Abstract: The invention relates to methods and device for detecting when a mobile terminal is in a state where it is incapable of replying to a message. In a first aspect of the present invention, it is provided a method of detecting, at a mobility node in a communications network, a state where a mobile terminal is incapable of replying to a message. The method comprises receiving the message from a gateway node, and determining whether the mobile terminal is incapable of replying to the message. Further, the method comprises sending a response to the gateway node indicating that the mobile terminal is not yet capable to reply to the message.

Abstract: A method for operating a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed, wherein the UE is served by a source first network function in a first network and requires to register with a target second network function in a second network. The method comprises generating a registration request with integrity protection for at least a part of the registration request, and sending an integrity protected part of the registration request to the source first network function via the target second network function.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless device according to some embodiments includes transmitting a message toward a core network identifying one or more network slices that are requested to be registered by the wireless device, and receiving a response from the core network. The response indicates whether the one or more network slices have been registered and includes information describing a plurality of lists of network slices. Each of the lists indicates a set of network slices that can be registered simultaneously by the wireless device.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes a User Equipment (UE) determining whether to request access to a Mutually Exclusive Access to Network Slices (MEANS) group from a CM-IDLE state or from a CM-CONNECTED state.

Abstract: A method performed by a wireless device (12). The method comprises performing, over a first cell (14) associated with a public network, a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure in which the wireless device (12) is authenticated as being authorized to access a non-public network. The method also comprises after performing the NAS procedure, receiving from the first cell (14) a mobility command that commands the wireless device (12) to perform a mobility procedure towards a second cell (16) associated with the non-public network.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method in a radio access node and a corresponding radio access node are disclosed. The method comprises: sending, to a mobility function entity, first information indicative of a tracking area(s) and a network slice(s) supported by the radio access node; and receiving, from the mobility function entity, second information indicative of a network slice(s) that are: (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the tracking area(s) supported by the radio access node; or (a) supported by the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the tracking area(s) supported by the radio access node. Embodiments of a method in a mobility function entity and a corresponding mobility function entity are also disclosed.

Abstract: Redirection and retry of registration is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a User Equipment (UE) of a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) is adapted to transmit a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) registration request comprising one or more Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), indicated as one or more requested S-NSSAI. The UE is further adapted to receive, in an Access Stratum (AS) protocol, an AS-level registration reattempt indication to instruct the UE to reattempt the NAS registration request in a target cell. The UE is also adapted to reattempt the NAS registration in the target cell, responsive to receiving the AS-level registration reattempt indication.

Abstract: During PDN connection establishment in the EPC, a UE and a session management entity (SME) (e.g., PGW-C+SMF) exchange information. In case the SME supports more than one S-NSSAI, before the SME provides an S-NSSAI to the UE, the SME should check such that the selected S-NSSAI is among the UE's subscribed S-NSSAIs by retrieving the Subscribed S-NSSAI from a UDM using, for example, the Nudm_SDM_Get service operation.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. In some embodiments, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD) is provided. The network node is configured to indicate, in a System Information Block (SIB) whether a network supports an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) emergency communication service, the indication associated to a network identifier, the network identifier identifying the network. In some embodiments, a wireless device is configured to receive, in a SIB, an indication of whether a network supports an IMS emergency communication service, the indication associated to a network identifier, the network identifier identifying the network; and select a network to initiate an emergency communication service based at least in part on the received indication.

Abstract: A wireless communication network provides wireless access to wireless devices via cells. The network may be a public network or a non-public network, NPN. An NPN may be a standalone NPN that is capable of operating without dependency on a Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN or a Public Network integrated NPN, PNiNPN, that is deployed with the support of a PLMN. A PLMN may dedicate a network slice to the PNiNPN and use a Closed Access Group, CAG, for access control. The invention provides a method performed by a wireless device (12). The method comprises receiving, via a first cell (14) of a public network, secured control plane signaling (26) which indicates one or more security parameters (22) usable by the wireless device (12) to obtain information (18) concealed by a second cell (16) of a non-public network. The concealed information may be an encrypted CAG ID.

