AMF 5GMM STATUS Message for SMF Selection Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current 3GPP TR 24.890 specification does not specify how the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) informs the User Equipment (UE) about the failure to select a Session Management Function (SMF) for 5G Session Management (5GSM) messages, leading to potential multiple retransmissions and inefficiencies in the SM message delivery process.

Innovation Solution

The AMF creates a status message, such as a 5GMM STATUS message, containing the transport message and an indication of failure to select a SMF, which is then transmitted to the UE, allowing the UE to stop retransmissions and consider the session management transaction as unsuccessfully completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the AMF fails to select a SMF for a received UL SM MESSAGE TRANSPORT message, then the current specification does not specify how to inform the UE, leading to potential multiple retransmissions, but this creates inefficiency and wastes time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSM message delivery reliabilityVSAvoidTime lost due to multiple retransmissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The AMF sends a 5GMM STATUS message back to the UE as feedback, indicating that the SM message could not be forwarded to a SMF. This feedback mechanism allows the UE to understand the failure condition and stop retransmitting the same message, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining reliable delivery information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The AMF performs preliminary action by selecting a SMF before forwarding the SM message. When this selection fails, the AMF immediately notifies the UE via 5GMM STATUS message, preventing the UE from engaging in unnecessary retransmission cycles. This preliminary failure detection and notification approach eliminates time waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the AMF does not specify how to inform the UE about SMF selection failure, then the protocol remains simple, but the UE cannot properly handle the failure leading to inefficient retransmissions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveProtocol complexityVSAvoidSM message delivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The 5GMM STATUS message serves multiple functions: it notifies the UE of SMF selection failure, provides feedback on the received UL SM MESSAGE TRANSPORT message, and enables the UE to stop retransmissions. This multi-functional approach improves efficiency without significantly increasing protocol complexity, as it builds upon existing message structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the UE continuously retransmits the SM message without receiving failure indication, then the UE follows simple retransmission logic, but this causes unnecessary retransmissions and reduces system efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE retransmission operation simplicityVSAvoidEnergy lost due to unnecessary retransmissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The AMF provides feedback to the UE through the 5GMM STATUS message, clearly indicating that the SM message could not be forwarded to a SMF. This feedback enables the UE to stop retransmitting the same message, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining simple retransmission logic for successful deliveries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The failure condition, which initially causes harmful repeated retransmissions, is converted into a beneficial situation where the UE receives clear failure indication and can stop retransmitting. The 5GMM STATUS message transforms the harmful continuous retransmission behavior into a single successful delivery attempt with proper failure notification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4170947B1Avoiding multiple retransmissions of signalling transported by 5g NAS transport
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4170947B1 patent drawingFigure QQ1
  • EP4170947B1 patent drawingFigure VV1
  • EP4170947B1 patent drawingFigure QQ2

AI summary

Embodiments herein relate to a wireless device and an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, and methods performed by a wireless device and an AMF, respectively.