COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT, CORE NETWORK EQUIPMENT AND METHODS

Abstract

A method for operating a communication device, the method comprising the steps of receiving broadcast information transmitted to a cell of a wireless communication network, determining based on the broadcast information whether a service is provided via the wireless communication network, selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell, receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the service is permitted, receiving information related to the service and determining whether the service is not requested, transmitting a rejection indication indicating that the service is not requested, and receiving a network restriction indication transmitted in response to the rejection indication, the network restriction indication indicating that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to communication devices, infrastructure equipment, core network equipment, and methods for operating communication devices, infrastructure equipment, and core network equipment in wireless communication networks.

[0002] This disclosure claims Paris Convention priority of European Patent Application No. EP 20173983.6, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] The "Background" discussion provided herein is intended to generally provide a context for the present disclosure. The work of the presently named inventors, to the extent that it is described in this Background section, is not admitted expressly or impliedly as prior art to the present invention, as are aspects of the specification that do not qualify as prior art at the time of filing.

[0004] Third and fourth generation mobile communication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP®-defined UMTS and LTE (Long Term Evolution) architectures, are capable of supporting more advanced services than the simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generation mobile communication systems. For example, with the improved air interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, users can enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that were previously only available over fixed-line data connections. Therefore, the demand for deploying such networks is strong, and the coverage areas of these networks, i.e., the geographic locations where the networks are accessible, are expected to expand at an ever-increasing rate.

[0005] Future wireless communication networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with a wider range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than current systems are optimized to support. For example, future wireless communication networks are expected to efficiently support communication with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine-type communication (MTC) devices, high-resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, and the like. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, e.g., low-complexity devices to support the "Internet of Things," and may typically be associated with the transmission of relatively small amounts of data with a relatively high latency tolerance.

[0006] It is expected that future wireless communication networks, such as, for example, 5G or New Radio (NR) systems / New Radio Access Technology (RAT) systems (Non-Patent Document 1), and what may be referred to as future versions / releases of existing systems, will be desired to efficiently support different types of services. Some such services are provided on a temporary, ad hoc basis, and / or without any pre-existing pre-established arrangement between the service provider and the subscriber.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide techniques and equipment that enable wireless communication networks to effectively provide such services. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] RP-182090, "Revised SID: Study on NR Industrial Internet of Things (IoT)," 3GPP RAN#81. [Non-patent document 2] Holma H. ​​and Toskala A, "LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access", John Wiley and Sons, 2009. [Non-patent document 3] 3GPP TS 23.502 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Procedures for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2 (Release 16)", version 16.4.0. [Non-patent document 4] 3GPP TS 38.331 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 16)" v.16.0.0. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present disclosure may help to address or alleviate at least some of the problems discussed above.

[0010] An exemplary embodiment of the present technology is a method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving a registration acceptance indication via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; determining if the service is not requested; responsive to the step of determining if the service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for the service. A method can be provided.

[0011] This embodiment can provide access to dynamic services that are not covered by existing configurations and can provide the possibility for a communications device to indicate that it no longer requires access to that service.

[0012] Each aspect and feature of the present disclosure is defined in the accompanying claims.

[0013] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, are best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] The present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic representation of some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunications system configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates, in simplified form, several exemplary aspects of a new Radio Access Technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example of infrastructure equipment and communication devices configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a combined process diagram / message sequence chart illustrating a simplified representation of a registration procedure according to the prior art. [Figure 5]1 schematically illustrates certain aspects of a wireless communication network and communication devices configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 is a combined process diagram / message sequence chart illustrating a registration procedure according to an embodiment of the present technology. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a flowchart of a process of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] (Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)) FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 100 that generally operates according to LTE principles, but may also support other radio access technologies, and that can be adapted to implement embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein. Specific aspects of the various elements of FIG. 1 and their respective modes of operation are well known and defined in the relevant standards managed by the 3GPP (RTM) organization and are also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. ​​and Toskala A, "Multi-Channel Radio Access," IEEE Trans. It will be understood that operational aspects of telecommunications networks not specifically described herein (e.g., with respect to particular communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example, in accordance with the relevant standards and known proposed amendments and additions to those standards.

[0016] The network 100 includes multiple base stations 101 connected to a core network portion 102. Each base station provides a coverage area 103 (e.g., a cell) over which data can be communicated to and from communication devices 104. Data is transmitted from base stations 101 to communication devices 104 within their respective coverage areas 103 via wireless downlinks. Data is transmitted from the communication device 104 to the base station 101 via a wireless uplink. The core network unit 102 transmits and receives data to and from the communication device 104 via each base station 101, and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, and billing. A communication device may also be called a mobile station, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, or terminal device. A base station, which is an example of network infrastructure equipment / network access node, may also be referred to as a transceiver station, Node B, eNodeB, eNB, gNodeB, gNB, etc. In this regard, different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements that provide broadly equivalent functionality. However, example embodiments of the present disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, such as 5G or new wireless as described below, and for brevity, specific terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is, the use of specific terminology in connection with particular examples is not intended to indicate that these examples are limited to the particular generation of networks that may be most relevant to that terminology.

[0017] (New wireless access technology (5G)) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network architecture for a new RAT wireless communication network / system 200 based on a previously proposed approach that may also be adapted to provide functionality according to embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. The new RAT network 200 shown in Figure 2 comprises a first communication cell 201 and a second communication cell 202. Each communication cell 201, 202 includes a control node 221, 222 that communicates with a core network element 210 via a respective wired or wireless link 251, 252. Each control node 221, 222 is also in communication with a number of distributed units (radio access nodes / remote transmission / reception points (TRPs)) 211, 212 within its respective cell. Again, these communications may occur via respective wired or wireless links. The distributed units 211, 212 are responsible for providing a wireless access interface for communication devices connected to the network. Each distributed unit 211, 212 has a coverage area (radio access footprint) 241, 242, where the sum of the coverage areas of the distributed units under the control of the control node defines the coverage of the respective communication cell 201, 202. Each distributed unit 211, 212 includes a transmitter circuit (receiver circuit) for transmitting and receiving radio signals and a processor circuit (controller circuit) configured to control the respective distributed unit 211, 212.

[0018] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 210 of the New RAT communication network depicted in Figure 2 can be broadly considered to correspond to the core network 102 depicted in Figure 1, and each control node 221, 222 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 211, 212 can be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base station 101 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these components as well as more traditional base station type components of wireless communication systems. Depending on the application at hand, the responsibility for scheduling transmissions scheduled over the air interface between each distributed unit and the communication devices may be said to rest with a control node / central unit and / or with a distributed unit / TRP.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a communications device or UE 260 within the coverage area of ​​a first communications cell 201 . This communication device 260 can therefore exchange signals with the first control node 221 in the first communication cell 201 via one of the distribution units 211 associated with the first communication cell 201. In some cases, communications for a given communication device are routed through only one of the distributed units, but it will be understood that in some other implementations communications relating to a given communication device may be routed through multiple distributed units, for example in soft handover scenarios and other scenarios.

[0020] In the example of Figure 2, two communication cells 201, 202 and one communication device 260 are shown for simplicity, but of course the system may include many more communication cells (supported by respective control nodes and multiple distributed units) serving many more communication devices.

[0021] It will be further understood that FIG. 2 represents just one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT communication system in which an approach according to the principles described herein may be employed, and that the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in relation to wireless communication systems having different architectures.

[0022] Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunications systems / networks according to a variety of different architectures, such as the exemplary architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, it will be understood that the particular wireless communication architecture in any given implementation is not of primary importance to the principles described herein. In this regard, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may generally be described in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and communication devices, with the particular nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and communication devices depending on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some cases the network infrastructure equipment / access nodes may comprise base stations such as the LTE type base station 101 as shown in FIG. 1 adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment / access nodes may comprise control units / control nodes 221, 222 and / or TRPs 211, 212 of the type shown in FIG. 2 adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0023] A more detailed description of a UE / communication device 270 (which may correspond to a communication device such as communication device 260 of FIG. 2 or communication device 104 of FIG. 1) and exemplary network infrastructure equipment 272, which may be considered an eNB 101 or a gNB (e.g., a combination of control node 221 and TRP 211), is shown in FIG. 3 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the UE 270 is shown transmitting uplink data to infrastructure equipment 272 via uplink resources of the radio access interface, generally as indicated by arrow 274 from the UE 270 to the infrastructure equipment 272. Similarly, the UE 270 may be configured to receive downlink data transmitted by the infrastructure equipment 272 via downlink resources from the infrastructure equipment 272 to the UE 270, as indicated by arrow 288. Similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, the infrastructure equipment 272 is connected to the core network 276 via an interface 278 to a controller 280 of the infrastructure equipment 272 .

