Shared AMF/SMF Control With Isolated UPF Resources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless devices face difficulties in obtaining desired services due to network slices that are not accommodated by certain network devices, leading to challenges in service provision.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of user plane function selection for isolated network slices, which involves the use of network functions such as UPF, SMF, and AMF to manage and allocate resources efficiently, ensuring that wireless devices can access the required network slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network devices provide services for wireless devices using standard network slices, then service coverage is improved, but network isolation and service quality for specific wireless devices deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidnetwork isolation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network slice into control plane functions (AMF, SMF) that remain shared, and user plane functions (UPF) that are isolated per wireless device. This segmentation enables network isolation for reliability while maintaining service coverage through shared control plane resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing dedicated user plane resources (separate UPF instances) to specific wireless devices that require network isolation, while other wireless devices continue to share common network slices. This localized isolation maintains overall service coverage while ensuring reliability for specific devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If network devices allocate shared network resources to multiple wireless devices, then resource utilization is improved, but service quality and isolation for specific services deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments user plane functions into device-specific UPF instances while keeping control plane functions shared. This allows resource utilization optimization at the control plane level while ensuring service quality and isolation at the user plane level through dedicated resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the isolation parameter from complete network slice isolation to selective user plane isolation. By modifying the degree of isolation (controlling plane shared, user plane dedicated), the system achieves both high resource utilization and service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If network devices implement complete network slice isolation for each wireless device, then network isolation and service quality are improved, but device complexity and resource overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork isolationVSAvoidnetwork device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments isolation requirements into two levels: control plane functions remain shared to reduce complexity, while user plane functions are isolated per device to maintain reliability. This selective segmentation reduces overall network device complexity compared to complete isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shared control plane functions (AMF, SMF) serve multiple wireless devices simultaneously, providing multi-functionality that reduces device complexity. Only the user plane requires device-specific instances, minimizing the overall complexity increase while maintaining necessary isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3972347B1User plane function selection for isolated network slice
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • EP3972347B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3972347B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3972347B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for wireless communications. A session request for a wireless device may comprise a network slice isolation information parameter. A user plane function may be selected, based on the network slice isolation information parameter, to provide the requested session for the wireless device.