Data communication system to serve a user equipment (UE) over a third generation partnership project (3GPP) network core

A method of operating a User Equipment (UE) to receive wireless network services from a first wireless network slice and a second wireless network slice over a non-Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) link, the method comprising:

• a memory storing a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) client, a first user application, and a second user application;
• processing circuitry executing the 3GPP client, the first user application, and the second user application;
• the 3GPP client authenticating with a 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the authentication, the 3GPP client establishing a first N1 signaling link for the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• the 3GPP client authenticating again with the 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the additional authentication, the 3GPP client establishing a second N1 signaling link for the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• the first user application exchanging first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and the second user application exchanging second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• and
• the 3GPP client maintaining both the first N1 signaling link and the second N1 signaling link when both the first user application is exchanging the first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and when the second user application is exchanging the second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link.

A User Equipment (UE) to receive network services from a first wireless network slice and a second wireless network slice over a non-Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) link, the UE comprising:

• a memory configured with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) client, a first user application, and a second user application;
• processing circuitry configured to execute the 3GPP client, the first user application, and the second user application;
• the 3GPP client configured to authenticate with a 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the authentication, establish a first N1 signaling link for the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• the 3GPP client configured to authenticate again with the 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the additional authentication, establish a second N1 signaling link for the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• the first user application configured to exchange first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and the second user application configured to exchange second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link;
• and
• the 3GPP client configured to maintain both the first N1 signaling link and the second N1 signaling link when both the first user application is exchanging the first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and when the second user application is exchanging the second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link.