5G CPE Network Slice Access for LAN Clients

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Solution Overview

Problem

Local area network (LAN) clients operating in WLANs supported by access points (APs) accessing New Radio (NR) systems lack the ability to request or use network slices, which hinders their capacity to support ultra-low latency applications.

Innovation Solution

A 5G Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) enables LAN clients to request and access network slices by determining available slices and broadcasting this information, or by allowing clients aware of slices to solicit their creation or access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If LAN clients operate in WLANs supported by APs accessing NR systems, then wireless communication coverage is provided, but the clients lack the ability to request or use network slices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice access capabilityVSAvoidclient configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The AP acts as an intermediary between LAN clients and the 5G core network. The AP receives network slice information from the 5G system, processes it, and broadcasts available network slices to LAN clients via beacon frames. This intermediary role enables clients to access network slices without requiring them to have direct 5G capabilities or complex configuration, thus improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing LAN clients to automatically discover and select network slices based on broadcasted information from the AP. Clients can initiate service requests for specific network slices without manual configuration or complex setup procedures. The AP automatically handles the translation and forwarding of these requests to the 5G core network, making the process transparent and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If network slice information is broadcasted to all LAN clients, then clients can discover available slices, but additional signaling overhead is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice information availabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reuses existing WLAN beacon frames for dual purposes: traditional WLAN functionality and network slice information dissemination. By embedding network slice information in already-transmitted beacon frames rather than creating separate signaling messages, the system achieves information availability without introducing additional signaling overhead. This multi-functional use of existing protocols efficiently addresses the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4091366B1Local area network client participation in a network slice

Publication Date: 2025.04.09 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for transmitting, to one or more local area network clients of the device, a multicast message indicating an available network slice, receiving, from a first local area network client of the one or more local area network clients based on the multicast message, a request to access the available network slice, establishing, at the device based on receiving the request, a connection associated with the available network slice, and transmitting, to the first local area network client based on establishing the connection, a confirmation to access the available network slice.