AMF Activity Monitoring for Dynamic NSACF Quota Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network slicing systems fail to efficiently manage network resources by allowing inactive user equipment (UE) to occupy slices, leading to resource wastage and preventing active UEs from registering due to exceeded quotas.
Innovation Solution
Implement an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) that monitors UE activity and deregisters inactive UEs from network slices after a configured time, updating the NSACF server to free up resources for active UEs, with a reject cause and retry timer for re-registration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network slice quota is enforced based on registration status, then the network can control the maximum number of terminals, but inactive UEs occupy slices permanently causing resource wastage and blocking active UEs from registering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static quota enforcement mechanism into a dynamic one by introducing activity-based monitoring. The AMF continuously monitors UE activity status and dynamically updates the NSACF server with active/inactive UE information, allowing the quota to be enforced based on actual usage rather than mere registration. This resolves the contradiction by making the quota enforcement adaptive to real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the AMF receives activity information from UEs and feeds this information back to the NSACF server. The NSACF server uses this feedback to update the count of active UEs and adjust quota enforcement accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that inactive UEs are identified and removed from the active count, freeing up resources for active UEs.
2Device complexity
If inactive UEs are allowed to remain registered, then the network maintains simple registration tracking, but this prevents active UEs from registering due to exceeded quotas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the AMF proactively monitor and identify inactive UEs before they block new registrations. The system continuously checks UE activity status and preemptively removes inactive UEs from the active count at the NSACF server, preventing the quota from being exhausted by inactive users. This allows the system to maintain simplicity while enabling flexible registration for active UEs.
3Productivity
If the network monitors UE activity continuously, then resource allocation becomes efficient, but this increases network processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having UEs autonomously report their activity status to the AMF. Instead of the network actively probing each UE, the UEs themselves provide the activity information when they establish or terminate PDU sessions. This reduces network processing overhead significantly while maintaining efficient resource allocation, as the monitoring function is distributed to the UEs themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. Embodiments herein provide a method of an access and mobility management function (AMF). The method includes monitoring whether a user equipment (UE) registered to a network slice establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session using the network slice for a time, determining that the UE does not establish the PDU session in the time based on an expiration of a timer and deregistering the UE for the network slice.