Common DNAI Selection Across SMFs for Multi-Terminal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a common data network access identifier (DNAI) for multiple terminal devices often result in a DN that does not meet the requirements of all devices, leading to some devices being unable to access the network.
Innovation Solution
A method where session management network elements collaborate to determine a common DNAI that considers the DNAIs of all involved elements, ensuring the selected DNAI better meets the requirements of all terminal devices by selecting one that is closer and more suitable for the network access needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single SMF selects a common DNAI based on one terminal device's location and stores it in UDR, then the process is simple and fast, but the determined DNAI may not meet the requirements of other terminal devices, causing some devices to be unable to access the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the DNAI determination process into two stages: (1) Each SMF independently determines its own DNAI based on its terminal device's location and sends it to UDR, and (2) UDR collects multiple DNAIs and performs intersection operation to determine the common DNAI. This segmentation allows each SMF to maintain simplicity while the system achieves comprehensive coverage through the aggregation of multiple DNAIs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the DNAI information from multiple SMFs by performing an intersection operation on the sets of DNAIs. The common DNAI is determined as the intersection of all DNAIs provided by different SMFs, ensuring that the final DNAI satisfies the requirements of all terminal devices while maintaining a unified approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple SMFs send their DNAIs to UDR for intersection operation, then the common DNAI better meets all terminal devices' requirements, but the signaling overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each SMF performs preliminary action by independently determining its DNAI based on its terminal device's location and sending it to UDR in advance. This preliminary determination allows UDR to collect all necessary DNAI information before performing the intersection operation, reducing the overall determination time compared to a centralized approach that would need to process all location information simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by having each SMF send its determined DNAI to UDR, creating copies of the DNAI information across the network. UDR then performs the intersection operation on these copied DNAI sets. This copying mechanism allows efficient distribution of DNAI information without requiring complex real-time coordination between SMFs.
3Reliability
If the common DNAI is determined by intersecting multiple DNAIs from different SMFs, then all terminal devices can access the network, but the number of available DNAI options decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of DNAI selection from a single SMF's perspective to a multi-SMF intersection perspective. By performing the intersection operation on DNAI sets from multiple SMFs, the system transforms the available options into a common subset that satisfies all terminal devices. This parameter change ensures reliability while the system can still maintain multiple DNAI options in the UDR for future flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method, system, and apparatus. The method includes: determining data network access identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of session management network elements, and determining a common data network access identifier of the plurality of session management network elements from the plurality of data network access identifiers, where the common data network access identifier indicates a common data network of a plurality of terminal devices, so that the plurality of terminal devices can access the same data network. Because the data network access identifiers supported by the session management network elements respectively corresponding to the plurality of terminal devices are considered when the common data network access identifier is determined, the data network that better meets requirements of the plurality of terminal devices can be determined.