Network Slice Selection Apparatus Priority Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently selecting and managing network slices for user equipment (UE) to optimize communication performance, as existing methods lack standardized evaluation and selection criteria for network slice simultaneous registration groups (NSSRGs), leading to potential conflicts and reduced user experience.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an apparatus and method that retrieve information associated with network slice selection, determine the priority of network slice access stratum groups, and select a network slice simultaneous registration group based on this information, providing assistance to network entities for optimized UE communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple network slices are registered simultaneously without standardized selection criteria, then network slice availability increases, but system reliability deteriorates due to potential conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork slice availabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces priority values as a parameter to differentiate and manage multiple network slice registrations. By assigning priority values to each network slice access stratum group, the system can resolve conflicts systematically, ensuring that higher priority slices are selected first, thus maintaining reliability while supporting multiple slice registrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments network slices into distinct access stratum groups (NSAGs) with unique identifiers and priority values. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple network slices independently through standardized selection procedures, reducing conflicts while maintaining versatility in slice registration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If network slice selection is performed without standardized criteria, then selection flexibility increases, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to lack of consistent evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection flexibilityVSAvoidselection consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes standardized selection criteria based on priority values, NSAG identifiers, and S-NSSAIs. These parameters provide consistent evaluation metrics for network slice selection, ensuring that the same inputs always produce the same outputs, thereby achieving manufacturing precision in the selection process while maintaining flexibility through configurable priority assignments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system evaluates available information (priority values, NSAG identifiers, S-NSSAIs) and uses this feedback to determine the optimal network slice registration group. This standardized feedback loop ensures consistent selection outcomes while allowing flexibility in the information that can be provided

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If network slice selection uses multiple information parameters, then selection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses multiple parameters (priority values, NSAG identifiers, S-NSSAIs) to improve selection accuracy by evaluating network slices from multiple dimensions. Despite the increased number of parameters, the complexity is managed through standardized selection procedures that systematically process these parameters in a defined sequence, preventing exponential complexity growth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4404634A1Method, apparatus and computer program
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4404634A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4404634A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4404634A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided an apparatus that has means for retrieving information associated with network slice selection, and means for selecting a network slice simultaneous registration group using the information associated with network slice selection. The apparatus also has means for providing, to a network entity, a requested network slice selection assistance information based on the selected network slice simultaneous registration group.