# US 12,114,255 B2 · Data communication system to serve a user equipment (UE) over a third generation partnership project (3GPP) network core > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,255 B2 - Document ID: US12114255B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/939,574 - Filed: 2022-09-07 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-16 - Assignees: T-Mobile Innovations LLC - Applicants: T-Mobile Innovations LLC - Inventors: Marouane Balmakhtar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114255B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - G06F 21/30: Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals - H04L 9/40: Network security protocols - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels - H04L 41/40: using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities - H04W 92/02: Inter-networking arrangements - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A User Equipment (UE) receives 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. A Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) client authenticates with a 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link and establishes a first N1 signaling link for the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link. The 3GPP client authenticates with the 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link and establishes a second N1 signaling link for the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link. The first user application exchanges data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link. The second user application exchanges data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link. The 3GPP client maintains both N1 signaling links when both user applications are exchanging their data with the wireless network slices over the non-3GPP link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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: authenticating with a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the authentication, establishing a first N1 signaling link for the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link; authenticating again with the 3GPP network over the non-3GPP link, and in response to the additional authentication, establishing a second N1 signaling link for the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link; exchanging first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and exchanging second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link; and maintaining both the first N1 signaling link and the second N1 signaling link when the UE is exchanging the first user data with the first wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link and when the UE is exchanging the second user data with the second wireless network slice over the non-3GPP link. ### Claim 2 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least a portion the non-3GPP link comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.3 (ETHERNET) link. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least a portion the non-3GPP link comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.11 (WIFI) link. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least a portion the non-3GPP link comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the wireless network comprises a non-3GPP Interworking Function (N3IWF). ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the wireless network comprises an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises a User Plane Function (UPF). ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises a Session Management Function (SMF). ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises an Application Function (AF). ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises a Network Exposure Function (NEF). ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein the non-3GPP link comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.3 (ETHERNET) link. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein the non-3GPP link comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.11 (WIFI) link. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein the non-3GPP link comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein the wireless network comprises a non-3GPP Interworking Function (N3IWF). ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein the wireless network comprises an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises a User Plane Function (UPF). ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises a Session Management Function (SMF). ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The UE of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first wireless network slice and the second wireless network slice comprises at least one of an Application Function (AF) and a Network Exposure Function (NEF).