Mobile network policy freshness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12483972-B2
Application number	US-202217940449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2022
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for determining mobile network policy freshness. One method includes accessing a first policy associated with a first mobile network, a first policy identifier, and a freshness parameter. The method includes determining, based on the freshness parameter, whether the first policy is fresh. The method includes transmitting a registration message to a second mobile network. The registration message includes the first policy identifier in response to determining that the first policy is not fresh.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for performing a first network function comprising an access and mobility management function (AMF), the apparatus comprising:
at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from a second network function, a first message comprising a user equipment (UE) policy container and a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI);
store, at the AMF, information that indicates an association between the UE policy container and the SUPI; and
transmit, to a UE, a second message comprising the UE policy container, the second message comprising a downlink non-access stratum (NAS) message.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second network function comprises a policy control function (PCF).

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the UE policy container includes a policy identifier, one or more updated UE policies, or any combination thereof.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first message comprises a dedicated message transfer service.

5 . A method for performing a first network function comprising an access and mobility management function (AMF), the method comprising:
receiving, from a second network function, a first message comprising a user equipment (UE) policy container and a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI); storing, at the AMF, information that indicates an association between the UE policy container and the SUPI; and transmitting, to a UE, a second message comprising the UE policy container, the second message comprising a downlink non-access stratum (NAS) message.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second network function comprises a policy control function (PCF).

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the UE policy container includes a policy identifier, one or more updated UE policies, or any combination thereof.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first message comprises a dedicated message transfer service.

9 . An apparatus for performing a second network function comprising a policy control function (PCF), the apparatus comprising:
at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to a first network function comprising an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message comprising a user equipment (UE) policy container and a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), wherein the UE policy container is associated with the SUPI; and
receive, from the first network function, a second message comprising a forwarded response from a UE and associated with the UE policy container, the second message comprising an uplink non-access stratum (NAS) message.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the UE policy container includes a policy identifier, one or more updated UE policies, or any combination thereof.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first message comprises a dedicated message transfer service.

12 . A method for performing a second network function comprising a policy control function (PCF), the method comprising:
transmitting, to a first network function comprising an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message comprising a user equipment (UE) policy container and a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), wherein the UE policy container is associated with the SUPI; and receiving, from the first network function, a second message comprising a forwarded response from a UE and associated with the UE policy container, the second message comprising an uplink non-access stratum (NAS) message.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the UE policy container includes a policy identifier, one or more updated UE policies, or any combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first message comprises a dedicated message transfer service.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Karampatsis Dimitrios
• Salkintzis Apostolis
• Velev Genadi

Classifications

• H04L41/0894 Primary

  Policy-based network configuration management · CPC title

• H04W60/005

  Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming · CPC title

• H04L65/1073

  Registration or de-registration · CPC title

• H04L63/20

  for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227) · CPC title

• H04W60/04

  using triggered events · CPC title