URSP HANDLING FOR CREDENTIALS HOLDER SCENARIOS

A method of handling UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules received from a non-subscribed Stand-alone Non-public Network (SNPN) registered using credentials from a credentials holder (CH) is provided. UE may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network or UE may first registers to a home network and obtain signaled URSP rules from the home network. Later on, UE may register to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a CH. Before establishing a PDU session, UE checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, then UE can use URSP rules in the following priority order: 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules signaled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to wireless mobile communication network, and, more particularly, to method of provisioning and handling of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) for UEs registered in a non-subscribed Stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) using credentials from a credentials holder (CH).

BACKGROUND

A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) is a network established and operated by an administration or recognized operating agency (ROA) for the specific purpose of providing land mobile communication services to the public. PLMN provides communication possibilities for mobile users. A PLMN may provide service in one or a combination of frequency bands. Access to PLMN services is achieved by means of an air interface involving radio communications between mobile phones and base stations with integrated IP network services. One PLMN may include multiple radio access networks (RAN) utilizing different radio access technologies (RAT) for accessing mobile services. A radio access network is part of a mobile communication system, which implements a radio access technology. Conceptually, RAN resides between a mobile device and provides connection with its core network (CN). Depending on the standard, mobile phones and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, mobile stations (MS), etc. Examples of different RATs include 2G GERAN (GSM) radio access network, 3G UTRAN (UMTS) radio access network, 4G E-UTRAN (LTE), 5G new radio (NR) radio access network, and other non-3GPP access RAT including WiFi.

As compared to PLMN, a non-public network (NPN) is a 5GS deployed network for non-public use. An NPN is either a Stand-alone Non-Public Network (SNPN), i.e., operated by an NPN operator and not relying on network functions provided by a PLMN; or a Public Network Integrated NPN (PNI-NPN), i.e., a non-public network deployed with the support of a PLMN. The combination of a PLMN ID and Network identifier (NID) identifies an SNPN. A UE may be enabled for SNPN. The UE selects an SNPN for which it is configured with a subscriber identifier and credentials. The UE can have several sets of subscriber identifers, credentials, and SNPN identities.

The 5G system enables an NPN to request a third-party service provider to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the third-party service provider. The 5G system enables an NPN to request a PLMN to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the PLMN. A 5G system enables an SNPN to be able to request another SNPN (third-party service provider) to perform SNPN authentication of a NE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the other SNPN (the third-party service provider). Specifically, an. SNPN-enabled UE can support access to an SNPN using credentials from a credential holder (CH).

UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) is used by the UE to determine how to route outgoing traffic. HPLMN or SNPN provision the UE with the URSP rules by pre-configuration or by signaling when UE registers to HPLMN/VPLMN or when UE registers to the SNPN to which UE has subscription to register. UE uses those URSP rules to establish the PDU sessions for the applications for accessing services. However, it is unclear on how to provision NRSP rules to UE under CH scenarios, i.e., when UE accesses an SNPN using credentials from CH. Therefore, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application after UE accesses and registers to an SNPN using credentials from CH, no URSP rules are found to be used.

Further, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN, NE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled NRSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. When. UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the SNPN(s), 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the SNPN(s), 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. However there is no order specified for UE to use URSP rules provided by the registered non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH.

Solutions are sought.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one novel aspect, a method of provisioning UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules received from a non-subscribed Stand-alone Non-public Network (SNPN) registered using credentials from a credentials holder (CH) is provided. After a UE register to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from the CH, the UE may establish a PDU session for accessing services in the SNPN. Prior to establishing the PDU session, the UE checks the correspondin URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If the UE is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, UE should store the URSP rules and then apply those URSP rules for PDU session establishment when the UE access the services in the non-subscribed SNPN.

In one embodiment, a UE selects a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE is enabled to access to the non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) using credentials from a credentials holder. The UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using the credentials supplied by the credentials holder. The UE receives a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from the non-subscribed SNPN. The UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules from the non-subscribed SNPN.

