Network Slice User Access Control via Quality Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in quickly adjusting user access to newly established network slices in 5G networks, leading to potential impacts on the quality of existing network slices and inability to meet service level agreements (SLAs) in a timely manner.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling user access to a newly established network slice by rapidly obtaining and analyzing quality information of the slice, allowing for immediate adjustments to user access based on the relationship between quality and quality requirements, thereby minimizing impact on existing slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the OAM network element collects KPI data and analyzes QoE-KPI relationship using conventional methods, then the user access control decision is made based on quality requirements, but the operation periodicity is very long and user access cannot be adjusted in time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality measurement accuracyVSAvoiduser access adjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the OAM network element proactively send a first request to the network slice management function element before quality issues arise. This request includes first indication information that triggers the network slice management function element to immediately send quality information of the network slice to the OAM network element, enabling advance preparation for user access control decisions without waiting for periodic data collection cycles to complete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by establishing a direct communication loop where the network slice management function element sends quality information back to the OAM network element in response to the first request. This feedback mechanism provides real-time quality data that enables the OAM network element to make timely user access control decisions based on current network slice conditions rather than relying on delayed periodic measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If a newly established network slice is introduced into the network, then network resource utilization is enhanced, but the running quality of existing network slices is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource utilizationVSAvoidexisting network slice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the OAM network element as an intermediary that mediates between the newly established network slice and existing network slices. The OAM network element receives quality information about the new slice, analyzes it against quality requirements, and makes informed user access control decisions that balance resource utilization needs with the protection of existing slice quality, preventing the new slice from negatively impacting established services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the system proactively obtain and analyze quality information of the newly established network slice before allowing full user access. The OAM network element sends a first request to obtain quality information, analyzes whether the quality meets requirements, and only then permits user access. This preliminary verification ensures that new slices do not compromise existing network quality while enabling resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3876589B1User access control method, information transmission method and apparatuses therefor
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3876589B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3876589B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3876589B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a user access control method, an information sending method, and an apparatus, and relate to the field of communications technologies, to control in time a quantity of users accessing a newly established network slice. The solution includes: sending, by a first network element, a first request including at least one of first indication information and second indication information to a second network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate to report first information of at least one network slice to the first network element, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first network slice is a newly established network slice, a network slice on which a drive test is being performed, or a network slice for which no service level agreement is signed; receiving, by the first network element, the first information of the at least one network slice from the second network element; and controlling, by the first network element, user access to the first network slice based on a relationship between quality and a quality requirement of the at least one network slice.