IP Library Granted Patent US 12,426,001
Granted Patent B1
US 12,426,001 · App. 19/089,099 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Method for performing tracking area update procedure upon coming out of an unavailability period

Inventor: Sang Geun Yu (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Mentats Co., Ltd.
H04W60/00H04W36/322
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,426,001
App. No.
19/089,099
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

According to one embodiment of this specification, there is provided an operation method of user equipment (UE). The method may comprise: upon coming out of an unavailability period, performing a tracking area update (TAU) procedure. The TAU procedure may include transmitting a tracking area update request message. The method may comprise: if a first timer is not running and if the tracking area update request includes unavailability information, but does not include a start of the unavailability period, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signalling connection, upon completing the tracking area update procedure.

Claims (35)

1. An operation method of a user equipment (UE), comprising

upon coming out of an unavailability period, performing a tracking area update (TAU) procedure,

wherein the TAU procedure includes transmitting a tracking area update request message; and

if a first timer is not running and if the tracking area update request includes unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request does not include a start of the unavailability period, then at completion of the tracking area update procedure, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signalling connection and entering a REGISTERED.NO-CELL-AVAILABLE state,

wherein if a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset has been stored, upon returning in coverage after being out of a coverage due to discontinuous coverage, the UE sets a value of the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset to a random value up to the stored discontinuous coverage maximum time offset and starts a timer for the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon coming out of an unavailability period, activating an access stratum (AS) layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TAU procedure is triggered when the unavailability period has ended and a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

starting the first timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if the UE has included the unavailability information and has not included the start of the unavailability period in the tracking area update request message.

5. A user equipment (UE), the UE comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform operations comprising:

upon coming out of an unavailability period, performing a tracking area update (TAU) procedure,

wherein the TAU procedure includes transmitting a tracking area update request message; and

if a first timer is not running and if the tracking area update request includes unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request does not include a start of the unavailability period, then at completion of the tracking area update procedure, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signalling connection and entering a REGISTERED.NO-CELL-AVAILABLE state,

wherein if a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset has been stored, upon returning in coverage after being out of a coverage due to discontinuous coverage, the UE sets a value of the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset to a random value up to the stored discontinuous coverage maximum time offset and starts a timer for the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset.

6. The UE of claim 5 , wherein the operations may further comprise:

upon coming out of an unavailability period, activating an access stratum (AS) layer.

7. The UE of claim 5 , wherein the TAU procedure is triggered when the unavailability period has ended and a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired.

8. The UE of claim 5 , wherein the operations may further comprise:

starting the first timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if the UE has included the unavailability information and has not included the start of the unavailability period in the tracking area update request message.

9. A semiconductor chipset, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory capable of storing instructions and being connected electrically to the at least one processor operably,

wherein operations, performed when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, includes:

upon coming out of an unavailability period, performing a tracking area update (TAU) procedure,

wherein the TAU procedure includes transmitting a tracking area update request message; and

if a first timer is not running and if the tracking area update request includes unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request does not include a start of the unavailability period, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signalling connection and entering a REGISTERED.NO-CELL-AVAILABLE state,

wherein if a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset has been stored, upon returning in coverage after being out of a coverage due to discontinuous coverage, the at least one processor sets a value of the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset to a random value up to the stored discontinuous coverage maximum time offset and starts a timer for the discontinuous coverage maximum time offset.

10. The semiconductor chipset of claim 9 , wherein the operations may further comprise:

upon coming out of an unavailability period, activating an access stratum (AS) layer.

11. The semiconductor chipset of claim 9 , wherein the TAU procedure is triggered when the unavailability period has ended and a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired.

12. The semiconductor chipset of claim 9 , wherein the operations may further comprise:

starting the first timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if the UE has included the unavailability information and has not included the start of the unavailability period in the tracking area update request message.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2025
From: METAPEX INC.
To: MENTATS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071879/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2025
From: YU, SANG GEUN
To: METAPEX INC.
Reel/Frame 070613/0103 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2024-0117918 · Aug 30, 2024 · national
KR 10-2025-0033813 · Mar 17, 2025 · national
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