Patent · US Active

Network exposure function (NEF) slice in a wireless communication network

US12382379B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

8References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

T-Mobile Innovations LLC · US

Inventors

Marouane Balmakhtar · Fairfax, US
Gregory David Schumacher · Holliston, US
Geoffrey Todd Gibson · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 2, 2043

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04W76/12
WIPO fieldDigital communication
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wireless communication network serves a Network Exposure Function (NEF) slice to User Equipment (UE). An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) selects a NEF slice for the UE. A Session Management Function (SMF) selects a NEF address for the NEF slice for the UE. A User Plane Function (UPF) exchanges Application Programming Interface (API) calls and responses between the UE and a NEF based on the NEF address. The NEF exchanges the API messages with the UE over the UPF. The NEF slice may comprise an edge NEF slice that is selected based on the geographic location of the UE and that features a local NEF element that is coupled to a core NEF element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.