In accordance with another novel aspect, a method of handling URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided. UE may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network or UE may first registers to a home network and obtain signaled URSP rules from the home network. Later on, UE may register to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a CH. Before establishing a PDU session, UE checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, then UE can use URSP rules in the following priority order: 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules g aled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network.

In another embodiment, a UE obtains a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a credentials holder. The UE maintains a second set of URSP rules from a home network by the UE. The UE determines that the first set of URSP rules has a higher priority than the second set of URSP rules. The UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules obtained from the non-subscribed SNPN.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1schematically shows a communication system having a Stand-alone Non-public Network (SNPN)110and an SNPN-enabled User Equipment (UE)111that supports access to an SNPN using credentials from a Credentials Holder (CH) and UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) provisioning and handling in accordance with one novel aspect. SNPN network110comprises control plane functionalities, user plane functionality (UPF), and application servers that provides various services by communicating with a plurality of user equipments (UEs) including UE111. UE111and its serving base station gNB112belong to part of a radio access network RAN130. RAN130provides radio access for UE111via a radio access technology (RAT), e.g., 3GPP access and non-3GPP access. An access and mobility management function (AMF) in SNPN110communicates with gNB112. UE111may be equipped with a radio frequency (RF) transceiver or multiple RF transceivers for different application services via different RATs.

The 5G system enables an NPN to request a third-party service provider to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the third-party service provider. The 5G system enables an NPN to request a PLMN to perform NPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the PLMN. A 5G system enables an SNPN to be able to request another SNPN (third-party service provider) to perform SNPN authentication of a UE based on identities and/or credentials supplied by the other SNPN (the third-party service provider). Specifically, an SNPN-enabled UE can support access to an. SNPN using credentials from a credentials holder (CH). Such UE can be configured with “a list of subscriber data” containing one or more entries. Each entry of the list consists of SNPN selection parameters for the purpose of access to an. SNPN using credentials from the CH.

UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) is used by the UE to determine how to route outgoing traffic. HPLMN or SNPN provision the UE with the URSP rules by pre-configuration or by signaling when UE registers to HPLMN/VPLMN or when UE registers to the SNPN to which UE has subscription to register. UE uses those URSP rules to establish the PDU sessions for the applications for accessing services. However, it is unclear on how to provision URSP rules to UE under CH scenarios, i.e., when. UE accesses a non-subscribed. SNPN using credentials from CH. Therefore, when UE wants to establish PDU session for the application after UE accesses and registers to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH, sometimes no URSP rules are found to be used by the UE.

In accordance with one novel aspect, a method of provisioning URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided (150). After UE111registers to the non-subscribed SNPN110using credentials from a CH, UE111may establish a PDU session for accessi-ng services in the SNPN. Prior to establishing the PDU session, UE111checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE111is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, UE111should store the URSP rules and then apply those URSP rules for PDU session establishment.

When UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled. URSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. When UE wants to establish. PDU session for the application in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the SNPN(s), 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the SNPN(s), 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled URSP rules are found. However, there is no order specified for UE to use URSP rules provided by the registered non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH.

In accordance with another novel aspect, a method of handling URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from a CH is provided (160). UE111may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network or UE111may first registers to a home network and obtain signaled URSP rules from the home network. Later on, UE111may register to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a CH. Before establishing a PDU session, UE111checks the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in the SNPN. If UE111is signaled with URSP rules by the registered non-subscribed SNPN, then UE111can use URSP rules in the following priority order (170): 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules signaled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network. The home network can be a PLMN or another subscribed SNPN.

FIG.2illustrates simplified block diagrams of wireless devices, e.g., a UE201and network entity211in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Network entity211may be a base station combined with an MME or AMF. Network entity211has an antenna215, which transmits and receives radio signals. A radio frequency RF transceiver module214, coupled with the antenna, receives RF signals from antenna215, converts them to baseband signals and sends them to processor213. RF transceiver214also converts received baseband signals from processor213, converts them to RF signals, and sends out to antenna215. Processor213processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to perform features in base station211. Memory212stores program instructions and data220to control the operations of base station211. In the example ofFIG.2, network entity211also includes a set of control functional modules and circuit290. Registration circuit231handles registration and mobility procedure. Session management circuit232handles session management functionalities. Configuration and control circuit233provides different parameters to configure and control UE.

