AMF–PCF Coordination for Dynamic Network Slice PDU Sessions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to effectively provide services in a wireless communication system, particularly in the context of 5G networks, to support the growing demand for wireless data traffic and the integration of IoT technologies, ensuring smooth service delivery and efficient network management.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves the use of an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a policy control function (PCF) to manage network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) and session management functions (SMF) through message exchanges, allowing for the establishment and update of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions based on allowed NSSAI changes, ensuring seamless service provision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) is managed dynamically to adapt to changing network conditions, then service quality and network flexibility are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a policy control function (PCF) as an intermediary between the access and mobility management function (AMF) and the network slices. The PCF receives policy information from the AMF, processes it according to predefined rules, and generates corresponding policies. This intermediary structure allows dynamic network slice management while centralizing the complexity in a dedicated policy control entity, thus improving network flexibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring policy templates and selection criteria in the PCF. When the AMF sends policy information, the PCF already has ready-made policy frameworks that can be quickly instantiated and adapted. This preliminary preparation reduces the real-time processing complexity during actual network operations, allowing dynamic adaptation without excessive management overhead.
2Reliability
If policy control request triggers are implemented to update SMF selection management information, then service quality is improved through timely updates, but signaling overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through policy control request triggers that are activated based on specific events or time intervals. The PCF monitors for trigger conditions (such as changes in network conditions, slice availability, or mobility events) and only initiates policy updates when these conditions are met. This event-driven periodic approach ensures service quality is maintained through timely updates while avoiding unnecessary continuous signaling, thus reducing overall processing time and overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the PCF receives policy information from the AMF, processes it, and generates policy updates that are fed back to the network. The trigger-based update mechanism creates a feedback loop that monitors network conditions and initiates updates only when changes warrant policy modifications. This feedback-driven approach ensures service quality through responsive updates while minimizing unnecessary signaling by updating only when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by an access and mobility management function (AMF) in a wireless communication is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a policy control function (PCF), a policy create request message including first allowed network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), receiving, from the PCF, a policy create response message including first session management function (SMF) selection management information, in a case that an establishment of a first protocol data unit (PDU) session is requested from a terminal, establishing the first PDU session based on the first SMF selection management information, in a case that the first NSSAI is changed, transmitting, to the PCF, a policy update request message including second allowed NSSAI based on the policy control request trigger, and receiving, from the PCF, a policy update response message including second SMF selection management information.