Network Slice Quota Control via NSCF, AMF, and SMF
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network slicing standards lack mechanisms to monitor and control the number of terminals or connections for a network slice, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and management.
Innovation Solution
Introduce a Network Slice Control Function (NSCF) that interacts with AMF and SMF to monitor and control the number of users and PDU sessions for network slices, providing quotas and enforcing them through AMF and SMF, with optional stand-alone or extension functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing is implemented without monitoring mechanisms, then network flexibility and customization are improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to lack of control over terminal and connection numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network management system continuously monitors the number of terminals and PDU sessions for each network slice, compares these values against predefined quotas, and automatically triggers control actions when thresholds are exceeded. This closed-loop feedback system enables dynamic resource allocation while maintaining network flexibility, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and resource allocation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes quota limits for network slices in advance before deployment. These preliminary quota definitions prevent resource overallocation by setting maximum thresholds for terminals and PDU sessions per slice. The AMF and SMF functions are pre-configured with these quota parameters, enabling proactive resource management while preserving the flexibility to deploy diverse network slices with different resource requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If maximum number of connections or terminals is defined by NEST, then network slice scalability is improved, but monitoring and control capability deteriorates due to absence of standard mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) and SMF (Session Management Function) as intermediary components that bridge the gap between NEST-defined quotas and actual network slice monitoring. These intermediary functions receive quota parameters from NEST, track real-time terminal and connection counts, and enforce control decisions. This intermediary layer enables precise monitoring and control capabilities while maintaining the scalability benefits of NEST-based network slice definitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the monitoring and control functionality into distinct network functions (AMF for terminal monitoring, SMF for PDU session monitoring) rather than implementing a monolithic monitoring system. This segmentation allows each function to specialize in specific aspects of network slice resource management, improving measurement precision for different types of resources (terminals vs. connections) while preserving the overall scalability of the network slice architecture.
3Productivity
If network slice quotas are enforced through AMF and SMF, then resource management effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional control interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functional nature of AMF and SMF components to enforce network slice quotas. These functions already perform multiple roles including mobility management, session management, and now quota enforcement. By utilizing their existing interface frameworks and control mechanisms, the patent avoids creating entirely new complex systems. The same signaling interfaces and control planes used for basic network management are extended to handle quota monitoring and enforcement, thereby improving resource management effectiveness without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism is provided to monitor and control the number of terminals (100) or number of PDU sessions for a network slice, or both. A new network function called the Network Slice Control Function (NSCF) (85) is defined that interacts with an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (40) and/or Session Management Function (SMF) (45) to monitor and control a number of users for a network slice, a number of PDU sessions for a network slice, or both. The NSCF (85) determines per slice quotas for the number of users and/or number of session for network slices and interacts with the AMF (40) and/or SMF (45) to enforce the quotas.