Network Slice Admission Control Function Selection via Service Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network slicing technologies face challenges in accurately selecting an appropriate network slice admission control function (NSACF) with minimal signaling interactions, which hinders efficient monitoring and management of user equipment (UE) and slice sessions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that select the NSACF for a network slice based on service area information, including tracking area identities and AMF service area information, to optimize UE monitoring and reduce signaling interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional NRF-based discovery and selection methods are used for NSACF, then network function discovery capability is maintained, but signaling interactions increase and function switching occurs due to UE mobility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling interactionsVSAvoidNSACF selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the NSACF selection process by introducing service area information as a segmentation criterion. Different NSACFs are assigned to different service areas, and the AMF selects the NSACF based on the UE's current service area. This segmentation reduces signaling interactions by avoiding unnecessary NRF queries and function switching, while maintaining accurate NSACF selection through service area-based matching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If service area information-based selection is implemented, then signaling interactions are reduced, but implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNSACF selection efficiencyVSAvoidselection mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring service area information in the AMF and pre-establishing the mapping between service areas and NSACFs. When a UE registers or moves, the AMF can directly select the appropriate NSACF based on the UE's current service area without complex real-time queries. This preliminary configuration simplifies the runtime selection process while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250008422A1Method and apparatus for selecting network slice admission control function

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

A method for selecting a network slice admission control function (NSACF). The method includes selecting the NSACF for a network slice based on service area information of the NSACF.