Network Slice Admission Control via NSACF Interworking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Network slice administration is incomplete when user equipment transitions between 5GC and EPC networks, leading to inefficiencies in network slice admission control and interworking between these two systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that includes receiving a message from user equipment to establish a PDU session, performing a network slice availability check, and sending a request to a network slice access control function to manage the number of users on a specific network slice, incorporating core network type and access type parameters to ensure seamless interworking between 5GC and EPC networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network slice administration is performed without considering UE transitions between 5GC and EPC, then the administration process is simple, but the network slice admission control becomes incomplete and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the NSACF (Network Slice Admission Control Function) as an intermediary entity that mediates between the AMF/SMF and the network slice resources. The NSACF receives availability check requests from the AMF/SMF, evaluates whether the network slice can accommodate additional UEs considering both 5GC and EPC registrations, and returns admission decisions. This intermediary mechanism ensures complete admission control across network transitions without requiring complex direct coordination between all network entities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the availability check procedure universal by enabling it to handle multiple network slice types (5GC and EPC) through a single unified mechanism. The AMF/SMF can trigger availability checks for both 5GC and EPC network slices using the same procedural framework, and the NSACF maintains a unified view of network slice availability across different network types, allowing seamless interworking without requiring separate specialized procedures.
2Reliability
If the network slice availability check procedure is performed for every UE registration, then the admission control is thorough, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the network side (AMF/SMF) proactively trigger availability check procedures before UE registration is finalized. The NSACF performs advance evaluation of network slice availability and pre-determines admission status, so that when UE registration requests arrive, the decision can be made quickly without requiring real-time complex calculations during the actual registration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the NSACF continuously monitors network slice availability status and provides feedback to the AMF/SMF. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain up-to-date information about network slice capacity and make rapid admission decisions. The NSACF receives availability check requests, evaluates current network conditions, and returns timely decisions based on the latest network state information.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and entities for network slice admission control and 5GC-EPC interworking. A method includes receiving a first message requesting to establish a protocol data unit (PDU) session from a user equipment (UE). The first message is received from an entity disposed in an evolved packet core (EPC) and a 5G core (5GC). The method includes determining to send an update request to a NSACF entity to add the UE to UEs registered with a network slice responsive to the source network entity and sending a second message to the NSACF entity requesting an increase of the number of UEs with the network slice associated with the network slice. The second message includes at least one of a core network type parameter or an access type parameter, both used currently by the UE to establish the PDU session.