Time-Sensitive Network Bridge Port Information for SMF Policy Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G systems face challenges in efficiently managing network slices and providing seamless connectivity and QoS for time-sensitive applications, particularly in integrating diverse access networks and ensuring consistent policy enforcement across various network functions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of enhanced session management functions (SMF) that request and receive policy information from policy and charging control functions (PCF) to manage TSN bridges, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and QoS across diverse access networks, including 3GPP and non-3GPP access types, and supporting network slicing for time-sensitive applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If diverse access networks (3GPP and non-3GPP) are integrated to provide seamless connectivity, then network versatility and connectivity are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A network slice management function is introduced as an intermediary between diverse access networks and core network functions. This mediator handles policy enforcement, QoS management, and coordination across 3GPP and non-3GPP access types, abstracting the complexity from individual network elements while maintaining seamless connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network slice management function is designed with multi-functionality to handle various access network types (3GPP and non-3GPP) through a unified interface and common policy framework. This universal approach allows the same management mechanisms to serve multiple access technologies, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If network slicing is implemented to support time-sensitive applications, then service quality and reliability are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into isolated network slices, each dedicated to specific service requirements (e.g., time-sensitive applications). This segmentation allows independent QoS management and policy enforcement for each slice, ensuring reliability without requiring complex cross-slice coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
A session management function acts as an intermediary between network slice resources and applications. This mediator handles QoS parameter configuration, resource allocation, and policy enforcement, simplifying the implementation complexity while maintaining reliable service delivery for time-sensitive applications.
3Reliability
If policy enforcement is centralized to ensure consistency across network functions, then QoS reliability is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Policy enforcement is segmented and distributed to specific network functions and access points that require it, rather than centralized in a single entity. Each network slice and access network maintains local policy enforcement capabilities, reducing the processing overhead on centralized systems while maintaining consistency through coordinated management.
Data Source
AI summary
A session management function (SMF) sends, to a policy and charging control function (PCF), a request for policy information of a wireless device, the request comprising a parameter of a time sensitive networking (TSN) bridge, wherein the parameter comprises port information of the TSN bridge. The SMF receives, from the PCF, a response to the request, the response comprising the policy information of the wireless device.