Network Slice Access Control via Application-Aware URSP Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for controlling simultaneous access to network slices in cellular communications systems often require sending network slice configuration information to User Equipment (UE), which discloses network configuration and is undesirable for operators, and fail to verify the mutually exclusive nature of network slices before providing User Equipment Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules.
Innovation Solution
The system ensures network control by having the UE indicate its capability to provide Application IDs, with the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) requesting and storing these IDs, and the Policy and Control Function (PCF) generating URSP rules based on the IDs and mutually exclusive network slices, ensuring optimal connectivity without disclosing network configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network slice configuration information is sent to the UE, then the UE can access network slices, but network configuration is disclosed which is undesirable for operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network side (AMF/PCF) generates and manages URSP rules that map application IDs to network slice information without exposing the actual network configuration to the UE. The UE receives policy rules that enable slice access through application ID matching rather than direct configuration disclosure.
2Ease of operation
If URSP rules are provided to the UE without verifying mutually exclusive network slices, then the UE can access network slices, but simultaneous access to mutually exclusive slices cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network side (PCF) verify the mutually exclusive nature of network slices before generating URSP rules. The system pre-identifies which network slices cannot be accessed simultaneously and embeds this constraint information in the policy rules sent to the UE, preventing conflicts before they occur.
3Reliability
If the network side keeps control of slice configuration information, then network security is improved, but the UE cannot make informed routing decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary elements for UE decision-making (application IDs and policy rules) from the complete network configuration, allowing the UE to make informed routing decisions without receiving sensitive network configuration details. The network side retains control of the full configuration while providing sufficient information for UE autonomy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for ensuring network control of simultaneous access to network slices with application awareness. In one embodiment, a method performed in a cellular communications system comprises, at a wireless communication device, sending, to a Policy and Control Function (PCF) via an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), application identifiers (IDs) of applications used by the wireless communication device and receiving, from the PCF via the AMF, one or more User Equipment (UE) Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules that are based on the application IDs. The method further comprises, at the PCF, obtaining information about one or more mutually exclusive network slices, generating the one or more URSP rules based on the application IDs and the information about the one or more mutually exclusive network slices, and sending the one or more URSP rules to the wireless communication device via the AMF.