# US 12,120,624 B2 · Network selection in a non-terrestrial network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,624 B2 - Document ID: US12120624B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/660,230 - Filed: 2022-04-22 - Published: 2022-11-17 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-12 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Roland Gruber; Robert Zaus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120624B2 ## CPC - H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration - H04W 60/04: using triggered events - H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 48/04: based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed - H04W 48/10: using broadcasted information - H04W 60/001: {Registration rejection or failure} - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W 84/06: Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A user equipment (UE) is configured to receive broadcast information from a public land mobile network (PLMN) including at least a PLMN identifier (ID), attempt a registration with the PLMN by sending a registration request to the PLMN, wherein the UE attempts the registration via a base station operated by the PLMN deployed in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) arrangement including a non-terrestrial component configured to provide services to the UE via a service link, receive a message including a cause code indicating the PLMN is not allowed to operate at a current UE location and further including a set of attributes indicating further conditions wherein the registration with the PLMN is not allowed and avoid further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor of a user equipment (UE) configured to perform operations comprising: receiving broadcast information from a public land mobile network (PLMN) including at least a PLMN identifier (ID); attempting a registration with the PLMN by sending a registration request to the PLMN, wherein the UE attempts the registration via a base station operated by the PLMN deployed in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) arrangement including a non-terrestrial component configured to provide services to the UE via a service link; receiving a message including a cause code indicating the PLMN is not allowed to operate at a current UE location and further including a set of attributes indicating further conditions wherein the registration with the PLMN is not allowed; and avoiding further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The processor of claim 1, wherein the set of attributes indicates geographical information defining an area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The processor of claim 2, wherein the geographical information comprises a circle defined by the radius, wherein the UE determines a midpoint based on the current UE location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The processor of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: determining an updated UE position; checking the updated UE position against the geographical information; and avoiding further registration attempts when the updated UE position falls within the defined area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The processor of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: determining an updated UE position; checking the updated UE position against the geographical information; and attempting the registration with the PLMN by sending the registration request to the PLMN when the updated UE position falls outside the defined area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The processor of claim 1, wherein the message further includes a timer value indicating a time duration for which the UE should avoid the further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The processor of claim 1, wherein the UE uses preexisting geographical information defining an area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts, wherein the set of attributes indicates geographical information defining a further area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts, wherein the operations further comprise: using the indicated geographical information when the indicated geographical information is in conflict with the preexisting geographical information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The processor of claim 1, wherein the message is a registration reject, a service reject or a deregistration request. ### Claim 9 A processor of a user equipment (UE) configured to perform operations comprising: receiving broadcast information from a public land mobile network (PLMN) including at least a PLMN identifier (ID); attempting a registration with the PLMN by sending a registration request to the PLMN, wherein the UE attempts the registration via a base station operated by the PLMN deployed in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) arrangement including a non-terrestrial component configured to provide services to the UE via a service link; receiving a registration reject including a cause code indicating the PLMN is not allowed to operate at a current UE location; determining further conditions wherein the registration with the PLMN is not allowed, wherein the further conditions are determined based on default geographical information defining an area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts; and avoiding further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The processor of claim 9, wherein the default geographical information comprises a circle with a default radius. ### Claim 11 A processor of a base station configured to perform operations comprising: broadcasting information from a public land mobile network (PLMN) including at least a PLMN identifier (ID), wherein the base station is deployed in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) arrangement including a non-terrestrial component configured to provide services to a user equipment (UE) via a service link; receiving a registration request for the PLMN from the UE; determining a current UE location; determining the PLMN is not allowed to operate at the current UE location; and transmitting a message to the UE including a cause code indicating the PLMN is not allowed to operate at the current UE location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The processor of claim 11, wherein the non-terrestrial component comprises a satellite providing beam coverage in a region in which the PLMN is not allowed to operate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The processor of claim 11, wherein the message further includes a set of attributes indicating further conditions wherein the registration with the PLMN is not allowed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The processor of claim 13, wherein the set of attributes indicates geographical information defining an area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The processor of claim 14, wherein the geographical information comprises a circle defined by the radius, wherein the UE determines a midpoint based on the current UE location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The processor of claim 14, wherein the geographical information comprises default geographical information defining an area within which the UE should not attempt the further registration attempts. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The processor of claim 16, wherein the default geographical information comprises a circle with a default radius. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The processor of claim 11, wherein the message is a registration reject. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The processor of claim 11, wherein the message further includes a timer value indicating a time duration for which the UE should avoid the further registration attempts with the PLMN when the further conditions are met. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The processor of claim 19, wherein the message is a registration reject, a service reject or a deregistration request.