UE Identifier Retrieval via NEF for Personalized 5G Policy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability to retrieve core network or access network assigned user equipment identifiers outside of these networks, hindering personalized policy implementation and radio condition information retrieval for user equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus to retrieve access network or core network assigned user equipment identifiers by using IP addressing information to determine the subscriber permanent user identity, which is then used to query functions for the desired identifiers, allowing retrieval of radio status information and application of policies to specific user equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the access network controller manages user equipment using only IP addressing information, then the controller can operate outside the core network, but the controller cannot retrieve network assigned UE identifiers or apply personalized policies to individual user equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary function (NEF - Network Exposure Function) that mediates between the external controller and the core network. The NEF receives IP addressing information from the controller, translates it to network internal identifiers (SUPI, IMEI), and retrieves the network assigned UE identifiers. This intermediary enables the controller to operate outside the core network while maintaining visibility of network identifiers through the translation service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the identifier retrieval process into distinct functional stages: (1) receiving IP addressing information from the external controller, (2) translating IP addresses to network internal identifiers through the NEF, (3) retrieving network assigned UE identifiers from the core network using the translated identifiers. This segmentation allows the external controller to maintain operational independence while accessing network identifier information through a structured multi-step process.
2Device complexity
If the controller applies policies only by cell, slice, or group of user equipment, then implementation is simpler, but personalized policies for individual user equipment cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The NEF acts as an intermediary that enables personalized policy implementation by translating between group-level identifiers and individual UE identifiers. The controller can request network assigned UE identifiers for specific user equipment by providing IP addressing information, and the NEF retrieves the corresponding identifiers from the core network, allowing personalized policies to be applied without increasing controller complexity.
3Productivity
If the application wants to retrieve radio condition information for user equipment, then service performance can be enhanced, but the application cannot retrieve this information without knowing the network assigned UE identifier
Solution Approach 1:
The NEF serves as an intermediary that enables applications to retrieve radio condition information by translating application-level IP addressing information to network-level identifiers. The application provides IP addressing information to the NEF, which retrieves the network assigned UE identifier from the core network, thereby enabling the application to access radio condition information without direct knowledge of network identifiers.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for retrieving at least one of an access network or core network assigned user equipment identifier (NGAP ID) from outside of the access or core network using IP addressing information. The apparatus has means configured to: receive IP addressing information of the user equipment; determine a subscriber permanent user identity for the user equipment from the IP addressing information; generate and transmit a request for the at least one of the access network or core network assigned user equipment identifier, the request including the subscriber permanent identity; and receive the at least one of the access network or core network assigned user equipment identifier.