Policy Control Function Network Slice Switching for Dynamic QoS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks lack flexibility and granular control in managing network slices to meet varying Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of different services and user equipment types, leading to inefficiencies and potential congestion.
Innovation Solution
A Policy Control Function (PCF) in the 5G core network initiates slice changes for communication sessions based on real-time traffic attributes, congestion monitoring, and AI/ML techniques to dynamically adjust network slices, ensuring optimal resource allocation and QoS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network slices are statically configured to meet different QoS requirements, then service quality can be guaranteed, but network flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network slice modification by enabling the PCF to modify existing network slices in real-time based on current network conditions and QoS requirements. The system can dynamically adjust slice parameters such as resource allocation, priority levels, and routing paths without requiring static reconfiguration, thus maintaining both QoS guarantees and network flexibility simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies network slice parameters dynamically by changing key attributes including resource allocation quantities, priority levels, and technical parameters of network elements. The PCF can alter these parameters in response to changing traffic patterns, network congestion levels, and QoS requirements, enabling the network to adapt while maintaining service quality
2Adaptability or versatility
If network slices are dynamically modified to improve flexibility, then network adaptability improves, but control complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Patent introduces the PCF as an intermediary control function that centralizes the complexity of network slice management. The PCF receives modification requests from AFs, determines appropriate slice changes based on network conditions, and coordinates with NMFs to execute the modifications. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall control architecture by consolidating decision-making logic in a dedicated function
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments network slice management into distinct functional components: the AF initiates modification requests based on application needs, the PCF evaluates and determines modification parameters, and the NMF executes the actual slice changes. This segmentation of management functions reduces control complexity by distributing responsibilities across specialized components
3Productivity
If granular control of network slices is implemented to optimize resource allocation, then resource efficiency improves, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables granular control by allowing different network slices to have customized quality attributes and parameters tailored to specific service requirements. Each slice can be configured with distinct resource allocation policies, priority levels, and technical characteristics, enabling optimized resource allocation for different services while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized control interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A system described herein may identify a first network slice with which a communication session, between a User Equipment (“UE”) and a core network, is associated; maintain policy information associating the first network slice with a set of threshold traffic attributes; receive monitored traffic attributes, associated with the communication session; compare the monitored traffic attributes, associated with the communication session, to the set of threshold traffic attributes indicated in the policy information for the first network slice; identify, based on the comparing, a second network slice with which the communication session should be associated; and output an indication to a session control element associated with the core network, wherein the indication includes an identifier of the second network slice, wherein the session control element causes the communication session to be moved from the first network slice to the second network slice based on receiving the indication.