Methods and devices for protecting privacy of slice identity information

A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

• protecting privacy of a transmitted network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) between a user equipment and a base station by performing:
• obtaining a temporary NSSAI (T-NSSAI) based on a NSSAI, the NSSAI comprising at least one single NSSAI (S-NSSAD) and the T-NSSAI comprising at least one temporary single NSSAI (T-S-NSSAI);
• generating a mapping relationship between the NSSAI and the T-NSSAI;
• storing the mapping relationship between the NSSAI and the T-NSSAI in an access and mobility management function (AMF);
• and
• sending a registration accept message during an initial registration procedure to the base station, the registration accept message comprising the mapping relationship between the NSSAI and the T-NSSAI, so that the base station is configured to send the mapping relationship between the NSSAI and the T-NSSAI to the user equipment to be configured to store the mapping relationship between the NSSAI and the T-NSSAI.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the processor executes the instructions, the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform:
• protecting privacy of a transmitted network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) between a user equipment and the apparatus by:
• receiving a temporary NSSAI (T-NSSAI) from an access and mobility management function (AMF) to the apparatus, the T-NSSAI comprising at least one temporary single NSSAI (T-S-NSSAI),
• storing the T-NSSAI in the apparatus,
• receiving a radio resource control (RRC) signaling message from the user equipment to the apparatus, the RRC signaling message comprising a T-S-NSSAI corresponding to an allowed single NSSAI (S-NSSAI),
• selecting the AMF based on the T-S-NSSAI,
• receiving a registration accept message during an initial registration procedure from the AMF to the base station, the registration accept message comprising a mapping relationship between at least one allowed S-NSSAI and at least one T-S-NSSAI, and
• sending the mapping relationship between at least one allowed S-NSSAI and at least one T-S-NSSAI from the base station to the user equipment so that the user equipment stores the mapping relationship between the at least one allowed S-NSSAI and the at least one T-S-NSSAI.