IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,568,429
Granted Patent B2
US 12,568,429 · App. 18/046,592 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Enhancements for user equipment network slice management

Inventors: Vinay Mysore Viswanath (San Diego, CA); Vijay Venkataraman (San Jose, CA); Vivek G. Gupta (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04W48/18H04W48/14H04W48/16H04W60/04H04W84/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,568,429
App. No.
18/046,592
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user equipment (UE) configured to transmit a registration request message to a network, the registration request message comprising a request to register to a set of one or more single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs), receive a response to the registration request message, the response indicating that the request to register to the set of one or more S-NSSAIs is rejected and store the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in a rejected NSSAI list locally at the UE.

Claims (48)

1 . A method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

transmitting a registration request message to a network, the registration request message comprising a request to register to a set of one or more single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs);

receiving a response to the registration request message, the response indicating that the request to register to the set of one or more S-NSSAIs is rejected;

storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in a rejected NSSAI list locally at the UE;

performing, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an inter-radio access technology (IRAT) transition from N1 mode to S1 mode; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the IRAT transition.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an indication of a network slice subscription change for the UE; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the indication of the network slice subscription change.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, a configuration update command (CUC) with a registration requested bit of a configuration update indication information element (IE) set to a first value; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the CUC.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the CUC contains no other parameters.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

entering, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list and an unsuccessful registration on a new public land mobile network (PLMN), a fifth generation mobility management (5GMM) registered mode;

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to detecting the 5GMM registered mode and detecting that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access.

6 . An apparatus comprising a memory coupled to a processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to:

generating, for transmission to a network, a registration request, the registration request message comprising a request to register to a set of one or more single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs);

processing, based on signaling received from the network, a response to the registration request message, the response indicating that the request to register to the set of one or more S-NSSAIs is rejected;

storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in a rejected NSSAI list locally at the UE;

performing, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an inter-radio access technology (IRAT) transition from N1 mode to S1 mode; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the IRAT transition.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , the processing circuitry further configured to:

processing, based on signaling received from the network after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an indication of a network slice subscription change for the UE; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the indication of the network slice subscription change.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , the processing circuitry further configured to:

processing, based on signaling received from the network after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, a configuration update command (CUC) with a registration requested bit of a configuration update indication information element (IE) set to a first value; and

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the CUC.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the CUC contains no other parameters.

10 . The apparatus of claim 6 , the processing circuitry further configured to:

entering, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list and an unsuccessful registration on a new public land mobile network (PLMN), a fifth generation mobility management (5GMM) registered mode;

deleting the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to detecting the 5GMM registered mode and detecting that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

generate, for transmission to a network, a registration request, the registration request message comprising a request to register to a set of one or more single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAIs);

process, based on signaling received from the network, a response to the registration request message, the response indicating that the request to register to the set of one or more S-NSSAIs is rejected;

store the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in a rejected NSSAI list locally at the UE;

perform, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an inter-radio access technology (IRAT) transition from N1 mode to S1 mode; and

delete the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the IRAT transition.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further configured to:

process, based on signaling received from the network after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, an indication of a network slice subscription change for the UE; and

delete the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the indication of the network slice subscription change.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further configured to:

process, based on signaling received from the network after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list, a configuration update command (CUC) with a registration requested bit of a configuration update indication information element (IE) set to a first value; and

delete the set of one or more S-NSSAIs from the rejected NSSAI list in response to the CUC.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the CUC contains no other parameters.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , the further configured to:

enter, after storing the set of one or more S-NSSAIs in the rejected NSSAI list and an unsuccessful registration on a new public land mobile network (PLMN), a fifth generation mobility management (5GMM) registered mode;

delete the set of one or more S-NSSAls from the rejected NSSAI list in response to detecting the 5GMM registered mode and detecting that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2022
From: MYSORE VISWANATH, VINAY; VENKATARAMAN, VIJAY; GUPTA, VIVEK G.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 061425/0701 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63263412 · Nov 2, 2021
Related Publication 20230138108A1 · May 4, 2023
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