Network Slice Deployment via Coexistence Relationship Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G network slicing, deploying network function entities shared by multiple network slices is inefficient, particularly when a terminal device accesses multiple slices simultaneously, leading to challenges in managing access and mobility management functions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for network slice deployment that involves obtaining slice coexistence relationship information to determine the deployment mode of network function entities, allowing for either creation or sharing of AMF instances based on existing instances, thereby optimizing the deployment of network functions across multiple slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network function entities are deployed independently for each network slice, then service isolation and reliability are improved, but resource utilization and deployment efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network function entities into slice-specific instances and shared common instances. Each network slice can have dedicated AMF instances for isolation, while sharing common NF instances (like SMF, UPF) to improve resource utilization. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by allowing selective independence rather than complete isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal network function instances that can serve multiple network slices simultaneously. Common NF instances are designed with multi-functionality to handle requests from different slices, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining service quality through virtualization and resource allocation mechanisms.
2Productivity
If network function entities are shared across multiple network slices, then resource utilization is improved, but service isolation and management complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network slice management function (NSMF) as an intermediary layer between network slices and shared network function entities. The NSMF handles the complexity of managing shared resources, allocating them appropriately to different slices, and ensuring service isolation. This mediator absorbs the management complexity while enabling efficient resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a virtualization dimension to network function deployment, creating virtual instances that can be dynamically allocated across slices. By introducing virtualization as an additional dimension, the system can share physical resources while maintaining logical isolation, thus managing complexity through abstraction.
3Reliability
If dedicated AMF instances are deployed for each network slice, then access and mobility management reliability is improved, but deployment overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments AMF instances into dedicated slice-specific AMFs for slices requiring strict isolation and shared common AMFs for slices that can tolerate less isolation. This selective segmentation allows the system to deploy dedicated AMFs only where necessary, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability for critical slices.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a network slice deployment method and apparatus. The method includes the following steps: obtaining slice coexistence relationship information of a first network slice, where the slice coexistence relationship information is used to indicate information about a second network slice that has a slice coexistence relationship with the first network slice; determining, based on the slice coexistence relationship information, a deployment mode of a network function entity required by the first network slice; and deploying the network function entity in the deployment mode. According to the embodiments of this application, in a scenario in which one terminal device simultaneously accesses a plurality of network slices, how to deploy a network function entity shared by the plurality of network slices can be clearly learned, thereby improving network slice management efficiency.