Recovery from Errors during Network Slice Specific Authentication and Authorization (NSSAA)

A method for an access and mobility management function (AMF) of a communication network, the method comprising:

• initiating a network-slice-specific authentication and authorization (NSSAA) procedure for a user equipment (UE) with respect to a first network slice of the communication network, wherein the first network slice is associated with a first identifier;
• setting an NSSAA status associated with the first identifier to pending in a UE context stored by the AMF;
• based on the NSSAA status in the stored UE context set to pending, determining that the NSSAA was interrupted or not completed and that a new NSSAA procedure should be executed for the UE with respect to the first network slice;
• and
• in response to a subsequent request by the UE to register with the communication network, sending the UE a registration accept that includes an indication that a NSSAA procedure with respect to the first network slice should be executed.

An access and mobility management function (AMF) configured to operate in a communication network, the AMF comprising:

• interface circuitry configured to communicate with a user equipment (UE);
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and interface circuitry are configured to:
• initiate a network-slice-specific authentication and authorization (NSSAA) procedure for the UE with respect to a first network slice of the communication network, wherein the first network slice is associated with a first identifier;
• set an NSSAA status associated with the first identifier to pending in a UE context stored by the AMF;
• based on the NSSAA status in the stored UE context set to pending, determine that the NSSAA was interrupted or not completed and that a new NSSAA procedure should be executed for the UE with respect to the first network slice;
• and
• in response to a subsequent request by the UE to register with the communication network, send the UE a registration accept that includes an indication that a NSSAA procedure with respect to the first network slice should be executed.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry associated with an access and mobility management function (AMF) of a communication network, configure the AMF to:

• initiate a network-slice-specific authentication and authorization (NSSAA) procedure for the UE with respect to a first network slice of the communication network, wherein the first network slice is associated with a first identifier;
• set an NSSAA status associated with the first identifier to pending in a UE context stored by the AMF;
• based on the NSSAA status in the stored UE context set to pending, determine that the NSSAA was interrupted or not completed and that a new NSSAA procedure should be executed for the UE with respect to the first network slice;
• and
• in response to a subsequent request by the UE to register with the communication network, send the UE a registration accept that includes an indication that a NSSAA procedure with respect to the first network slice should be executed.