Network Slice Allocation via Slicing Policy Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for associating applications with network slices in 5G wireless networks are not scalable, as they require applications, operating systems, or application managers to provide traffic flow information, and there is no mechanism for dynamically sharing traffic descriptors from user equipment (UE) to the network.
Innovation Solution
A device, referred to as a Slicing Policy Manager (SPM), allocates network slices to applications via a network-enabled function. The SPM receives data on network slices and permitted applications, provides a list of available network slices and applications to the UE, creates rules for subscribed applications and corresponding network slices, and associates these rules with the UE identifier, enabling dynamic allocation and management of network slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications, operating systems, or application managers are used to provide traffic flow information for network slice association, then network slicing functionality can be implemented, but scalability deteriorates due to complex dependencies on application development and UE changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) as an intermediary component that mediates between the UE and the core network. The NSSF receives traffic flow information from the UE, processes it according to network policies, and makes network slice selection decisions. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex dependencies on application-level implementations while maintaining reliable network slice association, thereby improving scalability without sacrificing reliability.
2Productivity
If a mechanism for dynamically sharing traffic descriptors from UE to network is implemented, then network slice allocation becomes more dynamic and efficient, but device and network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the network slice selection logic from the UE and places it in the core network's NSSF. The UE only needs to provide basic traffic flow information, while the complex decision-making process is handled by the network. This extraction reduces UE complexity significantly while maintaining dynamic and efficient network slice allocation, as the network can process multiple UEs' traffic descriptors using centralized policies without requiring complex changes at the device level.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive data identifying network slices and applications permitted on the network slices, and data identifying addresses of the applications permitted on the network slices. The device may provide, to a UE, a list of the network slices and the applications permitted on the network slices, and may receive, from the UE, a UE identifier and subscribed to applications from the list. The device may create rules for the subscribed to applications and corresponding network slices, and may associate the rules for the subscribed to applications and the corresponding network slices with the UE identifier. The device may receive, from a network function, a request for the rules associated with the UE identifier, the subscribed to applications, and the corresponding network slices, and may provide, based on the request, the rules to the UE via the network function.