Network Slice Usage Control with UE Inactivity Timer Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

The behavior of user equipment (UE) is undefined when the slice deregistration inactivity timer is running and the UE is switched off or the Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) is removed, leading to undefined network slice usage control.

Innovation Solution

A method is provided to define UE behavior by starting, stopping, or resetting the slice deregistration inactivity timer based on the UE's state (e.g., 5GMM-DEREGISTERED state, USIM removal, or power off) and managing the Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the slice deregistration inactivity timer is running and the UE is switched off or the NSSAI is removed, then the network slice usage control is maintained, but the UE behavior becomes undefined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice usage controlVSAvoidUE behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by defining the UE behavior in advance for scenarios where the slice deregistration inactivity timer is running and the UE is switched off or the NSSAI is removed. The specification preemptively establishes that the UE shall stop the timer upon entering 5GMM-DEREGISTERED state, thereby eliminating undefined behavior before it occurs and ensuring reliable network slice usage control is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the slice deregistration inactivity timer is stopped when UE enters 5GMM-DEREGISTERED state, then the timer management is improved, but the network slice selection may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetimer managementVSAvoidnetwork slice selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanism where the UE monitors its own state and provides feedback by stopping the slice deregistration inactivity timer when entering 5GMM-DEREGISTERED state. This feedback loop ensures proper timer management while maintaining network slice selection reliability, as the timer is stopped only when the UE is indeed deregistered and cannot establish new PDU sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250294496A1Method based on network slice usage control and user equipment using the same

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 MEDIATEK SINGAPORE PTE LTD

AI summary

A method based on a network slice usage control and a user equipment (UE) are provided. The method based on the network slice usage control comprises the following steps. A slice deregistration inactivity timer is started when there is no established Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session. The slice deregistration inactivity timer is stopped when a user equipment (UE) enters a 5th Generation Mobility Management DEREGISTERED (5GMM-DEREGISTERED) state, and the slice deregistration inactivity timer is running.