Network Slice Registration Control for UE PDU Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications lack network operator control over user equipment behavior during network slice registration, deregistration, and PDU session management, leading to inefficient network resource allocation and signaling.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods and apparatuses that allow network operators to control user equipment behavior by providing configuration instructions for network slice selection and PDU session management, including subset selection and timer-based release of unused slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user equipment autonomously manages network slice registration and PDU session establishment according to current 3GPP specifications, then user equipment flexibility and autonomy are improved, but network operator control and network resource allocation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity acts as an intermediary between the user equipment and the network slices. It receives registration requests from UE, determines appropriate network slices based on network conditions and policies, and provides configuration information to UE guiding its slice selection behavior. This intermediary control mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining UE autonomy in initiating connections while ensuring network operator control over resource allocation efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment requests all available network slices, then network slice coverage and service availability are improved, but signaling overhead and network complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly requesting all network slices, the solution applies local quality by providing differentiated configuration information to different user equipment. The network entity analyzes individual UE requirements and network conditions to determine which specific slices each UE should access, reducing unnecessary signaling while ensuring appropriate slice coverage for each device's actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by having user equipment request only a subset of available network slices rather than all slices. The network entity controls this partial selection through configuration information, guiding UE to request only necessary slices based on current network conditions and UE requirements, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining adequate service coverage.
3Productivity
If network operator implements strict control over user equipment behavior, then network resource allocation efficiency is improved, but user equipment flexibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The solution implements dynamic control where the network entity provides configuration information to UE that adapts to changing network conditions. Rather than static strict control, the system dynamically adjusts slice selection guidance based on real-time network state, maintaining resource allocation efficiency while allowing UE flexibility to adapt to varying operational contexts.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for causing configuring user equipment (UE) for operator control of UE behavior in registering and deregistering with network slices and establishing and releasing PDU sessions in a communication system. A network entity can transmitting to UE a registration acceptance message comprising configuration information including instructions for the UE to request all single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) of a configured network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) or instructions for the user equipment to request all S-NSSAI of a default configured NSSAI. The network entity can alternatively transmit to UE configuration information in a downlink non access stratum transport message or a UE configuration update message comprising instructions that the user equipment always establishes all protocol data unit (PDU) sessions for all data network names associated with a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI).