Mobility Management Frontend for Network Slice Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of mobile networking architectures, particularly in virtualized environments, poses challenges in efficiently managing slices across multiple core network types and user equipment, leading to difficulties in resource allocation and optimization.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a Mobility Management Frontend (MMF) to dynamically manage core network slices by selecting appropriate slice instances based on subscriber information and load balancing, facilitating efficient traffic forwarding between the Radio Access Network (RAN) and the mobile core Software Defined Network (SDN) infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtualized slicing architecture is deployed to support multiple core network types, then network functionality and service diversity are improved, but slice management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Mobility Management Frontend (MMF) as an intermediary component that sits between the Radio Access Network and the core network slices. The MMF receives attach requests from UEs, determines the appropriate core network slice type based on subscriber information, selects a specific slice instance, and forwards traffic accordingly. This intermediary approach consolidates slice management functions in a single component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to support multiple core network types and services.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of user equipment and core network types increases, then network capacity and service diversity are improved, but resource management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The Mobility Management Frontend (MMF) is designed as a universal component that can handle attach requests from multiple user equipment across different core network slice types. Instead of having separate management mechanisms for each slice type or UE, the MMF provides a unified interface and centralized control logic that determines slice selection based on subscriber information. This multi-functional approach allows the system to scale with increased network capacity while maintaining efficient resource management through centralized control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic slice selection based on subscriber information is implemented, then service customization is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by retrieving and storing subscriber information (including UE-Usage-Type parameters) in advance from the Home Subscriber Server (HSS). When a UE sends an attach request, the MMF already has the necessary subscriber information available, allowing for rapid slice determination without complex real-time processing. This preliminary preparation of subscriber data simplifies the decision-making process at attach time while still enabling customized service selection based on individual subscriber profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving, by a mobility management frontend, an attach request for a user equipment (UE) to attach the UE to a core network slice type for a mobile core Software Defined Network (SDN) infrastructure, wherein a plurality of core network slice types are available for the mobile core SDN infrastructure to receive traffic from a plurality of UEs; determining a particular core network slice type within the mobile core SDN infrastructure to serve the UE based on subscriber information associated with the UE; selecting a particular slice instance of the particular core network slice type to receive traffic for the UE; and forwarding traffic for the UE between a Radio Access Network (RAN) and the particular slice instance by the mobility management frontend.