UDM-Based 5G Network Slice Prioritization During Overload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G wireless networks lack a method to prioritize network slices and assign priority subscribers during network overload conditions, leading to potential service disruptions for critical users such as first responders and emergency personnel.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for network slice prioritization that identifies priority network slices at the transport/IP layer, allowing 5G core network functions to allocate higher priority slices based on subscriber level configurations, ensuring critical users are serviced during network congestion or overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network overload conditions occur, then network capacity is exceeded, but service reliability for priority subscribers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple network slices with different priority levels. Priority network slices are separated from non-priority slices, allowing critical services to be isolated and protected during overload conditions. This segmentation enables differential resource allocation where priority subscribers receive guaranteed capacity while non-priority traffic is throttled or rejected.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality characteristics are assigned to different network slices based on local requirements. Priority network slices receive enhanced quality attributes such as guaranteed bandwidth, lower latency, and higher reliability, while non-priority slices operate with standard or reduced quality levels. This local quality differentiation ensures that critical services maintain high reliability even when overall network capacity is exceeded.
2Reliability
If network slice prioritization is implemented, then service reliability for priority subscribers is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Network slice priorities and subscriber associations are configured in advance during network setup and subscription management. The UDM and UDR systems pre-establish the mapping between subscribers and their designated priority network slices, storing this information in advance. When overload conditions occur, the pre-configured priorities are automatically applied without requiring real-time decision complexity, thereby improving reliability while minimizing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UDM (Unified Data Management) and UDR (Unified Data Repository) serve as intermediary components that manage the complexity of slice prioritization. These intermediaries handle the configuration, storage, and retrieval of priority information, shielding the core network functions from direct complexity. The AMF and other network functions simply query the intermediaries for priority information and apply it automatically, reducing the complexity burden on individual network elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for network slice prioritization for wireless devices during network overload conditions. Methods include receiving notification of network overload conditions and receiving notification of an attach request from a wireless device at unified data management (UDM). The UDM obtains a priority network slice for the wireless device from a unified data repository (UDR). The priority network slice for the wireless device is shared with one or more 5G core network functions, such as access and mobility function (AMF), session management function (SMF), short message service function (SMSF), and policy control function (PCF).