Similarly, UE201has memory202, a processor203, and radio frequency (RF) transceiver module204. RF transceiver204is coupled with antenna205, receives RF signals from antenna205, converts them to baseband signals, and sends them to processor203. RF transceiver204also converts received baseband signals from processor203, converts them to RF signals, and sends out to antenna205. Processor203processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules and circuits to perform features in UE201. Memory202stores data and program instructions210to be executed by the processor to control the operations of UE201. Suitable processors include, by way of example, a special purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of micro-processors, one or more micro-processor associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), file programmable gate array (FPGA) circuits, and other type of integrated circuits (ICs), and/or state machines. A processor in associated with software may be used to implement and configure features of UE201.

UE201also comprises a set of functional modules and control circuits to carry out functional tasks of UE201. Protocol stacks260comprise Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) layer to communicate with an MME or an AMF entity connecting to the core network, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer for high layer configuration and control, Packet Data Convergence Protocol/Radio Link Control (PDCP/RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical (PHY) layer. System modules and circuits270may be implemented and configured by software, firmware, hardware, and/or combination thereof. The function modules and circuits, when executed by the processors via program instructions contained in the memory, interwork with each other to allow UE201to perform embodiments and functional tasks and features in the network. In one example, system modules and circuits270comprise registration circuit221that performs registration and mobility procedure with the network, a PDU session and URSP handling circuit222that handles PDU session establishment procedure, the URSP provisioning, priority, and rule matching, and a config and control circuit223that handles configuration and control parameters related to SNPN selection, registration, and URSP rule managing, etc.

FIG.3illustrates the content of a URSP rule as defined in3GPP specification and URSP rule provisioning and handling in accordance with one novel aspect. URSP is defined as a set of one or more URSP rules. As depicted by Table300, each URSP rule is composed of: 1) a precedence value of the URSP rule identifying the precedence of the URSP rule among all the existing URSP rules; 2) a traffic descriptor; and 3) one or more route selection descriptors. The traffic descriptor includes either 1) a match-all traffic descriptor; or 2) at least one of the following components: A) one or more application identifiers; B) one or more IP 3 tuples, i.e., the destination IP address, the destination port number, and the protocol used above the IP; C) one or more non-IP descriptors, i.e., destination information of non-IP traffic; D) one or more DNNs; E) one or more connection capabilities; and F) one or more domain descriptors, i.e., destination FQDN(s). Each route selection descriptor includes a precedence value of the route selection descriptor and either 1) one PDU session type and, optionally, one or more of the followings: A) SSC mode; B) one or more S-NSSAIs; C) one or more DNNs; D) preferred access type; and E) multi-access preference; or 2) non-seamless non-3GPP offload indication. Only one URSP rule in the URSP can be a default URSP rule and the default URSP rule should contain a match-all traffic descriptor. If a default URSP rule (i.e., a URSP rule with the “match all” Traffic descriptor) and one or more non-default URSP rules (i.e., URSP rules without the “match all” Traffic descriptor) are included in the URSP, any non-default URSP rule should have lower precedence value (i.e., higher priority) than the default URSP rule.

When UE wants to establish PDU session for the application in the PLMN or in the SNPN, UE uses URSP rules by the order: 1) Signaled URSP rules provided by PCF of the PLMN or SNPN, 2) Pre-configured URSP rules provided by the PLMN or SNPN, and 3) Local configuration if neither pre-configured URSP rules nor signaled. URSP rules are found. When. UE is registered to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials provided by a CH, UE may receive URSP provisioning that is signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN. In response, UE will store the signaled URSP rules to be used later (310), e.g., when establishing a PDU session in the non subscribed SNPN. Further, if UE is provisioned with other URSP rules from the home network, then UE can use URSP rules in the following priority order (320): 1) URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN, 2) URSP rules signaled from the home network, and 3) URSP rules pre-configured by the home network.