[0024] The core network 276 may correspond to the core network portion 102 of FIG. 1 or the core network element 210 of FIG. 2, and the core network 276 provides connectivity to other networks, such as a packet data network 264, which may operate independently of the wireless communication network.

[0025] For example, packet data network 264 may provide access to the Internet or may be operated by a service provider that provides services to communication devices over a wireless communication network.

[0026] The core network 276 may include entities responsible for user plane communications and control plane signaling. An example of a control plane entity is the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 410 shown in Figure 3, although there may be other entities within the core network 276.

[0027] The infrastructure equipment 272 includes a receiver 282 connected to an antenna 284 and a transmitter 286 connected to the antenna 284 .

[0028] The controller 280 is configured to control the infrastructure equipment 272 and may comprise a processor circuit, which in turn may comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as further described herein. These subunits may be implemented as separate hardware elements or as suitably configured functions in processor circuitry. Thus, controller 280 may comprise circuitry that is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. The transmitter 286 and receiver 282 may include signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers, and circuitry in a conventional manner. The transmitter 286, receiver 282, and controller 280 are shown schematically in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of presentation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various ways, for example by means of one or more suitably programmed programmable computers or by means of one or more suitably configured application specific integrated circuits / circuits / chipsets. As will be appreciated, infrastructure equipment 272 generally includes various other elements associated with its operational functionality.

[0029] The UE 270 includes a controller 290 connected to a receiver 292 that receives signals from an antenna 294 and a transmitter 296 that is also connected to the antenna 294. In one embodiment, the communication device / UE 270 includes a user input 310, which may be a keyboard, a touch-sensitive panel, buttons, or other known user input or combination thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, the communications device / UE 270 includes a display 320, which may be an LED, an OLED screen, or other known display or combination thereof.

[0031] The user input 310 and the display 320 may be configured to be controlled by the controller 290 .

[0032] The controller 290 of the UE 270 is configured to control the transmitter 296 and the receiver 292 and may comprise a processor circuit, which in turn may comprise various sub-units / sub-circuits for providing functionality as further described herein. These subunits may be implemented as separate hardware elements or as suitably configured functions in processor circuitry. Thus, controller 290 may comprise circuitry that is suitably configured / programmed to provide the desired functionality using conventional programming / configuration techniques for equipment in wireless telecommunications systems. Similarly, the transmitter 296 and receiver 292 may include signal processing and radio frequency filters, amplifiers, and circuitry in accordance with conventional configurations. The transmitter 296, receiver 292, and controller 290 are shown schematically in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of presentation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers, or one or more suitably configured application specific integrated circuits / circuits / chipsets. As will be appreciated, communication device 270 typically includes various other elements associated with its operational functions, such as a power source, a user interface, etc., which are not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of simplicity.

[0033] The controllers 280, 290 may be configured to execute instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The process steps described herein may be performed, for example, by a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, which may operate according to instructions stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0034] The AMF 410 may include a processor, memory, and one or more suitable communication interfaces. The processing steps described herein may be performed, for example, by a microprocessor in conjunction with random access memory, which may operate according to instructions stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0035] The AMF 410 may include circuitry (such as a processor and associated memory), a computer-readable medium that stores a program including instructions executed by the processor, and interface circuitry (such as transmitter and receiver circuitry) for sending and receiving control information from infrastructure equipment, entities in the packet data network, and other core network entities.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the core network 276 may include multiple AMFs and may also include other entities such as entities responsible for user plane functions.

[0037] (Access to Services) Traditionally, access to services provided over wireless communication networks is subject to a pre-established agreement between the subscriber and the service provider. For example, a subscriber may agree to pay a certain amount in advance for access to a particular voice, data, or other messaging service. Similarly, the service provider may provide in advance any associated terms and conditions related to the service. Any subscriber may be pre-associated as a subscriber, and such association may be stored by the service provider, such as an operator of a wireless communication network. A communication device is associated with a subscriber (and therefore billing) by, for example, an inserted or embedded subscriber identity module, SIM, application, etc. A communication device associated with a subscriber can obtain subscribed services automatically (i.e., without further user interaction) based on a stored association between the subscriber and the communication device.

[0038] This conventional approach is also applicable when services are obtained from service providers with whom the subscriber does not have a direct, pre-existing relationship. For example, if the communications device operates in an area where service is not available via a network associated with the home network operator, service may be obtained via the other network operator in accordance with a roaming agreement between the home network operator and the other network operator, and in accordance with roaming offers (rates, terms, etc.) pre-agreed between the home network operator (with which the subscriber has a relationship) and the subscriber.

[0039] (Registration procedure) Traditionally, access to services by a communication device may be permitted or restricted by a wireless communication network based on subscriber information associated with the communication device. To determine whether a communication device is authorized to access a service, a wireless communication network may verify the identity (i.e., authenticate) of a subscriber associated with the communication device and verify whether the subscriber has an appropriate subscription that allows access to the service.

[0040] 4 is a combined process diagram / message sequence chart illustrating a simplified representation of a prior art registration procedure, which may be viewed as a determination by a wireless communication network whether a communications device is authorized to obtain a requested service.

[0041] This registration procedure is a core network or non-access stratum (NAS) procedure. In the sequence shown in Figure 4, the communication device has already selected a serving cell and has begun establishing an access stratum connection, such as a radio resource control (RRC) connection, with infrastructure equipment 272 of the wireless communication network.

[0042] A conventional algorithm for selecting a serving cell may include a first part that includes cells associated with a preferred wireless communication network, which may be a "home" network where the subscriber has a pre-existing commercial relationship with an operator that provides service through the home network. The second part of the algorithm can ensure that among the cells associated with the preferred network, the cell / frequency that provides a better radio access interface (e.g., has better radio quality and / or allows for higher data rates or lower error rates) is selected. These algorithms may be implemented by the communication device without user interaction. A preferred network may be a network that the communication device 270 is configured to consider "equivalent" to the home network. For example, a preferred network may be a network having a PLMN ID that is configured as an equivalent PLMN ID (EPLMN ID) related to the home PLMN ID. In some embodiments, a network may be characterized by a Standalone Non-Public Network (SNPN) identity or a Public Network Integrated Non-Public Network (PNI-NPN) identity.

[0043] In step S402, the communication device 270 sends a registration request message 452 to the infrastructure equipment 272. The registration request message 452 may be included in an RRC connection setup complete message (not shown). The registration request message 452 may include an indication of one or more requested services, which may include a list of requested protocol data unit (PDU) sessions. In an embodiment, the registration request message 452 may include a registration type indication, which may indicate that registration is requested on a non-preferred network (e.g., not the home PLMN) and / or that registration is for a dynamic service. For example, the registration type indication may indicate that the registration is an initial registration on another network.

[0044] In step S404, the infrastructure device 272 selects an appropriate core network function to process the registration request message 452. In the example of Figure 4, this is an Access Management Function (AMF), such as the AMF 410 shown in Figure 3, and based on the selection in step S406, the infrastructure device 272 forwards the registration request message 452 to the selected core network function, e.g., the AMF 410.

[0045] The AMF 410 may then obtain context information related to the communication device 270 (not shown in FIG. 4), which may be from another AMF.

[0046] In step S408, security procedures (including authentication) are completed to verify the identity of the subscriber associated with communication device 270. These procedures may include an Authentication Server Function (AUSF) (not shown in FIG. 4).

[0047] After the security procedures are fully completed, in step S409, the AMF 410 determines that the communications device is associated with a subscription that allows access to the requested service.

[0048] In step S410, the AMF 410 sends a registration accept message 454 to the communication device 270 via the infrastructure equipment 272. The registration accept message 454 may confirm that the communication device 270 is authorized to access one or more services, and in this process, one or more PDU sessions may also be set up.

[0049] Details of the conventional registration procedure are given in section 4.2.2 of Non-Patent Document 3.

[0050] Conventionally, if a registration procedure is required, the procedure shown in FIG. 4 follows directly and automatically from the initiation of the connection establishment with the infrastructure equipment 272 .

[0051] Thus, conventionally, a communication device can automatically (and successfully) register for one or more services using a preferred wireless communication network according to an existing arrangement (eg, subscription).

[0052] (Network as a Service) It has been proposed that services can be provided over wireless communication networks in a more dynamic way (Non-Patent Document 3). The term "dynamic service" as used herein means a service that is not covered by an existing direct or indirect agreement between a subscriber and a wireless communication network or service provider, or a service that can supplement such an existing agreement at any time before the communication device obtains the service. For example, the price, availability, and / or nature of the service may be dynamic.

