AMF Slice Information Update for Cell-Specific NSSAI Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face limitations in supporting different network slices under different cells within the same tracking area, leading to restricted network deployment and inefficient network slice management.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating and transmitting updated network slice information between wireless terminals, access and mobility management functions, and session management functions, allowing for network slice replacement and support across cells within a tracking area, using network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) and supported network slice information from radio access network nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the S-NSSAI in the allowed NSSAI is assumed to be valid for all cells under a current registered registration area, then network slice management is simplified, but network deployment flexibility is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork slice management complexityVSAvoidnetwork deployment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different network slice configurations for different cells within the same tracking area. Instead of uniformly applying S-NSSAI across all cells, the system enables cell-specific network slice support information to be stored and transmitted, allowing each cell to have customized slice characteristics while remaining in the same registration area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If network slice information is updated for each cell individually, then network deployment flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork deployment flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges cell-specific network slice support information with existing mobility management signaling. The RAN node's supported network slice information is integrated into the allowed NSSAI transmission to the wireless terminal, combining multiple information elements into a single signaling message rather than requiring separate updates for each cell.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the RAN node as an intermediary that holds and transmits cell-specific network slice support information to the wireless terminal. This intermediary approach allows the terminal to receive accurate cell-specific slice information without requiring direct updates from each cell, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining deployment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If the AMF generates requested network slice information without considering RAN node support, then session establishment is faster, but network slice compatibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesession establishment speedVSAvoidnetwork slice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the RAN node pre-determine and store supported network slice information before session establishment. The RAN node prepares the supported network slice information in advance, which is then included in the allowed NSSAI transmission to the terminal, allowing the AMF to quickly establish sessions with pre-validated slice compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4133789B1A method for slice information update
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ZTE CORP
  • EP4133789B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4133789B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4133789B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A

AI summary

A wireless communication method for use in an access and mobility management function (AMF) is proposed. The wireless communication method comprises receiving, from a wireless terminal, first requested network slice information of a protocol data unit, PDU, session, generating second requested network slice information based on the first requested network slice information of the PDU session and supported network slice information of a radio access network, RAN, node of the wireless terminal, and transmitting, to a session management function, SMF, the second requested network slice information.