Method and device for discovering and selecting network for provisioning UE subscriber data

A method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a provisioning server and a default credential server (DCS), an identifier (ID) list for a stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) associated with system information, an ID of an SNPN where the UE is in an onboarding process, UE location information, and UE type information;
• registering in an SNPN, the SNPN is selected by a provisioning server based on a candidate serving network list and priority information of the candidate serving network list;
• and
• transmitting, to the provisioning server, information for the SNPN, the information for the SNPN including signal strength for a radio access network (RAN) and information for cell capacity,
• wherein the candidate serving network list is selected based on the ID list for the SNPN, the ID of the SNPN where the UE is in the onboarding process, the UE location information, and the UE type information and wherein a credential of the UE is provisioned based on the selected SNPN, and
• wherein the SNPN is selected based on the candidate serving network list, the priority information, and contractual relationship information for a network operator who has already been contracted by a manufacturer.

A provisioning server in a wireless communication system, the provisioning server comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to control to:
• receive, from a user equipment (UE), an identifier (ID) list for a stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) associated with system information, an ID of an SNPN where the UE is in an onboarding process, UE location information, and UE type information;
• receive, from a default credential server (DCS), a candidate serving network list and priority information of the candidate serving network list, wherein the candidate serving network list is selected based on the ID list for the SNPN, the ID of the SNPN where the UE is in the onboarding process, the UE location information, and the UE type information;
• select an SNPN based on the ID of the candidate serving network list and the priority information;
• perform, based on the selected SNPN, a provisioning of a credential of a UE;
• receive, from the DCS, contractual relationship information for a network operator who has already been contracted by a manufacturer, wherein the SNPN is selected by the provisioning server based on the candidate serving network list, the priority information, and the contractual relationship information;
• and
• receive, from the UE, information for the SNPN, the information for the SNPN including signal strength for a radio access network (RAN) and information for cell capacity.

A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• transmit, to a provisioning server and a default credential server (DCS), an identifier (ID) list for a stand-alone non-public network (SNPN) associated with system information, an ID of an SNPN where the UE is in an onboarding process, UE location information, and UE type information;
• register in an SNPN, the SNPN is selected by a provisioning server based on a candidate serving network list and priority information of the candidate serving network list;
• and
• transmit, to the provisioning server, information for the SNPN, the information for the SNPN including signal strength for a radio access network (RAN) and information for cell capacity,
• wherein the candidate serving network list is selected based on the ID list for the SNPN, the ID of the SNPN where the UE is in the onboarding process, the UE location information, and the UE type information, and wherein a credential of the UE is provisioned based on the selected SNPN, and
• wherein the SNPN is selected based on the candidate serving network list, the priority information, and contractual relationship information for a network operator who has already been contracted by a manufacturer.