[0053] Dynamic services may be provided by a preferred network or by a non-preferred network.

[0054] Services may be provided subject to terms and conditions relating to additional fees, privacy provisions, or other terms of use applicable to the Services. The term "Terms of Use" is used to refer to such terms and conditions, including but not limited to fees, obligations, and permissions.

[0055] In a scenario where an embodiment of the present technology may be applied, a content creator or mobile operator may provide special content only for users who are in the stadium and agree to use this service. Providing this content or on-demand service may require specific and dynamic QoS support, network / UE configuration, and policies / provisioning.

[0056] The wireless communication network providing the service may be a 5G network, and may support specific communication devices and services with specific Quality of Service (QoS) / policy requirements. The wireless communication network may configure the communication devices and the network to properly set up the PDU session.

[0057] Wireless communication networks can provide ad-hoc membership / credentials to users and provide available services.

[0058] The wireless communication network can be a public land mobile network (PLMN) or a non-public network (NPN). The wireless communication network can deploy dedicated network slices to support this service, and the service may be provided for a specific charge.

[0059] This service may be provided by the operator of the wireless communication network or by a third party (eg, a sports team or stadium operator, a school or business, a shopping mall operator, etc.).

[0060] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates certain aspects of a wireless communication network and communication devices that may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0061] A first base station 272a (which may correspond to infrastructure equipment 272 in FIG. 3) of a first wireless communication network provides a wireless access interface in a first cell 340a within the stadium in this example (not shown in FIG. 5). The first base station 272a is connected to a core network 276 of the wireless communication network (which may be, for example, a 5G core, 5GC network), and the core network 276 is connected to a content server 330. The content server 330 may be physically present in the stadium and associated with a dedicated logical slice 350 configured in the wireless communication network. The slice 350 for this service may span the core network 276, the content server 330, the first base station 272a, and part of the transport network within the first wireless communication network. The functionality described herein may be virtualized and may reside in different physical locations.

[0062] In the example of Figure 5, coverage within the stadium is also provided by a second wireless communication network, comprising a second base station (infrastructure equipment) 272b providing a radio access interface to a second cell 340b.

[0063] The first communication device 270a has the first wireless communication network as its preferred (e.g., home) wireless communication network, and in accordance with conventional techniques, the first communication device 270a preferentially selects the first cell 340a as its serving cell. For example, the first communication device 270a may be associated with a subscription to access the first wireless communication network, and the first base station 272a may broadcast an identity (e.g., a PLMN ID) associated with the first wireless communication network.

[0064] However, the first wireless communication network is not preferred for the second communication device 270b. In accordance with conventional techniques, the second communication device 270b may preferentially select the second cell 340b as its serving cell. This may be because the second communication device 270b has the second wireless communication network as its preferred (e.g., home) wireless communication network. Because the first base station 272a does not broadcast an identity (e.g., a PLMN ID or NPN ID) corresponding to the second communication device 270b's preferred wireless communication network, the second communication device 270b does not select the first cell 340a as its serving cell.

[0065] However, it is desirable that both the first communication device 270a and the second communication device 270b be able to access the services provided by the content server 330 via the first wireless communication network.

[0066] As mentioned above, conventional techniques allow efficient registration of services when there is an existing deployment or configuration, but such techniques are not well suited to dynamic service registration. In particular, conventional techniques do not allow a communication device to access services provided by a first wireless communication network, in which case the communication device's preferred wireless communication network (which is not the first wireless communication network) is also accessible.

[0067] Therefore, there is a need to provide a procedure for users to access such dynamic services.

[0068] An embodiment of the present technology provides a method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a registration acceptance indication via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; determining if the service is not requested; responsive to the step of determining if the service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communications device is available to register for the service.

[0069] Embodiments of the present technology may provide a communications device that receives an indication of successful (or conditional) registration; The registration is associated with information that may include one or more terms and conditions, and determining that at least one of the one or more terms and conditions is not acceptable and transmitting, in response, an indication that the service is not requested.

[0070]

[0006] Embodiments of the present technology may provide a method of operating a communications device, wherein a service provided over a wireless communications network is selected in accordance with a subscription associated with said communications device, rather than a preferred communications network, said method comprising: selecting a cell of the wireless communication network; receiving an indication that registration for the service is authorized; receiving information related to the service; determining that the service is not requested; Includes. The method may further include determining that the service is provided over the wireless communication network in response to receiving broadcast information transmitted within a cell of the wireless communication network. The method includes the steps of: sending a rejection indication indicating that the service is not required; receiving a network restriction instruction sent in response to the rejection instruction; The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not permitted to select the cell as a serving cell. A service may be associated with a dedicated slice configured in a wireless communication network.

[0071] FIG. 6 is a combined process diagram / message sequence chart illustrating a registration procedure according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0072] In step S500, the communication device 270 (which may correspond to the first communication device 270a or the second communication device 270b in FIG. 5) selects a serving cell.

[0073] In some embodiments, the serving cell is selected according to conventional techniques, such as conventional network (eg, PLMN) selection and cell selection and reselection.

[0074] In some embodiments, the serving cell is selected from a selected network.

[0075] The selected network may be selected by a user and / or may be selected based on a determination that it offers a particular dynamic service. For example, a user may indicate a desired service via user interface 310, and the selected network may be selected based on a determination by the communication device that the desired service is to be offered.

[0076] Selecting a network based on the determination that it provides the desired service may be based on broadcast information transmitted by the selected network and / or pre-configured information stored in the communication device.

[0077] In some exemplary embodiments, a user may indicate a desired network, which is then selected. In some such embodiments, this may include a communications device receiving broadcast transmissions from cells associated with a plurality of different networks, presenting two or more indications of the plurality of networks to the user, and receiving a selection indication from the user indicating one of the presented networks.

[0078] Once the selected network is determined, a cell associated with that network is selected. If the communications device is within the coverage area of ​​multiple cells associated with the selected network, the selection of the cell may be based on one or more measurements of the received signal, pre-configured preferences, the operating carrier frequency of the cells, and the radio access technology used to provide the radio access interface to each cell. This selection (and subsequent reselection) may follow conventional cell selection and reselection techniques.

[0079] The communication device 270 then initiates the establishment of a connection with infrastructure equipment 272 that provides a radio access interface within the selected cell. The connection may be an RRC connection.

[0080] Step S402 then occurs following or as part of establishing a connection with infrastructure equipment 272, as described above in the context of FIG. In an embodiment, the registration request message 452 sent in step S402 may include a request for dynamic services and / or may include an indication that the registration is from another network of the UE.

[0081] Steps S404 and S406, S408 and S409 may then proceed as described above in the context of the example of FIG.

[0082] In some embodiments, the selection of the AMF in step S404 may be based on the dynamic service requested in step S402. For example, the selected AMF may be associated with a network slice in which the dynamic service is provided. The network slice may be dedicated to providing the dynamic service.

[0083] In some embodiments, the determination in step S409 may be based on a prior configuration or prior authorization of communication device 270. For example, the prior authorization may be performed by an application running on communication device 270 or any other user device that interacts with an application server (not shown). For example, in the scenario of Figure 5, an application related to the stadium may provide an option for the communication device to be pre-authorized to obtain dynamic services. Thus, prior to step S402, the user may accept applicable terms.

[0084] In step S510, a registration accept message 554 is sent from a core network entity (e.g., AMF 410) to the communication device 272. The registration accept message 554 indicates that the communication device 272 is authorized to access dynamic services. Authorization may be subject to acceptance of certain conditions.

[0085] In step S512, the communication device 270 receives information 556 related to the dynamic service. The information 556 may include conditions for using the service. The information 556 may include billing information. In general, the information 556 may include any information that allows the user or the communication device 270 to determine whether access to the service is required.

[0086] In some embodiments, steps S512 and S510 are combined to form a combined registration accept message, for example, by including information 556 in registration accept message 554. In an embodiment, combined registration accept message 554 may include up to 9000 bytes of non-access stratum information. The combined registration accept message 554 may be mapped into a single RRC message and thus a single Packet Data Convergence Protocol Service Data Unit (SDU). In some embodiments, the combined registration accept message 554 may be transmitted using multiple PDCP SDUs. In some embodiments, the combined registration accept message 454 may be transmitted using a single RRC message that is segmented, for example, according to conventional techniques defined in 3GPP Release 16 for segmenting RRC messages.

[0087] In step S514, the communication device 270 may present some or all of the information 556 to a user of the communication device. The information 556 may be converted to a human-readable format before being presented. This presentation may be on the display 320.

