Shared PFDF Packet Flow Descriptor Retrieval for Slice Analytics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network slicing technologies face inefficiencies due to misconfigured or misbehaving User Equipment (UE) sending incorrect Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), leading to incorrect traffic routing and potential network inefficiencies, which existing Packet Flow Descriptor (PFD) management solutions cannot adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for providing Packet Flow Descriptors (PFDs) to a Session Management Function (SMF) in a telecommunication network, involving a Packet Flow Description Function (PFDF) that stores PFDs in a Unified Data Repository (UDR) and retrieves them on request, allowing for slice observability and analytics, independent of prior application identification knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a shared Packet Flow Description Function (PFDF) is used across multiple network slices, then device complexity is reduced and resource utilization improves, but the ability to accurately detect and differentiate traffic flows for slice observability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PFD data by creating separate data structures for each network slice within the shared PFDF. Each slice maintains its own PFD records with unique identifiers, allowing the system to differentiate traffic flows per slice while using a single PFDF instance. This segmentation enables accurate slice observability without requiring separate PFDF instances for each slice.
2Reliability
If Packet Flow Descriptors are stored in a centralized Unified Data Repository (UDR), then data consistency and accessibility improve, but retrieval time and system latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-organizing PFD data in the UDR with efficient indexing structures based on slice identifiers and application identifiers. The PFDF establishes subscription relationships with the UDR for specific PFD sets, enabling the system to prepare data for rapid retrieval. When PFDs are needed, the pre-organized structure allows quick access without scanning the entire repository, thus reducing latency while maintaining centralized storage benefits.
3Loss of information
If the network requests all PFDs for a slice from the UDR, then complete traffic analytics are achieved, but network bandwidth consumption and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary PFD information by implementing selective retrieval mechanisms. Instead of requesting all PFDs for a slice, the system extracts specific PFDs based on current analytics needs, application identifiers, and traffic patterns. The PFDF can request subsets of PFDs relevant to specific observations or analytics tasks, reducing unnecessary data transmission and processing while maintaining complete analytics capability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a Packet Flow Descriptor, PFD, to a session management function, SMF, in a telecommunication network, wherein said telecommunication network is able to support network slicing, wherein said telecommunication network comprises a Packet Flow Description Function, PFDF, arranged for hiding a topology of said telecommunication network from Application Service Providers, ASPs, and wherein said PFDF is shared among slices of said telecommunication network, said method comprises the steps of receiving 402, by said PFDF, from an ASP, a PFD, storing 403, by said PFDF, said PFD in a Unified Data Repository, UDR, comprised by said telecommunication network, receiving 404, by said PFDF, from a Session Management Function, SMF, a request for PFDs that apply to a particular slice, retrieving 405, by said PFDF, from said UDR said PFD that applies to said particular slice, and providing 406, by said PFDF, said retrieved PFD to said SMF.