Network Function Priority Adjustment Across 5G Network Slices

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Solution Overview

Problem

5G networks lack a flexible and consistent mechanism for prioritizing messages related to different network slices at producer NFs, leading to challenges in determining message priorities during congestion or overload conditions, especially when consumer NFs set priorities based on local policies or when network slice information is absent in messages.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method and system for adjusting message priorities at network functions (NFs) with multiple slice support by storing network-slice-based priority adjustment rules, determining network slice information, and using equations to calculate adjusted priority values based on 3GPP-Sbi-Message-Priority, with options for default values when necessary, to handle messages during congestion or overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If consumer NFs set priorities based on local policies, then flexibility in priority assignment is improved, but consistency and predictability of message priorities at producer NF deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in priority assignmentVSAvoidconsistency of message priorities

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of priority values by introducing a mapping mechanism that transforms consumer NF's locally-set priorities into standardized priorities at the producer NF. The producer NF adjusts the priority parameter based on network slice information, ensuring consistent interpretation across different consumer NFs while preserving their flexibility to set priorities according to local policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The producer NF acts as an intermediary that receives priority values from consumer NFs, adjusts them based on network slice context, and determines final message handling. This intermediary function reconciles the flexibility of local priority setting with the need for consistent priority interpretation across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If producer NF uses fixed priority discard rules, then simplicity of implementation is improved, but ability to handle different network slice requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of implementationVSAvoidability to handle different network slice requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic priority adjustment at the producer NF based on network slice information. Instead of fixed discard rules, the system dynamically determines which messages to discard by adjusting priorities according to the specific network slice requirements, enabling flexible handling of different slice priorities while maintaining a relatively simple implementation framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different priority adjustment strategies for different network slices. Each network slice can have its own priority mapping rules, allowing the producer NF to treat messages from different slices differently based on their specific requirements, rather than applying a uniform fixed rule to all messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If network slice information is absent in messages, then message format simplicity is improved, but ability to determine appropriate priority deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage format simplicityVSAvoidability to determine appropriate priority

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by adjusting priorities at the producer NF before message processing based on network slice information that is made available through the service request context. The system proactively determines the appropriate priority adjustment based on the network slice associated with the message, even if the message itself does not explicitly carry priority information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12592892B2Methods, systems, and computer readable media for adjusting and using priorities of service/notification request messages at network functions with multiple slice support

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A method for adjusting priorities of messages at a network function (NF) with multiple network slice support includes, at a first NF that supports multiple network slices, storing a database of rules specifying network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters. The method further includes receiving a message from a second NF. The method further includes determining that a congestion or overload condition exists, and, in response. determining network slice information associated with the message, determining, using the network slice information and the database of network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters, a network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message, and discarding or processing the message based on the network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message.