[0088] In some embodiments, information 556 is not received by communication device 270. For example, in some embodiments where communication device 270 has been pre-authorized to access a service, such as by an application, communication device 270 may not receive information 556. In some embodiments, information 556 may be transmitted by infrastructure equipment 272, but the presentation of the information is not provided.

[0089] The user may be given the opportunity to indicate whether they wish to access the service, which may be explicit (e.g., by selecting an option corresponding to accessing the service) or implicit (e.g., by not responding within a certain time period).

[0090] In step S514, the determination as to whether the service should be accessed may be made partially or fully automatically (i.e., without user interaction) by the communications device. The automatic determination may be made based on information 556. For example, the communication device 270 may be pre-configured to reject any service for which access to the service is not free (i.e., for which the subscriber incurs an additional charge). Thus, the communication device 270 may determine, based on the information 556, that a service is not needed, indicating that accessing the service by the communication device 270 will incur a certain (non-zero) charge.

[0091] Upon completion of step S514, the communication device 270 determines whether the service is actually required. If the service is required, registration may be completed by conventional methods (e.g., the communication device 270 sending a registration complete message, not shown in FIG. 6).

[0092] 6, the service is determined to be not required based at least in part on instructions provided by a user of communication device 270. In response to this determination, a registration rejection message 558 is transmitted by communication device 270 in step S516. In one embodiment, registration reject message 558 is a NAS message that is transparently forwarded by infrastructure equipment 272. In one embodiment, registration reject message 558 is an access stratum message sent to infrastructure equipment 272. In such an embodiment, in response to receiving the registration rejection message 558, the infrastructure equipment 272 sends a corresponding message indicating the rejection to the core network, for example, using a message sent using the conventional N3 interface.

[0093] In some embodiments, the information 556 may be transmitted from the core network using a user plane connection (e.g., a dedicated radio bearer, DRB and / or packet data unit, PDU, session) established for the transmission of user plane data to and from the communication device. In some such embodiments, the order of the steps may differ, such that subsequent steps in FIG. 6 (step S512, step S514, etc.) may occur after the PDU session is established. In an embodiment, additional steps to terminate the DRB and / or PDU session may be initiated by the communication device 270, infrastructure equipment 272, and / or core network after step S516 if it is determined that the service is not required.

[0094] In some embodiments, some of the information 556 may be transmitted using broadcast messages, such as system information messages, that may be received by the communication device prior to establishing the RRC connection, or may be received in an order different from the order shown in FIG. 6. A further portion of the information 556 may be transmitted using one or more unicast messages sent to the communication device 270 after the access stratum connection is established.

[0095] For example, in some embodiments, multiple pieces of information applicable to different categories of subscribers or communication devices may be transmitted via one or more broadcast messages, and one or more subsequent unicast messages transmitted to communication device 270 may indicate which category the communication device 270 is associated with. In some embodiments, additional information related to the communication device 270 may be transmitted in a unicast message. Thus, the communication device 270 may perform step S514 based on the information transmitted in a broadcast manner and the information transmitted in a unicast (communication device specific) manner. This can be done, for example, by presenting to the user via a display portion information related to the category indicated in the unicast message.

[0096] In some embodiments, some or all of the information 556 may be encoded according to the ASCII encoding of characters.

[0097] In an embodiment, the amount of coded information may be less than or equal to the maximum amount of coded information that may be included in a single System Information Block (SIB) message, hi an embodiment, the maximum amount of coded information that may be included in a single Broadcast System Information Block message may be 2917 bits.

[0098] As previously mentioned, in the example of Figure 6, it was determined that the service was not required. Based on the registration reject message 558 (or a corresponding indication generated by the infrastructure equipment 272), the core network (e.g., AMF 410) determines that the communication device 270 is not authorized or does not require access to the dynamic service.

[0099] In some embodiments, the communication device 270 is nevertheless capable of accessing other services via the wireless communication network. For example, the wireless communication network may be a preferred or "home" network, and the communication device 270 (which may correspond to the first communication device 270a in FIG. 5) may be granted access to other (e.g., "static") services according to preconfigured terms and conditions. Alternatively, the wireless communication network may be a network that allows roaming to obtain service for communication devices.

[0100] Thus, in some embodiments (not shown in FIG. 6 ), a radio access network node, such as core network or infrastructure equipment 272, may send a further NAS or access stratum (AS) message indicating that the communications device remains connected to the wireless communications network to access other services.

[0101] In some embodiments, in accordance with conventional principles, other services that a communications device may be permitted to access via a wireless communications network may include emergency call services. The authorization applied to these services may be subject to predetermined (e.g., prescribed) conditions and therefore may not require prior explicit authorization by the network. For example, the conditions may require that the communication device 270 is not within the coverage area of ​​a preferred wireless communication network.

[0102] In embodiments in which the communication device 270 is authorized to access one or more services via a wireless communication network, the communication device may maintain the RRC connection and, in an embodiment, transmit a further service request message as a NAS message requesting access to one or more other services. Thus, the communication device does not have access to the dynamic service, but can obtain other services.

[0103] In an embodiment, the core network (e.g., AMF 410) may send a status message 560 to the infrastructure equipment 272 in step S518. The status message 560 may indicate whether the communication device 270 may remain connected to the wireless communication network.

[0104] As described above, in some examples, if communication device 270 is authorized to access one or more services over the wireless communication network, status message 560 may indicate that communication device 270 is authorized to remain connected to the wireless communication network.

[0105] In some examples (such as the example of FIG. 6), the status message 560 indicates that the communication device 270 is not allowed to remain connected to the wireless communication network or a portion thereof, which may be in response to a determination in the core network that the communication device 270 is not authorized to access any services over the wireless communication network.

[0106] In one embodiment, when such a status message 560 is sent, the core network may also release any core network connections associated with the communication device.

[0107] In response to receiving the status message 560, in the example of FIG. 6, in step S520, the infrastructure equipment 272 may transmit a network restriction indication 562 to the communication device 270 via a dedicated (e.g., unicast) or broadcast signal.

[0108] The infrastructure equipment 272 may also transmit a release message 564 in step S522 indicating that the RRC connection has been released, which may be in response to determining, based on the status message 560, that the communications device 270 is not permitted to remain in connected mode within the current serving cell.

[0109] In some embodiments, steps S520 and S522 may be combined. For example, the network restriction indication 562 may be sent within the lift message 564.

[0110] Upon receiving the release message 564, the communication device 270 transitions to an idle mode.

[0111] The network restriction indication 562 indicates that the communication device is to reselect a different wireless communication network and / or a different cell. The network restriction indication 562 may indicate that the communication device is not authorized to select a particular cell. A particular cell may be characterized by one or more of a center carrier frequency, a radio access technology, and a wireless communication network (eg, based on a PLMN ID).

[0112] In an embodiment, the network restriction indication 562 indicates that the communication device 270 is not permitted to select as a serving cell any cell associated with the wireless communication network (e.g., identified by its PLMN ID), regardless of the radio access technology or carrier frequency associated with the cell.

[0113] In an embodiment, the network restriction indication 562 indicates that the communication device 270 is not permitted to select as any cell having the same carrier frequency associated with the current serving cell.

[0114] In some embodiments, the restriction is not time-restricted, i.e., the communication device 270 is not permitted to select as a serving cell any cell associated with the wireless communication network, regardless of the period since the restriction indication 562 was received.

[0115] In some embodiments, the restriction is limited to a particular restricted period of time after the restriction indication 562 is received. For example, in some embodiments, the restricted period of time is equal to the validity period of the system information, which in some embodiments may be three hours. In some embodiments, the time limit may be 48 hours. In some embodiments, the time limit may be 300 seconds.

[0116] In some embodiments, the time limit may be predetermined. In some embodiments, the time limit may be indicated in the limit indication 562. In an embodiment, the network may set the limit period based on the period for which the dynamic service is provided, so that the limit does not expire while the dynamic service is still available. For example, the time limit may be the remaining time that the dynamic service will be available.

[0117] In a particular example, the network restriction indication 562 indicates that the communication device 270 is not permitted to select as any cell having the same carrier frequency associated with the current serving cell for a time limit of 300 seconds. However, it will be understood that the combination of the nature of the restriction and its duration is not so limited, and the scope of the disclosure is not limited to any particular combination of restriction and duration.

[0118] In some embodiments, the network restriction indication 562 includes a deprioritization indicator, which may include a deprioritization type element indicating whether the current frequency or radio access technology (RAT) should be deprioritized and a deprioritization timer element indicating the period during which either the current carrier frequency or the current RAT is deprioritized. Here, the "current" frequency or RAT corresponds to the frequency of the current serving cell. In some embodiments, the de-prioritization indicator may follow conventional re-prioritization indicators as defined in 3G (GSM / GPRS / EDGE), 3G (UMTS / HDPA), 4G (LTE), 5G (NR), etc. Examples of RATs include 2G (GSM / GPRS / EDGE), 3G (UMTS / HDPA), 4G (LTE), and 5G (NR).

