# US 11,122,439 B2 · Network slicing operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,439 B2 - Document ID: US11122439B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/077,684 - Filed: 2017-02-16 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-16 - Assignees: IDAC Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Idac Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Guanzhou Wang; Mahmoud Watfa; Saad Ahmad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122439B2 ## CPC - H04W 16/04: Traffic adaptive resource partitioning - H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services - H04L 69/24: Negotiation of communication capabilities - H04W 8/08: Mobility data transfer - H04W 28/06: Optimizing {the usage of the radio link}, e.g. header compression, information sizing {, discarding information (system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365)} - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W 60/002: {Registration for requesting network slices} - H04W 60/04: using triggered events - H04W 88/14: Backbone network devices - H04L 67/60: Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources (admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70) - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A network control node (Main CTRL or CTRL N) may receive a service request by a WTRU, wherein the service information comprises one or more of a service class, a quality of service (QoS) requirement, or a mobility characteristic. The network control node may determine slice information associated with a plurality of network slices and may select at least a first network slice to serve the WTRU. The network control node may determine whether the network control node or another network control node should service the WTRU for accessing the first network slice. When the network control node determines that the another network control node should service the WTRU for accessing the first network slice, the network control node may send a request to the another network control node that indicates that the another network control node should service the WTRU for accessing the first network slice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method implemented by a network control node for connecting a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to a network slice, the method comprising: the network control node receiving service information associated with a service being requested by the WTRU; the network control node determining, based on subscription information for the WTRU and the received service information, slice information associated with the network slice, wherein the slice information comprises an identifier of the network slice or a service class served by the network slice; and the network control node determining whether the network control node or another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, wherein: on a condition that the network control node determines that the network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, the network control node providing the slice information associated with the network slice to the WTRU, and on a condition that the network control node determines that another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, the network control node sending a request to a second network control node or a third network control node, wherein, if the request is sent to the second network control node, the request indicates that the second network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, and wherein, if the request is sent to the third network control node, the request includes information for the third network control node to select the another network control node to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the service information is received based on a network slice selection policy configured for the WTRU. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the service information is received via a non-access stratum (NAS) message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the request sent to the second network control node includes at least part of the NAS message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the NAS message is a part of a registration request by the WTRU. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the service information indicates one or more of an application quality of service (QoS) requirement, an application type, or a mobility characteristic of the WTRU. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subscription information is retrieved by the network control node from another network entity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network control node determining whether the network control node or another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice comprises the network control node determining whether the network slice is among a set of allowed network slices for the WTRU. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the network control node retrieving, from another network entity, access information regarding the second network control node. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the third network control node comprises a radio access network (RAN) entity. ### Claim 11 A network control node configured to connect a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to a network slice, the network control node comprising: a processor configured to: receive service information associated with a service being requested by the WTRU; determine, based on subscription information for the WTRU and the received service information, slice information associated with the network slice, wherein the slice information comprises an identifier of the network slice, or a service class served by the network slice; and determine whether the network control node or another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, wherein: based on a determination that the network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network shoe, the processor is configured to provide the slice information associated with the network slice to the WTRU, and based on a determination that another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, the processor is configured to send a request to a second network control node or a third network control node, wherein, if the request is sent to the second network control node, the request indicates that the second network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice, and wherein, if the request is sent to the third network control node, the request includes information for the third network control node to select the another network control node to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the service information is received based on a network slice selection policy configured for the WTRU. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the service information is received via a non-access stratum (NAS) message. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The network control node of claim 13, wherein the request sent to the second network control node comprises at least a part of the NAS message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The network control node of claim 13, wherein the NAS message is a part of a registration request by the WTRU. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the service information indicates one or more of an application quality of service (QoS) requirement, an application type, or a mobility characteristic of the WTRU. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the subscription information is retrieved by the network control node from another network entity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the processor being configured to determine whether the network control node or the another network control node is to service the WTRU for accessing the network slice comprises the processor being configured to determine whether the network slice is among a set of allowed network slices for the WTRU. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve, from another network entity, access information regarding the second network control node. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The network control node of claim 11, wherein the third network control node comprises a radio access network (RAN) entity.