FIG.4illustrates an embodiment of a UE401supporting access to a non-subscribed SNPN402using credentials from a credential holder and corresponding URSP provisioning in accordance with one novel aspect. In step411, UE401obtains configuration of a list of subscriber data, e.g., configured by the network. UE401selects a non-subscribed SNPN402according to an SNPN selection procedure. In step421, UE401sends a registration request message to the selected non-subscribed SNPN402. The UE uses credentials supplied by the credential holder, which is either a PLMN or another SNPN, for the registration. In step422, upon verifying the registration credentials, UE401receives a registration accept and is successfully registered to SNPN402.

After UE401successfully registers to the non-subscribed SNPN402, the UE may want to establish a PDU Session for accessing the services in the SNPN402(431). Before UE401starts to establish a PDU Session in the non-subscribed SNPN, the UE needs to check the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in this non-subscribed SNPN (432). In step441, UE401receives URSP configuration, e.g., a set of URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN402. Accordingly, UE401stores the URSP rules. In step451, UE401establishes a PDU session based on the stored URSP rules that is signaled by the non-subscribed SNPN402. Note that traditionally, UE may reject URSP rules received from a non-subscribed SNPN. However, when the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from CH, the UE is considered as subscriber of the registered non-subscribed SNPN. Furthermore, the non-subscribed SNPN should have entire view on which services can be accessed by the UE than UE home network in the non-subscribed SNPN. Therefore, the URSP rules provisioned by the non-subscribed SNPN should be more suitable than those provisioned by UE home network.

FIG.5illustrates an embodiment of a UE supporting access to an SNPN using credentials from a credential holder and corresponding URSP handling in accordance with one novel aspect. In Step510, UE501may be pre-configured with URSP rules by UE home network. In step511, UE501registers to a home network, and obtains/stores URSP configuration, e.g., URSP rules signaled from the home network. In step521, UE501selects a non-subscribed SNPN based on SNPN selection procedure and registers to a non-subscribed SNPN using credentials provided by a credentials holder. UE501also obtains/stores URSP configuration, e.g., URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN. After UE501successfully registers to this non-subscribed SNPN, UE501may want to establish a PDU Session for accessing the services in the SNPN (531).

Before UE501starts to establish a PDU Session in the non-subscribed SNPN, UE501needs to check the corresponding URSP rules that can be used in this non-subscribed SNPN. The URSP rules stored in the UE can be any of the following: A) pre-configured by UE Home Network, B) signaled by UE Home Network, and/or C) signaled by the non-subscribed SNPN (532). If the UE has any two of the above URSP rules simultaneously, then the UE needs to follow the order as below: 1) the URSP rules signaled from the non-subscribed SNPN; 2) the URSP rules signaled from the UE Home network; and 3) the pre-configured URSP rules by UE Home network (533). Accordingly, UE501selects the URSP rules with the highest priority. In step541, UE501establishes a PDU session based on the selected URSP rules with the top priority. Since the non-subscribed SNPN have the entire knowledge which services can be available and accessed by the UE, the URSP rules provisioned by the non-subscribed SNPN is more suitable for the UE for access the services provided by the non-subscribed SNPN.

FIG.6is a flow chart of a method of provisioning URSP rules from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from CH in accordance with one novel aspect of the present invention. In step601, a UE selects a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE is enabled to access to the non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) using credentials from a credentials holder. In step602, the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using the credentials supplied by the credentials holder. In step603, the UE receives a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from the non-subscribed SNPN. In step604, the UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules from the non-subscribed SNPN.

FIG.7is a flow chart of a method of handling URSP rules from a non-subscribed SNPN registered using credentials from CH in accordance with one novel aspect of the present invention. In step701, a UE obtains a first set of UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules from a non-subscribed stand-alone non-public network (SNPN), wherein the UE registers to the non-subscribed SNPN using credentials from a credentials holder. In step702, the UE maintains a second set of URSP rules from a home network by the UE. In step703, the UE determines that the first set of URSP rules has a higher priority than the second set of URSP rules. In step704, the UE establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session based on the first set of URSP rules obtained from the non-subscribed SNPN.