[0119] In some embodiments, the non-prioritized timer element may indicate one of a plurality of predetermined time periods, one or more of the plurality of time periods being 180 minutes or greater.

[0120] In some embodiments, the deprioritization type element may indicate one of a plurality of restriction types, including a "network" type indicating that deprioritization applies to an entire wireless communication network, e.g., as characterized by a PLMN ID or an NPN ID.

[0121] In some embodiments, the plurality of restriction types includes a "network and frequency" type, which indicates that the deprioritization applies to both the current network and the current frequency, and the communications device must deprioritize all cells that are associated with the current network, operate on the current frequency, or both.

[0122] The network restriction indication 562 may be generated by the infrastructure equipment 272. In an embodiment, the network restriction indication 562 is generated based on an indication from the core network (e.g., based on a status message 560 received from the AMF 410). In some embodiments, the indication from the core network may indicate one or more network-level (PLMN-level) restrictions that apply to the communication device 270 (whether it is allowed to select a cell within the current PLMN).

[0123] In some embodiments, the RAT and / or frequency restriction indicated by the network restriction indication 562 may be determined by the infrastructure equipment 272 based on local policies set in the infrastructure equipment, or based on information such as status messages 560 received from the core network, or a combination of both.

[0124] The information received from the core network may include an indication of allowed (or forbidden) networks based on identifiers such as one or more PLMNs, NPNs, CAGs, etc. This information may be common to all communication devices.

[0125] In an embodiment, the infrastructure equipment 272 may determine allowed or prohibited radio access interface parameters based on information received from the core network. For example, the infrastructure equipment may be pre-configured with a mapping from PLMN IDs to one or more (radio access technology, frequency) pairs. Thus, in some embodiments, the network restriction indication 562 may indicate one or more radio access interface parameters corresponding to the prohibited cell, where the radio access interface parameters are determined based on information received from the core network.

[0126] In one embodiment, the network restriction indication 562 is broadcast as system information, and therefore the communication device 270 may receive the network restriction indication 562 prior to step S514. In some such embodiments, if the communications device 270 determines that the service is not required, the network restriction indication 562 may be processed in response to the determination of step S514.

[0127] Thus, embodiments may provide appropriate network restrictions based on parameters of the wireless access interface (eg, frequency, technology) and / or network identifiers.

[0128] As discussed above, in the example of FIG. 6, the network restriction indication 562 indicates that the communication device 270 is not permitted to remain connected within the current serving cell.

[0129] Thus, in step S524, in response to receiving the network restriction indication 562, the communication device 270 selects a cell that is allowed in accordance with the network restriction indication 562 as the serving cell. For example, communication device 270 may tune its receiver to one or more carrier frequencies that are not prohibited by network restriction indication 562 and determine whether communication device 270 is within range of infrastructure equipment that provides a radio access interface for a cell operating on each carrier frequency. For each detected radio access interface / cell, the receiver may be configured to receive system information to obtain identification information associated with the cell, such as a PLMN ID, and measure signals received within the cell. Based on the identification information and / or signal measurements, the communication device may select a cell according to conventional network and cell selection principles.

[0130] Thus, embodiments of the present technology may determine that a communications device is authorized to access a dynamic service, and, after determining that it is authorized to access the dynamic service, may permit the communications device to indicate to the network that access to the dynamic service is not requested.

[0131] Additionally, embodiments of the present technology can ensure that a communication device that indicates to the network that it does not require access to dynamic services selects a cell that has access to one or more services.

[0132] In one embodiment, the communication device 270 refrains from selecting (i.e., excludes) cells of a particular category for a certain period of time, after which the communication device may again select cells that were granted, but not requested, access to dynamic service ("dynamic service cells"). In some embodiments, the communications device may select the dynamic serving cell in response to determining authorization for the dynamic serving cell based on an indication transmitted via broadcast signaling in the dynamic serving cell. Receipt of the broadcast information may be determined in response to radio conditions associated with a radio access interface in the dynamic serving cell satisfying certain conditions and / or receipt of support information transmitted in another cell identifying the dynamic serving cell. As an example, the support information transmitted by the other cells may include priority information indicating that the operating frequency of the dynamic serving cell has a higher priority than the operating frequency of the other cells.

[0133] Receipt of the broadcast information may be in response to a manual selection in response to user input by a user of the communication device.

[0134] In an embodiment, the communication device 270 may determine whether a dynamic service is needed or may be needed (eg, at some time after step S520). For example, this determination may be made based on input by a user, who may indicate a desire or wish to access a dynamic service.

[0135] In such an embodiment, in response to this determination, the communication device 270 may temporarily or permanently operate as if the network restriction indication 562 had not been received. Additionally, the communication device 270 may perform measurements on frequencies other than the current serving cell and may perform cell selection as described above in step S400. Accordingly, the process shown in FIG. 6 may be restarted.

[0136] Thus, embodiments of the present technology may allow a user or communication device to initially deny service, but then determine whether the service is needed, and may allow the user to obtain the service after initially determining that it is not needed. Embodiments may allow a user who initially denies service in a dynamic serving cell, resulting in the user being restricted from selecting a dynamic serving cell and subsequently obtaining service as needed.

[0137] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a communication device process according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0138] The process begins in step S602, where a communication device (which may be communication device 270) selects a wireless communication network. The wireless communication network may be characterized by a network identifier, such as a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity, PLMN ID, and / or NPN ID.

[0139] The selection of the wireless communication network may follow conventional techniques, such as automatic PLMN selection based on a home network associated with a subscription associated with the communication device, or in some embodiments, the wireless communication network may be selected in response to user interaction. For example, a user may indicate a particular wireless communication network from which they would like to obtain service, and / or the user may indicate a particular service, and a wireless communication network is selected based on the indicated service.

[0140] In step S604, the communications device selects a serving cell of the selected wireless communications network. This step may be repeated, for example, if the communications device moves and it selects a new serving cell. This process of cell selection and reselection may follow conventional techniques such as those described in 3GPP TS 36.304.

[0141] The selection of a network and / or cell may be based on information received in another cell. For example, the communication device may receive information in another cell (e.g., broadcast system information) indicating that a dynamic service (e.g., one offered by a network as a service) is available in a particular cell and / or over a particular network. Thus, the communications device may select a network and / or cell in steps S602 and / or S604 based on information received on other cells.

[0142] In step S606, the communication device requests the establishment of a radio connection in the current serving cell, which may follow conventional techniques for establishing a radio resource control connection.

[0143] In step S608, the communication device sends a request to register for one or more services. The request may indicate a particular service (including a dynamic service) or may request registration for all services that the wireless communication network determines the communication device is authorized to access.

[0144] In an embodiment, step S608 may be performed as part of step S606, for example by including a registration request message in messages that form part of the wireless connection establishment procedure. For example, in some embodiments, the registration request may be sent within an RRC connection setup complete message.

[0145] In some embodiments, steps S604, S606, and S608 may occur sequentially without user interaction.

[0146] In step S610, the communication device 270 receives the registration acceptance message. The registration acceptance message may indicate one or more services, including dynamic services, that the communication device 270 is authorized to access over the wireless communication network.

[0147] In step S612, the communication device 270 receives information related to the dynamic services to which the communication device 270 is authorized to access, which may include terms of use. In such an embodiment, the registration acceptance message received in step S610 may indicate conditional authorization for the dynamic service, where access is granted subject to compliance with terms and conditions.

[0148] In some embodiments, steps S610 and S612 may be combined. For example, information related to the dynamic service may be received in a registration acceptance message.

[0149] In step S614, the communication device 270 determines whether access to a dynamic service is required. This may be based on predefined rules or settings, for example, a predefined rule may state that a dynamic service is not required if it results in additional costs to the subscriber. As yet another example, all dynamic services may be deemed unnecessary according to predefined rules, it being understood that other example rules may be applied, for example, based on a "whitelist" of required dynamic services and / or a "blacklist" of not required dynamic services.

[0150] In some embodiments, this determination is based on user interaction. The user indicates whether they wish to access the dynamic service through user input (touch screen, keyboard, etc.) In one embodiment, some or all of the information received in step S612 is presented to the user via a display before the user indicates whether they wish to access the dynamic service.

[0151] Step S614 corresponds to the determination in step S514 of the process in FIG. 6, and has been described above.

[0152] If it is determined in step S614 that access to a dynamic service is required, control passes to step S616.

