IMS Onboarding Session for NPN Credential Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The provisioning of IMS credentials to UEs in Standalone Non-Public Networks (NPNs) is an elaborate task that slows down the adoption of IMS services, necessitating a more efficient mechanism for credential provisioning.

Innovation Solution

A method where UEs establish an IMS onboarding session to obtain credentials from a server node by indicating a session type, and a session management node enforces rules to allow communication only with the server node, enabling efficient credential acquisition for accessing IMS services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user equipment establishes a PDU session for each application service, then service functionality is improved, but network signaling load and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidnetwork signaling load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple PDU sessions that share the same DNN and S-NSSAI into a single shared PDU session. The SMF network element identifies sessions with identical DNN and S-NSSAI parameters and consolidates them, reducing the number of separate sessions while maintaining service differentiation through application IDs and traffic routing rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared PDU session is designed to serve multiple application services simultaneously. The session infrastructure includes mechanisms for identifying different applications and routing their traffic appropriately, allowing one session to fulfill multiple service functions that previously required separate sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PDU sessions are established for different applications, then service differentiation is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice differentiationVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple application services into a single shared PDU session when they share the same DNN and S-NSSAI parameters. This merging increases resource utilization by consolidating session resources while maintaining service differentiation through application identification and traffic routing mechanisms within the shared session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

While merging sessions at the network level, the patent segments traffic at the application level by introducing application IDs and traffic routing rules. This allows different applications to be identified and routed appropriately within the shared session, maintaining service differentiation without requiring separate PDU sessions for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If session release is delayed to allow application termination, then service reliability is improved, but network resource occupation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidsession occupation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary actions by notifying the UE of application termination status and initiating session release procedures in advance. The SMF monitors application lifecycle events and proactively triggers session release when applications are terminated, rather than waiting for session timeout or manual release, thus reducing unnecessary session occupation time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4497232B1User equipment, session management node and methods in a communications network

Publication Date: 2026.05.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for accessing services in an Internet Protocol, IP, Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network in a communications network is provided. The UE is associated to a non-public network, NPN, connected to the communications network. The UE establishes (201) a first session by sending a first request message towards a session management node. The first request message comprises an indication indicating a session type for the first session. The session type being an IMS onboarding session type. The UE connects (202) to a server node using the first session, and obtains (203) credentials related to the UE from the server node. The UE ends (204) the first session, and establishes (205) a second session to the IMS network. The established second session enables the UE to access services in the IMS network using the obtained credentials in an authentication procedure.