IP Library Granted Patent US 12,684,652
Granted Patent B2
US 12,684,652 · App. 18/388,086 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Network slice management based on inactivity

Inventors: SungDuck Chun (Fairfax, VA); Kyungmin Park (Vienna, VA); Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA); Peyman Talebi Fard (Vienna, VA); Weihua Qiao (Herndon, VA); Jian Xu (McLean, VA)
Assignee: Ofinno, LLC
H04W76/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,684,652
App. No.
18/388,086
Filed
Nov 8, 2023
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2647
USPC
370/328
Abstract

An access and mobility management function (AMF) receives, from a unified data management (UDM), a value for a time duration associated with inactivity of a network slice for a wireless device. The AMF sends, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the time duration, an indication of removal of the network slice.

Claims (53)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, by an access and mobility management function (AMF) from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

sending, by the AMF, a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

starting, by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

sending, by the AMF to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising stopping by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising restarting by the AMF, the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slices comprises a cause value indicating inactivity of the network slice.

7 . An access and mobility management function (AMF) comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the AMF to:

receive, from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

send a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

start the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

send, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

8 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

9 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to stop the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

10 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to restart the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

11 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.

12 . The AMF of claim 7 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slices comprises a cause value indicating inactivity of the network slice.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an access and mobility management function (AMF) to:

receive, from a unified data management (UDM), a timer value for a network slice inactivity timer for removal of a network slice due to inactivity by a wireless device using the network slice;

send a first wireless device configuration message indicating that the network slice is allowed for the wireless device;

start the network slice inactivity timer using the timer value in response to:

the network slice being allowed for the wireless device;

a protocol data unit (PDU) session of the network slice being released; and

no more PDU sessions for the wireless device being established on the network slice after the PDU session of the network slice is released; and

send, to the wireless device and upon expiration of the network slice inactivity timer, a second wireless device configuration message comprising an indication of removal of the network slice.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the AMF starts the network slice inactivity timer based on a second message comprising one or more identities of network slices allowed for the wireless device being sent to the wireless device.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to stop the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a PDU session being established for the network slice;

the network slice not being allowed for the wireless device; or

the network slice being deregistered for the wireless device.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the AMF to restart the network slice inactivity timer, based on at least one of:

a message associated with a PDU session established for the network slice being received for the wireless device; or

a message associated with the network slice being sent to the wireless device.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the indication of removal of the network slice indicates that the network slice is not allowed for the wireless device.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 26, 2024
From: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: OFINNO, LLC
Reel/Frame 066559/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2023
From: CHUN, SUNGDUCK; PARK, KYUNGMIN; DINAN, ESMAEL HEJAZI; TALEBI FARD, PEYMAN; XU, JIAN
To: OFINNO, LLC
Reel/Frame 065846/0117 →
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 12, 2023
From: QIAO, WEIHUA
To: OFINNO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 065904/0200 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2023015372 · Mar 16, 2023
Provisional Application 63320911 · Mar 17, 2022
Related Publication 20240073996A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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