[0153] In step S616, the communication device 270 indicates to the wireless communication network that it requires access to dynamic services, either explicitly or implicitly. For example, in some embodiments, the communication device 270 transmits a registration complete message to the wireless communication network, indicating that dynamic services are required. Accordingly, the communication device 270 accesses the dynamic services, which may be provided generally in a conventional manner. An implicit indication may include the absence of an explicit indication that the communication device does not require access to dynamic services.

[0154] If, in step S614, it is determined that access to dynamic services is not required (or, in some embodiments, if access to any permitted dynamic services is not required), control passes to step S618.

[0155] In step S618, the communication device 270 indicates to the wireless communication network, either explicitly or implicitly, that it does not require access to dynamic services. For example, in some embodiments, the communication device 270 transmits a registration reject message to the wireless communication network, indicating that dynamic services are not required. An implicit indication can include the absence of an explicit indication that the communication device requires access to dynamic services.

[0156] Following step S618, in some embodiments, control proceeds to step S620. In some such embodiments, the wireless communication network may be a preferred wireless communication network (eg, a home network) and / or may provide access to services other than dynamic services. In step S620, the communication device accesses one or more other services provided over the wireless communication network, which may include services that are not dynamic (e.g., subject to pre-existing configuration).

[0157] In other embodiments, control proceeds to step S622. In step S622, the communication device 270 receives a network restricted indication, which may correspond to the network restricted indication 562 shown in Figure 6 and described above. As described above, the network restricted indication generally indicates that the communication device is to reselect to a different wireless communication network and / or a different cell, and may indicate certain constraints on the subsequent cell and / or network selection.

[0158] After step S622, control proceeds to step S624. In step S624, the communication device 270 performs network and / or cell selection according to the network restriction indication.

[0159] In one embodiment, control can pass to either step S620 or step S622. For example, if the communication device is authorized to access at least one non-dynamic service over the wireless communication network, control may pass to step S620. If the communication device is not authorized to access non-dynamic services over the wireless communication network, control proceeds to step S622. The determination of whether processing continues at step S622 or step S620 may be made by the wireless communication network in response to receiving the instruction at step S618.

[0160] In one embodiment, the process ends at step S620 or step S626.

[0161] In an embodiment, if the communication device 270 determines that dynamic service is required and the communication device 270 determines that the service cannot be accessed due to restricted network and / or cell selection, the communication device 270 may perform network and / or cell selection to select a cell from which the dynamic service can be obtained, regardless of the network restriction indication received in step S622. Following such a selection, processing may continue to step S606.

[0162] In some embodiments, step S618 may be omitted.

[0163] For example, in some embodiments, in response to determining at step S614 that service is not required, the process continues to step S624. In some such embodiments, the network and / or cell selection at step S624 may be in accordance with predetermined network restrictions and / or network restriction indications transmitted via broadcast signaling.

[0164] Thus, in some embodiments, steps S516 and S518 may be omitted, see the example of Figure 6. Step S520 may be omitted or may be performed using broadcast signaling, and may be performed at a different time than the other steps shown in Figure 6.

[0165] Thus, embodiments of the present technology may avoid signals (eg, registering a denial message) being generated in response to a communication device determining that it does not require access to a service.

[0166] In one embodiment, the information related to the dynamic service may include network restriction information for use in step S624. This information may be broadcast.

[0167] In some embodiments, one or more of the steps or messages of Figure 6 or Figure 7 may be omitted or modified, and the steps may be performed in a different order. For example, in some embodiments, the determination at step S614 is made without user interaction. In some embodiments, one or more of the indications may be implicit: for example, step S606 may imply a request to register the service, in which case step S608 may be omitted.

[0168] In some embodiments, for example, one or more of steps S606, S608, and S610 may be omitted.

[0169] As noted above, step S612 may occur, for example, before step S610.

[0170] It will be understood that in some embodiments, aspects of the steps shown in and described in the context of FIG. 6 are applicable to the corresponding steps of the process shown in FIG. 7, and vice versa.

[0171] The present disclosure is not limited to the particular combinations of features disclosed with respect to the various examples above. In some embodiments, aspects of the examples can be combined in different ways.

[0172] In the above example, user interaction occurs with communication device 270 via user input 310 and display 320. However, the disclosure is not limited in this respect. User interaction may also be remote (e.g., via a user interface of a device communicatively connected to the communication device). User input may be provided by tactile means (e.g., keyboard, touchscreen) or by other means, e.g., voice input. Similarly, presentation of information may be provided by audio presentation (e.g., by speech synthesis) or by other suitable means.

[0173] Accordingly, an embodiment of the present technology provides a method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving a registration acceptance indication via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; determining if the service is not requested; responsive to the step of determining if the service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for the service. A communication device may be provided.

[0174] 1. A method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving, via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network, information relating to services accessible via said cell; receiving a network restriction indication; determining if the service is not requested; selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication if it is determined that the service is not required; Including, The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including cells of the wireless communication network. The method is also described.

[0175] 1. A method for operating a communications device, comprising: receiving broadcast information transmitted to a cell of a wireless communication network; determining whether a service is provided over the wireless communication network based on the broadcast information; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the service is permitted; receiving information related to the service and determining if the service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that said service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; Including, The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. The method is also described.

[0176] 1. A method of operating infrastructure equipment in a wireless communications network, comprising: sending a registration acceptance indication over a radio access interface provided by said infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; receiving a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is able to register for the service. The method is also described.

[0177] 1. A method of operating a core network entity in a wireless communication network, comprising: determining that a communication device is authorized to access a service via the wireless communication network; transmitting a network restriction indication to infrastructure equipment in response to determining that the communications device does not have a request to access the service; Including, The network restriction indication indicates whether the communication device is permitted to select a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell. The method is also described.

[0178] Corresponding apparatus, communication devices, infrastructure equipment, core network entities and circuits are also described.

[0179] While this disclosure in some respects focuses on implementation in LTE-based and / or 5G networks to provide specific examples, it will be understood that the same principles may be applied to other wireless telecommunications systems. Thus, although the terminology used herein is generally the same as or similar to that of the LTE and 5G standards, the present teachings are not limited to current versions of LTE and 5G, but may equally be applied to any suitable device that is not based on LTE or 5G and / or does not comply with any other future versions of LTE, 5G, or other standards.

[0180] It should be noted that the various example approaches described herein may rely on information that is predetermined / predefined, in the sense that it is known by both the base station and the communication device. Such predetermined / predefined information may generally be established in previously exchanged signaling between the base station and the communication device, e.g., by definition in an operating standard for the wireless telecommunications system, or in system information signaling, or in connection with radio resource control setup method signaling, or in information stored in a SIM application. That is, the particular manner in which relevant predetermined information is established and shared among the various elements of a wireless telecommunications system is not critical to the principles of operation described herein. Moreover, the various example approaches described herein rely on information exchanged / communicated among the various elements of a wireless telecommunications system, and such communication may generally be conducted in accordance with conventional techniques unless otherwise required by law, e.g., with respect to the particular signaling protocols and types of communication channels used. That is, the particular manner in which relevant information is exchanged between the various elements of a wireless telecommunications system is not of primary importance to the principles of operation described herein.

[0181] It will be appreciated that the principles described herein are not only applicable to a particular type of communication device, but are more generally applicable with respect to any type of communication device.

[0182] Furthermore, it will be understood that the principles described herein are applicable not only to LTE-based or 5G / NR-based wireless communication systems, but also to any type of wireless communication system that supports multiple services. Further particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims, with it being understood that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

[0183] Accordingly, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the present invention and other claims. The disclosure includes any readily identifiable variations of the teachings herein, and defines in part the scope of the foregoing claim terms, so that inventive subject matter is not reserved to the public.

