Network Slice Terminal Admission Control via PCF Counters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications do not provide a means to enforce the maximum number of user equipment (UEs) admitted to a network slice, which is crucial for scaling network resources and meeting service level agreement (SLA) criteria.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method that involves receiving packet data connection requests for network slices configured with a maximum number of terminals, maintaining a counter for admitted terminals, and transmitting responses to these requests, including mechanisms to handle exceedance of the maximum terminal limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 3GPP specifications are followed without additional enforcement mechanisms, then network slice deployment is simplified and easier to implement, but the maximum number of UEs per network slice cannot be enforced, leading to potential resource exhaustion and SLA violations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Policy Control Function (PCF) as an intermediary component that enforces the maximum number of UEs per network slice. The PCF maintains counters for admitted UEs and evaluates admission requests against these counters, acting as a mediator between the network slice resources and incoming connection requests. This intermediary mechanism enables SLA compliance without requiring changes to the core 3GPP specification structure.
2Reliability
If a counter-based enforcement mechanism is implemented to track admitted terminals, then the maximum number of UEs per network slice can be enforced, but the system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The PCF automatically maintains counters for admitted UEs per network slice and autonomously evaluates admission requests against these counters. The system performs self-service by automatically incrementing counters when UEs are admitted and decrementing them when UEs leave, without requiring manual intervention. This automation reduces operational complexity while ensuring reliable enforcement of the maximum UE limit.
3Reliability
If network slice resources are scaled to accommodate potential maximum users, then sufficient resources are available for all possible users, but resources are wasted when fewer users are actually needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation by enforcing maximum UE limits per network slice, allowing network resources to be dynamically adjusted based on actual demand. Instead of statically provisioning resources for the maximum possible users across all slices, the system dynamically allocates resources to each slice up to its enforced maximum, optimizing resource utilization while ensuring sufficiency for admitted users.
4Productivity
If admission control is implemented to enforce maximum terminals per network slice, then resource allocation is optimized, but the processing time and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The PCF pre-configures maximum UE limits for each network slice and maintains ready-to-use counters for admitted UEs. When an admission request arrives, the PCF immediately evaluates the request against the current counter value without requiring complex calculations or queries. This preliminary preparation of enforcement parameters and real-time counter evaluation minimizes processing time while maintaining efficient resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided measures for enforcement of maximum number of admitted terminals per network slice. Such measures exemplarily comprise receiving a packet data connection related request concerning a network slice being configured with a maximum number of terminals to be admitted to said network slice, maintaining a counter indicative of a number of terminals admitted to said network slice based on said packet data connection related request, and transmitting a response to said packet data connection related request.