# US 11,115,915 B2 · Network selection method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,115,915 B2 - Document ID: US11115915B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/401,457 - Filed: 2019-05-02 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-03 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chong Lou; Mingzeng Dai; Rui Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11115915B2 ## CPC - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A network selection method and an apparatus are provided, so that a core network to be accessed by next-generation UE via an eLTE eNB can be determined. The method includes: a terminal device receives a first message from a radio access network device, wherein the first message carries access reference information, and generates first information based on the access reference information, wherein the first information indicating that the terminal device requests to access a first network, and sends a second message to the radio access network device, wherein the second message carries the first information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network selection method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, a first message from a radio access network device, wherein the first message carries access reference information; generating, by the terminal device, a first information based on the access reference information, wherein the first information indicates that the terminal device requests to access a first network; sending, by the terminal device, a second message to the radio access network device, wherein the second message carries the first information; determining, by a first non-access stratum of the terminal device, that the terminal device requests to access the first network; sending, by the first non-access stratum of the terminal device, a first indication to an access stratum of the terminal device, wherein the first indication comprises any one or any combination of the following information: a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), radio access technology information corresponding to the selected PLMN, core network type information, or a list of equivalent PLMNs, and the core network type information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: selected core network type information, accessible core network type information, or information about accessible types of core networks arranged in a priority order, wherein a function of the first non-access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: PLMN selection, cell selection/reselection, or core network type selection; obtaining, by the access stratum of the terminal device, the access reference information; and searching, by the access stratum of the terminal device, for a suitable cell according to the first indication, and, camping, by the terminal device, on the suitable cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a function of the access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: measurement, receiving of system information, and information exchange with the first non-access stratum of the terminal device and/or another non-access stratum of the terminal device, and the access stratum of the terminal device comprises a radio resource control (RRC) protocol layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising: obtaining, by the access stratum of the terminal device, the access reference information; and sending, by the access stratum of the terminal device, all or a part of content comprised in the access reference information to the first non-access stratum of the terminal device, to assist the first non-access stratum of the terminal device in determining the first indication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising: generating, by a second non-access stratum of the terminal device, the first information, wherein the first information indicating that the terminal device requests to access the first network, wherein the second non-access stratum of the terminal device is configured to transmit non-radio signaling between the terminal device and a core network device in the first network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the access reference information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: cell barred information, radio access network information, base station information, core network information, core network load information, core network service support capability information, or information about a type of a slice supported by a core network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the core network information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5th generation core (5GC), and an EPC and a 5GC; and when the first message comprises a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the access reference information comprises core network information corresponding to each of the plurality of PLMNs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second message is a radio resource control (RRC) message, and comprises core network type information of the first network, the core network type information is used by the radio access network device to send the first information to a first core network device, and the first core network device belongs to the first network. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for a terminal device, comprising: an interface circuitry, configured to receive a first message from a radio access network device, wherein the first message carries access reference information; a processor, configured to generate a first information based on the access reference information received by the interface circuitry, wherein the first information indicates that the terminal device requests to access a first network; and the interface circuitry, configured to send a second message to the radio access network device, wherein the second message carries the first information, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, for a first non-access stratum of the terminal device, that the terminal device requests to access the first network and send a first indication to an access stratum of the terminal device, wherein the first indication comprises any one or any combination of the following information: a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), radio access technology information corresponding to the selected PLMN, core network type information, or a list of equivalent PLMNs, and the core network type information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: selected core network type information, accessible core network type information, or information about accessible types of core networks arranged in a priority order, wherein a function of the first non-access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: PLMN selection, cell selection/reselection, or core network type selection, and for the access stratum of the terminal device, obtain the access reference information, search for a suitable cell according to the first indication, and camp on the suitable cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a function of the access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: measurement, receiving of system information, and information exchange with the first non-access stratum of the terminal device and/or another non-access stratum of the terminal device, and the access stratum of the terminal device comprises a radio resource control (RRC) protocol layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, the processor is further configured to, for the access stratum of the terminal device, obtain the access reference information and send all or a part of content of the access reference information to the first non-access stratum of the terminal device, to assist the first non-access stratum of the terminal device in determining the first indication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: the processor is further configured to generate, for a second non-access stratum of the terminal device, the first information, wherein the first information indicating that the terminal device requests to access the first network, wherein the interface circuitry is further configured to, for the second non-access stratum of the terminal device, transmit non-radio signaling between the terminal device and a core network device in the first network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the access reference information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: cell barred information, radio access network information, base station information, core network information, core network load information, core network service support capability information, or information about a type of a slice supported by a core network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the core network information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5th generation core (5GC), and an EPC and a 5GC; and when the first message comprises a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the access reference information comprises core network information corresponding to each of the plurality of PLMNs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second message is a radio resource control (RRC) message, and comprises core network type information of the first network, the core network type information is used by the radio access network device to send the first information to a first core network device, and the first core network device belongs to the first network. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising one or more stored instructions, and the one or more stored instructions are executed by a terminal device for performing operations comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, a first message from a radio access network device, wherein the first message carries access reference information; generating, by the terminal device, a first information based on the access reference information, wherein the first information indicates that the terminal device requests to access a first network; sending, by the terminal device, a second message to the radio access network device, wherein the second message carries the first information; determining, by a first non-access stratum of the terminal device, that the terminal device requests to access the first network; and sending, by the first non-access stratum of the terminal device, a first indication to an access stratum of the terminal device, wherein the first indication comprises any one or any combination of the following information: a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), radio access technology information corresponding to the selected PLMN, core network type information, or a list of equivalent PLMNs, and the core network type information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: selected core network type information, accessible core network type information, or information about accessible types of core networks arranged in a priority order, wherein a function of the first non-access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: PLMN selection, cell selection/reselection, or core network type selection; obtaining, by the access stratum of the terminal device, the access reference information; and searching, by the access stratum of the terminal device, for a suitable cell according to the first indication, and, camping, by the terminal device, on the suitable cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein a function of the access stratum of the terminal device comprises one or more of the following functions: measurement, receiving of system information, and information exchange with the first non-access stratum of the terminal device and/or another non-access stratum of the terminal device, and the access stratum of the terminal device comprises a radio resource control (RRC) protocol layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein when the one or more instructions are executed, the terminal device performs the operations comprising: obtaining, by the access stratum of the terminal device, the access reference information; and sending, by the access stratum of the terminal device, all or a part of content comprised in the access reference information to the first non-access stratum of the terminal device, to assist the first non-access stratum of the terminal device in determining the first indication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein when the one or more instructions are executed, the terminal device performs the operations comprising: generating, by a second non-access stratum of the terminal device, the first information, wherein the first information indicating that the terminal device requests to access the first network, wherein the second non-access stratum of the terminal device is configured to transmit non-radio signaling between the terminal device and a core network device in the first network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the access reference information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: cell barred information, radio access network information, base station information, core network information, core network load information, core network service support capability information, or information about a type of a slice supported by a core network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the core network information comprises any one or any combination of the following information: an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5th generation core (5GC), and an EPC and a 5GC; and when the first message comprises a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the access reference information comprises core network information corresponding to each of the plurality of PLMNs.