[0184] Each feature of the present disclosure is defined by the following numbered paragraphs. Paragraph 1. A method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving a registration acceptance indication via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; determining if the service is not requested; in response to the step of determining whether the service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service. method. Paragraph 2. The method of Paragraph 1, comprising: receiving, via the wireless access interface, information related to the service; The step of determining that the service is not required comprises: method. Paragraph 3. The method of Paragraph 2, comprising: receiving, in the same message, the information related to the service and an instruction authorizing registration of the communication device for the service; method. Paragraph 4. The method of Paragraph 2, comprising: The information related to the service is received in one or more broadcast messages. method. Paragraph 5: The method of any one of paragraphs 2 to 4, Such information includes one or more terms and conditions applicable to use of such service. method. Paragraph 6. The method of any one of paragraphs 2 to 5, determining based on the information that the service is not required, presenting the information to a user of the communication device; and receiving input from a user indicating that the service is not required; Contains method. Paragraph 7. The method of Paragraph 6, comprising: the input from the user indicates that one or more terms and conditions applicable to use of the service are not acceptable to the user; method. Paragraph 8. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 7, sending a registration request; the registration request requests registration of the communication device for a service provided via the wireless communication network; An indication to authorize registration of the communications device for the service is transmitted in response to the registration request. method. Paragraph 9. The method of Paragraph 8, comprising: The registration request includes a registration type indication method. Paragraph 10. A method according to paragraphs 8 or 9, comprising: sending a radio resource control (RRC) connection request over the radio access interface before sending the registration request; The registration request is sent in a message related to the RRC connection. method. Paragraph 11. The method of Paragraph 10, comprising: The message related to the RRC connection is an RRC connection setup complete message. method. Paragraph 12. The method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 11, comprising: Before a user plane connection to a core network is established, a denial of service indication is sent to an entity of said core network using the control plane, indicating that service is not required. method. Paragraph 13. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 12, comprising: receiving a network restriction indication; selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication; Including, The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including the cells of the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 14. A method according to Paragraph 13, comprising: prohibiting the communication device from selecting any cell in the category of cells as a serving cell; method. Paragraph 15. A method according to Paragraph 13, comprising: The communication device is characterized in that it is de-prioritized to select any cell within the category of cells as the serving cell. Paragraph 16. The method of any one of Paragraphs 13 to 15, The radio access interface is characterized by a carrier frequency, and the category of cells includes all cells characterized by the carrier frequency. method. Paragraph 17. The method of any one of Paragraphs 13 to 16, said radio access interface is provided according to a radio access technology; The category of cells comprises all cells associated with the wireless communication network for which a radio access interface is provided according to the radio access technology. method. Paragraph 18. The method of any one of Paragraphs 13 to 17, The category of cells includes all cells associated with the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 19. The method of any one of Paragraphs 13 to 18, comprising: The network restriction instruction indicates a period during which the network restriction instruction is applied. method. Paragraph 20. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 19, comprising: receiving a connection release indication indicating that the connection in the current serving cell is to be released; method. Paragraph 21. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 12, comprising: obtaining another service via the wireless access interface. method. Paragraph 22. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 21, comprising: The communication device is associated with a preferred wireless communication network, and the wireless communication network is not the preferred wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 23. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 22, comprising: determining that the service is available over the wireless communication network; selecting the cell based on determining that the service is available over the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 24. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 23, comprising: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is registered for the service. method. Paragraph 25. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 23, comprising: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is conditionally registered for the service. method. Paragraph 26. The method of any one of Paragraphs 1 to 25, comprising: The service is a dynamic service method. Paragraph 27. A method according to Paragraph 26, comprising: The service is provided temporarily method. Paragraph 28. A method according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 27, comprising: The service is provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 29. A method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving, via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network, information relating to services accessible via said cell; receiving a network restriction indication; determining if the service is not requested; selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication if it is determined that the service is not required; Including, The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including cells of the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 30. A method for operating a communications device, comprising: receiving broadcast information transmitted to a cell of a wireless communication network; determining whether a service is provided over the wireless communication network based on the broadcast information; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the service is permitted; receiving information related to the service and determining if the service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that the service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; Including, The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. method. Paragraph 31. A method according to Paragraph 30, comprising: The wireless communication network is not a preferred communication network according to a subscription associated with the communication device. method. Paragraph 32. A method according to Paragraph 30 or Paragraph 31, comprising: Delivered via a dedicated slice of the wireless communications network method. Paragraph 33. A method of operating infrastructure equipment in a wireless communications network, comprising: sending a registration acceptance indication over a radio access interface provided by said infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; receiving a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; Including, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for the service. method. Paragraph 34. A method according to Paragraph 33, comprising: receiving the registration acceptance indication from a core network entity of the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 35. A method according to Paragraph 34, comprising: the registration acceptance indication is in a non-access stratum message method. Paragraph 36. The method of any one of Paragraphs 33 to 35, transmitting information related to the service via the wireless access interface. method. Paragraph 37. A method according to any one of paragraphs 33 to 36, comprising: receiving a registration request from the communication device; the registration request requests registration of the communication device for a service provided via the wireless communication network; An indication to authorize registration of the communications device for the service is transmitted in response to the registration request. method. Paragraph 38. A method according to Paragraph 37, comprising: receiving a radio resource control (RRC) connection request from the communication device via the radio access interface before receiving the registration request; The registration request is sent within a message associated with the RRC connection request. method. Paragraph 39. A method according to any one of Paragraphs 33 to 38, comprising: sending a first network restriction indication to the communication device; The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including cells of the wireless communication network. method. Paragraph 40. A method according to Paragraph 39, comprising: receiving a second network restriction indication from the core network entity; The first network instruction is generated based on the second network restriction instruction. method. Paragraph 41. A method according to any one of Paragraphs 33 to 40, comprising: In response to receiving the service denial indication, sending an indication to a core network entity of the wireless communication network indicating that the service is not requested. method. Paragraph 42. A method according to Paragraph 41, comprising: The step of sending the indication to the core network entity includes forwarding the denial of service indication to the core network entity. method. Paragraph 43. A method of operating a core network entity in a wireless communication network, comprising: determining that a communication device is authorized to access a service via the wireless communication network; transmitting a network restriction indication to infrastructure equipment in response to determining that the communications device does not have a request to access the service; Including, The network restriction indication indicates whether the communication device is permitted to select a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell. method. 44. The method of paragraph 43, comprising: and upon determining that the communication device is authorized to access the service via the wireless communication network, transmitting information related to the service to infrastructure equipment for transmission to the communication device. method. Paragraph 45. A method according to paragraph 43 or 44, comprising: determining whether the service is a dynamic service. method. Paragraph 46. A method according to Paragraph 45, comprising: The step of transmitting the network restriction indication is in response to the step of determining whether the service is a dynamic service. method. Paragraph 47. Circuitry for a communications device operating in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving a registration acceptance indication via the wireless access interface; determining whether the service is requested; Responsive to the step of determining whether the service is not requested, transmitting a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested. It can operate as follows: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service. Circuits for communication devices. Paragraph 48. A communications device for operating in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving a registration acceptance indication via the wireless access interface; determining whether the service is requested; Responsive to the step of determining whether the service is not requested, transmitting a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested. It can operate as follows: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service. Communication devices. Paragraph 49. A circuit for a communication device operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving, via the radio access interface, information relating to services accessible via the cell; Receive a network restriction instruction, determining whether the service is requested; and selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication in response to the step of determining if the service is not requested. It can operate as follows: The network restriction indication indicates a category of a cell. Circuits for communication devices. Paragraph 50. A communications device for operating in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving, via the radio access interface, information relating to services accessible via the cell; Receive a network restriction instruction, determining whether the service is requested; and selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication in response to the step of determining if the service is not requested. It can operate as follows: The network restriction indication indicates a category of a cell. Communication devices. Paragraph 51. A circuit for a communication device operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving broadcast information transmitted within the cell; determining whether a service is provided over the wireless communication network based on the broadcast information; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the service is permitted; receiving information related to the service and determining whether the service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that the service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. Circuits for communication devices. Paragraph 52. A communications device for operating in a wireless communications network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving broadcast information transmitted within the cell; determining whether a service is provided over the wireless communication network based on the broadcast information; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the service is permitted; receiving information related to the service and determining whether the service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that the service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. Communication devices. Paragraph 53. Infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communication network to provide a radio access interface for communication with communication devices in a cell, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to the communication device via the wireless access interface; a receiver configured to receive a signal from the communication device; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the infrastructure device to: sending a registration acceptance indication via the radio access interface within a cell of the wireless communication network; receiving a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; It can operate as follows: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is authorized to be registered for the service. Infrastructure equipment. Paragraph 54. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network to provide a radio access interface for communicating with communication devices within a cell, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal to the communication device via the wireless access interface; a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal from the communication device; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to: sending a registration acceptance indication via the radio access interface within a cell of the wireless communication network; receiving a service denial indication indicating that the service is not requested; It can operate as follows: The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is authorized to be registered for the service. Infrastructure equipment circuits. Paragraph 55. Apparatus for operating as a core network entity for a wireless communications network, comprising: a memory and a processor; the memory stores computer-readable instructions; The computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the device to: determining whether a communication device is authorized to access a service via the wireless communication network; determining whether the communication device is requesting access to the service; and If it is determined that the communication device does not request access to the service, sending a network restriction instruction to infrastructure equipment. Execute the action, The network restriction indication indicates whether the communication device is allowed to select a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell. Device.

