Granted Patent B2

US 12,628,076 · App. 18/547,120 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Genadi Velev (Darmstadt, DE); Apostolis Salkintzis (Athens, GR); Dimitrios Karampatsis (Ruislip, GB); Roozbeh Atarius (La Jolla, CA)

Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

H04W48/18H04W48/02

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . An apparatus for performing a network function, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:

receive a first message from a second network function in a first mobile communication network (CNET), wherein the first message comprises a data connection establishment request from a user equipment (UE) and a disaster indication indicating that the data connection establishment request is in response to a disaster condition in a second mobile CNET, and the disaster condition disables the UE from connecting to the second mobile CNET;

determine a plurality of destination addresses in the second mobile CNET, wherein, to determine the plurality of destination addresses, the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to resolve a fully-qualified domain name corresponding to the second mobile CNET to a plurality of internet protocol addresses;

configure a data connection corresponding to the data connection establishment request to accept data traffic between the UE and the plurality of destination addresses; and

transmit a second message to the second network function, wherein the second message comprises a data connection establishment accept response for the UE, and the data connection establishment accept response triggers the UE to initiate registration with the second mobile CNET using an address of a non-third generation partnership project (non-3GPP) interworking function.

2 . An apparatus for performing a network function, the apparatus further comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:

receive a registration request from a user equipment (UE) to register with a first communication network (CNET);

transmit a registration accept to the UE, wherein the registration accept comprises an indication that a restricted data connection is allowed;

transmit, to a first network function, a request during a data connection establishment procedure for the restricted data connection, wherein the request comprises:

an indication that the data connection is requested in response to a disaster condition in a second CNET;

a second CNET identifier;

a request for confirmation from the first network function that the UE has successfully registered with the second CNET;

or a combination thereof; and

receive a notification from the first network function that the UE has successfully registered with the second CNET, wherein a plurality of destination addresses are determined in the second CNET by resolving a fully-qualified domain name corresponding to the second CNET to a plurality of internet protocol addresses.

3 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the UE to:

transmit a first request to connect with a first communication network (CNET);

receive a registration accept comprising an indication that a restricted data connection is allowed;

transmit a request for establishing the restricted data connection with the first CNET; and

receive a response to the request for establishing the restricted data connection, wherein the response indicates that the restriction of the data connection applies to traffic transmitted toward a plurality of destination addresses in a second CNET, the plurality of destination addresses obtained by resolving a fully-qualified domain name corresponding to the second CNET to a plurality of internet protocol addresses.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the UE registers with the second mobile CNET by exchanging data traffic with a destination address via the data connection.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein configuring the data connection corresponding to the data connection establishment request to accept data traffic between the UE and the plurality of destination addresses comprises configuring the data connection to only accept data traffic between the UE and the plurality of destination addresses.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data connection establishment accept response comprises an indication that indicates that the data connection supports communication with one destination address of the plurality of destination addresses.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disaster indication is provided by the second network function and is included in the first message separate from the data connection establishment request.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fully-qualified domain name is a non-third generation partnership project interworking function fully-qualified domain name in the second mobile CNET.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein configuring the data connection corresponding to the data connection establishment request to accept data traffic between the UE and the plurality of destination addresses further comprises configuring a user plane function serving the data connection to allow only traffic to the plurality of destination addresses and to determine whether the UE successfully registers with the second mobile CNET via the data connection, and wherein the data connection is initially configured with a low bit rate.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the user plane function sends a notification to the network function after determining that the UE successfully registers with the second mobile CNET via the data connection.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first network function sends the notification to the second network function.

12 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the apparatus starts a timer in response to sending to the first network function the request during the restricted data connection establishment procedure.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus terminates the timer in response to receiving information indicating successful registration with the second CNET.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus initiates a deregistration procedure with the UE in response to the timer expiring before receiving a response for successful registration with the second CNET.

15 . The UE of claim 3 , wherein the registration request comprises an indication that registration is in response to a disaster condition in a second CNET.

16 . The UE of claim 3 , wherein the restriction of the data connection applies to traffic transmitted toward a non-third generation partnership project interworking function address.

17 . A processor for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one controller coupled with at least one memory and configured to cause the processor to:

transmit a first request to connect with a first CNET; and

receive a registration accept comprising an indication that a restricted data connection is allowed;

wherein:

the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to transmit a request for establishing the restricted data connection with the first CNET; and

the at least one controller is configured to cause the processor to receive a response to the request for establishing the restricted data connection, wherein the response indicates that the restriction of the data connection applies to traffic transmitted toward a plurality of destination addresses in a second CNET, the plurality of destination addresses obtained by resolving a fully-qualified domain name corresponding to the second CNET to a plurality of internet protocol addresses.

18 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein the registration request comprises an indication that registration is in response to a disaster condition in a second CNET.

19 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein the restriction of the data connection applies to traffic transmitted toward a non-third generation partnership project interworking function address.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (18)