Network Slice Selection Through Shared and Non-Shared Control Planes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems lack efficient methods for network slicing to provide differentiated services and network capacity on a per-service basis, necessitating improved access to network slices.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus are introduced to support network slicing by receiving Mobility Management (MM) and Session Management (SM) messages at a shared Control Plane (CP) Network Function (NF) and transmitting SM messages to a non-shared CP NF in the network slice to indicate User Plane (UP) services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network slicing is implemented to provide differentiated services, then service customization capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice customization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control plane network functions into shared and non-shared components. The shared CP NF handles common control functions for multiple network slices, while non-shared CP NFs handle slice-specific functions. This segmentation allows differentiated services across slices while avoiding the need for completely separate control planes for each slice, thus reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shared Control Plane NF is designed to serve multiple network slices simultaneously, performing universal control functions that are common to all slices. This multi-functionality approach allows a single CP NF to handle multiple slices, reducing the total number of CP NFs needed and simplifying the system architecture while still enabling service differentiation through the non-shared CP NFs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate Control Plane Network Functions are allocated for each network slice, then service isolation is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice isolationVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane is segmented into shared and non-shared functions. Critical slice-specific control functions are isolated in non-shared CP NFs to maintain service isolation and reliability, while common control functions are consolidated in shared CP NFs to improve resource utilization. This partial segmentation approach balances isolation requirements with efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple network slices are combined under a shared Control Plane NF for common control functions such as mobility management and session management. This merging allows resources to be shared across slices, improving utilization efficiency while the non-shared CP NFs maintain necessary isolation for slice-specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If shared Control Plane Network Functions are used across multiple network slices, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but service differentiation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidservice differentiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane functionality is segmented into shared components that handle common operations and non-shared components that handle slice-specific operations. This segmentation enables the shared CP NF to efficiently serve multiple slices while the non-shared CP NFs provide the necessary differentiation for specific service requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shared CP NF acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple network slices and the core network functions. It receives requests from slices, applies slice-specific policies through the non-shared CP NFs when needed, and manages resources efficiently across all slices, thus bridging the gap between resource sharing and service differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4075846B1Methods for service slice selection and separation

Publication Date: 2025.10.01 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC

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AI summary

Embodiments include methods and apparatuses where a first network node may receive a session management (SM) message from a second network node, wherein the second network node is configured to implement a control plane (CP) Mobility Management (MM) function, wherein the first network node is configured to implement a CP SM function associated with a network slice, wherein the SM message indicates a request from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), and wherein the request from the WTRU is associated with a protocol data unit (PDU) session corresponding to the network slice, and send an SM response message to the second network node, the SM response message being sent to the second network node for delivery to the WTRU, the SM response message indicating that the WTRU will be served by the network slice via the PDU session.