Local Manager for 5G Private Network Access and Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network technologies face challenges in facilitating private local network access, authentication, and association, particularly in scenarios requiring peer-to-peer communication without reliance on public radio access networks, which affects efficiency and resource management in localized communication environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a local manager (LM) within the 5G network architecture that enables initial access, user authentication, and association management for private access user equipment (UE), allowing for peer-to-peer communication and transparent interaction with the public network, using sidelink signals and dynamic IP address assignment to manage traffic routing and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If private access UE directly communicates through public radio access network, then network coverage is ensured, but signaling load on public network increases and communication efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into public network infrastructure and private local network domains. The local manager separates private network control functions from public network core, allowing localized communication to be handled independently within the private network while public network provides only backbone connectivity. This segmentation reduces public network signaling load by confining local authentication, association, and traffic management to the private domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The local manager acts as an intermediary between private access UE and the public network. It terminates control plane and user plane signals locally, managing authentication, IP address assignment, and traffic routing without requiring continuous public network involvement. This intermediary function enables private networks to operate autonomously while maintaining connectivity to public network services when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If local manager handles all authentication and association locally, then public network involvement is minimized, but network security management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The local manager is designed as a multi-functional node that simultaneously performs authentication, IP address assignment, association management, and traffic routing functions. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single universal entity within the private network, the system achieves high autonomy without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as the local manager handles multiple tasks through integrated procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The private network enables self-service operation through the local manager, which autonomously handles user equipment authentication, registration, and resource allocation without requiring manual public network intervention. The local manager maintains local databases for subscriber information and dynamically manages network resources, allowing the private network to operate independently while periodically synchronizing with public network authorities for policy updates.
3Loss of time
If sidelink signals are used for private network communication, then communication latency is reduced, but compatibility with existing network infrastructure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects communication modes based on operational requirements. Sidelink signals are used for time-sensitive local communications within the private network to minimize latency, while traditional Uu interface communications are used for tasks requiring public network services or infrastructure support. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize for low latency when possible while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure for other operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Access and user association can be enabled for private and hybrid public/private 5G new radio (NR) networks. More specifically, this disclosure discloses how to perform initial access, user authentication and association, Internet protocol (IP) address assignment for routing, and/or mobility management. The aforementioned process can facilitate the user equipment (UE) to engage in peer-to-peer, local breakout, and private/public network communication, via a local manager (LM) access point, without requiring connectivity to a public radio access network (RAN) or core network.