is enabled to access to the non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) using credentials from a credentials holder. The UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using the credentials supplied by the credentials holder. The UE receives a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from the non-subscribed SNPN. The UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules from the non-subscribed SNPN.
In accordance with another novel aspect, a method of handling URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided. UE may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network or UE may first registers to a home network and obtain signaled URSP rules from the home network. Later on, UE may register to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a CH. Before establishing a PDU session, UE checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, then UE can use URSP rules in the following priority order: 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules g aled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network.
In another embodiment, a UE obtains a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a credentials holder. The UE maintains a second set of URSP rules from a home network by the UE. The UE determines that the first set of URSP rules has a higher priority than the second set of URSP rules. The UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules obtained from the non-subscribed SNPN.
Other embodiments and advantages are described in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims.
Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The 5G system enables an NPN to request a third-party service provider to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the third-party service provider. The 5G system enables an NPN to request a PLMN to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the PLMN. A 5G system enables an SNPN to be able to request another SNPN (third-party service provider) to perform SNPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the other SNPN (the third-party service provider). Specifically, an SNPN-enabled UE can support access to an. SNPN using credentials from a credentials holder (CH). Such UE can be configured with “a list of subscriber data” containing one or more entries. Each entry of the list consists of SNPN selection parameters for the purpose of access to an. SNPN using credentials from the CH.
UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) is used by the UE to determine how to route outgoing traffic. HPLMN or SNPN provision the UE with the URSP rules by pre-configuration or by signaling when UE registers to HPLMN/VPLMN or when UE registers to the SNPN to which UE has subscription to register. UE uses those URSP rules to establish the PDU sessions for the applications for accessing services. However, it is unclear on how to provision URSP rules to UE under CH scenarios, i.e., when. UE accesses a non-subscribed. SNPN using credentials from CH. Therefore, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application after UE accesses and registers to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH, sometimes no URSP rules are found to be used by the UE.
In accordance with one novel aspect, a method of provisioning URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided (150). After UE 111 registers to the non-subscribed SNPN 110 using credentials from a CH, UE 111 may establish a PDU session for accessi-ng services in the SNPN. Prior to establishing the PDU session, UE 111 checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE 111 is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, UE 111 should store the URSP rules and then apply those URSP rules for PDU session establishment.
When UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled. URSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. When UE wants to establish. PDU session for the application in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the SNPN(s), 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the SNPN(s), 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. However, there is no order specified for UE to use URSP rules provided by the registered non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH.
In accordance with another novel aspect, a method of handling URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided (160). UE 111 may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network or UE 111 may first registers to a home network and obtain signaled URSP rules from the home network. Later on, UE 111 may register to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a CH. Before establishing a PDU session, UE 111 checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE 111 is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, then UE 111 can use URSP rules in the following priority order (170): 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules signaled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network. The home network can be a PLMN or another subscribed SNPN.
Similarly, UE 201 has memory 202, a processor 203, and radio frequency (RF) transceiver module 204. RF transceiver 204 is coupled with antenna 205, receives RF signals from antenna 205, converts them to baseband signals, and sends them to processor 203. RF transceiver 204 also converts received baseband signals from processor 203, converts them to RF signals, and sends out to antenna 205. Processor 203 processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules and circuits to perform features in UE 201. Memory 202 stores data and program instructions 210 to be executed by the processor to control the operations of UE 201. Suitable processors include, by way of example, a special purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of micro-processors, one or more micro-processor associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), file programmable gate array (FPGA) circuits, and other type of integrated circuits (ICs), and/or state machines. A processor in associated with software may be used to implement and configure features of UE 201.
UE 201 also comprises a set of functional modules and control circuits to carry out functional tasks of UE 201. Protocol stacks 260 comprise Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) layer to communicate with an MME or an AMF entity connecting to the core network, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer for high layer configuration and control, Packet Data Convergence Protocol/Radio Link Control (PDCP/RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical (PHY) layer. System modules and circuits 270 may be implemented and configured by software, firmware, hardware, and/or combination thereof. The function modules and circuits, when executed by the processors via program instructions contained in the memory, interwork with each other to allow UE 201 to perform embodiments and functional tasks and features in the network. In one example, system modules and circuits 270 comprise registration circuit 221 that performs registration and mobility procedure with the network, a PDU session and URSP handling circuit 222 that handles PDU session establishment procedure, the URSP provisioning, priority, and rule matching, and a config and control circuit 223 that handles configuration and control parameters related to SNPN selection, registration, and URSP rule managing, etc.
When UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN or in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN or SNPN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN or SNPN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled. URSP rules are found. When. UE is registered to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials provided by a CH, UE may receive URSP provisioning that is signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN. In response, UE will store the signaled URSP rules to be used later (310), e.g., when establishing a PDU session in the non subscribed SNPN. Further, if UE is provisioned with other URSP rules from the home network, then UE can use URSP rules in the following priority order (320): 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules signaled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network.
After UE 401 successfully registers to the non-subscribed SNPN 402, the UE may want to establish a PDU Session for accessing the services in the SNPN 402 (431). Before UE 401 starts to establish a PDU Session in the non-subscribed SNPN, the UE needs to check the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in this non-subscribed SNPN (432). In step 441, UE 401 receives URSP configuration, e.g., a set of URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN 402. Accordingly, UE 401 stores the URSP rules. In step 451, UE 401 establishes a PDU session based on the stored URSP rules that is signaled by the non-subscribed SNPN 402. Note that traditionally, UE may reject URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN. However, when the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH, the UE is considered as subscriber of the registered non-subscribed SNPN. Furthermore, the non-subscribed SNPN should have entire view on which services can be accessed by the UE than UE home network in the non-subscribed SNPN. Therefore, the URSP rules provisioned by the non-subscribed SNPN should be more suitable than those provisioned by UE home network.
Before UE 501 starts to establish a PDU Session in the non-subscribed SNPN, UE 501 needs to check the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in this non-subscribed SNPN. The URSP rules stored in the UE can be any of the following: A) pre-configured by UE Home Network, B) signaled by UE Home Network, and/or C) signaled by the non-subscribed SNPN (532). If the UE has any two of the above URSP rules simultaneously, then the UE needs to follow the order as below: 1) the URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN; 2) the URSP rules signaled from the UE Home network; and 3) the pre-configured URSP rules by UE Home network (533). Accordingly, UE 501 selects the URSP rules with the highest priority. In step 541, UE 501 establishes a PDU session based on the selected URSP rules with the top priority. Since the non-subscribed SNPN have the entire knowledge which services can be available and accessed by the UE, the URSP rules provisioned by the non-subscribed SNPN is more suitable for the UE for access the services provided by the non-subscribed SNPN.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/300,275, entitled “URSP provisioning for Credentials Holder scenario”, filed on Jan. 18, 2022; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/300,277, entitled “URSP handling for Credentials Holder scenario”, filed on Jan. 18, 2022, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63300275 | Jan 2022 | US | |
63300277 | Jan 2022 | US |