5G-IMS Edge Core Consolidation for Aligned Service Provisioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G network deployments separate 5G Next Generation Core (NGC) and Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core, leading to independent resource profile groups and increased network complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

Consolidate 5G control plane functions with IMS control plane functions and user plane functions, creating a unified 5G-IMS control plane and user plane (5G-IMS CP/UP) at the network edge, enabling efficient service provisioning through aligned 5G slices and IMS resource profile groups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If 5G NGC and IMS core are deployed separately, then each can be independently managed and deployed, but network complexity increases and deployment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent deployment capabilityVSAvoidNetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the 5G NGC and IMS core into a unified 5G-IMS CP/UP deployment model. The control plane functions (5G SMF, PCF, CHF and IMS P-CSCF, S-CSCF, I-CSCF) are consolidated into a single network element, eliminating the need for separate deployments and mediation functions. This reduces network complexity while maintaining independent management capabilities through logical separation of functions within the unified structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If 5G NGC and IMS core are deployed separately, then each can be independently managed, but deployment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent management capabilityVSAvoidDeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The unified 5G-IMS CP/UP deployment consolidates multiple network functions into a single element, reducing deployment costs by eliminating duplicate infrastructure and mediation functions. The logical separation of control plane functions maintains independent management capabilities while the physical consolidation reduces overall deployment and operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If 5G slicing and IMS resource profile groups are developed independently, then each can be optimized separately, but alignment between them becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSeparate optimization capabilityVSAvoidAlignment between 5G slices and IMS resource profile groups

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The unified 5G-IMS CP/UP deployment creates a single deployment unit that inherently aligns 5G slicing with IMS resource profile groups. This eliminates alignment difficulties while allowing separate optimization of individual functions within the unified structure, as all functions are deployed together as an integrated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250254609A1System and method for deployment of 5g and next-generation core with IMS core for real-time applications

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system creates a network element by consolidating a control plane including a combination of a plurality of 5G control plane functions and a plurality of IMS control plane functions with an associated user plane including a combination of a 5G user plane function (UPF) and one or more IMS user plane functions. The method also includes deploying the network element at a network edge of the service provider network, receiving a request from a user endpoint (UE) device for a network service, and attaching the UE to the network element. The network element is configured to facilitate providing the requested network service. Other embodiments are disclosed.