Network Slice Grouping With Wildcard IDs for Unified Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficient explicit listing of network slice identifiers when attaching user equipment devices to multiple network slices in wireless communication networks, particularly for large numbers of slices, leads to suboptimal management and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a slice identification schema that supports group-level identification of network slices using wildcard SST and SD options, enabling unified access control and flexible slice grouping without individually listing each slice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If explicit listing of network slice identifiers is used for UE attachment, then each network slice can be individually identified and managed, but the messaging overhead increases significantly when attaching to a large number of slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple network slice identifiers into a single group identifier (slice group ID). Instead of listing each S-NSSAI individually in UE attachment messages, the network assigns a single identifier representing a group of slices, thereby reducing messaging overhead while maintaining the ability to identify and manage individual slices within the group.
Solution Approach 2:
The slice group identifier serves multiple functions: it represents a collection of network slices for efficient UE attachment, enables group-level access control, and allows the network to manage multiple slices with a single identifier. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction between precise identification and messaging efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If individual network slice identifiers are listed for each UE attachment, then precise slice selection is achieved, but the complexity of access control management increases with the number of slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of network slices into multiple slice groups, where each group is assigned a unique identifier. This segmentation allows access control to be applied at the group level rather than requiring individual slice management, thereby reducing access control complexity while maintaining precise slice selection capabilities through group-based policies.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple network slices are merged into logical groups for access control purposes. The slice group identifier consolidates the management of multiple slices, allowing the network to apply access control policies to entire groups rather than managing each slice individually, thus reducing management complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network slices are attached to support diverse services, then service versatility is improved, but the number of messages required for attachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple slice attachment requests into a single messaging exchange by using slice group identifiers. When a UE needs to attach to multiple slices for diverse services, the network responds with a single slice group ID that represents all required slices, thereby maintaining service versatility while drastically reducing the number of messages exchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The slice group identifier acts as a universal reference that can represent different combinations of network slices depending on the service requirements. A single identifier can dynamically represent different slice compositions, allowing the system to support versatile service attachments without increasing messaging overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide novel approaches to handling network slice groups in access stratum and non-access stratum communications in a cellular communication network. Novel slice identification schema can support group-level identification of groups of network slices without individually listing the network slices. Some embodiments implement a slice identifier that supports wildcard slice/service type (SST) options and/or wildcard slice differentiator (SD) options to support wildcard-enabled slice groups. Some embodiments enable use of such wildcard-enabled slice groups in context of unified access control. Some embodiments introduce a novel criteria type to unified access control to expressly support flexible slice grouping.