Network Slice Selection Control Function for Service Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile network architectures are inflexible and unable to adapt to diverse service scenes, such as IoT and low latency requirements, due to their simple architecture, leading to inefficiencies in network resource management and service differentiation.

Innovation Solution

A network-slice selection method that involves obtaining and determining network-slice selection information based on policies, user subscription data, and context, allowing for flexible routing of signaling and data through a network-slice routing function entity, which includes identifiers for control plane functions, enabling precise configuration of network slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a simple mobile network architecture with MME and gateway selection based on subscription information is used, then the network is easy to operate and maintain, but it cannot adapt to diversified service scenes such as IoT and low latency requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to diversified service scenesVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the network into multiple network slices, each optimized for specific service scenes (e.g., IoT slice, low latency slice, high capacity slice). This segmentation allows different service types to have dedicated network paths and resources, improving adaptability without requiring complete architectural redesign for each service type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic network slice selection mechanisms that can adaptively route different traffic types to appropriate network slices based on real-time service requirements. This dynamic routing capability enables the network to flexibly respond to diverse service demands while maintaining a relatively stable underlying architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If network slices are introduced to provide services similar to proprietary networks for different service scenes, then service differentiation and resource allocation are improved, but the complexity of network slice selection and management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork slice selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures network slices with specific characteristics and capabilities tailored to different service types. By preparing these specialized network configurations in advance, the system can quickly allocate appropriate slices to incoming traffic without performing complex real-time analysis, thus improving resource allocation efficiency while managing complexity through pre-planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a network slice selection function that acts as an intermediary between the core network and user equipment. This intermediary component handles the complexity of slice selection and management, shielding the rest of the network from complexity while enabling efficient resource allocation through centralized slice management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If APN-based network connection management is used, then network connectivity is established, but end-to-end service-oriented network cannot be established and services cannot be flexibly and precisely configured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice configuration flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different network slice configurations to different service types and traffic flows, allowing each service to have optimized network characteristics (e.g., low latency for real-time services, high throughput for data-intensive services). This local quality approach enables precise service configuration without requiring complete redesign of the overall network management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3481017B1Network slice selection method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 CHINA MOBILE COMM GRP CO LTD
  • EP3481017B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3481017B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3481017B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A network-slice selection method, device and system are provided. The method includes: obtaining one or more of a network-slice selection policy, user subscription information, a network-slice selection assistance parameter, and a user context by a network-slice selection control function entity; and determining network-slice selection information according to one or more of the network-slice selection policy, the user subscription information, the network-slice selection assistance parameter, and the user context by the network-slice selection control function entity, and transmitting the determined network-slice selection information to a network-slice routing function entity, so that the network-slice routing function entity performs routing for signaling or data.