Abstract: In one aspect, an MME throttles (or otherwise controls) the amount or frequency of UL data that a UE transmits in the control plane, such as by communicating to the UE rate control information (e.g., a throttling factor or throttling delay). For instance, the MME may throttle NAS messages with user data (i.e., NAS Data PDUs) sent using control plane CIoT EPS optimization by adding a throttling factor and/or a throttling delay in a NAS message sent to the UE.

Abstract: A method for operating a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed, wherein the UE is served by a source first network function in a first network and requires to register with a target second network function in a second network. The method comprises generating a registration request with integrity protection for at least a part of the registration request, and sending an integrity protected part of the registration request to the source first network function via the target second network function.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for ensuring network control of simultaneous access to network slices with application awareness. In one embodiment, a method performed in a cellular communications system comprises, at a wireless communication device, sending, to a Policy and Control Function (PCF) via an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), application identifiers (IDs) of applications used by the wireless communication device and receiving, from the PCF via the AMF, one or more User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules that are based on the application IDs. The method further comprises, at the PCF, obtaining information about one or more mutually exclusive network slices, generating the one or more URSP rules based on the application IDs and the information about the one or more mutually exclusive network slices, and sending the one or more URSP rules to the wireless communication device via the AMF.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes a User Equipment (UE) determining whether to request access to a Mutually Exclusive Access to Network Slices (MEANS) group from a CM-IDLE state or from a CM-CONNECTED state.

Abstract: In one aspect, an MME throttles (or otherwise controls) the amount or frequency of UL data that a UE transmits in the control plane, such as by communicating to the UE rate control information (e.g., a throttling factor or throttling delay). For instance, the MME may throttle NAS messages with user data (i.e., NAS Data PDUs) sent using control plane CIoT EPS optimization by adding a throttling factor and/or a throttling delay in a NAS message sent to the UE.

Abstract: Embodiments here in relate to methods for message handling performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE. Particularly, embodiments herein relate to methods for handling service requests performed by an Access and Mobility Management function, AMF, and a User Equipment, UE, as well as a corresponding AMF and UE.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for resource isolation via associated identifiers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a user equipment (UE) configured with a first identifier and a second identifier includes determining that resources and data associated with the first identifier require end-to-end isolation from the resources and data associated with the second identifier; transmitting a registration message to a network node comprising the first identifier; and if the UE has existing connections associated with the second identifier, releasing the existing connections associated with the second identifier to provide end-to-end isolation of the resources and data when the first identifier is transmitted in the registration message.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node for cell selection to access a network slice on a different frequency than a wireless device, WD, is currently served by is provided. The method includes receiving a service request from the WD, the WD being connected to a first cell, the first cell servicing a first network slice which operates in a first frequency, the requested service to be performed over a second network slice which operates in a second frequency; obtaining policy information relating to the first and the second network slices; determining which one of the first cell and a second cell to perform the requested service based at least in part on the obtained policy information; and providing a session for the WD to receive the requested service over the determined one of the first cell and the second cell.

Abstract: Methods for determining a default network slice are provided. More specifically, the methods include determining a default Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) that identifies the default network slice for establishing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for an application in a wireless device without an S-NSSAI association. Various embodiments for determining the S-NSSAI are also disclosed herein. By determining the default network slice, it is possible to eliminate existing ambiguity associated with establishing a PDU session for application without S-NSSAI association, thus helping to reduce implementation complexity in a wireless device and/or a core network node.

Abstract: A method of operating a core network node in a communication system includes receiving, at a first network function, a registration message from a radio access network node to register a user equipment, UE, and, responsive to the registration message, transmitting a request for information on whether network slices associated with the UE are subject to Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization, NSSAA. Responsive to the request, the method receives a response message including Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAI, information associated with the UE, the S-NSSAI information including NSSAA status information relating to the S-NSSAI information, and determines whether to initiate an NSSAA procedure with the UE based on the S-NSSAI information. Related network nodes are disclosed.