Network Slice Access Control via Suspend Time Intervals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In telecommunications networks, especially during overload situations, there is a need to control user equipment access to user plane radio communication resources to prevent further overload, as existing methods lack efficient mechanisms for managing access across multiple network slices and services.

Innovation Solution

The method introduces a suspend time interval for user equipment to control access to user plane radio communication resources and network slices, using specific suspend time indications and global suspend time information transmitted via control channel data, allowing or disallowing access based on these intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If user equipment is allowed to access user plane radio communication resources during overload situations, then network service continuity is maintained, but network overload increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service continuityVSAvoidnetwork overload
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by introducing suspend time intervals during which user equipment is temporarily blocked from accessing user plane radio communication resources. This periodic suspension allows the network to recover from overload conditions while maintaining service continuity - equipment can attempt access before the suspend period, during which network resources are protected, and can retry after the suspend period expires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively blocking user equipment access to user plane radio communication resources before the overload situation worsens. The suspend time indication is transmitted in advance to prevent further access attempts that would exacerbate the overload, thereby protecting the network from harmful effects before they fully manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Stability of the object's composition

If access control is implemented to reduce network overload, then network stability is improved, but user equipment access capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoiduser equipment access capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the access control mechanism adaptive rather than static. The suspend time interval is not fixed but is dynamically determined based on network conditions, overload severity, and service priorities. This allows the system to balance network stability with user access capability - during severe overload, longer suspend periods protect the network, while during lighter conditions, shorter or no suspend periods maintain good user access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating access control treatment across different network slices and services. Instead of uniformly blocking all user equipment, the suspend time indications can be applied selectively to specific network slices or service types, allowing critical services to maintain access while non-critical services are suspended, thereby maintaining overall network stability while preserving essential access capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple network slices are provided for fine-grained service provision, then service flexibility is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements segmentation by dividing the access control mechanism into network slice-specific components. Each network slice can have its own suspend time indication and access control parameters, allowing independent management of different services. This segmentation enables fine-grained control over each slice while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular, standardized control procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a standardized suspend time indication mechanism that can be applied across multiple network slices and service types. Rather than implementing separate complex control systems for each slice, a universal suspend time indication framework provides multi-functional control that simplifies management while supporting diverse service requirements through configurable parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3864920B1Controlling the use and/or access of user plane radio communication resources of a telecommunications network
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3864920B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the use of user plane radio communication resources of a telecommunications network and/or for controlling the access of a user equipment to a telecommunications network, wherein the telecommunications network provides the use or activation, by the user equipment, of a plurality of different network slices and/or of different network services, wherein –within at least one radio cell or radio coverage area within or as part of the telecommunications network –a set of control channel data is transmitted to the user equipment, wherein the method comprises the steps of: -- in a first step, a global suspend time information is transmitted, as part of the set of control channel data, to the user equipment, and -- in a second step, a plurality of specific suspend time indications are transmitted, as part of the set of control channel data, to the user equipment, wherein each one of the plurality of specific suspend time indications relates to a different network slice and/or to a different network service, -- in a third step, subsequent to both the first and second step, by means of a combined use of both the global suspend time information, and the plurality of specific suspend time indications, a control –related to the use of at least one of the plurality of different network slices and/or the use of at least one of the different network services –of the use of user plane radio communication resources of the telecommunications network and/or of the access of the user equipment to the telecommunications network is realized with regard to the user equipment by deciding whether an attempt to use user plane radio communication resources of the telecommunications network and/or whether an attempt to access the telecommunications network is allowed or disallowed.