# US 11,451,996 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for PLMN rate control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,996 B2 - Document ID: US11451996B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/437,299 - Filed: 2020-03-10 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-11 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Shiyu Yang; Zhiwei Qu; Kaj Johansson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451996B2 ## CPC - H04W 28/02: Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control - H04W 60/04: using triggered events - H04W 8/08: Mobility data transfer - H04W 28/22: Negotiating communication rate - H04W 36/14: Reselecting a network or an air interface - H04W 36/144: {over a different radio air interface technology} - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control. According to an embodiment, a network function determines whether a value of PLMN rate control applicable to a terminal device has been changed. When determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, the network function sends the changed value of PLMN rate control to the terminal device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by a network function comprising: determining whether a value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control applicable to a terminal device has been changed; and after determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, sending the changed value of PLMN rate control to the terminal device, wherein determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed comprises: (i) determining that the terminal device has moved from a first PLMN to a second PLMN, and (ii) determining (a) values of PLMN rate control are differently configured in the network function for the first and second PLMNs or (b) a value of PLMN rate control configured in the network function for the second PLMN is different from that configured in previous network function for the first PLMN. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein whether the value of PLMN rate control has been changed is determined in response to a request for tracking area update (TAU) from the terminal device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a reply for accepting TAU. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is sent in a Downlink non-access stratum (NAS) Transport message, the Downlink NAS Transport message is a request for modifying a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node, and the request for modifying a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node is a Modify evolved packet system Bearer Context Request message or a protocol data unit Session Modification Command message. ### Claim 5 A method performed by a terminal device, the method comprising: receiving, from a network function, a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session Modification Command message comprising a changed value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control applicable to the terminal device; and using the changed value of PLMN rate control for a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: sending a request for tracking area update (TAU) to the network function, wherein the changed value of PLMN rate control is received in response to the sending of the request for TAU. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the network function is a session management entity or a mobility management entity. ### Claim 8 A network node comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, the at least one memory containing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the network node is operative to: determine whether a value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control applicable to a terminal device has been changed; and after determining that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed, send the changed value of PLMN rate control to the terminal device, wherein the network node is configured to determine that the value of PLMN rate control has been changed by performing a process that comprises: (i) determining that the terminal device has moved from a first PLMN to a second PLMN, and (ii) determining (a) values of PLMN rate control are differently configured in the network function for the first and second PLMNs or (b) a value of PLMN rate control configured in the network function for the second PLMN is different from that configured in previous network function for the first PLMN. ### Claim 9 A terminal device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, the at least one memory containing instructions executable by the at least one processor, whereby the terminal device is operative to: receive, from a network function, a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session Modification Command message comprising a changed value of public land mobile network (PLMN) rate control applicable to the terminal device; and use the changed value of PLMN rate control for a connection between the terminal device and a gateway node.