IP Library Granted Patent US 12,389,361
Granted Patent B1
US 12,389,361 · App. 19/089,131 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Method and user equipment for activating access stratum layer upon coming out of the unavailability period

Inventor: Sang Geun Yu (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Metapex Inc.
H04W60/04H04W8/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,389,361
App. No.
19/089,131
Granted
Aug 12, 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: triggering a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when an unavailability period has ended and a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired; starting a first timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if the UE has included unavailability information and has not included a start of the unavailability period in a tracking area update request message; and upon coming out of the unavailability period, activating an access stratum (AS) layer.

Claims (41)

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

receiving an unavailability configuration including an end of unavailability period report (EUPR) bit which is set to either “UE needs to report end of unavailability period” or “UE does not need to report end of unavailability”;

triggering a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when an unavailability period has ended and if the EUPR bit is set to “UE needs to report end of unavailability”, wherein a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired;

starting a T3440 timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if a tracking area update request message includes unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include a start of the unavailability period;

if the T3440 timer is not running when the UE enters a first state of an Evolved packet system Mobility Management (EMM)-DEREGISTERED and Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-SEARCH or a second state of an EMM-REGISTERED and PLMN-SEARCH, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling connection; and

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

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include the start of the unavailability period, locally releasing the NAS signaling connection at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include the start of the unavailability period, entering a registered state at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the tracking area update request message which includes the unavailability information, but does not include the start of the unavailability period.

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:

receiving an unavailability configuration including an end of unavailability period report (EUPR) bit which is set to either “UE needs to report end of unavailability period” or “UE does not need to report end of unavailability”;

triggering a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when an unavailability period has ended and if the EUPR bit is set to “UE needs to report end of unavailability”, wherein a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired;

starting a T3440 timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if a tracking area update request message includes unavailability information, but if tracking area update request message does not include a start of the unavailability period;

if the T3440 timer is not running when the UE enters a first state of an Evolved packet system Mobility Management (EMM)-DEREGISTERED and Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-SEARCH or a second state of an EMM-REGISTERED and PLMN-SEARCH, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling connection; and

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

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

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include a start of the unavailability period in the tracking area update request message, locally releasing the NAS signaling connection at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

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

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include the start of the unavailability period, entering a registered state at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

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

transmitting the tracking area update request message which includes the unavailability information, but does not include the start of the unavailability period.

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:

receiving an unavailability configuration including an end of unavailability period report (EUPR) bit which is set to either “UE needs to report end of unavailability period” or “UE does not need to report end of unavailability”;

triggering a tracking area update (TAU) procedure when an unavailability period has ended and if the EUPR bit is set to “UE needs to report end of unavailability”, wherein a discontinuous coverage maximum time offset timer has expired;

starting a T3440 timer at completion of the tracking area update procedure if a tracking area update request message includes unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include a start of the unavailability period;

if the T3440 timer is not running when the UE enters a first state of an Evolved packet system Mobility Management (EMM)-DEREGISTERED and Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)-SEARCH or a second state of an EMM-REGISTERED and PLMN-SEARCH, locally releasing a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling connection; and

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

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

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include a start of the unavailability period, locally releasing the NAS signaling connection at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

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

if the T3440 timer is not running and if the tracking area update request message includes the unavailability information, but if the tracking area update request message does not include the start of the unavailability period, entering a registered state at completion of the tracking area update procedure.

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

transmitting the tracking area update request message which includes the unavailability information, but does not include the start of the unavailability period.

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 070613/0742 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2024-0118072 · Aug 30, 2024 · national
KR 10-2025-0033814 · Mar 17, 2025 · national
References Cited (3)
US 20230362704A1 · Edge · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240340778A1 · Watfa · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240422712A1 · Puneet · 2024 [cited by examiner]
Cited By (1)
US 12,701,636