[0185] Further particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims, with it being understood that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving a registration acceptance indication via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; determining whether any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network are requested; in response to determining whether the optional service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the optional service is not requested; receiving, via the wireless access interface, information related to the service; determining that the service is not required based on the information; the registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service; The information related to the service is received in one or more broadcast messages. method.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, Such information includes one or more terms and conditions applicable to the use of any such service. method.

3. 10. The method of claim 1, determining based on the information that any service is not required, presenting the information to a user of the communication device; and receiving input from a user indicating that the service is not required; Contains method.

4. 10. The method of claim 1, sending a registration request; the registration request requests registration of the communication device for the any service provided via the wireless communication network; An indication to authorize registration of the communication device for the optional service is transmitted in response to the registration request. method.

5. The method according to claim 4, The registration request includes a registration type indication method.

6. The method according to claim 4, sending a radio resource control (RRC) connection request over the radio access interface before sending the registration request; The registration request is sent within a message related to the RRC connection. method.

7. The method according to claim 6, The message related to the RRC connection is an RRC connection setup complete message. method.

8. 10. The method of claim 1, Before a user plane connection to a core network is established, a denial of service indication is sent to an entity of the core network using a control plane, indicating that the any service is not required. method.

9. 10. The method of claim 1, receiving a network restriction indication; selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication; Including, The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including the cells of the wireless communication network. method.

10. The method according to claim 9, prohibiting the communication device from selecting any cell in the category of cells as a serving cell; method.

11. The method of claim 9, The communication device deprioritizes any cell within the category of cells to select as a serving cell. method.

12. The method of claim 9, The radio access interface is characterized by a carrier frequency, and the category of cells includes all cells characterized by the carrier frequency. method.

13. The method of claim 9, said radio access interface is provided according to a radio access technology; The category of cells comprises all cells associated with the wireless communication network for which a radio access interface is provided according to the radio access technology. method.

14. The method of claim 9, The category of cells includes all cells associated with the wireless communication network. method.

15. The method of claim 9, The network restriction instruction indicates a period during which the network restriction instruction is applied. method.

16. 10. The method of claim 1, receiving a connection release indication indicating that the connection in the current serving cell is to be released; method.

17. 10. The method of claim 1, obtaining another service via the wireless access interface. method.

18. 10. The method of claim 1, The communication device is associated with a preferred wireless communication network, and the wireless communication network is not the preferred wireless communication network. method.

19. 10. The method of claim 1, determining that the optional service is available over the wireless communication network; selecting the cell based on determining that the any service is available over the wireless communication network. method.

20. 10. The method of claim 1, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is registered for the optional service. method.

21. 10. The method of claim 1, The registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is conditionally registered for the optional service. method.

22. 10. The method of claim 1, Any of the services is a dynamic service method.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising: Any of the above services are provided temporarily method.

24. 1. A method of operating a communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising: receiving, via a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment in a cell of the wireless communication network, information related to any service provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network; receiving a network restriction indication; determining whether any of the services are requested; selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication if it is determined that the optional service is not required; Including, The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including cells of the wireless communication network. method.

25. 1. A method for operating a communications device, comprising: receiving broadcast information transmitted to a cell of a wireless communication network; determining, based on the broadcast information, whether any services are provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the any service is permitted; receiving information related to the optional service and determining whether the optional service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that the optional service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; Including, The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. method.

26. The method of claim 25, The wireless communication network is not a preferred communication network according to a subscription associated with the communication device. method.

27. 1. A method of operating infrastructure equipment in a wireless communications network, comprising: sending a registration acceptance indication over a radio access interface provided by said infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; receiving a service denial indication indicating that any service provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network is not requested; receiving the registration acceptance indication from a core network entity of the wireless communication network; the registration acceptance indication indicates that the communications device is available to register for the given service; the registration acceptance indication is in a non-access stratum message method.

28. The method of claim 27, receiving the registration acceptance indication from a core network entity of the wireless communication network. method.

29. The method of claim 28, the registration acceptance indication is in a non-access stratum message method.

30. The method of claim 27, transmitting information relating to said optional service via said wireless access interface. method.

31. The method of claim 27, receiving a registration request from the communication device; the registration request requests registration of the communication device for any service provided via the wireless communication network; An indication to authorize registration of the communication device for the optional service is transmitted in response to the registration request. method.

32. The method of claim 31, receiving a radio resource control (RRC) connection request from the communication device via the radio access interface before receiving the registration request; The registration request is sent within a message associated with the RRC connection request. method.

33. The method of claim 27, comprising: sending a first network restriction indication to the communication device; The network restriction indication indicates a category of cells, the category of cells including cells of the wireless communication network. method.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising: receiving a second network restriction indication from the core network entity; The first network instruction is generated based on the second network restriction instruction. method.

35. The method of claim 27, In response to receiving the service denial indication, sending an indication to a core network entity of the wireless communication network indicating that the any service is not requested. method.

36. The method of claim 35, The step of sending the indication to the core network entity includes forwarding the denial of service indication to the core network entity. method.

37. 1. A method of operating a core network entity in a wireless communication network, comprising: determining that a communication device is authorized to access any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network; transmitting a network restriction indication to infrastructure equipment in response to determining that the communications device does not have a request to access the optional service; Including, The network restriction indication indicates whether the communication device is permitted to select a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell. method.

38. The method of claim 37, and upon determining that the communication device is authorized to access the given service via the wireless communication network, transmitting information related to the given service to infrastructure equipment for transmission to the communication device. method.

39. The method of claim 38, comprising: determining whether the any service is a dynamic service. method.

40. The method of claim 39, The step of transmitting the network restriction indication is in response to the step of determining whether the given service is the dynamic service. method.

41. 1. A circuit for a communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving a registration acceptance indication via the wireless access interface; determining whether any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network are requested; In response to determining whether the optional service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the optional service is not requested; Operable to receive, via said wireless access interface, information relating to said any service; the registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service; The information related to the service is received in one or more broadcast messages. Circuits for communication devices.

42. 1. A communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving a registration acceptance indication via the wireless access interface; determining whether any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network are requested; In response to determining whether the optional service is not requested, sending a service denial indication indicating that the optional service is not requested; receiving information related to the given service via the wireless access interface; It can operate as follows: Determining that the service is not required is based on the information, the registration acceptance indication indicates that the communication device is available to register for a service; The information related to the service is received in one or more broadcast messages. Communication devices.

43. 1. A circuit for a communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving, via the radio access interface, information relating to any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network and accessible via the cell; Receive a network restriction instruction, determining whether the optional service is not requested; and selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication in response to the step of determining whether any service is requested. It can operate as follows: The network restriction indication indicates a category of a cell. Circuits for communication devices.

44. 1. A communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving, via the radio access interface, information relating to any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network and accessible via the cell; Receive a network restriction instruction, determining whether the optional service is not requested; and selecting a cell in accordance with the network restriction indication in response to the step of determining whether any service is requested. It can operate as follows: The network restriction indication indicates a category of a cell. Communication devices.

45. 1. A circuit for a communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of the wireless communication network; a receiver circuit configured to receive signals via the wireless access interface; a controller circuit configured to control the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit; Equipped with The controller circuitry is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving broadcast information transmitted within the cell; determining, based on the broadcast information, whether any service provided via a dedicated slice configured within the wireless communication network is provided via the wireless communication network; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the any service is permitted; receiving information related to the optional service and determining whether the optional service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that said optional service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. Circuits for communication devices.

46. 1. A communication device for operating in a wireless communication network, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a signal over a radio access interface provided by infrastructure equipment within a cell of said wireless communication network; a receiver configured to receive a signal via the wireless access interface; a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver; Equipped with The controller is configured to configure the communication device to: receiving broadcast information transmitted within the cell; determining, based on the broadcast information, whether any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network are provided; selecting a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell; receiving an indication in the cell that registration of the any service is permitted; receiving information related to the optional service and determining whether the optional service is requested; sending a rejection indication indicating that said optional service is not requested; receiving a network restriction instruction transmitted in response to the rejection instruction; The network restriction indication indicates that the communication device is not authorized to select the cell as a serving cell. Communication devices.

47. 1. An apparatus for operating as a core network entity for a wireless communication network, comprising: a memory and a processor; the memory stores computer-readable instructions; The computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the device to: determining whether a communication device is authorized to access any services provided via a dedicated slice configured in the wireless communication network; determining whether the communication device has requested access to any of the services; and If it is determined that the communication device does not request access to the optional service, sending a network restriction instruction to infrastructure equipment. Execute the action, The network restriction indication indicates whether the communication device is allowed to select a cell of the wireless communication network as a serving cell. Device.

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