Network Slice Indicator for Wireless Service Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of wireless devices lack clear visibility into which network slice they are connected to, making it difficult to confirm if premium services associated with subscriptions and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are being fulfilled, thereby impacting user experience.
Innovation Solution
Providing a network slice indicator on the user equipment's graphical user interface, such as a notification panel or taskbar, to inform users whether they are connected to a specific network slice, including default or enhanced slices like low latency gaming or high bandwidth streaming, through icons, graphics, or text-based indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network slicing is implemented to provide different QoS levels, then service quality and subscription fulfillment are improved, but user awareness and visibility into network slice connections deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network slice indicator as an intermediary element between the network slice connection and the user. This indicator serves as a mediator that conveys information about the active network slice to the user through the graphical user interface, resolving the information loss without affecting the underlying network reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by displaying network slice connection information to the user. This feedback loop allows users to see the result of their subscription and understand which network slice is currently active, improving their awareness while maintaining service quality
2Loss of information
If detailed network slice information is provided to users, then user awareness and transparency are improved, but interface complexity and user confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential network slice information needed for user awareness and presents it separately from the complex network configuration details. By taking out just the necessary information (network slice identifier or name) and displaying it in a simplified format, the patent improves transparency without exposing users to unnecessary complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing network slice information only where relevant to the user's current connection state, rather than displaying all available network information. This localized approach to information presentation improves awareness for the specific context while avoiding overwhelming the user with irrelevant details
Data Source
AI summary
A device, such as a User Equipment (“UE”), may identify that the device is communicatively coupled to a wireless network via a particular network slice. The particular network slice may be associated with a particular set of Quality of Service (“QoS”) parameters, Service Level Agreements (“SLAs”), or the like. The UE may determine the particular network slice based on a slice identifier provided by a network interface of the device, based on attributes of traffic sent or received via the wireless network, and/or based on attributes of a wireless connection between the device and the wireless network. The device may identify a slice indicator associated with the particular network slice, and may present the slice indicator via a user interface of the device. The presented slice indicator may notify a user of the device that the particular network slice is being used for traffic sent or received via the device.