# US 12,225,415 B2 · Access network node, user equipment, network function node and control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,415 B2 - Document ID: US12225415B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/630,189 - Filed: 2021-07-20 - Published: 2023-11-09 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-05 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Iskren Ianev; Toshiyuki Tamura; Hassan Al-Kanani; Linghang Fan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225415B2 ## CPC - H04W 36/0011: {for data sessions of end-to-end connection} - H04W 36/13: {Cell handover without a predetermined boundary, e.g. virtual cells} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract An object of the present disclosure is to provide an access network node, a user equipment, a network function node and a control method capable of steering a UE in connected mode. In one example aspect, a control method for an access network node includes: receiving, from a network function node for mobility management, at least one first network slice information, each of which is different from a second network slice information being used for a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session with a user equipment, UE; and performing a redirection procedure for the UE from a first cell to a second cell which supports one of the at least one first network slice information in a case where the second network slice information is not available in the first cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A User equipment (UE) comprising: one or more memories storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to process the instructions to control the UE to: transmit, to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a first message comprising both a Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session and an Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session; and receive, from the AMF, a second message comprising the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed by the AMF based on the first message. ### Claim 2 A method performed by a User equipment (UE), the method comprising: transmitting, to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a first message comprising both a Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session and an Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session; and receiving, from the AMF, a second message comprising the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed by the AMF based on the first message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the first message comprises a PDU session establishment request message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting, to the AMF, the first message comprising the S-NSSAI for the PDU session, and receiving, from the AMF, a third message to perform a UE configuration update procedure to reconfigure the UE with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed by the AMF based on the first message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the S-NSSAI comprises a plurality of S-NSSAIs, and wherein the Alternative S-NSSAI comprises a plurality of Alternative S-NSSAIs. ### Claim 6 An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) comprising: one or more memories storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to process the instructions to control the AMF to: receive, from a User Equipment (UE), a first message comprising both a Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session and an Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session; and transmit, to the UE, a second message comprising the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed based on the first message comprising. ### Claim 7 A method performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), the method comprising: receiving, from a User Equipment (UE), a first message comprising both a Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session and an Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session; and transmitting, to the UE, a second message comprising the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed based on the first message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the first message comprises a PDU session establishment request message. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises: determining to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the Alternative S-NSSAI being received from a Policy Control Function (PCF). ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, from the UE, the first message comprising the S-NSSAI for the PDU session; and transmitting, to the UE, a third message to perform a UE configuration update procedure to reconfigure the UE with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session based on a determination to replace the S-NSSAI for the PDU session with the Alternative S-NSSAI for the PDU session, the determination being performed based on the first message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the S-NSSAI comprises a plurality of S-NSSAIs, and wherein the Alternative S-NSSAI comprises a plurality of Alternative S-NSSAIs.