Access category handling for wireless communication systems

Abstract

A method of access control performed by a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The method comprises being triggered to perform an access request and evaluating whether one or more access category rules are satisfied by the trigger. The method further comprises determining, based on the evaluation, and access category to apply. The method further comprises performing a barring check, applying the access category determined based on the evaluation.

1 . A method of access control performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 being triggered to perform an access request;   evaluating whether one or more access category rules are satisfied by the trigger;   determining, based on the evaluation, an access category to apply; and   performing a barring check, applying the access category determined based on the evaluation.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, when no access category rules are satisfied by the trigger, a default access category rule is selected. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, when a plurality of access category rules is satisfied by the trigger, one of the plurality of access category rules is selected based on a priority scheme. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the determined access category is determined based on the selected access category rule. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when no access category rules are stored, performing a barring check, applying a pre-determined access category.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when no stored access category rules are valid, performing a barring check, applying a pre-determined access category.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more access category rules comprises one or more of the following:
 access category rules stored in the UE;   access category rules received from a network node; and   a default access category rule.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more access category rules from a network node.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more access category rules received from the network node are received via Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of service, signaling, emergency communications, and UE type. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of slice, frequency, application, and subscription type. 
     
     
         12 . A User Equipment (UE) configured to perform access control, the UE comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:
 be triggered to perform an access request 
 evaluate whether one or more access category rules are satisfied by the trigger; 
 determine, based on the evaluation, an access category to apply; and 
 perform a barring check, applying the access category determined based on the evaluation. 
   
     
     
         13 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein, when no access category rules are satisfied by the trigger, a default access category rule is selected. 
     
     
         14 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein, when a plurality of access category rules is satisfied by the trigger, one of the plurality of access category rules is selected based on a priority scheme. 
     
     
         15 . The UE according to  claim 13 , wherein the determined access category is determined based on the selected access category rule. 
     
     
         16 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured, when no access category rules are stored, to perform a barring check, applying a pre-determined access category. 
     
     
         17 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured, when no stored access category rules are valid, to perform a barring check, applying a pre-determined access category. 
     
     
         18 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein one or more access category rules comprises one or more of the following:
 access category rules stored in the UE;   access category rules received from a network node; and   a default access category rule.   
     
     
         19 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein the wireless interface is further configured to receive one or more access category rules from a network node. 
     
     
         20 . The UE according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more access category rules received from the network node are received via Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling. 
     
     
         21 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of service, signaling, emergency communications, and UE type. 
     
     
         22 . The UE according to  claim 12 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of slice, frequency, application, and subscription type. 
     
     
         23 . A method performed by a network node, the method comprising:
 providing, to a user equipment (UE), barring information relating to one or more access categories, wherein one of the one or more access categories is used by the UE to perform a barring check; and   receiving an access request from the UE when the barring check is passed.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the barring information comprises barring factors and barring time. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is selected based on a default access category rule. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is selected based on a priority scheme. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is a pre-determined access category. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising providing one or more access category rules to the UE. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the one or more access category rules provided to the UE are provided via Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of service, signaling, emergency communications, and UE type. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of slice, frequency, application, and subscription type. 
     
     
         32 . A network node, comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   a wireless interface coupled to the processing circuitry, the wireless interface configured to:
 provide, to a user equipment (UE), barring information relating to one or more access categories, wherein one of the one or more access categories is used by the UE to perform a barring check; and 
 receive an access request from the UE when the barring check is passed. 
   
     
     
         33 . The network node according to  claim 32 , wherein the barring information comprises barring factors and barring time. 
     
     
         34 . The network node according to  claim 32 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is selected based on a default access category rule. 
     
     
         35 . The network node according to  claim 32 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is selected based on a priority scheme. 
     
     
         36 . The network node according to  claim 32 , wherein the access category used by the UE to perform a barring check is a pre-determined access category. 
     
     
         37 . The network node according to  claim 32 , wherein the wireless interface is further configured to provide one or more access category rules to the UE. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more access category rules provided to the UE are provided via Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of service, signaling, emergency communications, and UE type. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the access category rules are based on one or more of slice, frequency, application, and subscription type.