Method of performing closed access group selection in non-public network and related device

1 . A method, performed by a base station, for facilitating a Closed Access Group (CAG) selection in a Non-Public Network (NPN), the method comprising:

transmitting a first indication to a User Equipment (UE), the first indication indicating that a CAG identity is allowed to be selected manually even if the CAG identity is not included in an allowed CAG list of the UE, wherein

upon the UE receiving the first indication, the UE is configured to: in a case that an Access Stratum (AS) layer of the UE receives a request from a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer of the UE and the CAG identity is determined by the UE to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication and the CAG identity to the NAS layer of the UE,

in a case that the CAG identity is determined not to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication to the NAS layer of the UE to allow a manual selection of the CAG identity, and

perform a cell selection or reselection procedure according to the CAG identity and the first indication.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request indicates to the AS layer of the UE to search for available CAG cells.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting a Human Readable Network Name (HRNN) to the UE via a System Information Block 10 (SIB 10) to configure the AS layer of the UE to report the HRNN, along with the first indication and the CAG identity, to the NAS layer of the UE.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the first indication and the CAG identity to the UE comprises:

transmitting the first indication and the CAG identity to the UE via a System Information Block 1 (SIB1).

5 . A base station for facilitating a Closed Access Group (CAG) selection in a Non-Public Network (NPN), the base station comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory storing one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the base station to:

transmit a first indication to a User Equipment (UE), the first indication indicating that a CAG identity is allowed to be selected manually even if the CAG identity is not included in an allowed CAG list of the UE, wherein

upon the UE receiving the first indication, the UE is configured to:

in a case that an Access Stratum (AS) layer of the UE receives a request from a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer of the UE and the CAG identity is determined by the UE to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication and the CAG identity to the NAS layer of the UE,

in a case that the CAG identity is determined not to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication to the NAS layer of the UE to allow a manual selection of the CAG identity, and

perform a cell selection or reselection procedure according to the CAG identity and the first indication.

6 . The base station of claim 5 , wherein the request indicates to the AS layer of the UE to search for available CAG cells.

7 . The base station of claim 5 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the base station to:

transmit a Human Readable Network Name (HRNN) to the UE via a System Information Block 10 (SIB 10) to configure the AS layer of the UE to report the HRNN, along with the first indication and the CAG identity, to the NAS layer of the UE.

8 . The base station of claim 5 , wherein transmitting the first indication and the CAG identity to the UE comprises:

transmitting the first indication and the CAG identity to the UE via a System Information Block 1 (SIB1).

9 . A User Equipment (UE) for performing a Closed Access Group (CAG) selection in a Non-Public Network (NPN), the UE comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory storing one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the UE to:

receive a first indication from a base station, the first indication indicating that a CAG identity is allowed to be selected manually even if the CAG identity is not included in an allowed CAG list of the UE;

upon the UE receiving the first indication:

in a case that an Access Stratum (AS) layer of the UE receives a request from a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer of the UE and the CAG identity is determined by the UE to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication and the CAG identity to the NAS layer of the UE;

in a case that the CAG identity is determined not to be included in the allowed CAG list, report, by the AS layer of the UE, the first indication to the NAS layer of the UE to allow a manual selection of the CAG identity; and

perform a cell selection or reselection procedure according to the CAG identity and the first indication.

10 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein the request indicates to the AS layer of the UE to search for available CAG cells.

11 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the UE to:

receive a Human Readable Network Name (HRNN) from the base station via a System Information Block 10 (SIB10); and

report, by the AS layer of the UE, the HRNN, along with the first indication and the CAG identity, to the NAS layer of the UE.

12 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein receiving the first indication and the CAG identity from the base station comprises:

receiving the first indication and the CAG identity from the base station via a System Information Block 1 (SIB1).