IP Library Granted Patent US 12684652
Granted Patent B2
US 12684652 · App. 18/388,086 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Network slice management based on inactivity

Inventors: SungDuck Chun (Fairfax, VA); Kyungmin Park (Vienna, VA); Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA); Peyman Talebi Fard (Vienna, VA); Weihua Qiao (Herndon, VA); Jian Xu (McLean, VA)
Assignee: Ofinno, LLC
H04W76/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684652
App. No.
18/388,086
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An access and mobility management function (AMF) receives, from a unified data management (UDM), a value for a time duration associated with inactivity of a network slice for a wireless device. The AMF sends, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the time duration, an indication of removal of the network slice.

Claims (53)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by an access and mobility management function (AMF) from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

sending, by the AMF, a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

starting, by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

sending, by the AMF to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising stopping by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising restarting by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slices comprises a cause value indicating inactivity of the network slice.

7 . An access and mobility management function (AMF) comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the AMF to:

receive, from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

send a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

start the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

send, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

8 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

9 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to stop the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

10 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to restart the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

11 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.

12 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slices comprises a cause value indicating inactivity of the network slice.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an access and mobility management function (AMF) to:

receive, from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

send a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

start the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

send, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to stop the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to restart the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.