AMF Connection Prioritization for 5G Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR network overload protection mechanisms fail to consider UE device or location contexts, leading to disruptions in high-priority communications during overload events, such as emergency responses or public safety communications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating UE device-specific and tracking area (TA)-specific priorities into network connection decisions, allowing high-priority connections to override overload protection mechanisms, ensuring uninterrupted service for critical communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overload protection mechanisms are triggered to limit new connection attempts, then network stability is improved, but high-priority communications (e.g., emergency responses) may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating connection handling based on UE device priority levels and tracking area priorities. Instead of uniform overload protection, the system applies different treatment to different connections: high-priority connections (e.g., emergency services) are exempted from overload protection while low-priority connections are limited. This resolves the contradiction by protecting network stability through overload protection while simultaneously ensuring high-priority communications remain uninterrupted through priority-based differentiation.
2Loss of energy
If uniform overload protection is applied to all connections, then network load is reduced, but important connections (e.g., emergency officials) cannot access services timely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network connection handling into different priority levels. UE devices are categorized by priority (e.g., high-priority for emergency officials, low-priority for regular users), and tracking areas are also assigned priorities. During overload conditions, the AMF selectively applies protection measures only to low-priority connections while allowing high-priority connections to proceed without delay. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by reducing network load through selective limitation while preserving timely access for critical services.
3Reliability
If overload protection limits new registrations, then existing connections are protected, but the system lacks adaptability to different UE device contexts and locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability by introducing priority levels and tracking area priorities that allow the overload protection mechanism to adapt to different UE device contexts and locations. The AMF dynamically determines which connections to protect or limit based on real-time priority information and location data. High-priority UEs in critical tracking areas can maintain connections even during overload, while other connections are protected. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining connection protection while simultaneously providing context-aware adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for incorporating user equipment (UE) device connection priorities to network connection decisions in response to network overloading events 460. For example, overload protection procedures may apply to specific connections, such as based on apriority level of a UE device and/or a specific tracking area (TA). For example, an access and mobility management function, AMF 320 may grantor maintain 468 connections with higher priority levels notwithstanding overload protection mechanisms. This reduces disruption of important connections as predefined to the AMF. When a network entity that handles connection registration, such as an AMF, detects one or more overloading events, instead of rejecting connection requests or disconnecting connections absent priority information, the network entity may take actions 466 only against connections of low priority. The connections priority may include one of or both UE device specific priority and TA priority related to radio access networks (RANs).