IP Library Granted Patent US 12666342
Granted Patent B2
US 12666342 · App. 18/014,625 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Cell barring for network slicing

Inventor: Atsushi Ishii (Vancouver, WA)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04W48/02H04W36/08H04W36/13H04W48/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666342
App. No.
18/014,625
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An access node of a radio access network (RAN) supports one or more network slices, each of the network slices providing a designated service within a public land mobile network (PLMN). The access node comprises processor circuitry and transmitter circuitry. The processor circuitry is configured to generate system information comprising a list of one or more PLMN identifiers and an association of each of the PLMN identifiers with corresponding network slice cell barring information. The network slice cell barring information comprises one or more network slice identifiers of network slices for which the cell is barred. The transmitter circuitry is configured to transmit the system information to a cell.

Claims (29)

1 . A wireless terminal communicating with an access node of a radio access network (RAN), the RAN supporting one or more network slices, each of the one or more network slices providing a designated service, the wireless terminal comprising:

receiver circuitry configured to receive network slice cell barring information comprising one or more network slice identifiers of network slices for which a cell is barred; and

processor circuitry configured to:

choose a network slice,

perform a cell reselection procedure based on the one or more network slices and the network slice cell barring information, and

determine whether or not the wireless terminal is permitted to reselect the cell for the cell reselection procedure based on a) a network slice identifier, among the one or more network slice identifiers, identifying the network slice and b) the network slice cell barring information.

2 . The wireless terminal according to claim 1 , wherein

the cell reselection procedure is a procedure in which, if the network slice cell barring information indicates that the cell is barred for the network slice, the wireless terminal is not permitted to reselect the cell for the network slice.

3 . The wireless terminal according to claim 1 , wherein

the network slice cell barring information is received in system information,

the network slice cell barring information is associated with a serving public land mobile network (PLMN), and

the system information comprises a list of one or more PLMN identifiers and an association of each of the one or more PLMN identifiers with corresponding network slice cell barring information.

4 . A method performed by a wireless terminal communicating with an access node of a radio access network (RAN), the RAN supporting one or more network slices, each of the one or more network slices providing a designated service, the method comprising:

receiving network slice cell barring information comprising one or more network slice identifiers of network slices for which a cell is barred;

choosing a network slice;

performing a cell reselection procedure based on the network slice and the network slice cell barring information; and

determining whether or not the wireless terminal is permitted to reselect the cell for the cell reselection procedure based on a) a network slice identifier, among the one or more network slice identifiers, identifying the network slice and b) the network slice cell barring information.

5 . An access node of a radio access network (RAN) communicating with a wireless terminal, the RAN supporting one or more network slices, each of the one or more network slices providing a designated service, the access node comprising:

processor circuitry configured to generate network slice cell barring information comprising one or more network slice identifiers of network slices for which a cell is barred; and

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit the network slice cell barring information, wherein

the network slice cell barring information is information causing the wireless terminal having chosen a network slice to:

perform a cell reselection procedure based on the network slice and the network slice cell barring information, and

determine whether or not the wireless terminal is permitted to reselect the cell for the cell reselection procedure based on a) a network slice identifier, among the one or more network slice identifiers, identifying the network slice and b) the network slice cell barring information.

6 . The access node according to claim 5 , wherein

the cell reselection procedure is a procedure in which, if the network slice cell barring information indicates that the cell is barred for the network slice, the wireless terminal is not permitted to reselect the cell for the network slice.

7 . The access node according to claim 5 , wherein

the network slice cell barring information is transmitted in system information,

the network slice cell barring information is associated with a serving public land mobile network (PLMN), and

the system information comprises a list of one or more PLMN identifiers and an association of each of the one or more PLMN identifiers with corresponding network slice cell barring information.